Let The Journey Begin

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This week, Jason and Alex are joined by local Orange County personality, Chad Towersey. Chad grew up in a very nice Newport Beach household with all sorts of sports aspirations, including baseball, golf, and surfing. Even with things seemingly as good as they could get for a young teenager, Chad describes how his first sip of alcohol, almost as if magic, soothed a deep-rooted feeling of anger inside him that he had always had. He believes he was already suffering from untreated alcoholism from the get-go and things only intensified as he got older and made his way into college. Today, with over two years of sobriety, Chad explains how he was spiritually bankrupt in his time battling addiction and how he feels more genuinely connected to those around him now that he is sober. He talks about how even though relapse is a part of his story, doing the same daily self-care things have proven to be a recipe for success and how striving for progress rather than perfection is key to his recovery. Additionally, Chad mentions that there will always be ups and downs in sobriety but that those are far better than being in and out of sobriety. Finally, Chad stresses that recovery is never something you have to do alone and how simply reaching out for help can change your life for the better.

Instagram: @ocinstanews

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Celebrating her eight-year sobriety anniversary, Diana Beals returns with Jason and Alex to conclude the story of her recovery transformation. In this week’s episode, Diana discusses how at the beginning of her sobriety journey, she wrestled with the idea that she was truly powerless, which she believes is one of the main reasons why it took so long for sobriety to stick and why she ultimately passed through so many different treatment centers. Diana has always admired organizations and their traditions, and she tells the story of how a simple sobriety birthday candle would end up being a big turning point in her recovery. The group also discusses how negative influences can affect the progress of one’s treatment journey. Diana believes addicts have a difficult time getting rid of their negative peer groups because there are many life and death situations in the depths of addiction, and these negative people, for better or for worse, are always there when death is avoided. Finally, after eight years of sobriety, the key for Diana’s recovery has always been a combination of meditation and acting in a way that makes you proud to be yourself. She explains how this mantra created a snowball effect of good in her life. Today, Diana puts her own experiences to use working as the Director of Operations for Catalyst Recovery, which specializes and is the only Joint Commission accredited provider that brings all the needs of treatment to clients in the comfort and convenience of their own home.

catalystrecovery.com

Instagram: @catalystrecovery

Twitter: @CatalystRecover

Facebook: @Catalystrecovery

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Jason and Alex are pleased to be joined this week by Director of Operations for Catalyst Recovery, Diana Beals. From an early age, Diana always described herself as a thrill-seeker. She would jump her bike off an unfinished deck in her backyard as a young girl because the feeling of inner peace she achieved was something she would continually strive for. She believes that this was an early indicator that the addict gene was in her all along…it was just waiting to be kindled. She eventually was introduced to hard drugs by an unlikely source, and it was only a matter of time before she dove headfirst into addiction. Diana discusses the circumstances that led to her first experience with hard drugs and how long after it took for her to become dependent on the substance. She talks about how she has never blamed the person who first introduced her to hard drugs because she believes it was her own mindset that led her to those circumstances. Furthermore, Diana talks about her parents’ reaction to the situation/her addiction and how early childhood trauma may have played a part in her struggles down the road.

Next week, in Part 2, Diana talks about her experience going through a plethora of different treatment centers, how she was finally able to make a lasting change, and what has been most effective in helping her maintain long-term.

catalystrecovery.com

Instagram: @catalystrecovery

Twitter: @CatalystRecover

Facebook: @Catalystrecovery

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This week, Alex Meschi and Jaana Woodbury are joined by speaker, entrepreneur, app developer, author, and CEO of Goldratt Research Labs, Dr. Alan Barnard. From an early age, Dr. Barnard was always fascinated by human decision making. He would wonder what would influence individuals to make the decisions they did and why many good people made bad decisions. He has since dedicated his work to the study of behavioral psychology and decision science to hopefully find an answer to these questions. He discusses with Alex and Jaana the idea of positive/negative responses in accordance with life events and explains why reacting rather than responding to a situation may not render the best results. Additionally, he explains how his research in decision making can also be applied to addiction treatment. He asserts that addicts are good people by nature in that they have identified a problem within themselves or something they are suffering from, but their decision making has simply resulted in them choosing a negative coping mechanism to deal with the root complication. Finally, Dr. Barnard talks about how overcomplicating addiction treatment by adding more and more steps in some instances can ultimately increase failure rates and produce negative results.

You can find Dr. Barnard and his work at the following:

dralanbarnard.com

goldrattresearchlabs.com

YouTube: DrAlanBarnard

Harmony Decision Maker App:

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This week, Veronica Valli: author, recovery coach, and host of the Soberful Podcast, celebrating her 22nd year of sobriety, joins Alex Meschi and Jaana Woodbury. Veronica was introduced to alcohol and drugs at an early age. She discovered substances seemingly went hand in hand with a few other things she adored: partying, dancing, and going to nightclubs. Things began taking a dark turn, however, when she found herself hospitalized after a bad hallucinogenic experience and compromising her integrity and dignity while under the influence. All the while, Veronica was completely bought into the idea that she could not enjoy herself without alcohol. Life continued to evolve into a constant state of fear; fear she was not good enough, fear she was not lovable, fear of what people thought of her, and she was desperate to put an end to these feelings. Finally, after visiting with nearly every specialist under the sun, she pinpointed that alcohol was the root of all her problems, and she hasn’t looked back since. Veronica talks about how, in her first year without alcohol, she built a habit of sobriety that would stick with her the rest of her life. She also talks about how, for her, sobriety has not been difficult, being an alcoholic was. She goes on to explain how there are four specific things people with an alcohol problem do: they drink, they think about drinking, they think about not drinking, and they recover. All these things take up bandwidth in one’s mind and an individual can spend their whole life fixated on this one problem, missing all the important moments that come along the way. She also discusses how the life experiences she thought were being enhanced by substances have become even more meaningful in a clear state of mind. After 22 years of sobriety, Veronica says that life does not get any better than what is right now for her, and she credits the early habits she adopted to get her where she is today.

You can find Veronica and all her work at the following:

veronicavalli.com

soberful.com

Instagram: @veronicajvalli

Her book: Soberful: Uncover a Sustainable, Fulfilling Life Free of Alcohol

Her Podcast: Soberful

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Soberful: Uncover a Sustainable, Fulfilling Life Free of Alcohol

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This week, Hilary and Jaana conclude their conversation with Ocean Recovery CEO, Cade Saurage. The previous week we left off with Cade describing the moment he finally surrendered, and we pick back up this week as he describes how things went from there. Both Cade and his then-wife were battling addiction, going through treatment at the same time, and raising kids amid their struggles. With over 15 years of sobriety under his belt now, he discusses the differences between short-term and long-term sobriety and how much his routine has changed over the years. For Cade, having a relationship with God and mentoring others who are in the same position he once was in are the key components to maintaining his recovery today. He also talks about how important self-care and particularly therapy have been in continuing his path of sobriety. Finally, honesty has been a huge piece in transforming himself, so Cade suggests to anybody keeping something inside to reach out to that particular someone and get whatever it is off their chest.

oceanrecovery.com

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This week, in Part 1 of a two-part episode, Hilary and Jaana Woodbury are joined by Ocean Recovery CEO, Cade Saurage. Growing up surrounded by drinkers, Cade discovered his liking of alcohol at an early age. Lots of drinking in high school eventually evolved into a liking for cocaine later in his college years. It all seemed like fun at the time in his early 20s, but he found out how difficult things would become after college when he had to “grow up”. Cade thought he could do all the right things for himself and his family while also maintaining a thriving party lifestyle. He found; however, this mixture was a recipe for disaster. Sadly, Cade’s mother passed away from cancer while he was in his mid-20s and it turned his whole life upside down. Tumbling further into drinking and partying, he found himself in and out of jail and suffering significant consequences. He recalls never being able to stay sober for a significant amount of time and tells the story of his father asking him, “if you can’t stay sober for yourself, why can’t you stay sober for your kids?”; a question he didn’t have the answer to. Cade also recalls how rediscovering his faith in treatment and the dedication of one particular woman from Child Protective Services would go on to change his life. Today, as the CEO of Ocean Recovery in Newport Beach, CA, Cade has been able to maintain his sobriety for nearly 15 years by sharing his experiences with those currently suffering from the disease and utilizing all the lessons he has learned along the way.

oceanrecovery.com

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This week, Hilary and Jason welcome Bring The Light Ministries Founder, Pastor Earl Fitzsimmons. Feeling out of place in his younger years, Earl just wanted to be “one of the guys”, believing that drinking was the answer. He quickly found out, however, that his drinking was different than that of his peers and that he was drinking alcoholically. Things progressed, as they do, into his early twenties to the point in which Earl would plan his whole day around his drinking and he would be "poured" into a cab by the end of the night. Yet, one day, something snapped within Earl, and he finally was able to recognize that he didn’t want to live this life of drinking and drugging any longer. He explains how getting reacquainted with his faith is what ultimately turned his life around and eventually led him to becoming a pastor. Earl also talks about how, although there may be people close to you trying to point out a problem, the change will only start when a person can identify within themselves that they are struggling. Finally, Earl shares the story of how a simple desire to be of service spawned into something much bigger!

To learn more about Pastor Earl and Bring The Light Ministries, please visit:

bringthelight.org

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A few weeks earlier, Danielle Provot was kind enough to share the story of losing her husband to addiction and having to overcome her own struggles with the same disease soon after. During this time, Danielle had two young girls…Mataya was one of them. Today, Mataya Mandarino joins Hilary and Alex to give her perspective of what it was like losing her father at such a young age and how her parents’ struggles with addiction affected her. Losing her father and watching her mom work through it put her into a state of constant anxiety. Mataya felt like she had to be the mother of the household and talks about how she subconsciously became overbearing and overprotective of her mom as she had already lost one parent and did not want to lose another. Eventually, Mataya made her way into therapy and has not looked back. She discusses how therapy helped her establish boundaries she never would have been able to formulate herself and how it has made her relationship with her mother better than ever. In addition to highly recommending therapy to younger individuals, Mataya stresses the importance of being honest with your doctor because even though therapy was helping significantly, things didn’t truly take a "major turn" until she was additionally prescribed anti-anxiety medication. Mataya also talks about how, even though she may be genetically predisposed to addiction, she feels ahead of the curve. By putting her past experiences and traumas at the forefront of her mind when it comes to substances in the outside world, she feels she is better prepared than most to handle them. Finally, Mataya leaves the audience, especially any younger individuals listening, with the simple action of having hope. She expresses how even though whatever you’re going through right now may seem like it is never-ending, it will pass and you will be stronger because of it.

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Life and Business Coach, Angie Wisdom, joins Alex and Ariel Gale this week, as they fill in for Hilary and Jason. Stemming from a desire of always wanting to help people, Angie began an early career in nursing. She quickly found out, however, that this was not the right fit for her. She also grew up loving numbers and finance, so she then transitioned into a career as a financial adviser, recognizing this as another method to help people by way of establishing a solid financial well-being. After doing this for many years, she made her way into life and business coaching and has been successfully navigating her clients into futures they never thought possible. She talks about how one of the biggest roadblocks to overcome for her clients is identifying values. With so much hustle and bustle throughout our daily lives, Angie believes the things that truly make us happy can get lost in the shuffle. Once her clients are able to strip everything down to the core and to what really matters for them, she can help guide them to that goal and fulfill those values daily. Also, although many aspects of each can overlap, Angie discusses the difference between life coaching and therapy. She describes therapy as recovering from things experienced in life while coaching is aimed more toward the future and what steps can be taken to get there. Whether you are looking to take your business to a new level or are just simply trying to get the most happiness out of your life, Angie works with her clients to reach the ultimate goal.

You can find more about Angie and her practice at:

Website: angiewisdom.com

Instagram: @angiewisdomlifecoach

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Hilary and Alex are joined this week by Behavioral Health Care Consultant, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Psychotherapist, Gil Carmona, in preparation for RSF’s Community Town Hall on Mental Health & Suicide this upcoming Sunday, April 10th. At an early age, Gil endured a trauma that would turn his whole life upside down. When he was only 14 years old, his father committed suicide, leaving his entire family in a state of shock and disbelief. Gil, for one, had an enormity of questions, beginning his quest and desire to get to the bottom of “why” his father had done such a thing. One of his life’s lowest moments turned into one of his greatest strengths, however, as he began seeking education to help others going through similar circumstances, culminating into a Master of Social Work and over 30 years’ experience as a Clinical Social Worker. With so many people having endured difficult events and circumstances, Gil stresses the importance of getting help and talking through traumatic experiences through therapy and those you trust. He also discusses the prioritization of daily self-care and how one can begin to identify symptoms that they may be struggling with. In a day and age in which mental health is now taking a bigger priority, it is Gil’s passion and purpose to help marginalized populations afflicted with the disease of mental illness and/or drug addiction find their place, speak their voice, and master their specialized needs for a more confident and healthier individual.

(We apologize in advance for audio quality in parts of the episode. We experienced some technical difficulties with Hilary’s microphone. We should be back to normal next week!)

