As you're trying to find hope in the grit of addiction and trauma recovery, there's power in being part of a community that can move us from a place of struggle to freedom. On this episode, Duane speaks with Caroline Beidler about her new book, “Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in The Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery,” and how one can find hope in their own journey of addiction and trauma recovery by harnessing the power of sharing their story.  Caroline Beidler is an author, recovery advocate, and founder of the storytelling platform Bright Story Shine. With almost 20 years in leadership within social work and ministry, Caroline is a team writer for The Grit and Grace Project and a blogger at the global recovery platform, In The Rooms. Caroline's insights and personal experiences offer practical advice and inspiration for those navigating similar struggles. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking for hope and healing in their own life. In this episode, you will hear: Why she came up with the title, “Downstairs Church” How she took the first steps down into the basement church How to find hope in the grit of addiction Having a personal relationship with God takes time How adversities give rise to healing The importance of showing up vulnerably  Highlighting the power of story Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Website: www.carolinebeidler.com Bright Story Shine https://www.brightstoryshine.com/  The Grit and Grace Project https://thegritandgraceproject.org/  In The Rooms https://www.intherooms.com/home/  Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in The Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery https://www.amazon.com/Downstairs-Church-Finding-Addiction-Recovery/dp/1631959786 NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people who may be struggling with a family member that is in the throes of addiction think the person needs to go get help. But there's this whole system that probably has to be addressed. In this episode, Duane and Dr. Brooke Keels discuss the importance of family therapy in addiction recovery from a systems perspective. Dr. Keels highlights the importance of each family member doing their own individual work to achieve health for the entire system.  With her experience in clinical and leadership roles within the recovery industry for over 15 years, Dr. Keels shares her passion for the process and the positive impact it can have on people's lives. Dr. Brooke Keels holds a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy. She works to create, implement, and oversee the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Program and Individual and Family Therapy Programs at Lighthouse Recovery, Texas.  Listen in to learn more about the family's role in addiction recovery and how to work towards health and happiness for all. In this episode, you will hear: The importance of family in addiction treatment The power of seeing the system Why family healing is so important What hope looks like in a dysfunctional family The value of validating the reality of the situation Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Lighthouse Recovery Texas NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life is going to throw curveballs at you, and that’s a given. The question is, how willing are you to withstand those? On today’s episode, Duane talks with Andrew E. Guy, the author of Work Your Words: Finding Your Pathway to Personal Success. Andrew helps corporate leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs integrate work, life, and self-care to improve well-being so they can pursue purposeful living. Andrew is a professional certified educator, an educational engagement expert, and is certified in the prevention and management of aggressive behavior.  Today, Andrew is going to talk about his book, Work Your Words, specifically about resilience and stepping out of pain, hurt, and darkness to live your best life. With a contagious inspirational spirit, Andrew shares his incredible story of resilience that encourages people to take control of their lives and the life they're meant to live.  Andrew believes in the power of words. He believes that when you’re able to work the right words, the right things happen, and what you say about yourself makes a huge difference. You're not living this life for yourself, because you're actually living this life so you can help others to live and people will live through your experience. In this episode, you will hear: Unworthiness as a symptom of depression Not your fault, but it’s your choice Finding a community that will support your changes The willingness to be vulnerable The HOPE acronym How finding your purpose changes everything in your life Navigating your pain and trauma Participating in your own miracle Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: www.andrewguyspeaks.com  Work Your Words: Finding Your Pathway to Personal Success https://www.amazon.com/Work-Your-Words-Finding-Personal/dp/1987890019  The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma-ebook/dp/B00G3L1C2K  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people go through an experience where they fall madly in love with someone, they crave them, and they want to be with them. There's this addictive nature of romantic love. And then for whatever reason, it doesn't work and you break up. Now, what? That being said, falling in love does not mean something’s wrong with you. Dr. Cortney S. Warren is a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist and Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Having won numerous professional awards for her research, Cortney is an expert on addictions, self-deception, romantic relationships, eating pathology, and the practice of psychotherapy from a cross-cultural perspective. Today, we’re going to talk about her book, Letting Go of Your Ex: CBT Skills to Heal the Pain of a Breakup and Overcome Love Addiction (2023). This is perfect for readers who are trying to explore breakups through an addictive framework. In this episode, you will hear: How is love addictive? How do we know when we're in a relationship that might be love addicted? What to do when we're ending the relationship and how do we get out of that relationship in a way that brings about personal growth and self-actualization? How love addiction goes awry What is love addiction? Evaluating your core beliefs about romantic love How romantic love is portrayed in the media The addictive nature of a breakup What is CBT and how does it work? Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Dr. Cortney Warren’s Social Media links: Website: https://drcortney.com/ Psychology Today Naked Truth Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/naked-truth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CortneySWarren Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCortneyWarren LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcortney/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQGXD7Ms5oR3GzsPZl3Tjl_9qj71MezHj Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Ka7bam4AAAAJ&hl=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcortneywarren/?hl=en TEDx Talk: Honest Liars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpEeSa6zBTE&t=2s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drcortneywarren?lang=en NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About four years ago, in the face of what little did she know was going to be an increasing horror show in terms of deaths due to opioid use, Debra Gonsher Vinik decided to do a documentary on the opioid crisis. She also wanted to put the spotlight on women because, as she says, women are almost absent in terms of the media coverage of what's going on. Since 1999, we have lost over 200,000 women to the opioid crisis.  On this episode, Duane and Debra take a deep dive into her new documentary, Attention Must Be Paid: Women Lost in The Opioid Crisis. Addiction is so stigmatized that the idea of women coming forward is a big thing. These brave women featured in the documentary have put aside any concern or worry about other people's perception of them so they can speak their truth and their story in order to help other women. Hopefully, other women who will watch this can also relate and feel that, after all, they’re not alone.  In this episode, you will hear: The psychological dependence on opioid addiction The story of a mother who didn’t want to film The most explicit recipe for tragedy The story of two women from different walks of life Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://divacommunications.com/ Attention Must Be Paid: Women Lost in The Opioid Crisis https://divacommunications.com/attention/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're trying to move away from addiction and all the falsehoods, you have to start looking through that lens and replace them with axioms or self-evident truths. Once you’re in harmony with the world you live in, you get clarity on who you really are. In today’s episode, Duane speaks with Rio Timberlane to talk about the power of decision-making, how to get clear on your identity, and understanding axioms or self-evident truth. Rio Timberlane is a relationship scientist who has spent about two decades looking at the underlying axioms that we all operate in as humans.  In this episode, you will hear: Understanding axioms or the self-evident truth The importance of having the right mindset The power of decision-making Asking the right questions What does it mean to be a tree The simplexity of love How to get clear on identity Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: ELAO.guru https://www.riowrks.org NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever heard of the phrase, “Boys make choices, men make decisions”? What’s the difference? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Carlos Navarro, who has a 20-year entertainment career that spans from radio, television, and film, to commercials and video games. He has acted on shows and films as The Walking Dead, The Outsider, Unbreakable, and Marvel's Hawkeye. Carlos is also co-host of the number one rated Orlando, Florida talk show, Monsters in the Morning. Along with that journey, he was also struggling with alcoholism, until he finally made the decision to quit drinking. Listen in as Carlos walks us through his journey to sobriety and why he believes it's a moral obligation to share his story to help others. Carlos is frank about his past experience of drinking where he was just oblivious to how he was and the impact he had on others. Then he finally realized he needed to change and do something different. Sobriety has now become a big part of his life as he also helps others who may be struggling.  In this episode, you will hear: Carlos’ addiction and recovery journey Making a choice versus making a decision The power of journaling and planning Why willpower doesn’t work Identifying the things you want and writing them down The power of sharing your story. Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: www.iamcarlosnavarro.com  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anybody can be impacted by addiction, whether you’re a doctor or not. And for certain people in healthcare, anesthesiologists most especially, access to drugs like opioids is super easy.  On this episode, Duane speaks with Steven Orebaugh about how his own personal experiences of witnessing his colleagues get trapped in addiction inspired him to write the book, “The Stairs on Billy Buck Hill.” He wrote the book having witnessed a number of ruined careers among his peers because they have access to these highly addictive substances. And so, Steven hopes that his book will help fellow physicians and healthcare workers create that healthy fear so they could steer clear of addiction. Steven is an anesthesiologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He has published some 75 works in the medical literature, including peer-reviewed articles, textbook chapters, and review articles.  