Addiction and the Family artwork

Addiction and the Family

64 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago -

Addiction and the Family is a podcast by and for family members of anyone with an addiction. We are working to bring experience, strength, and realistic hope so that you and your family can find recovery together. We do this through interviews with family members, people in recovery, and professionals who work with addiction every day. We also bring you research-backed information and practical ideas born of real-life experience.
We are currently publishing on a monthly basis, with new episodes released near the end of each month.
We are excited to present Casey's book "Realistic Hope: The Family Survial Guide for Facing Alcoholism and Other Addictions" (https://www.amazon.com/Realistic-Hope-P-Casey-Arrillaga/dp/1737981505/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=realistic+hope&qid=1637811980&sr=8-1)
Help us carry the message by supporting Addiction and the Family on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=31010526
Thank you for listening!

Mental Health Health & Fitness Science Social Sciences addiction family recovery hope uplifting self-help alcoholism alcoholics anonymous 12 step smart recovery
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Episodes

Episode 51: A Therapist Finds Recovery

March 22, 2024 13:00 - 44 minutes - 81.2 MB

Mia Tracy is a therapist who found recovery while working in the field. She shares the ups and downs of her journey and how she found the strength a humility to claim her seat at the recovery table. Special Guest: Mia Tracy, LCSW.

Episode 50: Eating Disorders and Addiction

February 23, 2024 13:00 - 43 minutes - 78.9 MB

Research is increasingly showing that eating disorders are a form of addictive/compulsive behavior. We explore this idea, what it implies, and what we can do. Along the way, we interview Dr. Heather Ingram to get further insight and perspective. Special Guest: Heather Ingram, PsyD.

Episode 49: A Couple's Life Before and After Treatment

January 26, 2024 14:00 - 34 minutes - 62.6 MB

Ashely and Tom reflect on what it was like for them as a couple and for their kids before Ashley found recovery at Windmill Wellness Ranch in 2022, what it was like while she was at the treatment center, and what it is like now.

Episode 48: The Year in Recovery

December 29, 2023 17:00 - 42 minutes - 78.6 MB

In this retrospective episode, we look back at the year in recovery as we interview several people who have been on the program in 2023. Each one talks about their year in recovery and what they hope for in 2024.

Episode 47: What You Need to Know About NARCAN

November 24, 2023 14:00 - 29 minutes - 53.3 MB

Now that NARCAN is approved as an OTC drug, we look at how this life-saving medication works, how to use it, how to recognize opiate OD, controversy around it, and where to get it (sometimes for free).

Episode 46: Transforming Trauma Into Triumph with Tonja Myles

October 27, 2023 14:00 - 56 minutes - 77.9 MB

Tonja Myles talks about her rise from family and personal trauma into the triumph of her amazing and accomplished life in recovery today. We discuss intergenerational trauma and how healing can happen for anyone. Check out her new book, "From the Crack House to the White House." Special Guest: Tonja Myles.

Episode 45: Healing from Our Scars, with Christopher Morris

September 29, 2023 12:00 - 42 minutes - 78.5 MB

Christopher Morris, author of "We Are All Made of Scars", talks about growing up with a mother who struggled with alcohol. He talks about what he learned along the way and finding his own recovery. Special Guest: Christopher Morris.

Episode 44: How to Talk to Kids About Addiction

August 25, 2023 12:00 - 34 minutes - 62.5 MB

In their new children's book, Casey and illustrator Skye Hilton worked together to help kids find hope and healing around a parent's addiction. Skye and Casey discuss why they wrote it and how to talk to kids about these issues. Special Guest: Skye Hilton.

Episode 43: Rising from Tragedy to Become a Warrior in Hope

July 28, 2023 14:15 - 51 minutes - 71 MB

Valerie Silveira, founder of Warriors in Hope, talks about how the tragedy around addiction in her daughter changed her life, not only in how low it took her but also how it was transformed into a source of inspiration to help others. Special Guest: Valerie Silveira.

Episode 42: Wired for Addiction with Dr. Evelyn Higgins

June 30, 2023 13:00 - 39 minutes - 73 MB

In this episode, we interview Dr. Evelyn Higgins about the work she is doing on teh gentics of addiction and how she uses it to bring hope and help through her company Wired for Addiction. She also talks about some the othe preson journey tha tled to her interest in helping those with addiction and their families. Special Guest: Dr. Evelyn Higgins.

Episode 41: Incurable Hope with Lisa Gennosa

May 26, 2023 13:00 - 52 minutes - 71.9 MB

Lisa Gennosa talks about the trials and blessings of her son's addiction, finding her own recovery, and helping others through personal encounters, professional talks, and her new book "Incurable Hope". Special Guest: Lisa Gennosa.