Website: gilcarmona.com

For more information and to RSVP for this weekend’s Town Hall, please visit: redsongbird.org/townhall

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This week, RSF team member, Ariel Gale, fills in alongside Alex as the two are joined by content creator, Danielle Provot. Danielle is an individual who has truly experienced addiction from a variety of different angles. She talks about what it was like witnessing her late husband’s struggle with opioids and an untreated bipolar disorder all the way up until the disease of addiction took his life. Losing her husband and the father of her two young girls at the time understandably proved to be one of the most difficult things she had ever endured, which soon progressed her own drinking and furthered her own path into addiction. She later recalls a particular moment during her struggle when she thought about how her two girls had just lost their father and that if she went any further into her own addiction, they might one day lose their mother. This was the moment in which she knew things had to change and that she not only needed to get sober for her children, but more importantly, for herself. Danielle discusses how getting sober has changed everything for the better in her life, especially the dynamic with her children. By looking at how much early damage she had done, she credits family therapy as one of her most significant pieces of healing and how it has created a level of communication between her and her two girls that she never would’ve imagined. Finally, she stresses the importance of service and prayer, as these are two actions that can not only help others but allow her to get out of her own head.

Instagram: @dprovot

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This week, in honor of Women’s History Month, RSF Director of Communications, Jaana Woodbury, fills in with Hilary as Sue Bright joins the show. Now with over 30 years’ experience in the addiction treatment field, Sue began her journey like many others do…identifying and repairing her own addiction. Early into their marriage, Sue supported her husband who began struggling with addiction, but quickly found out important details about herself through his battle. She didn’t think she had a problem but when she was eventually told to start identifying the similarities of her symptoms rather than the differences, everything took a turn and she realized she was battling addiction herself. 32 years into sobriety later, Sue shares what has helped her obtain this incredible milestone, including regular attendance of meetings, working a program of recovery, maintaining a strong fellowship of like-minded women, and a spiritual adviser she can rely on and trust completely. Sue most recently served as the Executive Director at New Directions For Women and drawing from this experience, Sue talks about the differences she’s seen in men and women going through treatment and why she believes women-only facilities are much more effective in helping females obtain and maintain sobriety. She also discusses how men and women become addicted differently although both sexes suffer from the disease. Sue is grateful for all the gifts sobriety has given her family and continually hopes she can help other families experience this same joy.

LinkedIn: Sue Bright

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by Public Policy Committee Member for NAADAC (Association for Addiction Professionals), President of CASA (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse), Committee Member for NAATP (National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers), and National Business Development Representative for Burning Tree Programs, KC Gooding. As an avid baseball player, KC grew up with big dreams of becoming a pro ball player, however, his athletic dreams began taking a backseat to other endeavors, evolving into an addiction. As this can be a progressive and fatal disease, things continued to get worse as his behavior was influenced by his dependence. Eventually, things hit a breaking point when his marriage began to fall apart and his family stepped in to get him the help he needed. KC had always had the mindset that his addiction was only hurting himself but, while experiencing his own moment of clarity, he realized this was all a lie he would tell himself to further his behavior. The simple reality was that he wasn’t just hurting himself anymore, he was hurting everyone around him. The crew also talks about functioning alcoholism and what some of the symptoms may be while KC gives some of his own advice, from personal experience, on how to identify if you fit the bill. After almost 10 years of sobriety, KC draws upon his own experiences to help those in need. He talks about being open and honest, especially with his children, about his past struggles in hopes the same mistakes won’t repeat themselves. Finally, KC calls upon listeners to practice love for self in a day and age where people can be overly critical of themselves.

You can connect with KC and find his work at:

LinkedIn: KC Gooding

Instagram: @calisparty

Facebook: KC Gooding

Burning Tree Programs:

Website: www.burningtree.com
Instagram: @burning_tree_programs
Facebook: Burning Tree Programs

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This week, True Self Recovery’s, Dylan Nation, gives advice and instills some wisdom on Hilary and Alex while Ethan Citron stops by to join the conversation. Dylan grew up with many natural talents and seemed to be great at most things he tried, especially basketball. These successes, however, evolved into his identity, which he describes eventually losing. In the attempt to regain this feeling of self, he turned to drugs and alcohol. This new lifestyle gave him a false sense of identity and an inflated ego that seemed extremely attractive to him at the time but wasn’t actually helping him. Dylan also expresses how he was once afraid of sobriety because of the false idea that getting sober means you are no longer allowing yourself to have fun. Using for him, however, became a chore and obtaining sobriety was the key to achieving a potential he never would have been able to access while active in his addiction. Additionally, Dylan talks about how there is still plenty of work to be done even after one obtains sobriety. He goes on to explain that individuals use and abuse to mask the root problems and while this is the easiest thing for family and friends to initially identify, there are still many things to sort out under the surface. Today, Dylan loves talking all things recovery and cannot imagine a life in which he is not sharing the miracles that come with sobriety.

You can find and connect with Dylan at:

trueselfrecovery.com

Realcovery.info

Realcovery Podcast

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This week, FASAM Certified Emergency Physician and Medical Director at Oakvine Recovery Center, Dr. Joseph M. Martin, joins Jason and Alex. Dr. Martin got into addiction treatment because he very quickly felt the power and satisfaction that comes with rehabilitating an individual to be reunited with their family. From the beginning, however, he found that "addiction" was not treated the same way across in the board. He explains that, even today, not everyone in the medical community views addiction as a disease and talks about some of the hurdles he has seen because of this. Dr. Martin uses the phrase “dogma dies hard in medicine” and hopes this type of thinking regarding addiction will continue to evolve over the years. One way Dr. Martin has seen these thought processes evolve among those in and out of the medical field, is when an individual has had a first-hand account with the illness, whether directly or indirectly. He explains, without this first-hand struggle with the disease, it can be very difficult to truly understand what a person afflicted with it is going through. Alex and Dr. Martin also discuss how cultural differences can create a problem for addiction treatment as many cultures do not even recognize addiction as a serious ailment. Finally, the group discusses addiction as a whole and how functioning alcoholics may have a difficult time realizing they have a problem. Dr. Martin explains that when the cravings and “thirst” for the substance begin taking precedent over everything important in life (family, faith, health, etc.), that’s when the disease can snowball. Jason gives his own account of this happening to him amid his addiction and, even though in his mind he wanted to stop, he simply didn’t have the ability.

Instagram: @jatxerd

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Let The Journey Begin has reached Episode #100! To commemorate this special milestone, we dive back into all 100 episodes and take a listen to all the great “Actions For The Day” our wonderful guests have given us over the past two years. We really hope this podcast has been as helpful and informative to you as it has been to us. We are so grateful for your support, and we truly look forward to continuing this journey in providing you with hope.

Thank you for listening!

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This week, Jason and Hilary conclude their interview with Annie and Kevin Blake. We left off last week with Kevin discussing the depths of his addiction and how he finally got to a place in which he could change, all with Annie sticking by his side and helping him every step of the way. Kevin had finally gotten to a place in which he was doing well and their marriage had healed but the tables began to turn. Annie began feeling ill and could not figure out what was happening to her body until she was eventually diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Kevin became her caretaker as her disease progressed and the doctor began throwing every kind of medicine her way to help with the pain. What she didn’t expect, however, were the side effects that would come with the drugs. She began developing an addiction for the medications, resulting in severe depression, and progressing into suicidal ideations in which she attempted to end her life over six different times. After her last unsuccessful suicide attempt, she knew her only option was to absolve herself from all prescription medication even if this meant having to live with the pain from her disease. Kevin talks about how important Annie was to him in some of his worst moments so he knew it was his duty to do whatever he could to help her during her own struggles. He retired early, having to accept a reduced pension plan, to take care of Annie and all that comes with the disease. Today, Annie and Kevin’s relationship has rebuilt itself on the ideals of communication and understanding and the two of them have never been closer. They have since opened their home to others struggling with addiction and use their own experiences and hardships to provide hope. Annie and Kevin’s relationship is a true example of life coming full circle and they stress the importance of reaching out for help, no matter what the struggle.

You can connect with Annie and Kevin at:

Email: imdoublegood@yahoo.co.uk

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On a special two-part episode from “across the pond”, Hilary’s close friends Annie and Kevin Blake join the show to discuss their marriage, co-dependency, and what the disease of addiction did to their relationship. Kevin suffered from alcoholism for many years before and after Annie married. He was a “functioning alcoholic” and things only got worse as the years went by. He would return home intoxicated on a regular basis, spend important money on alcohol, and communication became nearly impossible for them. Annie explains the reason she never suspected Kevin was an alcoholic was because, in her mind, she had a completely different vision of what an alcoholic looked like. While Kevin was suffering from his own disease, Annie was also experiencing her own share of difficulties. She was a co-dependent who couldn’t understand why Kevin was putting her through this and grew more frustrated as she began realizing she couldn’t fix him. Among many other things between the two, Annie began putting laxatives in Kevin’s coffee to keep him at the house and hiding the family money from him, to which Kevin suspected Annie of having an affair. Communication was completely severed eight years into the marriage, and both were convinced it was over. Things took a turn, however, after Kevin’s father expressed concern over his drinking on his deathbed. Today, 41 years into their marriage, Kevin and Annie share insight into how Kevin overcame his addiction and how they were able to mend their relationship to make it last all this time. Kevin truly needed Annie while battling his addiction, but the tables turned, and Annie would desperately need the support of Kevin down the road.

Tune in next week for Part 2 to hear about Annie’s struggle with muscular dystrophy and how the couple overcame one of the darkest periods of their lives.

You can connect with Annie and Kevin at:

Email: imdoublegood@yahoo.co.uk

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This week, Jason and Alex sit down with Jason’s Aunt Cathy (Holmes) to discuss her own struggles with addiction. Cathy grew up in a household where both parents were alcoholics and she experienced many of the effects that come with volatile, untreated substance abuse. After beginning her own teenage experimentation with drugs and alcohol, she grew so desperate to withdraw from this home atmosphere that she married at a young age solely to get out of the house. In this early marriage, she unfortunately encountered her own share of trauma and abuse and the drugs and alcohol seemed to be the only solution. What she didn’t realize was that all the things she experienced as a child, she began to relive in her adult life and in her own relationships. Cathy was truly a product of her environment. Things eventually started to take a turn for the better after she was in a bad car accident while being under the influence. At this point, she knew it was time to seek help for her addictions. Since then, she has spent the better part of three decades working on her sobriety. Cathy and Jason discuss the idea of being pre-genetically disposed to addiction and how a family history can be a major factor for future generations. They also discuss how family environmental factors can play a huge role in later youth development. Cathy ultimately stresses that, no matter how bad it seems, you still are worth it and that you should never be afraid to reach out for help.

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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Hilary and Alex sit down this week with close friend of Hilary’s, Susie Clothier, to discuss her journey in sobriety. Susie’s drinking career began at a very early age and continued all throughout her teenage years. She grew up in a household in which her parents would argue and she would self-medicate with alcohol to relieve her own tension. Susie also lived with a feeling of “less-than” for most of her childhood as her older sister was an extremely talented athlete. Mostly chalking it up to “just having fun”, she began to realize she had a problem upon completing college. She tells the story of a long-term relationship coming to an end which resulted in her receiving her first DUI. She had a .34 BAC at the time of her arrest but still was coming to her trial under the influence. Due to all these circumstances, she finally entered treatment and began the long road to recovery. Susie explains how just one drink is all it takes for her to go completely off the wagon and believes not fully embracing that is what kept her going in and out for years. Everything changed for her, however, when her young son began taking notice of her drinking and the effects it would have on her. She also talks about how the passing of her mother took quite a tremendous toll on her emotionally and credits the tools in which she learned to maintain her sobriety as ultimately helping her stay on course in a period of harsh grieving. Today, she is thankful for all the gifts sobriety has given her including her friendship and bond with Hilary as well as her love and pursuit of photography.

Instagram: @susieclothier

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, Hilary and Jason bring on founder and director of Coordinating & Assisting Recovery Environments (C.A.R.E), Anthony Brown. From an early age, Anthony experienced nothing but chaos and dysfunction, which led to him running away from home at 14 years old. Needing work and a place to go, he joined a traveling carnival that took him all over the states but also started what would become 23 years of homelessness. Instability and homelessness then spiraled into years and years of drug and alcohol addiction, but finally he reached a point in which he was desperate to get sober and turn his life around. He had been arrested by the same officer several times in the past but on one particular incident the officer asked, “Do you need help?”. This is when his life would change forever. Anthony was then introduced to treatment and experienced his own spiritual awakening that would eventually lead to him being sober almost as long as he was homeless. Today, it is Anthony’s mission to help those struggling with addiction and homelessness as so much of his own life was affected by it. He believes people can become homeless due to a variety of things and by properly diagnosing these specific reasons, you can then administer appropriate help rather than lumping all homeless into one category. Anthony’s true passion is taking his own experiences and his faith in God and utilizing them to provide specialized treatment for individuals who suffer from mental illness combined with a substance abuse disorder. In this episode, you will discover why Anthony considers himself a complete statistical anomaly!

