Contact us about being a guest on Finding New Waters Podcast Show! Finding New Waters Thank you for your interest in being a guest on our podcast! We're always looking for engaging and knowledgeable guests who can provide valuable insights to our audience. If you have expertise in a particular field or an interesting story to share, we'd love to hear from you. Please fill out the contact form below with your information and a brief description of the topic you'd like to discuss. We'll review your submission and reach out to you if we feel it's a good fit for our show. We look forward to the possibility of having you as a guest on our podcast!" Become a Guest! First Name Last Name Email Write a message Website Your Bio Linkedin URL Preferred recording date and time How did you hear about our podcast? I want to subscribe to the newsletter. Submit Thanks for submitting! Contact Us

In this powerful episode of *Finding New Waters*, we sit down with Laurie Dhue, a Certified Recovery Specialist and one of the nation’s leading recovery advocates. Laurie opens up about her journey from a successful career as a national news anchor to finding her purpose in long-term recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. < Back to Episodes Holistic Wellness: Utilizing the eight dimensions of wellness to build a fulfilling life in recovery 48:39 min | Stephanie Hazard | Finding New Waters In this inspiring episode of *Finding New Waters*, we sit down with Stephanie Hazard, a recovery coach specializing in substance use and eating disorders. Stephanie reflects on her personal recovery journey, including celebrating 25 years of sobriety, and shares her professional insights into recovery coaching as a bridge to long-term wellness. She discusses the intricate process of recovering from eating disorders, the importance of addressing trauma, and how integrating the eight dimensions of wellness can help individuals achieve sustainable recovery. Stephanie's expertise offers valuable guidance for anyone navigating the complexities of dual diagnoses or seeking a holistic approach to healing. Subscribe “Recovery is about coming into a relationship with yourself, not just managing symptoms.” – -Stephanie Hazard Show Notes In this inspiring episode of *Finding New Waters*, we sit down with Stephanie Hazard, a recovery coach specializing in substance use and eating disorders. Stephanie reflects on her personal recovery journey, including celebrating 25 years of sobriety, and shares her professional insights into recovery coaching as a bridge to long-term wellness. She discusses the intricate process of recovering from eating disorders, the importance of addressing trauma, and how integrating the eight dimensions of wellness can help individuals achieve sustainable recovery. Stephanie's expertise offers valuable guidance for anyone navigating the complexities of dual diagnoses or seeking a holistic approach to healing. --- ### Timestamps: - **[00:00] Introduction**: Welcome and introduction to Stephanie Hazard. - **[01:00] Celebrating Sobriety**: Stephanie shares her personal journey of 25 years of sobriety. - **[04:00] The Role of a Recovery Coach**: How Stephanie supports clients in building recovery capital and wellness. - **[08:00] Eating Disorders and Recovery**: The unique challenges and strategies for overcoming eating disorders. - **[12:00] Addressing Trauma in Recovery**: Why trauma-informed care is essential for lasting healing. - **[18:00] Integrated Care Challenges**: Finding treatment centers that address co-occurring disorders effectively. - **[24:00] Tools for Wellness**: Practical strategies for emotional, physical, and spiritual health. - **[30:00] Family Involvement in Recovery**: Stephanie highlights the importance of family support and education. - **[36:00] How to Connect**: Stephanie shares her website and resources for finding recovery support. --- ### Key Points Discussed: 1. **Recovery Beyond Sobriety**: Stephanie’s approach focuses on helping clients achieve wellness in all areas of life, not just abstinence. 2. **Dual Diagnoses and Co-Occurring Disorders**: The importance of addressing both substance use and eating disorders simultaneously. 3. **Trauma-Informed Coaching**: Why understanding and addressing trauma is critical in the recovery process. 4. **Holistic Wellness**: Utilizing the eight dimensions of wellness to build a fulfilling life in recovery. 5. **Family Support**: Encouraging families to be active participants in their loved one’s recovery journey. --- ### Guest Bio: **Stephanie Hazard** **Certified Recovery Coach** Stephanie Hazard is a recovery coach specializing in substance use and eating disorders. With certifications in both fields and over six years of professional coaching experience, Stephanie offers a trauma-informed, holistic approach to recovery. A single mom who got sober when her son was eight years old, Stephanie is also celebrating 25 years of sobriety. She is dedicated to helping clients build recovery capital, navigate the complexities of dual diagnoses, and achieve sustainable wellness through personalized coaching. --- ### Resources Mentioned: - **A Path Toward Recovery (Stephanie’s Website):** https://www.pathtowardrecovery.com - **Silver Bell Global:** https://www.silverbellglobal.com - **Carolyn Costin’s Book – 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder:** https://www.amazon.com --- ### Follow Us: - **Instagram:** https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery - **Facebook:** https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery - **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery - **TikTok:** https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc --- ### Watch & Listen: - **Podcast Website:** https://www.findingnewwaters.com - **Spotify:** https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw - **Apple Podcast:** https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608 - **YouTube:** https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw - **YouTube Music:** https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn - **Google Podcast:** https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw --- ### SEO Hashtags: #RecoveryCoaching #EatingDisorderRecovery #HolisticWellness #TraumaInformedCare #FindingNewWatersPodcast #StephanieHazard #SubstanceUseRecovery

This episode of Finding New Waters spotlights the transformative work of Youth Prevention Mentors (YPM), featuring insights from founder Maks Ezrin and US Operations Director Jack Vaughn. We dive into YPM's inception, motivated by personal triumphs over mental health and addiction, and how these experiences shaped their unique mentorship model. < Back to Episodes Steering Youth to Healthier Paths: A Conversation with Maks and Jack 41:30 min | Maks & Jacks | Finding New Waters This episode of Finding New Waters spotlights the transformative work of Youth Prevention Mentors (YPM), featuring insights from founder Maks Ezrin and US Operations Director Jack Vaughn. We dive into YPM's inception, motivated by personal triumphs over mental health and addiction, and how these experiences shaped their unique mentorship model. Subscribe Show Notes In this edition of Finding New Waters, we delve into the proactive work of Youth Prevention Mentors (YPM), highlighting their mission to intervene and guide young people before they descend into crisis. Through a detailed conversation with YPM's founder, Maks Ezrin, and Jack Vaughn, Director of US Operations, we explore the origins of YPM, inspired by personal journeys of overcoming mental health and substance use issues. The dialogue illuminates YPM's approach to offering non-traditional, in-home mentorship focusing on behavioral and mental health challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The podcast also addresses the importance of family involvement, the mentor matching process, and the unique executive functioning coaching program, EF 12, underscoring the organization's commitment to fostering self-regulation and resilience in the youth they serve. This episode offers profound insights into how targeted mentorship and personalized support can pivot young individuals away from potential futures of addiction and mental health struggles, towards thriving, balanced lives. 00:00 Introduction: The Need for Preventative Measures 01:02 Welcome to Finding New Waters: Meet the Guests 01:50 The Origin Story of Youth Prevention Mentors 02:06 The Journey to Sobriety and the Start of a New Career 06:18 The Lightbulb Moment: The Birth of YPM 07:11 The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health 07:58 The YPM Approach: Tailored Support for Young Adults 08:34 The Role of Mentors in YPM 08:57 Jack's Journey: From Struggle to Mentorship 12:08 The Importance of Mentor Match in YPM 13:06 The Age Range of YPM's Services 13:55 The YPM Approach: A Case Study 17:02 The Role of Family in the Recovery Process 23:32 The Executive Functioning Coaching Program 26:09 The Mentor Recruitment Process 32:49 The Importance of In-Home Environment 39:47 Conclusion: How to Reach YPM

In this episode of *Finding New Waters*, we sit down with **Nate Faulkenberry**, owner and operator of **Doc’s Place**, a long-term recovery program for men in Brunswick, Georgia. Nate shares his powerful personal story of going from client to leader at Doc’s Place, and how the structure, accountability, and 12-step immersion of the program helped him—and now helps others—build lasting recovery. < Back to Episodes Why Long-Term Sobriety Requires Real Accountability with Nate Faulkenberry 29:36 min | Alexis Haines | Finding New Waters In this episode of *Finding New Waters*, we sit down with **Nate Faulkenberry**, owner and operator of **Doc’s Place**, a long-term recovery program for men in Brunswick, Georgia. Nate shares his powerful personal story of going from client to leader at Doc’s Place, and how the structure, accountability, and 12-step immersion of the program helped him—and now helps others—build lasting recovery. Subscribe "At Doc’s Place, we take everything away so you can finally focus on what matters—yourself." – Nate Faulkenberry Show Notes In this episode of Finding New Waters, we sit down with Nate Faulkenberry, owner and operator of Doc’s Place, a long-term recovery program for men in Brunswick, Georgia. Nate shares his powerful personal story of going from client to leader at Doc’s Place, and how the structure, accountability, and 12-step immersion of the program helped him—and now helps others—build lasting recovery. He discusses the importance of removing distractions, developing adult life skills, and how learning to live without the quick fixes (like drugs, alcohol, relationships, or prestige) is key to healing. Nate also speaks candidly about the hard work required, the beauty of building something from the ground up, and why Doc’s Place isn’t just a program—it’s a community for life. Timestamps: • [00:00] Welcome + Nate’s Background – From client to owner of Doc’s Place • [03:00] What Is Doc’s Place? – Long-term structure, accountability, and 12-step work • [06:00] The Power of Single-Gender Recovery – Eliminating distractions for deeper healing • [10:00] Nate’s Own Story – What made Doc’s Place different when everything else failed • [14:00] Surrender and Humility – Learning to finally take direction • [18:00] Daily Life at Doc’s Place – Meetings, work, chores, and responsibility • [24:00] Who Is Doc’s Place For? – Ideal candidates and what they can expect • [30:00] Terminal Uniqueness & Real Recovery – Breaking through the “I’m different” mentality • [32:00] Final Reflections – Nate on purpose, peace, and building something that lasts Key Points Discussed: 1. Long-Term Recovery Works – Doc’s Place is for men who’ve been to treatment before but need something deeper. 2. Accountability Changes Lives – Residents are required to work, pay their way, and grow up emotionally. 3. No Shortcuts – This program removes distractions like relationships so men can truly focus on themselves. 4. From the Inside Out – Nate shares how the hardest parts of the program were the most necessary. 5. It’s a Brotherhood – More than sober living, Doc’s Place offers lifelong community and support. Guest Bio: Nate Faulkenberry Owner/Operator, Doc’s Place Recovery Nate Faulkenberry is the owner and operator of Doc’s Place Recovery, a long-term men’s recovery program located in Brunswick, Georgia. After going through the program himself in 2016, Nate now dedicates his life to helping other men walk the same path toward structure, accountability, and lasting sobriety. A passionate advocate for 12-step recovery and emotional maturity, Nate is living proof that with the right guidance and willingness, transformation is possible. 🌐 Website: https://www.docsplacerecovery.com(https://www.docsplacerecovery.com/) 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/docsplacerecover(https://www.instagram.com/docsplacerecovery)y Resources Mentioned: • Doc’s Place Recovery: https://www.docsplacerecovery.com(https://www.docsplacerecovery.com/) • Find a 12-Step Meeting: https://www.aa.org(https://www.aa.org/) Follow Us: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery(https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery) • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery(https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery) • LinkedIn: New Waters Recovery | LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery) • TikTok: TikTok - Make Your Day(https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc) Watch & Listen: • Podcast Website: https://www.findingnewwaters.com(https://www.findingnewwaters.com/) • Spotify: Meeting People Where They Are: Lindsey Humphreys on Recovery Access & Innovation(https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw) • Apple Podcast: Finding New Waters(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608) • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw) • YouTube Music: Your browser is deprecated. Please upgrade.(https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn) #DocsPlaceRecovery #LongTermRecovery #MensSoberLiving #NateFaulkenberry #SoberBrotherhood #12StepRecovery #FindingNewWatersPodcast

Dive into the world of adventure-based recovery with Tim Walsh, founder of Adventure Recovery, in this episode of "Finding New Waters." Tim shares his unique approach to addiction recovery and mental health, using nature as a transformative tool. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about harnessing the healing power of the great outdoors. < Back to Episodes The Transformative Power of Adventure Recovery with Tim Walsh 01:09:08 min | Tim Walsh | Finding New Waters Dive into the world of adventure-based recovery with Tim Walsh, founder of Adventure Recovery, in this episode of "Finding New Waters." Tim shares his unique approach to addiction recovery and mental health, using nature as a transformative tool. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about harnessing the healing power of the great outdoors. Subscribe "We want you to go to the next level. And I tell people the best phone call I get is two years, three years, five years, ten years down the line when they say, 'Hey Tim, guess what? I'm going to run the Grand Canyon. You want to come?" - Tim Walsh Show Notes In this enlightening episode of "Finding New Waters," host Graham Doerge and Executive Director Justin McClendon delve deep into the world of adventure-based recovery with their esteemed guest, Tim Walsh. As the founder of Adventure Recovery, Tim shares his profound insights and personal journey in the realm of outdoor education and recovery coaching. Throughout the episode, listeners are taken on a journey through Tim's extensive experience in guiding individuals through both the external and internal wilderness. We learn about his 25-year career in youth development, addiction recovery, and prevention fields, highlighting his pioneering work in adventure-based counseling. Tim discusses his role in developing experiential education, adventure therapy, and substance misuse awareness programs for various institutions, including his foundational involvement in Mountainside Treatment Center and Newport Academy. Tim's personal story is deeply moving, detailing his own recovery journey and how experiences in nature played a pivotal role. He emphasizes the therapeutic power of nature and how it helps in healing mental illness and substance use disorders. His approach is unique, focusing on creating tailored, healing experiences that resonate with individuals of all ages. Listeners will discover the innovative methodologies of Adventure Recovery, including the emphasis on nature as a healer, technical skill development, and fostering spiritual growth. Tim highlights the importance of building a tailored approach to personal transformation and recovery, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in alternative and holistic approaches to mental health and addiction recovery. The conversation also explores the challenges and triumphs of implementing adventure recovery programs and how these experiences positively impact those struggling with substance use and mental health issues. Tim's passion and dedication to his work, combined with his extensive knowledge and experience, make this episode an insightful and inspiring listen for individuals, families, and professionals in the recovery community. • Adventure Recovery Website: ⁠Adventure Recovery - Our Team(https://www.adventurerecovery.com/our-team) • Instagram: ⁠Adventure Recovery on Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/adventurerecovery/) • Facebook: ⁠Adventure Recovery on Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/AdventureRecovery/) • Twitter: ⁠Adventure Recovery on Twitter(https://twitter.com/advrecovery) • YouTube: ⁠Adventure Recovery on YouTube(https://www.youtube.com/user/AdventureRecovery) • LinkedIn: ⁠Adventure Recovery on LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/company/adventure-recovery/) • Contact Information: Adventure Recovery, Canaan, CT; Phone: 1 (888) 710-7017; Email: ⁠info@adventurerecovery.com(mailto:info@adventurerecovery.com) Podcast Website: ⁠⁠https://www.findingnewwaters.com⁠ (https://www.findingnewwaters.com/)New Waters Recovery Website: ⁠⁠https://newwatersrecovery.com⁠W(https://newwatersrecovery.com/)atch & Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw?si=f485f70900204da4⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw?si=f485f70900204da4)Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608⁠⁠(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608) Youtube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw)Youtube Music: ⁠https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn&feature=share⁠ (https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn&feature=share)Google Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw⁠ (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw?authuser=0)Follow Us on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery)Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery⁠⁠(https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery)Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery)Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc)For more information, to submit a question for our show, or to explore our affiliated detox center, visit the Finding New Waters website at ⁠⁠https://www.findingnewwaters.com⁠⁠(https://www.findingnewwaters.com/) and the New Waters Recovery Center at ⁠⁠https://newwatersrecovery.com⁠⁠(https://newwatersrecovery.com/). Join us on this transformative journey!

