SMART Recovery® Podcast

Dr. Amy Krentzman is an Associate Professor and Director of Research at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work. Her research interests include alcohol and other substance use disorders, positive psychology, spirituality, and journaling to support addiction recovery. Dr. Krentzman coauthored an article that was recently published in the Journal of Positive Psychology titled, Happiness with recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders predicts abstinence and treatment retention.  In this podcast Dr. Krentzman talks about her interest in the field of recovery, the results of her study of happiness, and the concept of "North of Neutral," which is a core principle in Positive psychology. This principle means that just trying to fix problems is not enough of a goal, instead it suggests that a person's well-being can extend into a state characterized by flourishing, pursuing passions, and finding a sense of meaning in life.  Helpful links: Summary of Happiness With recovery research study Positive Recovery Journaling Dr. Amy Krentzman video on gratitude in recovery    

As theory and practice evolve in both the addiction recovery and mental health fields there is a growing recognition of the intersection between treatment in both areas. One organization that has recognized this for quite some time is A Positive Alternative in Seattle. They are all about empowerment and choice for their clients and definitely subscribe to the view that recovery is not one size fits all. In this episode we talk with their clinical director Kaitlyn Braile. She is a licensed mental health and substance use disorder counselor who received her training at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, developing a psychodynamic perspective that also incorporates her experience in community mental health settings. One fascination of Kaitlyn's is the area of motivation--how people both gain and lose it in the flow of making life changes. 

Markita Renee is a dynamic recovery advocate, coach, sought after speaker, and SMART facilitator. She runs the national BIPOC meeting that has positively impacted so many. In this podcast, Markita talks about her personal recovery journey, the happy accident of finding SMART, her quest for knowledge, and the fact that her life is so full she has no time for negative pursuits.    

Great question! In a nutshell, Volunteer Support Coordinators (VSCs) are experienced SMART Recovery volunteers dedicated to mentoring and supporting meeting facilitators. VSCs foster a welcoming and accessible environment for local volunteers to build connections and thrive.  On this podcast we are joined by three VSCs, each representing a different state: Kenzie Smith (North Carolina), Tammy Ginader (Florida), and Chris Gatewood (Virginia). Each of them shares their discovery of SMART, what lit their fire about it, and why they decided to give back by taking on the role of a Volunteer Support Coordinator. Helpful links: More information about VSCs Nationwide Roster of VSCs  

Wheeler is a nonprofit agency that provides comprehensive human services across the state of Connecticut. Their vision is, "All people will have the opportunity to grow, change, and live healthier, productive lives." In this podcast we have a conversation with two representatives of Wheeler initiatives: Heather Clinger, a Program Manager at the Connecticut Center for Prevention, Wellness, and Recovery and Laura Zeppieri, Project Coordinator for Youth Recovery Connecticut. Both Heather and Laura share their passion for providing effective strategies for breaking into cycles of addictive behaviors and offering resources for individuals who might be coming from many different perspectives and backgrounds. They affirm SMART Recovery as an effective pathway to recovery, but offer a wide array of support tailored to individual needs.  

When college student April Lombard first considered checking out a SMART Recovery meeting on her LSU campus, she worried that it would be both cringey and lame. Turns out it was neither. In fact, based on the value April found in the science-based approach, she decided to take the facilitator training and get even more involved. In this podcast April shares some of her personal recovery journey, her perspective as a young person in recovery, and why having multiple pathways available to students just makes sense. 

Sarah Laurel is the Founder and Executive Director of Savage Sisters Recovery, a nonprofit outreach and education organization focused on reducing the harm created by addictive behaviors. Sarah uses her lived experience to advance the organization’s commitment to providing trauma-informed resources in a judgement-free way.  In this podcast Sarah shares her personal recovery journey and the "happy accidents" along the way that led to the work that she does today. Her hopeful message is filled with practical concern for how things are right now, along with encouragement for all of us to live in a ferocious and loving manner toward ourselves and the world we inhabit.  