You can connect with Anthony, find his book, and learn more about Brown Manor at:

anthonyhowardbrown.com
caredd.com
Book: From Park Bench to Park Avenue: One Man’s Journey Out of Homelessness
Facebook: @Brown Manor
Instagram: @brown.manor
Twitter: @brown_manor
YouTube: Anthony Howard Brown

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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From Park Bench to Park Avenue: One Man's Journey Out of Homelessness

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This week, Owner/CEO of JDS Consulting, Inc, James Sewell, joins Hilary and Jason. Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, James never felt like he could truly be himself; however, during his time in college he finally felt comfortable letting loose and being who he was. He talks about having generalized anxiety and feeling different than his peers, but alcohol was the solution able to bring down the barriers. For him, letting loose meant going out to the bars six days a week and what was once an opportunity to have fun, quickly escalated into a problem. Eventually, his drinking career resulted in several DUIs over a span of a few years and his court-ordered treatment from one particular counselor is what changed his life. He began looking at all the reasons why he drank and by working on those deep-seated problems, he has been able to stay sober for over 10 years. One of James’s main messages in sobriety is to be kinder to oneself and how it is important to accept the reality of sobriety. During addiction, the substance is what makes the world around us and our situation feel great; however, the world is not like that. There are good days and there are bad days and James stresses the important part for him was to arrive at a place in which he can accept this reality and live in it without needing a substance, a reality in which James refers to as “The Gray Area.” Today, James works in the recovery and mental health field in hopes of improving some of the shortcomings addiction treatment can have.

You can connect with James and find his work at:

JDS Consulting, Inc (Insurance Billing and Consulting for Behavioral Health Facilities): https://www.jdsconsultinginc.com/
TRUST SoCal (Detox and Residential for Primary Mental Health): https://trustsocal.com/
Training Institute for Addiction Counselors: https://www.traininginstitute.org/w/

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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redsongbird.org/donate

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Lakewood Recovery (Dallas, TX) Owner, Bobby Ludeman, joins Hilary and Jason this week to ring in the New Year! Growing up, Bobby always had this feeling he didn’t necessarily belong, he was an encumbrance, and that he was on the precipice of being cast out. He found drugs and alcohol in his early teenage years and knew from the very beginning that they were going to be a problem for him. His sickness progressed and only got worse to the point of getting addicted to heroin. In this time, he talks about how his father was always willing to do anything to help him with his problem, but he simply wasn’t open or wanting to accept the help. Bobby’s life and perspective changed, however, after he had a son of his own. He talks about his moment of clarity being one in which his son was only a few years old, and he was going to seek help one last time for his addiction or he would end his own life, thinking it was better for his son to not have to grow up with an addict for a father. Thankfully, things began to click and his recovery journey began. Today, Bobby works in recovery as the Owner of Lakewood Recovery sober living and credits being an extreme creature of habit to maintain his sobriety. While working in the recovery sphere, he explains why it is so important for him to connect with the younger individuals just beginning as this was the time in his own life where he had the most difficult time relating to those already in sobriety. Finally, Bobby details how he felt dirty and unworthy the day his son was born but can realize now that he no longer needs to feel this way with how far he has come in his own sobriety.

You can connect with Bobby and find Lakewood Recovery at:

lakewoodrecovery.com

Instagram: @bobbyludeman

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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redsongbird.org/donate

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Last week, we left off with Hilary finally getting to a place in which she was able to move on from her past and leave some of her former life behind. This week, Hilary talks about the steps she began taking with her mentor and the difficulties that still came along even after all the abuse. She talks about how her past left her with a feeling of unworthiness, emptiness, and an unsettling feeling that her legacy would be nothing more than what she endured. However, through the aid and encouragement of dear friends and mentors, Hilary began to believe in herself and that her life could still be anything she wanted it to be. She also talks about overcoming open heart surgery and how this experience was the catalyst to her dedicating all that she does toward helping others who have endured similar circumstances. Hilary’s story is a true testament to the idea that no matter what you go through in life, you can always make it out on the other side by doing the work and believing that it’s never too late.

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, we jump into Part 2 of Red Songbird Founder, Hilary Roberts, story of sobriety. All the childhood trauma and abuse caused her to be vulnerable, desperate for love, and seeking a way to escape. She details quite possibly her worst experience with abuse as an adolescent which resulted in an even more diminished view of herself. Her self-esteem in the toilet, she took jobs she never thought she would take, only adding to this cycle of unworthiness that would result in her using drugs and alcohol to numb the feelings. One thing Hilary did have though, was the desire to change. She talks about how the right mentor came along and changed her life. This mentor treated her with dignity and respect, and by following her recommendations and advice, Hilary began to realize she did not have to be defined by her dark past. However, she later discovered another addiction that she believes was even more difficult to overcome than the substances. Along the way, her lost singing voice came back through prayer, her self-worth began to regenerate, and she was eventually able to quit the job she hated most. With a past like Hilary and seeing where she is today, it is a true miracle and testament to the power of recovery.

We conclude next week with Part 3!

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, we dive into the story of singer, songwriter, and founder of the Red Songbird Foundation, Hilary Roberts. Hilary experienced trauma and abuse from a very early age which continued all throughout her adolescence. She talks about how there was very little healthy adult supervision growing up and how an ultimate lack of protection resulted in her being subjected to so many abusive people and situations. To make matters worse, nothing was ever done to help her, and things were not taken as seriously as they should have. As the years went by and the abuse continued to happen, Hilary quickly grew more resentful and began to take the burden on herself, thinking about what it was she had done to deserve this abuse and how it must be her fault. Hilary talks about how her self-esteem ultimately reached a point in which she felt like she was “a piece of garbage” and “not worthy of love.” Then, as she grew into her teenage years, she found alcohol, which helped her forget about some of the trauma she had continually experienced as well as helping turn down the constant thoughts of unworthiness she had spinning in her head. All this neglected abuse and trauma was building up into a launchpad that would end up being Hilary’s addictions and negative treatment of herself in the years to come.

Jason and Hilary discuss why childhood trauma can be so damaging to a person’s future psyche and how it is possible for an individual to be placed into so many vulnerable places. Jason also marvels at the fact that people were so willing to find Hilary help with her alcoholism in her teenage years but not at all willing to help her with the sexual abuse she had experienced growing up. In a story involving so much adversity and so many levels, we had to make it a multiple part episode.

Tune in next week for Part 2!

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

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1,000 Hours Dry host, Kristin Candelore joins Hilary and Jason this week on Let The Journey Begin. Kristin always knew she drank differently than everyone else around her. When it came to getting the party started or doing anything involving drinking, Kristin was the one to call. However, as she grew into her 20’s, Kristin started to become suspicious something was wrong and that she had a problem. This suspicion grew into more concern after a cross-country bachelorette party turned into what she describes as, “one of the first times she had completely lost control.” Things finally came to a head when she became pregnant. For Kristin, postpartum depression is a big part of her story and her sobriety journey. She talks about how she had always struggled with depression leading up to her pregnancy, but things were completely different in the nine months leading up to the birth of her daughter. She describes feeling euphoric and in a constant good mood while pregnant only to have that turned completely on its heels postpartum and her mental health going back to what it was, if not worse. Kristin was using alcohol as a coping mechanism to help with her postpartum depression, in addition to her overall mental health, and after a particular instance in which she could not stay sober for her daughter’s first birthday, she finally knew it was time to make a change. However, even though she wanted to get help, she had no idea where to begin. So, she decided to search #sober on Instagram and a whole world of recovery opened to her. She found all kinds of podcasts, our very own Jason, the Red Songbird Foundation, and an overall community of people with the same mission to help. Kristin, Hilary, and Jason discuss how intimidating the initial steps of recovery can be for someone just starting but emphasize the importance of connection with other individuals in the program and how the process of obtaining sobriety can be very different for everyone. Now, with almost 10 months of sobriety, Kristin talks about how medication, therapy, and the sober community have helped her stay on the right track. In the end, one of Kristin’s toughest moments in dealing with postpartum depression ended up being the catalyst that ultimately helped her make the change she had been wanting for a long time.

You can connect with Kristin and 1,000 Hours Dry on Instagram:

@candelore_kristin

@1000hoursdryparents

@1000hoursdry

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

If you are interested in donating to the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by the second half of The Chris and Sandy Show, Chris Benton. Growing up, Chris described himself as the shiest kid you could ever meet. He explained how he’s not entirely sure where this came from but being molested as a young teenager may have played a major factor. He talks about how he used freestyle biking to get him out of his shell and keep his mind off the abuse but eventually this means of escape transformed into alcohol abuse and an addiction. From forgetting a whole night’s worth of events while under the influence to going in and out of jail multiple times while in the midst of his addiction, it wasn't until his second marriage began to fail that he realized he needed to make a change. Chris explains how he pleaded with God to either take away his desire for alcohol or he was going to take his own life. He believes that reestablishing and focusing on his faith is what truly healed him of his addiction and has kept him sober for nearly 14 years. He also talks about how he and his wife Sandy met and why he believes she was truly a gift from God and an essential piece in obtaining sobriety. The whole reason we do this show is to show our audience there are all kinds of ways to obtain sobriety. Like us as individuals, we are all different and one person’s journey may be entirely different than another’s. What works for one person, may not work for the other. In Chris’s case, spirituality was what helped him get sober and today he is forever grateful for the gifts he’s been given in sobriety.

You can connect with Chris or find The Chris and Sandy Show at:

chrissandyshow.com

YouTube: The Chris & Sandy Show

Instagram: @chrissandyshow

Twitter: @ChrisSandyShow

Facebook: @ChrisSandyShow

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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redsongbird.org/donate

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Sandy Benton, co-host of The Chris and Sandy Show, joins Hilary and Jason on a special Thanksgiving episode of Let The Journey Begin. Sandy experienced a lot of trying times early on in her life. Not only was she bullied as a teenager leading to feelings of low self-esteem and severe anxiety, but she was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 19 and underwent eight months of chemotherapy. Things started to look up for her when she finally met her husband at 25 years old, but unfortunately discovered he had a hidden alcohol addiction shortly into the marriage. Sandy explains what it was like being married to an alcoholic and how helpless it made her feel. However, through all these difficult experiences, she talks about how she never gave up hope and always kept faith in God to turn things around. Eventually, through this faith, she is still in remission and her husband has been able to obtain nearly 14 years of sobriety through his own belief in the church and his own self-discovery.

Additionally, the holidays can be a stressful time for some, especially those struggling with addiction. Hilary and Jason provide a few tips and tricks which have proven helpful to them over the years when faced with challenging or triggering family situations. Also, it wouldn’t be a Thanksgiving episode without Hilary and Jason talking about what they are truly thankful for and what food they are most looking forward to this Turkey Day!

You can connect with Sandy or find The Chris and Sandy Show at:

chrissandyshow.com

YouTube: The Chris & Sandy Show

Instagram: @chrissandyshow

Twitter: @ChrisSandyShow

Facebook: @ChrisSandyShow

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, Alex and producer Ryan are joined by sober mentor and founder of Pro Recovery Power, Alika Gambill. Alika grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii with great parents, a great support system, and stability. However, even with a great "home life,” he was still an introvert and striving for acceptance from his peers. He wanted something to help him get out of his shell and this is when he was quickly introduced to drugs and alcohol. From then on, Alika talks about how he fell into a 20-year cycle of using, destroying everything around him, moving to a new place, and doing it all over again. Drugs and alcohol got him to a point in which he would lie and be deceitful about everything, but that all finally changed when his sister no longer bought into his lies. Today, Alika is nearly four years sober and has found purpose in helping those suffering from addiction. He discusses how there isn’t enough treatment or resources in the state of Hawaii and why it has become his passion to change that. Also, one of the biggest pieces of advice Alika offers is the idea of transferring action. He states that while individuals in the midst of their addictions focus so much time and energy on maintaining their habits, they would be amazed how much their lives can change when they focus that same time and energy on staying sober. Finally, ever since he was a child Alika has wanted to be a husband and a father, and because of his newfound recovery, he has since become both.