"In this episode of 'Finding New Waters,' host B. Reeves teams up with New Waters Recovery to spotlight Scott Crawford, a celebrated chef and restaurateur from Raleigh, North Carolina, who turned his life around from addiction to success in the culinary world. Crawford shares his journey to sobriety, the transformative effect it had on his career and personal growth, and his efforts to reshape the restaurant industry for the better. < Back to Episodes Scott Crawford's Journey from Addiction to Culinary Success 47:30 min | Scott Crawford | Finding New Waters "In this episode of 'Finding New Waters,' host B. Reeves teams up with New Waters Recovery to spotlight Scott Crawford, a celebrated chef and restaurateur from Raleigh, North Carolina, who turned his life around from addiction to success in the culinary world. Crawford shares his journey to sobriety, the transformative effect it had on his career and personal growth, and his efforts to reshape the restaurant industry for the better. From fostering a healthier work environment to contributing significantly to the recovery community, Crawford's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the positive impact of change. Subscribe "Through time and meetings and knowledge and understanding, I started to like myself and who I was and not be ashamed of the fact that I was an alcoholic or a drug addict... I want to remove the shame and I want people to understand if they have a problem or they're suffering that they're not alone and that we talk about these things and I want people to get help" -Scott Crawford Show Notes This edition of 'Finding New Waters,' hosted by B. Reeves from New Waters Recovery, features a deep dive into the life of Scott Crawford, a renowned chef and restaurateur in Raleigh, North Carolina. Crawford shares his personal journey from battling drug and alcohol addiction to achieving sobriety and success in the culinary industry. He discusses the impact of addiction on his life and career, and how sobriety has unlocked his true potential, leading to the expansion of his restaurant group and significant contributions to the recovery community. Crawford also talks about the changes he's implemented in the industry to support a healthier work environment, the development of his restaurant concepts, and his involvement in community service through Healing Transitions. The podcast aims to shed light on the path to recovery, destigmatize addiction, and celebrate the achievements of individuals like Crawford who have turned their lives around. 00:00 The Journey from Addiction to Recovery 01:05 Introducing New Waters Recovery Podcast 01:35 Celebrity Chef Scott Crawford's Story of Triumph 03:49 The Challenges of Sobriety in the Culinary World 06:27 Finding Creative Outlets and Overcoming Fear 08:12 Navigating Sobriety in a High-Pressure Industry 15:06 The Power of Community and Support in Recovery 24:07 Transforming the Culinary Industry from Within 26:31 Promoting a Healthier Work Environment in Restaurants 28:10 The Impact of Alcohol on Restaurant Culture 29:00 Creating a Safe and Professional Workplace 30:49 Redefining Success and Recognition in the Culinary World 33:33 The Evolution of Raleigh's Restaurant Scene 37:34 Expanding Horizons: From Clayton to Airport Ventures 42:21 Looking Ahead: Growth, Challenges, and Vision for the Future Scott Crawford Links: ⁠http://www.crawfordcookshop.com/⁠(http://www.crawfordcookshop.com/) ⁠http://crawfordandsonrestaurant.com/⁠(http://crawfordandsonrestaurant.com/) ⁠https://restaurantjolie.com/⁠ (https://restaurantjolie.com/)Podcast Website: ⁠⁠https://www.findingnewwaters.com⁠ (https://www.findingnewwaters.com/)New Waters Recovery Website: ⁠⁠https://newwatersrecovery.com⁠ (https://newwatersrecovery.com/)Watch & Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw?si=f485f70900204da4⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw?si=f485f70900204da4)Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608⁠⁠(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608) Youtube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw)Youtube Music: ⁠https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn&feature=share⁠ (https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn&feature=share)Google Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw⁠ (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw?authuser=0)Follow Us on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery)Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery⁠⁠(https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery)Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery)Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc)For more information, to submit a question for our show, or to explore our affiliated detox center, visit the Finding New Waters website at ⁠⁠https://www.findingnewwaters.com⁠⁠(https://www.findingnewwaters.com/) and the New Waters Recovery Center at ⁠⁠https://newwatersrecovery.com⁠⁠(https://newwatersrecovery.com/). Join us on this transformative journey!

In the "Finding New Waters" episode, Amanda Marino inspires with her resilience and wisdom in addiction recovery. She emphasizes hope ("There's hope for everyone"), the importance of informed action, and the power of personal boundaries. Her approach to recovery as a journey of personal growth and safety is both enlightening and empowering. < Back to Episodes Navigating Recovery and Renewal with Amanda Marino 41:50 min | Amanda Marino | Finding New Waters In the "Finding New Waters" episode, Amanda Marino inspires with her resilience and wisdom in addiction recovery. She emphasizes hope ("There's hope for everyone"), the importance of informed action, and the power of personal boundaries. Her approach to recovery as a journey of personal growth and safety is both enlightening and empowering. Subscribe "I can go anywhere on my recovery and I can feel safe as long as I'm spiritually fit and I'm with the right people"-Amanda Marino Show Notes In this enlightening episode of "Finding New Waters," we welcome Amanda Marino, co-founder of Next Level Recovery Associates, as our esteemed guest. Marino shares her multifaceted journey from overcoming personal challenges to spearheading innovative approaches in addiction recovery and mental health support. Throughout the episode, Marino delves into her personal story of transformation, from her struggles with addiction to her achievements as a mother and a businesswoman. She discusses the inception of Next Level Recovery Associates, highlighting its bespoke approach to treatment that adapts to the unique needs of each individual and family. Marino emphasizes the importance of evolving recovery strategies to meet people where they are, fostering lasting change through compassion and understanding. In addition to her professional endeavors, Marino candidly opens up about her own recovery journey and how it fuels her passion for helping others. She offers insights into the challenges of balancing her role as a single mother with her professional responsibilities, underscoring the importance of self-care and personal growth in sustaining long-term recovery. Listeners will also get a glimpse into the innovative strategies employed at Next Level Recovery Associates, including their approach to sober companionship, case management, and interventions. Marino's dedication to removing stigma around addiction and mental health, both through her organization's work and her social media presence, is a recurring theme of the conversation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of addiction recovery, the power of personal transformation, and the importance of tailored approaches in treatment. Join us in exploring the depths of resilience and renewal with Amanda Marino, a true beacon of hope in the recovery community. 1. Next Level Recovery Associates - Our Team: This page provides details about Amanda Marino's role and contributions to Next Level Recovery Associates. ⁠Visit here⁠.(https://chat.openai.com/www.nextlevelrecoveryassociates.com/our-team) 2. Amanda Marino - Next Level Recovery Associates: A dedicated page about Amanda Marino, one of the founders at Next Level Recovery Associates. ⁠Visit here⁠.(https://chat.openai.com/www.nextlevelrecoveryassociates.com/amanda-marino) 3. Meet Our Co-Founder, Amanda Marino - Next Level Recovery: This section highlights the compassion, dedication, and expertise of Amanda Marino in the field of recovery. ⁠Visit here⁠.(https://chat.openai.com/www.nextlevelrecoveryassociates.com/meet-our-co-founder-amanda-marino) 4. Amanda P. Marino, B.S, CIP, CLC, CRC, SRCD | AIS: This page on the Association of Intervention Specialists website lists her credentials and contact information. ⁠Visit here⁠.(https://chat.openai.com/www.associationofinterventionspecialists.org/amanda-p-marino-bs-cip-clc-crc-srcd) 5. Community Highlights: Meet Amanda Marino of Next Level Recovery Associates: An article introducing Amanda Marino and providing insights into her work at Next Level Recovery Associates. ⁠Visit here⁠.(https://chat.openai.com/www.voyagemia.com/interview/community-highlights-meet-amanda-marino-next-level-recovery-associates) Podcast Website: ⁠https://www.findingnewwaters.com/⁠ (https://www.findingnewwaters.com/)New Waters Recovery Website: ⁠https://newwatersrecovery.com/⁠ (https://newwatersrecovery.com/)Watch & Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw)Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608)Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw)Youtube Music: ⁠https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn⁠ (https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn)Google Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw⁠F(https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw?authuser=0)ollow Us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery/⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery/)Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery⁠ (https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery)Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery/⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery/)Tiktok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc⁠(https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc) Transcript Amanda Marino [00:00:00] Justin Mclendon: All right, guys, thank you for joining us for another episode of Finding New Waters. And, uh, uh, today we have Erica Cooney, our, uh, one of our primary therapists here at New Waters Recovery, who is a licensed marriage and family therapist. And then our guest on the show is Amanda Marino, and she is the, uh, co founder of Next Level Recovery Associates. Justin Mclendon: Amanda, thank you so much for taking some time to hang out with us today. \ Amanda Marino: \\ Amanda Marino: Thank you both so much for having me. It's such an honor, um, and humbling always to be asked to do things like this. Justin Mclendon: Absolutely. So I thought we could start off, if you're open to it, maybe just tell us a little bit about you and what, what kind of brought you to the field. Justin Mclendon: What do you like? What have, what have been your experiences? Amanda Marino: Well, I, like when I speak at a, uh, like a converse and event, I say there's like two versions of me, right? So there's me, there's Amanda, the co founder, the, you know, I started a, a nonprofit for women to go back and work back to school and recovery and had that going for years. Amanda Marino: Um, [00:01:00] I decided to fill a gap in my community that really needed to happen like the before, during and after piece. And there's a lot of people that are doing it out there. And when I worked for a number of people as a contractor, like I did all the work that, that my team does, like I've done companioning, I've done all of it. Amanda Marino: And I think it gives me a different perspective. Um, and I want to continue to evolve and try new ways to meet people where they are and to try to. Make and create lasting change. So that's what our company is all about. I had this idea. I had a full time cushy job and I told my ex husband, I said, I can't make it to Christmas. Amanda Marino: I need to leave my job and start now. And I was already building it up on the side. So by the time I left in August, I couldn't really make it even close to December. Uh, I opened up my business and quickly saw that I needed a co founder and that's when I, you know, got that direct hit on a run or a spiritual hit of it has to be Blake.[00:02:00] Amanda Marino: And we've started in January of 2020 and we've been extremely, you know, fruitful and abundant since then. That's great. Justin Mclendon: That's great. Amanda Marino: And then who the other side of me is. . No, go ahead. The, the other side of me is, I'm a mom. You know, I have a, an almost 18 year old son who was 18 months old when I got clean and sober. Amanda Marino: He'll be 18 on the 18th. This, this month. Love that. I have an 11 year old daughter. Um, you know, I'm a single mom, a homeowner. I love to be active. I love to adventure. I love to travel. Um, and I just love to live life to the fullest and, and be happy and free. So that's who I really am. Justin Mclendon: I love that. I love that. Justin Mclendon: Yeah, I'm a, I'm a father myself and, uh, yeah, I mean, that's, uh, we have to balance that, right? I mean, as much as I love the work that I do and the people that we get to help, I mean, like, uh, you know, being a parent and doing those things is, is amazing for sure. Uh, can you tell us a little bit about next level recovery? Justin Mclendon: [00:03:00] So I know you mentioned, uh, Sober Companion. I know you guys also do an intervention work, um, case management, things like that. So why don't you tell us a little bit about, you know, what is next level recovery do? Amanda Marino: So we are a boutique concierge, you know, um, programming that is designed, you know, once we do an assessment with an individual and a family that we create a custom plan for. Amanda Marino: So it can be before treatment, we start working with them during treatment and after, or we can do all of the above. And sometimes it's in place of, so if somebody has been to. So many treatments and they, their struggle is like applying what their aftercare plan is or applying what they've learned into the real life. Amanda Marino: We can kind of handhold them, right? Our coaches and our companions can handhold them and then like titrate down on how we do that because we don't want to coddle and be codependent. But I'll tell you a lot of the people we're dealing with today, I think it's after the COVID thing, it made it worse.[00:04:00] Amanda Marino: They're terrified to, to, like, take this sheet of, like, an aftercare paper and, and, and take those action steps by themselves. So they're scared to get jobs. They're, um, you know, they're scared to rekindle with their family. And so... We saw a need in our community. Like, there's a lot of people that do this all over the country, but in South Florida, there was really nobody doing what we did like as a hub. Amanda Marino: There's people that had like maybe a main office in New York or LA or Cal or just different places. But there was like, I'm from here and Blake's from here. So we work here in South Florida, but we also work a lot in New York, a lot in Texas, a lot in California and overseas. Um. You know, and the, uh, in Europe and as well as South America, we have a Latin team, uh, a Spanish speaking team as well. Amanda Marino: So we're just constantly trying to, um, improve. The way that we all do this, and we feel like it's our [00:05:00] responsibility as people that have a pretty strong social media presence to help remove stigma, to help educate people, to help people not feel alone, because it's a lot less intimidating to send a direct message to somebody. Amanda Marino: Then it is to pick up the phone. And I've had a lot of like attorneys and professionals over the years on LinkedIn that they've never told anyone they're super high functioning. Right. And they send a message, you know, like, Hey, I need help, but I don't want anyone to know I don't want to lose my, and I try to tell them like, you're not going to lose your license, but they don't believe me. Amanda Marino: So we've tried to really, and we continue to continually evolve, right? We're all, we're meeting about our clients every week and we're always trying to do better. Justin Mclendon: That's awesome. So what does that look like for a client when a client reaches out? I know you mentioned it could be before treatment or after, uh, but like if a client that's in, in potential need of your services, they reach out to you and kind of, what does that process look like? Amanda Marino: Well, since we've grown, we now have a couple of people in [00:06:00] place. So myself and Blake. focus is overseeing the whole company and overseeing every case. Um, we no longer take on our own clients. Um, just there was no way to travel the country this year. And for Blake to start his doctorate program for us to continue at the capacity we were right. Amanda Marino: So we took a long time to get our select hand selected. We hand select everyone that works for us. We don't have a large list of contractors. We know everybody that's on our. Our