The Addicted Mind Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 394: The 90-Day Benchmark: What 100,000 Patients Teach Us About Lasting Sobriety Joanna Conti Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Addicted Mind, host Duane Osterlind is joined by Joanna Conti, founder of Conquer Addiction and the Vista Research Group. Driven by her personal journey navigating her daughter’s severe alcohol addiction, Joanna set out to solve a major gap in the addiction treatment industry: the lack of hard, verifiable outcome data.

Joanna shares how her background in software and engineering led her to launch Vista Research Group to track patient progress during and after rehab, as well as Conquer Addiction, a non-profit helping families find evidence-based care. They discuss what the data reveals about long-term recovery, why the 90-day care benchmark is critical, and how real-time patient monitoring can save lives.

Key Topics Covered

A Personal Catalyst: Joanna’s harrowing experience with her daughter’s severe alcohol addiction, six years of navigating rehabs, and her daughter's eventual 13-year recovery.
Marketing vs. Hard Data: The frustration of encountering unverified success claims (such as "98% success rates") and discovering in 2015 that only five treatment centers nationwide were scientifically tracking and publicly sharing post-treatment outcomes.
Launching Vista Research Group: How tracking patient progress during treatment—including cravings, depression, and therapeutic alliance—improves patient outcomes in real time.
What the Data Reveals: Insights gathered from monitoring over 100,000 patients in treatment and following up with over 50,000 post-treatment.
Factors Influencing Success: How primary substance choice (alcohol vs. fentanyl or meth), age, peer culture, and ongoing support impact recovery rates.
Why Industry Data Has Stagnated: Why nationwide 1-year recovery rates have remained around 36% to 37% since 1993, and how systematic measurement can drive outcome leaps similar to those in cancer research.

Key Takeaways & Data Insights

The 90-Day Benchmark: Patients who stay engaged in care across various levels (residential, IOP, outpatient) for at least 90 days are twice as likely to be in recovery one year later compared to those who leave in 20 days or less.
Support Networks: Active involvement in recovery communities (such as AA or SMART Recovery) or living in sober housing doubles the likelihood of maintaining long-term recovery.
Real-Time Feedback: Self-reported patient surveys often surface critical mental health warning signs—such as hidden suicidal ideation or rising cravings—that patients might hesitate to share face-to-face with clinicians.
Hope for Chronic Relapse: Data confirms that individuals with 10 to 15 prior treatment episodes for severe substance use disorders are still fully capable of achieving lasting recovery.

Guest Message

"Love them and help them find effective treatment. Don't give up." — Joanna Conti

Resources & Links

Conquer Addiction: conquer-addiction.org — Treatment centers with verified, above-average outcome data.
Vista Research Group: Data-driven patient progress monitoring and outcome tracking for addiction treatment providers.

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Supporting Resources:

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

NovusMindfulLife.com

We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind

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Episode 393: Lost in Del Valle: How Actor Ned Van Zandt Turned His Darkest Days Into Redemption Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, host Duane Osterlind speaks with actor, playwright, and recovery advocate Ned Van Zandt. Ned shares his life story—from an exotic childhood traveling the world to studying under Olympia Dukakis and working alongside high-profile actors and musicians in the 1970s. He candidly details his descent into hard drugs while living at New York's iconic Chelsea Hotel, his first 13-year stretch of surface-level sobriety, a sudden relapse that led to an arrest in Texas, and his eventual surrender to deep, service-driven recovery. Today, Ned is the managing director of a NYC sober living facility and the creator of the one-man show Lost in Del Valle.

Key Topics Covered

Roots and Early Career: Growing up in a prominent Fort Worth family, child acting in The Music Man and Oliver!, and studying acting at NYU under Olympia Dukakis.
The Chelsea Hotel Era (1978): Moving into the legendary hotel the same week as Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, accelerating a lifestyle of heavy drug use and rock-and-roll partying.
First Sobriety Attempt & Relapse: Getting sober in 1987 following legal pressure, putting together 13 years of continuous recovery, and landing roles on Broadway and Law & Order. Ned reflects on how skipping the deeper step work left him vulnerable to a sudden relapse on New Year's Eve 1999.
The Downward Spiral: Overdosing on cocaine, leaving New York to hide out in Texas, losing his life savings, and being arrested on a dirt road outside Austin for possession with intent to distribute.
Jail at Del Valle: Navigating time in jail, where the head of the local Texas Aryan Brotherhood gang recognized him from his role on the soap opera One Life to Live.
True Recovery in Hawaii: Entering treatment in Hawaii in 2007, embracing sponsorship and service work, and rebuilding his acting career with roles on Lost and film projects.
Creating Lost in Del Valle: Developing a raw, humorous one-man play directed by Amir Arrison (The Blacklist) recounting his wild history, rock-and-roll encounters, time in jail, and path to redemption.
Service as a Pillar of Sobriety: Working as managing director and partner at Transcend NYC, helping young men find direction and recovery.