Connect with Alika:

Instagram: @alikagambill, @pro_recovery_power

prorecoverypower.com

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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Sober Fausto is a motivational speaker, recovery coach, author, and founder of the SoCal Hope Dealers movement. Fausto grew up and was surrounded by trauma his whole life. He had an alcoholic father that was never around, he was sexually abused by a peer at a young age, he was molested by an older man in his teenage years, and his mother developed breast cancer. Like every young child, he just wanted to feel loved and accepted and all this trauma left him confused, angry, and full of anxiety. He found drugs and alcohol in the ninth grade as a means to cope, but they quickly took him down a path of destruction causing him to destroy relationships, lose jobs, and eventually have the desire to end his own life. Finally, he experienced a spiritual awakening that completely changed his life and started his journey of self-discovery. He broke everything down to the basics: who am I surrounding myself with, what am I eating, going celibate, simplifying everyday tasks…everything he did was centered around recovering from his life’s trauma. Today, Fausto is four years sober and has dedicated his life to helping others and showing them the love he so desperately wanted growing up. Hilary, Alex, and Fausto talk about the idea of writing down goals and manifesting them into existence. Fausto is one of the most positive individuals you could meet and is a true believer in the idea that he endured what he endured so that he could help others find hope in their own suffering.

www.soberfausto.com

Instagram: @soberfausto

SoCal Hope Dealers Instagram: @socalhopedealers

YouTube: Sober Fausto

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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redsongbird.org/donate

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Our very own Director of Development for the Red Songbird Foundation and Founder & CEO of The Maria Group, Vito Maria, joins Hilary and Jason this week. Vito does not personally struggle with drug or alcohol addiction, but he has certainly endured his own fair share of trauma. Vito talks about losing his father suddenly at the age of 17 and how much of a shockwave it sent through his family. Although it is a certain kind of pain no teenager should have to endure, he explains how it ultimately changed the trajectory of his life and made him a stronger individual. Vito also talks about the challenge of having his wife diagnosed with a non-curable blood cancer while trying to raise a family. However, through both of these challenges and the difficulties faced in everyday life, Vito stresses the importance of perspective when looking at one’s own problems. He explains how difficult and even horrible things can happen to each and every one of us, but it is merely the way you respond to these challenges that can make all the difference in the world. The Maria Group’s goal is to help non-profit organizations expand their reach and fulfill their noble work in the world and Vito has worked diligently in assisting the Red Songbird Foundation with that. Vito, again, does not personally struggle with addiction but the nearly 30-year struggle of a close friend has made the world of addiction very real to him. Vito has a strong desire for helping those who want to help and he credits Hilary and Jason’s own passion for why the Red Songbird Foundation’s mission is so important.

themariagroup.net

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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Jason and Alex are joined this week by Helpful Hats Project founder, Shana Vander Kooy. Growing up in a rural farm community, Shana always knew she was destined for bigger and brighter things. She traded in the small town for New York City when she received a scholarship to play collegiate softball. She reminisces on how it was the experience of a lifetime, however, it was also where she was exposed to drugs, alcohol, partying, and the big city lifestyle. Shana eventually found her way to the West Coast where the partying lifestyle continued. It wasn’t until Shana and her wife were seeking to have children that she realized she needed professional help. She then admitted herself into detox because she knew she would not be able to be there for her kids in the condition she was in. Shana, Jason, and Alex continue to discuss how truly special and supportive the recovery community can be, as even though all of us are very different people, so many of us have very similar stories and that no one is alone when it comes to sobriety. Fast forward to the present day, Shana talks about how she wanted to do something for the recovery community to give back, as it is what saved her life. In this quest, she recalls how overwhelming it was for her as she began her sobriety journey in that she did not know where to go or who to reach out to for help. She then formed the Helpful Hats Project, a project hoping to provide struggling individuals an opportunity to approach someone wearing a Helpful Hat for help and guidance. Now, over five years sober, Shana talks about how her wife and two adopted sons are her life and driving force and how all of that wouldn’t have manifested if it wasn’t for her getting the help she knew she needed.

You can find Shana and the Helpful Hats Project at:

Website: www.helpfulhatsproject.com

Instagram: @helpful_hats_project

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

If you are interested in donating to the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org/donate

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Catalyst Recovery Chief Marketing Officer, Dr. Corey Jentry, Ph.D. joins Hilary and Alex this week. Corey was introduced to treatment at a young age. What he thought was a cool hangout spot for teenagers and young adults, was actually a place his peers were in trying to get sober. He didn’t think he had a problem and didn’t think he was like the people around him, but a particular incident in this treatment center opened his eyes enough to make him realize he did have a drug and alcohol problem and that he couldn’t stop on his own. Corey eventually lost all prospects because of his usage and went into treatment at the age of 17. Nearly 21 years later in the present day, Corey talks about how he has built such a different life for himself that it is hard imagining wanting to go back to that life. For Corey, it was very hard to admit he had a problem at such a young age and the group discusses why it is such a hard-sell to convince younger generations to quit outright. He also explains how taking things one day at a time was a big key to his success. Rather than setting big, lofty goals from the start, he believes starting out with smaller, manageable goals in sobriety and in life will map out a path for success. Finally, Corey discusses the importance of building a life that is attractive to yourself. Build something that you are excited about every single day when you wake up so that there is no desire for that former life, as this is one of the things that has helped him for over 20 years. Today, as the Chief Marketing Officer for Catalyst Recovery, Corey gets to put his knowledge and experience in the treatment field to great use helping individuals find the right rehab.

To get in touch with Corey and Catalyst Recovery:

Email: corey@catalystrecovery.com

catalystrecovery.com

Instagram: @catalystrecovery

Twitter: @CatalystRecover

YouTube: Catalyst Recovery

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

If you are interested in donating to the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

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This week, we conclude William Walker with Part 2. After going through his own trials and tribulations brought on by his drug and alcohol abuse, William talks about the work he is doing now and how he is using his own experiences to help others struggling. William works in the legal system as a court liaison for those dealing with issues brought on by drug and alcohol abuse and addiction. He discusses how, while incarcerated himself, he would research everything he could about his own cases and now uses this knowledge for those in the same position he was in years ago. He further explains why his own dark past has enabled him the ability to truly connect and empathize with his clients in a way that most people cannot, helping provide a level of trust for individuals going through a tough battle. Also, while incarcerated, William missed the first six years of his son’s life, which he explains was one of the hardest things he had to endure as a result of his addictions. However, things today have completely turned around as he talks about how his greatest achievement in recovery is reconnecting and being in his son’s daily life, to the extent that his son now lives with him. Finally, William stresses the importance of being good to yourself, as so many of his own addiction problems stemmed simply from a poor inner view of himself.

To get in touch with William:

nvokeconsultinggroup.com

Phone: (714) 803-8424

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This week, Hilary and Alex are joined by William Walker, an individual with such an in-depth and deep story, we didn’t think it could be contained into one episode. In Part 1 of a two-part episode, William shares how his drinking career began and how a traumatic car accident would change his life forever, igniting his addictions full force. He loved the way prescription pills made him feel, but when the scripts ran out, he had to find other means to feel this way, which quickly turned into hard drugs. His addictions soon got the better of him, landing him in all sorts of trouble with the law, which was bookended with him being sentenced to six years in prison and losing his father to cancer while incarcerated. William talks about what he believes was divine intervention to finally make a change in his life and also talks about how the birth of his son made him truly recognize how bad his addiction had gotten. It took William getting to the lowest of lows to begin finally turning his life around and getting to the point of incredible service he partakes in today.

In Part 2 of William Walker, William talks about how he made good use of his time incarcerated and how he is using those skills today to help others struggling with addiction issues. He also talks about the process of reconnecting with his son after prison and how this has been the greatest gift in his recovery. Tune in next week!

To get in touch with William:

nvokeconsultinggroup.com

Phone: (714) 803-8424

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, Jason and Alex are joined by mental health influencer and co-founder of the Silent Warrior Chronicles, DesiGirl. In the current world we’re living in, strong mental health is more important than ever, and DesiGirl is someone who has struggled her whole life with anxiety and her overall mental health. She talks about suffering from a separation anxiety disorder at the age of five and how her irrational fears almost ruined her schooling. DesiGirl also discusses how her anxiety affected her relationship with her now-fiancé when they first began dating and how important effective communication was for their relationship. Today, DesiGirl has made it her mission to spread awareness of the importance of strong mental health because of how much it has affected her own life. She talks about how she still suffers from anxiety regularly but gives some of the helpful methods she uses to calm it down, including meditation and critical thinking. She also, most notably, co-founded the Silent Warrior Chronicles under the name “DesiGirl,” a mental health blog and podcast, where she and her co-founder discuss a variety of topics related to mental health and hope to provide a safe space for all.

For more information on the Silent Warrior Chronicles, please visit:

https://linktr.ee/silentwarriorc

https://www.silentwarriorchronicles.net/

Instagram: @silentwarriorchronicles

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by therapist and CEO of Smith Psychotherapy Group, Jennifer Smith, LMFT. The pandemic has impacted us all in a dramatic way and we’ve all been isolated significantly more than we’re used to within the last year and half. Jennifer gives a therapist’s perspective as to what difficulties she’s seen arise in people of all ages and talks about who she believes has been impacted the most by pandemic isolation. Jennifer also shares some tips and tricks for those suffering and/or wanting to change their lives. For example, she talks about how people aren’t generally able to respond well to being told, “No,” so Jennifer is a big proponent of progressively changing habits and building up coping skills over time before you begin chipping away at a problem. Additionally, Jason and Hilary ask Jennifer how she originally found her way into therapy and if there were any traumatic experiences in her life that made her want to pursue social work, as this is the case for so many people. Finally, therapists are always helping their patients find answers and solutions to feel better in their own lives, but Jason and Hilary are curious what Jennifer does for her own mental health to keep her constantly motivated to help others.

You can find more information about Jennifer and Smith Psychotherapy Group at:

Email: jennifer@smithpsychotherapygroup.com

smithpsychotherapygroup.com

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by Kristina Padilla, Vice President of Education and Strategic Development for the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals. Kristina got involved with gangs and drugs in her teenage years to fit in, feel powerful, and pass the time she had by herself. However, the drugs soon took over and she one day found herself looking up at the ceiling surrounded by paramedics who had revived her after an overdose. This is the day Kristina believes was the turning point in which she no longer wanted to be shackled by this toxic lifestyle. Today, Kristina has turned her tribulations into her triumphs. She began working in the California prison system as a mentor and counselor out of a desire to help people. She began to speak to inmates in hopes of inspiring them, especially those in for life, that although they did a bad deed, they are not bad people and that not all is lost. Kristina also talks about how she draws on her past experiences with drugs and gang life, as well as her gender fluidity, as a helpful means to relate to those incarcerated. Due to these advantages, she talks about how she wouldn’t want to change anything about her past as it has led to all this good in the present. Kristina has experienced a lot in her life and has achieved almost too many titles to list, but she believes she has truly found her purpose in this life.

Reach out to Kristina at:

kristina@ccapp.us

kristina.padilla@gmail.com

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by Lisa Holste, Owner and Master Stylist at Posh | The Salon in Denver, Colorado. Lisa never thought she had a drinking problem until the matter was brought up from the outside. Things had become rocky in her and her husband’s marriage and they began to see a couple’s therapist who eventually suggested she stop drinking for 90 days to see if that would make any difference. She unenthusiastically obliged to the request and completed the 90 days, only to find out her chemistry had changed and those fun nights of drinking had turned into dark drunks. This is when she finally began to suspect there really was a problem and addressed the issue at hand. In discussing the beginning stages of her sobriety and what it took for her to remain abstinent, Lisa never formally entered treatment, but greatly utilized meetings and the helping hands of mentors to stay the course in recovery. She also explains how her routine is very important to her these days and looks much different than what her life was 15 years ago. Today, 12.5 years sober, Lisa credits prayer and her higher power for ultimately giving her the strength to recognize her addiction and begin the path to recovery that has completely changed her life.

Instagram: @lisaholste

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Adam Smith joins Hilary and Alex this week on Let The Journey Begin. Adam had a good inkling from an early age that he was destined to be an addict, as addiction runs deep within his family. Nonetheless, he grew up in a good family with as many opportunities as a kid could have imagined, hoping to pursue basketball and volleyball professionally down the line. However, like many teenagers, he began experimenting with drugs and alcohol in his middle and high school years because all his friends were doing it. It was a balancing act at first, but Adam explains that things really took a turn when he started to believe his athletic pursuits were getting in the way of his partying. Needless to say, things progressed rapidly to the point in which he had blown all the great opportunities he had been given and had ruined his life. He finally made the decision to get sober as he did not want to live that life anymore and ultimately believed that if he continued, he would end up in jail or dead. Adam celebrates 11 years of sobriety this year and expresses how different life is for him today and all the work he has done in the recovery community. For example, upon returning to college after getting sober, he formed a collegiate recovery group, alongside several other gentlemen, to help keep him accountable from all the distractions that can surround someone in college. This recovery group eventually expanded from a couple people into several hundred and the idea began to spill over into a handful of other university campuses. Adam also discusses dealing with extremely difficult circumstances while in sobriety and what he does to keep him on the rightpath during these trying times.

