Addiction Uncovered

For years, alcohol controlled Lindsey Kirk’s life. Addiction led her through trauma, homelessness, hospitalizations, and losing contact with her children. But through treatment, support, and relentless determination, Lindsey found a way to rebuild her life. In this episode of Addiction Uncovered, Lindsey joins Jill Nastase to talk about the moment she finally hit rock bottom, the challenges of ear...

In this powerful episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase sits down with Mallory Becker, who shares her deeply personal story of addiction, loss, and recovery. Mallory’s struggles with alcohol began in high school but escalated after the tragic loss of her brother in 2014. Grieving and searching for relief, she turned to alcohol to numb the pain. After multiple treatment attempts, somethi...

In this inspiring episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase sits down with Jason Feregrino, who shares how addiction slowly became part of his identity — and how faith, honesty, and self-reflection helped him break free. Jason opens up about chasing the party lifestyle, realizing he no longer recognized himself, and making the decision to step away from alcohol and substances. After commit...

In this deeply personal episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase sits down with her cousin Joseph (Giuseppe) Nastase, who has been sober since April 21, 2007. Joe shares the raw truth about his early struggles with addiction, mental health challenges, and the years when life felt completely out of control. From self-destructive behavior and homelessness to finding hope through Alcoholics...

Could nutrient deficiencies and nervous system dysregulation be fueling addiction? In this episode of Addiction Uncovered, Malerie Scheffler joins Jill Nastase to explain how blood sugar instability, gut health, dopamine production, and chronic stress impact addictive behaviors. Malerie opens up about her own recovery journey and how learning to regulate her body changed everything. Now she works...

In this powerful episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase interviews Mallory Bowen, a former teen mom who battled addiction, probation, toxic relationships, and self-destruction — and now owns a successful intensive outpatient program in Utah dedicated to helping men reenter society after prison. Mallory shares how addiction began with abandonment wounds, how the “Jaywalker Story” from AA...

In this powerful episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase interviews Cierra, who shares her deeply personal journey through grief, alcohol addiction, medical crises, and recovery. After losing her grandmother during the pandemic, Cierra turned to alcohol to cope — a decision that slowly spiraled into physical dependence, pancreatitis, seizures, withdrawal psychosis, and ultimately detox....

Addiction doesn’t just affect the person struggling — it reshapes entire families. In this powerful episode of Addiction Uncovered, Maraleigh Lewandowski shares her experience as both a therapist and a mother navigating her son’s addiction. She opens up about fear, shame, broken trust, boundaries, and the isolation parents often feel when no one truly understands what they’re going through. A must...

In this powerful episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase interviews George McGinness, a peer recovery coach and advocate whose life was shaped by addiction, trauma, and homelessness — and transformed by recovery. George shares how addiction began at a young age after a traumatic loss, the overdose that nearly took his life, and how recovery led him to become a voice for people experienci...

What does long-term recovery really look like? In this episode of Addiction Uncovered, Roland Nielson shares how addiction shaped his childhood, escalated through adolescence, and followed him across the country — until fatherhood changed everything. Interviewed by Jill Nastase, Roland reflects on what finally made sobriety stick, how community support saved his life, and why recovery today is fil...

In this episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase sits down with Haley Ehlers to talk honestly about addiction, relapse, and the hard work of rebuilding self-worth. Haley opens up about where her addiction began, how trauma shaped her recovery journey, and why relapse didn’t mean failure — it became part of her healing. This conversation is raw, compassionate, and filled with hope for anyo...

In a powerful twist for Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase sits on the other side of the mic as her best friend Collette Grimm interviews her about her personal journey through anxiety, motherhood, alcohol dependency, and finally—sobriety. This is Jill at her most honest, vulnerable, and inspiring. If you’re considering sobriety—or just curious about what it feels like—this episode is for you....

In this powerful episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase sits down with Davin Cole, a retired law enforcement officer, to discuss addiction and recovery within the first responder community. Davin shares how a line-of-duty injury led to long-term opioid use, how PTSD quietly shaped his addiction, and why asking for help can feel impossible for those trained to protect others. This conver...

What does healing look like when you begin from rock bottom? In this episode of Addiction Uncovered, Paul Weishapl shares how addiction consumed most of his adult life — and how prison unexpectedly became the place where he found sobriety, mindfulness, purpose, and a sense of identity beyond his past. Today, Paul teaches harm reduction strategies and compassion-centered care for people who use dru...

In this powerful episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase sits down with Marine Corps veteran Coby Bendig, who opens up about his early addiction, trauma from multiple deployments, and the years he spent battling alcohol and drug use. Coby shares his raw and emotional journey—from underage drinking and combat trauma to PTSD treatment, hallucinogenic-assisted breakthroughs, and a pivotal a...

In this heartfelt episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase talks with Heather Bird, a licensed therapist and social worker with over 30 years in the human services field. Heather opens up about her personal story — losing her father to alcoholism — and how that experience shaped her mission to help families heal from addiction. Through candid reflection and professional insight, Heather d...

After years of addiction, homelessness, and misdiagnosis, Tracey Curtis found recovery through faith, honesty, and the 12 steps. In this emotional episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase talks with Tracey about her road to 19 years of sobriety, rebuilding trust, and learning to live with purpose. Tracey’s journey from chaos to clarity is a powerful reminder that recovery is possible — bu...

After years of substance abuse, arrests, and self-destruction, Corey Allmendinger made a decision that changed everything. Now 12 years sober, he’s a licensed counselor, husband, father of eight daughters, and mentor to others in recovery. In this heartfelt conversation, host Jill Nastase and Corey explore the turning points that led to his transformation — from early substance use in junior high...

After a ten-year battle with opioid addiction, Dave Ogden Jr. found his path to recovery — and a new mission to help others do the same. In this heartfelt conversation on Addiction Uncovered, Jill Nastase explores Dave’s experiences with withdrawal, relapse, Suboxone treatment, and what finally helped him turn his life around. Today, Dave works in counseling, helping others navigate recovery with...

In this episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase speaks with Amy Holman, project manager at the Nebraska Pharmacists Association, who oversees programs on Narcan distribution and safe medication disposal. Amy shares her unique perspective as someone who loves a person struggling with substance use disorder, while also leading statewide overdose prevention efforts. She opens up about navig...

In this emotional episode of Addiction Uncovered, host Jill Nastase sits down with Kayla Allmendinger, founder of The Healing Path, to share her incredible journey from addiction and loss to faith, sobriety, and building a recovery clinic that changes lives. Kayla opens up about her darkest days of meth addiction, the moment she turned everything over to a higher power, and the transformation that...

Jeremy’s addiction began when he was just 12 years old, leading to DUIs, drug use, and countless broken promises. Valerie stood by him until she couldn’t anymore—delivering the ultimatum that changed everything. In this Addiction Uncovered conversation, host Jill Nastase sits with Jeremy & Valerie Vargas to talk about recovery, faith, and the hard work of rebuilding trust in marriage. Their journe...

“Sobriety is my superpower.” That’s how Erin describes her transformation after years of drinking to escape pain. In this episode of Addiction Uncovered, Jill Nastase talks with Erin about growing up with trauma, struggling with perfectionism, and the life-altering moments that led her to quit drinking for good. Through ayahuasca, therapy, and support from family, Erin discovered a deep resilience...

I'm Jill, a Licensed mental health and addiction counselor, and a sober mom of 2 teens. With over 15 years of experience in behavioral health, I've listened to countless stories from those grappling with addiction and pursuing recovery. These stories inspired me to establish a space where people can share their experiences, bringing hope to those currently facing addiction. We’ll talk about what i...