The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return

When Alexis Pleus, a civil engineer and dedicated educator, lost her son Jeff to a heroin overdose, she discovered that everything she'd been taught about addiction was wrong. This devastating truth ignited a new mission. In this powerful episode, Alexis, founder of Truth Pharm, shares her journey from grief to advocacy. She reveals the false dogma that failed her family and now drives her to spar...

For years, Sarah Hornbuckle lived through the hidden struggles of addiction and domestic violence. Then, in 2016, she found her way into recovery and never looked back. Now, as a certified Peer Support Specialist and a leader at the Hornbuckle Foundation, she's dedicated to lighting a fire for recovery in others. The Hornbuckle Foundation has awarded over 580 sober living scholarships, helping peo...

Theo Fleury was on top of the world. A Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, he had everything a hockey star could dream of. But behind the glory, a dark and self-destructive battle was raging. Fleury wasn't just playing with fire—he was engulfed by it. In this powerful episode, hear the raw, unfiltered story of how Fleury's life spiraled out of control. He shares the chilling truth behi...

Duke Rumely is a former alcoholic who has been sober since 1989. Since then he realized that what was needed at concerts and sporting events was an area for those who are sober and trying to remain that way. He founded Sober AF Entertainment and is making great strides in leading the sober movement - making sober the popular to be for young and old alike. For information on upcoming events with SA...

Steven May is a federal whistleblower who took on one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world: Purdue Pharma. His case, which once reached the Supreme Court, exposed what he believes was a calculated fraud that led to the approval of OxyContin and helped create the opioid crisis. In this powerful interview, May shares the eye-opening details he uncovered during discovery. He reveals h...

For anyone feeling stuck, unheard, or defined by their past, Hakeem McFarlane's story is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to rewrite your narrative. From overcoming a 20-year probation sentence to breaking free from the generational cycle of addiction, Hakeem shares how he transformed personal pain into purpose. He's spoken in every kind of space imaginable, from Bronx classrooms to co...

Ed Bisch is an activist who founded Relatives Against Purdue Pharma (RAPP) after his son, Eddie, died from an OxyContin overdose in 2001. After Eddie's death, Ed started a website to warn others about the dangers of OxyContin and began connecting with other parents who had lost children to the drug. This led to the formation of RAPP, a group that has been actively protesting and seeking to hold Pu...

  You don't want to miss this interview with  Beatty Carmichael , a spiritual health breakthrough expert who has a created a prayer-based process that has helped thousands of people break free from addiction, trauma, emotional torment, and chronic pain. What makes his approach so unique is that it is not based on religion, therapy, or medication, but on the science of how spiritual laws govern bre...

Meet Mike Grant. Six years ago, he was in an intensive diversion program for habitual drunk driving. Now, he's a 100-mile ultra-marathoner, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and the author of the gritty, honest memoir, (Re)Making A Sandwich. This interview will shock and inspire you. Mike reveals the raw truth of his recovery journey, from hitting the streets with his 4-year-old son to conquering...

Get Ready for a Deep Dive Into Global Drug Enforcement and National Security Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Derek S. Maltz , a 28-year veteran of the DEA and one of the most influential voices in the fight against transnational crime. As the former Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Special Operations Division (SOD) , Derek led over 500 personnel and helped coordinate the capture o...

Denise Barnes was living a full and faith-filled life in sunny San Diego—a devoted mother of three, a wife, a surfer, and a woman grounded in love and purpose. But everything changed the day her youngest son unknowingly took a single pill laced with fentanyl. Narcan was administered… but 911 was never called. That one missed step cost him his life. Now, Denise is on a powerful mission to make sure...

What happens when one woman refuses to stay silent in the face of devastation? Meet Julieta, a powerhouse advocate whose journey from the border town of Juarez, Mexico, to global stages is anything but ordinary. Raised in a community ravaged by drug abuse, Julieta didn't just witness the damage—she decided to fight it. Since 2007, she's led the Florida chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free Wor...

Chris Janssen, MA, BCC is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, and results coach in performance and mindset. Her award-winning books include "Grace Yourself: How to Show Up for the Sober Life You Want" https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637633378?tag=simonsayscom and "Living All In: How to Show Up for the Life You Want" https://www.amazon.com/Living-All-Show-Life-Want/dp/B0BH8C5Z7B  Chris has wor...

