Well Aware Podcast

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast, we’re joined by Aware Recovery Care alumni Chandra for an honest and deeply personal conversation about trauma, alcoholism, shame, and recovery later in life. Chandra shares how unresolved trauma and perfectionism slowly led her toward alcohol dependence, and how difficult it was to ask for help after years of trying to manage everything on her own. Toget...

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast, we’re joined by Tim Walsh, outdoor educator, instructor trainer, and experiential recovery leader, for a conversation about healing through nature, connection, and personal transformation. Drawing from more than 30 years of work in outdoor education, substance use recovery, youth development, and mental health, Tim shares how outdoor experiences can help...

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast, we’re joined by Holly Hiles, who’s a leadership and emergence coach, keynote speaker, and a person in long term recovery, for an honest conversation about alcoholism in recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month. Together, we will explore how alcohol use disorder develops and progresses, how it can be misunderstood or minimized, and what it truly means to liv...

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast, we’re joined by Sarah Allen Benton, author of  Parents in Recovery: Navigating a Sober Family Lifestyle , who also serves as a licensed clinician and Chief Clinical Officer at Waterview Behavioral Health, for a thoughtful conversation on recovery and family life. We’ll explore the unique challenges parents in recovery face as they balance sobriety, family...

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast, we’re joined by Tom Farley, recovery advocate and Community Outreach Director at Recovery.com, for a grounded conversation about stigma, compassion, and the realities of long-term recovery. Drawing from decades of advocacy and outreach work, Tom shares insights on prevention, grief, and how families and communities can better support individuals impacted ...

In this episode of the  Well Aware  podcast, we sit down with Matthew McManus, a financial advisor for Triplecrown Wealth Management, to explore the connection between financial stress and recovery. With the holidays often bringing added pressure around money, Matthew shares insights on how financial strain can impact mental health and recovery, along with practical financial literacy tips to help...

This episode of the Well Aware Podcast explores how recovery impacts families and loved ones. Our guests include Kathy Wrenn, Executive Director of Illume Family Recovery and Certified BALM Recovery Coach, and Shelly Young, Executive Director of the Chris Atwood Foundation. Addiction creates waves in relationships, reshapes dynamics, and challenges families in profound ways, but with those challen...

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast, our host Dr. Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, is joined by Lisa Smith, host of the Recovery Rocks podcast, author of Girl Walks Out of a Bar, and former practicing lawyer.  Together, they discuss the complexities of high functioning addiction, navigating alcohol in a field with a heavy drinking culture, and Lisa’s unique recov...

This edition of the Well Aware Podcast features Aware Recovery Care’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lauren Grawert and Dr. J. Craig Allen, Board-Certified addiction psychiatrist and Vice President of Addiction Services at Hartford Healthcare.   Together, Dr. Grawert and Dr. Allen explore a range of pressing topics in the addiction treatment landscape, including his work with Aware’s in-home care model...

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast , hosted by Aware Recovery Care’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lauren Grawert, we meet Rachel Hechtman, peer recovery specialist and the voice behind the Instagram account @soberincentralpark. They explore the link between ADHD and addiction, the usage of stimulant medication while in recovery, and how Rachel rebuilt her life through movement, community, and...

In this episode, Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, has a discussion with Garrett Kamps, CEO of The Small Bow, centered around the power of storytelling and hope for the future of addiction recovery.  Garrett is a veteran media executive, entrepreneur, and journalist, and his work has appeared in numerous publications, including “Billboard,” “HuffPost,” and “Spin.” Throu...

In this special episode of the Well Aware Podcast, hosted by Aware Recovery Care’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lauren Grawert, listeners are invited into an inspiring conversation about addiction, resilience, and recovery.  Dr. Grawert is joined by best-selling author, speaker, and podcast host Laura Cathcart Robbins. Laura’s memoir, “Stash, My Life In Hiding,” offers a deeply personal look at her...