In this episode, you will hear: Why anesthesiologists have easy access to drugs Understanding how opioids become the downfall of some people The impact addiction has on physicians addicted to drugs About the book, The Stairs on Billy Buck Hill Dealing with the shame and guilt as a doctor The need for emotional support Nurturing a healthy fear Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://www.steveorebaugh.com/  The Stairs on Billy Buck Hill https://www.amazon.com/Stairs-Billy-Buck-Hill/dp/1620068664  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a parent, how do you deal with a child who’s struggling with addiction? How can you fully support your kid at this most trying time of their lives? Today, Duane speaks with Steve D. about parenting a child with addiction. A father of five children, the youngest of whom had a near-lethal addiction to alcohol, Steve retired from a 30-year career on Wall Street to learn about addiction, to help his family, and to help others. Steve’s eight-year journey includes getting trained as a parent peer addiction coach, completing a fellowship at Harvard University studying addiction, co-creating a podcast called My Child & Addiction and volunteering at a national addiction nonprofit to create educational tools for families. Recently, he developed a free resource, Love the Kid, Hate the Disease, with a mission to deliver the most important information, concepts, tools, and personal experiences from his 8 years of dealing with addiction to help parents and caregivers better understand the disease and help address it. Steve is the EVP for Shatterproof, a nonprofit with a mission to help businesses and communities educate their constituencies about the disease of addiction and the most effective, evidence-based treatment practices. In this episode, you will hear: Understanding that there is hope The importance of setting boundaries His child’s addiction and recovery journey The importance of telling personal stories about addiction The value of a parent support group meeting The power of sharing your story Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Shatterproof https://www.shatterproof.org/ My Child & Addiction https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-child-addiction/id1233772510 NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using hypnosis on ourselves is more powerful than we think. But is it also effective in treating addiction?  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with David Spiegel, Wilson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Having been at Stanford for over 45 years, David runs the Center on Stress and Health at Stanford and the Center for Integrative Medicine. One of his interests is to find out how people can better control their minds and bodies using hypnosis.  David talks about hypnosis, how that works, how suggestibility works in the brain, how it can help us, and the top-down processing, and how our unconscious can really help us heal. David has used hypnosis with about 7,000 people in his career now, and he has published more than 100 papers of research on hypnosis: what it is, how it works, and what it does.  In this episode, you will hear: How hypnosis works in providing mind-body comfort How hypnosis can help with addiction, cravings, and pain relief Playing the role of a parent to your own body About the Reveri app  Giving pain the right amount of attention, and not more than it needs Why get a licensed and trained professional to help you with this Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Reveri app NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drinking when pregnant is a cultural norm. In fact, one in seven pregnant people reports consuming alcohol during pregnancy (which is pretty high). A significant number of pregnant women haven’t been told by their physicians that it’s not safe to drink while pregnant, and some even tell them it’s safe. But no amount or type of alcohol is safe to consume during pregnancy. Prevent fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD) along with so many of the lifelong effects including substance use, poor mental health outcomes, and incarceration can be associated with alcohol during pregnancy.  On today's conversation, Duane and Jackie Franks talk about the importance of prevention and raising awareness about this issue. We have to create more awareness to help prevent a lot of future problems, conditions, and experiences with law enforcement or incarceration. And if we think upstream, the prevention of prenatal exposure to alcohol is the most important thing.  Jackie is the executive director of the Indiana Alliance on Prenatal Substance Exposure. They recently launched BRAIN, a first-of-its-kind, online FASD screening tool that assesses cognitive and behavioral features associated with FASD.  In this episode, you will hear: How FASD is diagnosed as ADHD How to know FASD is present Social determinants of health and prevention Statistics on alcohol consumption during pregnancy The link between FASD and addiction About the BRAIN screening tool Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Indiana Alliance on Prenatal Substance Exposure https://inalliancepse.org/  BRAIN screening tool https://inalliancepse.org/brain-online/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery is a long and difficult process, but it can be done. And once you’re able to combine spiritual habits with behavior change, the results can be amazing!  On today’s conversation, Duane speaks with Eric Zimmer, the host of The One You Feed Podcast and the genius behind the Spiritual Habits Program, where he takes spiritual wisdom and combines it with behavior change so people can make the changes they need and find joy and healing in their lives.  When he was 24 years old, Eric found himself as a 100-pound, homeless heroin addict who had hepatitis C and was looking at going to jail for about 50 years. He got sober at 25 and stayed sober for about eight years until he went out and drank again. He has been sober 15 years since then. He was doing really good on the outside, but he was just as sick as that homeless heroin addict at 24. Eric shares more about his journey today – his road to recovery and how he’s now helping other people through their own recovery journey. In this episode, you will hear: What spirituality is Open-mindedness and curiosity as key elements of recovery What spiritual habits are – and how to develop them Using emotional triggers for the positive The importance of a community that supports you The benefits of group coaching Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: The One You Feed Podcast https://www.oneyoufeed.net/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part of the work we do to treat addiction is to work through the other preexisting conditions and environmental factors that could contribute to addictive behavior. Those who suffer from a co-morbid condition will notice that addiction recovery is much harder to treat without also addressing the other condition. Recently, we have more insight than ever before how Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) plays a role in sex addiction