My guest is Cierra Eastep, who is dedicated to making a positive impact in the Oklahoma recovery community. With a background in peer recovery support and behavioral health case management, she has pursued a career as a certified professional recovery coach. And as a person in long-term recovery with 5 years of sobriety, she has used many different avenues of recovery to shape her own journey, allowing her to relate to clients who seek diverse paths to their own recovery. As a recovery coach, Ci...
Apr 16, 2025•49 min
My guest is Hayley Twyman Brack, who is a mental health therapist and Director of Education and Community Outreach with Edmond Counseling & Professional Development and the Oklahoma Counseling Institute. Hayley was born and raised in western Oklahoma, where her grandparents farmed and her parents kept the western furniture and apparel store downtown. Hayley completed her undergraduate education at Oklahoma State University, earning an Honors College degree in Psychology, as well as a degree ...
Apr 02, 2025•53 min
My guest is Amy LaRue. In 2015 Amy’s family faced the biggest storm they had ever walked through. She remembers feeling helpless, angry, frustrated, lonely, and hopeless. She couldn’t believe addiction had taken over her family. Within six months Amy had hit her rock bottom as a loved one of an alcoholic. She decided a change needed to be made and began to seek help for herself. That is when she attended her first Finding Hope meeting. Because of Finding Hope, Amy learned she was not alone, it w...
Aug 02, 2023•52 min•Ep. 59
My guest is Caleb Klusmeyer, a 31-year-old father of 3 who is in long term recovery from drugs and alcohol. Caleb has not had a drink or drug since Jan 21st of 2015. He is passionate about recovery and helping others find their own path. Caleb has worked in treatment for just shy of 7 years, finding his first job in the field in Prescott Arizona. Connect with my guest: You can connect with Caleb Klusmeyer by email at cklusmeyer@thevirtuecenter.org or by phone at 405-321-0022. Resources mentioned...
May 10, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 57
My guest is Drew LaBoon, who is the Director of Admission and Outreach for Country Road Recovery Center, a Pathways Treatment Facility. He has been there since June 2020. Prior to that, he worked various jobs in the defense contracting industry following his retirement from the military in 2016. Drew served honorably under United States Special Operations Command for 17 years, has 13 combat deployments, and numerous awards and decorations. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Boston...
Apr 05, 2023•51 min•Ep. 57
My guest is Donovan Woods, who currently serves as the Director of Development for the Oklahoma State University Foundation, focusing efforts on the OSU – Oklahoma City Campus, and OSU Institutional Diversity. His primary role at the OSU Foundation is identifying, cultivating, and soliciting ongoing relationships with major gift prospects for the University. This involves coordinating closely with the President of OSU-OKC and other administrators in providing oversight of fundraising programs. P...
Jan 25, 2023•56 min•Ep. 56
My guest is Stephany Cochran, who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Green Shoe Foundation, a mental health non-profit organization that offers a 5-day group therapy retreat for adults 21 and older with a focus on healing from childhood trauma. Stephany earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master’s of Science in Counseling and Student Services from the University of North Texas. She is passionate about helping others reach their full potential through compassion, leadersh...
Jan 11, 2023•52 min•Ep. 55
My guest is Mason Phillips, who is just a plain Oklahoma boy. He was born and raised right here, watching the Pokes play on Saturdays, fishing in the cool early weekend mornings, church every Sunday morning, and catching as many baseball games as he can. There was a time when he thought he would be a big music star, but somewhere along the way he took one psychology class and he was in love. No one would ever be impressed by his ACT score or GPA. But one thing is for sure, Mason makes even 30 mi...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 54
My guest is Tisha Rowe, who is a substance abuse therapist currently under supervision. Tisha has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix and her master’s in arts from the University of Central Oklahoma. She’s married and has a blended family with 6 children. Tisha enjoys spending time traveling with her husband and children. She’s passionate about helping others that struggle with addiction. Tisha is currently working at a comprehensive treatment center that dispenses m...
