The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

Join us in the latest Q and A episode of The Courage to Change as we delve into the crucial topic of recognizing the signs that it might be time to re-evaluate your addiction recovery journey. Navigating the path to recovery can be a challenging and transformative experience, but it's essential to recognize when it's time to pause, reflect, and adjust our approach. In this episode, we'll explore the five key indicators that signal a need for re-evaluation, providing valuable insights and support to help you continue your journey towards a healthier and happier life.

Quinn felt her addictive personality early. As a child growing up in New York, her first addictions were sports and dance. Anxiety and depression came along early as well and when she first started drinking and smoking weed, she could tell her relationship was different to her friends around her. They immediately filled a void that nothing else could.

Nancy Zimble is a pediatrician in Los Angeles California with over 40 years of clinical experience. Over the course of her career during routine check ups she has helped thousands of families navigate the typical developmental challenges of childhood. She has also advocated for her patients with more complicated medical issues. Dr. Zimble is a graduate of Vassar College and Tufts University School of Medicine, and moved west to do her pediatric residency at Los Angeles Children’s Hospital. She is a devoted mother to two young adult daughters, whom she adopted and raised as a single parent.

Travis Bornstein is the father of Tyler who died at age 23 of a Fentanyl overdose. Tyler had been successful in school and sports, but injury and the subsequent surgeries brought on an addiction to opioids which eventually moved to heroin. This began 6 years of addiction and relapse. The family did everything it could to provide a path to recovery, but eventually Tyler ended up with Heroin laced with Fentanyl. The person he was using with panicked, and left him to die in a vacant lot. The immense grief overwhelmed Travis and his family. It was his daughters that found the first outlet for their grief by bringing Tyler’s story to their school and starting Hope United, their answer to the plague that had taken their brother.

Dr. Heidi Brocke spent 14 years in an extremely emotionally and narcissistically abusive relationship. Her ex-husband had his fingers in so many aspects of her life. They owned a chiropractic center together. They owned a ranch. They had two children together. All things he used to torment and control.

Jeannine Coulter's story is a powerful and inspiring journey of transformation and redemption. For fifteen years, Jeannine battled with addiction, leading to multiple arrests, homelessness, finally spending her last days of shooting meth and heroin in a literal doghouse before getting sober in January of 2015.

In this Q and A episode Ashley talks about the importance of black and white thinking especially in early recovery. But then talks about what experiences and conversations that she's had that have shaped her belief system around grey area topics. This episode is a helpful tool in navigating your own belief systems as you get sober and as your recovery evolves over time.

Stacy Quick first learned about OCD on Dateline, but help wouldn’t come for years after that. Today, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She uses the therapies that helped her recover and her lived experiences to help others understand it is possible to live a life in recovery. She is a mother of 3 children, 2 of whom are also diagnosed with OCD. In addition to being a therapist at NOCD, Stacy is also a writer and content creator on the topic of OCD.

Anneke Lucas’s story is nearly impossible to comprehend. Anneke was sold by her mentally-ill mother into a murderous, pedophile network at age 6. There she endured endless hours of rape and torture at the hands of powerful men from around the world. For 5.5 years the sex slavery continued with no hope of escape. It wasn’t until she was staring at her would-be murderer that she was miraculously saved.

In this installment of the Recovery Ready Workplace Series, we delve into the critical topic of creating a recovery-ready workplace that supports individuals in their journey of substance use recovery. Substance use issues can significantly impact employees and their ability to perform at their best. As organizations strive to promote a culture of inclusivity and well-being, it is essential to establish a workplace that fosters support, understanding, and resources for those in recovery.

Marsha Stone grew up in Southern Georgia to a family that struggled with generational alcoholism. She eventually married her best drinking buddy and quickly had three kids, then just as quickly she was alone. The responsibility of raising them fell squarely on her shoulders and the fear of how she would care for them left her with many sleepless nights. In law school, her alcoholism took off, but she told herself it was all reasonable. Anyone in her difficult situation would do the same thing.

Tait Fletcher is an actor, stuntman and former MMA Fighter, known for his roles in Breaking Bad, Westworld, John Wick, and The Mandalorian. Tait grew up in Michigan where he dealt with childhood trauma by engaging in whatever thrill seeking activity he could get his hands on. Early on he found drinking and fighting as a means to meet his brain’s desire for chaos. Then in 2021, while filming the movie Free Guy, Tait was struck with a motorcycle while filming a stunt sequence. The accident left him with a significant Traumatic Brain Injury which resulted in endless therapies to try to repair the injuries to his brain.

In this episode of our Recovery Ready Workplace Series we spoke with HR Director Erica Williams who brings her 20+ years of experience on how to create a supportive environment for employees struggling with substance use. She also acknowledges that many employees might feel worried about the implications of getting help and lays out the groundwork for getting help in a manner that remains private. This is a vital episode for anyone attempting to navigate the often challenging experience of seeking help while working.

Dr. Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., CSAT-S, is a Licensed Psychologist, Certified Sex Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, and PACT III trained couples’ therapist. Dr. Balestrieri is a passionate advocate for mental health, relational and sexual health and wellness. Throughout her work, Dr. Balestrieri focuses on helping people build resilience and recovery from what ails them to move from a position of pain or discomfort to one of thriving, holistically in their lives.

Vanessa Hurr considered herself a high functioning sad person after the death of her brother to an overdose in April 2020. The grief and sense of loss surrounding his death was compounded with extreme isolation due to Covid. Vanessa was previously on the Courage to Change in episode 117 and at the time her grief took the form of achievement. She poured herself into projects and the non-profit she founded. She powered forward, trying to get somewhere without really dealing with all she was feeling. Then an opportunity presented itself to participate in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, a form of treatment with promising outcomes in the mental health space.