Sharing With Out Shame

Family addiction doesn't only affect the person using drugs or alcohol—it impacts every person who loves them. In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna Marston welcomes Dr. Rita Renee, TEDx speaker, author, coach, and founder of Ultimate Powerhouse. While Dr. Rita never struggled with addiction herself, she grew up surrounded by it. Her mother battled alcoholism, her brother struggled w...

What happens when addiction, mental illness, and unresolved trauma collide within a family? In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna Marston welcomes Burton Fischler, a trauma survivor, Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor, life coach, and author of The Gift: From Trauma to Triumph. Burton shares the unimaginable losses that reshaped his life—including the murder of his wife by h...

In this episode, Donna Marston sits down with Bonnie Tisdale, mother, business owner, recovery advocate, and author of Messy in the Middle: Love, Addiction, and All the Rest. Bonnie shares the heartbreaking story of losing her son, Frankie, to addiction in 2021 and the lessons she learned navigating years of uncertainty, hope, recovery attempts, relapse, and grief. Together, Donna and Bonnie discu...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna Marston sits down with author, speaker, and recovery advocate Ashley Jo for an honest conversation about addiction, grief, recovery, and resilience. Ashley shares her unique experience of living on both sides of addiction — first as the wife of someone battling opioid addiction and later as someone navigating her own substance use disorder and recove...

In this episode of the Sharing Without Shame podcast, Donna Marston sits down with recovery coach and author Jeannie Miller to discuss addiction, grief, mindfulness, and the lifelong journey of healing. Jeannie shares her powerful story of becoming alcohol-free after years of functioning alcoholism, unresolved grief, and emotional pain following the loss of her first husband to cancer. Together, D...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna Marston sits down with psychotherapist and global movement founder Cătălina Popoveniuc to explore the deep impact of shame, toxic relationships, and the silence that keeps so many people stuck. Drawing from both personal experience and years of professional work, Cătălina shares how shame is often rooted in childhood and reinforced by culture—leaving...

In this episode, Donna Marston sits down with Dr. Janelle Martin—licensed counselor, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of The Mind Connection—to unpack the raw reality of parenting a child through addiction. Janelle bravely shares her story of navigating divorce, parental alienation, and the devastating discovery of her daughter’s drug use. From denial and desperation to treatment and...

In this episode, Donna sits down with Jacqueline Williams to explore the realities of healing, resilience, and the emotional journey that comes with navigating addiction and its ripple effects. Jacqueline shares her personal story with vulnerability and strength, offering listeners insight into what it truly means to face pain, process trauma, and choose healing, even when it’s uncomfortable. This...

What happens when a mental health expert has lived the very pain they now help others overcome? In this deeply honest episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna Marston sits down with Jamie Hughes—author, trauma specialist, and mental health advocate—who shares his powerful journey through childhood trauma, depression, and a suicide attempt at 18. Jamie opens up about what it really feels like to liv...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna dives into the raw realities families face when addiction enters the home. This conversation explores the emotional toll, the misconceptions that keep families stuck, and the critical shift from waiting for “rock bottom” to recognizing when enough is enough. Through honest storytelling and lived experience, this episode challenges stigma, breaks down...

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Donna sits down with Kerry Norton, co-founder and Executive Director of Hope on Haven Hill, a recovery residence program serving pregnant and parenting women. Kerry shares her personal journey as a mother navigating her son’s heroin addiction, the heartbreak of trying to access treatment, and the hard lessons learned about boundaries, family unity, and...

