The Right Mind Media Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Right Mind Media Group, LLC
Right Mind Media is an award-winning media group dedicated to addiction, recovery, and mental health awareness. Hosted by Jon Cohan, CADC, and Gabrielle"Abby" Dean, LISCW, MPH, the Right Mind Media podcast finds the top scientists, doctors, specialists, writers, politicians, families and individuals working in the field today to provide the public with a balanced, evidence-based, and unfiltered voice on addiction, recovery and mental health.
What happens when a simple DNA test blows up everything you thought you knew about your family and yourself? B.K. Jackson and Lisa Coppola join us to talk about the new anthology Relative Strangers: Inheritance, Identity, and the Meaning of Kinship.
Drawing on lessons from her two-decade career in college mental health, Senior University Psychiatrist Matilde Ross, MD joins us to talk about her new book "How to Thrive at College: A Guide to the Ups and Downs of Mental Health on Campus".
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Sam D. joins us to share his recovery journey in the next installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Social media breaks, GLP-1s for addiction, and the link between cannabis and memory? Jon and Abby go behind the headlines to talk about the hot topics of the month.
Dr. Lia Nower, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University School of Social Work joins us to break down ways to prevent, identify, and treat gambling addiction.
After losing her mother as a child, journalist Mallary Tenore Tarpley wanted to stop time. If growing up meant living without her mom, then she wanted to stay little forever. But what started as small acts of food restriction soon turned into a full-blown eating disorder. Mallary joins us to talk about her new book Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery, and her research into new frameworks for understanding eating disorders."
Rehab has been the answer for so many of us suffering from our nation's drug crisis. So why do only a certain few have a real chance of recovery? Shoshana Walter, an investigative journalist and author of the new book Rehab: An American Scandal, joins us to talk about the "pitfalls into this uniquely American system."
Gender Specialist Rebecca Minor, LICSW, joins us to talk about what parents and caregivers of trans and gender nonconforming youth need to know to help support their kids through their journey of becoming.
Gentry Jones, musician and author of "Stoicism, the 12 steps, and Free-Range Spirituality" joins us to share his personal story of addiction and recovery, and how he discovered stoicism the common thread that flows through these frameworks.
Dr. Michael Rich, author of "The Mediatrician's Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy Smart Kind Kids in a Screen Saturated World", and Director and Founder of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital, joins us to talk about digital wellness for kids living in an overly digital world.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Eric D. joins us to share his recovery journey in the 22nd installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Mary Beth O'Connor joins us to share her journey from addiction to methamphetamine to being appointed a federal Administrative Law Judge.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Keriann C. joins us to share her recovery journey in the 21st installment of our series "Recovery Stories.”
"Objects of Addiction", a new exhibition at the Harvard Art Museums, explores the entwined histories of the opium trade and the Chinese art market between the late 18th and early 20th centuries. Curator Sarah Laursen joins us to talk about how opium and Chinese art, acquired through both legal and illicit means, had profound effects on the global economy, cultural landscape, and education—and in the case of opium, on public health and immigration—still reverberate today.
Jon and Abby breakdown how to maximize - and prioritize - mental health during the holiday season.
Grief Counsellor Sairey Luterman joins us to talk about how people coping with death, dying and bereavement should be supported - not "fixed" - and how we can help."
Dr. Srini Pillay, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a leader in the field of Applied Brain Science, joins us to talk about how music, creativity, and the pursuit and nurture of 'flow' can help improve our overall health and well-being.
Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise, joins us to talk about Growing Up in Public - a new book that shows parents how to help tweens and teens navigate boundaries, identity, privacy, and reputation in their digital world."
It's Sober October! Jon and Abby talk about how our bodies process alcohol, how we can keep ourselves healthy, and how we can support the clinicians and social workers who help us along the way.
Abby and Jon talk about how to help young people stay healthy by finding a bigger purpose in life, and how all of us can better learn to manage our emotions - especially when angry.
Summer has begun! Jon and Abby talk about the mental health benefits of the sun, and the summer, and the role serotonin plays in health and happiness.
Is there a science to finding happiness? Jon and Abby talk about a new study that looks into what makes us happy, and why.
Jon and Abby discuss two new studies that look into the effects of combining alcohol and cannabis, and the effects of loneliness and connection, respectively.
