Positive Sobriety Podcast

Why should addiction treatment be restricted to late-stage addicts and expensive specialists?  Dr. Joshua D. Lee provides an alternate vision.  An associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and director of the NYU Fellowship in Addiction Medicine, Dr. Lee is a clinician-researcher focused on investigating addiction pharmacotherapies in primary care and criminal justice system-involved populations. He has conducted multiple NIH clinical trials examining the use of naltrexone and buprenorphine opioid and alcohol treatments in criminal justice system-involved adults, at community re-entry, and within primary care settings.

Dually certified business and life coach, published author, trainer, and speaker Jenny Teeters models vulnerability in this remarkable conversation with David and Nate.  Her new memoir, Every Day is a New Day, is available on Amazon and in fine bookstores everywhere.

Need help regulating your nervous system, facing your anxiety and practicing healthy self-care?  Take a few minutes to listen to our inspiring conversation with life coach Amy Guerrero.  (You can reach her at https://www.regulatewithamy.com/)

An inspiring conversation with story coach and literary consultant Amy W. Vogel, author of the personal devotional Come to Me and the fantasy novel Teleosis.

An upbeat conversation with a remarkable motivator, James Swanwick, author of The 30-Day No-Alcohol Challenge and host of the Alcohol-Free Lifestyle Podcast.  James is the creator of Alcohol-Free Lifestyle, a coaching community for high achievers committed to sober living.

An entertaining and stimulating conversation with Dr. Robb Kelly, whose treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction via telehealth comes with a money-back guarantee.  More information at robbkelly.com

David and Nate have an inspiring and surprisingly candid conversation with model and athlete Jonathan Niziol. Discover more about Jonathan Niziol and his compelling story on his website: jonathanniziolofficial.com/

What if, rather than trying harder to suppress unwanted behavior, we would approach it with open curiosity? What is it trying to tell us?  What need are we really trying to meet?  An intriguing conversation with therapist Blake Roberts.

An insightful conversation with Ali Shapiro, MS, CHHC, nutritionist, and host of the top 1% ranked podcast Insatiable.

A delightful conversation with Nina Pick, author of The Mind-Body Guide to the Twelve Steps: Finding Joy, Sensuality, and Pleasure in Recovery—Integrative Spiritual and Somatic Practices for Healing from Trauma and Addiction.  You can connect with Nina at ninapick.com.

A delightful conversation about emotional sobriety with Veronica Valli -- podcaster, recovery coach, psychotherapist,  and author of Soberful: Uncover a Sustainable, Fulfilling Life Free of Alcohol, and Why You Drink and How to Stop.

David and Nate visit with Dr. Randy Malchow, Medical Director for the Tennessee Ketamine & Wellness Center, which offers compassionate and competent care for those suffering from depression, PTSD, OCD, chronic pain, and opioid dependence. Dr. Malchow served as an anesthesiologist for 25 years in the armed forces before retiring as a colonel in 2008. He then became an associate professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where he was the first Vanderbilt physician to offer intensive ketamine infusion therapy in 2014. In 2015, he established one of the few ketamine infusion centers (KIC) in the Veteran Health Administration and the only KIC in the U.S. specifically targeting opioid cessation/reduction. He is an acknowledged U.S. expert on ketamine administration, having presented his extensive experience with ketamine in the veteran population at the American Society of Ketamine Physicians in 2018 and has given multiple lectures regarding the use of ketamine to national audiences in 2021. Dr. Malchow has published over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and serves regularly on worldwide medical missions supporting those in need.

A refreshingly candid conversation with Brendon Watt, a worldwide speaker, best-selling author, and facilitator for Access Consciousness. Brendon specializes in helping others to overcome addiction, as he too walks the path of recovery and sobriety. His first book, Relationship: Are You Sure You Want One? co-authored with Simone Milasas is an international best-seller, available in seven languages. Find Brendon every week on his podcast "One Choice from Change" on iTunes, on Amazon, and on the Access Consciousness® website. To learn more visit, www.brendonwatt.com.

