Today, let’s journey through the realms of neuroscience, addiction research, and the promising future of treatment strategies for substance use disorders. On this episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Paul Kenny, a distinguished figure in neuroscience and addiction research. He unravels his research on signaling cascades in rodents’ brains, providing fascinating insights into addiction-like behaviors. The discussion turns engaging as Paul illuminates his groundbreaking work with certain treatments and ...
Jan 26, 2026•44 min•Ep. 366
In this episode, Duane Osterlind sits down with author Dana Bowman to discuss the often-overlooked intersection of long-term recovery and menopause. Dana opens up about her journey through "the second reckoning"—a period where hormonal shifts triggered intense anxiety, suicidal ideation, and the resurfacing of addictive behaviors like sugar addiction and "doom scrolling." They explore the concept of process addictions , the importance of self-advocacy in medical settings, and how creativity can ...
Jan 19, 2026•34 min•Ep. 367
Worksheet: Meeting Your Shadow Have you ever done something and then wondered, "Who was that? That wasn't me"? Maybe it was a relapse. A hurtful comment you didn't mean to say. Or that familiar feeling of sabotaging yourself right when things were finally going well. The uncomfortable truth? It was you—just a part of you that's been hiding in the shadows. In this episode of The Addicted Mind, Duane and Eric Osterlind explore one of psychology's most powerful concepts: the shadow self. First name...
Jan 15, 2026•16 min
In this episode, Duane sits down with Dr. Frank Putnam , a pioneer in the study of childhood trauma with nearly 50 years of clinical and research experience. Dr. Putnam discusses his landmark 35-year longitudinal study—the Female Growth and Development Study —which tracked the biological and psychological impacts of sexual abuse on girls from childhood into adulthood. They explore the concept of "accelerated aging," the intergenerational transfer of trauma, and why early intervention is critical...
Jan 12, 2026•56 min•Ep. 367
Download: INTRINSIC VS. EXTRINSIC GOALS In this episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic goals and how they affect our well-being. Have you ever felt the high of achieving a big goal, only to have that happiness fade away? This episode explores why that happens and introduces the concept of the "hedonic treadmill." You'll learn how extrinsic goals, like money and status, give short-term happiness but don't last. In contr...
Jan 08, 2026•20 min
Worksheet: Healing Power of Connection Ask people what the hardest part of addiction was, and they often won't say the drugs or the alcohol. They'll say the loneliness. Because addiction, at its core, is about isolation and shame. It's that crushing feeling of being in a crowded room and feeling completely invisible. It's the belief that if people really knew you—the real you with all your secrets and shame—they would run away. But what if the medicine for that loneliness isn't just sobriety? Wh...
Jan 01, 2026•15 min
In this deeply moving episode of The Addicted Mind , host Duane Osterlind sits down with Burton Fischler, author of The Gift: Trauma to Triumph . Burton shares a harrowing personal journey marked by unimaginable loss—the murder of his wife, Barbara, at the hands of her son who struggled with severe mental illness and addiction. Burton discusses how he navigated the dark abyss of PTSD and grief, eventually finding a path toward healing through writing, nature, and service. Now a substance addicti...
Dec 29, 2025•30 min•Ep. 366
Duane Osterlind sits down with Doug Leech , founder of Ascension Recovery Services , to discuss the monumental challenge of expanding high-quality addiction treatment to "treatment deserts"—specifically rural areas and tribal lands. Doug shares his vulnerable personal journey from a high-achieving accountant struggling with opioid addiction and homelessness to becoming a visionary leader in behavioral health. The conversation dives deep into the collaboration with the Pawnee Nation to build a su...
Dec 22, 2025•30 min•Ep. 365
Worksheet: Drawing Your Lines Boundaries Imagine living in a house with no walls, no doors, and no fences. Anyone could walk in at any time—tracking mud on your carpet, eating your food, or sleeping on your couch without asking. You'd feel exposed, anxious, and exhausted. For many people in recovery, this is exactly how they treat their emotional lives. They leave doors wide open, letting people walk all over their time, energy, and peace of mind because they don't know how to build fences. Down...
Dec 18, 2025•17 min
In this episode, Duane Osterlind sits down with Swami Revati, a Hindu monk with over 15 years of monastic experience. Together, they explore the intersection of Eastern spirituality, modern psychology, and the human search for lasting fulfillment. Swami Revati shares his journey from a multicultural upbringing to finding his spiritual mentor, offering a refreshing perspective on how Hinduism serves as a "science of the self." The conversation delves into the importance of proactive living, the r...