Although best known for her comedy, Tiffany Jenkins is incredibly passionate about bringing awareness to mental illness and addiction. She travels the nation to speak at high schools, jails, rehab centers, and conferences about her own personal experiences with addiction and recovery. Beloved for her complete authenticity, raw honesty, and lovable humor, Tiffany Jenkins is the human voice of the o...

Matthew (Matt) A. Tyner, Sr. is the author of Fast and Hard: From Addictions to Redemption .    He is a man who has reinvented himself and has invested his second chance at life with building positive relationships with those around him. Matt is best known for his work as a college baseball coach, but many know him as a walk-on baseball player from the prestigious University of Miami Baseball prog...

Dancing since the age of 5, Sybil Stanonis' first love was tap. Taking classes and competing with top level recognition in tap, ballet and jazz throughout childhood; she knew dance was a passion. Her competition success provided her invitations to dance across Russia (Leningrad, Minsk, Moscow ) and Denmark (Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen). Her professional credits include 2 seasons as a NFL Cheerleade...

Rob Lohman's battle with addiction began at just 14 years old, fueled by a family history of alcoholism. Throughout his teenage and young adult years, he lived a chaotic, chameleon-like existence, losing his true identity to drinking and drug use. Despite the mistakes he made during those years, Rob credits his journey with giving him the powerful stories he now uses to help others move from addic...

Bob Kinney is a recovered alcoholic after an 18-year battle of severe alcoholism. He is a father of six children and has 12 grandchildren. He is a veteran with a heart for homeless veterans. He is a Christian, retired carpenter, and devoted father and grandpa, residing in New Hope, MN. He is the author of Kill Me or Cure Me, a memoir published in 2024 which relives the story of his addiction and e...

Success isn't just about climbing the ladder—it's about helping others climb it too. That's the heart of Nick Jonsson, co-founder and Managing Director of EGN (Executives' Global Network) across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Through EGN, Nick has built a lifeline for 800+ senior leaders—a safe space for connection, strategy, and real talk in the high-stakes, often isolating world of executiv...

Dr. Frederic Luskin is a psychologist who has been teaching at Stanford University for the past 30 years. He has a Ph. D in Counseling and Health Psychology from Stanford University and holds clinical licenses as a Psychologist and a Marriage and Family Counselor.  Currently he is on the faculty for the GSB Executive Education program where he teaches mindfulness, emotional intelligence, psycholog...

Dan Zsido has had 15 years of narcotics investigative experience with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. He established and supervised the Strategic Diversion Task Force investigating pharmaceutical crimes, doctor shopping, fraud, trafficking and more. Currently Dan is the Training and Education Director at NADDI (National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators) - The Training and Educatio...

A successful businesswoman and well-known political leader, Congresswoman Mary Bono (ret.) was hailed as the "embodiment of powerful American womanhood" by the Washington Times, rising to become Chairman of the influential U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. In April of 2022, Mary was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Merit Award from her alma mater, the Univer...

Julieta's powerful journey from the border town of Juarez, Mexico, to becoming a relentless advocate for drug education is nothing short of inspiring. Growing up in a community deeply affected by drug abuse, she witnessed firsthand not only the devastating impact on individuals but the ripple effect it had on entire neighborhoods. Realizing the urgent need for education and awareness, she became f...

Lang Martinez, a resident of Los Angeles, CA, has successfully transformed his life's challenges into a compelling narrative of resilience.  As a Trauma Survivor, Unconventional Advocate, Recovery Mentor, Hope Dealer and Speaker. Martinez leverages his experiences of sexual abuse and rape as a minor to advocate for the homeless, employing a peer-to-peer approach recognized in various publications,...

Dedee Pfeiffer, celebrated actress and younger sister of Michelle Pfeiffer, is known for her roles in hit shows like *Cybill* and *For Your Love* and her recent return to television as Denise Brisbane in ABC's *Big Sky.* But Dedee's journey is far more compelling than her screen credits alone. After stepping away from Hollywood for a decade to confront her alcohol addiction and raise her children...