Words of Wisdom for Anyone Struggling

Focus on the Single Frame: View life like a long roll of film. Instead of obsessing over the outcome or the end of the reel, focus exclusively on the single frame in front of you right now.
Move a Muscle, Change a Thought: Physical action shifts mental state. Go for a walk or change your environment to break negative thought patterns.
Get Out of Your Own Head: Engaging in service and helping others brings back the purpose and vitality that addiction strips away.

Mentioned in This Episode

Resources & Links for Ned:

Ned's Play Lost in Del Valley at the Soho Playhouse

Play Official Website: lostindelvalle.com

Sober Living Facility Transcend NYC (Upper West Side, Manhattan)

Podcast Websitetheaddictedmind.com

Supporting Resources: Duane Osterlind LMFT CSAT

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

NovusMindfulLife.com

Shame to Resilience

We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind

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Episode 392: Beyond the Trauma Anchor: How Neuroplasticity Rewires Pain and Anxiety with Dr. David Hanscom Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Addicted Mind, host Duane Osterlind speaks with orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom about his book, Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind. They explore the deep physiological connection between chronic pain, anxiety, and addiction, outlining how regulating the nervous system can lead to genuine, lasting healing.

Key Takeaways

The Problem with Chronic Surgery: A vast majority of spine surgeries for non-structural chronic pain fail because they treat a symptom rather than the root cause. Chronic physical pain is frequently driven by an oversensitized nervous system rather than structural spinal flaws.
Threat Physiology vs. Psychology: Anxiety and anger are physical, chemical reactions—a "fight-or-flight" survival mechanism—rather than purely psychological issues. Because the unconscious brain processes roughly 1 billion bits of information per second compared to the conscious brain’s 20–30 bits, you cannot simply talk or willpower your way out of deep physiological threat states.
The Bridge to Addiction: When the body remains trapped in sustained threat physiology, mental and physical pain become unbearable. Without tools to down-regulate the nervous system, individuals often turn to substances or compulsive behaviors as a last-ditch effort to soothe the body's alarm system.
Reframing Trauma Work: Continuously discussing and re-analyzing past trauma can sometimes act as a "trauma anchor," reinforcing pain circuits in the brain. Long-term recovery requires shifting focus toward present-moment awareness and neuroplasticity.

The 4-Part Framework for Healing

Thought Separation: Using expressive writing and mindfulness to separate your identity from repetitive, negative thought patterns.
Calming the Physiology: Directly toning down fight-or-flight chemistry by engaging the vagus nerve and creating a felt sense of physical safety.
Softening the Ego: Cultivating self-awareness to spot cognitive distortions without needing to defend a rigid identity.
Neuroplasticity: Constructing new brain pathways by intentionally practicing gratitude, engaging with community, and pursuing purpose.

Resources & Links

Book: Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind by Dr. David Hanscom
Website: Back in Control
Guided Healing Program: The DOC Journey

Supporting Resources:

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

NovusMindfulLife.com

We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind

Disclaimer

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 391: Using Shame as a Compass for Healing with Dr. Frank Spinelli Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, host Duane Osterlind welcomes physician, trauma-informed coach, and author Dr. Frank Spinelli for an honest conversation about trauma, addiction, and the root causes of shame. Dr. Spinelli shares his personal story—from surviving childhood abuse in the Boy Scouts and helping law enforcement bring his abuser to justice, to experiencing a profound breakdown during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together, Duane and Frank explore why addiction and shame stem from the same underlying wound, how to separate healthy guilt from toxic shame, and how reframing shame as a tool rather than a sentence can guide us back toward self-acceptance and alignment with our core values.