Jon and Abby talk about the "math" behind how varying alcohol amounts affect the body, and how to add wellness to the equation.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Cortney joins us to share her recovery journey in the 19th installment of our series "Recovery Stories.”
Jon and Abby talk about new studies on how sleep and exercise can mitigate the effects of depression and anxiety.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Brenda C. joins us to share her recovery journey in the 18th installment of our series "Recovery Stories.”
While the effects of addiction on someone with a substance use disorder are often readily apparent, the impact on families is less understood and certainly under supported. Alicia Ventura, Director of Special Projects and Research for the Grayken Center for Addiction TTA Program at Boston Medical Center, joins us to share what families can do to positively affect the outcome for their loved one with a substance use disorder.
Journalist Beth Macy joins us to talk about her new book “Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America's Overdose Crisis”, and to give us an update on what's happened in the fight against the opioid crisis since her previous book, "Dopesick" was released four years ago.
How does adoption affect the adoptee? And how can some of the issues adoptees face resonate into adulthood? Lisa Coppola, author of the new book, "Voices Unheard: A Reflective Journal for Adults", and Kelly DeBennedetto, Executive Director and Clinical Director of Boston Post Adoption Resources join us to help answer these questions and more.
Psychologist Kelly McGonigal joins us to talk about her latest book The Joy of Movement, and how physical exercise can be a powerful antidote to the modern epidemics of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Dominic Esposito, artist and social activist, achieved national attention through the massive opioid spoon sculptures he placed on the doorsteps of major pharmaceutical giants. Since then, he's founded the Opioid Spoon Project which seeks legal justice and brings voice to the destructive effects of opioid addiction on people from all walks of life. Dominic joins us today to talk about his latest art and activism projects.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Milan S. joins us to share her recovery journey in the 17th installment of our series "Recovery Stories".
Carl Erik Fisher, M.D., addiction psychiatrist, bioethics scholar, and author joins us to talk about his new book The Urge: Our History of Addiction, an intellectual and cultural history of addiction, interwoven with his own experiences as an addiction psychiatrist at Columbia and as someone in recovery himself.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Shade joins us to share their recovery journey in the 16th installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Sam Quinones, New York Times best-selling author of Dreamland, joins us to talk about his follow-up book The Least of Us, a searing expose of the terrifying next stages of the opioid epidemic and the quiet yet ardent stories of community repair.
The unfettered prescribing of pain medications meets the massive influx of black tar heroin in this true, riveting tale of capitalism run amok. Author and journalist Sam Quinones explains how this unintentional collision led to the catastrophic opiate crisis in this country in his book "Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic"
Dr. Delaney Rushton joins us to talk about her new book "Parenting In The Screen Age - A Guide for Calm Conversations", designed to help parents have calmer and more productive conversations with their children about the technology in their lives and its impact upon their health, happiness and development.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Jim S. joins us to share his recovery journey in the 16th installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Haven T. joins us to share her recovery journey in the 15th installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Families of loved ones with substance use disorders often suffer the most collateral damage because they're the closest ones to the tempest of addiction. This week on the Right Mind Media Podcast we talk about how families can claim their lives back while supporting their loved one.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Bill joins us to share his recovery journey in the 14th installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Tara G. joins us to share her recovery journey in the 13th installment of our series "Recovery Stories.
It's been a tough year for adolescents. Dr. Deborah Offner, an adolescent psychologist who works with middle, high school and college students, joins us to share tips on how to help teenagers through the pandemic.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Pete C. joins us to share his recovery journey in the twelfth installment of our series "Recovery Stories".
Erica Poellot, MSW, MDiv., Director of Faith and Community Partnerships at the Harm Reduction Coalition, joins us to talk about faith/theology and harm reduction, and the role of spirituality in recovery.
Dr. Laura Kehoe joins us to talk about the challenges of treating opiate use disorders during the pandemic, and how people can find treatment.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Pete D. joins us to share her story in the eleventh installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Dr. Theresa Melito-Conners joins us to talk about the importance of self care, and how to take steps to begin a self care routine.
Monique Tula, Executive Director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition, joins us to talk about the intersection of harm reduction, and what happens when people are pushed into society’s margins caused by capitalism and racial inequity.
Shannon Biello, Director for Shatterproof’s National Treatment Quality Initiatives, joins us to talk about the state of substance use disorder treatment today.
Dr. Karestan Koenen, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, joins us to talk about the long term effects of COVID-19 on our mental health.