David and Nate chat with Jason VanRuler, Author of Get Past Your Past(Zondervan 2023).  Jason is known for his ability to relate and connect with his clients and offer hope to those who have felt hopeless. He has an engaged and rapidly growing online audience (IG, TikTok) for his insightful, short videos sharing practical tips for psychological care, self-help, and healthy relationships.

How do you spend the fresh creative energy that shows up when you are in recovery?  Will Thatcher started writing thrillers.  He discusses addiction fiction and his first book, Killing Hurt, with Nate and David, and recommends more reading and reviews of this exciting new genre at The Sober Curator.

An enjoyable and enlightening conversation with Ken Middleton, author of   Bamboozled - How Alcohol Makes Fools of Us All and editor of a Medium Publication named AINYF, Alcohol is NOT Your Friend.

David and Nate talk with Ed Latimore,  a speaker, author, and former professional boxer who has been sober for almost a decade.  Ed is the author of the Amazon Bestseller "Sober Letters to My Drunken Self," well-known for his powerful TEDx talk on the link between addiction and identity.

Dr. Laura Petracek, a clinical psychologist and author of  The DBT Workbook for Alcohol and Drug Addiction: Skills and Strategies for Emotional Regulation, Recovery, and Relapse Prevention [Jessica Kingsley Publishers; February 21, 2023] joins David and Nate for an enlightening (and very personal) conversation about recovery.  For more about Dr. Petracek, visit laurapetracekphd.com

David and Nate discuss codependency and related issues with Sonja Meyrer, certified recovery coach and author of the bestselling book "And Then You Went Missing."

Jeremy Miller and Dallas Terrell are passionate about two things: recovery and storytelling.   They are on a mission to find and film the best addiction treatment professionals in the country.

David and Nate engage functional nutritionist Lori Zabka in a delightful and enlightening conversation about addiction, nutrition, and recovery.  To reach Lori and gain access to her resources go to https://www.Lorizabkawellness.com

Luciana Passeri has been an educator for 34 years, teaching and coaching thousands of individuals how to create, manage, and maintain relationships. Her degrees are in International Leadership and Management & Social Justice. For more than 20 years she has worked with indigenous people around the globe supporting them in living their best lives through her foundation, HumanKind. She has done executive coaching for top 100 companies and hasbeen a life coach for hundreds of people. She is the founder and CEO of PASSERI Footwear, a slow fashion company based in Peru. She discovered plant medicine in the jungle of Peru in 2018, a medicine that transformed her trajectory and gave her the power to thrive.

It's the most wonderful time of the year -- and sometimes the most hazardous.  In this episode, David and Nate discuss ways to stay sober during the holidays.

In this episode, Chris Smith shares his inspiring story of recovery, redemption, and service.  To learn more about Fit 4 Recovery or to reach Chris directly, go here.

Can attunement with an animal actually foster emotional regulation and help abused or neglected adolescents connect with themselves and others?  Check out this fascinating conversation with Liz Olszewski, the founder and Executive Director of Horses Healing Hearts. To learn more about Liz or to find out how you can support the work of her nonprofit, visit hhhusa.org.

David and Nate enjoy a wide-ranging conversation with venture capitalist Jason Portnoy, a survivor of porn/sex addiction and author of the highly acclaimed memoir Silicon Valley Pornstar.   You may learn more about Jason or contact him by visiting jasonportnoy.com.

Are there true advantages to spending time in a sober community after you've entered recovery?  Evan Radkte of recoveryunplugged.com says Yes! -- and he shares his story with David and Nate in this inspiring (and sobering) episode.

Glenn Hadley, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Dreamscape Healthcare Marketing helps treatment centers gain visibility. In this episode, he helps David and Nate understand the challenges faced by any facility that wants to introduce itself honestly and effectively to people who are hunting for addiction treatment.

