The Zac Clark Show

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

@releaserecovery

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A Mother, A Daughter, and the Power of Recovery | Molly Bierman and Nancy Ashcroft May 20, 2025

Show notes

This week, Zac and Jay sit down with mother-daughter duo Nancy Ashcroft and Molly Bierman for one of the most raw and emotional episodes yet. Molly’s story of addiction began in high school and spiraled quickly—through daily cocaine use, multiple treatment centers, and years of chaos. But this isn’t just her story. It’s Nancy’s too.

Together, they open up about the pain of addiction, the shame and stigma families endure, and the complexity of a parent’s love. Nancy shares what it was like to get midnight phone calls from drug dealers, to feel helpless, and to finally draw a boundary that may have saved both their lives. Molly, now 16 years sober and a leader in the behavioral health field, reflects on the messy path to recovery and how her mother’s courage helped pave the way. Nancy's own journey led her to become a licensed therapist, now specializing in eating disorders, addiction, trauma, and family healing.

This is a story about generational pain, resilience, and the power of healing—told by two women who lived it.

If you’re a parent, a sibling, or someone navigating your own path in recovery, this conversation offers a wealth of experience and insight.

For more about Molly’s behavioral healthcare practice – YES Family Consulting – please click here: https://www.consultyes.com/

Connect with Zac

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

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Behind the Reality TV Curtain: Carl Radke on Sobriety, Redemption, and Showing Up May 13, 2025

Show notes

Carl Radke’s journey to recovery happened in front of millions. As a cast member on Bravo’s Summer House, his struggles with alcohol, cocaine, grief, and identity became national conversation. But behind the reality TV persona was a man battling real pain, quietly losing control.

In this powerful episode of The Zac Clark Show, Carl sits down with Zac and Jay for an unfiltered conversation about the long road to recovery — and the moment he knew he had to change. He opens up about losing his brother to addiction, the guilt he carried, the impact of growing up in a family marked by substance use, and the deep work it’s taken to forgive himself.

Carl also shares the story behind Soft Bar, his new non-alcoholic bar and café opening in Brooklyn — a project rooted in connection, purpose, and his vision for a more inclusive social space.

From running and recovery to public pressure and private healing, this conversation is about what it means to rebuild your life when everyone’s watching — and how to use your pain to help others find their way out.

Connect with Zac

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

@releaserecovery

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What a Renowned Cardiologist Has Learned About Health and Life After 40 Years | Dr. Sheldon Goldberg May 06, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode on wisdom, Zac and Jay sit down with Dr. Sheldon Goldberg — known affectionately as Dr. G — a pioneering interventional cardiologist whose medical career spans over five decades. Dr. Goldberg serves as Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of Cardiovascular Education and Research at Pennsylvania Hospital. With over 150 publications, 8,000 citations, and a central role in the groundbreaking STRESS trial that helped establish the use of coronary stents, Dr. Goldberg’s impact on the field is both deep and lasting.

Together, they explore not just the evolution of cardiology — from the earliest days of interventional procedures to today’s cutting-edge treatments — but also the deeper lessons he’s learned about healing, resilience, and what keeps the human heart beating in more ways than one.

The conversation moves from the hard truths about smoking, alcohol, and lifestyle choices to a candid critique of America’s broken medical system. Dr. Goldberg reflects on the emotional toll of medicine, the difficulty of balancing work and family, and why humility and human connection matter more than ever in an era increasingly dominated by AI and corporate healthcare.

Zac and Jay also dig into the personal: What does a man who’s saved thousands of lives regret? What keeps him motivated? And what would he tell the next generation of doctors who are stepping into a vastly different world?

This is a rich, revealing, and profoundly human conversation about medicine, mortality, and meaning.

Connect with Zac

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

@releaserecovery

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LONDON MARATHON RECAP: 70 Degree Heat, Traveling Sober, and AA Lives Everywhere May 02, 2025

Show notes

Zac and Jay unpack Zac’s grueling 70° London Marathon: the exhaustion, the jetlag, the missed PR — and the unexpected wins that had nothing to do with time. They talk sober travel, hitting AA meetings abroad, and how running connects to the bigger work of recovery and showing up for yourself.

There’s also a special appearance from Release’s Grace Adams, who traveled to London to capture it all. She shares what it was like standing sober on the same London streets where she once spiraled — and what it really means to face your past without running from it. Marathon #16 is in the books!

Connect with Zac

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

@releaserecovery

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Minisode: Jay Unfiltered — Sober Dad Life (and Popping Zyns in All the Wrong Places) Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

With Zac in London for the marathon, Jay takes the mic for a raw and reflective solo episode—joined off-camera by producer Sarah Prazmark—for a candid conversation about addiction, language, parenting, and the lingering pull of substances like nicotine.

Jay opens up about his 17 years of sobriety, the complicated feelings he still has around the word “addict,” and the stigma that continues to shape how we talk about recovery. From parenting with past addictions to the normalization of substances like weed, alcohol, and nicotine, this conversation touches on the deep, often uncomfortable questions about identity, control, and how we pass these narratives on to our kids.