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast, Aware Recovery Care’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lauren Grawert is joined by author and victim rights expert Jennifer Storm for an insightful conversation on how trauma and addiction go hand-in-hand. Together, they explore the challenges of experiencing addiction at a young age, the long journey of healing from sexual violence, and the struggles faced by t...

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast, host Dr. Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, sits down with Joseph D. Bernard, a nationally recognized Operating Under the Influence (OUI) defense attorney, to explore the critical intersections between the legal system, medical treatment, and addiction recovery. Together, they discuss common misconceptions about addiction within...

In this special Women’s History Month edition of the Well Aware Podcast, host Dr. Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, sits down with Dr. Humaira Siddiqi, a psychiatrist and Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Together, they explore strategies that women can utilize to prioritize their own wellbeing while balancing their personal and professional...

In this episode of The Well Aware Podcast , Dr. Brian Holzer, CEO of Aware Recovery Care, engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Dr. Michael Broman, Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University College of Social Work. Dr. Broman’s research focuses on substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery, with an emphasis on systemic barriers and facilitators to access.  The conversation de...

In this episode of The Well Aware Podcast, Dr. Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, engages in a profound conversation with Jason Coombs, author of Unhooked: How to Help an Addicted Loved One Recover and founder of Brick House Recovery. Jason opens up about his personal journey through addiction and recovery, offering invaluable insights into the complex challenges faced b...

In this episode of The Well Aware Podcast, Dr. Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, engages in a meaningful conversation with renowned author Claudia Black, internationally recognized for her pioneering and contemporary work with family systems and addictive disorders. They explore the intricate challenges faced by individuals with substance use disorders and their familie...

In this episode of The Well Aware Podcast, Dr. Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, engages in a meaningful conversation with Henry Lucas, CEO of the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition. The mission of the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition is to reduce substance addiction overdoses and deaths and the stigma associated with substance use disorder and to offer harm reduction s...

In this episode of The Well Aware Podcast, Dr. Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, engages in a profound conversation with Erin Khar, author of "Strung Out: One Last Hit and Other Lies That Nearly Killed Me." Erin opens up about her personal journey through addiction and recovery, offering invaluable insights into the complex challenges faced by individuals with...

In this episode of The Well Aware Podcast, Dr. Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, engages in an insightful conversation with Sarah Rusbatch, author of "Beyond Booze: How to Create a Life You Love Alcohol-Free." Together, they explore the journey of living alcohol-free and creating a fulfilling life beyond dependency. Sarah shares practical strategies for overco...

In this episode of The Well Aware Podcast, Dr. Lauren Grawert, Chief Medical Officer at Aware Recovery Care, leads a roundtable discussion on detoxing safely with Carrie Grassi, Vice President of Integrated Healthcare Services at Aware, and Aiza Nimeh, Lead Admissions Nurse Practitioner at Aware. The discussion touches on why it’s important to detox with support, the options available today for a...

In this special episode of the Well Aware Podcast, we pay tribute to the brave men and women who serve as first responders in our communities. Hosted by Aware Recovery Care CEO, Brian Holzer, this episode features poignant conversations with Steve Wilcox and Keith Abare, former first responders turned Aware employees. Together, they shine a light on the unique challenges that first responders face...

In this episode of the Well Aware Podcast, host Dr. Lauren Grawert, M.D., sits down with Dr. Brooke Scheller, author of "How to Eat to Change How You Drink: Heal Your Gut, Mend Your Mind, and Improve Nutrition to Change Your Relationship with Alcohol." Dr. Scheller is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition and founder of Functional Sobriety, a nutrition-based program for alcohol reduction. Drawi...

In this special episode of the Well Aware Podcast, hosted by Aware Recovery Care CEO Brian Holzer, listeners are invited to join a candid conversation about the challenges surrounding substance use disorder (SUD) within the Black community. As the host, Brian engages client-facing employees of Aware Recovery Care in insightful discussions about the systemic barriers and historical factors contribu...