Episodes

Dr. Samantha Harte’s story begins with a moment that reveals the duality so many people in addiction face: the night she was accepted into a doctoral program for physical therapy was also the night she overdosed on cocaine. Outwardly successful, inwardly unraveling, Samantha spent years trying to manage her addiction through survival strategies—perfectionism, control, people‑pleasing—before she ever understood the deeper roots of her suffering. In this powerful conversation, Samantha shares h...

Angela Kenneke’s life changed forever when her daughter Emily died from fentanyl poisoning at just 21 years old. In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Angela shares how her family’s experience with substance use disorder evolved from early warning signs in high school to the devastating moment they were preparing an intervention—only three days too late. Her story is not only one of loss, but of purpose, resilience, and a mission to prevent other families from facing the same tragedy. ...

Mirta Miler — known globally as @mimiermakeup — joins us for a powerful conversation about sobriety, confidence, and the unexpected ways recovery reshaped her life and career. With more than 22 million followers across platforms and over 1 billion likes on TikTok, Mirta is one of Europe’s most influential beauty creators. But behind the glam, she faced a deeply personal battle with alcohol addiction. Growing up in Croatia, Mirta explains that drinking culture was normalized — “especially bein...

In Part II of our special series on the DEA cannabis rescheduling hearings, expert witnesses Dr. Philip Drum, Dr. Ken Finn, and Dr. Karen Randall continue their detailed breakdown of the medical evidence the DEA is ignoring. Dr. Finn opens with shocking data from Colorado: 70% of dispensaries surveyed encouraged pregnant women to use marijuana during the first trimester, despite this being the most critical period of fetal brain development. He cites the NIH‑funded ABCD study showing that chi...

In this urgent episode, three nationally recognized physicians — Dr. Philip Drum, Dr. Ken Finn, and Dr. Karen Randall — testify before the DEA to oppose the proposal to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Their expert witness statements reveal the medical, scientific, and public‑health dangers that rescheduling would create. Dr. Philip Drum, a national expert on the Controlled Substances Act, explains why marijuana has never met the FDA’s requirement for “accepted medical use.” He...

Dr. Tony Dice, Navy SEAL, firefighter, paramedic, therapist, author, and CEO of Bishop & Dice Defense, joins us to share one of the most powerful recovery stories we’ve ever featured. Tony describes how his early desire to “be a hero” led him into fire rescue, ambulance work, and ultimately the Navy SEAL teams — where camaraderie, trauma, and culture normalized heavy drinking and emotional suppression. Tony explains how addiction took root long before he realized it, escalating from alcohol t...

Jo McGuire, Executive Director of NDASA, delivers a powerful warning: rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III could end THC testing for pilots, bus drivers, truckers, and other workers who protect millions of lives every day. She shares the human cost of impairment on the job and urges the public to demand a federal safety carve‑out before tragedy strikes.

This episode of The Addiction Podcast — Point of No Return features Minnesota‑based creator and impact storyteller Josh Liljenquist, known online as Joshlilj, whose “Live to Love” mission turns online attention into real‑world help. With more than 34 million followers, 2.7 billion YouTube views, and over $1.9 million in documented public support, Josh has built a community that steps in when people face homelessness, addiction, medical emergencies, housing instability, or sudden hardship. Josh ...

Dr. Rachel Docekal of the Hanley Foundation joins the show to discuss the evolution of addiction treatment and why early intervention is so critical. Discover modern evidence-based care models, practical communication strategies for parents, and how to spot behavioral red flags early.

Darryl Strawberry is known worldwide as one of baseball’s greatest sluggers, a four‑time World Series champion and eight‑time All‑Star. But behind the fame, he struggled with addiction beginning at age 14, when he first smoked marijuana and drank alcohol. As he explains, “most of the time it’s because of the deep pain that’s going on on the inside” — and substances became his escape. His career was impacted by drinking, drugs, and amphetamines, eventually slowing him down and threatening ever...

Heather Bacchus is a Minnesota mother, author, and advocate whose life changed forever when her son Randy died by suicide at 21 after cannabis‑induced psychosis. Randy began using marijuana at 15, believing it was safe and creative. By 17 he was diagnosed with cannabis use disorder, and despite therapy and treatment, his condition worsened. At 21, he experienced psychosis and paranoia, leaving behind journal entries and videos documenting his decline. Heather and her husband Randy founded Be ...

In this powerful episode of The Addiction Podcast — Point of No Return, Joanie Sigal sits down with John Luedke, author of Big Dump, commodities trader, and sobriety advocate. John’s story is one of raw honesty, near‑death experiences, and remarkable transformation. From early substance use in high school — marijuana quickly escalating to alcohol, cocaine, Xanax, and opiates — John’s addiction spiraled alongside a lifelong struggle with food and weight. At his worst, he weighed over 320 pound...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Certified Life & Sobriety Coach and bestselling author Arlina Allen. She shares her raw, deeply honest journey from surviving childhood trauma and early addiction to achieving over 30 years of continuous sobriety. Arlina breaks down the illusion of moderation, the deep importance of self-compassion, and how she reframes the 12 steps for modern skeptics looking to heal underlying pain and build a fulfilling life.

