Episodes

We talk with Christian life coach Susan Larkin about gray area drinking and why so many midlife women feel stuck between “fine” and “rock bottom.” We unpack the faith, neuroscience, and shame-free mindset shifts that help you drink less or go alcohol free without labels or pressure. • Susan’s turning point as wine shifts from social to coping • The “aware stage” and why trying to control drinking feels exhausting • Gray area drinking as a spectrum rather than two camps • How drinking culture an...

A single group chat can expose a whole culture and it can wreck a life. We’re not here to debate every legal detail of the Cornell 7 story; we’re here to talk about the behaviour beneath it: the entitlement, the dehumanising jokes, the silence from bystanders, and the way “boys will be boys” turns into real harm. If you can read those messages and still shrug, we need to have a serious conversation about what we’re normalising. I share why I believe this starts at home long before college. The ...

War stories are only part of a veteran's journey. Marie “Slider Babe” Henriksen joins us to discuss life beyond the uniform, covering the intersection of military trauma, medical discharge, and the reality of navigating chronic pain and addiction. In this episode, we explore: Navigating Disability: How a late diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hip dysplasia reshaped Marie’s identity and path to recovery.The Reality of Sobriety: Moving beyond coping myths to sustainable, long-...

Addiction is more than just "inability to stop despite harm." Join me, Cat York, as I challenge outdated definitions and explore recovery through a new lens—one that focuses on the nervous system, trauma, and the whole person. After 20 years of heavy drinking and six years of continuous sobriety, I’m cutting through the "ice-cold" clinical language to have honest conversations about what actually helps. We explore why addiction is often a choice made within a fight-or-flight nervous system, a...

We speak plainly about the Cornell 7 case and why calling rape “one night” is a way to protect men instead of confronting harm. We defend the idea that consent is simple, intoxication removes consent, and accountability is the only path that respects survivors. • Naming the Cornell 7 and rejecting minimized consequences • Stating clearly that intoxication means no consent • Calling out institutional failures by the university and the DA • Challenging bystander silence and fraternity culture • S...

We share a major shift in where we’re taking the Recovery Catalyst Podcast while staying rooted in our mission to talk honestly about grief, trauma, addiction, mental health, and recovery. I explain why I’m streamlining the show to focus on women in recovery and how creative expression like art and writing can be a practical tool for healing. • Why my personal recovery story keeps shaping the mission • Why the guest lineup shifts to women only • How women’s recovery paths are judged differently...

Addiction stories often mask pain as permission, creating a dangerous cycle. In this episode, I’m joined by recovery counselor and podcaster Jason Fareas for a candid discussion on what sustains sobriety when willpower falls short. We explore how undiagnosed ADHD fueled Jason’s self-medication, why substance abuse often replaces one addiction with another, and the traps of romanticizing our past. Jason breaks down why honest storytelling is a vital tool for relapse prevention and offers a cli...

We talk with Mark Wigginton about what it means to rebuild a recovery life after relapse, shame, and midlife grief. His story moves from a chaotic childhood and an absent father to harm reduction, daily practices, and a new definition of abstinence rooted in choice. • Early instability, frequent moves, and why alcohol first feels like relief • The impact of an absent father and the stories we create in the void • Finding unseen childhood photos and how grief can rewrite identity • How multiple ...

Six years sober isn’t a victory lap—it’s a quiet moment of truth. Sobriety gave me my life back, but it also forced me to face the reality of growing up in an alcoholic home and the impact of addiction and trauma. In this episode of Recovery Catalyst, we talk about what continuous sobriety, relapse, and early recovery actually look like when navigating the mental health weight of alcoholism. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence—showing up for your family and building a life with real goals ...

Have you ever caught yourself asking, “Was it really that bad, or am I overreacting?” That question is often the first sign that gaslighting has taken its toll. In this episode, I’m joined by relationship coach Heather Melville, founder of Healthy Relationships, to discuss the messy, non-linear reality of healing after leaving an emotionally or physically abusive relationship. We break down what “toxic” truly looks like—from the exhaustion of walking on eggshells to the quiet erosion of your ow...

We’re building a recovery podcast that skips the dry lectures and speaks to real sobriety, from sober curious to early recovery to long term healing. We name the hard parts like trauma, mental health, and dual diagnosis while focusing on how to build a meaningful life after addiction. • A clear welcome for sober curious listeners and people in early sobriety • Why we prioritize honest conversation over textbook advice • Mental health and trauma as core parts of addiction recovery • D diagnosis ...

Burnout doesn't always announce itself with a crash; for many high-achieving professionals, it’s a slow-burn reality characterized by constant stress and emotional exhaustion. In this episode of the Recovery Catalyst Podcast, we explore practical mental health and healing tools for navigating career-driven burnout through the lens of Lexi Reed’s "Creative Reset" approach. We discuss how nervous system regulation and micro-creative breaks can interrupt the stress loop, offering a path to susta...