There is a well documented connection between problematic substance use and mental health conditions. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we asked SMART facilitator Kelly Scullin to join us in a conversation about mental health and recovery. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and has deep experience in the human resources field. Kelly brings a unique perspective to her work based on her personal journey with substance use, her status as a "self-proclaimed recovering type A," and the coaching skills involved with facilitating group meetings and helping people make the best decisions for themselves. As a person who stays curious and explores the world around her, Kelly is a positive force in the continued growth and development of SMART.  Further resources: SAMHSA Mental Health Awareness Month Mental Health and substance Use Co-Occuring Disorders National Alliance on Mental Illness  

College age youth often experiment with new behaviors when they perceive they have less formal restrictions, and Millie Goins knows all about it. She is a prevention advocate and certified wellness coach that leads student programs at the University of Central Arkansas. In her role she seeks to educate youth about the multiple dimensions of wellness and how substance misuse can negatively affect their ability to stay healthy and succeed in an academic setting. Because she has lived experience, Millie is able to connect with students and offer valuable support as they make choices. In this podcast, Millie shares her personal and professional background, why she sees SMART as such a great resource for young adults, and how careful planning and strategic deployment of resources benefits the entire academic community. Additional Resources: SAMHSA Eight Dimensions of Wellness video Publications highlighting connection between recovery and wellness  

Naltrexone has been used to treat alcohol use disorder for 30 years, ever since researcher Dr. Joseph Volpicelli identified its effectiveness. In this podcast we are joined by both Dr. Volpicelli and Jonathan Hunt-Glassman, the founder of Oar Health, an organization that supports the combination of medication and psychosocial supports to assist people seeking to change their relationship to alcohol.   Dr. Joseph Volpicelli runs the Volpicelli Center and is a University of Pennsylvania’s Medical Scientist Training Program graduate, receiving both his doctorate of medicine and psychology.  In this podcast Jonathan shares his and others personal stories of successfully making changes by using Naltrexone and other supports. For Dr. Volpicelli, it comes down to the medication helping individuals make the best choices for themselves when it comes to alcohol use, and the positive steps that he sees patients make in their recovery journeys.   

Carrie Wilkens is the Co-founder and Partner of the Center for Motivation and Change, a group practice of dedicated clinicians and researchers who rely on science and kindness to help people change. She is the co-author of the award-winning book and companion workbook Beyond Addiction: How science and kindness help people change that is based in part on CRAFT, the evidence-based treatment approach to helping families.   In this podcast Carrie talks about her immediate recognition as a young psychologist that she wanted to be part of helping individuals and families who are facing issues related to addictive behaviors, the need to fight stigma, how CMC helps create "conditions for change," and what it means to be relevant in the evolving treatment landcape.  

Rebekah Robertson is a SMART facilitator in Columbia Missouri who found the program after a family member entered treatment for an addictive behavior. At first she thought she was different and people wouldn't understand all the circumstances that surrounded her. Then Rebekah experienced "that knowing smile" of others who had gone through similar situations and were able to navigate them in a positive way. She felt connected, learned much, and eventually moved on from attending meetings regularly. A few years later Rebekah returned to SMART Family and Friends meetings during a challenging time. She quickly reconnected and after encouragement from the group's facilitator, she decided to give back by becoming a facilitator herself.  In this podcast, Rebekah shares some of the powerful moments she has experienced as both a participant and facilitator in SMART meetings, and why the program is valuable for so many.  

  Nichole "Nikki" Lowder is a Program Manager at the South Carolina Department of Corrections. She brings both her lived experience and professional training to her work with incarcerated individuals who are trying to make important changes in their lives.  Prior to her own recovery journey, Nikki worked in the finance world but realized that she could no longer live the kind of life that was filled with dishonesty and deception. She discovered her passion for helping others who were facing similar crossroads, and made it the purpose of her career change. In this podcast Nikki talks about her personal struggles, the power of peer support, and how watching the ripples spread from her work brings her incredible satisfaction.   

For more than 30 years Dr. Joseph Gerstein has been collecting stories from SMART participants about powerful emotional experiences related to their recovery journey. He has now written a captivating essay about the nature of these occurances that includes examples and analysis of what he calls "secular conversion experiences." His insight into the value of these experiences and the common elements found paints a picture of how our cognitive functions connect with the more emotive features of our lives. Dr. Gerstein is SMART's Founding President and a retired professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He has been instrumental in the growth of SMART in the U.S. and across the globe and has personally facilitated over 4,000 SMART meetings over 34 years. 

