In a time when many people seem to acquire their self worth through social media followers and likes, Vanessa McGowan talks about letting our priorities guide our choices and decisions as we cope with life’s challenges. Vanessa is a New Zealand-born musician, writer, and entrepreneur based in Nashville, Tennessee, and Door County, Wisconsin. Vanessa’s “Musician’s Hierarchy of Needs" has implications for those in recovery as well as for those just trying to live their best lives. Vanessa’s contac...
Aug 31, 2022•31 min
Raised just outside Frankfurt, Germany, Stella Terner was allowed to sample alcohol from a young age by dipping her finger in her parent’s beer and wine. She could buy beer at sixteen. The norm during her teenage years was to not drink to excess but to have a glass of wine with dinner. Now at the University of Mannheim, the same cultural norms are in place: no drinking to get drunk, no drinking just to drink. Stella compares the culture of alcohol consumption she grew up with with her observatio...
Aug 24, 2022•25 min
What would our country be like if average Americans drank three times as much alcohol as they do today? We don’t have to imagine; that’s the way it used to be. Travis Spangenburg discusses the rise of the Temperance movement in our country and the many parallels to the issues in our culture today. Travis is the Creative and Production Manager at the American Prohibition Museum in Savannah, Georgia. He talks about the role heavy alcohol consumption played in the lives of average Americans and the...
Aug 17, 2022•38 min
There isn’t just one way to treat opioid dependency. Dr. Selahattin Kurter discusses harm reduction, medication for addiction treatment, and his clinic’s work with clients with substance use disorders. The key to success is treating all of the issues concurrently and using all of the tools available. Selahattin Kurter, MD, is the Executive Director of West Grove Clinic. Dr. Kurter is one of Milwaukee's leading experts in the field of Addiction Medicine. He carries a dual board certification in A...
Aug 10, 2022•28 min
Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman and Kenosha County’s Behavioral Health Manager Kari Foss discuss the ongoing opioid epidemic and efforts to address that and other substance abuse issues in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Ms. Kerkman and Ms. Foss propose that working together to bring the county resources to those who need them, where they live, is what will make the difference in the lives of those they serve. The Mental Health and Substance Resource Center in Kenosha County can be reached ...
Aug 03, 2022•27 min
The coffee shops of Amsterdam in the Netherlands are legendary but not for their coffee. Other countries and cultures address drug usage differently than in the United States. Paul Bierman talks about the coffee shops of Amsterdam, where, despite it being illegal, cannabis usage is allowed. Paul Bierman is a professional trainer and founder of Tourist Run Amsterdam, and on this podcast he discusses the evolution and effects of the drug tolerance policy in the Netherlands. He gives a variety of t...
Jul 27, 2022•23 min
Congressman Bryan Steil discusses the ongoing opiate epidemic and what the federal government is doing to address the flood of fentanyl analogs coming into the country while also assisting those in need. Representative Steil believes it’s a combination of education, interdiction, legislation, and treatment that will make the difference in stemming the tide of the opiate epidemic. Congressman Steil represents Wisconsin's First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. ...
Jul 20, 2022•14 min
Zach’s problem with opiates started at age thirteen with a doctor’s prescription. By the time he finally got into long-term recovery he was homeless and using the strongest street opiates he could find, hoping to not wake up. Zach’s ongoing story is one of resilience, hope, and life. Recovery is possible. If you or a loved one needs help, it is available. To contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, call 262-658-8166, or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org . Yo...
Jul 13, 2022•27 min
Cade Reddington and Logan Rachwal are two of the more than 100,000 individuals who lost their lives last year to a synthetic opioid overdose in the United States. Their moms, Michelle Kullmann and Erin Rachwal, discuss their fight to bring awareness to this epidemic and their own personal battles with their grief due to their sons' deadly fentanyl overdoses. If you or a loved one has a substance use disorder, help is available. Locally, resources can be found at 211 Wisconsin: https://211wiscons...
Jul 06, 2022•32 min
It doesn’t matter where you live, drugs are available. Detective Mike Osmond, an Investigator with the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, discusses the prevalence and increase in street drug usage, overdose deaths, and fentanyl. It’s the partnership of law enforcement, education, and treatment that Detective Osmond believes makes a difference in communities. The Wisconsin Alliance for Drug Endangered Children can be reached at http://www.wisconsindec.org/home.html . Detective Osmond can be reached...