Shame, guilt, and addiction don’t have to define your story. In this episode, Donna Marston welcomes Dr. Tom Horvath, a board-certified clinical psychologist, co-founder of SMART Recovery, and pioneer in science-based addiction support. Together, they explore the role of shame and guilt, why recovery is not one-size-fits-all, and how families can support a loved one without losing themselves in th...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna Marston sits down with Anne Peshka to explore how trauma, shame, addiction, and grief can be transformed into healing, purpose, and gratitude. Anne shares her powerful life story, including childhood trauma, addiction, recovery, motherhood, grief, and the moment she realized she was worth fighting for. Together, Donna and Anne have a compassionate, r...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna Marston welcomes Darlene Lancer, licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and internationally recognized expert on codependency, shame, and emotional healing. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Darlene shares how shame often sits at the core of addiction, codependency, anxiety, depression, and unhealthy family dynamics—and why healing...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna sits down with Karrie Mitten, CEO and founder of Uplevel Your Life Consulting, a transformational life-mastery consultant, speaker, and empowerment coach. Karrie opens up about growing up in an addicted household, becoming a perfectionistic “fixer,” and facing her son’s addiction—only to discover that the real healing had to begin within herself. Tog...

In this heartfelt episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna sits down with Dion Miller, counselor, recovery advocate, and host of Trudging Together. Dion opens up about his journey from addiction and absentee fatherhood to healing and rebuilding trust with his children. Together, Donna and Dion dive into the family side of addiction, the importance of taking responsibility, and what it truly means t...

In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Lauren Sisler, an ESPN sports broadcaster, motivational speaker, and author of the memoir "Shatterproof." Lauren's work focuses on breaking the stigma around addiction and mental health, particularly within communities of athletes, the military, and faith groups. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Power of Truth and Vulnerabil...

In this episode of the Sharing Without Shame podcast, host Donna Marston welcomes Ian McLoone, a licensed addiction psychotherapist, educator, and co-founder of Expanse in Minnesota. Together, they dive into the realities of addiction treatment, the importance of family healing, and the hope that recovery brings. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: - Why methadone and other medications for opioid u...

In this episode, Donna welcomes Katie Anderson, a proud mom and a woman in long-term recovery with over 9 years of sobriety. Katie shares her journey from addiction to healing, the role of family, and the powerful lessons she’s learned about resilience, spirituality, and breaking generational cycles. Topics Covered: - Katie’s path into addiction and what led her to recovery - The role of family dy...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, Donna Marston welcomes author and journalist Mallary Tenore Tarpley to talk about her ongoing recovery journey from an eating disorder. Mallory shares how her disorder began after the loss of her mother, how shame kept her silent, and how she now embraces the "middle place"—a space between illness and full recovery that so many experience but few talk abou...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, host Donna Marston sits down with transformative coach Jason Shiers to talk about his powerful journey from addiction to healing. Jason opens up about growing up with trauma, hiding his past, and how he eventually found freedom by being honest about his story. They talk about what recovery really means, how important it is to stop chasing perfection, and w...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, host Donna Marston sits down with Richard Evans, a former firefighter and paramedic turned addiction counselor, to explore the emotional weight and trauma that often go unseen in high-stress professions. With brutal honesty, Richard shares his journey from the rush of saving lives to the depths of addiction, burnout, and a near-suicidal spiral—all while ju...

In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, host Donna Marston welcomes Jennifer Young — mother of three and founder of the ConnectMio app — to talk about the raw reality of living with a partner struggling with alcohol use disorder. Jennifer opens up about the isolation, emotional exhaustion, and hidden grief that came with loving someone through active addiction. Jennifer opens up about her decisi...

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Ginty — a survivor, mother, and the voice behind Moody Monster, a page dedicated to mental health, emotional expression, and self-compassion. Jennifer shares her powerful story of surviving childhood sexual abuse, navigating toxic shame, and the long road to healing. She opens up about the years of dissociation, depression, and feeling unseen, and how rec...

In this episode of the Sharing Without Shame podcast, host Donna Marston sits down with Barb Nangle, a former people-pleaser turned boundaries coach, who shares her deeply personal journey from codependency to empowerment. Barb opens up about a pivotal moment in her life when helping a homeless friend led her to hit a codependent bottom, ultimately guiding her into the world of recovery through Co...