Dec 15, 2025•33 min•Ep. 364
This episode of the Addicted Minds podcast features a critical discussion on the escalating crisis of teen addiction and mental health, highlighting the vital work of the Free Mind Campaign . Host Duane Osterlind speaks with Jasmine Kenney from the CDC's Division of Overdose Prevention and Dr. Meena Mirhom from Athletes for Hope, who detail the necessity of addressing substance misuse among young people aged 12 to 17. The guests explain that mental health struggles—fueled by social pressures, bu...
Dec 08, 2025•27 min•Ep. 363
Download: MICRO WINS WORKSHEET In this episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the importance of celebrating micro wins in the journey of recovery. They discuss how small victories, often overlooked, play a crucial role in maintaining motivation and building resilience. By focusing on these tiny achievements, you can create a positive mindset that fuels your progress toward larger goals. Whether it's putting on your shoes for a walk or writing a single sentence in y...
Dec 04, 2025•17 min
In this episode, host Duane Osterlind speaks with Jaime W. Vinck MC, LPC, President of Meadows Behavioral Health and a Licensed Professional Counselor with 20 years of experience in the treatment industry. They discuss her book, The Rehab Playbook , which aims to demystify the rehabilitation process and encourage more people to seek help for addiction and mental health challenges. 📖 Why the Book Was Written Jaime was inspired to write The Rehab Playbook during COVID-19, driven by the dedication...
Dec 01, 2025•34 min•Ep. 362
In this episode, host Duane Osterlind speaks with Liz Friedman , CEO and Co-founder of GPS Group Peer Support , about the vital role of peer support and group modalities in addressing the widespread mental health crisis. Liz shares her personal journey into the work, stemming from a severe mental health crisis after childbirth, which revealed significant gaps in the healthcare system. The conversation delves into the definition, profound impact, and structured model of peer support, emphasizing ...
Nov 24, 2025•40 min•Ep. 361
Worksheet : Hope Building Blueprint What do you do when your hope tank is completely empty? When you're going through the motions of recovery but deep down don't believe things will ever really get better? In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane Osterlind and Eric Osterlind tackle one of the most critical—and often overlooked—elements of lasting recovery: hope. But this isn't a conversation about wishful thinking or waiting for motivation to magically strike. Instead, the...
Nov 20, 2025•17 min
This week on the podcast, host Duane Osterlind welcomes Brenda Zane , the founder of Hope Stream Community . Brenda is a former high-level advertising executive who completely shifted her career after her son struggled with severe substance use disorder, including multiple fentanyl overdoses. Her experience led her to realize the lack of effective, compassionate, and actionable resources for parents dealing with a child's addiction—so she built them. Brenda shares her powerful, deeply personal j...
Nov 17, 2025•38 min•Ep. 360
Worksheet: Growth & Gratitude Journal Prompts What if the experiences that broke you could also be the source of your greatest strengths? It's a radical question, especially when you're standing in the aftermath of addiction and trauma, surrounded by what feels like nothing but devastation and regret. But what if within that rubble, there were seeds of profound growth waiting to be discovered? In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane Osterlind and Eric Osterlind explor...
Nov 14, 2025•13 min
Host Duane Osterlind welcomes Dr. John Gallagher , an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Alvernia University, a licensed clinical social worker, and a licensed clinical addiction counselor. Dr. Gallagher brings 25 years of experience working with addiction and mental health recovery within the criminal justice system. This essential episode dives deep into the history, structure, and effectiveness of Drug Courts , examining the critical tension between judicial accountability and therape...
Nov 10, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 359
Download: THE INNER CHILD WORKSHEET In this episode of The Addicted Mind, Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the powerful concept of the inner child. They explore how past traumas influence our present reactions and behaviors. Understanding and healing your inner child can lead to profound personal growth and recovery. Learn about the history of the inner child concept, its impact on addiction and recovery. Start your practical steps to your healing journey. Join us as we provide compassionate i...
Nov 06, 2025•17 min
Journalist Sam Quinones , renowned for his deeply impactful books Dreamland and The Least of Us about the opioid and synthetic drug crises, returns to The Addicted Mind with a profoundly different, yet connected, story. In this episode, Sam and host Duane Osterlind dive into Quinones' newest book, The Perfect Tuba : Forging Fulfillment from the Bass Horn, Band and Hard Work. Sam shares his unexpected pivot from writing about the devastating cycle of addiction and consumerism—where people seek ha...
