The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

Latest Episodes:

115: Ask the Expert: Dr. Nicole Labor - Is Addiction a Disease? Hear the Answer Plus More From an Addiction Specialist Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

Dr. Nicole Labor is an addiction specialist who attended and graduated medical school in Erie Pennsylvania at the Lake Erie College of osteopathic medicine. Following graduation and residency she completed a fellowship in addiction medicine through Geisinger in northeastern Pennsylvania.

She currently serves as the medical director at OneEighty, a treatment center that offers inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency and behavioral health services in Wooster, OH. She’s also the director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship for Summa, the Medical Director for Interval Brotherhood Home, and the Medical Director of Esper Treatment Center in Erie, PA.

Dr. Labor spends time educating healthcare professionals, churches, schools and community members on the disease of addiction and works to remove the stigma surrounding addiction.

In 2019, she published a best-selling book titled The Addictoholic Deconstructed: An irreverently quick and dirty education by a doctor who says f*ck a lot.

Connect with Dr. Nicole Labor

Book | The Addictoholic Deconstructed: An irreverently quick and dirty education by a doctor who says f*ck a lot
One-Eighty Website | https://www.one-eighty.org/
Email | theaddictsdoc@gmail.com
Instagram | @theaddictsdoc

Connect with The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast
Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast
Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast
Podcast Email | podcast@lionrock.life

Lionrock Resources

Coffee & Coffee Alternatives | lionrock.life/shop-products
Support Group Meeting Schedule | lionrock.life/meetings

114: Archie Messersmith-Bunting: The Southern Baptist Who Could Not Drink, Drug, or Pray the Gay & Mental Illness Away Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

Archie Messersmith-Bunting is known as 'The Feelings Guy.’ He is a mental wellness professional speaker who helps people discover how leading with their feelings can improve their quality of life and save the lives of those they come in contact with.

Archie’s passion stems from his personal life experience. He was adopted at a young age and grew up in a religious setting where ‘pray the gay away’ was the cultural norm. In fact, he spent much of his high school and college careers trying to de-gay himself. Eventually addiction and clinical depression led him to a place where he believed suicide was his only answer.

After battling back from the jaws of addiction and embracing his gay, Archie now uses his voice to remind others that we are all more than "just” the wreckage of our past. He teaches that individual moments and decisions in our life do not define us, but they can help design us.

Episode Resources

The Atlantic | The Pandemic Did Not Affect Mental Health the Way You Think

Connect with Archie

Archie's Website | www.archiecares.com
New Podcast |What a Feeling
Instagram | @archie_cares

Connect The Courage to Change

Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast
Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast
Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast
Podcast Email | podcast@lionrock.life

Lionrock Resources

Coffee & Coffee Alternatives | lionrock.life/shop-products
Support Group Meeting Schedule | lionrock.life/meetings

113: Joshua Shea: Let’s Talk About Porn Addiction - Pornography Addiction Expert & Author Sheds Light on Recovering From a 24-Year Porn Addiction Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Joshua Shea is a pornography addiction expert, certified betrayal trauma coach, and the author of three books about pornography addiction, including He’s a Porn Addict…Now What? An Expert and Former Addict Answer Your Questions.

Since 2018, Joshua has given more interviews about pornography addiction and betrayal trauma than anybody in the world. During his interviews he does not portray an anti-porn message but rather promotes the ideas that porn addiction spans all demographics and those with a problem should seek help before it’s too late. After speaking openly about pornography addiction, he began receiving messages from wives, girlfriends, and mothers of addicts. As a result, he now speaks about the issue of working through betrayal trauma, especially with the partners of addicts and those who are facing infidelity.

Today, Josh is not only recovering from a 24-year pornography addiction; he’s also been sober since 2014. When he’s not speaking, coaching, or helping others, you’ll find Joshua in Central Maine with his wife and two children.