Instagram: @justlikelondon

http://www.californiaprimerecovery.com/

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This week, Jason and Hilary are joined by Oakvine Recovery Center Clinical Director, Pamela Thomas. Pamm is a woman who holds many titles and has achieved many accolades, but it all started at the ripe age of 17 when she joined the military and discovered the drinking culture among soldiers. She explains why it was particularly hard for her to admit she had a problem with alcohol because in military culture, admitting you have a problem is essentially admitting you are weak, which she believes is why so many veterans struggle after transitioning into civilian life. However, her moment of clarity came after she had gotten pregnant and a close friend of hers had the sobering conversation about how Pamm had made her very uncomfortable drinking while in the early stages of pregnancy. Having had a caretaker growing up who also struggled with substance abuse, Pamm knew she had to do something to avoid passing these traits on to her children. She talks about how in order for her to get sober, she made use of counseling in her early days of recovery as treatment programs and recovery groups were not nearly as widely available as they are today. Currently, as the Clinical Director of Oakvine Recovery Center (a title she never could have imagined having), she is fulfilling her childhood dream of helping others. She talks about the difference in “picking oneself up by the bootstraps” and legitimately needing help as sometimes those “boots” don’t have any tread left or are missing shoelaces, metaphorically speaking. She stresses there is no shame in admitting you have a problem and asking for help and hopes to serve as an example that you can overcome your addiction and go on to do great things in recovery.

oakvinerecoverycenter.com

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This week, Jason and Alex are joined by Rudy’s Christmas Trees founder, Rudy Padrol. Rudy experienced a lot of hardship and trauma from an early age, including his father being in and out of jail as well as physical and sexual trauma he endured at home. All this instability and pain became too much for Rudy, to which he ran away from home at the age of 16 and made his way to Miami. Before this time, he had never taken part in drinking or drugs, but began to dabble in the likes of these in his new home. Soon after, the drinking and drugs eventually took hold of him, specifically prescription medication near the end. At that point in time, Rudy had been doing well at his job for several years, but they soon began to take notice of his problems and sent him to treatment. Third time’s a charm, as they say, as the third time Rudy was sent to treatment, things began to stick for him. Rudy discusses the benefits he’s seen from therapy as he now realizes the drinking and drugs were simply a means to mask all the pain he endured during his childhood. They also talk about how even though going to treatment for an allotted amount of time can help you get sober, the real recovery begins after treatment when you try to transition back to normalcy. Rudy now hopes he can utilize his 10 years of recovery experience to help other struggling individuals obtain a better life for themselves. Finally, Rudy wraps things up by explaining how Rudy’s Christmas Trees in Orange County came to be.

https://www.rudyschristmastrees.org/

https://www.rxdrcbd.com/

Instagram: @rudyschristmastrees

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Lisa Brown Roberts joins Hilary and Jason again this week alongside her husband of 35 years, Erik Roberts (Hilary’s brother), to talk about their relationship and what they’ve done to make it last so long. As Lisa mentioned on last week’s episode, things weren’t always smooth sailing within their marriage, but looking back, they discuss how each of them recognizing they needed to work on themselves began to strengthen their marriage. Both Lisa and Erik sought therapy individually for difficult life situations going on at the time and began going to couples therapy as well to address how they could better communicate amongst themselves. Erik stresses how important therapy has been in both he and Lisa’s life and believes it can really help give you the outside perspective you need when going through hard times. Lisa and Erik also discuss how having their son helped them learn how to better communicate and found that he was teaching them as much as they believed they were teaching him. After 35 years of marriage, Lisa and Erik are in as good a place as they could have imagined and still go to therapy on the regular. They believe communication is key and without therapy both on an individual basis and in a couples setting, they don’t know where they would be today.

https://www.lisabrownroberts.com/

Instagram: @lisabrownroberts

Twitter: @LBrownRoberts

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by author Lisa Brown Roberts. Lisa grew up most of her adolescent life with many secrets. Her father was an alcoholic who spent some time in a mental institution and she struggled with her own battles of depression. That depression only got worse as she dealt with the financial difficulties of a young marriage along with the "far-fetched" dream of becoming a published author. However, things began to improve when she finally sought out a therapist that could help her navigate through these trying waters. This therapist helped Lisa realize that just because life hadn’t turned out exactly the way she had envisioned it, that didn’t mean it was over and that she was out of time. That’s when Lisa began to dive back into her writings and pursue her goal of becoming a published author...the rest is history. Today, Lisa accomplished her dream of becoming a writer later in life and now has six published books. She explains how she never could have imagined her life being as fulfilling as it is today, and credits reaching out for help as well as therapy as the keys to her success.

You can find Lisa and her books at:

https://www.lisabrownroberts.com/

Instagram: @lisabrownroberts

Twitter: @LBrownRoberts

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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On a change-of-pace, 70th episode special, Dr. Dmitry Foox PT, DPT joins Alex Meschi and Let The Journey Begin's Executive Producer, Ryan Dennis, to discuss his own sobriety journey and how he is working to incorporate physical therapy within recovery treatment. Dmitry grew up living somewhat of a double life: highly academic and involved in the school system while also dabbling in drugs on the side. The latter portion of this double life led to nothing but trouble from the very get go to the point where the drugs became the focus. Dmitry reached a position in his life in which he no longer wanted the drugs to be the driving force and was tired of constantly being in trouble leading him to finally reach out for help in getting sober. After going through treatment and achieving a good period of recovery time, Dmitry became somewhat lost and started to seek out what would be the next big thing in life for him. A simple Google search would prove to change everything. Dmitry searched “most fulfilling careers” and one of the list results was a physical therapist…and that was it for him.

Today, Dmitry has since obtained his Doctor of Physical Therapy and founded PHYSrecovery, a company that is committed to bringing physical therapists to the addiction recovery community. Dmitry believes that every individual in treatment should have some form of physical therapy available to them. One of the alarming things he has found is that many individuals suffer from some form of injury, but simply do not know how to properly treat it themselves. Because the physical aspect is such a big part of recovery, it is Dmitry’s goal to create a world in which recovery from addiction includes healing of the body.

To find out more about Dmitry and his work, please visit:

https://www.physrecovery.com/

PHYSrecovery Instagram: @physrecovery

Dr. Dmitry Foox Instagram: @dmitryfoox

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

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Jeremy Arzt is a licensed marriage and family therapist and is currently the Clinical Director at The Edge Treatment Center in Santa Ana, CA. Stemming from his own identity struggles as a teenager, Jeremy became interested in therapy while in college with the desire to help others. While working in the treatment space, it has become Jeremy’s goal to change the narrative surrounding relapse in sobriety. He explains how much shame can be associated when an individual "slips”, causing them to be so disappointed in themselves that they never want to go back to treatment to face their peers. Jeremy believes that by purely looking at and understanding the statistics in addiction recovery, relapse is a potential possibility, and it would be better served for us to adequately prepare individuals with the tools to properly cope with relapse so that they can get back on track if it does happen. Although Jeremy does stress that the ultimate goal is to stay completely abstinent from drugs and alcohol, he hopes that those who do relapse can make it only a few days rather than a few months or years. This can be achieved, he hopes, by helping individuals understand there is no shame and stigma in relapse, and it may just simply be a part of that individual’s sobriety journey to reach the finish line.

TheEdgeTreatment.com

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This week, Hilary and Jason dive back into Part 2 of Aaron Barnes’ journey. They discuss the idea of a “cure” in sobriety and why this idea is such a taboo topic when it comes to recovery. Along the lines of this, Aaron explains why he believes he was “cured” from the desire to want drugs and alcohol; however, he discusses how he continually works his own form of program to keep these urges away. Aaron also discusses how he thought he had found a way to deal with anything that came his way in sobriety but found out he was completely unprepared for heartbreak. Not knowing what to do to get over this pain, he turned to God (something he had turned his back on 27 years ago) and explains how it completely changed his life. Aaron believed he was mentally strong and believed he was physically strong, but was not nearly strong enough spiritually, something he now believes is one of the most important aspects of his sobriety.

To find out more about Aaron and his work, please visit:

Ultimate Sober Living: www.ultimatesoberliving.com

Instagram: @ultimatesoberliving

FaceBook: @ultimatesoberliving

YouTube: Ultimate Sober Living

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

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This week, as the first installment of a special two-part episode, Sober Coaching Founder, Aaron Barnes, joins Hilary and Jason. Aaron is a nationally certified recovery coach, sober companion, interventionist, personal trainer, author, and prominent sober influencer. Growing up in a religious household, Aaron didn’t really experience drugs or alcohol until his late teenage years as he was starting college. However, once the college days began, he was off to the races. He joined a fraternity and things progressed quickly from weekend binge drinking sessions to everything in between. The next 20 years of Aaron’s life were filled with a drug-addled whirlwind of parties, using and abusing drugs, selling/trafficking drugs, marriage and divorce, and two rehab stints. For Aaron, the particularly hardest part of his addiction was having a child with three different women, watching each relationship fizzle out fast because of his drug use and lifestyle, but then not being able to be there or have contact with his children because of these same issues. Aaron’s family was deeply concerned about the downward spiral his life had become and finally helped him get the help he needed. Today, almost six years later, Aaron discusses the epiphany he had in treatment and explains why the drugs and alcohol were simply just a means to mask the feelings and doubts he had about himself.

Tune in next week to hear Part 2 of Aaron’s story. The guys discuss the idea of a “cure” in substance abuse treatment, how Aaron turned his life around, dealing with heartbreak in sobriety, the importance of spirituality, and much, much more!

To find out more about Aaron and his work, please visit:

Ultimate Sober Living: www.ultimatesoberliving.com

Instagram: @ultimatesoberliving

FaceBook: @ultimatesoberliving

YouTube: Ultimate Sober Living

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, Jason (in the middle of newborn baby mode) and Hilary are joined by Kyle Purschell. Descending from a long line of alcoholics and addicts, Kyle believes he was genetically destined to become one himself. His mother left when he was a young child and his father was always battling his own demons, creating a void he would always try to fill with outside substances. Additionally, growing up and being a part of the “cool kids group” in high school who only cared about partying, Kyle got to the point where all he lived for was bodyboarding and fun. Things progressed rapidly from weed and alcohol to eventual heroin addiction in his early 20’s, a drug he considered to be his God and everything he had ever been looking for. Things finally took a turn when what he used to consider fun, was no longer fun anymore. He recalls a particular event whilst lying in bed, dope sick off heroin, no longer wanting to feel this kind of sickness anymore. Soon after, he reached out to a recently sober friend (ironically the same friend that turned him onto heroin in the first place) and began his journey into sobriety. Today, after three years, Kyle is grateful to be alive and is always amazed by all the positive things that have revealed themselves to him. He stresses the biggest thing someone can do needing help is to have faith and reach out. Also, staying humble and staying grateful has been his mantra throughout the journey and his action for those listening would be to simply “suit up and show up.”

Instagram: @k_purschell

Facebook: Kyle Purschell

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Malek Vossough joins Hilary and Jason this week to talk about how his recovery took him from the streets of skid row in Los Angeles to Santa Monica. Malek grew up with a passion and curiosity for music, but this love was interrupted when he started high school and developed a "social life". Malek wanted to fit in with the "cool" kids and latched onto smoking and drinking to connect with them. He discusses how he was raised by a single mother who couldn’t provide enough discipline to prevent him from deviating from the straight and narrow path. It wasn't until he turned 18, that he discovered he and his mother were homeless and that his father was an addict. He went on to discover how much of his own addictive personality traits were ingrained and passed down from his father and his own struggles. Malek then began to realize that his drug and alcohol use prevented him from being helpful and that he was ultimately just a distraction. After reaching his lowest point, he decided he needed to turn his life around and get sober. Today, Malek finds great joy in helping others obtain sobriety and is able to use his musical talents to help reach those in treatment centers all over the world.

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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Breezy Nowlan, founder and CEO of Taste Recovery, joins Hilary and Alex (filling in for Jason) this week to discuss her journey into sobriety and how she came to create her business. From an early age, Breezy utilized alcohol as a coping mechanism for her stage fright and anxiety, so she thought. However, she eventually discovered that she was really using alcohol as a means to survive. Things began to take a turn when she experienced a blackout in front of her father who then suggested she seek help. Very hesitant at first and in her own stage of denial, she finally admitted herself into treatment as she understood that if she didn’t, this disease may kill her. Breezy has been sober ever since she truly embraced treatment and credits prayer and meditation, among many other things, as the keys to her success.

Breezy founded Taste Recovery out of a negative experience with a treatment facility in the beginning stages of her recovery. Taste Recovery is an app and web based sober living directory and marketplace platform that allows users to search for the best sober living facilities in the country. Breezy believes treatment really does work and for this to be possible she expresses that the "fit" needs to be right for each individual and that every sober living facility needs to display full transparency. With Taste Recovery, users can search out and find exactly what they are looking for.

You can find Breezy and Taste Recovery at the links below:

tasterecovery.com

Instagram: instagram.com/tasterecovery

https://www.linkedin.com/in/breezy-nowlan-4374a078/

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This week, certified life coach and owner of Unearthed Wellness Center, Patti Gunstream, joins Hilary and Jason to discuss her experience with loss and how she began her current profession. Patti lost her father as a teenager from a traumatic accident, followed shortly afterwards by several other close losses. She explains how, for almost five years after her father’s death, her family did not even speak his name. She believes this was ultimately a coping mechanism for her mother as well as her siblings to stay strong and survive. However, this tactic ended up doing more damage than she realized as she had created unresolved trauma that would come up later down the road in her personal life. Fast forward to marriage counseling with her first husband years later, she talks about how they opened a “whole can of worms” pertaining to her unresolved trauma that she had never dealt with. Patti explains that there is usually a core issue within someone, and many branches then stem from that root resulting in further trauma and/or addictions. Patti describes how she was a “professional victim” while living with her unresolved trauma and that this is the mindset she tries to help her clients get out of. Today, Patti is in a place she could have never imagined herself in and she explains how, if she never would have worked on herself, she would have never been in the position to obtain all the wonderful things life has thrown her way since.

https://www.pattigunstreamlc.com/

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This week, actress, producer, director, author, and host of the mental health podcast, Secret Life, Brianne Davis joins Hilary and Jason to talk about her 10 years of recovery as a sex and love addict. Brianne explains that she didn't know what she wanted to be when she grew up, but she knew she loved the feeling of having power and having control over her peers. Before she knew it, she would ruin good relationships and friendships in the quest for this “high” she received from the attention and validation of others. Brianne stresses how you can still be a sex and love addict even if you have not experienced abuse, multiple partners, or even a one-night stand. Ultimately, if you are continually making choices that are a detriment to your own life in a quest for love and acceptance, there may be an underlying issue. Today, Brianne discusses how after years of therapy she feels a much better sense of self and no longer requires validation from people and partners around her. Brianne provides a great deal of insight in this week’s episode and sheds light on relationship issues that may be overlooked daily.

