Can we navigate the turbulent waters of personal loss and addiction using the compass of 'Conscious Bravery'? Meet Pamela Brinker, a psychotherapist of 32 years, who has had a firsthand experience with these channeling circumstances. Pamela generously shares her deeply moving journey marked by the tragic loss of her second husband and her son’s struggle with substance misuse. A voyage that has taught her the significance of slowing down, showing tenderness, and steering through the maelstrom wit...
Aug 02, 2023•36 min•Ep. 244
Are you shackled by the chains of a traumatic past? Meet Brooke Bralove, Licensed Clinical Social Worker who shines a light on the path towards healing, with the therapeutic technique known as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART, a therapy to help with trauma stored in the brain and body. Brooke masterfully guides us through how ART aids in processing traumatic memories and emotions trapped within our minds and bodies, offering an escape from emotional pain and distress. Plunge into the trans...
Jul 24, 2023•42 min•Ep. 243
Are you ready to unravel the complexities of eating disorders? Explore the challenging journey of overcoming eating disorders as Duane sits down with Scarlett O'Connor, a London-based therapist specializing in eating disorder recovery. Scarlett shares her personal struggle with eating disorders that began at nine, starting with binge eating and then developing into anorexia. She discusses how her sense of self changed as she began to lose weight and receive positive feedback from society, and th...
Jul 18, 2023•47 min•Ep. 242
Every day, we put on our armor and head out into the world, often unaware of the battle some are waging within. In today's conversation, Duane sits down with Nadia Davis, a warrior whose story of redemption and recovery is nothing short of awe-inspiring. She takes us through her life story – from her struggles with addiction to her triumph over the odds, all peppered with lessons of love, courage, and the power of human resilience. This conversation between Duane and Nadia took us through the la...
Jul 10, 2023•41 min•Ep. 241
NOTE: Since the date of recording this episode, our guest for this week has embarked on her gender transition. While you’ll hear her referred to by her previous name (often called a ‘deadname’) in the episode, we’ve updated the show notes to reflect this. Her name is Hana Leyland and she uses She/Her pronouns. What happens when you face your darkest fears and emerge stronger on the other side? We're thrilled to welcome the extraordinarily resilient Hana Leland to the show, who's about to unfold ...
Jul 03, 2023•38 min•Ep. 240
What if you could conquer a 26-year-long addiction and transform your life in just two years? Join us for a compelling conversation with Nic Kalo, who shares her incredible journey from the depths of drug addiction to a life filled with supportive, goal-driven individuals and mentors. Nic opens up about her relentless pursuit of the next high, her illegal shoplifting business, and the pivotal moments that led her to recovery. In this powerful episode, we explore Nic's experiences with rehab and ...
Jun 26, 2023•33 min•Ep. 239
Growing up in a small town Brethren church, Aaron Porter's journey through life and faith has been far from ordinary. From his accidental career as a pastor to the way his faith was shaped by suffering, Aaron shares with Duane his experiences and insights with us in this captivating conversation. They explore the wisdom he's gained from Buddhist friends on viewing suffering differently and delve into the profound lessons found in the book of Job, even sharing a humorous moment along the way. In ...
Jun 19, 2023•37 min•Ep. 238
Can you imagine overcoming addiction with the help of an app? In this fascinating episode, Duane had the pleasure of speaking with Chandler Rogers, CEO and co-founder of Relay, a digital group-based program for finding healing from addiction. Chandler opened up about his inspiring journey of overcoming behavioral addiction and the development of Relay, aiming to make recovery smarter and more accessible. They delve into Chandler's struggles with pornography, shame, and self-esteem, and how group...
Jun 12, 2023•37 min•Ep. 237
Did you know that addiction has been recognized as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act for well over 20 years now? This means that people with addictions have substantial legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is such an important topic to talk and think about, as we learn how best to help everyone struggling with addiction as well as the pain and suffering that come along with addiction so we can help alleviate those. On today's episode, Duane sits down ...
Jun 05, 2023•39 min•Ep. 236
In this episode, Duane speaks with Andrew Drazan and Dr. Edmond Hakimi to discuss the pressing topic of addiction and addiction research. Andrew Drazan is the founder and current chairman of Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research, which has been providing personalized care to individuals struggling with addiction for over a decade. Dr. Edmond Hakimi, the medical director of Wellbridge, brings his extensive expertise in addiction treatment to the conversation. Today, delve into the medical m...