Austin Rampt shares his raw, intense journey through meth addiction, cartel danger, homelessness, relapse, and the long road back to faith, family, and recovery. His story is one of survival, redemption, and the power of choosing a different path. One Last Hit Podcast - available on podcast platforms https://www.amazon.com/One-Last-Hit-Austin-Rampt/dp/1968485007/

Kim Porter opens up about the emotional toll addiction takes on families, the warning signs parents often miss, and the conversations that can save a loved one’s life. A compassionate, powerful look at family recovery. Kim Porter, CFRS, is the Co‑Founder and Executive Director of Be a Part of the Conversation, a Pennsylvania‑based nonprofit she launched in 2011 to help families and communities better understand substance use, addiction, and behavioral health. What began as a small initiative ...

Tara Peterson shares her powerful story of crack addiction, hitting bottom, and choosing recovery, offering hope and insight for anyone facing addiction crack addiction recovery, Tara Peterson, addiction recovery stories, substance use disorder, relapse prevention, trauma and healing, family addiction support, recovery journey, choosing sobriety, overcoming addiction, mental health and addiction, addiction awareness, recovery podcast, The Addiction Podcast, intervention and support, addiction education, coping with addiction, hope and healing.

Leigh Steinberg — the legendary sports agent who inspired Jerry Maguire — shares the deeply personal story behind his rise, fall, and ultimate comeback. Known for representing more than 300 professional athletes, including eight No. 1 NFL draft picks, Steinberg built one of the most influential careers in sports. But behind the success was a private battle with alcoholism that nearly destroyed everything he had built. In this powerful conversation, Leigh opens up about the collapse of his agency...

Whitney Yeager shares the tragic story of her son's marijuana-induced psychosis and the impact it had on his life. She emphasizes the dangers of high-potency marijuana and the need for education and awareness. Whitney also discusses the importance of recognizing the signs of marijuana use and seeking help. Takeaways High-potency marijuana poses significant risks to the developing brain, leading to addiction and psychosis. Parents and educators should educate themselves on the signs of ...

The conversation with Dr. Drum covers the adverse effects of marijuana use, the classification of controlled substances, the impact of marijuana legalization on banking, and the association between marijuana use and mass murders. Dr. Drum emphasizes the lack of medical evidence for marijuana and the need for testing for THC in law enforcement and coroner reports. Takeaways Adverse effects of marijuana use Impact of marijuana legalization on banking Association between marijuana u...

The conversation delves into the controversy surrounding medical marijuana, highlighting the lack of scientific evidence, safety studies, and expert acceptance. It also explores the implications of THC concentration and the state's approval of marijuana for medical use. Takeaways Medical marijuana lacks standardized chemistry and reproducibility. Inadequate safety and efficacy studies undermine the credibility of medical marijuana. Chapters 00:00 Medical Marijuana vs. Cann...

The conversation covers the personal tragedy that led to advocacy, the evolution of marijuana, the impact of THC, roadside testing, controlled substance classification, medical marijuana misconceptions, marijuana research and FDA approval, and the impact of marijuana legalization. It also addresses the public health and safety concerns, marijuana-related incidents, and the need for advocacy and action. Takeaways Marijuana's evolution has led to higher THC concentrations The legal sys...

In this episode of The Addiction Podcast — Point of No Return, Jeff Jones explains how growing up in a family shaped by addiction led him to rethink how recovery truly works. He describes the unsafe dynamic between his mother and alcoholic grandfather — “it wasn’t safe for me to love him in my mother’s presence” — and how those early mixed messages inspired his lifelong curiosity about how families become part of the solution. After becoming a therapist, Jeff saw the same harmful patterns rep...

Nicole Byers has faced immense personal loss due to the opioid crisis. Her son, brother, father, and half-sister were all victims of fentanyl and pharmaceuticals. She is an active advocate for change and shares her story with organizations like Shatterproof and in Facebook groups for families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl. She now works with national nonprofit organizations Shatterproof, We are Appalled and Voices of Fentanyl. Nicole Byers has faced significant personal loss due to fen...

For 30 years, Laura Stack was best known in the business world as “The Productivity Pro.” Her career as a keynote speaker, bestselling author of eight books, and corporate spokesperson came to a screeching halt on November 20, 2019, when her 19-year-old son, Johnny, died by suicide after becoming psychotic from dabbing high-THC marijuana concentrates. Laura responded by forming the nonprofit, Johnny’s Ambassadors, to educate parents, teens, and communities about the dangers of today’s high...