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Budd from Philly Streets, 2 Years Later

Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan

2,654,140 views

Use code channel5 at https://incogni.com/channel5 to get an exclusive 60% off.

Link to Budd's book
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Bea...

Also, some images in this documentary were captured by Suzanne Stein, who you can follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/suzanne_ste.... She is a really great photographer and I recommend you check out her work.

00:00:00 – Budd Rodney introduces himself
00:04:14 – Impact of Kensington’s cleanup policies
00:08:39 – Health consequences of addiction: kidney failure, frostbite, etc.
00:12:39 – Emotional aftermath and mental health struggles
00:18:48 – Losses within the addiction community
00:21:19 – Life and relapse while working as a CO
00:27:46 – Arrest, legal consequences, hiding addiction while working
00:35:22 – Years-long cycle through rehabs and hospitals
00:39:01 – Reflections on hope, recovery, and the importance of staying connected
00:44:05 – Brittany joins to discuss her journey
00:46:20 – Facing consequences as part of recovery
00:53:14 – Theory about addiction stemming from deep pain
01:06:19 – Life on the streets: Survival stories from Kensington
01:13:22 – Early drug use and Budd’s progression from curiosity to addiction
01:21:12 – Camaraderie among the homeless and addicted
01:24:39 – Systemic failures and possible solutions to addiction
01:28:59 – Drug supply chains and rehab industry incentives
01:35:19 – Final message from Budd: hope for those facing addiction

20 Comments

@Channel5YouTube Creator 11 months ago (edited) Pinned

Use code channel5 at https://incogni.com/channel5 to get an exclusive 60% off.

Link to Budd's book
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Beach-Survival-Streets-Philadelphia-ebook/dp/B0FTYHZMZY

Also, some images in this documentary were captured by Suzanne Stein, who you can follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/suzanne_stein/?hl=en. She is a really great photographer and I recommend you check out her work.

@buddrodney1585 11 months ago

Hey everyone, just want to say thanks for all the kind words. I appreciate each and every one of them. I'm looking forward, and I hope my story can deter someone else from ending up the way I did. Thanks to Andrew for making this possible; his journalism is excellent work, and he's a very kind individual. Props to the team as well, they came out more than once to make sure we covered everything. Wishing the best for everyone, and as far as negative opinions, I understand where you're coming from. I hear that. Addiction is an ugly thing and has ugly results. This wasn't an ideal situation, but it happened. Hopefully, you never have to face addiction in any way! Keep up the good fight, if you're sober. I'll try to do the same. P.S. I changed the book cover, but the content is still the same.

@josephballin846 11 months ago

“Many of the people we interviewed are no longer alive” hits hard

@brettlevelmidnight5599 11 months ago

Despite the amputations, dude is looking 100x healthier. Keep fighting the good fight, boss.

@Banksydog 4 months ago

I hope all the first responders in Kensington see this. They need to see there is hope for the work they do every day!

@Psyopcyclops 11 months ago

I do not say this lightly, but I genuinely and wholeheartedly believe that Andrew is doing some of the most important journalism in the US today. The way you humanise people is an art form in itself. Merely pointing a camera at someone is not inherently uncovering truths. God speed, my friend.

@Dakota.benso.n 11 months ago

“once you pass this invisible line you’re an addict, and you don’t even know it happens and you can never cross back over that line.” Literally the realest opener to a video I’ve seen inna while.

@radar._. 11 months ago

I always remembered the "Hi mom, I'm okay, love you" line from that episode. Poor guy, glad he's doing better

@SICKBIHRARI 8 months ago

Budd is made to become a social worker fr, I dealt with addiction workers who were like him, they understood me in a way that no half assed yuppie therapist ever would

@Chief667 11 months ago

You can tell he was nervous to bring up his book and Andrew is so kind to him immediately assuring him that it will be mentioned and promoted. Then you brought it up again at the end to even go a step further and say you will wait to put out the video until the book is complete. You're a good man Andrew Callaghan. The world needs more like you.

@BandoKazooie 10 months ago

One thing American journalism has completely abandoned. Continuing to cover a story instead of moving on to the next then and abandoning it entirely. Bravo

@Theoddestsheep 11 months ago

3 months clean from fetty today🎉 shoutout to Andrew and Budd

@fabiangonzalez5396 9 months ago

Bud is lucky to have such a loving mother. God bless them both.

@douchopotamus3755 11 months ago

It's wild that saying "people deserve help" is now a divisive statement.

@andrewherrington3723 11 months ago

This is the difference between Channel 5 and those other bullshit YouTubers who are going to these places for despair porn.

Thank you for the followup Andrew, and hell yeah Bud - you've got this dude.

@matt.jordan 11 months ago

Jesus Christ dude to think that that goofy kid wearing an oversized suit from goodwill interviewing drunk college students on bourbon street would go on to be the journalistic powerhouse of an entire generation, showing a human side to America's worst issues, working in an actual way to help heal this broken country, absolutely beautiful video 10/10 so so so glad to see Budd doing well and to hear his story. Godspeed man, you literally have millions of people out here who you are inspiring and who are touched by your story and are wishing you the absolute best <3<3

@PlagueDoktore 10 months ago

He's right about the prisons. That's exactly how it is here in Norway. A big part of your problem is that your prisons are for profit, not to actually rehabilitate.

@hanbanan0 11 months ago

As a health care worker, who has spent time in a methadone/suboxine clinic I always say. Some people have to take meds for the rest of their life to treat a disease they have. Like insulin for diabetes or water pills for heart failure.
If taking subs helps you function in society and not end back up on the street. Then it’s a med that is saving your life!!!
Fuck the purity standard.
Be healthy and stay alive,

@jerbearbruh 11 months ago

Holy fuck budds alive… I used to live on the streets of Kensington too. He probably doesn’t remember me but I vividly remember telling him he was gonna die if he didn’t go to the hosptial… I’m about to be a year clean now and I’m happy to see he’s alive. Congrats bro

@uncletifa 11 months ago

His mom visiting him on the street has me in tears. That's the reality about every homeless person you see. That's somebodies kid, that's somebodies parent, that's somebodies friend and yet we treat them like they're none of that. As if they're just objects in the way of ourselves, instead of open wounds on all of us.