In a rural setting along the Atlantic shoreline in Connecticut, former Catholic priest Dr. Michael Hinckley and his team are meeting the unique needs of an often stigmatized and ostracized population.  In this conversation with Nate and David, Dr. Hinckley tells the story of Wildwood Farm.

Research has rekindled interest in the therapeutic power of psychedelics in the clinical treatment of anxiety, depression, and addiction.  Dr. Thomas Cabel and Chad Harman, CEO of Psycheseuticals, explore the status of the field in this revealing interview.

All of us on the road to recovery are encouraged by the stories of others.  In this episode, Stuart Goffman, producer of the A&E series Addiction Unplugged, relates his discovery of the reality of addiction and the power of storytelling.

A sobering and inspiring conversation with the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and We Save Lives.

Is it possible to treat potential addicts before they take the fateful slide into severe addiction?  Researcher, teacher, and therapist Patrick Moore says "yes" -- and he has the data to prove it.

What if you have a hard time connecting with the God-language in 12-step recovery?  Can you still recover?  Dr. Peg O'Connor, author of the upcoming book "Higher and Friendly Powers: Transforming Addiction and Suffering," says you can.  In this entertaining and illuminating conversation, she delves into the philosophical background and historical evolution of AA to make the case for expanding our understanding of a higher power.

Need help finding the right treatment center for someone you love?  Nate and David talk with Andrew, a veteran of the system, about a service that researches, rates, and provides referrals to treatment centers in all 50 states.

Thomas White, founder of Exact Nature, shares his recovery story and the hope and help he found with CBD.

Jason Carter, author of the entertaining new memoir To Hell I Ride: When an Examined Life Became Worth Living, shares his story with David and Nate.

The nonstop stimuli in our rapidly-changing world can overwhelm the human brain, sometimes with devastating consequences.  In this episode, guest Marcus Spaur suggests strategies for dealing with the new reality.

Do unexpressed feelings block our creative energy and prevent us from expressing our true self?  Veteran Broadway-star-turned-bioenergetic-therapist Ron Baker describes his own journey and practice in this conversation with David and Nate.

How do you act when you are in a leadership position?  Do you sometimes find yourself playing a role?  In this episode,  Karen Hardwick, author of The Connected Leader: 7 Strategies to Empower Your True Self and Inspire Others, explains the power of living and leading with your true self.

When it comes to creating positive sobriety, all of us can use a little coaching.  In this episode, Nate and David talk with Amanda White, author "Not Drinking Tonight: a Guide to Creating a Sober Life You Love."

Is it possible to calm the feelings that drive addiction by activating your own parasympathetic nervous system?  Can disciplines of body awareness amplify the effectiveness of other modes of recovery, such as 12-step work?  These two veterans of addiction treatment explain their pioneering practice focused on emotional sobriety.  For more information, check out embodiedrecovery.co.

For many women who are trying to rebuild a life ravaged by addiction, finding a safe place to live is a huge challenge.  This week's guest, Tracey Levine of Healing Housing, has found purpose in her own recovery by serving women who have no other realistic options.

Would the use of a polygraph help a couple reestablish trust after an intimate betrayal?  Nate and David talks with John Sternfels, LPC, NCC, CSAT, the founder of Northpoint Counseling and author of “A Partners Guide to Truth and Healing.”  For more information check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da6jyex_VYY Contact: john@northpoint-counseling.com

If recovery is a journey, doesn't it make sense to hire a guide?  In this week's episode, Nate and David talk with Jake LeClair, a recovery navigator and founder of the Emerge Center for Addiction Recovery.

David talks with Eric Peyton and Carey Crist of In Vivo, a professional practice that provides everything from treatment planning and interventions to sober transport, aftercare sober companionship, and recovery coaching.

David and Nate chat with Serge Prengel, the author of The Proactive Twelve Steps for Mindful Recovery.