Episode 40: Questions Families Ask

April 28, 2023 13:00 - 41 minutes - 56.5 MB

We tackle some of the questions families have for people in active addiction, in treatment, and then in early recovery. Our all-star panel of people in recovery from addiction give honest and heartfelt answers.

Episode 39: How to Help Relationships Survive Early Recovery

March 24, 2023 13:00 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MB

We explore the stress that addiction and early recovery put on relationships of all kinds and how to find your way to healthier relationships through all of it. As part of this, we tell our story to illustrate some of the concepts.

Episode 38: Family Helping Each Other Find Recovery

February 24, 2023 15:00 - 46 minutes - 85.9 MB

As teens, Deanna and Travis were suddenly siblings when their parents married. Little did they suspect that they would help each other find and deepen the recovery they share today.

Episode 38: Deanna and Travis: Family Helping Each Other Find Recovery

February 24, 2023 15:00 - 46 minutes - 85.9 MB

As teens, Deanna and Travis were suddenly siblings when their parents married. Little did they suspect that they would help each other find and deepen the recovery they share today.

Episode 37: Gigi: How to Be Your Most Loving Self

January 21, 2023 13:00 - 46 minutes - 85.2 MB

Dr. Gigi Langer talks about her recovery both from her own addiction and as a family member, and what this taught her about being her most loving self. She shares some of those insights, including removing roadblocks to being your most loving self.

Episode 37: How to Be Your Most Loving Self

January 21, 2023 13:00 - 46 minutes - 85.2 MB

Dr. Gigi Langer talks about her recovery both from her own addiction and as a family member, and what this taught her about being her most loving self. She shares some of those insights, including removing roadblocks to being your most loving self.

Episode 36: Navigating the Holidays in Recovery

December 11, 2022 22:00 - 40 minutes - 73.5 MB

How to survive and even thrive during the holidays whether you are recovering from your own addiction or someone else's. Chock full of ideas and tips to get through this time of year.

Episode 35: Ashleigh: A Sibling's Perspective

November 25, 2022 15:00 - 47 minutes - 87.2 MB

Author Ashleigh Nowakowski talks about how she was affected by her brother's addiction, recovery, and relapse, finding her own recovery in the process, setting boundaries, and how she has grown as a result. Her book "The Shadow Child" brings all this together, including many helpful ideas for other family members affected by a loved one's addiction. Special Guest: Ashleigh Nowakowski.

Episode 35: A Sibling's Perspective

November 25, 2022 15:00 - 47 minutes - 87.2 MB

Author Ashleigh Nowakowski talks about how she was affected by her brother's addiction, recovery, and relapse, finding her own recovery in the process, setting boundaries, and how she has grown as a result. Her book "The Shadow Child" brings all this together, including many helpful ideas for other family members affected by a loved one's addiction. Special Guest: Ashleigh Nowakowski.

Episode 34: Spirituality in Recovery

October 28, 2022 14:45 - 49 minutes - 90.5 MB

Casey talks about why spirituality is important to many people in recovery, where it's hard, and how to get through some of the challenges. He shares insights from his new book, "Spirituality for People Who Hate Spirituality".

Episode 33: The Guardian Initiative for Veterans and First Responders, Part Two

September 25, 2022 11:00 - 38 minutes - 71.2 MB

Erika Unberhagen talks about how families of first responders and veterans are impacted by addiction and mental health issues, how The Guardian Initiative at Windmill Wellness Ranch helps, and her own experiences that led her to do this work. Special Guest: Erika Unberhagen, LMSW.

Episode 32: The Guardian Initiative for Veterans and First Responders, Part One

August 26, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 60 MB

Erika Unberhagen talks about The Guardian Initiative at Windmill Wellness Ranch, a program for first responders and veterans, and her own experiences in law enforcement and addiction that led her to do this work. Special Guest: Erika Unberhagen, LMSW.

Episode 31: Philosophy, Spirituality, and Recovery with Peg O'Connor

July 25, 2022 11:00 - 55 minutes - 76.6 MB

A wide-ranging conversation about philosophy, spirituality, and recovery with author Peg O'Connor, We talk about what these ideas mean for both people with addiction and those who love them. Peg talks about her new book "Higher and Friendly Powers" and how it comes out of her work and her own recovery. Special Guest: Dr. Peg O'Connor.