list of people that we use and we know them and what they're, what makes them tick, what they're going to client clients are going to align with. Amanda Marino: So, so Sarah, who, uh, was a nurse, she does all of our first screenings and she's our team and family manager. So everything starts and begins with either Sarah or Danielle. Uh, Sarah Frias or Danielle Muldeen and Danielle is our clinical outreach. Danielle went to school, got her bachelor's in psychology and then her master's in special education and then decided, I don't want to do, I don't want [00:07:00] to teach this. Amanda Marino: And so then she started working for a, another company for a while. And then when she came to me, I'm like, Oh my God, look at you would have. She's like, I never thought I'd ever use my degree. And look like this is. This is special and you're teaching and you're sure. And the psychology piece. So we have found these, like, there's a video, I don't know if you checked out my Instagram, but there's a video made the other day, which like literally melts my heart. Amanda Marino: It was an idea I had that says, or each team member at this lunch would say I am next level. I am next level. I am next level. And so it goes through all of that. And then it shows the end. Our videographer did like everybody saying it at the same time. Oh, that's beautiful. Level. And like, I'm not on it and Blake's on it because we're big on like lifting up our team. Amanda Marino: We want to highlight that and make it more about. them than it is about us these days, because they're the magic. Yeah, Justin Mclendon: absolutely. Completely agree. You know, I would say, you know, obviously at New Waters, I mean, we do detox, we do assessments, and everybody is an outbound [00:08:00] referral, right? So, you know, working with the families, with the client on the front end to help them, you know, make the decision to come into treatment. Justin Mclendon: But then we're just kind of the starting point, right? So, you know, what you're talking about, just kind of the idea of like sober companionship, case management, uh, even sometimes interventions on the front end, um, we, we definitely see the value in those types of services. Uh, and you know, I could speak for hours about this, but. Justin Mclendon: You know, since everybody is an outbound referral, obviously people are at different places in their level of motivation for change or to take that next step in their recovery. And then we also see, unfortunately, with the disease of addiction, we just see a lot of recidivism, uh, the word that I'm looking for that I can't remember right now. Justin Mclendon: I know what you mean. Amanda Marino: You know what I'm saying. I would try to say it, but then I'm going to butcher it. Justin Mclendon: We'll just move past that, right? Um, so there we go. There we go. Justin Mclendon: So, you know, we want to obviously all of us, I think, right? We want to lower that. We want to [00:09:00] see people be successful, you know, take that first step and be able to see progress as they move forward. Justin Mclendon: And that is one service. I think that a lot of time is very valuable in helping people reach that goal. That a lot of people just don't take advantage of is that, you know, for maybe different reasons and maybe you could speak to this, but, you know, maybe feeling like, uh, you know, they can do it on their own, right? Justin Mclendon: Or just not being willing to ask for that additional layer of help, or to think, you know, to be in the mindset that if I just do detox and residential, I should be cured and fine. Uh, but a lot of times having someone that can be there as a resource and provide additional support and accountability can just be such a huge help in this process. Amanda Marino: Yeah, well, I'm going to kind of backtrack because a few things that you said came up. So the first thing is like, you know, doing what the services you do, detox and residential, right? So your admissions team and like your, you know, intake staff and your, you know, detox therapist noticed on the front end that this family.[00:10:00] Amanda Marino: is definitely needs your family program, but is way too much. They're lighting your phone up. They don't understand. They're not educated. We're called often then to kind of step in and then we support, and we're a third party voice of whatever your clinical recommendations are. So now they have two different organizations that have no association with each other, except for their trusted partners, giving the same messaging. Amanda Marino: Right. Um, so that's one way where. providers will call us and be like, Amanda, like, we need you guys to like, we, so we have a family coach, we have a psychiatrist, we have a psychologist, we have a dietitian. And then we have coaches and, you know, companions that are, are, are specialties to everything. And then on the back end, you know, people go home and sometimes they go home to their house still with who knows what in it still, right? Amanda Marino: Like, are there, is there paraphernalia, is there stashes? Like, We go, we do this thing where we'll go home with people, clean up their house, like get them settled, start doing, implementing that plan, making sure they make their first few therapist appointments, they're making meetings, you know, they're [00:11:00] meeting people, um, they're not isolating because that's the easiest and most common thing to do. Amanda Marino: And especially if there's no, like, we had a couple clients recently that were, that came in themselves, right? And there was no family involvement, but I quickly saw, like, we need to have somebody in the family. For support and for backup, right? If it's just like an adult male or adult female that comes to us in one services, we still need somebody else for their protection to be involved. Amanda Marino: Right. And so we, we do clinical staffings every single week and we look at, okay, what's working, what's not, is this the right coach for the person? Do we need to change something? Maybe change therapists. Like we go through all that stuff with our psychologists and, um. And usually the people that come to us, this is not their first go around. Amanda Marino: Unfortunately, I wish someone called me on their first go around. Um, oftentimes the adolescence I deal with, but it's not their first problem experience. Right. I would love for some, a family [00:12:00] to call me with their kids, 17 years old, and like us to give them the support, education, them to have family therapy, family coaching, you know, have a companion coach that could take their kid out a few days a week and then learn how to. Amanda Marino: You know, live life and, and some of those skills that those with the substance use disorder miss along the way. Justin Mclendon: Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Um, so we were chatting a little bit before we started the episode and you were talking about just this idea of like stigma. And, uh, you know, I think, you know, along the same lines of the conversation we're having, like those barriers are those things that keep people from moving forward or. Justin Mclendon: Uh, you know, reduce their level of motivation or, you know, maybe sometimes keep them stuck in patterns of thought and behavior. I wonder if you wanted to maybe just, just chime in a little bit about that. What are your thoughts on stigma and, uh, maybe how that's causing some issues for people? Amanda Marino: Well, I know, you know, like I was 10 years ago, I was like one of the first people that talked about being LinkedIn, uh, [00:13:00] on LinkedIn. Amanda Marino: And like, I would get these Matt, like I'm talking a hundred thousand comment kind of post. Wow. And I was like. Scared to do it. And then I did it, but I realized, wow, like I'm making an impact here. Like people are seeing this put together woman and oh no, she couldn't be a drug addict. And like, I want to show that, Hey, like what you see today isn't what walked in the door 16 years ago, but this is what can happen. Amanda Marino: And like, you know, I have people say, well, you shouldn't say all these things, but you know, there's always the, the timers and the, you shouldn't. You know, set people's standards too high and let them not meet up. Like, just cause you graduated college and you did all this stuff. Does it mean every, okay, well, you know, I'm just letting them know it's possible, like from a girl that thought she was too stupid and too damaged and broken to met and messed up to get this thing too, not smart enough to go back to college and all the things I've been able to accomplish in spite of all my self defeating beliefs. Amanda Marino: Um, so I've, I've utilized things like that to try to break stigma, right? Um, or it's the, the [00:14:00] person that suffers with, with. You know, it's usually complex things. You know, nowadays it's, um, way more than just dual diagnosis, right? There's so many pieces and like, it's okay. Like we all hurt. We're all going through something. Amanda Marino: And, um, what's really been fueled up in me lately is this whole black and white. mentality. Um, I'll let you chime in before I dig into that. Cause I'm going to go down the raft. Justin Mclendon: Well, I'm interested exactly where you're going with that. So black and white. I mean, I have my own thoughts, but I'm wondering what do you, what do you mean by that? Justin Mclendon: Right. Um, I mean, yeah, I mean, I immediately, what jumps up for me is I think, you know, just kind of working in this field for a long time now, I mean, there's kind of this. old school way of thinking about things. And, and, uh, it's, I think it is really important that people start, uh, I mean, it's nice to see that there are, there is some movement that is very needed, but I think a lot of people are really stuck in the past still, unfortunately.[00:15:00] In this field for almost 20 years now, and I am a trauma therapist. I am. I joke when I'm here and say, you know, done a lot of trauma work. My entire career has been in trauma. I just happen to be at a detox center now. And so the component that I'm bringing to new waters is this trauma way of thinking and every behavior serves a purpose. It started somewhere and it's was helpful at one point. And now it's no longer helpful. Let's figure out why. And let's figure out this new skill that you can develop so that you can move forward. And everything is data. It's all it is, is data. That's how I start to phrase things with our clients. And when we were talking before the episode, I was really digging what you're saying. So I can't wait for everyone else to hear what you're saying, because I think this is where we need to go Amanda Marino: in this field. Well, thank you for the work you do. I have been in trauma therapy since age seven, um, I'm 42, so that's a [00:16:00] very long time of in and out. I've now been with my current therapist for three and a half years. Amanda Marino: That's one piece to anyone in this field is have a therapist. Yes, absolutely. Like I'm taking myself on a personal retreat to Costa Rica in December by myself. Right. No friends and nothing. So I'm really big on, on all of that as professionals. Right. Like we have to do our own work. Because what good. Amanda Marino: Absolutely. If I'm. Broken and a mess, you know, I'm a night and I am a broken mess sometimes. Right. But I, I tune in and figure out what I need. Do I need more rest? Do I need to take time off? You know? Um, so the black and white thing, and I'm the first one to. to take ownership that I was born and raised in my personal recovery in a very black and white methodology. Amanda Marino: And I preach that if you didn't do what I did, you weren't doing it, right? We're gonna die. Right. And I like firmly I mean, and I maybe I needed that for a time of my [00:17:00] recovery. I needed it to be that black and white for me to stay safe. Um, but there was like, there's been countless situations that I look back at and wish that I had been more educated and more open minded. Amanda Marino: Like I recently I did, I've had a slew of weekends of nonprofit events. I had like a pick a ball tournament for charity that I, we bought, we, we did. Then I went to Fort Myers, the West coast of Florida to speak for my best friend's dad. Um, my best friend died of an overdose in 2016. Kim. 2016 Kim Kinkle and her dad, Al and I are still really close and I had started my nonprofit in her name that sent women in recovery to college and that fizzled out and, um, it was a dark, ugly experience. Amanda Marino: Nonprofit is a business. It's not, it's not fun and games. And when you get into the business, you know, and I kind of got my heart broken in that experience. Um, but now Kim's dad, a few years ago started an RCO. Um, recovery community organization in Fort Myers called Kimmy's Recovery [00:18:00] Zone, and I got the honor to go be their keynote speaker this year. Amanda Marino: And one of the things I shared was if I would have been educated the way I am now, I would have been able to support Kim in a different way, and I think she'd still be alive in today's recovery, Lance, right? Because I didn't understand why would you stay on something when you want to be sober, you know, and I think a lot of people are that way. Amanda Marino: And our experience and our We can't do that as professionals. Like we, we can't, and I'll meet someone else, a friend, a client and anybody with so much love, but to undo it in myself and give myself the grace has been the hardest. Right. So, um. I keep getting these women in my life with long term recovery that feel like they're not doing it right or they're not doing it good enough because it didn't look like the way it once did. Amanda Marino: And if you're waking up every day and like you're trying to take care of yourself, you're trying to be a better [00:19:00] person, um, you know, you're going to therapy or you're taking, doing self care things, you're making meetings when you can, like, I think that that's all incredible. Um, and I want to honor people that are hard on themselves that like I'm not doing enough because like maybe there's a person in the rooms that maybe is telling you that you're not doing enough. Amanda Marino: Cause I got someone tried to bully me the other night and I'm like, I'm not the one I was at an eight 30 meeting and they were like, we'll see you at the seven a. m. I go, the hell you won't. I'll be sleeping. If I'm going to an eight 30 PM meeting and I'm going to be going out to dinner, I'm, I know myself. Amanda Marino: I need rest. You're not going to bully me. What would you have done for your hit or what would you have done for your, and I'm like, that is so not relevant to me. Like you go bring that shit to somebody else, you know, so, but there's not a lot of people that feel strong enough in that, like in their conviction and know who they are. Amanda Marino: So I see there, I see how we can do better, you know, I see how we can do better and how we can meet. More with compassion, love [00:20:00] over like conviction and crucifixion and shame, shaming people like it's, it's, it's taken people out the door and they're scared to come back. Justin Mclendon: It is, especially when, um. People are already coming in with so much shame to begin with. Justin Mclendon: Uh, I'm, I'm with you, Amanda. I think, you know, why in the world would we try and add to that? Because I think a lot of what you're saying, and I think we, we do see this, right? Is, uh, all we're doing is just adding to that shame, right? We're adding to that shame, we're adding to that, you know, uh, not feeling good enough, not going to be able to make it. Justin Mclendon: Uh, all those things that that person is struggling with anyway. And then we're just kind of, you know, validating that for them, right? We're furthering the cycle. A hundred percent. We're not breaking the cycle. And that's the whole purpose of what we're trying to do is break those cycles and let's move forward and find where we can find that inner peace that we're looking for and that self love that you keep talking about, Amanda. Yeah, Amanda Marino: it's about peace and freedom and like being happy with like who's in the mirror. And [00:21:00] we're one organization that we decided some years back that like, I will take a client on that says to me, Hey. I want to, I think I want to, I don't want to admit I'm an alcoholic. I don't want to talk about that. Amanda Marino: Like, but I want to explore my relationship with alcohol. I will take that woman on or man, I will take them just because they don't want to be completely sober. I'm not going to turn them away because this has given me an opportunity for them. to figure this out themselves, right? I will, we'll take on clients that, you know, want to try to continue to smoke pot. Amanda Marino: Like we will try to, you know, fill their time with good things and have the therapy and the medication and, and kind of like come up with a way that like. We're not making it so it's like an all day thing, right? Like if they are doing it, maybe they're just doing it at night as to where they're doing it all day because they have nothing going on and nothing to do and no goals and no