Issues around money are always about self-love, says Martin Cowart, a prosperity mindset coach for GBTQ men.  In this conversation with David Hampton, Martin describes his own recovery journey and explains the 12-step basis of his financial coaching practice. For more information about Dr. Cowart and his practice, go to https://www.financialheartspace.com

How have people living at other times or in other places understood compulsive behavior? How does our modern, western understanding of addiction shape our treatment or mistreatment of addicts.  Carl Erik Fisher, M.D., author of the groundbreaking new book The Urge: Our History of Addiction, addresses these and other questions a fascinating conversation with David and Nate. Dr. Fisher is an addiction physician and bioethicist. He is an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University’s Division of Law, Ethics, and Psychiatry. He also maintains a private psychiatry practice focused on addiction.  His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nautilus, Slate, and Scientific American MIND. He also is the host of the Flourishing After Addiction podcast, a deep-dive interview series exploring addiction and recovery. He lives between Brooklyn, New York, and Lisbon, Portugal, with his partner and son.   The best link is to my website:  www.carlerikfisher.com/book   my own podcast is: https://www.carlerikfisher.com/flourishing   And here is an updated bio: Carl Erik Fisher is an addiction physician and bioethicist. He is an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University’s Division of Law, Ethics, and Psychiatry. He also maintains a private psychiatry practice focused on addiction. He is the author of the nonfiction book The Urge: Our History of Addiction, published by Penguin Press in January 2022. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nautilus, Slate, and Scientific American MIND. He also is the host of the Flourishing After Addiction podcast, a deep-dive interview series exploring addiction and recovery. He lives between Brooklyn, New York, and Lisbon, Portugal, with his partner and son.   https://www.carlerikfisher.com

A conversation with Dr. Carol Cherich, PhD, a therapist specializing in the treatment of stress-related disorders in active military members, veterans, and their families. \

An inspiring conversation with Shireen Janti, Sr. Director of Health & Human Services for MusicCares, a benevolent arm of the Grammys.

In this episode, Stephen Haynes, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Liberal Arts in Prison Program at Rhodes College in Memphis and Theologian-in-Residence at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, talks about the enrichment and challenges that recovery can bring to the Christian church.

Suicide ideation is no laughing matter, but you'll be glad you listened in on this conversation with survivor Jeff Romig, author of "Don't F*#king Kill Yourself."

An entertaining and informative conversation with Justin B. Long, author of Adventures of the Horse Doctor's Husband and The Righteous Rage of a Ten-Year-Old Boy.

Getting yourself or someone you love into addiction treatment can be a daunting task.  After losing a friend to addiction, Greg Silva dedicated himself to helping people into treatment.  Today, he is the Director of Operations for the Gravity Treatment Center in Encino, California, and he shares his experience and wisdom with our listeners.

Why are so many of us depressed?  Dr. Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic at Stanford University, discusses the ground-breaking findings and recommendations contained in her bestselling book "Dopamine Nation."

Internationally renowned therapist and bestselling author Jenna Riemersma shares her simplified introduction to Internal Family Systems, a leading-edge approach to addiction treatment.

Dr. Sam MacMaster, Corporate Director of Clinical Operations at Promises Behavioral Health, shares the wisdom of his long experience and research in treating addictions and co-occurring mental disorders.

Ever feel like you are blundering your way through life, making it up as you go along, rather than moving purposefully in a meaningful direction?  Career coach Becca Ribbing, author of The Clarity Journal, helps people find their way out of the fog and into clarity.  Listen to her enlightening conversation with David and Nate.

Addiction is a painful experience for plenty of people -- not just addicts.  Parents, siblings, partners, and colleagues of addicts are affected by the disease as well.  In this inspiring conversation with KL Wells, founder of Voices InCourage, we talk about the growth that loved ones can experience when they share experience, strength, and hope in a safe community.