Dr. Michael DeMarco is a licensed mental health and family therapist and has pursued additional training in the use of psychedelic medicines for those struggling with substance use disorders. He emphasizes that there has been a significant amount of research about the use of Ketamine and other medications over the course of decades, and it's important to know how to put such research in an appropriate context. In this podcast, Michael talks about his own interest in the recovery ecosystem and the journey he has embarked on in the pursuit of helping others. He also relates his extensive background in cognitive behavioral therapy to his current Ketamine-assisted therapy practice. Additional information: Ketamine for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: comprehensive systematic review Psychedelic Cognitive Behavioral therapy: On Ketamine, Context, and Competencies in "Assisted Psychotherapy" Survey of peer recovery coaches' attitude toward use of psychedelic medicines      

Dr. Samantha Harte was managing a busy life in recovery when tragedy struck close to home, causing her to question her whole approach to living. She decided to expand her world view and dedicate herself to creating a recovery pathway that is uniquely her own and draws upon multiple approaches to living a big and beautiful life. Recently Samantha wrote a memoir called Breaking the Circuit that tells the story of her substance misuse, living with a mentally ill mother, facing a variety of trauma and eventually commiting herself to a self-empowered recovery journey.  Her mission is to elevate the fitness and wellness space so that all those who are seeking a pathway to a more healthy and balanced life can consider her lived experience and expertise and potentially find their own best life.

SMART believes there are multiple pathways to recovery...but does that go as far as including the use of intelligent retrieval technology, aka artificial intelligence? According to Zachary Gidwitz, CEO and Cofounder of the company Open Recovery, the answer is a resounding yes.  In this podcast, Zachary shares his personal recovery journey and how he ended up as part of a team that birthed Kai, the AI-powered recovery assistant that is now busy interacting with human individuals seeking recovery. At this point Kai is focused on 12-Step methodology, but Open Recovery is collaborating with SMART to provide information and resources to expand Kai's understanding that our self-empowered, practical recovery tools are a powerful pathway to change.        

Nick Padlo only went to the college recruiting event for the promise of free food at his favorite restaurant. It turned out that no food was served, but a 3 minute video that was shown ended up changing the course of his life. It was a US Army recruitment video and Nick went on to attend West Point, serve in combat overseas, and launch a business career from there. A good measure of success took place but other aspects of his life disinigrated. He ended up divorced and despondent, his accelerating substance and alcohol misuse part of the downward spiral. Eventually he decided he needed help and found a path that combined SMART Recovery and 12-Step programs. It transformed his view of his life's purpose and he decided to use his entrepreneurial skills to start Sophros Recovery a treatment center in his hometown of Jacksonville Florida. In this podcast, Nick talks about the quest for perfection that nearly ruined him, his application of recovery tools to the wider realm of mental health, and why he believes everyone can find their way back to health. 

Angelo Lagares is the Founder and Director of Latino Recovery Advocates (LARA), a nonprofit organization that works to make policy changes that will increase culturally appropriate recovery services. LARA's vision is of a world where no one suffers from language disparities when it comes to getting help.   Angelo's story includes lived experience and many attempts to change his addictive behavior. His journey convinced him that too often there is a lack of access to relevant treatment and support systems for individuals who want help. That is why he works all over the world, sharing the message of multiple pathways to recovery for all cultures.  In this podcast, Angelo talks about his personal recovery journey, deciding to embrace advocacy, the importance of cultural competency, and his belief that recovery is possible for all. Additional information: Video of Angelo's story SMART Recovery Espanol What does advocacy mean to LARA? 

Yamila Rollan Escalona is the founder of the nonprofit Yaya Por Vida, an organization that helps those struggling with substance use in southeast Florida. Yamila was motivated to start this effort after losing her sister Yaritza (Yaya) to addiction. Yaya was a very talented artist throughout her life and her love of the arts provided a natural path for Yamila to follow. Yaya Por Vida offers both healing through the arts and practical tools for harm reduction in a wide range of outreach initiatives and community collaborations. In this podcast Yamila talks about turning her rage against the senseless loss of life into a positive direction of hope, the joy that Yaya brought to others through her art, and why connecting with others is one of the most powerful forces to combat negative circumstances. Links: Harm Reduction 101 PSA video Art as Healing Harm Reduction Explainer Videos