Personal Recovery Story #10":Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Jack L. joins us to share his recovery journey in the tenth installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Matthew Stefanko, Director, National Stigma Initiative for Shatterproof, joins us to talk about the public, structural, personal, and professional consequences of stigma, and how to break them.
Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof, a national nonprofit focused on reversing the course of the addiction crisis in America, joins us to talk about how society can end the stigma unjustly associated with addiction.
Diana Clark, renowned family recovery advocate in the field of addiction and mental health treatment, joins us to talk about "good enough" parenting in the time of COVID-19.
"Back to school" has a whole new meaning for children and teens this year under the weight of COVID-19. Licensed Psychologist Dr. Karin Hodges joins us to talk about how to keep kids, and their parents, mentally healthy in the days and months to come.
Author and journalist Jaimie Lowe joins us to talk about her riveting memoir and a fascinating investigation of the history, uses, and controversies behind lithium, an essential medication for millions of people struggling with bipolar disorder.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. David N. joins us to share his story in the tenth installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Michelle Lipinski, Principal of the Northshore Recovery High School in Beverly, MA, joins us to talk about teens and substance use disorder, and the unique challenges facing recovery high schools in the time of Covid-19.
Dr. Rheeda Walker, a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, and researcher who works and speaks at the intersection of culture, spirituality, & mental health to address the impact of racial tension on well-being joins us to talk about her new book "The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health."
Abby and Jon speak with expert Peter C. Johnson about relapse prevention - especially during a time of crisis - and why a relapse can be the jarring event that reinforces long-term recovery.
Abby and Jon break down key lessons in recovery and how to apply them to better living in the time of Covid-19.
Psychiatrist Dr. Himal Mitra joins us to talk about our dreams in the time of a pandemic - why we're having such vivid dreams, what they mean, and the purpose they serve in our overall mental health.
After a short hiatus, Jon and Abby regroup to talk about recovery in the time of Covid-19.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Lynn W. joins us to share her story in the ninth installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
In 2011, Cheryl Juaire lost her son, Corey, to an overdose. Four years later she started Team Sharing, a support group where parents meet and support one another that has grown from a small group in Massachusetts to several hundred families across the country. Cheryl joins us to share her story.
Jon and Abby go behind the headlines to explore the hot topics of the month. This week they discuss the rise of alcohol use amongst women, the criteria for assessing substance use disorder, and the benefit of nature (and bird watching!) on our mental health."
Ben Cort, author of "Weed, Inc.: The Truth About the Pot Lobby, THC, and the Commercial Marijuana Industry", joins us to talk about the state of the marijuana today.
Clinical Social Worker and therapist Rebecca Minor joins us to talk about teen gender, sexual identity and transitioning.
Dr. Kimberly Sue, an addiction physician and medical anthropologist, joins us to talk about her new book "Getting Wrecked", an astonishing account of women battling addiction as they cycle through jail, prison, and community treatment programs in Massachusetts.
Sometimes therapists need a therapist. Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb joins us to talk about her new book "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone", and her own experiences 'on the couch'.
Raina Telgemeier is the author and illustrator of several beloved children's graphic novels including Smile, Drama, Sisters, and Ghosts. Her latest book, GUTS, is a personal graphic memoir about her struggles as a child with fear and anxiety. Raina joins us to talk about growing up with anxiety and why she encourages children today to talk about their fears.
Personal Recovery Story #8":Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. George M. joins us to share his recovery journey in the eighth installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Actor, comedian and writer George MacDonald joins us to talk about the joys and challenges of the holiday season, and maintaining your sobriety and mental health throughout.
Lynn B. joins us to share her recovery journey in the seventh installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
This week on the Right Mind Media podcast: promising new treatments for depression, including ketamine. Psychiatrist Dr. Mark Green has been using the drug in his clinic to help people with depression who have been resistant to traditional approaches, and he joins us to explain those traditional treatments and some of the newer methods being used today.
Author and journalist Beth Macy joins us to talk about her best-selling book “Dopesick", which takes us into the epicenter of a national drama that has unfolded over two decades. From the labs and marketing departments of big pharma to local doctor’s offices; wealthy suburbs to distressed small communities in Central Appalachia; from distant cities to once-idyllic farm towns; the spread of opioid addiction follows a tortuous trajectory that illustrates how this crisis has persisted for so long and become so firmly entrenched.