You can find Brianne and her book, Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict, at the links below:

https://briannedavis.com/

Instagram: instagram.com/thebriannedavis

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.briannedavis

https://secretlifenovel.com/

You can also find Brianne’s podcast, Secret Life, on Apple Podcasts in addition to all major podcast platforms.

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Paul Alexander is the founder and CEO of Northbound Treatment Services in Southern California. Like many teenagers do, Paul began experimenting with alcohol in his teenage years and he immediately knew that he loved the feeling. A few years later, after getting very interested in existentialism, he began experimenting with harder substances which eventually led him to opiates, specifically heroin. Soon after, Paul found himself addicted to the substance. He was able to keep the balancing act of going to college and maintaining a heroin habit together for a few years, but the drug finally took over. He was bouncing around from city to city, living in one seedy place after another, until he finally realized he needed to get help or he would end up like the other addicts that he surrounded himself with. He had gotten to such a low point in his life that he was willing to do literally anything to not go back to the lifestyle he was living. Today, Paul finds great joy in helping others obtain sobriety and as the founder and CEO of Northbound Treatment Services, he can do just that. In recovery, he now realizes how great life can be and how important it is to be present. As a friend once told him in referencing sobriety, “why just eat the cherry on top, when you can enjoy the whole sundae.”

We also celebrate a very special milestone, in that Hilary is now officially 24 years sober!

NorthboundTreatment.com

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This week, Alex Thomsen joins Jason and Alex (filling in for Hilary) to discuss his journey in sobriety. Alex grew up not having any big aspirations or career goals and simply lived life waiting for the “next thing.” However, deep down he knew there was always a piece of him that was trying to please his father and one of these expectations was that he would attend college. He did eventually go to college and began cramming as much drinking and partying into his life as he could. Unfortunately, he never considered it a problem until much later down the road. Alex got to the point in his life in which he had nobody close around him and he was waking up in the middle of the night for a "fix.” As fate would have it, somebody did come into his life that would change everything. Alex has always been a very active gentleman; swimming, biking, but especially running on the beach. One particular day, he was running the beach and struck up a conversation with another runner who mentioned he was sober. As fate would have it, this was the catalyst that would begin his sobriety journey. This fellow runner on the beach not only provided a blueprint for Alex to go after sobriety, but also became a longtime friend. Whether it is fate, divine intervention, or whatever you want to call it, Alex discusses how you never know what the world has in store for you. For him, it took just one specific interaction to change his life. Today, Alex explains why he is extraordinarily happy with his life now and keeping a journal has really helped put his sobriety journey into perspective over the years.

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This week, Jason and Alex, filling in for Hilary, are joined by Satch Selden, the Director of Business Development & Admissions for Dream Recovery in Costa Mesa, CA. Jason always likes to stress that the disease of addiction does not discriminate and Satch is a true example of this. Satch grew up in a well-off household in which both parents were Ivy League graduates with very respectable careers. Money was never an issue, his home-life was great, but Satch still found his way to opiates at the age of 18. He got his wisdom teeth removed and was prescribed painkillers to help, but what he found though, was that he loved the way these painkillers made him feel. Things quickly escalated into harder drugs, including heroin. Satch explains how he felt so much pressure from an early age due to his parents’ success and hated the idea that he had to have everything in his life mapped out and this is where the drugs came in handy. He no longer cared what people thought and no longer worried about peer recognition while he was high…that was until the drugs stopped working. He finally reached out for help after an attempted suicide overdose, realizing the drugs were doing him in. Today, six years of sobriety later, he explains how his life has done a full 180. Satch discusses how a lot of therapy/self-care work and learning to love himself has been the key to his sobriety. He believes that the more you learn to love yourself, the less you will feel the need to pick up the drink or drug to mask those feelings of inadequacy. Finally, he leaves Jason and Alex with a simple message that was taught to him in sobriety: give yourself a hug.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/all_satchs_fault/?hl=en

https://dreamrecovery.com/

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Russell Howard, co-founder and head composer of Signature Tracks, joins Jason and Alex, filling in for Hilary, to talk about his rise in the music industry as well as his battle with substance abuse along the way. From an early age, Russ knew that music was his calling. He began writing raps and producing beats at the age of 12, and later, with the help of high school friend, Kobe Bryant, he found himself immersed in the Philadelphia music scene. However, as his career in the music industry became more serious, so did his drug use. Drinking and smoking weed were the start of everything, but eventually it evolved into ecstasy, GHB, speed, and cocaine as these drugs finally made him feel “free.” His drug usage led to paranoia, lying to loved ones, and waking up handcuffed, among many other things, and Russ finally got help when he realized the drugs were now controlling him and his life. Russ always asks himself, “free” from what when it came to drugs, and it was finding the answer to this question that helped him truly get to the root of his addiction. Today, after 19 years of sobriety, life is much better than he could have imagined and he uses his experiences to help those just beginning their sobriety journey by making them more comfortable sharing. He stresses that, although we are all unique and have our own story, we as people are much more similar than we think, and this relatability is what he tries to convey.

instagram.com/rwhofficial

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Gratitude Lodge’s Andrew Schaffer joins Hilary and Alex this week to talk about treatment and how he ultimately became sober. Growing up an insecure kid yearning for camaraderie, Andrew thought that using drugs and alcohol would lead to acceptance by his peers. At the age of 13, Andrew's feelings of insecurity were exacerbated when he endured a terrible sexual trauma. At this point in his life, he began looking for a solution to help him cope with his demons. Later down the road, when he took his first real drink, he knew this was the answer he had been looking for all along. Unfortunately, Andrew's alcohol and drug use got out of control and led to hurting close friends, going months without remembering what he had done, and losing everything he had. After he hit "rock bottom," he knew he had to make a change and with the help (or “trickeration”) of his brother, he started treatment and began to put his life back together. Today, Andrew is truly grateful for how sobriety has changed everything for him. People say sobriety can give you the best life imaginable, but he believes sobriety has given him all of that and more. Working in admissions and clinical outreach at Gratitude Lodge, Andrew hopes his story can be relatable to those that have gone through similar experiences and inspire courage in discussing trauma.

You can find Andrew at:

Email: Andrew@GratitudeLodge.com

Facebook: Andrew.Schaffer

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Educator, support worker, mental health advocate, and founder of Girls Gotta Heal, Carm Pileggi, joins Jason and Alex this week as he fills in for Hilary. Carm experienced trauma at a young age, particularly as a teenager, when her father suffered a heart attack and was confined to a hospital bed for several years. He unfortunately passed away due to complications and, if dealing with that loss wasn't hard enough, both of Carm’s grandparents also passed away within a few weeks of her father. Needless to say, as Carm began to navigate through the ups and downs of high school and college, she found herself seeking support for her mental health. It wasn't until she came across free counseling sessions while attending college that she was diagnosed with PTSD. Fortunately, through many years of therapy and studying psychology, Carm was able to heal from the trauma and suffering she endured as a young girl. Today, she uses her experiences as a guiding light for kids as she helps them find their way through the educational system with the proper support and encouragement they need to thrive. Because so much of her trauma was experienced during her adolescent years, she hopes that she can steer kids in the right direction and help them obtain the resources that she would’ve liked to have while she was growing up.

You can find more about Carm and the work she does at:

Instagram: @girlsgottaheal

Website: GirlsGottaHeal.com

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The Real Housewives of Orange County star, Braunwyn Windham-Burke, joins Hilary and Alex this week to talk about her recent transition into sobriety. Braunwyn began drinking at the age of 14 and immediately knew after she took the first sip that this is what she had been missing. Growing up she never felt comfortable or that she fit in and alcohol provided the social lubricant that took all those worries away. After many years of partying and meeting her husband in college, she had her first child at 22 years old and continued on the path of motherhood six more times. Braunwyn credits being pregnant and not drinking for approximately 18 years as a blessing in disguise. Unfortunately, it wasn't until after she had her last child and joined The Real Housewives of Orange County that she realized she had an untreated drinking problem. Braunwyn decided to take control of her life and has been sober for a little more than a year. She currently uses her social media platform to help inspire those struggling with addiction, mental health, and much more. She discusses how empowering it feels to help others and let them know they are not alone.

Instagram: @braunwynwindhamburke

Also, check out Amplified Voices!

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It is a very special episode this week as it officially marks the one-year anniversary of Let The Journey Begin! To properly celebrate, we bring on Rick Hubbard, Executive Vice President of Professional Relations at Origins Behavioral Healthcare to talk about his journey through sobriety. Rick is a bit different from a lot of our guests in that he did not seek help and obtain sobriety until the age of 46. He explains how he first experimented with prescription drugs as a teenager by mixing pills together that his mother brought home from work to construct his own “cocktail.” He also talks about the first time he was introduced to alcohol at the age of 15 in order to ease anxiety. These experiences, along with many others, he believes can be attributed to having a lack of identity growing up and the substances were the ultimate solution. Rick grew older and had a great deal of success in the banking industry, but further substance abuse sent his life and career into a tailspin. After Rick hit rock bottom, he finally reached out for help and has now been sober for nearly 20 years.

Today, Rick has dedicated his life to service. He believes that God pulled him out of the ditch he was in so that he could help pull someone else out of their own. Rick also talks about the difficulties of admitting to a problem, especially for those who have a lot of people depending on them. His message is that although it may seem like you will be hurting those people by going away for treatment, you will ultimately be doing much more damage to those same people by not.

For more information on Origins Behavioral Healthcare, please visit:

OriginsRecovery.com

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Behavioral Healthcare Executive and contributor for Forbes, Kyle Infante, joins Hilary and Jason this week on Let The Journey Begin. Kyle’s substance abuse began after a traumatic middle school experience that gave him a prescription for painkillers. He began to abuse those painkillers and his substance abuse evolved into a full-on addiction over the years to a host of different things, including heroin, methamphetamine, prescription drugs, sex, and later an eating disorder. This disease resulted in him having stolen thousands of dollars from his parents, his friends wanting nothing to do with him, and his body wasting away. Kyle finally got to the point where he could no longer justify the life he was living and had to get completely honest. This was the start of turning his life around and maintaining sobriety. Many times, one addiction can lead to another, both in and out of sobriety. Kyle discusses how getting sober from substances later turned into a sex addiction as well as an eating disorder and how similar all these things can be. He also explains how enabling can be both a blessing and a curse, but it was also what ultimately helped him finally achieve sobriety. After getting truly honest with himself and others, Kyle is nearly eight years sober, happily married to his husband, and is a true advocate for treatment, as this is what saved his life years ago.

Instagram: @kyleinfante

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Laura Hawkins is a mental health and substance abuse counselor who has spent over a decade in social work, specializing in homeless adults. She obtained an Undergraduate Degree in Applied Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Criminology from Regis University in Denver, CO. She also has a CADPT certification in the state of California. Her objective is to open her own non-profit organization to address the homelessness epidemic in Los Angeles.

This week, Laura joins Hilary and Jason on the show to talk about her own traumas as well as the work she does as a mental health and substance abuse counselor. Laura details losing her father to alcoholism as a young adult and how much of a shock it had on her system. She also talks about how inherited co-dependency unknowingly started showing up in other areas of her life. Laura uses these experiences as well as her education to help those in need as homelessness is a massive problem in the United States, especially in the city of Los Angeles. Many times, substance abuse and poor mental health go hand in hand and Laura discusses how empowering it has been to assist someone struggling with these issues and ultimately watch them turn their life around.

You can learn more about Homeless Health Care Los Angeles at the link below:

https://www.hhcla.org/

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Hilary and Jason are joined this week by Grammy-award winning record producer and songwriter Damon Sharpe. Although Damon does not personally battle with alcoholism or substance abuse, he has experienced his own fair share of hardships and gives us an inside perspective as to what addiction can do to those around the individual struggling. At an early age Damon found success in the entertainment industry only to have it all taken away from him at a moment’s notice. From here, he went through a difficult period of figuring out who he was and what he wanted to pursue. Then, one day a lucky break from his mentor kickstarted his songwriting career and would come to change his life forever. Throughout the episode, Damon talks about guilt that can come from success and how tough addiction in the family can be for all other parties involved. Today, Damon is a true example of what it means to stick to your dreams, and he stresses the importance of ignoring those dark voices that try to tell you that you can’t do something.