Featuring reflections on past guests like Dr. Cara Poland and John Lieberman, this episode dives into the gray areas—honest, unfiltered, and full of insight.

Topics Include:

The power and politics of addiction language
Nicotine, Zyn, and the shame spiral of modern vices
Preventing early substance use in kids
Navigating recovery while parenting
How stigma still silences important conversations

Listen, share, and send us your questions—we’re planning more Q&A episodes soon.

Connect with Zac

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

@releaserecovery

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What Parents Get Wrong: Hard Truths from John Lieberman, Adolescent Recovery Expert Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

John Lieberman has spent the last 30 years helping teens and families navigate the most complex emotional terrain imaginable—addiction, anxiety, depression, and everything in between. As CEO of Visions Treatment Centers, John is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts in adolescent behavioral health. Visions is a unique program that not only offers extended care but also includes a sober high school for teens struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues.

He joins Zac and Jay to talk about what’s really going on with young people today—and what parents, clinicians, and communities can actually do to help.

From cell phone addiction and the mental health fallout of hyper-connected childhoods to the rise in adolescent gambling and cannabis use, John unpacks the root causes behind what he calls “a silent epidemic of loneliness and overwhelm.” He also shares what makes Visions different—from its pioneering academic model to its deep commitment to family involvement and individualized care.

Highlights include:

Why delaying substance use is one of the most powerful forms of prevention
How technology is rewiring kids’ brains—and parents’ too
The importance of unstructured time, real-world friendships, and learning to fall and get back up
Why many ADHD diagnoses may actually be unrecognized trauma or anxiety
How parents can show up differently (and why showing up matters more than being perfect)
When intervention is necessary—and when it becomes traumatic
How shame and stigma still block families from getting help, even when the stakes are life and death

This is more than a conversation about adolescent treatment—it’s about parenting, connection, and what it really means to see and support a young person in crisis. Whether you're a parent, provider, or someone who cares about the next generation, this one will stay with you.

To learn more about Visions Treatment Center: https://visionsteen.com/

Connect with Zac

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

@releaserecovery

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Dr. Cara Poland: A National Voice for Mothers, Compassion, and the Fight for Better Addiction Care Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

This week on The Zac Clark Show, we’re joined by Dr. Cara Poland—an addiction medicine physician, educator, and national policy leader who’s been on the front lines of treating substance use disorder with science, compassion, and urgency. Dr. Poland works across every level of the system: running a clinic that supports pregnant and parenting people, training the next generation of doctors, and advising lawmakers on how to use opioid settlement funds to actually save lives.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover:

Why the language we use—addict vs. person with substance use disorder—can change how someone is treated, even by doctors
The role of medication in stabilizing the brain so recovery can begin
What actually works when supporting pregnant women with substance use disorder
The staggering lack of addiction training in medical schools—and how that’s changing
How stigma shows up everywhere—from hospitals to insurance companies to families—and what we can do about it
The story of Dr. Poland’s brother, whose death fuels her work every day

Whether you're in recovery, love someone who is, or just want to understand how we can do better as a society, this episode is for you. It’s about meeting people where they are, staying alive long enough to heal, and building a future where addiction is treated like the medical condition it is.

Connect with Zac

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

@releaserecovery

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Self-Help Doesn’t Work (But This Does): The Alexis Haines Recovery Story Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

Alexis Haines joins The Zac Clark Show for a conversation about transformation, service, and what long-term recovery really looks like. At just 18, Alexis became a public figure through her involvement in what the media dubbed The Bling Ring—a moment that could have defined her life. Instead, it became the catalyst for change.

Now, with 14 years of sobriety, Alexis works in the behavioral healthcare field, helping individuals and families navigate the complex realities of addiction and mental health. In this episode, we talk about trauma, healing, internal family systems therapy, the importance of service work, and the nuances of recovery in a world that often looks for easy fixes.

This is an honest and layered conversation with someone who truly walks the walk.

Connect with Zac

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

@releaserecovery

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Drew Robinson: Former MLB Player's 20 Hours Between Life and Death—and the Mission That Came After Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

In this raw and deeply human conversation, Zac and Jay sit down with former MLB player and mental health advocate Drew Robinson—someone whose story is almost too unbelievable to be true. In 2020, Drew survived a suicide attempt that should have ended his life. Instead, it marked the beginning of a new one.

Drew walks us through the silent buildup to that night: the injury that ended his season, the breakup that broke his heart, the isolation of the pandemic—and how all of it slowly pushed him toward the edge. He speaks with powerful clarity about what it’s like to wear a smile in public while fighting a war inside your head, and what happens when you no longer want to fight.

But this episode is not about tragedy. It’s about survival. It's about the quiet power of choosing to stay, the radical act of asking for help, and the ongoing work of healing.

We talk about therapy, journaling, inner child work, and the myth of “being enough.” We explore what it means to be a man in a culture that doesn't let men feel. And we confront the stigma around suicide head-on.

Drew’s story is heartbreaking, courageous, and ultimately, life-affirming. If you or someone you love is struggling, this conversation might be the lifeline you didn’t know you needed.

As Drew says, “People would rather hear from you than about you.”

Connect with Zac

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564