May 29, 2023•50 min•Ep. 235
The journey from trauma to peace and acceptance involves an intermediate space of transition. During trauma, the body is in a hyper-vigilant state, leading to pain, hurt, and suffering. Moving away from trauma requires a shift towards something different - a space of healing and inner peace. In today's episode, Duane interviews Robert Common, who shares his personal story and discusses the work he does with clients who are dealing with addiction and mental health issues. Robert also advocates fo...
May 22, 2023•36 min•Ep. 234
*DISCLAIMER EXPLICIT CONTENT* Trauma is something that no one would choose to go through, but it can also be an opportunity for personal growth and wisdom. We may all have different stories and personal circumstances, but often, the dynamics at play are very similar in terms of how we heal. In this episode of the podcast, Duane speaks with Nikki Eisenhauer, a psychotherapist, licensed professional counselor, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, and life coach specializing in trauma, addiction...
May 15, 2023•57 min•Ep. 233
Movies, as much as they’re entertaining, can also play a major role in addiction recovery. Films and movies tell us a lot about our humanity, and stories in films always follow a very familiar pattern – they're all about transformation, a relatable theme for anyone in recovery. In an engaging conversation with Duane, Ted Perkins shares his passion for using movies to promote addiction recovery. As the author of Addicted in Film: Movies We Love About the Habits We Hate, you can use Ted's workbook...
May 11, 2023•43 min
As you're trying to find hope in the grit of addiction and trauma recovery, there's power in being part of a community that can move us from a place of struggle to freedom. On this episode, Duane speaks with Caroline Beidler about her new book, “Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in The Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery,” and how one can find hope in their own journey of addiction and trauma recovery by harnessing the power of sharing their story. Caroline Beidler is an author, recovery advocat...
May 08, 2023•32 min•Ep. 232
A lot of people who may be struggling with a family member that is in the throes of addiction think the person needs to go get help. But there's this whole system that probably has to be addressed. In this episode, Duane and Dr. Brooke Keels discuss the importance of family therapy in addiction recovery from a systems perspective. Dr. Keels highlights the importance of each family member doing their own individual work to achieve health for the entire system. With her experience in clinical and ...
May 01, 2023•40 min•Ep. 231
Life is going to throw curveballs at you, and that’s a given. The question is, how willing are you to withstand those? On today’s episode, Duane talks with Andrew E. Guy, the author of Work Your Words: Finding Your Pathway to Personal Success. Andrew helps corporate leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs integrate work, life, and self-care to improve well-being so they can pursue purposeful living. Andrew is a professional certified educator, an educational engagement expert, and is certified...
Apr 24, 2023•39 min•Ep. 232
A lot of people go through an experience where they fall madly in love with someone, they crave them, and they want to be with them. There's this addictive nature of romantic love. And then for whatever reason, it doesn't work and you break up. Now, what? That being said, falling in love does not mean something’s wrong with you. Dr. Cortney S. Warren is a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist and Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Kirk Kerkori...
Apr 17, 2023•50 min•Ep. 229
About four years ago, in the face of what little did she know was going to be an increasing horror show in terms of deaths due to opioid use, Debra Gonsher Vinik decided to do a documentary on the opioid crisis. She also wanted to put the spotlight on women because, as she says, women are almost absent in terms of the media coverage of what's going on. Since 1999, we have lost over 200,000 women to the opioid crisis. On this episode, Duane and Debra take a deep dive into her new documentary, Att...
Apr 10, 2023•42 min
If you're trying to move away from addiction and all the falsehoods, you have to start looking through that lens and replace them with axioms or self-evident truths. Once you’re in harmony with the world you live in, you get clarity on who you really are. In today’s episode, Duane speaks with Rio Timberlane to talk about the power of decision-making, how to get clear on your identity, and understanding axioms or self-evident truth. Rio Timberlane is a relationship scientist who has spent about t...
Apr 03, 2023•44 min•Ep. 227
Have you ever heard of the phrase, “Boys make choices, men make decisions”? What’s the difference? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Carlos Navarro, who has a 20-year entertainment career that spans from radio, television, and film, to commercials and video games. He has acted on shows and films as The Walking Dead, The Outsider, Unbreakable, and Marvel's Hawkeye. Carlos is also co-host of the number one rated Orlando, Florida talk show, Monsters in the Morning. Along with that journey, he w...