Shannon Darrow is a divorce coach and mediator, and the host of In Between Them — a podcast featuring honest conversations with adults about what their parents' divorce shaped, broke, and built in them as children. Her desire is to bring to light all of the impacts children suffer from their parent's divorce so parents can become aware and do better In this episode we discuss: • Shannon’s path from law school to corporate life to divorce coaching and mediation • Why adult children can recall s...

What happens after the operating room doors close? For most, it’s not the heroic scene depicted on screen—it’s the weight of high-stakes decisions and the pressure to remain unshakeable. In this episode, Cat York sits down with trauma surgeon, educator, and author Dr. Daniel Eiferman to discuss the hidden emotional reality of surgery. Drawing from his book, Cut Open: A Surgeon’s Stories of Resilience, Loss, and Growth, Daniel shares an honest look at the profession and provides actionable strat...

We sit with the raw truth of losing someone to addiction and the extra burden of shame that families carry in silence. Katie Rizzo shares how she uses poetry and community to keep Nicholas’ story alive while pushing back on stigma and broken systems. • Nicholas’ anxiety, addiction, and the five to six year family battle • Shame around overdose death and why secrecy protects the problem • Al‑Anon as a tool for families and the idea of being a loving witness • ICU withdrawal, relapse realities, a...

We talk with Dr. Larry Smith about how addiction can start young, hide behind achievement, and keep us trapped through an inner voice that promises relief while stealing our lives. We also lay out the daily practices that keep him sober for 26 years and why purpose and connection matter more than chasing the absence of cravings. • His first experience with alcohol at age 11 and the sudden shift from euphoria to shame. • How prescription drugs and weekend drinking evolved into substance abuse. •...

We talk with attorney Mark Astor about what families can do when addiction or severe mental illness hijacks a loved one’s decision-making and the stakes keep rising. We break down how civil legal tools can create safety, accountability, and time for treatment without turning crisis into punishment. • Mark’s path from prosecutor to behavioural health crisis intervention work • Why families feel trapped between jail and doing nothing • How the Marchman Act and Baker Act differ in purpose and outc...

I share practical updates that make it easier for us to stay connected and shape Recovery Catalyst together, from a new website to simple ways to send feedback. I also explain why I’m adding more solo episodes. • Launching a new website with episode listening, comments, and a blog that expands on each topic. • Inviting listener feedback through comments, questions, suggestions, criticism, and compliments. • Offering a free Buzzsprout voice note link for quick audio messages. • Building a once-a...

We talk with Bryan Blackmon about leaving Texas for a Los Angeles dream, sliding into addiction and homelessness, and finding an unexpected lifeline through an 85-year-old landlord named Elaine. Bryan shares the mirror moment that made him choose sobriety, the reality of withdrawal, and how his viral TikTok story turned into Crab Life Crew and a recovery mindset built on self-worth. In this episode we cover: • How glamorized party culture feeds denial and escalation. • What homelessness feels l...

We share a raw, late-night check-in about living with debilitating anxiety while staying sober and trying to keep life moving. We talk honestly about panic attacks, the long list of things we try for relief, and why kindness matters when there is no simple cure. • hosting the Recovery Catalyst Podcast with curiosity rather than cure • describing what anxiety feels like in the body and mind • naming the exhaustion and stigma behind “just take a pill” • the difficulty of starting medication • how...

We talk with veteran and shamanic trauma specialist Jeremy Chenvert, host of “The Shaman Stories Podcast” about how trauma can linger even when you “should be fine,” and how healing starts when the nervous system finally feels safe. We share concrete tools, hard-earned boundaries, and a grounded look at shamanic work, generational trauma, grief, and finding practitioners you can trust. In this episode we will talk about: • Jeremy’s military background and the slow build of anger after deploymen...

We talk with sober travel writer Teresa Bergen about how to protect sobriety on the road without shrinking your life. We share practical ways to handle social pressure, build sober-friendly plans, and travel with more freedom and better memories. • Teresa’s long-term sobriety story and why it feels liberating • Why alcohol is so baked into travel culture and how to stop it ruining your mood • Picking destinations where alcohol is not the main focus • Travelling with friends who drink and priori...

We sit down with Dr. Ellyn Hilliard-McLeod to talk about why real healing takes more than a perfect diet and how symptoms can reveal what needs to change in our lives. We dig into processed food traps, core beliefs around eating, and the inner work of forgiveness, identity, and responsibility that can shape long-term health. Dr McLeod’s journey from a Crohn’s diagnosis to a holistic path How “organic” labels can hide ultra-processed foods that still drive inflammation Why calming the nervous ...

Fenix Shephard recounts leaving home at 14, surviving abuse, addiction, homelessness, being part of the LGBTQ+ community along with multiple arrests before finding sobriety and a personal relationship with God beyond organized religion. Fenix discusses the healing tools she used and now offers—havening, EMDR, TMS, CBT and DBT—alongside spiritual coaching, veteran and community work, and a message of unconditional love and practical steps to get help. For more on Fenix, her coaching services or...