Oct 12, 2022•57 min•Ep. 53
My guest is Ashlee Trammel, who is a 38-year-old mother of 3 beautiful children. She’s a grateful recovering addict that has struggled with addiction more years than she hasn’t. Ashlee has been in recovery for over 2 years and has worked the program and continued doing the next right thing. The catalyst in her story was losing custody of her youngest daughter due to her addiction. She was making poor choices and her mom stepped in with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) to protect h...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 52
My guest is Joe Kendrick, who currently serves as the Executive Director of Christian Mission for the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. Joe has a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from The Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. He is married to Lacy Kendrick, the Vice President of Financial Development for the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City, and they have two boys: Connor, and Duncan, who are his absolute favorites. In his spare time, Joe volunteers as a coach for the YMCA, with Community...
Sep 14, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 51
My guest is Mrs. Ella Jefferson-Speed, also known as “Sista-Soul Survivor,” who is the founder and CEO of the non-profit Soul Survivor Supportive Living Foundation. A California native, who has lived in Oklahoma for over 20 years, Mrs. Jefferson-Speed is a retired veteran of the United States Army. She is currently attending Oklahoma State University to enhance her leadership skills, and is a participant in a program called the Center for Social Innovation (CFSI) based at the OSU campus in Oklah...
Feb 16, 2022•49 min•Ep. 50
My guest is Dr. Javier Ley, who has been the Executive Director of Arcadia Trails INTEGRIS Health since February 2021. This position came about through a partnership between Arcadia Trails INTEGRIS Health and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Javier earned a Doctorate in Professional Counseling from Mississippi College, a Master’s in Health Care Transformation from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Saint Mary’s University at Texas, and a Ba...
Feb 02, 2022•48 min•Ep. 49
My guest is Walter Wolf, which is the pen name of a 30-year veteran of the movie and television industry who produced studio and independent films and television. That all changed in 2010, with one 3 A.M. call that a family member was in crisis due to addiction. Like millions of others throughout the nation, Wolf had no idea what to do, but he knew who would ––– a lifelong friend with unequaled contacts in the treatment world. Within 24 hours, Wolf’s loved one was at one of the top rehabs in the...
Dec 15, 2021•53 min•Ep. 48
My guest is Steve Blake, who holds three core pillars in his life: Faith, Family, and Fitness. Steve was born and raised in northern New Jersey, where he graduated high school in 2010 and then attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. While there, he received a bachelor’s degree in aviation maintenance science, an FAA airframe and powerplant certificate, and FCC general radio operator licenses. More importantly, he also met his wife Mary who was studying Aeronautical Scienc...
Dec 01, 2021•51 min•Ep. 47
My guest is Adam Soltani, who is the Executive Director of CAIR Oklahoma. CAIR is the Council on American-Islamic Relations and is a civil liberties group with affiliations nationwide, including Oklahoma. Adam is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma holding a Master’s degree in Human Relations with a certificate in Organizational Diversity and Development. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in the field of Sociology from the University of Central Oklahoma. He has served the Muslim community ...
Oct 20, 2021•52 min•Ep. 46
With more than 25 years of professional, visionary, enthusiastic, relational and results-oriented nonprofit leadership, Jeanean Yanish Jones, PhD(c), MA, CFRE, leads the Health Alliance for the Uninsured with a passion for helping those in need, providing more than 3,000 physician specialist services and $3.5 million of medication assistance annually for more than 17 free and charitable clinics in Central Oklahoma. Through her doctorate work, she is the founder of the Live Love Laugh Leadership ...
Sep 29, 2021•41 min•Ep. 44
My guest is Reverend Kelsey Cobbs, who is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a recent graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School. Residing in Oklahoma City, Kelsey is passionate about building a world where all people know they are loved, have what they need to thrive, and engage with their community to find meaning and purpose alongside one another. Kelsey's professional experiences have brought her to churches, jails, prisons, hospitals, and tent cities as she l...
Sep 15, 2021•48 min•Ep. 44
My guest is Secretary Justin Brown. In June 2019, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Justin Brown as Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the state’s largest agency by workforce. In March 2020, Governor Stitt further appointed Brown to the position of Cabinet Secretary of Oklahoma Human Services. As CEO of a regional senior housing company prior to these appointments, Brown built a deep experience in organizational leadership, finance and strategic planning & execution. With th...
Aug 18, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 43
My guest is Avery Buck, co-owner of MentaliTea and Coffee, a mental wellness themed coffee shop located in Bethany, Oklahoma at the intersection of NW 36th and College Avenue. Avery has been a student athlete her whole life and on into college, where her passion for mental health all started. She received an undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in sociology at Rogers State University. Now, she wants to combine her love of coffee with her passion for mental health, and hopes to use her...