Jun 29, 2022•25 min
How do you cope with losing someone you love to an overdose death? Jason Fritz talks about the life and legacy of his brother Terry, who passed away with a needle in his lap, alone, in his car, across the street from a police station. Jason is a Treatment Advocate and Business Development Officer with the Recovery Centers of America. Information about he memorial golf tournament Jason talks about is at https://www.terryfritzmemorial.org
Jun 22, 2022•32 min
Are suffering, long-term pain, and surrender necessary before individuals address their substance abuse? Dr. Peg O’Connor echos the sentiments of the philosopher William James and says “absolutely not.” Peg O’Connor, PhD, is a Professor of Philosophy at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She believes that philosophy helped her address her addiction and aided in her recovery. Dr. O’Connor’s expertise has been featured on BBC’s Free Thinking and Canadian Public Radio’s On Drugs pod...
Jun 15, 2022•43 min
How does a person overcome dropping out of school, substance abuse, and a mountain of trouble? Tiffany talks about how she has turned her life around. She chose life and recovery. Her infectious optimism and determination are the foundations of her recovery, If you are concerned about your use, you can call: 262-564-6611. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://www.sefana.net/meetings.php...
Jun 08, 2022•23 min
Less structure, more down time, and the availability of almost every chemical you can think of, including some you’ve never heard of, presents summer challenges for families. Shauna Blackledge, a Community Impact Coordinator with the United Way of Door County, talks about how to help young people make good decisions about alcohol and other drugs during the summer. Shauna and the Door County AOD Coalition can be reached.
Jun 01, 2022•24 min
The average teenager spends more time in front of a device’s screen than sleeping. As technology becomes more prevalent, the development of life skills are being delayed or lost. Gretchen Pederson discusses what she sees happening to the youth she works with as a school counselor and why she sponsored an evening for her community to discuss the effects of screen time on teenagers. Gretchen is a School Counselor with the Boyceville School District in Boyceville, Wisconsin. The film she showed to ...
May 25, 2022•25 min
Alcohol consumption rose substantially during the pandemic. Tragically, yet predictably, alcohol-induced and alcohol-related deaths also rose. Maureen Busalacchi and Felice Borisy-Rudin of the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project discuss the implications of that rise and what communities can do to address the issue, which costs our businesses economically, strains our helping systems, and leaves many families mourning the loss of loved ones. Maureen is the Director, and Felice is a Policy Analyst wi...
May 18, 2022•26 min
When your loved ones tell you that you have a drinking problem, you do. DJ didn’t want to believe it, but he knew it was true and trusted those who loved him. He talks about making the decision to sign on to a virtual AA meeting. He has been in recovery since. If you are concerned about your use, you can choose life and recovery. To contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, call 262-658-8166, or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org . You can also find AA meeting...
May 11, 2022•25 min
Substance use delays emotional and social growth. The earlier and longer someone uses, the greater the need in recovery to discover new ways of coping with life and relationships. Jeannie Seefeldt talks about what works to help people with addiction acquire the skills they need to discover their moral, creative selves. Jeannie is a therapist and consultant with The Wellness Initiative in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She can be reached at jeannie.seefeldt@outlook.com . If you need help with your substance...
May 04, 2022•27 min
Tim’s father gave him his first taste of alcohol at age seven. By age fifteen, Tim was drinking regularly and trying almost every drug he came into contact with. Several attempts at treatment and recovery ended in relapse. Decades later, Tim found SMART Recovery and has now been drug-free for the longest period in his life since adolescence. He discusses what he has learned and how he applies the program to his life. If you are interested in learning more about SMART Recovery, information is ava...
Apr 27, 2022•26 min
One size doesn’t fit all in recovery. Finding people and programs that work for you is all that matters. Carrie Szulczewski is a Certified Recovery Coach and Program Coordinator for Bridges Community Center, a program of Kenosha Human Development Services. Carrie discusses SMART Recovery support groups and the many other programs available at Bridges Community Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin. If you are interested in learning more about SMART Recovery, information is available at https://www.smartr...