DamonSharpe.com

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This week, Jason and Alex Meschi (filling in for Hilary) sit down with Amy Field, Clinical Director of Gratitude Lodge, to discuss her own sobriety journey and what it’s like working in the treatment field. Amy grew up in a tumultuous household and began using drugs and alcohol to escape the realities she continually dealt with. As she got older, each substance progressed into something stronger, but she believes her initial usage can be traced all the way back to her smoking cigarettes, something Jason finds very relatable. Her moment of clarity came after she had her son and began to realize she was repeating the same patterns her parents exhibited that led her down a dark road. Coming from a long line of alcoholics, Amy knew this was something she did not want to pass down to her children. As part of her own treatment, she began helping with incoming patients who were also struggling, and after one particular encounter with an individual, she knew treatment was her calling. 35 years later, Amy has not looked back. She talks about the differences in treatment then and now as well as how compassion and understanding are key components for successful treatment.

GratitudeLodge.com

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Ana Santaolalla joins Hilary and Alex Meschi (filling in for Jason) on the show this week to discuss her journey and how she uses those experiences to help others. Ana is a Los Angeles based holistic and integrative psychotherapist who specializes in trauma. Ana experienced her own sexual trauma as a teenager and had to find ways to cope and process what she had gone through. She found power in yoga which helped connect her to her spirituality. Eventually, this led to her exploration of Eastern philosophies and practices, including Buddhist psychology, Zen, mindfulness, meditation, and holistic wellness, in addition to the yoga that helped her so much. Ana explains what holistic wellness and integrative psychotherapy is all about and also provides a few techniques that can help calm the mind during any stressful situation. Finally, Ana emphasizes the importance of compassion and grounding oneself in the present, as just a few moments of breathing and quiet reflection can make a big impact on one’s physical and mental health.

To find out more about Ana and her practice, please visit:

therapywithana.com

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Kevin Winbauer is the Chief Swiss Army Knife of Sterile Safe Solutions, an innovative engineering firm that develops full scale environments that highly mitigate risk of COVID and other airborne viruses through Tools, Technology, and Training. Kevin joins Hilary and Jason this week to talk about his recent jump into sobriety.

Kevin grew up playing sports and being the life of the party. Recreational drinking, having a good time on the weekend, and making questionable decisions were the norm for Kevin. However, things began to change when he had children and started to realize he was no longer using alcohol as merely a recreational substance but began to rely on it to cope with the new added pressures of life and being a father. After years of being known as “Party Kev,” he also faced the difficult realization that his drinking, in a way, had become his identity and did his best to hide the fact that he had a problem. It wasn't until his wife and a few others close to him recommended he get help that he realized he needed to make a change. Fairly new into sobriety, Kevin credits his current success with routine and getting vulnerable with those around him. He believes that this vulnerability and truth is the only way real healing can begin.

You can find Kevin’s work at:

SterileSafeSolutions.com

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Jenny Leone joins the show this week as Alex Meschi (Red Songbird Foundation Executive Director) fills in for Hilary alongside Jason. Jenny grew up aspiring to be many things including a veterinarian and later (and more extravagantly) a Vegas showgirl. However, experiencing sexual abuse at a young age led her down a path of drug usage to cope with the trauma. The drug usage only progressed, continuing on for 20 years, causing her career aspirations to take a sharp turn and to a place that she eventually realized was not good or at all normal. Jenny eventually had a son in 2008 and went into treatment soon after. While some find motivation in staying sober through their children or family, Jenny believes that if you are going to truly succeed in sobriety, you have to be doing it for yourself. Today, Jenny finds happiness in helping others struggling by using her own experiences as a guiding light, something she also believes makes a much bigger impact in the world than a life in the entertainment space ever could.

You can find Jenny and her work at:

theedgetreatment.com

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This week, we bring on a very special guest, Lacy Nicole! Lacy grew up aspiring to be and later becoming a stylist, fully diving into the world that is fashion and entertainment. However, her life and perspective completely changed when a particularly terrifying experience occurred: she was kidnapped. Lacy describes to Hilary and Jason what happened the night she was abducted with a friend and how a guardian angel was truly looking out for them that night. She goes on to explain that after the incident, she began to develop a slew of health problems that almost made her want to give up completely. Rather than letting all the negatives overcome her, Lacy embraced her circumstances as a chance to uplift and empower women who have endured all sorts of trauma alike. Today, Lacy is an advocate for all things mental health and strives to change the narrative of compartmentalizing one’s true feelings. She hosts her own podcast Shame To Sparkle where she discusses what life is like living with her own trauma and health difficulties and how everyone can still recover from shame after trauma.

Instagram: @lacyoc, @shametosparkle

You can find Lacy’s podcast, Shame To Sparkle, on Apple Podcasts in addition to all major podcast platforms.

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by CEO/President of Epic Journey and Owner of Fresh Start of California, Preston Durnford. Preston grew up loving action sports and idolizing such stars as Travis Pastrana and Robbie Maddison, although his older brother was truly his hero. However, being surrounded by the wrong crowd began to take his older brother down a dark road, which Preston of course wanted to be a part of. Preston began to develop a serious heroin addiction but after finally hitting rock bottom, he knew he had to make a change for good. In the midst of his sobriety journey, his father unfortunately took his own life because of his own inner struggles and his older brother, and hero, eventually passed away at the hands of his own addiction. As traumatic as both of these experiences were for Preston, he explains what he had to do to stay sober through all of it. Today, Preston uses his passion and excitement for adrenaline-filled adventure to inspire the lives of those around him. Through all of the trials and trauma he has experienced, Preston has discovered that all things are possible, and it is this mentality that allows him to take such an important role in the life of an addict or any person struggling with deep-rooted hurt.

Instagram: @epicjourneyoc

For more information on Epic Journey, visit the link below:

epicjourneyinc.com

For more information on Fresh Start of California Detox, visit the link below:

fsocadetox.com

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This week, we bring on a person who played a major role in Hilary’s life: breakthrough life coach and best-selling author, Lisa A. Romano. Lisa created a 12-week breakthrough coaching program helping individuals heal from codependency and narcissistic abuse. Personally suffering from emotional neglect and codependency growing up, Lisa had to find a way out of the confusion a codependent mind can be. She explains how the work she had to do on herself, in a way becoming her own case study, led to her eventually coaching others. Like the flip of a switch, Lisa went from enduring all the nonsense, to a no-nonsense kind of person all while stressing the importance of forgiveness and feeling your feelings. In addition to Hilary, Lisa has helped a great deal of people with their struggles in emotional neglect and codependency, however, she states that she merely holds the flashlight, while you do the work. All the credit goes to those who put in this work with the tools they’ve been given.

You can find more information on Lisa A. Romano, as well as her books and coaching programs at:

lisaaromano.com

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On Let The Journey Begin, we like to bring on individuals who have endured all different kinds of trauma, because many times the experiences and symptoms can overlap. Our guest this week, singer/songwriter, blogger, public speaker, and mental health advocate, Cami Julaine, definitely has one of those stories. Cami grew up wanting to be a singer, but abuse at an early age changed the way she lived her life. After multiple occasions of this traumatic abuse, she began to develop OCD, which then turned into severe anorexia, which eventually evolved into bulimia, so bad to the point Cami thought she may die. At age 16, Cami received help from a mentor who had gone through similar struggles and helped put life into perspective. Nearly a decade later, Cami explains what has helped her continue down her recovery path, including a daily routine, productivity, and an accountability mentor. She also mentions how important it was for her to let go of any perceived judgement that may come with taking medication. Although life is much better today than it was years ago, Cami describes how important her getting help was and how her recovery is continually a work in progress.

Instagram: @camijulaine

camijulaine.com

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Hilary flies solo this week and welcomes guest Franki Olinger, author and Owner/Head Coach of Olinger Coaching, to the show. From childhood, Franki has been no stranger to tragedy. She was abused as a child, experienced an extremely traumatic incident with a boyfriend, suffered from low self-esteem, and ultimately used drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with the pain. Franki got to a point in her life in which she knew she needed help and, in the strange way that God works, opportunities began to present themselves that would ultimately transform her life as well as help her attain nearly 24 years of sobriety. She used to think her story was her curse, but now believes that she was put on this Earth to help others with that exact same story. Franki stresses that suffering is not mandatory in life and explains how using her “Five V’s” can help you discover where your True Truths have been Victimized and altered.

TikTok: @franki_says_relax

OlingerCoaching.com

You can find Franki’s book at the following link:

The Five V’s: A Guide to Empowerment and Happiness; Written with Love by A Modern Day Spiritual Warrior

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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redsongbird.org/donate

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The Five V's: A Guide to Empowerment & Happiness; Written with Love by A Modern Day Spiritual Warrior

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Hilary and Jason ring in the New Year with Jackson Rowden. Many times on Let The Journey Begin, certain traumas or particular situations lead our guests down a path of drugs and alcohol. However, in Jackson’s case, he explains that he just simply liked the feeling that drugs and alcohol provided him. One day he began to realize that “this train wasn’t stopping” and reached out for help knowing that his usage had become a problem. From that moment, Jackson dove head-on into treatment and has celebrated over seven years of sobriety. Addiction is a peculiar disease and Jackson explains how it truly affects each individual person differently. For him, keeping it simple is what works and allows him to stay the course of sobriety. Finally, Jackson believes it is important to be kind to oneself and to give yourself a break, in life or sobriety, especially as stressful as the world is today.

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Chad Robichaux is a former Force Recon Marine and Department of Defense Contractor with eight deployments to Afghanistan as part of a Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) Task Force and is also a former professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Champion. He is president and founder of Mighty Oaks Foundation, one of the most impactful nonprofit organizations serving our military and first responder communities.

Closing out a crazy 2020, Chad joins Hilary and Jason this week to talk about his time in the military, how it affected his home life, and what he is doing now to help veterans and first responders who suffer from PTSD. Chad always wanted to be a United States Marine and found a great deal of success during his time in the military. However, he soon found out that a lot of what made him successful in the military didn’t necessarily mesh well with his life after serving. At one point, he even found himself at the lowest of lows, but with the help of his family and what you may call “divine intervention,” he was able to get to where he is today. Many of those that serve our country experience some form of PTSD (whether it is diagnosed or not) and Chad uses his platform to advocate for civilian support of America’s warriors returning home.

Instagram: chadrobo_official

If you would like to find out more about the Mighty Oaks Foundation, please visit:

MightyOaksPrograms.org

Also, you can find several of Chad’s books at the links below:

An Unfair Advantage: Victory in the Midst of Battle
The Truth About PTSD

For Chad’s complete works, simply search “Chad Robichaux” on Amazon.

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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An Unfair Advantage: Victory in the Midst of Battle

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Ethan Citron sits down with Hilary and Jason this Holiday week to walk us through his journey to sobriety. Originally from New Jersey, Ethan began experimenting with alcohol at just 13 years old and even at such a young age, the drink took hold of him. As he grew older, grades, sports, career…all of that took a back seat to alcohol. Finally, a few, simple, harsh words at the age of 38 served as his “moment of clarity,” causing him to take a one-way flight to California in order to get sober. In Ethan’s case (as many of us have experienced ourselves), tough talk and troubled times can seem horrible at the moment but are ultimately the exact thing we need to hear or go through in order for something to change. Today, Ethan has a relationship with his three children and ex-wife that is better than ever due to his sobriety and he stresses that kindness can go a long way in the world we live in today.

Instagram: @ethancitron11

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redsongbird.org

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Two Bronze Stars with Valor and Purple Heart recipient, Sean Tobias Ambriz, released Ghosts of the Valley: a book of true stories displaying honor and sacrifice of a small group of Military Police who helped shape major combat operations in the mountainous battlefields of Afghanistan. The book also aims to provide resources for soldiers and open them to the vulnerability of PTSD.

Military instructor, Sean Ambriz, joins Hilary and Jason this week to talk about his time in the military and how powerful PTSD can be. Joining the military out of high school, Sean had a much different vision of what his service would entail. But, after two deployments in Afghanistan, he came across a great deal of trauma. However, as terrifying as those life-threatening incidents were for him, Sean explains how he uses those experiences now to make future soldiers’ encounters much more manageable. Today, Sean’s goal is to simply help veterans in any way that he can, whether that be in their own endeavors or managing PTSD that has come about from their service. Because of the way the world is today, he stresses how important human connection is and how much of an impact simply contacting someone can be.

Also…it’s a very special day in that our own Jason Wahler is celebrating one year of sobriety!!!

Instagram: @chief_pinkmist

You can find Sean’s book Ghosts of the Valley at the link below:

https://amzn.to/37nOpEX

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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Matt Pinfield is a music personality, TV host, radio DJ, and video DJ most notably for MTV and VH1. Matt also worked as Vice President of A&R and Artist Development for Columbia Records.