Episode 31: Peg: Philosophy, Spirituality, and Recovery

July 25, 2022 11:00 - 55 minutes - 76.6 MB

A wide-ranging conversation about philosophy, spirituality, and recovery with author Peg O'Connor, We talk about what these ideas mean for both people with addiction and those who love them. Peg talks about her new book "Higher and Friendly Powers" and how it comes out of her work and her own recovery. Special Guest: Dr. Peg O'Connor.

Episode 30: What is SMART Recovery, with Lisa Davidson

June 26, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 64.8 MB

Lisa Davidson, Clinical Director at Windmill Wellness Ranch, talks about her personal and professional journey of recovery using SMART Recovery, one of the major alternatives or adjuncts to 12 Step recovery. She gives examples of the tools of SMART and how they work on a practical level to help people with addiciton and those they love recover. Special Guest: Lisa Davidson, LCDC.

Episode 29: Innovations in Addiction Treatment

May 28, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 56.7 MB

We interview two innovators in addiction treatment: Dr. Heather Ingram and Shannon Malish, LCSW. Each talks about how she works directly with people's brains to help them recover. Special Guests: Heather Ingram, PsyD and Shannon Malish, LCSW-S.

Episode 28: Interview with the Interventionist

April 29, 2022 14:00 - 40 minutes - 74.1 MB

We interview Dustin Williams, who owns an intervention and personal recovery service. He shares some of his story of recovery and how he helps families get a loved on into and through treatment, then supports them afterward.

Episode 28: Dustin: Interview with the Interventionist

April 29, 2022 14:00 - 40 minutes - 74.1 MB

We interview Dustin Williams, who owns an intervention and personal recovery service. He shares some of his story of recovery and how he helps families get a loved on into and through treatment, then supports them afterward.

Episode 27: Dianne: Living the Al-Anon Principles in Marriage

March 25, 2022 20:00 - 51 minutes - 93.8 MB

We hear from Dianne, who learned how to live the principles of Al-Anon in her marriage, and how this helped her to have a long relationship full of recovery for both her and her husband. She talks about learning to set boundaries and what this did for her recovery as well as her husband's. She discusses how she practices detachment with love.

Episode 26: Conversations With Counselors #2 - Paige Majko

February 25, 2022 20:00 - 45 minutes - 83.9 MB

In this interview, counselor Paige Majko talks about her personal and professional relationship with addiction and recovery, including her work with families affected by addiction, and what recovery has done for her family.

Episode 25: Enabling vs. Helping

January 28, 2022 19:00 - 28 minutes - 51.8 MB

In this episode, we explore underlying assumptions that lead to unhealthy enabling and how to challenge these, how Shakespeare can help you move from enabling to helping, and provide some questions you can ask yourself in order to see if you are about to enable someone or help them.

Episode 25: Enabing vs. Helping

January 28, 2022 19:00 - 28 minutes - 51.8 MB

In this episode, we explore underlying assumptions that lead to unhealthy enabling and how to challenge these, how Shakespeare can help you move from enabling to helping, and provide some questions you can ask yourself in order to see if you are about to enable someone or help them.

Episode 24: Brian and Tamara: Relationships in Long-Term Recovery

January 01, 2022 11:00 - 52 minutes - 71.6 MB

In this wide-ranging conversation with Brian and Tamara, Kira and Casey explore the ins and outs of being in recovery while being in long-term relationships. Both couples share their stories, what has worked best for them, and how they have grown together.

Episode 23: Conversations With Counselors #1 - Merrit Hartblay

November 26, 2021 14:00 - 36 minutes - 67.1 MB

We talk with Merrit Hartblay, social worker and addiction counselor in New York. Merrit and Casey talk about the things they've seen most help families deal with addiction, and their personal stories of how they found healing in their own families. Merrit hosts his own podcast "Recovery Road" and is the author of "Lost Innocence: My Journey From Addiction to Recovery".

Episode 22: Abigail: Addiction, the Family, and the Law

October 29, 2021 14:00 - 42 minutes - 77.5 MB

We interview Abigail Seymour, who specializes in family law around addiction, especially the tricky waters of child custody. She offers insight for people in recovery, their co-parents, and other family members who find themselves suddenly thrust into these difficult issues. She also shares what drew her to this work and what inspires her to keep going.

Episode 21: Creating Happiness

September 25, 2021 11:00 - 41 minutes - 75.7 MB

In this episode, we look at various ways you can create happiness through the tools of positive recovery, including PERMA, a focus on strengths, resilience, and the power of gratitude. For each concept, we will present a practical exercise you can use to start seeing benefits.

Episode 20: Ashley: Letting Go of Codependent Patterns

August 27, 2021 13:00 - 53 minutes - 97.7 MB

We interview Ashley, who traces the roots of her codependent patterns back to childhood, who married someone with addiction, and who learned to let these patterns go. She looks at how she learned to moved into a healthier way of seeing and caring for herself. She talks about how she made these changes and how she now helps others do the same.