focus. Amanda Marino: So we're, I know there's other organizations that if someone's not willing to commit to the complete, Um, abstinence that people won't work with them and I, I will take [00:22:00] people if they're willing to get better and like, you know, in many programs, it's like a desire, right? So if someone has a desire for improvement and puts in some work, I'm willing to work with them and, you know, of course, if it's safe, but usually these are like high functional people that like aren't convinced that, you know, right. Amanda Marino: They can fix themselves and they can figure it out. They're going to find it. But let's, let's, let's undo that. You know, let's let them figure that out for themselves. I don't want to tell you what you are and you aren't. You need to tell yourself that. Justin Mclendon: Because I think that's where the power comes from anyway, right? Justin Mclendon: I mean, it's, it's all fine and dandy to sit back and share your clinical, you know, opinion with someone, right? But, uh, if, if they have to come to believe these things for their self, right? They have to come to develop a desire to want to change in the ways that they are going to find value, right? Uh, and that, I think that at the end of the day, that's the only thing that's important and that's the only thing that's going to be effective, right? Amanda Marino: I want to see more people live. Amen. I want to see more people make it. Absolutely. And if they're alive, there's [00:23:00] a chance and if there's progress, that's beautiful. If it's not perfect and it's kind of ugly sometimes, that's okay. If there's, you know, if there's, or I, I'm going to not use like, I had to, I changed, I spoke for a women's program with moms and kids the other night, like a pretty, you know, like, you know, ankle bracelets, like all that stuff. Amanda Marino: This one girl was like, I'm a chronic relapser. And I was like, I, I reached out to her after I go, let's change that narrative love, let's change it to your chronic recovery seeker, you know, cause that you're are, you're just beating yourself up for how many times you've been in and out and that that's right there alone is going to make you feel shameful, you know, and as a mom, forget it, we've, we feel way more shame when we're in addiction as a mother, it's brutal. Amanda Marino: Um, yeah, it's, uh. It's, it's heavy stuff, but it's, um, like, I'm not scared to put this out there and I'm not scared to have someone challenge. Like I put a video, another thing I had put a video up of, I went to a therapist friend's birthday [00:24:00] dinner the other night and it was all went, you know, the women that the three of us that were left over and went out dancing for a half hour, we were all in recovery. Amanda Marino: I went to this funny little place in Palm Beach Island. Are you down here? Cause I saw you at a five, six, one Justin Mclendon: number. No, I'd lived in in Palm Beach County for like 16 Amanda Marino: years, you know, like Kachina, do you know Kachina? Like yes, very familiar So I went to Kachina for like a half hour and I had this video where I took and I was walking through the wine Cellar area of this restaurant in Palm Beach. Amanda Marino: I was just realized like how cool is it that like I probably wouldn't even notice this, but I was like waiting for somebody in the bathroom. So I like videoed me walking through the wine cellar and I was like, I can go anywhere on my recovery and I can feel safe as long as I'm spiritually fit and I'm with the right people. Amanda Marino: And of course someone was like, you shouldn't be, you know, put teetering on your recovery. You're, you know, you're asking for it. And I'm like, no, I don't like, I don't live like that. That's not how it is for me. Like if I did feel comfortable, like I have a boyfriend who drinks, if I don't feel comfortable that day, I won't go hang out with his friends if they're drinking. Amanda Marino: Um, And then there's other times where I don't care at all. [00:25:00] And like I was there to dance. I was there for a good meal. Like those are the things that brought me there. I'm not going to live for me. I don't judge if someone else isn't comfortable with that. That's up to them. I'm not going to live in a box, but i'm also not going to go to like a dive bar Or like, you know, there's certain places i'm not going to put myself, you know, but I want to go to nice restaurants I want to go to I want to dance. Amanda Marino: I was a hip hop dancer professionally. So like I love that. That's awesome I think it's important for all of us to remember, right, we're all on our own journey, and what works for one person is not going to work for somebody else, and we all have our own way of getting to where we need to be, and we all need to have some sort of faith that we'll get to where we need to be. And the freedom to choose to get to where we need to be, right? And not feel, because the more we constrict, the more we're going to fight back in a way and rebel. Because most people in recovery are like, nope, you ain't going to tell me what to do, right? And so it's just making sure everyone has a freedom to choose. And when they feel that freedom, you'll be [00:26:00] amazed where people will go. Amanda Marino: Yeah, it's like, I feel like there's a delicate balance with like the freedom, but like also certain some like non negotiables, right? Like, like, you know, commitment to your, to your personal growth, like stay like, you know, But freedom to like, we want our clients input. Amanda Marino: We want to know what they like, what they connect with, what's working for them. Like we want them to have a say in their care because if they have a say in their care, they're much more apt to take it much more serious. And like, don't feel like they're just being like, you still have this day. Tell me what to do. Amanda Marino: And I really don't like it. Tell me I can't do something. And then I'm. going to show you how great I can do it. Um, it's just, it's just in my being, even though all the work I've done, it's just still in there. Right. It's about having boundaries, right? Cause the more it's about boundaries, allow us to know the freedom we can have. I think that was one of the most important things I've ever learned. Amanda Marino: Absolutely. Absolutely. And then like, you know, kind of just on that to, to add to like the kind of way that [00:27:00] we do things. So there's this big, you know, thing that's been going on a long time. I was in an adolescent program, a TC model, very abusive, very awful. Amanda Marino: And so there's this thing that still goes on in this country, the whole like snatch and grab adolescents in the middle of the night and do transports. Like we don't do that. Okay. So like how we, we do. Maybe there's some cases that it's needed. I'm just very not for it as a traumatized teen who was sent to a traumatizing program, um, that did the opposite of what I needed to, like if I. Amanda Marino: You know, the programs that are around today are such so much more loving and hear the kids and call the parents out and it just, it just wasn't like that back then, but we, you know, a teenager's family calls us and if it's just like some behavioral and some problematic using, it's nothing that's dangerous that like needs detox or anything, we will tell the family, let's set up a meeting where we're going to come by, like if there's an older sibling, like let's include everybody and come and by that time, once we've dug in with the family, we know what's going on. Amanda Marino: Okay. We have a plan proposal, [00:28:00] like listen, we want you to do this for two, three weeks, like, you know, meet up with a coach, go to a therapist, go to a psychiatrist, like have a, this cur, this time you come in the house, like you don't do, and let them have a say in their, in what they want to say, cause they always have something to say too, and hear them out, and then when we tell them treatments on the table, that if these things don't work, we're coming back to get you, and we're taking you to residential treatment, Anytime we come back, they go willing because they've proven to themselves that they can't, they can't put it this way. Amanda Marino: Let me tell you, we don't have kids blow up and we're not traumatizing kids, you know? Which Justin Mclendon: is huge. Yeah, absolutely. That's all Amanda Marino: I wanted. That's all I wanted as a broken, abused teenager was somebody to hear me and understand me and like love me where I was at. I hated myself. Justin Mclendon: Absolutely. Yeah. And like you said, I mean, thank goodness, right, that there has been for a number of years and there seems to [00:29:00] be some, some movement, especially in the adolescent treatment and things like that, the word things are moving in more of a, you know, loving direction and meeting kids where they are. Justin Mclendon: But you still do hear of these programs that do these, like you were saying, like these snatch and grab things. I think, I think some of the wilderness programs still kind of do operate like that. And like, it's, uh. Yeah, I've been Amanda Marino: called and asked for and I told them, absolutely not. We, my team does not do that. Amanda Marino: I'm not putting my team in that situation. That's traumatizing. And I'm not putting a kid in that situation from somebody who was physically abused, sexually abused. My sister was kidnapped. Like I am not putting some other kid through that shit. I'm not doing it. Absolutely. Justin Mclendon: Completely agree with you. Um, Amanda, one thing I wanted to touch base on, I know we're kind of getting close to the end of our time here, but I know that you, uh, you did. Justin Mclendon: A show in the past, but I think you have not, if you want not, not sure if you wanna do a plug for that or anything, but you have a, yeah, a show that you've been working on. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Amanda Marino: There's a little, like the little story that leads up to, but it's [00:30:00] not super long. I'm not a long Sure. Amanda Marino: Go for it. Thank God. So I was in acting and modeling from ages four to 22. Um, I started like runway, did commercials, print work, hip hop videos, dance in concerts for like Britney Spears Kid Rock. I danced for Rick Cool. And, um, sugar Red, like all these famous kit, like I did a performance for KISS in Jamaica for something. Amanda Marino: But anyway, so all these, I, I had this whole like. You know, for me, my using wasn't all awful. I had a lot of fun. Um, and so I, my last audition I went to in my addiction, I completely was like up from the night before and completely embarrassed myself. And it was something I was really shameful about. Like I had all of this opportunity and all of this talent and I like ruined it with so many people in that field. Amanda Marino: And um, I had a dream when I came into recovery of being back in on screen and being in entertainment of some kind of sorts and giving back and being a woman of substance, not objectified for being a young, good looking, you know, [00:31:00] flawless body, 18 year old, but for being like a woman of substance. Right. Amanda Marino: And I came in, I was 200 pounds and I had a face full of acne. I was two 30 actually. Um, I didn't even look like myself when I came into recovery. But I worked really hard and I, I remember manifesting 14 years ago that I wanted to be on the show intervention. Okay. And I, um, I got, I did a few auditions for it over the years, but during the COVID time, and then the did I I'm trained in, um, you know, gaming. Amanda Marino: addiction, gaming disorder and, and social media addiction. So I got called for that show and I worked a season doing that show and it was like my toe in the water. It was kind of a take spin off of intervention, but a little different cause you're dealing with different kinds of cases. I got to work with three women on that and that's out on a and a that's been, it's on on demand. Amanda Marino: You can find it. I had a friend tell me she was watching it the other day to educate her boyfriend on mental health. And, uh, and then I just finished, um, a month ago I did my last out of three [00:32:00] episodes for intervention that's coming up in on A& E and also is streaming, I think, on Netflix and Hulu. Um, I got to be the intervention professional for three episodes. Amanda Marino: Um, and working with some individuals that were in horrific situations. I was in Memphis, New Hampshire, and like Weaverville, California, which is like a very big meth place. So some places that like, I mean, Memphis don't go, I thought it wasn't going to be like Nashville. I got really. And I was like, this is not total. Amanda Marino: You're not in Nashville anymore. Um, it was scary. It was scary. We had bodyguards and stuff like that. Like it was, it was like top five dangerous, most dangerous cities right now. And like, Oh wow. They almost pulled, they almost pulled it. But, um, I got to make an impact in these people's lives and people that could never have afforded treatment living in under bridges, living in trap houses, like. Amanda Marino: The amount of trap houses and kids living in them [00:33:00] and the stuff that's going on literally all over our country. I think like I knew it, you know, but when you see it, it's, it's, it's on another level. Like we think this stuff goes on only in third world countries and no, it is going on in a city near you. Amanda Marino: everywhere. And the Child Protective Services can't keep up with this stuff. Like, um, so working on that show for me, because I work with mostly very, you know, high profile, like, you know, people in entertainment, high pro, you know, high wealth, net worth families, because they are very complex and have a lot more, you know, they have a lot of things going on that they need additional support. Amanda Marino: So it's very Interesting to me is that there's so different ends of the spectrum. The person living in the bridge or under in the trap houses, no access or no idea about any resources. And then they individual that has access to everything. Right. And they both still struggle [00:34:00] the same. Right. And, um, and so it was really good for me to see what I saw. Amanda Marino: I have like passion to create change in that area. I don't know what it looks like yet, but I don't think that we should have this going on all over our country and kids should be. You know, going through the situations I was in seeing drugs at a young age having abuse, you know And that's just going on everywhere and they came there's like an area of Memphis My friend told me they won't even go in if no one's called. Amanda Marino: It's that scary. Oh wow. Like it's happening here. Like we're seeing like all this horrible stuff that's going on overseas and it's it's hideous and awful I can't even turn the news on but there is That going on literally in a neighborhood near all of us all the time. Yeah. Justin Mclendon: Absolutely. Mm hmm. It is. It's awful. Amanda Marino: There is hope. There's hope for the ones that have it all and, and don't want it because they have it all. It's hard to give them bottom lines. And then the ones that don't have access to resources, like if [00:35:00] anyone calls me, like even when we were filming the show, there was a girl that popped up that, um, I can't say too much cause it's not out yet, but there was a girl that popped up that wasn't part of the show that like I even offered help to. Amanda Marino: Cause I didn't want to leave her. I was like, Hey, here's my number. Like I know that you're not part of this, but like, I don't want to leave you here. So if you want help, I'll find you something, call me, you know, and I'll do my best. You know, not everyone can is, is a next level recovery associates client, but like anyone that calls me for anything, our team will always make sure that they have. Amanda Marino: Some kind of plan or path or phone numbers to call that can meet their needs. Absolutely. Justin Mclendon: That's amazing I'll definitely I'm looking forward to watching the episode. So I'll I'll keep my eye out for that. I Amanda Marino: mean, listen I'll tell you if anyone has a preconceived notion in our industry of the show it is the most caring Wonderful production team ever. Amanda Marino: They were crying. They were crying when [00:36:00] things were going down. They were so compassionate and kind and non judgmental when they were, you know, filming certain things. And I mean, I was blown away by the love and what they didn't know. They would ask us and they never pretended like it was their area of expertise. Amanda Marino: And I just have the utmost respect for all of the team, the camera crew, the sound people, the producers, like they were just like, yeah, They're like part of my extended family now too. Like I love them. Justin Mclendon: That's awesome. That is amazing. Yeah. Thank you for sharing that with us. Well, Amanda, thank you, uh, for spending some time with us, taking some time out of your busy schedule to, to chat with myself and Erica. Justin Mclendon: Um, I always kind of like to wrap these up. So, you know, I think that the big thing is for the podcast is to make it available for, you know, education