Aug 04, 2021•47 min•Ep. 42
My guest is District Judge Kenneth Stoner, who oversees Oklahoma County’s Treatment (Drug/DUI) Courts. He was appointed to the position of District Judge by the Governor in January of 2018. Judge Stoner began his legal career in 2001 in the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office serving as a felony prosecutor. He later went into private practice focusing on corporate, entertainment, and criminal law. Prior to being appointed to the bench, he concentrated on representation of clients sufferin...
Jul 21, 2021•54 min•Ep. 41
Dustin Huckabe, MSW, is a person in long-term recovery and has been sober since May of 2011. He is originally from San Antonio, TX and is married to Emma Huckabe. They moved to Lubbock Texas where Dustin attended The Center for Collegiate Recovery Communities at Texas Tech University. Upon Emma’s graduation from Texas Tech in May of 2018, they relocated to Moore, Oklahoma, where Dustin graduated in 2020 with his bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and recently achieved his master’s degree in Socia...
Jul 07, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 40
My guest is Alton Carter, who is a Stillwater-based author, and a former foster child and police officer. He was the first person in his family to graduate from high school and college. Now the director of youth ministries for the First United Methodist Church of Stillwater, Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State University alum has dedicated his life to working with young people becoming an author and a foster parent himself in the process. In April of 2015, his debut book, THE BOY WHO CARRIED BRICKS, wa...
Jun 23, 2021•58 min•Ep. 39
My guest is Dr. Julio Rojas, who has been a member of the faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center since 2005. He is an Associate Professor and the Director of ExecuCare, an outpatient program designed to evaluate and treat distressed or impaired healthcare professionals and executives. His dedication to advancing the understanding of addiction has earned him the recognition of residents, fellows, faculty, and profession...
Jun 09, 2021•57 min•Ep. 38
My guest is Mary Bixler, who grew up on a small farm in Jones, Oklahoma where she gardened, raised animals and even tended a little orchard. She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication and a minor in Spanish with a focus on sustainable food systems. Mary has had a passion for local food, sustainable agriculture and food justice through dealing with her own chronic illness, and finding healing through food, farming and community. Mary ...
May 26, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 37
My guest is Jennifer Eckert, who is currently serving as the Director of Development for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, which has as its mission to lead a network that provides nutritious food and pathways to self-sufficiency for people facing hunger. Jennifer also offers strategic planning and external grant review services for national grantmaking foundations as an independent consultant. For thirteen years, she has served the State of Oklahoma in the field of public health. Jennifer is a...
May 12, 2021•52 min•Ep. 36
My guest is Ariel Moore, who is the Senior Director for the Center for Social Innovation at Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City, where she helps to lead individuals out of adverse backgrounds, such as involvement in the criminal justice system, poverty, trauma, substance abuse, and many other barriers, and into new enriching lives, full of purpose and hope. Her personal journey has been one of brokenness, addiction, incarceration, and finally redemption. She’s a mother, wife, and member of...
Apr 28, 2021•52 min•Ep. 35
My guest is CJ Lance, who is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband, office manager, and oftentimes, an aspiring comedian. Living in Oklahoma City most of his life, comedy has been more of a passionate pursuit, than a feasible career. Nonetheless, the enjoyment of creating laughter has encouraged him to continue writing and performing. Aside from comedy, CJ works as an office manager at Lettering Express, a local sign and branding shop in Oklahoma City. Connect with my guest: You can connect with C...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 34
My guest is Crista Graham McCann, who is an art teacher in the public school system and an adjunct art professor at Oklahoma State University. She’s also the owner of Crista McCann Art and Photography, which features her original work and photos. You can find out more by visiting her website cristacreates.com. 2020 marked a year of hardship for Crista. It required her to step out of the boat and face many of her fears. Divorce, moving, a new job, and a battle with cancer - all during a global pa...
Mar 24, 2021•42 min•Ep. 33
My guest is Dar Yasseri, who currently serves as the Vice President of Student Experience at Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City. In this role, he has the privilege to serve, lead, learn with, and support essential campus elements and critical teams that engage and grow student experiences. His aim is to assist each student in academic achievement, career success, and the realization of life goals, along with working to build the best environments for learning and personal growth. Dar is a...
Mar 10, 2021•45 min•Ep. 32