Episode Resources

Dr. Doug Weiss | www.drdougweiss.com
Men Against Porn | menagainstporn.org
Going Deeper: How the Inner Child Impacts Your Sexual Addiction | Amazon

Connect with Joshua Shea

Website | paddictrecovery.com
Instagram | @paddictrecovery
Twitter | @paddictrecovery
Email | paddictrecovery@gmail.com

Connect with The Courage to Change

Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast
Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast
Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast
Podcast Email | podcast@lionrock.life

Lionrock Resources

Coffee & Coffee Alternatives | lionrock.life/shop-products
Support Group Meeting Schedule | lionrock.life/meetings

112: Rachel Quast: Surviving Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating and Finding a Relationship with God after Breaking Free from 39 Years of Spiritual Trauma Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

Rachel Quast is a Master's level counselor, author, national speaker, and counseling group leader. Surviving anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and spiritual and family trauma paved the path for her career in counseling. Rachel specializes in eating disorders, emotional eating, relationship struggles, issues with faith and spirituality, and depression and anxiety.

Because of her life experience, she has a heart to help others through their healing journey. She is the founder of SHED (Self-Healing through EDucation) where she offers individual counseling, health coaching, and group counseling.

Connect with Rachel Quast

Website | 9shed.com
Instagram | @ed_therapist_coach
Facebook Page | @9shed

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast
Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast
Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast
Podcast Email | podcast@lionrock.life

Lionrock Resources

Coffee & Coffee Alternatives | lionrock.life/shop-products
Support Group Meeting Schedule | lionrock.life/meetings

Episode Short Featuring Mike McAllister from Season 2 Episode 39 Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

The Episode Short is back for our brief mid-summer break! In this bite sized episode format, you’ll hear audio clips from one of our favorite episodes.

This week you'll hear short clips from Mike McAllister's story which was originally shared in Season 2 Episode 39. You'll hear Mike discuss feeling like his skin was too tight as a child. He'll share a crazy story of how is dad got him out of a place for troubled youth, and you'll hear how Mike finally reached a place where he could be honest with himself and honest with others at the beginning of his recovery journey.

Additional Information & Resources

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast
Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast
Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast
Podcast Email | podcast@lionrock.life

Listen & Subscribe

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Stitcher | iHeart | TuneIn | Overcast | SoundCloud

Episode Short Featuring Jodie Sweetin from Season 2 Episode 57 Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

The Episode Short is back for our brief mid-summer break! In this bite sized episode format, you’ll hear audio clips from one of our favorite episodes.

This week, we’re sharing clips from Jodie Sweetin who melted our hearts and made us laugh for eight years as cherub-faced, goody-two-shoes middle child Stephanie Tanner. In this episode short, we share clips covering everything from her childhood anxiety, to self-sabotage, to adoption, to what her sobriety journey has entailed thus far.

Additional Information & Resources

Episode Resources

S2 E57 | Jodie Sweetin: Her Public Road to Recovery, Motherhood, and Growing from Full House to a Full Life
Online Recovery Meetings | lionrock.life/meetings
Podcast Guest Application | lionrock.life/podcastcontact

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast
Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast
Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast
Podcast Email | podcast@lionrock.life

Listen & Subscribe

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora
Stitcher | iHeart | TuneIn | Overcast | SoundCloud

Episode Short Featuring Ashley Loeb Blassingame from Season 1 Episode 1 Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

The Episode Short is back for our brief mid-summer break! In this bite sized episode format, you’ll hear audio clips from one of our favorite episodes.

This week, we’re going all the way back to the beginning by featuring our very own Ashley Loeb Blassingame. You’ll hear three clips from Season 1 Episode 1 including why Ashley calls cocaine the drug of more, how a meth induced hallucination turned into a beautiful story of restoring relationships after finding recovery, and how Ashley realized there was fun in recovery after going to her first Southern California AA meeting.

Episode Resources

S1 E1 | Get to Know Your Host, Ashley Loeb Blassingame
Online Recovery Meetings | lionrock.life/meetings
Podcast Guest Application | lionrock.life/podcastcontact

Connect with Ashley Loeb Blassingame

Ashley's Instagram | @ashleyloebblassingame

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast
Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast
Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast
Podcast Email | podcast@lionrock.life

111: ATE: Reviewing E106 Don Cummins, E107 Lyon Herron, E109 Titus Gardner, & E110 Alison Haase Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

Producer Christiana Kimmich is back for this After the Episode. CK and Ashley Jo review clips from the stories of Don Cummins, Lyon Herron, Titus Gardner, and Alison Haase.

E106 | Don Cummins

Don Cummins is a bank robber turned bank software developer. At a young age, he witnessed the tragic suicide of a family friend. Throughout this ATE, CK and AJB review the story Don shared and discuss ways to navigate difficult conversations - especially as parents.