purposes and resources for families or people that are kind of currently struggling and kind of exploring what that option may look like. Obviously some professionals watch it as well, but if you had to kind of leave the audience with one idea or one thing, I know not to [00:37:00] put you on the spot, like what would be that one thing that you would say? Justin Mclendon: Okay, go for it. Amanda Marino: Well, there's, there's two things, so of course, there's never one thing with me. So one thing for people that are struggling and addiction that like maybe have been in and out always, if you're clean and sober today, and there's some funky idea you have in your head and there's something you haven't told anyone, you need to tell at least one person. Amanda Marino: What's really going on the thoughts. The thing doesn't have to be the whole wide world. Doesn't have to be a group. It could be whoever you feel safe and you could tell this person this thing and this person this thing. So there's no right and wrong way to do it. Just make sure you talk about the things that you need to come out. Amanda Marino: That's that's going out to people that are struggling for families or for anyone that's searching. Like if you can and you do have the resources, family coaching, family therapy, wraparound services, case management, you, we don't want to be at next level recover associates. We don't want to be a band aid. Amanda Marino: Our goal is to create lasting [00:38:00] change within in the individual, the family system or on the corporate space. So, you know, do it right and do it right the first time. Don't go on Google. Ask a trusted professional that you know, or somebody that's been through it before word of mouth. You're going to get the best. Amanda Marino: You know, it just terrifies me when I hear, you know, families search on Google and be current because what a program used to be. Two years ago, it could have been sold and changed and gutted and have new staff. So be, you know, people like us who tour programs all the time are up to date with what's what and what's current. Amanda Marino: So, um, you know, the more health, the better, the longer term, the support and oversight, the better rates of living a long, happy, beautiful life. It's like, if you're gonna do this, do it right and do it. Absolutely. All the way. Words of wisdom. Or if you've done it 10, or if you've done it 10 times, this time, let's do it right. Amanda Marino: You know, and make it the last time. Cause you know, sometimes the people that come to us are just like [00:39:00] so done that they don't believe anything's going to work. Just don't give up hope. There's hope for everyone. Justin Mclendon: There you go. I love that. Thank you, Amanda. Appreciate it. Erica, Amanda Marino: thank you. Thank you. Thank you for having me. And it was really great to meet you and I look forward to following you on IG. Amanda Marino: Yeah, definitely. And I'd like, you know, I've known Graham and Chloe a very long time since they live down here. Um, so, you know, I know there's been some talk of, of myself or someone from my team coming up to see you guys. So I'd love to thank you for the work you're doing. Amanda Marino: And thank you for doing trauma work for 20 years. That means you have to do extra self care like I do. You know, sometimes these things expect us to know the answers to everything. And sometimes we don't know the answers and that's okay. Justin Mclendon: Absolutely. Very good. Thank you both. Thank

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In this particularly enriching episode of "The Waters Cast," Dr. Harold Hong and Justin Mclendon invite the audience on a contemplative journey into the depths of spirituality and its profound impact on therapeutic practices. Their special guest, Amanda Cumbo, stands out with her dual expertise in therapy and spirituality, offering listeners a unique blend of insights from both realms. < Back to Episodes Exploring the Intersections of Spirituality and Therapy with Amanda Cumbo 1:03 hour | Amanda Cumbo | Finding New Waters In this particularly enriching episode of "The Waters Cast," Dr. Harold Hong and Justin Mclendon invite the audience on a contemplative journey into the depths of spirituality and its profound impact on therapeutic practices. Their special guest, Amanda Cumbo, stands out with her dual expertise in therapy and spirituality, offering listeners a unique blend of insights from both realms. Subscribe "The different types of love—eros, philo, and agape—are foundational elements of our soul, and understanding them is not only therapeutic but transformative." - Amanda Cumbo Show Notes In this particularly enriching episode of "The Waters Cast," Dr. Harold Hong and Justin Mclendon invite the audience on a contemplative journey into the depths of spirituality and its profound impact on therapeutic practices. Their special guest, Amanda Cumbo, stands out with her dual expertise in therapy and spirituality, offering listeners a unique blend of insights from both realms. **Key Highlights:** - **Types of Love in Soul Healing:** Amanda breaks down the foundational elements of love into three categories – eros (romantic love), philo (brotherly love), and agape (unconditional love). She provides insight into how understanding and channeling these forms of love can be therapeutic and transformative. - **Challenges in Establishing Healthy Connections:** The discussion shifts to the real-world difficulties many individuals face in creating and maintaining genuine, healthy relationships, stemming from tumultuous backgrounds or chaotic family histories. - **Introduction to Body-based Therapeutic Strategies:** Amanda shares the benefits of body-centered therapeutic practices. One such innovative approach she introduces is the Mates Brain Regulation Program, illustrating its profound impact on therapy sessions and overall healing. - **Spirituality Beyond Belief Systems:** As the dialogue progresses, a striking revelation emerges – that spirituality isn't just limited to what one believes. It extends to the essence of how one leads their life, interacts with others, and the choices they make daily. - **Finding Peace in a Chaotic World:** Dr. Hong, Justin, and Amanda explore the concept of inner peace. They delve into the differences between the temporary calm between storms versus true, enduring peace, emphasizing how spirituality can guide individuals towards the latter. The episode culminates with Dr. Harold Hong and Justin Mclendon acknowledging Amanda Cumbo's unparalleled expertise in seamlessly fusing spirituality and therapy. This combination, they suggest, holds immense potential for individuals seeking holistic healing and a state of inner tranquility. For those eager to delve deeper, the Broadridge family Christian counseling practice and additional resources linked to Amanda's work are available in the show notes. Amanda Cumbo Links: ⁠https://www.rodgerscc.com/counseling/our-staff/amanda-rodgers-cumbo/⁠(https://www.rodgerscc.com/counseling/our-staff/amanda-rodgers-cumbo/) Podcast Website: ⁠⁠https://www.findingnewwaters.com⁠ (https://www.findingnewwaters.com/)New Waters Recovery Website: ⁠⁠https://newwatersrecovery.com⁠W(https://newwatersrecovery.com/)atch & Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw?si=f485f70900204da4⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw?si=f485f70900204da4)Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608⁠⁠(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608) Youtube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw)Youtube Music: ⁠https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn&feature=share⁠ (https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn&feature=share)Google Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw⁠ (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw?authuser=1)Follow Us on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery)Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery⁠⁠(https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery)Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery)Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc)For more information, to submit a question for our show, or to explore our affiliated detox center, visit the Finding New Waters website at ⁠⁠https://www.findingnewwaters.com⁠⁠(https://www.findingnewwaters.com/) and the New Waters Recovery Center at ⁠⁠https://newwatersrecovery.com⁠⁠(https://newwatersrecovery.com/). Join us on this transformative journey!

Top of Page Podcast Production Podcast Channel Setup Veritcal Video Podcast Transcription FNW Website Feature Add On's Memebership Site Email Marketing Online Live Events Online Program Courses Master Class Education Merchandise Shop Podcast Production Full Production Provide monthly video podcasting services for New Waters Recovery. This will include 3 monthly podcasts once a month. All equipment will be provided by Redu Media for the podcast production. (Including a 3-4 Camera Setup, lighting, sound/microphones, and sound mixer) Video Production: Video production (Animation & VFX) for Podcast. Includes a 3-4 camera setup, sighting, sound/microphones, and sound mixer) Podcast Post Production: Transition, voice track editing, background noise, voice levels, match voice levels, music Mixing, Mastering and Production Sound mixing, mastering and added production Audio Production Clean, edit, de-breath, edit out pick ups & post Background Music Licensing Redu Media will provide royalty free licensed background music $1500 (Includes 3 Episode) Podcast Channel Setup Podcast Channel Setup This includes setting up all the podcast accounts: Spotify, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, Amazon Podcast, and Youtube Channel. Includes podcast channel art design. Note: Redu Media will create a separate email account for these accounts and will be transferred to New Waters Recovery. $350 (One time fee) Veritcal Video Social Media Production Includes: Creating Highlight Clips for Social Media (Vertical) Thumbnails for Youtube Uploading the Full Podcast Show All the Proper Channels Each Podcast Episode can range between 5-8 social post depending on the content Catching Subtitles with Brand Colors Emailing these clips to the PR/Marketing/Social Media Team of New Waters Recovery Includes Hashtags and descriptions for each episode $275 (per episode) Podcast Transcription Podcast Transcription A podcast transcript is a written document that captures the spoken content of a podcast episode. Transcripts can be an essential tool for podcast creators and listeners alike. Here are some reasons why: Accessibility: Providing a transcript makes your content more accessible to people with hearing impairments or those who prefer to read rather than listen. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) : Including a transcript of your podcast episode can improve its SEO by allowing search engines to crawl and index the text of your episode. This can increase the visibility of your podcast to potential listeners. Content repurposing : Having a transcript allows podcast creators to repurpose their content in other formats, such as blog posts or articles, without having to transcribe the entire episode from scratch. Audience engagement: Some listeners may prefer to read a transcript instead of listening to an entire podcast episode, and having a transcript available can increase audience engagement and retention. Accuracy: A transcript can help ensure the accuracy of your content by allowing you to review and edit the text for clarity and correctness. Stamps: Each speakers name will be stamped on the transcript during each time spoken and a time stamp for every 60 seconds Overall, podcast transcripts can enhance the accessibility, discoverability, and accuracy of your content while also providing opportunities for repurposing and engaging with your audience. $50 (per episode) FNW Website Finding New Waters Official Podcast Website Feature Add On's Memebership Site Email Marketing Uploading Podcast Video and Audio Having a separate website for your podcast allows you to create a distinct and unique brand identity, separate from your main business. This can help your podcast stand out and attract a more specific target audience. Improving SEO Our platform is optimized for search engines, making it easier for your podcast to be discovered by new audiences. We help you optimize your metadata, titles, descriptions, and other key elements of your podcast to improve your SEO and increase your visibility. Managing Analytics We know how important it is to track the performance of your podcast. That's why we offer robust analytics tools that allow you to track your downloads, engagement, and other key metrics. Our platform also offers insights into your audience demographics and behavior. Managing Analytics: A dedicated podcast website can improve your search engine rankings by focusing on specific keywords and topics related to your podcast. Additionally, search engines like Google may treat multimedia content, such as podcasts, differently than traditional text-based content. Feature Add On's If you're looking to take your podcast website to the next level, consider adding these features. With features like these, you can enhance your podcast's reach, engagement, and monetization potential. Membership Site A membership site is important for a podcast website because it allows you to offer exclusive content and perks to your most dedicated listeners. This could include access to private education webinars, early access to new podcast episodes, the opportunity to attend seminars, and more. Email Marketing Email marketing is an essential tool for podcasters to promote their content, engage with their audience, and build their brand. To maximize the effectiveness of their email marketing efforts, it's important for podcasters to maintain a separate email list specifically for their podcast audience. By doing so, podcasters can target their messaging and offer exclusive content, ultimately building a stronger connection with their listeners and growing their audience. Emails $250 a month Includes (10 Campaign up 10,000 emails) New Episode Announcement: Send an email to your subscrib ers whenever you release a new episode. This email should include a brief summary of the episode and a link to listen to it. Exclusive Content Offer : Use email marketing to offer your subscribers exclusive content, such as bonus episodes or behind-the-scenes footage. This can be a great way to incentivize people to sign up for your mailing list. Guest Spotlight: If you have a guest on your podcast, consider sending an email that highlights their background and expertise. This can help to build excitement for the episode and provide value to your subscribers. Newsletter : Send a regular newsletter to your subscribers that provides updates on your podcast, relevant industry news, and other valuable information. This can help to keep your audience engaged and informed. Call to Action : Use email marketing to encourage your subscribers to take ac tion, such as leaving a review or sharing your podcast with their friends. This can help to increase engagement and reach for your podcast. Online Live Events Hosting online events such as live Q&A sessions, webinars, and live podcasting is important for a podcast website because it allows for greater engagement with the audience, provides a platform for networking and collaboration, and can help to build a community around t he podcast. These events can also provide opportunities for monetization and sponsorship, ultimately helping to grow the podcast's reach and revenue potential. Pricing $250 for one camera setup (Best for Webinar and Q&A up to one hour ) $500 Multi person , Multi camera shoot $150 for live podca st (This price is only if on the podcast production plan) Online Program Courses By offering an online program or course geared toward professionals on a membership podcast website, you can provide a valuable resource for continuing education and add an additional revenue stream for premium memberships. Pre-filmed courses can provide a flexible learning experience for busy professionals, making it an attractive feature for those willing to pay for a premium membership. You have the ability to track members progress in each program. Pricing: TBD Masterclass Education Offering masterclass video courses geared around the topic of medical detox and recovery for your website can be highly beneficial. These courses provide a comprehensive resource for professionals in the field, allowing them to deepen their knowledge, improve their skills, and stay up-to-date on the latest techniques and trends. By offering such courses, your website can become a go-to resource for those in the medical detox and recovery field, ultimately helping to attract new listeners and build your brand. Additionally, if your website is a membership website, offering masterclass video courses can be a valuable feature for members who want pay to learn , providing an additional revenue stream for your business. 