Recovery Catalyst

War stories are only part of a veteran's journey. Marie “Slider Babe” Henriksen joins us to discuss life beyond the uniform, covering the intersection of military trauma, medical discharge, and the reality of navigating chronic pain and addiction. In this episode, we explore: Navigating Disability: How a late diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hip dysplasia reshaped Marie’s i...

Addiction is more than just "inability to stop despite harm." Join me, Cat York, as I challenge outdated definitions and explore recovery through a new lens—one that focuses on the nervous system, trauma, and the whole person. After 20 years of heavy drinking and six years of continuous sobriety, I’m cutting through the "ice-cold" clinical language to have honest conversations...

We speak plainly about the Cornell 7 case and why calling rape “one night” is a way to protect men instead of confronting harm. We defend the idea that consent is simple, intoxication removes consent, and accountability is the only path that respects survivors.  • Naming the Cornell 7 and rejecting minimized consequences  • Stating clearly that intoxication means no consent  • Calling out institut...

We share a major shift in where we’re taking the Recovery Catalyst Podcast while staying rooted in our mission to talk honestly about grief, trauma, addiction, mental health, and recovery. I explain why I’m streamlining the show to focus on women in recovery and how creative expression like art and writing can be a practical tool for healing.  • Why my personal recovery story keeps shaping the mis...

Addiction stories often mask pain as permission, creating a dangerous cycle. In this episode, I’m joined by recovery counselor and podcaster Jason Fareas for a candid discussion on what sustains sobriety when willpower falls short. We explore how undiagnosed ADHD fueled Jason’s self-medication, why substance abuse often replaces one addiction with another, and the traps of romanticizing our past....

We talk with Mark Wigginton about what it means to rebuild a recovery life after relapse, shame, and midlife grief. His story moves from a chaotic childhood and an absent father to harm reduction, daily practices, and a new definition of abstinence rooted in choice.  • Early instability, frequent moves, and why alcohol first feels like relief  • The impact of an absent father and the stories we cr...

Six years sober isn’t a victory lap—it’s a quiet moment of truth. Sobriety gave me my life back, but it also forced me to face the reality of growing up in an alcoholic home and the impact of addiction and trauma. In this episode of Recovery Catalyst , we talk about what continuous sobriety, relapse, and early recovery actually look like when navigating the mental health weight of alcoholism. The...

Have you ever caught yourself asking, “Was it really that bad, or am I overreacting?” That question is often the first sign that gaslighting has taken its toll. In this episode, I’m joined by relationship coach Heather Melville, founder of Healthy Relationships, to discuss the messy, non-linear reality of healing after leaving an emotionally or physically abusive relationship. We break down what “...

We’re building a recovery podcast that skips the dry lectures and speaks to real sobriety, from sober curious to early recovery to long term healing. We name the hard parts like trauma, mental health, and dual diagnosis while focusing on how to build a meaningful life after addiction.  • A clear welcome for sober curious listeners and people in early sobriety  • Why we prioritize honest conversati...

Burnout doesn't always announce itself with a crash; for many high-achieving professionals, it’s a slow-burn reality characterized by constant stress and emotional exhaustion. In this episode of the Recovery Catalyst Podcast, we explore practical mental health and healing tools for navigating career-driven burnout through the lens of Lexi Reed’s "Creative Reset" approach. We discuss...

Shannon Darrow is a divorce coach and mediator, and the host of In Between Them — a podcast featuring honest conversations with adults about what their parents' divorce shaped, broke, and built in them as children. Her desire is to bring to light all of the impacts children suffer from their parent's divorce so parents can become aware and do better In this episode we discuss: • Shannon’...

What happens after the operating room doors close? For most, it’s not the heroic scene depicted on screen—it’s the weight of high-stakes decisions and the pressure to remain unshakeable. In this episode, Cat York sits down with trauma surgeon, educator, and author Dr. Daniel Eiferman to discuss the hidden emotional reality of surgery. Drawing from his book, Cut Open: A Surgeon’s Stories of Resilie...

We sit with the raw truth of losing someone to addiction and the extra burden of shame that families carry in silence. Katie Rizzo shares how she uses poetry and community to keep Nicholas’ story alive while pushing back on stigma and broken systems.  • Nicholas’ anxiety, addiction, and the five to six year family battle  • Shame around overdose death and why secrecy protects the problem  • Al‑Ano...