Key Topics Discussed

Trauma and the Hidden Roots of Addiction: How unaddressed childhood trauma often manifests as compulsive behaviors—whether involving alcohol, food, work, or sex.
Shame vs. Guilt: Why guilt focuses on behavior ("I did something bad") while shame attacks identity ("I am bad"), and how the inner voice of shame is often an installed narrative from past abuse or upbringing.
The Isolation Trigger: How the removal of external coping routines during the COVID-19 pandemic caused dormant trauma and shame to resurface for millions of people.
Shame as Information, Not Indictment: How leaning into shame—rather than running from or numbing it—can reveal where you are out of alignment with your core values.
Naming the "Unreliable Narrator": Why personifying and giving a distinct name to your inner critic helps separate your core self from intrusive, shame-based thoughts.

Key Frameworks & Tools

The 4 P’s of Emotional Regulation

A practical exercise to build "shame literacy" when triggered:

Pause: Stop before reacting or speaking.
Be Present: Bring awareness to the immediate moment and physical surroundings.
Ponder: Evaluate if your emotional response belongs to the present situation or an old memory.
Possibilities: Select an intentional, grounded adult response rather than an automatic reaction.

The 3 Bodies of Processing Shame

Somatic (Physical) Body: Noticing physical sensations (chest tightness, sweating, tension) in the nervous system without judgment.
Story Body: Recognizing the internal narrative, challenging the "unreliable narrator," and separating objective facts from emotional thoughts.
Relational Body: Understanding how shame builds isolation walls instead of healthy, protective boundaries in relationships.

Key Quotes

"What if shame is not something we need to move away from? What if we leaned into it and used it not as an indictment, but as information?" — Dr. Frank Spinelli

"Guilt is 'I did something bad.' Shame is 'I’m bad.' The voice telling you that you're bad is probably not your own voice—it was installed by someone else." — Dr. Frank Spinelli

"Addiction and shame are not separate problems. They're the same wound—they're just expressed differently." — Dr. Frank Spinelli

Guest Resources & Links

Book: The Shame Compass: A Radical Framework for Trauma Healing and Self-Acceptance by Dr. Frank Spinelli
Memoir: P-Shy by Dr. Frank Spinelli
Website: FrankSpinelli.com
Social Media: Follow Dr. Frank Spinelli on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for daily short-form content on overcoming shame.

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Episode 390: Healing in the Shadows: A Mother’s Journey Through Eating Disorders, Addiction, and Recovery with Janet Whitney Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

The more we learn about the addicted mind, the more we uncover the deep connections between trauma, mental health disorders, and addiction. Today, we’re taking this exploration personal, guided by the experiences of Janet Whitney—a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist, a mother, and a woman who has walked a challenging path alongside her daughter.

Meet Janet Whitney!

Janet Whitney is a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist, but her journey extends far beyond her professional title. As a devoted mother, she has stood by her daughter, Hannah, through an unimaginably difficult battle with anorexia and eating disorders—a fight that has spanned years and tested the limits of resilience, love, and perseverance.

No parent ever wants to watch their child endure a life-threatening illness, especially one as complex and elusive as an eating disorder. Yet, Janet’s unwavering support for Hannah has not only shaped their relationship but also transformed her professional approach to therapy and recovery.

From Theory to Personal Insight

Recovery from eating disorders and addiction share striking similarities—so much so that Janet has woven her own life experiences into her therapeutic practice. Today, we move beyond theory and dive into the raw, unfiltered reality of healing.

The insights Janet brings to the table are profound, born from years of navigating the highs and lows of her daughter’s recovery. Her story is a testament to the power of love, patience, and the courage to challenge conventional narratives around mental health.

Key Topics Explored

The Intersection of Eating Disorders and Addiction: How these struggles intertwine and what it means for recovery.
Hannah’s Story: A mother’s account of the struggles, setbacks, and small victories in her daughter’s battle with an eating disorder.
Changing the Narrative: Breaking down stigma and misconceptions surrounding eating disorders.
The Long Road to Recovery: Understanding the time, effort, and emotional toll required to overcome such a complex disease.
Trauma’s Role in Addiction: How past experiences shape the path to healing.
The Conscientious Dissenter Study: A deep dive into the physical and psychological effects of starvation on the body.
Self-Care for Caregivers: Navigating your own anxiety while creating a safe space for loved ones.
The Path to Hannah’s Recovery: The critical factors that played a role in her journey toward healing.
A Call to Parents: The importance of tough love in saving a child’s life—when and how to step in with strength and compassion.