Jon and Abby go behind the headlines to explore the hot topics of the month. This week they discuss CBD, opioid lawsuits across the country, and the newest character on Sesame Street.
Perfectionism amongst teens, along with anxiety is on the rise, bringing with it a dangerous mix of excessively high personal standards and intense self-criticism. Perfectionism can lead to eating disorders, depression, high blood pressure, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. Rachel Merson, Psy.D , Associate Clinical Director of the Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University joins us to help navigate teen perfectionism and anxiety.
After a devastating motorcycle accident, and the half a dozen surgeries that followed, bioethicist Travis Rieder developed a dependance on the drugs essential for his recovery. What came later was equally painful: acute opioid withdrawal, and the physical and mental agony that comes along with "dope sickness". Dr. Rieder joins us to talk about his journey, and what he's learned about the medical community's relationship with pain management in the process.
Dr. Sara Lazar is the head of the Lazar Lab at Harvard University where she studies the effect yoga and meditation has on how we think and act. Dr. Lazar joins us to explain how meditation and yoga impacts - and benefits - the brain.
"Jon and Abby go behind the headlines to explore the hot topics of the month. This week they tackle teen vaping, substance abuse amongst baby boomers, talking to your kids about drugs, and chocolate (yes, chocolate!)"
District Attorney Rachael Rollins joins us to talk about her controversial plans to implement criminal justice reform across Suffolk County by reducing arrest and incarceration of, among others, low-level drug offenders and people suffering from mental health issues, with the intended goad of getting them help. She also intends to correct racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system and find alternatives to traditional prosecution.
What is self-injury and what causes it? What can families do to help? Dr. Barry Walsh, author of "Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide" and a Lecturer on Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, joins us to talk about self-harm and it's impact on the person suffering and their loved ones.
Tom Harrison, author of "The Complete Family Guide to Addiction", shares his practical and authoritative guide for families and friends looking to better understand addiction and how to get help for themselves and their loved ones.
This week we talk to psychiatrist Himal Mitra about demystifying mental health treatment today.
Dr. Zev Schuman-Olivier, Executive Director and Research Director of the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, joins us to talk about mindfulness - what it means, and why it's so important.
Jon and Abby go behind the headlines to explore the hot topics of the month. This week they tackle driving under the influence of cannabis, everyday treatments for anxiety, and concerns about the drug Kratom and its misuse.
Dr. Mark Albanese, an addictions psychiatrist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School, joins us to talk about identifying and treating disorders that co-occur with opioid use disorder, especially trauma.
Jon and Abby go behind the headlines to explore the hot topics of the month. This week they tackle Section 35, the public health approach to treatment, and the debate surrounding cannabis as a treatment for opioid use disorder.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Lisa S. joins us to share her recovery journey in the seventh installment of our series "Recovery Stories."
Harvard seniors Kailash Sundaram and Eana Meng discuss their recent push to make naloxone available across Harvard’s campus. We're also joined by Domenic Esposito, the artist who famously dropped an 800lb heroin spoon sculpture on the steps of Perdue Pharma, as he takes his art and activism across the country.
When talking about the opioid epidemic, the overdose reversal drug Narcan (naloxone) is often credited with bringing the death rate down significantly. Even though it's a life saver, there are people opposed to its use. Sarah Mackin and Devin Larkin from the Boston Public Health Commission join us to explore all aspects of this medication.
Maureen Cavanagh joins us to talk about her devastating new memoir "If You Love Me: A Mother's Journey Through Her Daughter's Opioid Addiction", a deeply moving mother-daughter story about love, strength, and hope.
Though anxiety has risen among young people overall, recent research studies confirm that it has skyrocketed in girls. As a clinical psychologist who specializes in girls, Lisa Damour, Ph. D., has watched this rising tide of anxiety in her own research, private practice, and in the all-girls' school where she consults. Dr. Damour joins us to talk about her new book UNDER PRESSURE.
Mike Ferullo began running to help his personal recovery. Before he knew it, he was running the New York City Marathon and getting his Social Work degree. In 2008 he brought running to a treatment program to inspire others the same way and the non-profit, Boston Bulldogs was born. The only requirement is that you "just show up." Coach Mike, and Bulldog program coordinator Meaghan O'Sullivan, join us.