Apr 20, 2022•17 min
We hear it all the time: “Nothing works.” “Kids will be kids.” “They’re going to do it anyway.” Those statements, often repeated by adults, about prevention education for our youth could not be more wrong. Annie Lisowski is a Professor of Youth Development with the University of Wisconsin Extension. She discusses the role of prevention in helping our youth make good decisions and avoid the pitfalls of previous generations. Information about the Buffalo County Partnership and their youth developm...
Apr 13, 2022•26 min
Sr. Elise Cholewinski is a member of the community of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She discusses the role of spirituality in recovery and the many opportunities for reflection offered through the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Reflection often brings us face to face with the issues we’ve tried to avoid but need to look at so we may forgive ourselves. For information about the retreats offered at the Jesuit Retreat House on Lake Winnebago, go ...
Apr 06, 2022•22 min
Spirituality plays a large role for many individuals in recovery. Three women, Beth, Nanci, and Sharon, talk about the importance of spirituality in their lives, their recovery, and how they stay connected to that power greater than themselves. If you or a loved one has a substance use disorder, help is available. Locally, resources can be found at 211 Wisconsin: https://211wisconsin.communityos.org . You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings...
Mar 30, 2022•31 min
Over the past two years alcohol consumption increased dramatically. Mark Sommerhauser discusses the role alcohol consumption played in people’s lives during the pandemic. Many people chose to deal with their isolation, increased stress, and anxiety by drinking more alcohol. In Wisconsin, all seventy two counties reported increases in excessive drinking. Mr. Sommerhauser is Communications Director/Policy Researcher for the Wisconsin Policy Forum. Their research can be accessed at https://wispolic...
Mar 23, 2022•26 min
Best selling author Jarrett J. Krosoczka talks about growing up in a family coping with opioid addiction. Over nine million children in the United States under the age of 17 live in households with at least one parent who has a substance use disorder. Substance abuse wreaks havoc on the entire family, and, most tragically, the children. Jarrett J. Krosoczka is a New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady g...
Mar 16, 2022•37 min
Anna Bunker discusses the mental health crisis among young people in our country. A forty percent rise in emergency room visits for young women who have attempted suicide and a demand for mental health treatment that has not been met are indicators of a burgeoning mental health crisis for our youth. Anna Bunker is Prevention Education Manager and Youth/Teen Advocate at Reach Counseling Services in Neenah, Wisconsin, and a Youth and Teen Support Specialist at NAMI in Wisconsin’s Fox Valley. If yo...
Mar 09, 2022•31 min
Amanda began drinking at age twelve. At twenty she knew she had to stop so she could keep on living. She talks about navigating a path to sobriety using online meetings, sponsors, and a growing recovering community. Healthy, happy, and dedicated to her recovery program, Amanda keeps her cup of water close and her support system closer. If you are concerned about your use, you can call: 262-564-6611 . You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings ...
Mar 02, 2022•33 min
When young people use substances, lots of things happen, all of them bad. Substance abuse adversely affects an adolescent's physical, emotional, and social development. Dr. Michelle Maloney and Dr. Sean LeNoue discuss the impact substance use disorders have on adolescents and their families. Michelle Maloney, PhD, is Executive Director of Addiction Services for Rogers Behavioral Health system. Sean LeNoue, MD, is the Associate Medical Director for the Regional Division at Rogers Behavioral Healt...
Feb 23, 2022•27 min
Cade Reddington, an eighteen-year-old college freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee passed away after taking a pill he didn’t know was one hundred percent fentanyl. His mother Michelle Kullmann talks about Cade’s life, his tragic passing, and her fight to make sure no other mother wakes up to this nightmare. If you or a loved one has a substance use disorder, help is available. The documentary Michelle mentions is, dead on arrival, and can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube....
Feb 16, 2022•24 min
Over 100,000 Americans died from drug overdose in the past year. Paul Krupski talks about the ongoing epidemic of opiate use, the prevalence of fentanyl in street drugs, and what works to stem the tide. Mr. Krupski is the Director of Opioid Initiatives with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. He can be reached at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/people/krupski-paul . Resilient Wisconsin can be found at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/resilient/index.htm . If you or a loved one needs help wit...
Feb 09, 2022•21 min