Final Thought:

Janet’s story is a reminder that recovery is not linear, but with the right support, resilience, and love, healing is possible. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone touched by addiction, trauma, or the journey of supporting a loved one through their darkest days.

Resources:

https://www.janetwhitneymft.com/

Want to explore more? Let’s dive deeper into the science of addiction, the role of trauma, or share your own story. Reach out and join the conversation!

Supporting Resources:

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

NovusMindfulLife.com

We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind

Disclaimer

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 389: Bridging the Recovery Gap: How AI is Transforming Treatment Admissions with David Sichel Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, host Duane Osterlind sits down with David Sichel —entrepreneur, founder of Blue Shirt Media, and creator of Sober Transport. David shares his personal journey through addiction, multiple relapses, and long-term recovery, alongside how those experiences led him to innovate within the treatment ecosystem. The conversation explores how AI voice agents and text-based re-engagement tools can support overworked admission departments, capture lost leads, and ensure vulnerable individuals get immediate help during critical moments of sanity.

Key Discussion Highlights

1. David Sichel's Recovery Story

Early Sobriety & Relapse: David first got clean at age 16 and maintained 17 years of continuous sobriety before relapsing after convincing himself he could smoke marijuana. After getting clean a second time for five years, he experienced a similar relapse.
Achieving Long-Term Recovery: David entered treatment for a third time over 12.5 years ago (February 17). He emphasizes the importance of staying humble, attending meetings, and engaging in service work rather than relying on past accomplishments.
Navigating Mental & Physical Health: David discusses his gastric bypass surgery (losing 145 lbs), surviving a severe bout of depression at 10 years sober through medication and a strong support network, and recent heart surgery (pacemaker placement).
Giving Back: David hosts a long-standing home group celebrating 12 years and carries recovery meetings into local prisons weekly.

2. The Evolution of "Sober Transport"

Identifying the Need: While driving Uber in early recovery, David noticed high individuals taking rides to rehab facilities, sparking the idea for a safe, empathetic transit option.
Building the Business: David became a certified recovery specialist and interventionist, launching a personalized transport service accompanied by his dog to build rapport with clients. He safely escorted individuals across the country into care until operations paused during COVID-19.

3. Modernizing Treatment Admissions with AI Voice Solutions

The After-Hours Problem: Unanswered calls or automated voicemails at 2 AM leave vulnerable people without immediate support, often resulting in lost opportunities for care.
Empathetic AI Intake: David developed an AI intake assistant tailored specifically for treatment centers to answer calls 24/7.
Key Features & Workflows:
Fully transparent: Discloses to callers that it is an AI assistant.
Knowledge Base: Trained on specific treatment center websites and standard intake questions.
Live Transfers: Conducts immediate 24/7 transfers for qualified, urgent leads if requested by the facility.
CRM Integration: Captures intake data, creates CRM lead records, and sends immediate text follow-ups to the caller.
HIPAA Compliant: Fully adheres to healthcare privacy laws and signs Business Associate Agreements (BAAs).

4. Re-Engaging Inactive Leads via Automated Text Messaging

The "Inactive File" Problem: Facilities spend upwards of $200 per call through digital advertising, yet many leads go cold after 2–3 follow-up attempts.
Meeting People Where They Are: Most individuals under 50 prefer text messages over phone calls from unknown numbers.
Automated Text Campaigns: Using AI text automation, treatment centers reach out to inactive leads, alumni, or past inquiries with supportive check-ins ("Hey, just checking in to see how you're doing").
Performance: David's text re-engagement case studies demonstrate up to a 22% response rate, qualifying leads before handing them directly back to live admissions representatives via click-to-call.

Key Quotes

"When you're sitting in the dark and ready for help, a voicemail is dead. We need to meet people where they are, when they're at that moment of sanity."

— David Sichel

"If you have a chance to do any recovery service work... do it. We need you, because that's where our people are, and we have to meet them where they're at."

— David Sichel

Guest Advice for Anyone Struggling

If you or a loved one are in a dark place and struggling with addiction:

Reach out immediately. Call anyone—a priest, a treatment center, a helpline, or a friend in recovery.
There is no shame or judgment waiting for you; the recovery community wants to help you get well.