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In this insightful episode, Dr. Sheila Shilati, COO of Seasons in Malibu, shares her extensive experience in behavioral health. Dr. Shilati discusses the impact of comprehensive evaluations in addiction recovery and addresses the effects of cannabis on mental health. Her expertise highlights the complex relationship between substance abuse and mental health challenges, offering valuable insights for families and professionals navigating these issues. < Back to Episodes A Deeper Look into Behavioral Health with Dr. Sheila Shilati 42:45 min | Dr. Shiela Shilati | Finding New Waters In this insightful episode, Dr. Sheila Shilati, COO of Seasons in Malibu, shares her extensive experience in behavioral health. Dr. Shilati discusses the impact of comprehensive evaluations in addiction recovery and addresses the effects of cannabis on mental health. Her expertise highlights the complex relationship between substance abuse and mental health challenges, offering valuable insights for families and professionals navigating these issues. Join us for a deep dive into the evolving world of addiction treatment and recovery. Subscribe "We're all just really wounded and we're just all seeking a way to feel seen and heard at the core of everything that we go through." -Dr. Sheila Shilati Transcript Justin Mclendon: [00:00:00] If the prognosis is good and we can potentially try just, you know, sobriety and therapy and support and things like that that is a. Much easier thing to deal with. I think that yeah alternatives, Dr. Sheila Shilati: right? Yeah, I mean and I think that's yeah It's a critical Graham and I were talking about this last week going to a place like new waters and getting this kind of Evaluation should actually be the first step that you take agree You know, it's like you go and you get your health assessment. They take you draw every lab possible. They take your weight They go look at your nutrition, then, you know, you blow on the little tube, you're like, Oh great, you know, my lungs work. So it's, why are we not doing that?[00:01:00] Graham Doerge: Good afternoon. My name is Graham Doerge, and I'm the founder and CEO of New Waters Recovery in Raleigh, North Carolina. Welcome to our weekly podcast, Finding New Waters. Our goal in creating Finding New Waters is to provide a resource for families to help navigate the complexities of supporting a loved one struggling with substance use or mental health. When we find ourselves in crisis due to one of these issues, most people have no idea where to turn. We hope to shed some light onto what is often the darkest hour for many families. I'm joined here today by our executive director, Justin McClendon, and Dr. Sheila Shalati. Dr. Shalati has been in the field of behavioral health for more than 20 years. She has served as an international ambassador and participant on two separate expeditions in the Middle East and Africa, working directly with victims of natural disasters and HIV and AIDS. She has guest lectured at several universities and colleges, including California State University, Pepperdine University, California Lutheran University, and Oxnard College.[00:02:00] Sheila has served as a media consultant for various outlets to discuss general trends in the rehabilitative industry, and Sheila has served as chief operating officer for more than 13 years at seasons recovery centers. She oversees all day to day management, including, but not limited to standards of practice, employee relations, licensing, organizational compliance and corporate infrastructure. She is highly regarded for her leadership, integrity, and cultivating a culture of inclusivity and equity. Sheila received her B. A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2001, and her doctorate degree from the Phillips Graduate Institute in 2009. That's a very nice bio. Yes, you're, so you're very well qualified. To to be on this podcast and obviously to discuss you know, substance use and kind of the work that we do here on a daily basis. And you know, I would love to just start off, you know, getting a little bit more background and just kind of, you know, your personal story, how you came into this work, [00:03:00] what drove you to this work and just how you came to it. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Well, I mean, my original intention in life was to be a very successful writer in New York city. So clearly that worked out. Well, I had a dream we make plans and God laughs at him generally. Yeah. He's like, Oh, what's your plan for today? Let me see what I've got going on. I was fortunate. I mean, I think, I feel like at the end of the day, this work kind of really finds us. Right where we have our own personal journeys. We have our experiences that contribute to kind of our passions or how we want to be of service. Obviously, at one point in my life, I thought I was going to save the world and made attempts to do so, whatever that may have looked like. But then I got realistic and in terms of more pragmatic and what was going to be applicable. And I think Administration and [00:04:00] entrepreneurship and just kind of business is it was a natural fit. I think I just really liked also telling people what to do. So that's, but on the flip side, I think, you know, just the deep fascination and depth of understanding you know, the human construction on an emotional and behavioral level. And the recognition that we're all just really wounded and we're just all seeking a way to feel seen and heard at the core of all of everything that we go through, right, is to just be a part of so this work you know, I mean, that's that, that bio, like I was like, Oh, that's a few years old. I mean, I'm in my 13th year now. What seasons, what a privilege and beautiful opportunity to be of service and cultivated that beautiful organization and relationship with the people and the clients and the staff that are all there. But it all kind of started as a way of just an entry point through, you know, just working clinically with [00:05:00] clients and then kind of morphed into something that felt more. Developmental and things that I can really contribute to on a more systemic level and then kind of what happens from there and obviously relationships with great individuals that, you know, I was just having this conversation, you know, the connection we have as a community of providers. I mean, you know, and I'll speak, you know, candidly enough to say, you know, new waters has represented themselves extraordinarily well with a very personal situation of mine. And not only was I thoroughly impressed, which is hard to do, because I hold a pretty high standard, but just the comfort and the ease at which when we really come together to collaborate and to be of service to this really wounded and deeply, thank you. You know, needing community. It's really a beautiful gift. So my route here was circuitous, but yet it's like when I came in, I didn't know what I wanted to do, but now as a [00:06:00] mature adult, adulting my way through life in many ways, I'm like, Oh I understand more of my purpose of why I'm here now. And how I see it. That's great. Graham Doerge: Yeah. Yeah. And I think too, that, you know, what you kind of just touched on there that what I was thinking of was, yes, we have such an incredible, it's an amazing industry, right? Because it's a very intimate, very small industry in so many regards where we all kind of know each other and like all the kind of good providers and the good ethical programs are all kind of work very closely together and kind of hand in hand. And. Yeah. Refer patients and all that. And it's really a beautiful thing. And it's just so it's a kind of perplexing because families have no idea how to access that. Right, right. And it's so perplexing and like how, and that's why we created this podcast was one of the kind of core reasons is that we wanted to create resources for people and get that information out there. Like what is an intervention? What is, you know, what all this information that we take for granted and we just know so [00:07:00] intimately what to do is, you know, as I said, kind of. People's worst hour, right? And so it's a complex issue and I don't know what the answer is at this point, but hopefully, you know, just getting content out there and having conversations like this and de stigmatizing things and, you know, just having those conversations will help, you know? Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yeah, absolutely. Go ahead. Justin Mclendon: No, I was just going to mention you were, when you were saying that, so we have one of our staff members that recently switched positions and is now working in a continued, continued care department. And it was just really an interesting observation. So she's been doing that job for about a couple of weeks now. So like very early in that process. And she actually just said to me yesterday, she was like, I had no idea, just kind of talking about the treatment community in general, across the country, because she's just. Dove right in and she's talking to facilities all over the place and she's like, I had no idea as, as big as this community is. It seems like everybody knows each other and I [00:08:00] was like, yeah it's kind of true, you know, which is neat. Graham Doerge: Just need all the good people know each other. That's true. There you go, right? You know, there's obviously places that are not operating on ethical grounds and, you know, those are typically the places that, you know, are under the rafter or whatever the term is, but yeah, I mean, it's, it is very interesting how we all kind of, you know, work very closely together and yeah, and however we can kind of, you know, create these resources for people is just going to be so beneficial moving forward. So, now, 1 of the things that we kind of talked about, we were thinking about a topic of discussion here, and I love to talk about. Seasons of Malibu too. Maybe before we get into that and just you know, tell us a little bit about seasons and specifically What do you guys focus on? What's your kind of niche? What's your perfect client? And if you can just kind of tell us a little bit about the program Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yeah perfect client a motivated one, right? Justin Mclendon: There you go Dr. Sheila Shilati: I've been fairly fortunate, you know, we're privately Owned [00:09:00] organization, so it's afforded me an extraordinary amount of flexibility and capacity to attend to the client's needs in a variety of ways without kind of having to go to the higher up. So what do you think? Or, you know, the cost containment in the same way you think about it. If a venture capital firm owns the organization and just the bureaucracy of all of that. So, you know, with seasons. Being there as long as I have I've got the great good fortune of a high level of staff retention, call it visionary leadership No, I mean, it's really which is not Graham Doerge: hard. It's not easy to do I mean we're dealing with this here and there's so much turnover in this field Unfortunately, because it is just it's a it's the burnout is so high It's high intensity. It's you know, it really is a tough thing to do. So yeah, I mean I would love to understand how you have retention as well? Dr. Sheila Shilati: You know, I think it's a lot of there's I don't know if it's A secret as much as it is just [00:10:00] attending to the people that are caring for the people coming in, you know, care for your people. And I know that in a lot of ways, people appreciate that in financial compensation. That makes sense. But I think the. The value, I think there's a lot of people that also understand the value of being able to shoot their supervisor and text and say, you know, I just, I need a mental day. I'm feeling burnt out, you know, and they're not being any consequences to that. You know, I feeling like you can come and talk to the COO. If you need to problem solve, there's not this way. I've also learned the benefit of great boundaries and not being as accessible. There's kind of this way that. Yeah. That I have a responsibility to attend and pay attention, but it's also in just the little things, you know, knowing the names of all of your employees and information about them, that it's relational. At the end of the day, they feel if your employees feel seen, then they feel taken care of. If they know that upper management is just taking the time to [00:11:00] ask them, you know, oftentimes I'll bring people in and I'll sit them down in the office and go, what would you like to do? Where do you see yourself? How can I help you achieve that goal? And I'm not sure there's too many COOs. That are willing to kind of engage in that way and really take a genuine interest. I'm not sure. You know, at the end of the day, you're going to have some level of turnover. It's the nature of some of these entry level positions and people are figuring it out. But I think that trickles down to the client experience, right? And what people have come and what seasons is kind of known for is that level of care taking and attention to. Quality control, and that's where I get, you know, maybe my own control issues come up. Great. This is a good purpose for them to be incorporated and utilize because that representation matters. It matters for the referent who's sending the individual or trying for them to decide where they want to go and offering them, you know, appropriately 3 different [00:12:00] choices. And, you know, but it's different when I get on the line and. I have an accountability to them. Now. Now the client is going, okay, we were on that call. You said, you know, so it kind of takes away the pressure of the refer and having to feel like, oh my God, I'm on edge. Are they going to follow through? Because then I just, you know, the organization I take over, we have a very. collaborative engagement transparency. So it actually makes the process pretty seamless. And listen, we have extraordinary care and sophisticated treatment, but even when we don't bat a thousand, there's no questions as to why it didn't work out, right? Nobody's left in the dark going, well, who didn't communicate this to me? And why did it, then I know about X, Y, and Z. So, you know, the. We're 24 beds in Malibu, all luxury homes, four of them, three of them are licensed for primary substance use dual diagnosis. And we do have a license that treats primary mental [00:13:00] health. So I think I always want to make the distinction. People say they treat it. We're actually licensed to treat it have been since big difference. It's a big difference, right? People, you know, super often gets confused, but we have doctors that only treat licensed doctors. Well, Graham Doerge: and those are some of those questions that people don't know to ask, right? And that's, you know, kind of the point of highlighting some of those things are like, what are the questions that we ask when we're calling these facilities, right? Right. So, you know, you don't know what you don't know. So that's an awesome point. I love that. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yeah. No, I appreciate it. Yeah. And it's just that we don't, again, no offense against like interns trying to get their hours, but when you're paying the kind of money you do to come to seasons, you want to see experts in their field, you know, licensed professionals that have been doing this a long time. Graham Doerge: And correct me if I'm not wrong, all of your therapists are are doctorate level. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yeah. All of them. Yeah. Which Graham Doerge: is pretty unique. There's not a lot of programs that have their whole clinical team as doctorate level candidates. So, that's huge. [00:14:00] Thank Dr. Sheila Shilati: you. And again it's, if we've invested, it's been in the, you know, you get those feedback forms at the end that gives, you know, like we always, I'm always proud to say we get two of the highest ratings in terms of those feedback surveys, one of them being. They got what they expected to get in the clinical was top notch, you know, and the second one is, yeah it's, I do have a lot of pride around it. And the second one being, you know, up to 95 percent of people would refer a friend or a loved one back, you know, to come and receive services. So it's. It's something that I think we genuinely, I go, listen, if we nailed it on those things. Fantastic. You know, you didn't do it on Tuesday. No worries. I can deal with that. Graham Doerge: That's not as important Dr. Sheila Shilati: as the five quilted standard that you were hoping. Okay. You know, these are manageable. So it just everybody's different, but I treat adults. That's kind of my mentality. I treat people that are highly motivated. I really assess for the fit in the [00:15:00] milieu. I don't have to take everybody. It's a great position to be in. We've earned it. You know, we've got to get here and we feel really good. So we stay in our lane. We do good work. We work with our collaborators and just kind of keep it clean. Graham Doerge: Actually was just out there visiting your program last week. So I saw it in person live and it is absolutely fabulous. So, you know, we definitely highly recommend it to really anybody who needs the services and. You know, kind of the change pace here a little bit. One of the things that we kind of talked about last week and leading up to this was, you know, the increase in cannabis cannabis induced psychosis, right? And we've been seeing a whole lot of that. I know, Justin, you know, you can speak to that extensively, but let's talk a little bit about. You know, just the increase in that, the Delta eight, the, you know, all these synthetic drugs that are coming online and obviously being sold in gas stations everywhere. But how's your experience been out there in California and what are you guys seeing out there? [00:16:00] Probably Dr. Sheila Shilati: similar to yours. I'd love to hear your experience as well. It's. been you know, largely initially it was kind of anecdotal and head scratching where we would get these cases of perfectly healthy, generally, mostly leaning towards men, but we get some women that would have either an acute psychotic episode or, you know, instances of more chronic psychosis, but you didn't have this kind of genesis of. You know, kind of correlation of how you can route where it came from per se, you know, so you're looking at it. Diagnostically, you're trying to kind of rule out. Okay. Is it is where you pro drama and do this come on? Yeah, but they don't maybe they don't have a significant family history. It just didn't quite add up. But the 1 thing that the through line that was consistent was daily cannabis use starting from a fairly young age. You know, or maybe it was intermittent, but then it peaked up at [00:17:00] like 18 to like 22, whatever there's this way in which then it turns into this complete departure from like normative functioning. And it just everyone, the family system, the client, it's, it looks like a true psychotic rake. So we would get clients that, you know, we're on the top of like. Bridges ready to jump in the middle or they were taken down by the police because, you know, they were running naked in the streets and, you know, and the one Graham Doerge: and most of these cases, most of these cases are young adults, primarily. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I would say, you know, we treat only 18 and older, but you know, I imagine you hear it even more in adolescence. But for us, it's like that, that 22, 26, 27. And now when I kind of hear the symptoms of the presentation and we'll [00:18:00] get the kind of conceptualization, I'm like, did they smoke? Did they smoke pot every day? They're like, yeah, okay. So it's been this kind of really terrifying and an epidemic that I think is starting to really take shape. And we as providers, I think we're having more and more discussions. The research is starting to give us more information. There's no. Argument against the potential and the active piece of an acute psychotic episode due to cannabis intoxication. I think the professionals all agree that is very real that happens. It's just the duration at which that occurs is typically while it's active in your body and doing it's thing the more kind of. Evidence that is leaning towards and again, there's a ton of confounding variables. Why we have chronic psychosis you know, chronic [00:19:00] thought disorders, any of those things. So you kind of are. Peeling it up, but safe to say that daily cannabis use at a young age could certainly exacerbate the potential for somebody to kind of activate those symptoms within the changing of the brain structure. And then now you've got your 25 year old who will have to be on, you know, mood stabilizers for the rest of their life. Graham Doerge: It's scary. And you know, I had a little experience with this with my nephew who we put into a treatment program when he was about 16 and went to a wilderness program out in Utah. And he had a great experience and ended up staying out there for a year and finishing school out there. And it really was a great thing. But when I, my brother, you know, called me and they were having an issue and trying to kind of figure out, luckily he had me to call to say, what do we do here? And I was able to kind of put him in touch with the appropriate people and got him in touch with an educational consultant because I was just too close to the case. Right. And I needed somebody else to step in and really manage it. [00:20:00] And and you know, the piece with what I told my brother was, you know, listen, he's 16 years old. The reality that he's going to be sober for the rest of his life is very unlikely. Right. But we can plant the seed at this point and we can start to do some work. And if we can even get them from like 16 to 18 or 19 without. Smoking weeded every day. Like that's a big win. Yeah. Right. So, you know, he's now in college at the University of Denver and he's doing really well. And he's not, you know, sober, quote unquote, but he's handling it. And maybe he wasn't an addict, right. And maybe he, you know, he is just spiraling out at some point and just never cress crossed that threshold at that point. And we were able to kind of catch it soon enough. Time will tell, but even if that happens, like we know what to do and he knows what to do, right? He's been through this. He has so much self awareness. He's gotten so much education around it. So he kind of knows what to do in that scenario. But you know, I do think that it, and with like, you know, legalization of cannabis out in California, I just wonder if you even see if you saw any correlation there when they [00:21:00] legalized weed and a spike in this you know, psychosis or anything like that. But, you know, the thing that even concerns me more. Is, you know, the delta eight and all the synthetic, you know, substances that are being sold and the THC a and the, you know, God knows what new strain or, you know, chemical they've created. So, you know, I feel like that is really the stuff, you know, being here in North Carolina where kids can't get. Weed very easily, you know, or legally, and they're just going to buy in this delta aid stuff and it's lighting Justin Mclendon: them on fire. Yeah, and that's, you know, I was thinking the same thing about the legalization in California and how, you know, maybe that what your observations are around that Dr. Shalati, but here to your point, Graham. So we see the same thing you know, especially in our assessment track. I mean, we do see individuals coming in to the detox kind of part of our program that are showing a similar presentation, but we have seen a lot of it in the assessment track. Similar to your point, Dr. Shalati is that, you know, the parents, whoever else is involved you know, they're scratching their [00:22:00] heads, right? They're like, Hey, this is going on. There's been this psychotic episode. There's been hospitalization. There's been a suicide attempt. There's no history of this. There's the, you know, the THC use and we've just got the same as you said. I mean, we've gotten to the point where it's like immediately you're like, we know exactly what's going on here. We've seen this a number of times already, but here, I mean, we do have some people, a lot of people that come in from outside of the state for that assessment program, but a lot of them are within North Carolina where it's not legal yet. So it's these Delta derivatives and things like that. But yeah, that, so anyways, long way to get to that same question is, so I wonder. What your observations have been since the legalization in California, because I would imagine that is totally Dr. Sheila Shilati: different. Well, yeah, and I think, remember, everybody had their medical card before Graham Doerge: it got true. It's been a while. Yeah, 20 Justin Mclendon: years, at least. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Okay. Yeah. So kind of the introduction of the, yeah, the legalization of cannabis, you [00:23:00] know, is something we've been attempting to, like, look at And listen, I'm, you know, I think the reality is every the medicinal purposes, the application of the uses of, you know, when under appropriate measures and oversight has tremendous impacts and effects. We know that you can't argue with the literature that's. What's this? So, you know, I want to be careful not to create this kind of, you know, idea that my opinion on any of this isn't right. We're just kind of speaking to a reality as a parent. We're all parents. This is something we have to think about. And I think we kind of have this social, we've kind of taken a social exhale that like, okay, cannabis is okay. It's all right. Like my kids, it's not the worst thing they could be doing, you know, right. Yeah. But unless they have an Graham Doerge: underlying mental health issue, right? Which you don't know, you know, it had either an external or 20, right? Yeah. Right. [00:24:00] Yeah. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Man. Do you ever see something that's like, Oh, I have a, I have no issue at all. Yeah, seriously. Some spectrum of like 100 percent you spend enough time on social media, you have some sort of like generalized anxiety disorder. So sure. Absolutely. You know, so yes, the severity, the prodromal effects, the attention to. Parent attitudes, a lot of parents smoke with their kids, you know, so listen I'm not the, I'm the bearer of fun, not the take away or a fun, but at the same time, I think there needs to be such a deep sense of understanding and education that you're 16, you're 18, you're 20 year old, you're 22 year old, you know, the, we all know the developed Being brain works, you know, is still working towards finishing up by 25, 28, maybe a little bit later for males. Cause it's okay. You guys are a little slower.[00:25:00] Graham Doerge: Knew that was going, but, Dr. Sheila Shilati: We're it's scary. Like, I really do mean to insert some of that kind of. Reality and kind of the fear and being more vigilant about teenagers really kind of getting into this and what this means. And it's funny to, you know, you think about it in this way, because just because we can't see what's going on with the brain, you know, but it's like we smoke cannabis and it gave you like acne. Right? Right. Like most of the time, you know, people will be like, Oh, I don't really, you know, anything specific or, Oh, you'd get these bumps on your arms or whatever. It's like, if we can see it, you're like, Oh, that's not really for me. If we were talking about, you know, somebody having cancer and going, okay, here's this, Save you, you know, and actually it's just, I think our, the way we kind of the lens in which we think about things and normalize it is [00:26:00] very distorted, you know, that's the society. Everything's distorted. So Graham Doerge: find Dr. Sheila Shilati: your Justin Mclendon: path. Yeah, Dr. Sheila Shilati: I'm curious what you guys are seeing at the detox there and especially in your evaluations, because you guys have you know, such resources and accessibility to kind of, you know, what is, what kind of through lines are you guys coming up with? Well, Justin Mclendon: especially when it comes to the cannabis topic specifically, I mean, we have had a lot of luck with, you know, this particular kind of like, this particular client that we're talking about, right? You know, young adult, as you mentioned, a lot of times male actually. I would struggle to think of a time where it was a female right now, right off the top of my head, but you know, that, that has a similar presentation and, you know, so we can get a lot of history, we can understand about what's going on with the substance use, where it came from, if there's any causation there and things like that, but [00:27:00] as you mentioned, Dr. Shalati, I think like the effects And the presentation that we're seeing with that person is very neurological in nature. We've seen a lot of success just in, in simply the person you know, discontinuing the use and being able to remain sober and just kind of the natural healing process that can take place there. We've seen a lot of young adult males be able to, you know, stabilize here. Get some good data, but tracking them also over that next, you know, three months, six months period to see kind of what's going on and have seen a ton of success in them being able to clear and really not to have any kind of recurrence of any of those psychotic symptoms or anything like that. But then, unfortunately, there are some times, as you alluded to where maybe the damage is just, it's a little bit more permanent, right, and there's going to be some pharmacological intervention that's needed in order to kind of stabilize, and then, unfortunately, not seeing as much of that clearing, and it becomes a pretty obvious situation to where They're [00:28:00] going to need some type of medication for the foreseeable future in order to remain stable. But yeah, it is very, it's very interesting. How, you know, the occurrence of what's going on is very neurological in nature. You know, as to where I think, not to say that it's so drastically different from other. Substances, I mean, you know, everybody comes about that however they come about it, right? Whether there's trauma, there's other things, it's experimental use, I mean, like, however they got there, so some of that part is the same, but how it affects them and the severity of the symptoms and things like that is very brain based, you know? Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think if you take into consideration, like if someone comes in there diabetic and they go, okay, yeah, no, you're susceptible to this and this, you know, information ago. Oh, gosh, if I, but when we're not given that information, we don't have that. And you're just kind of, yeah. You know, filling your brain with whatever substance. Yeah, I mean, we all get this and understand this. And the more that [00:29:00] we listen, it's all about education at the end of the day, you know, listen, systemically, we've seen a greater incidence of people just talking about their mental health. And exposing more to mental health and giving opportunities for us to normalize mental health, you know, I mean, I can't even go to my kids school now without every parent talking about who their therapist is, you know, we're just like, yeah, you know, are they open, do they have an opening? So it's nice to kind of like work towards normalizing that and yeah. That experience and it not being like in our community or in recovery, we're just like, you know, I think we take for granted that we're so accustomed to these conversations that you forget. Sure. Then operates and where and we're in a beautiful position to continue. And I love that you guys are doing this to just educate and give access to because, you know, it's important information and we're going to have our own ideas. Justin Mclendon: It is. And I think. [00:30:00] I don't know, it just came, it came up for me when you were saying that the education piece, I think it's also just really refreshing a lot of the times, again, unfortunately, sometimes there's more of a permanent situation that's resulted from this, but a lot of times, you know, when the families come in and they, again, they're scratching their heads, they don't know what's going on. There's been this event for us to be able to do the assessment and sit back and say like, Hey guys, this is very likely caused by the cannabis that you're using. Right. Yeah. It at least gives them like a target something to focus on. It's like, okay, like, you know, my son doesn't have, you know, schizophrenia, right? Or there's not some other kind of organic condition that is going to be kind of, you know, life altering for him and also for our family system, but it's like, okay, like, Yeah. This is a thing, right? So it's almost like a relief. I think in some ways, right? They're like, okay, well, if the prognosis is good and we can potentially try just, you know, sobriety and therapy and support and things like that that is a much easier [00:31:00] thing to deal with. I think that alternatives, right? Right. Dr. Sheila Shilati: As a parent. Yeah. I mean, and I think that's why it's so critical. Graham and I were talking about this last week, going to a place like new waters and getting this kind of evaluation should actually be the First step that you take into consideration, you know, it's like you go and you get your health assessment. They take you draw every lab possible. They take your weight. They go look at your nutrition. Then, you know, you blow on the little tube. You're like, Oh, great. You know, my lungs were so it's, why are we not doing that? On a mental 100 percent Graham Doerge: to go Dr. Sheila Shilati: to one targeted thing. And you're like, this is it. It's just this right here. We can, Graham Doerge: this is it. And we know these guys do pretty good work. So we're, it's not even like, you know, we're going to send it this program because of this therapist that specializes in this, you know, we'll work well with this guy. Right. And I think that's where we need to get really granular. But you're a hundred percent on the money. Yeah. Dr. Sheila Shilati: No. And it's, Justin Mclendon: it's so funny that it's true. And obviously we are biased and we [00:32:00] believe that as well. Right. We should do good assessment before there's recommendation and treatment. Right. But it's just interesting that our industry doesn't handle it that way, but if you go back to like. The graduate school days, right, Dr. Shalati? Like, that's what we were taught is that you assess before you do anything else. But unfortunately in our industry, like, we just don't really do that. Graham Doerge: Well, we're trying to change that. We're trying to change it. That's right. Yeah. I would love to know. So remind me again, how many kids you have? Two, two, that's right. Boy, girl. Yeah, that's right. You had two and you were done where I had three girls and we're still trying for a boy. So, not really. But anyway, I just wanted to know, like, have you put some thought into like how you're going to navigate that with your kids? You know, that's I think about that all the time. I don't have an answer really at this point because my kids are still, you know, nine, eight and five, but like, yeah, at some point, Probably in the near future, we're going to start having those conversations [00:33:00] about cannabis and about, you know, what their friends are doing and all this stuff, you know, I having three daughters, you know, my like biggest fear is obviously like in eating disorder issue or anything like that. And, you know, because that just to me is just so complex and it's, you know, it's substances, you know, we can stop using substances, but you gotta eat right. So such a different thing animal, but. You know, I just would love to hear kind of what your thoughts are around that and how to kind of have those early conversations with kids. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yeah, I mean, listen I get as far, my kids are like 6 and almost 3, so we've got some, so my stress is really related to making sure like they get dressed in the morning and timing from necessity to negotiate. It's a constant yeah. So I, but I, oh gosh. You know, the, I was about to curse and I stopped myself. I'm so proud. . It's curse. It's free Graham Doerge: zone. Dr. Sheila Shilati: They . The hardest part, I think about us having the [00:34:00] knowledge that we do is just that I think we're super sensitive and hyper sensitive to . The impacts and having the awareness around environmental factors, interactions, you know, school based interactions, romantic interactions what they're exposed to on television, their processes and ideologies around, you know, who they want to be and narrative, you know, on and on. So, and to recognize kind of how that forms and shapes their imprinting that then generates the like. Narrative of, you know, good enough, not good enough value. You know, it just we can kind of compartmentalize each one of these and have an hour long discussion on it. So I think, you know, 1 of the benefits and. Of being in a city that I think is more progressive than most when it comes to social emotional considerations and in school systems, I think about it that [00:35:00] way is that they're already learning tools to exercise that muscle in an effective way. And it's being endorsed by the school system. It's being endorsed by the family system. I mean, we're all. Like kids of baby boomers. So we have lots of stories to tell about managing our parents expectations and lack of oversight. And, you know, boundaries, what boundaries, you know, you see the, we'll just Graham Doerge: sweep it under the rug. We're not going to talk about that. That's uncomfortable. Hey, you know Dr. Sheila Shilati: what? What are these feelings? You know, emotions. And so I'm always I'm I even find myself struck sometimes too. And I'm like, recognizing how well my daughter might be discussing like a feeling or an experience. Or she said the other day, she goes, well, mama, like, That's my thinking, and I get to change my mind if I want to, and I was like, Yeah, Graham Doerge: yeah, you're like, whoa, you're correct. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yes, you do, but [00:36:00] still do as I tell you to. Graham Doerge: Right, right, totally. Yeah, no, it's, No, you go, I would cut you off. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yeah, it's the, but it is just that. We're developing the generation, generations behind ours are developing better tools than we had. To talk about those Justin Mclendon: things. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Absolutely. That translates. Graham Doerge: Yeah, and I think to like at least in my house, you know, my wife and I are both in recovery So they've never been in a house with substances alcohol Like there's no booze in our house and you know people friends come over and I'm fine with having alcohol in the house and having friends drinking all that stuff, But for the most part, they're just not around it. It's not a thing. They don't even know what it really is, you know so I think that like growing up in that Environment probably will have some sort of a shift for them to and, you know, just not kind of where I grew up. It was, you know, cocktail every evening. That's what you did. You know, at the end of the day, you had your cheese and crackers and your scotch on the rocks. And, you know, that was how you handled life. [00:37:00] So Justin Mclendon: The other thing, too, is and I think about this a lot because, I mean, I don't know about you, Dr Salati, but I think for me and Graham in any way, we take a little bit of work home with us from time to time. But I think the You know, they wind up hearing the phone calls and the this and the that. So there's also this like a, this layer of exposure to like, you know, what the dangers or the downsides of using, you know, alcohol and other substances can look like. Right. So I think that, I hope anyway, knock on wood somewhere that's can also add some value for them. Graham Doerge: A hundred percent. And listen, if there's ever a problem, we know what to do. Dr. Sheila Shilati: That's the gift of doing what we do or having the resources or knowing that, you know, it's just listen, it's just like your relative or your friend being an MD. Right? I don't know. I don't hesitate to get their free. Feedback. Absolutely. Oh man so. Yep. Yep. Or also, I'll literally send pictures. I'll be like, what is this? What, you [00:38:00] know. I love it. Graham Doerge: I love it. Well, it's better than WebMD. That's for sure. Yeah. Generally. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Generally speaking, takes away the hypochondriasis. There Graham Doerge: you go. Well, I mean, this has been a great conversation and I really appreciate you coming on and just sharing us a little bit about your program and your heart and, you know, all of this. It's always so nice connecting with you and collaborating on cases and all of that. So why don't we, can you just share with people where everybody could find you, maybe your website and possibly like a, maybe social media or something. Dr. Sheila Shilati: Yeah. Oh, I, you know, I'm the wor first off I have zero social media, so you's Oh, good for you. Excuse. Yeah, I don't even have a LinkedIn, which I get yelled at often. Alright. I know. This is just how I just, this is how Incognito, Graham Doerge: don't worry. We'll get you, we'll get you up to speed. I'll come out there. We'll sit down. Right? Dr. Sheila Shilati: I know, right? You'll be like here. Listen, I checked on my phone. I'll give you this quick tidbit and I'll give you the website. Yeah. But it's seasons malibu.com, and that will have all the [00:39:00] information. But I don't ever check the stats on how many times you pick up your phone in a day. It's terrifying. Graham Doerge: It's very Oh, I didn't know there was that stat. Dr. Sheila Shilati: There is. It tells you how much time you spend on which app. How much basically, it's like how much time you waste. Wow. Okay. I'm Graham Doerge: going to look at that Justin Mclendon: account. I am not going to look at Dr. Sheila Shilati: that. It was like 140 in one day of like, Graham Doerge: yeah, we'll start having we'll just compare and screenshots on how dysfunctional we are with our technology circle. Right. Not doing well today, 6, 000 steps. And I pick up my phone 250 times. Okay. Exactly, not a productive day. So, so fun talking to you, Dr. Schade. Appreciate it. Yes, thank you. Thank you ma'am. And we'll we'll see you soon. And seasons malibu.com. If you guys want any information on [00:40:00] seasons and always, you can reach out to us at new waters recovery.com. Thank you all. Awesome. Have a great day. Show Notes Join us in this episode of Finding New Waters Recovery podcast, where we delve into the heart of addiction treatment with Dr. Sheila Shilati of Seasons in Malibu. As the Chief Operating Officer with over seventeen years of experience in behavioral health, Dr. Shilati illuminates the sophisticated and compassionate care approaches at Seasons in Malibu, a renowned center for addiction recovery. She shares her global experiences, including work with disaster victims and HIV/AIDS initiatives, and her role in media consultation on rehabilitation trends. The conversation also explores her dedication to cultivating a culture of inclusivity, her educational journey, and the leadership that has significantly impacted Seasons Recovery Centers. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the nuances of addiction treatment and the innovative methods employed at Seasons in Malibu. For more information about Dr. Sheila Shilati and Seasons in Malibu, you can visit their website or contact them directly at Seasons in Malibu ⁠https://seasonsmalibu.com/⁠ (https://seasonsmalibu.com/)or by calling 866.934.3402. Podcast Website: ⁠⁠https://www.findingnewwaters.com⁠ (https://www.findingnewwaters.com/)New Waters Recovery Website: ⁠⁠https://newwatersrecovery.com⁠W(https://newwatersrecovery.com/)atch & Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw?si=f485f70900204da4⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw?si=f485f70900204da4)Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608⁠⁠(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608) Youtube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw)Youtube Music: ⁠https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn&feature=share⁠ (https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn&feature=share)Google Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw⁠ (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZmI2YTk3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw?authuser=0)Follow Us on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery)Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery⁠⁠(https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery)Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery)Tiktok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc(https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc)

In this deeply moving episode of *Finding New Waters*, we sit down with Dr. Elisabeth "Liz" Willers, a physician and the founder of the Goldfinch Foundation, created in honor of her late son, Owen. After losing Owen to an unintentional overdose, Dr. Willers channeled her grief into advocacy, working to change the culture around mental health and addiction among young people. < Back to Episodes Turning Grief into Purpose: Dr. Liz Willers and the Goldfinch Foundation 37:30 min | Dr. Liz Willers | Finding New Waters In this deeply moving episode of *Finding New Waters*, we sit down with Dr. Elisabeth "Liz" Willers, a physician and the founder of the Goldfinch Foundation, created in honor of her late son, Owen. After losing Owen to an unintentional overdose, Dr. Willers channeled her grief into advocacy, working to change the culture around mental health and addiction among young people. She shares Owen’s story, the stigma surrounding mental health struggles, and how her foundation empowers teenagers to openly discuss their challenges. Through vulnerability, education, and the arts, the Goldfinch Foundation is helping to shift how we approach youth mental wellness and substance use awareness. Subscribe "Showing strength in vulnerability is how we truly create change. If we don't talk about it, we can't fix it." – Dr. Liz Willers Show Notes In this deeply moving episode of *Finding New Waters*, we sit down with Dr. Elisabeth "Liz" Willers, a physician and the founder of the Goldfinch Foundation, created in honor of her late son, Owen. After losing Owen to an unintentional overdose, Dr. Willers channeled her grief into advocacy, working to change the culture around mental health and addiction among young people. She shares Owen’s story, the stigma surrounding mental health struggles, and how her foundation empowers teenagers to openly discuss their challenges. Through vulnerability, education, and the arts, the Goldfinch Foundation is helping to shift how we approach youth mental wellness and substance use awareness. --- ### **Timestamps:** - **[00:00] Introduction**: Welcoming Dr. Liz Willers and introducing the Goldfinch Foundation. - **[03:00] Owen’s Story**: The journey that led to the creation of the foundation. - **[08:00] Mental Health and Stigma**: Why teens often feel alone in their struggles. - **[12:00] The Role of Social Media**: How it impacts self-image and mental health. - **[17:00] Creating Safe Spaces for Teens**: The importance of peer-led conversations. - **[22:00] Intervention and Prevention**: How to approach someone struggling with addiction or mental health challenges. - **[28:00] The Power of Vulnerability**: Why openness leads to strength and healing. - **[35:00] Music, Art, and Expression**: How creativity plays a role in recovery. - **[42:00] Goldfinch Foundation’s Future Plans**: Expanding impact through education and outreach. - **[48:00] How to Get Involved**: Ways to support or connect with the foundation. --- ### **Key Points Discussed:** 1. **Shifting the Mental Health Narrative**: How we can move from stigma to open conversations about struggles. 2. **Recognizing Warning Signs**: Helping teens and families spot signs of mental health or substance use issues. 3. **The Importance of Peer Support**: Why hearing from others with similar struggles can be life-changing. 4. **Using the Arts for Healing**: The role of music, writing, and self-expression in mental wellness. 5. **Community and Prevention**: Why addressing mental health as a group effort leads to better outcomes. --- ### **Guest Bio:** **Dr. Elisabeth "Liz" Willers** **Physician, Founder of the Goldfinch Foundation** Dr. Liz Willers is a pulmonary critical care physician who transitioned her focus to mental health advocacy following the tragic loss of her son, Owen. She founded the Goldfinch Foundation to create a safe space for teens to openly discuss mental health and addiction. Through speaking engagements, peer support initiatives, and creative outlets, Dr. Willers is working to reshape the way society addresses youth mental wellness and substance use. --- ### **Resources Mentioned:** - **Goldfinch Foundation Website:** [https://www.thegff.org](https://www.thegff.org) - **Goldfinch Foundation Instagram:** [https://www.instagram.com/thegff24](https://www.instagram.com/thegff24)(https://www.instagram.com/thegff24](https://www.instagram.com/thegff24)) - **QPR Training (Suicide & Substance Use Prevention):** [https://qprinstitute.com](https://qprinstitute.com) - **12-Step Programs (Find a Meeting):** [https://www.aa.org](https://www.aa.org) --- ### **Follow Us:** - **Instagram:** [https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery](https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery)(https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery](https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery)) - **Facebook:** [https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery](https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery)(https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery](https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery)) - **LinkedIn:** [https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery](https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery)(https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery](https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery)) - **TikTok:** [https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc](https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc)(https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc](https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc)) --- ### **Watch & Listen:** - **Podcast Website:** [https://www.findingnewwaters.com](https://www.findingnewwaters.com) - **Spotify:** [https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw](https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw)(https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw](https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw)) - **Apple Podcast:** [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608)(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608)) - **YouTube:** [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw)(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw)) - **YouTube Music:** [https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn)(https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn)) #GoldfinchFoundation #MentalHealthAwareness #YouthRecovery #FindingNewWatersPodcast #AddictionPrevention #SubstanceUseAwareness #BreakTheStigma