Nov 03, 2025•41 min•Ep. 358
Worksheet: “ Hero's Journey Addiction Recovery Worksheet ” In this episode of "The Addicted Mind," Duane and Eric Osterlind explore the concept of the hero's journey and how it applies to addiction recovery. Drawing from Joseph Campbell's work on mythology, they discuss the three phases of the hero's journey—departure, initiation, and return—and how these stages can provide a roadmap for personal transformation. By seeing recovery through the lens of a hero's journey, individuals can gain a new ...
Oct 30, 2025•13 min
Jane Chen, the visionary mind behind Embrace Global, shares her remarkable journey from a Stanford classroom to the heart of India, where her innovative spirit and unwavering dedication gave birth to a life-saving portable infant incubator. This episode unravels Jane's incredible drive, which not only saved over a million babies worldwide but also led her to the brink of burnout. Her story is a testament to the profound impact of one person's mission to make a difference, highlighting the often-...
Oct 27, 2025•35 min•Ep. 357
Download: ATTACHMENT & RECOVERY worksheet In this episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane and Eric Osterlind delve into the concept of attachment and its critical role in recovery from addiction. They discuss the different types of attachment styles—secure, anxious, dismissive, and fearful—and how these styles impact our ability to form healthy relationships. By understanding your attachment style, you can improve your relationships and strengthen your recovery journey. Tune in to learn how...
Oct 23, 2025•17 min
In this episode, we talk about sacrificial helpers’ syndrome, great for people who are in the helper profession or volunteer helpers. Sacrificial help syndrome can be defined as people giving more than they have for the people they serve. Our guest today is Katie Vernoy. A licensed family therapist, a coach, and consultant with helpers based in Torrance, California. As she says, she helps helpers to help better. Most people who’ve had traumatic experiences that completely changed their lives can...
Oct 20, 2025•29 min•Ep. 356
Download: FIRST-ORDER CHANGE VS. SECOND-ORDER CHANGE Are you making changes but feeling stuck in your recovery journey? It could be because you're focusing on first-order changes. These are the surface-level adjustments we make – quitting a substance, changing routines – but they don't address the root of the problem. That's where second-order change comes in. This is about digging deeper into your anxieties, past traumas, and the underlying beliefs that drive addictive behaviors. It's a transfo...
Oct 16, 2025•19 min
Dr. Scott Teitelbaum's world came crashing down when his addictions to marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, and gambling threatened not only his medical career but also his family life. As a former pediatrician who found himself battling these demons, Scott's story is one of hitting rock bottom before finding the strength to climb back up. Hear how the loss of his medical license and the dissolution of his marriage became the catalysts for a transformative journey into addiction medicine and child psych...
Oct 13, 2025•35 min•Ep. 355
In this episode of TAM+, hosts Duane and Eric delve into the concept of rumination, shedding light on its impact and providing practical strategies to navigate it. They define rumination as repetitive thought patterns, often negative, that loop incessantly in our minds. Through insightful conversation, they dissect different types of rumination, such as brooding, intrusive, reflective, and deliberate, each with its own nuances and effects. They discuss how rumination can lead to anxiety and depr...
Oct 09, 2025•20 min
Dr. Gary Mitrevolis, a seasoned expert in addiction medicine, joins us for a critical conversation on cannabis and THC addiction, especially as we face the rising tide of high-potency THC products. With cannabis legalization expanding and THC concentrations soaring to unprecedented levels, Dr. Mitrevolis shares his extensive insights into the mental and physical health risks this trend poses. We discuss why understanding these impacts is vital for effectively addressing the evolving challenges i...
Oct 06, 2025•35 min•Ep. 354
Worksheet: Your PERMA Recovery What if recovery isn't just about stopping the bad stuff, but actually building something incredible? For too long, we've thought of recovery as simply not using. We white-knuckle our way through each day, fighting urges and saying no to everything that once brought us pleasure. But what happens when you've been sober for months or even years, and you're left thinking, "Is this it? Is this what recovery looks like?" In this powerful episode, hosts Duane and Eric ch...
Oct 02, 2025•19 min
Art Dielhenn's journey from directing beloved TV classics like Sister Sister and Punky Brewster to becoming an author and career coach is nothing short of remarkable. Facing his own struggles with addiction, Art found recovery and shared his insights through two humorous and insightful books, "Get Out of Your Head, It's a Mess in There" and "Addiction is a Family Disease." Join Art as he discusses how the pandemic spurred his writing endeavors, weaving humor with heavy topics to make them more a...
Sep 29, 2025•42 min•Ep. 353
