SMART Recovery® Podcast

When it comes to talking about research in the field of substance use and recovery, Dr. Sarah Zemore is always an excellent source of solid information. She has previously appeared on the program and now returns to talk about the latest research into some of the social and psychological aspects of treatment-seeking and recovery. Dr. Zemore has an extensive record of research on mutual-help groups for addiction and has led multiple studies that examine the nature, benefits, and mechanisms of action of all kinds of these groups, including SMART. Also joining the conversation is SMART's Executive Director Pete Rubinas. He offers SMART's perspective on the latest research and confirms the value of applying this research in pursuit of helping the most individuals possible.  Helpful links: Alcohol Research Group Recent Study on Mutual Help Groups  

Dre Richards is a SMART Facilitator in Edmonton, Canada. He also is the Executive Director and Founder of Healthy Aligined Living, a community agency serving youth who are facing mental health and substance use issues.  In this podcast, Dre shares his personal journey to recovery, how he decided to address the negative behaviors that were impacting his life, and what he believes are the best ways to help youth who are facing the same challenges he once did. 

SMART Recovery's Director of Outreach, Jasmine Hilbert, recently appeared on an Ohio-based podcast to share her recovery journey. In this special collaboration with the Rooted in Hope Podcast  and Producer Kurt Kleidon, we proudly offer this episode here on our platform.  About this podcast: Rooted in Hope is a podcast that shares the real tales of those who are impacted by substance use disorder or mental illness with the intention of breaking the stigma. We are rooted in Ohio and driven to make a difference in and around our state. Thanks to our allies at Rooted in Hope for permission to share this compelling story of a woman who had reached a point in her life where she didn't want this to be her narrative, so she rewrote her story. 

Maureen O'Conner is going through every parent's nightmare--the loss of a child. Her son Cody died after an opioid overdose and her world was shattered. After a time, she decided to write a book about her experience and filled it with prose, poetry, journal entries and stories. The book, titled Shadows of Me, is an honest exploration of what it took her to come back from such trauma and regain hope. It also includes pictures of shadows, which became a powerful metaphor in her search for meaning in the middle of this new, painful reality. In this podcast espisode Maureen talks about Cody's journey alongside her own, and reads a moving passage about "hoodie girl" from her book, which marked a shift in her perspective. She also talks about the value of SMART Recovery's Family and Friends program, where she found community when she most needed it.  WARNING: this episode deals with traumatic events that may be difficult for some listeners.  Shadows of Me book Crisis Line--988  

Public policy work can sometimes be seen as too theoretical and detached from the real world of concerns about things like addictive behaviors and the consequences. In this conversation with Amber Lashbaugh we find out that practical application of public policy work amounts to more than just ideas. It can result in making resources more accessible and people able to work toward greater health of mind, body, and spirit.  Amber is co-president of the college based initiative Hoyas for Recovery, a SMART facilitator, community outreach worker, and is pursuing her master's degree in addiction policy and practice at Georgetown University. She combines lived experience with policy application with great success. In this podcast we talk about her interest in political science, her personal recovery journey, working in the addiction field, and her involvement with SMART. We also touch on the concept of "decriminalizing survival," a more nuanced way of looking at how society treats woment who have substance use disorders.  Helpful links: Hoyas for Recovery Amber's article in Ms. Magazine Amber Lashbaugh LinkedIn  

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