What do you do when you get that call in the middle of the night—the one that flips your world upside down? For Brenda, it was the night her son was picked up for wilderness therapy because his substance use had reached a breaking point.

In this honest, gut-punch of an episode, Brenda and I talk about what actually helps when your teen is using—and spoiler alert, it's not pretending everything's fine or doubling down on shame.

We get into:

• Why your kid's using makes total sense (yes, really)

• Realizing your child is not your report card

• How to talk to siblings without scaring them or hiding the truth

• The #1 thing Brenda wishes every parent knew when their teen is using

If you feel alone, scared, or like you're doing it all wrong—you are not. This conversation will help you breathe again. And if you want to talk through what's happening in your home, we've got you. You don't have to do this alone.

About my Guest: 

Brenda Zane is a highly recognized family advocate, TEDx Speaker, Mayo Clinic Certified Health Coach and podcast host whose career and personal transformation have shaped her unique impact on families and communities. After a 20+ year career in marketing and advertising, working with Fortune 500 brands like Nike, PepsiCo, Starbucks and Microsoft, Brenda made a life-changing decision at 50 to dedicate herself to supporting parents navigating the complexities of substance misuse and mental health issues in their children. In 2020, she co-founded Hopestream Community, a global 501c3 nonprofit organization. Brenda's personal journey includes nearly losing her oldest son to multiple fentanyl overdoses, which fuels her passion to help others.

Today, Brenda combines her strategic expertise with hard-won wisdom to help parents of teens and young adults (ages 12-29) use evidence-based strategies to support their children through substance use and mental health challenges. Drawing from both research and the trenches of her own family's recovery journey, she compassionately guides parents toward approaches that strengthen connection, reduce harm, and motivate healthier lives for themselves and their kids.