The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

86: Kevin Barhydt: Abandoned At Birth - An Adoptee’s Story of Hope and Healing from A Life of Abuse and Addiction

84: After the Episode Combo for #'s 82 & 83: "Only the Brave" + Brendan's Story & Resources for Combatting Suicidal Ideation

85: Danielle Gregorich: How A Stroke Saved Her Life

83: Christina Kimbrough: “I Got Sober During A Pandemic”

82: Brendan McDonough: The Lone Survivor of the Granite Mountain Hotshots Shares His Heartbreaking and Inspirational Story

81: ATE for #'s 79 & 80 | After the Episode Combo: The Amazing Power and Bond in the Recovery Community, and Dealing with the Process of Grief and Loss

80: Randy: Sex, Love & Punk Rock - Melting Away the Facade in Recovery

Eileen could have never imagined how her life would change in the course of one wintery night. Authorities confirmed that the plane her husband was piloting on his way home to celebrate Christmas with the family had crashed, and he had not survived. With three young children and an entire lifetime ahead of her, Eileen’s journey through the valleys of grief and the peaks of hope brought her to a place that is nothing short of miraculous. Author, speaker, yogi, and philanthropist, Eileen Robertson Hamra, shares her experiences in her first book, Time to Fly, available now through City Point Press and Simon and Schuster. Along the way Eileen discovered that keeping promises to those that have left this world is a lifelong act, and honoring one love does not mean foregoing the freedom and love that is found in reopening your heart, trusting in new love and expanding your definition of family.

78: ATE for #'s 76 & 77 | After the Episode Combo: Covering Compulsive Shopping & Insight for Family Members with Loved Ones Fighting Addiction

Chris Paulson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over fifteen years of experience working within the field of behavioral health. He holds a masters degree in clinical psychology and has a wealth of clinical experience and expertise, having previously served as a clinical director, clinical supervisor, director of admissions, program director, etc at a number of behavioral health organizations ranging from the non profit to the private sector. Chris has been sober for over sixteen years, and much of his personal experience has helped shape his belief systems surrounding the effective treatment of substance use disorders. In 2018 Chris helped start and co-found a detoxification and residential treatment program in Washington state called Discover Recovery. To a large extent, this recent endeavor has been the culmination of collective experience borrowed from his previous work experiences. His life has not been idyllic, as he has had to overcome a significant amount of personal adversity, however, his ability to weather these proverbial storms has reinforced his belief in the process of healing and the ability to persevere. Chris has appeared on national television as an expert on addictive disorders, was previously a keynote speaker for the University of California's Collegiate Recovery Conference, and continues to strive to be a voice of compassion and humanism within the world of addiction.

Betsy Ames is the owner of Mindful Style. She's a Closet Curator turned Social Worker and is currently working toward earning her clinical license to become an addiction focused therapist. She's also a recovering compulsive shopper and alcoholic. She currently teaches others sustainable and mindful shopping practices and decluttering tips. She walks her talk and practices what she teaches. You can find out more about her by going to mindfulstyle.com/meet-betsy.

75: ATE for #'s 71, 72, 73 & 74 | After the Episode Combo: Sobriety At All Stages, MAT & The Beauty and Unity of Recovery

Daniil Khorunzhiy AKA, Russian Danny, was born in Kiev, Ukraine and immigrated to Los Angeles, CA when he was a wee young lad. He hit the ground running and found himself immersed in the LA culture of crime, graffiti and drugs. After several close calls with death and bouts in the notorious LA County Jail—Russian Danny turned the page and started a new chapter in his life. He now produces and hosts a successful podcast called It’s All Bad, and is pursuing a career in acting and film making. He also volunteers with several organizations that focus on giving back to the streets he grew up in.

70: ATE for #'s 68 & 69 | After the Episode Combo: Adoption & Substance Use, and Advice on How to Relate with Someone Who Is Struggling

Born and raised in Mesa, AZ, Chuck O couldn’t explain why he kept getting into trouble as a young kid.  After his 70th separate felony, he became a ward of the state at the young age of 13. After living in a home with other convicted felons until 18, Chuck went on tour with the Grateful Dead where his drinking and substance use picked up significantly.  After an arduous journey with substance use that left him hopelessly addicted to heroin, Chuck turned to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help him transition off heroin through the use of methadone. Chuck found the 12-step program while on medication-assisted treatment.  In this episode, he talks about breaking the stigma of being sober on MAT, and openly shares his story of relapse after years of recovery and how he and his family dealt with it and helped him find recovery again and ultimately do a blind detox off Suboxone.