E107 | Lyon Herron

Lyon Herron is a fifth generation Angelino who was born with Gardner Syndrome. CK and ABJ review a clip where Lyon talks about using pain meds to cope with pain. They also provide listeners with a medical update to share how Lyon is doing today.

E109 | Titus Gardner

As Titus Gardner entered a life of recovery, he began discovering different areas of his life that needed healing. You'll hear a clip where Titus talks about discovering an area that needed healing that he was not at all aware of. CK and AJB discuss the beauty of recovery as you walk through each different layer.

E110 | Alison Haase

Alison Haase is an author who discusses the pitfalls of her addiction to drugs, alcohol, work, food, and people. In the After the Episode, you'll hear a clip where Alison discusses the first time she met a sexy, savvy, female alcoholic.

Episodes Reviewed

S3 E106 | Don Cummins: Decades-Long Incarcerated Bank Robber Gets Out, Gets Sober, and Turns It All Around
S3 E107 | Lyon Herron: A Lifelong Battle with a Rare Disease & the Positive Mindset that Has Captured the Hearts & Minds of a Community
S3 E109 | Titus Gardner: From Drug Dealer to Corporate Vice President, Recovering Out Loud
S3 E110 | Alison Haase: Author of ‘The Addict in Aisle 7’ Discusses the Pitfalls of Her Addiction to Drugs, Alcohol, Work, Food, & People Pleasing

Other Episodes Mentioned

S3 E108 | Ask the Expert: Dr. Louise Stanger - 2019 Interventionist of the Year Discusses Helping Families Navigate Challenges in Recovery
S2 E35 | Kendra Allen Bares It All: The 'Break Up Bestie' Shares Her Alcoholism Journey That Led to Her Passion to Help People Through Break Ups

Episode Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 800-273-8255
Mom TV Show | cbs.com/shows/mom
Lyon's Medical Update | Instagram
Lionrock Coffee & Coffee Alternatives|lionrock.life/shop-products
Lionrock's Meeting Schedule | lionrock.life/meetings
Apply to Be a Guest | lionrock.life/podcastcontact

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast
Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast
Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast
Podcast Email | podcast@lionrock.life

Listen and Subscribe to The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

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110: Alison Haase: Author of ‘The Addict in Aisle 7’ Discusses the Pitfalls of Her Addiction to Drugs, Alcohol, Work, Food, & People Pleasing Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Alison is an author, athlete, and recovery advocate. Her success comes from rising above the ashes and pitfalls of addictions which included drugs, alcohol, work, food, and people pleasing. This inspired her to take hold of her own journey and quit using external validation to fill her deep wounded soul. Using fitness, 12 steps, community, hard work, and accountability as her catalysts for change, she has since maintained nearly two decades of sobriety. Alison wrote her first book, ‘The Addict in Aisle 7’, to shine a light on the stigma that is both addiction and recovery, and to help women quit shaming themselves and step into their fullest potential.

Connect with Alison Haase

The Addict in Aisle 7 | Available on Amazon
Alison's Blog | iseektruths.com
Alison's Instagram | @alisonehaase

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast
Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast
Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast
Podcast Email | podcast@lionrock.life

Lionrock Resources

Coffee & Coffee Alternatives | lionrock.life/shop-products
Support Group Meeting Schedule | lionrock.life/meetings

Listen and Subscribe to The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora
Stitcher | iHeart | TuneIn | Overcast | SoundCloud

109: Titus Gardner: From Drug Dealer to Corporate Vice President, Recovering Out Loud Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

Titus Gardner was born in Portchester, NY and raised by a man who he later found out was not his biological father. This news devastated Titus and he found himself in the throes of an identity crisis. Later in life, when he was a teenager, both of his parents were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, a disease that ultimately ended both of their lives.

Following the death of his parents, Titus found himself on the streets as a high level drug dealer who 'always had a place to stay.' Alcohol became his outlet to cope with the stress life threw his way. It wasn’t until March 31, 2020 that Titus began a journey of self-healing and recovery. He has since started an Instagram account to encourage and help others to find strength and share their stories.

Titus currently serves as the Vice President for a Fortune 1000 company overseeing the Arizona market. When he’s not working or connecting with others in recovery, Titus enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

Connect with Titus Gardner