The voices of drug users are usually not heard in substance use policy discussions. Michael Galipeau, co-founder of the Rhode Island Users Union, describes the difficulties he has encountered in getting them heard and some of his unexpected allies.
Jon and Abby talk about Medication Assisted Treatment or MAT. MAT is part of a evidence-based approach to treating those with opioid and alcohol use disorders and is gaining wider acceptance by behavioral health care providers. But the practice is sometimes misunderstood by the public and even some members of the recovery community.
Shaleen Title, Commissioner of the Cannabis Control Commission, joins us to break down the recently enacted laws enabling medical and adult use marijuana in the Commonwealth.
As a global C-Suite level marketing star at 35yrs old, Annie Grace found herself drinking almost two bottles of wine a night. Her life had become a daily battle for sobriety. Her first book, "This Naked Mind",broke down how alcohol changes us physically and mentally and how she was able to find freedom from alcohol. Her latest endeavor, "The Alcohol Experiment", aims to change problem drinking by teaching why we drink more than we want, how to change the expectations of drinking, and how to shift your mindset to control your drinking - if not alleviate it all together.
70-80% of people who stop using drugs will experience a lapse or relapse during their recovery. Abby and Jon talk about relapse prevention and why a relapse can be the jarring event that reinforces long-term recovery.
Graphic novelist Jarrett Krosoczka (author of the beloved "Lunch Lady" series) joins us to talk about his profound new graphic memoir "Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt With Family Addiction." Kroscozka's memoir is a raw and honest portrayal of addiction through the eyes of a child, and shines a light on how love, family, and art helped him survive.
Jon and Abby are joined by some special musical guests, and they’ll also discuss the challenges faced by people in recovery during the holidays and talk about proven strategies for surviving the season.
Family Addiction Specialist Diana Clark, talks about how the shift in parenting methods has affected how families approach the addiction of their children and what families can do to get their loved ones help.
The story of America’s "War on Drugs" usually begins with Richard Nixon or Ronald Reagan. Matthew R. Pembleton, author of "Containing Addiction", argues that its origins instead lie in the years following World War II. Matthew joins us in an upcoming podcast to discuss how U.S. policymakers had long viewed addiction and organized crime as profound domestic and trans-national threats, and how's America's application of a foreign policy solution to a domestic social crisis. The result is a drug war that persists into the present day.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most, and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Join us for the fourth installment of our series "Recovery Stories".
November is National Adoption Month and our guest, Lisa Coppola, a therapist at Boston Post Adoption Resources, talks about the challenges people face.
As our most culturally accepted drug, how can alcohol go from casual use to problematic or deadly drinking? What are the societal impacts of it's use and mis-use? And how can people get help for alcohol use disorders and problem drinking? Join us as Jon and Abby break it all down in Alcohol 101.
This week on the Right Mind Media Podcast we talk about children's mental health issues with our guest Lisa Lambert, Executive Director of the Parent Professional Advocacy League, a grassroots family organization that advocates for improved access to mental health services for children, youth and their families.
This week on the Right Mind Media Podcast, we talk about trauma and resilience with Lynn Sanford, clinical director of the Trauma Center at the Justice Resource Institute in Brookline, MA
Is the DEA complicit in the opioid epidemic? Our guest, drug policy expert Professor Leo Beletsky, says it’s time to revamp or eliminate the DEA and rebuild America’s drug policy from the ground up.
What do the terms "dual diagnosis" and "co-occurring disorders" mean? Jon and Abby discuss how addiction and mental illness are entwined, how they are diagnosed, and how they are best treated.
What is harm reduction? Does it work? And if so, how? Jon and Abby breakdown various harm reduction techniques, explain what they do, and why so many cities and towns are adopting harm reduction practices to fight addiction.
Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most, and have the greatest potential to heal and educate. Join us for the third installment of our series "Recovery Stories".
Dr. Alex Solodyna, a clinical psychologist, and Madeline Conover, LMHC, break down the roots and symptoms of Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and the treatments available.
Dr. Deborah Offner, a clinical psychologist and middle and secondary school consultant, joins us to talk about student mental health during adolescent and young adult development, and what parents can do to help.
Guest Kevin Griffin is a Buddhist author, teacher, and leader in the mindful recovery movement. He teaches internationally in Buddhist centers, treatment centers, and academic settings. Kevin specializes in helping people in recovery connect with meditation and a progressive understanding of the 12 Steps.