Connect & Resources

Website: BlueShirtMedia.com (Explore AI demos, case studies, and scheduling options)

Supporting Resources:

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

NovusMindfulLife.com

We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind

Disclaimer

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TAM+ EP 113 The 4 Essential Boundaries That Will Transform Your Recovery Journey Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

Download: The 4 Essential Boundaries Worksheet

Are you constantly saying "yes" to everyone else's needs while your recovery takes a backseat? In this eye-opening episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, host Duane Osterlind and Eric Osterlind dive deep into the four fundamental types of boundaries that can revolutionize your recovery journey. Many people struggle with feeling selfish about setting boundaries, but as this episode reveals, boundaries aren't just about saying "no" – they're about creating a protective space where your healing can flourish.

The hosts break down each type of boundary – physical, emotional, intellectual, and time – providing practical examples and real-world applications. They explore how these boundaries work together to create a strong foundation for long-term recovery success. Whether you're dealing with maintaining sobriety, protecting your personal space, or managing relationships, this episode offers clear, actionable insights for setting and maintaining healthy boundaries.

The discussion includes practical tips for implementing these boundaries in daily life, along with strategies for overcoming the guilt that often accompanies boundary-setting. The hosts also share how joining a supportive community can help strengthen your boundary-setting skills and enhance your recovery journey.

Key Topics

Understanding the difference between physical, emotional, intellectual, and time boundaries
Why setting boundaries isn't selfish and actually helps relationships flourish
How to protect your recovery space without feeling guilty
The importance of community support in maintaining boundaries
Practical steps for implementing boundaries in daily life

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Episode 388: The Power of "I Get To": Surviving a 130 MPH Crash and Finding Purpose with Christian Struthers Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

In this powerful episode of The Addictive Mind, host Duane Osterlind sits down with Christian Struthers to discuss his incredible journey from an ego-driven lifestyle of addiction to surviving a catastrophic, near-fatal car accident. Christian shares how a simple shift in perspective saved his mental health, how a German Shepherd named Millie helped him heal, and how he turned his trauma into a mission to give back.

Key Takeaways From This Episode

The Illusion of "Superman": From the outside, Christian had it all—athletic talent, college baseball scholarships, and a supportive family. However, a lack of consequences fueled a massive ego, leading him down a dark path of alcohol, party scenes, and using prescription pills (like Xanax and painkillers) to regulate his extreme lifestyle.
The Crash That Changed Everything: On August 3, 2016, Christian was the passenger in a vehicle traveling 130 mph that flipped end-over-end for a football field and a half. The driver tragically did not survive. Christian suffered catastrophic injuries, including a broken neck, two strokes, a punctured lung, and a shattered pelvis. He survived by a thread, stopping his internal bleeding on the very last available bag of his rare O-negative blood type.
The "I Get To" Mindset: Facing the reality of being bedridden and told he might never walk again, Christian fell into deep depression. A profound piece of wisdom from a hospital nurse flipped a switch for him: "Christian, you don't have to do this. You get to do this." This shift from obligation to gratitude changed the trajectory of his recovery.
Millie and the Genesis of Dog Dash 3K: Promised a dog by his parents if he survived the coma, Christian bonded with a German Shepherd named Millie. She became his ultimate motivation to heal. To honor her unconditional love, he started Dog Dash 3K, a community event that now donates 100% of its profits to animal shelters.
Recovery is a Work in Progress: Christian opens up about the painful loss of Millie to heart disease years later, which triggered a brief relapse into drinking. He shares a vulnerable, vital reminder that sobriety and healing are never linear, and that addiction is often a coping mechanism for underlying pain.

Memorable Quotes

"My ego—they called me Superman... it started with ego, went to bad choices with no consequences, and then it went to addiction." — Christian Struthers

"A nurse looked at me and she said, 'Christian, you don't have to do this. You get to do this.' That right there switched for me... That's what changed my life." — Christian Struthers

"Addiction isn't necessarily the problem... it's our answer to the problem. There's an underlying pain." — Christian Struthers

"You're one good decision away from completely changing your life. And you get to make that good decision today, right now." — Christian Struthers

Resources & Links Mentioned

Connect with Christian Struthers:

Websites: christianstruthers.com | dogdash3k.com
Social Media (Dog Dash 3K): Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Social Media (Personal/Vlog): Christian Struthers Real Life Rambles (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)

Supporting Resources:

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

NovusMindfulLife.com

We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind

Disclaimer

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TAM+ EP 112 Breaking Down Walls: The Healing Power of Self-Disclosure in Recovery Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

Download: Self-Disclosure in Recovery Worksheet

Ever feel like you're carrying a secret that's too heavy to share? In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind explore why sharing our authentic stories is crucial for lasting recovery. They dive into how keeping parts of ourselves hidden can actually deepen our isolation, while taking careful steps to share with trusted others can create profound healing. Drawing from the wisdom of pioneering psychotherapist Carl Rogers, they discuss how genuine connection and unconditional acceptance can transform recovery from a lonely journey into a shared path of growth. The hosts offer practical strategies for breaking down the walls of shame and secrecy, while emphasizing the importance of choosing safe people and spaces for self-disclosure. Whether you're in recovery or supporting someone who is, this episode provides valuable insights into building the authentic connections that make lasting change possible.

Key Topics:

Understanding the relationship between isolation and addiction
The role of unconditional positive regard in healing
How to identify safe people for self-disclosure
Practical steps for sharing your story
The importance of starting small with vulnerability
Using journaling to explore sharing readiness
Creating a self-disclosure plan

Timestamps

[00:01:04] Introduction to self-disclosure and authentic connection

[00:02:00] The impact of keeping secrets in recovery

[00:04:08] Carl Rogers' insights on understanding and acceptance

[00:08:35] Practical steps for building vulnerability

[00:11:55] Understanding your comfort level with sharing

[00:13:21] Journaling prompts for self-reflection

[00:14:30] The power of community in recovery

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Episode 387:Brain Rescue: Rewiring the Addictive Mind Through Neuroplasticity with Dr. Brody Miller Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Addictive Mind Podcast, host Duane Osterlind sits down with Dr. Brody Miller, a brain rehabilitation researcher and author of Brain Rescue. Dr. Brody shares his incredible journey from suffering a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and deep addiction to uncovering the life-changing power of Neuroplasticity.

They dive into the invisible link between brain trauma and substance abuse, how mindfulness physically rewires brain structures, and why massive life transformation actually starts with tiny, everyday "pinky moves."

Key Takeaways

The TBI & Addiction Connection: Research shows that individuals who experience brain injuries or trauma have a significantly higher propensity toward addictive behaviors. When the brain isn't functioning properly, it struggles to produce stable mood-regulating neurotransmitters (like dopamine and serotonin), leading individuals to self-medicate.
The Power of 56 Days: Dr. Brody highlights a Harvard study demonstrating that just 56 days of consistent meditation can physically alter the structure of the brain, lowering stress and improving concentration.
The Brain Only Cares About Repetition: The brain doesn’t differentiate between positive or negative habits; it simply reinforces whatever path you repeat. Whether it's taking pills or going for a walk, repetition builds neural superhighways.
Accountability Over Shame: Healing requires looking honestly at your current reality without letting shame keep you stuck. Swallowing the hard pill of accountability is the first step toward building a new identity.

Neuroplasticity in Practice: The Power of "Pinky Moves"

If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of changing your life, Dr. Brody emphasizes taking micro-steps rather than trying to climb the mountain in one day.

Interrupt the Default Mode Network: Humans have a natural negativity bias wired for survival. You can begin to interrupt these automatic negative thoughts simply by shifting your internal self-talk.
Combine Thought with Action: True neural change requires backing up your thoughts with behavior. Your brain will "call BS" on positive thinking if it isn't paired with action.
Start Small: Dr. Brody recommends James Clear’s Atomic Habits. Committing to a simple 10-minute walk or 5 minutes of breathing exercises daily creates an upward spiral of positive momentum.

Words of Wisdom

"Just because you feel this way today does not mean that you have to feel this way for the rest of your life. If you start to make small changes, I promise you—from someone who has lived exactly what you're going through—you can start today and make a big change over time." — Dr. Brody Miller

Resources & Links Mentioned

Books

Brain Rescue by Dr. Brody Miller
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza
The Biology of Belief by Dr. Bruce Lipton
The Answer by John Assaraf

Programs & Connect

Addiction Rescue Course: Addiction Rescue Team (A neuroscience-backed recovery program co-created with Sean David Cohen).
Website: Dr. Brody Miller Official Website
Instagram: @Dr.BrodyMiller

Supporting Resources:

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

NovusMindfulLife.com

We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind

Disclaimer

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.