A man of many titles, Matt Pinfield has lived more life than a dozen people combined could compare. Recently seven months sober, Matt joins Hilary and Jason this week to discuss his life in music and his own road to recovery. Matt always wanted to have a career in the music business, which he very successfully attained; however, the business began to cause a lot of problems in his personal life. Many times, the music industry and substance abuse go hand-in-hand and Matt discusses how he began to get caught up in the lifestyle of his career. He also talks about trying moments in his life that have tested his sobriety including a near fatal accident that occurred two years ago as well as the current isolation forced upon by COVID-19. Today, Matt is grateful to be alive and explains how being of service and staying active have been the true keys to his sobriety. He stresses, in a world full of negativity, it’s important to focus on the positive things and the positive people in it.

You can find Matt on:

Instagram: @matthewpinfield
Twitter: @mattpinfield
Facebook: Matthew Pinfield

Also, click the link to get Matt’s book, All These Things I’ve Done: My Insane, Improbable Rock Life!

Check out Matt’s show, In A Lonely Place with Matt Pinfield, on YouTube!

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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All These Things That I've Done: My Insane, Improbable Rock Life

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West Christian is an internet entrepreneur who most notably started Food Handler Solutions in 2015 which has since trained or certified more than 500,000 food service workers across the country. He attended the University of Arizona where he studied Business Marketing and discovered his love for music. Before starting his company, West traveled all over Arizona, Nevada and California as a DJ preforming on the same stages as some of the biggest names in electronic music at the time. In 2018 he was awarded the title of Marketer of the year by Marketing University for his business’ rapid growth. West recently welcomed his second son to the world and is passionate about fatherhood and living by example.

West joins Hilary and Jason this week to give an outsider’s look into the world of addiction and how the disease doesn’t only affect the one who is addicted. West discusses how going from a small, tight-knit group of Christian peers to the University of Arizona was a big culture shock for him in his teenage years, which began to take him down a path of negativity that he successfully avoided. West also spends some time talking about how his uncle was directly affected by the disease of addiction and how much of an impact it had on him and the rest of his family. Today, West uses his own personal experiences as well as his uncle’s demise as learning tools for which he can model his life and how he wants to live it. He urges that if you are struggling and need help, there is no shame in seeking assistance and that addiction does not have to be handled alone. Finally, in such a busy and difficult world, West stresses the importance of slowing down and taking a deep breath.

Instagram: @westchristian

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redsongbird.org

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Join us as we conclude Part 2 of Jason Wahler’s personal recovery story. We left off last week with Jason explaining how, after five years of sobriety, he fell into a relapse. Jason walks us through his relapse and expresses how much it negatively affected his personal life along with his progress in sobriety. Jason also explains what has changed this time around in his path to sobriety and how his approach is much different now than it has been in the past. Today, Jason is walking the walk with a solid foundation, ultimately stressing that the simpler things in life are what it’s all about.

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, our very own Jason Wahler sits down with Hilary to walk us through his path to sobriety. With early aspirations of becoming a professional baseball player, he was derailed in his teenage years by a life he would have never imagined himself living. He endured the lowest of lows while in the depths of his addictions but now uses his experiences to help others struggling and to hopefully make a difference in someone’s life. With so much to get into, there was no way one episode could do Jason’s story justice!

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by Army veteran and California Chapter Director of The Birdwell Foundation, Edward Choi, to discuss Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and what The Birdwell Foundation does to help those struggling with it. Growing up, Ed always knew that he wanted to spend his life helping others and being of service. At the age of 17, he discovered the ministry was his calling and at the age of 30, he enlisted in the military as an Army Chaplain. After serving three tours of duty overseas, Ed experienced his own fair share of trauma, whether it be firsthand or from spending thousands of hours helping others process their own. He was diagnosed with PTSD near the end of his second tour and talks about how this personally affected his own life and relationships. PTSD is a major concern within the military community and Ed explains why so many soldiers do not receive the proper treatment inside and outside of the armed services. In many ways, suffering from PTSD as well as suffering from addiction are very similar, and he stresses that there is no shame in seeking treatment. Today, as someone who experienced trauma and PTSD himself, Ed works closely with The Birdwell Foundation to provide assistance to veterans suffering from these conditions and letting them know they are not alone.

You can reach Ed and find more information on The Birdwell Foundation at the link below:

birdwellfoundation.org

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by B. Taylor to discuss some of the traumas he experienced while serving in the military and what has helped him overcome these hardships. B. is a multi-award-winning artist, producer, songwriter, author, speaker, and decorated Navy veteran, in which he was awarded special duty and an honorary discharge by the Secretary of the Navy. Today, among many other things, he maintains an active presence as a Global Ambassador/Advocate of Music and Entertainment for the U.S. Military, Veterans, First Responders and their families, and has been supported by many top-ranking officials from all four branches of the U.S. Military. Today, B.’s number one goal is to serve as an ambassador for the armed forces, explaining how being surrounded by strong mentors has made him who he is today and that life should never be taken for granted.

You can find B. Taylor and his music at:

BTaylor.com
YouTube.com/user/btaylorsmusic
Instagram: @btaylorofficial
Twitter: @BTaylorOfficial
Facebook: @btaylorofficialpage

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by Kayla Lyons, Founder and CEO of 1,000 Hours Dry as well as the host of The Dry Life podcast. Kayla spent a large portion of her childhood moving around the world due to her father’s line of work. Unfortunately, the instability that comes with constant relocation at a young age contributed to a lack of self-identity. During her teenage years, Kayla turned to drugs and alcohol while trying to establish this missing identity which resulted in poor decisions harming her both physically and emotionally. It wasn’t until the passing of her grandfather in which she realized that if she didn’t get sober, either her drug and alcohol usage would kill her, or she would ultimately take her own life. Today, four years sober, Kayla founded 1,000 Hours Dry out of the belief that traditional methods of treatment don’t always work for everyone. Accountability is key in achieving sobriety and Kayla hopes 1,000 Hours Dry will provide those struggling with a much-needed service that she wishes was available during her own path to sobriety.

For more information on 1,000 Hours Dry and The Dry Club, visit:

https://linktr.ee/1000hoursdry

Instagram: @1000hoursdry

You can also check out Kayla’s podcast, The Dry Life, at the link below:

https://anchor.fm/thedrylife

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, Garvey Daniels is kind enough to join Hilary and Jason to talk about what sobriety means to him today. Garvey began dabbling with alcohol at an early age, but it didn’t fully develop into a habit until college, which he later turned into a career. While working in the wine industry, he started to suspect he had a problem with alcohol and turned to an unlikely source for guidance: his mom. Garvey’s mother had struggled with alcohol addiction when he was younger and because of this, he explains how she completely laid the groundwork and blueprint to achieve his own sobriety. Garvey stresses how thankful he is today for all the gifts sobriety has given him and how he may have never forgiven himself if he were not fully present during monumental moments throughout his life. Garvey provides a great deal of perspective in this episode and seems truly at peace today.

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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redsongbird.org/donate

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Natalia Taylor is an American model and singer who's made a name for herself on YouTube with over 2 million subscribers. With her fan's captive attention, Natalia spills the tea on current pop culture headlines and hot topics circulating online. With that, Natalia is quickly becoming a global phenomenon. Her recent IKEA video went viral globally and was featured in an interview with People Magazine, CNN, and Cosmopolitan España. In addition to viral videos, Natalia has released several singles including, 'Which Me,' with an accompanying music video, from her upcoming EP.

On this week’s episode of “Let The Journey Begin,” Natalia sits down with Hilary and Jason to talk about her own unique path toward sobriety. Natalia began finding success through YouTube and various other social media platforms in her late teenage years. However, with newfound success came a developing addiction. Success brought new people, and new people brought negative influences into Natalia's life as she moved into her early 20’s. She also details her turning point in a “trip” gone bad, in which she lost her sanity and was frightened that she may never recover. Interestingly enough, Natalia is one of the few guests we’ve had on “Let The Journey Begin” who did not utilize a specific addiction recovery program to obtain sobriety. She simply credits finding God and utilizing the church as what ultimately helped her achieve her clear state of mind. There is a lot of relatability in Natalia’s story for both Hilary and Jason, as faith has inspired her to use her social media influence to be a beacon of positivity.

You can find Natalia at her following channels:

YouTube.com/NataliaTaylor
Instagram: @natalia_taylor
Twitter: @natalia_taylor_
TikTok: @nataliataylorofficial

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

If you are interested in donating to the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org/donate

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On this week’s show, Leonard Bade joins Hilary and Jason on National Sober Day to talk about his own sobriety of 37 years. Like many other alcoholics and addicts, they find at a certain point they are living a double life and Leonard was no different. After completing college, he was a high-ranking executive for a major corporation but was also a struggling alcoholic behind the scenes. It wasn’t until he attended a group alcoholic meeting with a friend that he realized he needed help and that this particular place was where he belonged. Leonard stresses the importance of structure when obtaining sobriety and how staying true to your program makes all the difference. Also, in light of National Sober Day, Leonard and Hilary discuss how they think the perception of addiction has changed over the many years of their own sobriety and that the stigma of seeking treatment isn’t nearly what it was years ago.

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

If you are interested in donating to the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org/donate

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This week, Hilary and Jason are joined by the Red Songbird Foundation Executive Director, Alex Meschi. Alex is what many in recovery would refer to as a “normie,” or one who is not currently in active addiction or recovery. However, even though Alex has not struggled himself with many of the things that individuals involved with the Red Songbird Foundation have, he has certainly had his own fair share of struggles.

Alex grew up with many big-time aspirations, whether it be a firefighter or an astronaut, but he knew early on that being a professional baseball player was his true calling. Alex worked hard to achieve this goal, even getting as far as receiving a scholarship to play at the collegiate level, but an unfortunate academic encounter at this very college forced a change of plans. Throughout his journey, Alex discusses why even though he didn’t obtain the ultimate goal he had always wanted, he still has no regrets for the way in which his life has turned out today. Whether it be finding a new activity that brings you joy, seeing a therapist on the regular, or simply embracing life changes, Alex believes that many of things he’s learned as the Executive Director of the Red Songbird Foundation have helped in his own daily life.

For more information on the Red Songbird Foundation, please visit:

redsongbird.org

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This week, Bryanna Wallace joins Hilary and Jason on Let The Journey Begin. Like many individuals, Bryanna started down her path of addiction at a young age. An unfortunate cocktail of external factors including an emotionally absent parent, a torn ACL from soccer, as well as switching schools in the midst of high school resulted in a party lifestyle for Bryanna. From there, whether it be her use of crystal meth at the age of 17 or her drug of choice in alcohol, things went downhill quickly. Bryanna explains how toxic relationships also had a negative impact on her and was another large factor in her addictions. Her “moment of clarity” came in the form of her parents truly cutting her off and “ending the enabling,” which finally led to her pursuing and obtaining sobriety at the age of 29. Today, Bryanna considers herself lucky to be alive and is always trying to be of service to others who are struggling in a similar manner. She currently works in the recovery/treatment field but explains that this particular profession isn’t necessarily the best way to maintain sobriety for former addicts. Whether it be recovery groups (in person or virtual) or talking to her mentor on the regular, Bryanna believes the most important thing you can do on a daily basis is to be of service in any way that you can.

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This week, we go back in time a few months following the 4th of July as Gary Coffman, a man who watched Hilary get sober years ago, joins Let The Journey Begin to talk about his own unique journey. From an early age, Gary always wanted to be an entertainer. Whether it be an actor or a Jerry Lee Lewis impressionist, being in front of others was his calling. That is, until the entertainment lifestyle began to swallow Gary up. With alcoholism running in his family and being introduced to cocaine while performing, a bad cocktail of substances took Gary’s life for a turn. He details his moment of clarity in a fun story in which he ended up naked underneath a fish tank, which turned out to be the first time he realized he needed help. Years later, he reflects on the things he needed to address in order to obtain sobriety. Whether it be untreated trauma or learning how to help others even when you don’t always want to, Gary has a whole new life in which he is at peace. Gary stresses the importance of meditation and prayer in his daily life and explains why even something so small as calling somebody to see how they’re doing is monumental in the path to recovery.

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Jaana Woodbury is the Vice President of Marketing for Safe Harbor Treatment Center for Women. Jaana can be noted for her philanthropy and advocacy toward addiction and mental health issues. In an effort to shed light on family systems and addiction, Jaana’s family was featured on Sesame Street’s, “Parental Addiction” series which recently won a Daytime Emmy for the short film. She has also been featured in several publications including Cosmopolitan for sharing her knowledge and work in the addiction field. Today, while serving as Vice President of Marketing for Safe Harbor, she hopes to expand business as well as relationships with like-minded individuals to bring the best care to her clients.

Jaana sits down with Hilary and Jason this week to discuss how she’s gotten to the place she is today and what it’s like to be an Emmy winner. After being active in school and sports as a child, Jaana experimented with marijuana in high school, which led to much more severe addictions later down the road. Although, these addictions took her to the lowest of lows, even to the point in which she was using hard drugs in front of her young children, she explains that when you strip everything away, her major issues with co-dependency were the root of her addictions. Both Jaana and her husband have obtained sobriety together over the years, and she discusses how she would not be in the place she is today without having experienced that journey. She now considers herself a student of sobriety and stresses how much power can be achieved from appreciation.

The Jaana Woodbury Award (Deadline September 15)

Let The Journey Begin: Recent Episodes

Hilary Roberts & Jason Wahler