in particular. Today, our guest is Dr. John Sealy, who has been an advocate and forerunner in how ADD and Addiction influence one another. As we learn more and more about the treatment of ADD, we can also change how we treat sex addiction. Dr. Sealy is passionate about ensuring that people get the help they need. He does not treat addiction as a single issue but looks at the whole patient to assess the care they need. Due to the inherent stigma and shame that many sufferers carry around Sex Addiction, it has historically been difficult for these people to receive treatment. Dr. Sealy is working to change that. We are excited to bring to you today all the latest research, methodology, and new insight that will be liberating for many in the recovery process. This will be an episode that is helpful and encouraging to those who are in recovery. Help and hope are available for you. More to learn in this episode: How our understanding and controversy of Sex Addiction has changed since the study was pioneered. Understanding the diagnosis of Sexual Addiction. The co-morbid conditions that we see playing a major role in Sex Addiction recovery. How the unique cognitive hallmarks of ADD make it a likely co-morbid condition for addiction. Resources Work with Dr. Sealy: https://novusmindfullife.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is value in your struggles. But also part of working through your struggles is the ability to ask for help and find a community that has the capacity to support you. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dane Ensley, the founder of Reconstruction Unlimited, a mental health coaching agency that designs therapeutic ecosystems for clients. Dane has worked as a coach for the world's leading interventionists and has traveled the world working with a broad spectrum of clients.  Dane's encouraging attitude, patience, and understanding allowed him to carve a very distinct path in the wellness industry. His core belief is that good things can be born from struggle. He also believes that everything good that has ever happened to him was a direct result of him helping someone else. Hear more of Dane's own recovery story and how we can turn our struggles into positive change.  In this episode, you will hear: The man box that we’re taught as men Finding value in the struggles Seeking out healthy challenges to grow from The importance of solitude Finding your community Developing the muscle to ask for help Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Reconstruction Unlimited https://www.reconstructionunlimited.com/  Instagram: @reconstructionunlimited and @daneensley NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s so easy to get lost in the mundanity of life that we lose sight of each present moment. But what if we just focused on today, and make each day our Day One? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with J.D. Frost, author of the book, Life Ledger: How to Build a System to Reach Your Goals, where he dives into the concept of Day One, the power of writing, and how keeping a daily ledger of your life helps you gain the clarity that you need to help you reach your goals.  J.D. Frost is an accountant and the co-founder and CEO of Croft and Frost, a husband, and a father of three girls. J.D. started drinking at 19 years old and became an alcoholic. In January 2018, his family finally did an intervention for him – something he’s now super grateful for.  In this episode, you will hear: The concept of day one To accomplish anything, you must write something down. How to get the habit of writing started Auditing your day through a daily ledger Accountability is a reminder of what you want. Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com https://www.croftandfrost.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdfrost.today/  Life Ledger https://www.amazon.com/Life-Ledger-Build-System-Reach/dp/1637583893  The Everyday Hero Manifesto by Robin Sharma https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Hero-Manifesto-Robin-Sharma/dp/1443465356  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you found out earlier on in your youth that you actually have a genetic propensity toward addiction, would you have made decisions a lot differently? Addiction is a bio-psycho-social model, but we don't really look at the bio part of it. Sometimes, we have to look at the physiology of things to understand addiction better. And there has to be a paradigm shift in thinking about how we operate and exist in this world.  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Evelyn Higgins about genes and biomarkers, how they influence our behavior, how they play out in addiction, and why knowing about this part of ourselves is an important step in addiction treatment and recovery.  Dr. Evelyn Higgins is the founder and CEO of Wired For Addiction and a recognized international expert in the epidemiology of addiction. With 34 years in clinical practice, Dr. Higgins has spent over 16 years dedicated to research and development in the science of addiction recovery, and she finds herself at the nexus of epigenetics, neuroscience, and addiction.  In this episode, you will hear: What it means to look at errors in genetic coding Epigenetics and aberrant behaviors Why addiction is not a moral flaw, but a disease The first step is getting objective information. The common genetic markers of addiction How seeing addiction from a biological perspective impacts the families Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Wired For Addiction Dr. Higgins’ TEDTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XNk8tNsaco  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are thousands of women who are drinking and suffering in silence. And when we're dealing with our internal struggles, we feel alone. There’s pain and misery attached to that. How are we then able to provide a safe space for women to follow down a path to recovery and give them the kind of support they need?    On this episode, Duane speaks with Casey Davidson about the topic of gray area drinking, what that means, what that looks like, and the benefits of being sober, curious, and maybe just taking a longer break from alcohol to see if that betters your life. Casey also shares her own personal story of doing that, how she realized alcohol was not what she needed, and how she was able to stop just trying to moderate her drinking and remove alcohol from her life.   