We talk with Dr. Larry Smith about how addiction can start young, hide behind achievement, and keep us trapped through an inner voice that promises relief while stealing our lives. We also lay out the daily practices that keep him sober for 26 years and why purpose and connection matter more than chasing the absence of cravings. • His first experience with alcohol at age 11 and the sudden shift fr...

We talk with attorney Mark Astor about what families can do when addiction or severe mental illness hijacks a loved one’s decision-making and the stakes keep rising. We break down how civil legal tools can create safety, accountability, and time for treatment without turning crisis into punishment. • Mark’s path from prosecutor to behavioural health crisis intervention work • Why families feel tra...

I share practical updates that make it easier for us to stay connected and shape Recovery Catalyst together, from a new website to simple ways to send feedback. I also explain why I’m adding more solo episodes. • Launching a new website with episode listening, comments, and a blog that expands on each topic. • Inviting listener feedback through comments, questions, suggestions, criticism, and comp...

We talk with Bryan Blackmon about leaving Texas for a Los Angeles dream, sliding into addiction and homelessness, and finding an unexpected lifeline through an 85-year-old landlord named Elaine. Bryan shares the mirror moment that made him choose sobriety, the reality of withdrawal, and how his viral TikTok story turned into Crab Life Crew and a recovery mindset built on self-worth.  In this episo...

We share a raw, late-night check-in about living with debilitating anxiety while staying sober and trying to keep life moving. We talk honestly about panic attacks, the long list of things we try for relief, and why kindness matters when there is no simple cure.   • hosting the Recovery Catalyst Podcast with curiosity rather than cure  • describing what anxiety feels like in the body and mind  • n...

We talk with veteran and shamanic trauma specialist Jeremy Chenvert, host of “The Shaman Stories Podcast” about how trauma can linger even when you “should be fine,” and how healing starts when the nervous system finally feels safe. We share concrete tools, hard-earned boundaries, and a grounded look at shamanic work, generational trauma, grief, and finding practitioners you can trust.  In this ep...

We talk with sober travel writer Teresa Bergen about how to protect sobriety on the road without shrinking your life. We share practical ways to handle social pressure, build sober-friendly plans, and travel with more freedom and better memories.  • Teresa’s long-term sobriety story and why it feels liberating  • Why alcohol is so baked into travel culture and how to stop it ruining your mood  • P...

We sit down with Dr. Ellyn Hilliard-McLeod to talk about why real healing takes more than a perfect diet and how symptoms can reveal what needs to change in our lives. We dig into processed food traps, core beliefs around eating, and the inner work of forgiveness, identity, and responsibility that can shape long-term health.   Dr McLeod’s journey from a Crohn’s diagnosis to a holistic path    How...

Fenix Shephard recounts leaving home at 14, surviving abuse, addiction, homelessness, being part of the LGBTQ+ community along with multiple arrests before finding sobriety and a personal relationship with God beyond organized religion. Fenix discusses the healing tools she used and now offers—havening, EMDR, TMS, CBT and DBT—alongside spiritual coaching, veteran and community work, and a message...

Certified IFS practitioner and trauma‑informed coach Kurt Bush shares his journey from manufacturing and ministry into Brimstone Coaching Group, helping leaders overcome imposter syndrome and lead with authenticity.   Through the simple framework Encounter + Reflection = Transformation, Kurt shows how self‑awareness increases impact, interrupts burnout, and creates sustainable leadership. Learn ab...

Gazit Chaya Nkosi, an autistic AFAB trans non-binary Jewish mystic and somatic coach, discusses neurodivergence and "neurocomplexity," somatic parts work, and the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) — a passive, auditory method that helps the nervous system re-establish safety and social engagement. The conversation covers practical tools like resourcing before/during/after stressful events, s...

Cat York sits down with Daryl Dittmer, who overcame severe addiction at 19 to become an entrepreneur, author, and life coach. Daryl shares his recovery story, the role of treatment and AA, and the moment he chose to change his life. The conversation explores how showing up, humility, and service guided his path into business, writing, and coaching, and offers practical encouragement for anyone fac...