Episode 19: Effective Communication and Boundaries

July 30, 2021 14:00 - 41 minutes - 76.4 MB

In this episode, we look at how to have more effective communication and boundaries. We learn about communication styles, how to tell which one is your default, and tips on how to communicate more effectively in any situation. We also discuss what makes an effective boundary and how to set some boundaries of your own.

Episode 18: Arnold: Reflections on a Lifetime in Recovery

June 25, 2021 13:00 - 37 minutes - 68.3 MB

Arnold shares what he has learned during his 50 years in AA, how his family was affected before and after his wife found her own recovery, and what family members can do when faced with addiction.

Episode 17: Amy G: Young, Gay, and Sober

May 28, 2021 13:00 - 40 minutes - 74.7 MB

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Episode 16: Emotional Sobriety

April 23, 2021 12:00 - 43 minutes - 80.4 MB

We look at the idea of emotional sobriety, how it applies for family members as well as those with addictions, why it's important for everyone, and how to enhance it in your life. We feature an interview with Teresa, who has over 30 years in recovery and was one of our first role models for emotional sobriety.

Episode 15: 60 Years of Recovery as a Family Member

March 26, 2021 12:00 - 57 minutes - 79.1 MB

Dr. Al Mooney entered family recovery at age 10, when his parents got sober. Sixty years later, he reflects on how this experience shaped him and led to a lifetime of helping others to recover. For more on Dr. Mooney's work, check out of his books, both available on Amazon: The Recovery Book My Life in Recovery Special Guest: Dr. Al Mooney.

Episode 15: Al M: 60 Years of Recovery as a Family Member

March 26, 2021 12:00 - 57 minutes - 79.1 MB

Dr. Al Mooney entered family recovery at age 10, when his parents got sober. Sixty years later, he reflects on how this experience shaped him and led to a lifetime of helping others to recover. For more on Dr. Mooney's work, check out of his books, both available on Amazon: The Recovery Book My Life in Recovery Special Guest: Dr. Al Mooney.

Episode 14: Anniversaries and Milestones

February 26, 2021 14:00 - 40 minutes - 73.3 MB

This episode mark the 1st anniversary of our podcast, so we discuss why anniversaries and milestones are such a big deal in recovery, and hear two great interviews with people in recovery around this topic. David is a man in recovery whose interview happened in a special day in his recovery. He talks about his journey so far, and how his recovery has impacted his relationships, including with his father who passed away last year. Brian and Tamara talk about the various anniversaries and miles...

Episode 13: A Story of Finding Freedom

January 29, 2021 14:00 - 49 minutes - 91 MB

Having grown up in a household devastated by alcoholism, she never thought she would marry someone with an addiction. In this in-depth interview, author A. S. Edwards talks about her journey through all this, and how she is finding her own recovery. She explores how family patterns repeated themselves and what she has been doing to change this, including working on a memoir of her experiences.

Episode 13: A. S.: A Story of Finding Freedom

January 29, 2021 14:00 - 49 minutes - 91 MB

Having grown up in a household devastated by alcoholism, she never thought she would marry someone with an addiction. In this in-depth interview, author A. S. Edwards talks about her journey through all this, and how she is finding her own recovery. She explores how family patterns repeated themselves and what she has been doing to change this, including working on a memoir of her experiences.

Episode 12: Gratitude

December 22, 2020 14:00 - 32 minutes - 58.7 MB

All about gratitidue: We look at the benefits of gratitude, where it's hard around active addiction, how to have more of it, its place in recovery, and then Kira leads a gratitude meditation. Includes "person on the street" interviews about gratitude with both family members and people in recovery from addiction.

Episode 11: Overcoming Loss

November 27, 2020 14:00 - 44 minutes - 81.8 MB

For most people, death is the end of a relationship. In a moving interview, author Jack Dison talks about continuing his relationship to his son by writing him letters after his son died of an overdose. He discusses his recovery journey and how the letters became his book "Overdose: Letters from Dad." He talks about the things that helped him most and how he still feels connected to his son many years later.

Episode 11: Jack D: Overcoming Loss

November 27, 2020 14:00 - 44 minutes - 81.8 MB

For most people, death is the end of a relationship. In a moving interview, author Jack Dison talks about continuing his relationship to his son by writing him letters after his son died of an overdose. He discusses his recovery journey and how the letters became his book "Overdose: Letters from Dad." He talks about the things that helped him most and how he still feels connected to his son many years later.