An ex-red wine girl turned life and sobriety coach, Casey helps women create lives they love without alcohol. She hosts The Hello Someday Podcast, created for gray area drinkers and sober curious women. Casey is passionate about helping women – who are doing all the things and then coming home and drinking to forget all the things – change their relationship with alcohol.    In this episode, you will hear: Casey’s journey through alcoholism and recovery The benefits of removing alcohol from your life What gray area drinking means Dealing with the stigma around going to AA What the sober curious movement is about Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Website: https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/    The Hello Someday Podcast https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/podcast/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction does not only impact the one addicted, it also affects their family and friends. It’s hard to see your loved one hurting and struggling. But you can’t help them heal with guilt and shame. There are tools and resources to help you help your loved one make a positive change. The goal is to help them feel safe, heard and seen, supported, and understood.  On today’s episode, Duane talks with licensed clinical psychologist and research scientist Kenneth Carpenter, PhD. He is the co-author of The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends: Evidence-Based Skills to Help a Loved One Make Positive Change. Ken is the Director of Training for the Center for Motivation and Change (CMC) and CMC: Foundation for Change. He has held academic and research science positions at New York-based universities and state agencies.  If you have a loved one who might be bound by the chains of addiction, learn how you can foster an open communication with them and hopefully, bring lasting change.  In this episode, you will hear: Motivation that comes from hope instead of pain What is motivational interviewing Understanding that ambivalence is part of the process How to set the tone of your conversations Practicing self-awareness and connecting to your values Using positive reinforcement to support the change process Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://cmcffc.org/  The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Addiction-Workbook-Family-Friends/dp/1648480187  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of us resonate with movies because we get to learn about the world through them. Making movies is hard enough. Now, imagine a documentary of someone making a movie during their rehab journey.    On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Jared Callahan about his new feature-length documentary. Clean Slate provides an immersive, veritate look into the world of recovery amid the biggest drug epidemic in American history. It follows two individuals Cassidy and Josh, as they attempt to make a short film during their recovery and rehab state.   Jared is an award-winning director, producer, and founder of Emmy-nominated production company The People People Media Foundation. Based on a 95-acre farm in the San Francisco East Bay, they specialize in personal and unique stories that help give others a voice.    In making this documentary, Jared had to spend 18 months at a recovery facility that he got completely enveloped in their world. He hopes the film would move people the way he has been deeply touched by it. Hopefully, it will change how people view and treat addiction – giving more grace and developing more empathy for people struggling with it, instead of condemning them and stereotyping their condition like it’s a crime or a disease.    In this episode, you will hear: How Clean Slate came to be and why Jared accepted the project Lessons Jared learned about addiction and recovery while making this film The experience of being immersed in a recovery facility Battling the powerlessness of being a documentary filmmaker The process of making the film Understanding the different cultures in the world of recovery Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: www.peoplepeoplemedia.com  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America is in the midst of a new drug crisis. Earlier this year, the CDC reported a staggering 107,000 overdose deaths in 2021. That's one every five minutes. It's up almost 15% from 2020 and nearly 70% of those deaths involved fentanyl.    On today's episode, Duane speaks with Sam Quinones who has been sounding the alarm for years. A journalist and storyteller, Sam is a former LA Times reporter and author of four acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction, including New York Times bestseller and National Book Critics Circle Award winner, Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic. She’s also the author of the National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth, which captures the devastation of this new epidemic of synthetic drugs, but at the same time, offers a lot of hope.   Duane and Sam explore the root of this whole opioid crisis and the need for us, as a society, to embrace recovery without anonymity, no more euphemisms, and no more hiding. We all have to get out of the shame that comes with addiction. We’re also living in a culture of addictive stuff where fast food, sugars, and pornography are legal. All this boils down to social change that is best achieved in small ways and small daily efforts – and it all starts with you!   In this episode, you will hear: The supply of synthetic drugs in Mexico How his book focuses on the message of hope in the midst of the opioid era Dr. Lou Ortenzio’s story of addiction and recovery Getting rid of the anonymity and euphemisms How we’re living in a culture of addictive stuff Becoming a master of your own fate What you can do on an individual level Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://samquinones.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samquinonesjournalist  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samquinones_author/  Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic https://www.amazon.com/Dreamland-YA-Americas-Opiate-Epidemic/dp/1547601310  The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth https://www.amazon.com/Least-Us-Tales-America-Fentanyl-ebook/dp/B0932RRNVL?ref_=ast_sto_dp  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices