Talking Addiction & Recovery

“What happens when you have a nurse and robot dispensing medication?”  Sam Wilson of Opio Connect discusses how technology is transforming opioid treatment programs and methadone access. Sam shares her work with Opio’s Zing and Zing Satellite systems—innovations designed to expand access to methadone, reduce clinic bottlenecks, and free up nurses to focus more on patient care. Listen to the challe...

Joining alongside one another in recovery is challenging - especially without giving a guide map for how this looks or works.  Lisa Katona Smith, author of Parallel Recovery and TEDx speaker, discusses the essential—but often overlooked—role families play in the recovery process.  Lisa shares insights from her work and writing, challenging the traditional labels of “enabling” or “codependent” and...

How are sports changing?  Neil Schwartz, President of SBRNET, provides a deep dive into how sports fandom has evolved—especially since the pandemic. We explore major shifts in fan behavior, including the rapid growth of streaming, the rising cost of live events, changes in athlete-fan interactions, and how sports continue to serve as a vital source of community and entertainment.  Neil also discus...

Sandy Zeldes is a trauma-informed health coach who helps women heal their relationship with food and their bodies through a holistic and compassionate approach.  Sandy shares how she integrates ancestral nutrition, emotional freedom techniques (EFT), and trauma release methods to address the deep emotional roots behind disordered eating, addiction, and self-criticism. She explains how trauma manif...

Enter the vision of a leader who is redefining recovery by treating it not just as cessation of substance use, but as “recovery from life.” In this conversation we dig into how Jeanne Foot, founder of The Recovery Concierge, brings a personalized “concierge” model to treatment and wellness, blending mental-health, trauma-informed care, and whole-person support so that people don’t just survive, th...

Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Dr. Mark Hrymoc, an addiction psychiatrist with six years of experience in ketamine therapy. In this episode, Dr. Hrymoc challenges common misconceptions about addiction and psychiatric treatment, explaining how addiction affects willpower rather than representing a failure of it. We explore the fascinating evolution of ketamine from anesthetic and club...

This episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery features a timely and impactful conversation with Amanda Quintana from the Colorado Lottery, recorded as part of the Gift Responsibly holiday campaign. Together, we dive into the evolving world of responsible gambling, youth gambling awareness, and the collaborative efforts needed across sectors to reduce harm.  Amanda shares her background in respo...

At this year’s National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling, I was fortunate enough to meet Adam Lyons, host of The Modern Meeting Podcast.  We sit down for a casual conversation around gambling-related topics that include changing the narrative that help is not out there, reducing the stigma related to having a problem with gambling and what can be turning points for those...

It’s marked on almost every calendar.  The decorations are waiting to be brought down from the attic or out of the basement.  Most of us would say we are aware of Christmas; but have we actually lost it?  Donna VanLiere, author of The Lost Christmas, talks about the importance of the nativity scene.  She brings it back to discovering that Jesus was born as an outcast, and only a trusted outcast ca...

Communication in relationships is vital; and yet, so many parents and families struggle with having important conversations that can have a significant impact on someone’s future.  In what was inspired by writing letters to his daughters, Kepler Knott, author of “Raising Tomorrow” talks about how to have conversation, healthy dialogue, and the importance of listening when it comes to his message o...

In this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery , we are joined by Julia Brunson, Communications Manager at the National Council on Problem Gambling, about the Gift Responsibly Campaign — an annual initiative educating communities on the risks of giving lottery tickets to children.  Julia shares how the campaign has evolved over the years, expanding from a lottery-focused effort to a broader m...

Life at times can feel like a knot.  Whether that’s the physical tension in our bodies, the emotional turmoil, the mental confusion, or the spiritual exhaustion; many of us can relate to the connection of feeling twisted and the impact it has on several areas of our lives.  Elena Huggins, author of “Untwist Me”, guides readers through common, but often unspoken, challenges like trauma, anxiety, ad...

Unlock true freedom from addiction, trauma, and mental health struggle with Jason Shiers who is founder of The Infinite Recovery Project. Drawing from his own journey through early loss, addiction, and the limits of traditional recovery, Jason reframes the path to healing. He argues that recovery isn’t about perfect fixes or rigid treatments.  It’s about remembering who you already are and reconne...

Join us in a profoundly inspiring episode with Dr. Samantha Harte, author of Breaking the Circuit: How to Rewire Your Mind for Hope, Resilience, and Joy in the Face of Trauma . A doctor of physical therapy, yoga-certified practitioner, and fourteen-year sober survivor, Dr. Harte weaves together her harrowing personal story marked by addiction, betrayal, loss, miscarriages, a mother’s mental illnes...

September was both Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month, two observances that highlight hope, resilience, and the life-saving importance of support. In this special episode, we explore the often-overlooked connection between gambling and suicide—a link that remains hidden to many but is devastatingly real for those struggling. We’ll discuss how gambling helplines not only connect people wit...

“Every life worth living is a story worth telling.”  Born into chaos, Mike Smith, author of “The Gutter Gospel" shares his personal memoir that speaks about addiction, mental health, desperation, and redemption.  His mission has led to providing services and bringing awareness to military veterans.  Based on his own memoir, “I had a supportive wife, a new job, and a baby at home, yet the ache...

Family members and loved ones who have been impacted by someone’s substance use have often tried several different approaches, solutions, and efforts to “fix the problem.”  The efforts and attempts were not short in supply; and yet often family members and loved ones identify feeling frustrated when things haven’t changed.  Sometimes we have to look at what’s in our hands and reflecting on what we...

Would riding hundreds of miles on a bicycle lead to sobriety from alcohol use?  In Sherry Hoppen’s “Sober Cycle: Pedaling Through Recovery One Day at a Time” she describes her journey through alcoholism and recovery.  As she pedalled her way through, she dealt with vulnerability, shame, and isolation of hiding her secret of alcohol use.  Listen as she talks about the family perspective, what her j...

The overdose crisis has left few untouched. Many of us know someone (whether a client, colleague, friend, or family member) who has died from an overdose. For helping professionals, repeated exposure to loss can quietly build a kind of emotional armor.  What happens when that armor turns into desensitization? In this episode, we talk about the hidden grief that comes with working in the midst of t...

Description: What is happening with sports betting?  Jonathan D. Cohen, author of the illuminating Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling . Cohen traces the astonishing evolution of sports wagering from underground parlors to online sportsbooks lobbying for legalization. We dive into what happened with legislation in 2018 and before, the consequences for certain populations, and wha...

Join us for a candid conversation with David Alford (producer, director, writer, and founder) and Joseph Stam (award winner actor, co-director, and co-writer) of Searching for the Elephant . Set against the rugged beauty of a Southern ranch, this powerful drama follows Jason Bowden (Stam) as he reconnects—with his estranged Vietnam‑veteran grandfather, Griff (Rick McVey), and ultimately with himse...

In this enlightening episode join us for a profound conversation with sociologist and psychotherapist Ross Ellenhorn, author of Purple Crayons: The Art of Drawing a Life . Ellenhorn delves into the concept of "sacred originality," exploring how embracing one's unique inner life and creativity can be a transformative force in recovery. Drawing inspiration from the classic children&ap...

Ever wonder what a road trip for recovery would look like?  In Recovery Road Trip: A Journal for Your Journey , author Patti Clark authors a unique, interactive guide designed to support individuals on their personal path to recovery. We explore how journaling can be a powerful tool for reflection, healing, and self-discovery, and how this book offers encouragement, structure, and inspiration for...

In this episode, we welcome Cindy Brinker Simmons, author of "Restored: Reconnecting Life's Broken Pieces." Cindy shares her insights on overcoming personal loss and the importance of choosing joy and trusting God, regardless of circumstances. Join us as we explore practical tools and biblical truths to help navigate life's hardships and find hope and peace. Guest Information:...

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Summers Jr., author of "Hide and Seek: A Dad's Journey From Soulless Addiction to Sole Custody." Paul shares his raw and inspiring story of battling addiction, the transformative path to recovery, and his fight to regain custody of his daughter. Join us as we delve into the depths of addiction, the challenges of the recovery process and other s...