Mar 27, 2023•47 min•Ep. 226
Anybody can be impacted by addiction, whether you’re a doctor or not. And for certain people in healthcare, anesthesiologists most especially, access to drugs like opioids is super easy. On this episode, Duane speaks with Steven Orebaugh about how his own personal experiences of witnessing his colleagues get trapped in addiction inspired him to write the book, “The Stairs on Billy Buck Hill.” He wrote the book having witnessed a number of ruined careers among his peers because they have access t...
Mar 20, 2023•37 min•Ep. 225
As a parent, how do you deal with a child who’s struggling with addiction? How can you fully support your kid at this most trying time of their lives? Today, Duane speaks with Steve D. about parenting a child with addiction. A father of five children, the youngest of whom had a near-lethal addiction to alcohol, Steve retired from a 30-year career on Wall Street to learn about addiction, to help his family, and to help others. Steve’s eight-year journey includes getting trained as a parent peer a...
Mar 13, 2023•42 min•Ep. 224
Using hypnosis on ourselves is more powerful than we think. But is it also effective in treating addiction? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with David Spiegel, Wilson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Having been at Stanford for over 45 years, David runs the Center on Stress and Health at Stanford and the Center for Integrative Medicine. One of his interests is to find out how people can better control their minds and ...
Mar 06, 2023•45 min•Ep. 223
Drinking when pregnant is a cultural norm. In fact, one in seven pregnant people reports consuming alcohol during pregnancy (which is pretty high). A significant number of pregnant women haven’t been told by their physicians that it’s not safe to drink while pregnant, and some even tell them it’s safe. But no amount or type of alcohol is safe to consume during pregnancy. Prevent fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD) along with so many of the lifelong effects including substance use, poor mental...
Feb 27, 2023•35 min•Ep. 222
Recovery is a long and difficult process, but it can be done. And once you’re able to combine spiritual habits with behavior change, the results can be amazing! On today’s conversation, Duane speaks with Eric Zimmer, the host of The One You Feed Podcast and the genius behind the Spiritual Habits Program, where he takes spiritual wisdom and combines it with behavior change so people can make the changes they need and find joy and healing in their lives. When he was 24 years old, Eric found himsel...
Feb 20, 2023•41 min•Ep. 221
Part of the work we do to treat addiction is to work through the other preexisting conditions and environmental factors that could contribute to addictive behavior. Those who suffer from a co-morbid condition will notice that addiction recovery is much harder to treat without also addressing the other condition. Recently, we have more insight than ever before how Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) plays a role in sex addiction in particular. Today, our guest is Dr. John Sealy, who has been an advo...
Feb 13, 2023•38 min•Ep. 220
There is value in your struggles. But also part of working through your struggles is the ability to ask for help and find a community that has the capacity to support you. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dane Ensley, the founder of Reconstruction Unlimited, a mental health coaching agency that designs therapeutic ecosystems for clients. Dane has worked as a coach for the world's leading interventionists and has traveled the world working with a broad spectrum of clients. Dane's encouraging...
Feb 06, 2023•46 min•Ep. 219
It’s so easy to get lost in the mundanity of life that we lose sight of each present moment. But what if we just focused on today, and make each day our Day One? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with J.D. Frost, author of the book, Life Ledger: How to Build a System to Reach Your Goals, where he dives into the concept of Day One, the power of writing, and how keeping a daily ledger of your life helps you gain the clarity that you need to help you reach your goals. J.D. Frost is an accountant and...
Jan 30, 2023•39 min•Ep. 218
If you found out earlier on in your youth that you actually have a genetic propensity toward addiction, would you have made decisions a lot differently? Addiction is a bio-psycho-social model, but we don't really look at the bio part of it. Sometimes, we have to look at the physiology of things to understand addiction better. And there has to be a paradigm shift in thinking about how we operate and exist in this world. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Evelyn Higgins about genes and biom...
Jan 23, 2023•34 min•Ep. 217
There are thousands of women who are drinking and suffering in silence. And when we're dealing with our internal struggles, we feel alone. There’s pain and misery attached to that. How are we then able to provide a safe space for women to follow down a path to recovery and give them the kind of support they need? On this episode, Duane speaks with Casey Davidson about the topic of gray area drinking, what that means, what that looks like, and the benefits of being sober, curious, and maybe just ...
Jan 16, 2023•36 min•Ep. 216