Wouldn't it be great if you could find new sober friends anywhere you happen to be?  And even if you didn't want to meet them face-to-face, how nice would it be nice to chat by phone with other sober people whenever you needed a little support or encouragement?  In this episode we interview Beau Mann, whose dream of a mobile sober community led to the creation of  Sober Grid, a free app that helps recovering people find connection.

Delightful guests Laura and Tom Boldt share the family adventure detailed in their best-selling book; Unraveled: A Mother and Son Story of Addiction and Recovery.

How do you get sober (or stay sober) in an atmosphere where everyone else is partying?  David and Nate talk with Rob Shearon, the Program Manager for CU Collegiate Recovery Center (CUCRC) at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Internationally renowned Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor offers unique evidence-based insight into how anyone battling an addiction makes choices -- and how we can make better ones.   (Dr. Jill is the author of the perennial bestseller My Stroke of Insight: a Brain Scientist's Personal Journey, and the groundbreaking book Whole Brain Living; The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life.)

In this inspiring conversation, life coach and entrepreneur Amy Guerrero describes her trauma-based approach to recovery.  For more Amy, go to https://www.thriveinrecoverywithamy.com/

Our behavior is driven by our needs, says author and life coach Michael Oden. Uncovering our needs and learning a healthy way to meet them is key to long-term sobriety.  For more about Michael's needs-based approach, go to http://theneedsbasedmethod.com/.

The expression goes, “Sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire.”  In the realm of the opioid crisis in America, that can be a suggestion to start an inferno. A pill for a pill? Does it even make sense?  We commonly  make the association with illegal drugs such as heroin when the topic is brought up, but many opioids are regulated by the FDA for the use in treatment for pain and derived naturally from the opium poppy plant.  Statistics show that 95% of opioid addicts have a co-occuring mental disorder.  The world is dealing with a disease that can be treated with drugs such as buprenorphine. It was this exact drug that helped David Poses kick a heroin addiction that overtook nearly two decades of his life and kept him successfully sober for more than ten years. David gives a very detailed and poignant account of his battle in the highly anticipated memoir, “The Weight Of Air,” from Sandra Jonas Publishing available to sign up for pre-order and debuting July 6, 2021. He's also shared his knowledge in speaking engagements and bylines in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, NY Daily News, The Doctors and more.  The Weight of Air details how Poses led a double life, fueled by addiction and mental illness. The memoir pulls back the curtain of highly publicized and popular treatment facilities (including AA, Celebrate Recovery, and rehab) to show why the relapse rate is so high.  The book highlights the need to address mental health early on, and the connectivity of science to cure- not cause more pain.   The Weight Of Air is a raw and darkly comedic first person account of addiction, probing into the disregard for science and evidence in treatment, prevention and drug policy, racist catalysts behind US drug laws, and reasons that -despite its proven efficacy- Buprenorphine is inaccessible to the vast majority of 20 million addicts. Nobody wants to be labeled as a junkie. Our system is designed to punish, not save.  David Poses is on a mission to change this.

Recovery coach Will Black proves that there is no minimum age requirement for recovering from addiction and becoming a valuable helper to others.

David and Nate talk with writer, actor, entrepreneur and comic Christine Fekete about embracing change, taking risks, overcoming adversity and finding joy.

A conversation about restorative meditation -- including a guided session -- with writer and coach Laura Roe Stevens.

An inspiring story and practical wisdom from recovery and transition coach David Sinclair.  Find out more about David at davesinclair.ca.

An enlightening and informative conversation with psychotherapist and Kundalini yoga teacher Madhur-Nain Webster, author of The Stressless Brain.   For resources mentioned in this episode visit https://www.madhurnain.com.

David and Nate visit with bestselling author and life coach Dennis Berry, host of the Funky Brain Podcast.

A visit with recovery veteran, Vanderbilt instructor and nurse practitioner Chance Allen.

A recovery conversation with former stand-up comedian and chaplain Seth Perry.

A conversation with Jeff Finlin, author of "The Secret of Recovery: An Enlightened Guide to Transcending the Pitfalls of Trauma, Addiction, Codependency and Life in General."

Nate and David talk with Justin Barton, creator of the weekly Reco 12 Virtual Speaker Meeting (https://www.reco12.com)

One man's inspiring story of personal recovery, caring community, and a commitment to encouraging others.

The story of a Scottish couple and their successful search for a solution to her devastating eating disorder.

An enlightening conversation with therapist Dr. Teri Murphy, who helps individuals and couples form deep emotional connections and abandon competing attachments.

A heartwarming, encouraging conversation with author, speaker, entrepreneur, and leadership facilitator AdaPia d'Errico.

An inspiring conversation with Randy Haveson, TEDx speaker, five-star author, and founder of The Rise Organization.

David discusses spiritual awakening and spiritual connection in recovery with Ester Nicholson.

Can music help an addict make progress in recovery? David discusses the healing power of popular music in this stimulating conversation with Paul Pellinger, Chief Strategy Officer for Recovery Unplugged Treatment Centers.

David and Nate talk with Dr. Hal Bradley, author and community champion and chaplain, about his journey from drug trafficking to ministry

Former hotshot firefighter Brendan McDonough, lone survivor of the Yarnell Hill fire tragedy of 2013 and subject of the film "Only the Brave," talks with David about addiction, recovery, and finding purpose in life.

A conversation with Robin Clare, recovery coach and author of the bestselling book "Feast and Famine."

Marnie Ferree, co-founder and executive director of Bethesda Workshops shares her story of addiction, recovery, growth, and service.

Have you ever felt awkward or sidelined at a social event just because you weren't drinking? Do you sometimes miss the taste of your favorite beer, wine, or cocktail? Ever heard of nonalcoholic wine?  Or nonalcoholic whiskey?  How about virgin cocktails that taste as good as the high-test classics -- or better?   Marcos Salazar, founder of For All Drinks, believes that consumers who are avoiding alcohol should be extended the same courtesy as those avoiding gluten, peanuts, or meat, and he delivers exciting news about the latest innovations in nonalcoholic beverages.

David reconnects with an old friend to talk about addiction, recovery, and ministry.

Trina Frierson, Co-Founder and CEO of Mending Hearts, shares her inspiring journey from addiction and incarceration to cultural leadership and community service.

An instructive and inspiring conversation about addiction and recovery with author and therapist Stephen James.

Therapist Michael Barta of the Integrative Life Center explains his insights into the far-reaching effects of adverse experiences in early childhood.

Nate and David talk about recent books that have been most helpful and read letters from listeners.   Nate's Recommended Books: Atomic Habits by James Clear The Practicing Mind by Thomas M. Sterner The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander   David's Recommended Books: The Way of Gratitude by Galen Guengerich Recovery—The Sacred Art by Rami Shapiro

Is addiction necessarily a lifetime condition? Bob Gardner believes it isn't, and in this episode he shares stories and insights to support his message that freedom can be closer than you imagined.

Filmmaker Stuart "Skip" Stokes believes we need to have a conversation.  Could it be that our society's long-established pattern of stigmatizing addicts is actually promoting addiction, preventing recovery, and isolating anyone who loves an addict?  The Kickstarter address for the Stigma film is http://kck.st/3dTlidi   To partner with the Second Chance Sober Living Community via a taxable donation to the film project, go to https://ten28film.com/stigma

Do recovering addicts make better leaders?  Author, speaker and coach Michael Brody-Waite makes a compelling case for mask-free leadership.

This inspiring conversation with educator Bruce Matson highlights parallels in the recovery journeys of addicts and cancer victims.

Nate and David discuss the motivations of compulsive sexual behavior with therapist and researcher Jay Stringer, author of "Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing."