Laurie Dhue appeared to have it all — a successful career as a broadcast journalist, a beautiful apartment over Central Park, a great family, and lots of friends. But she had what she thought of as a “naughty and thrilling” secret — a cocaine addiction. 

Join us as she shares with Gabe her motivation for getting clean, how she did it, and what she is up to now.

To learn more -- or read the transcript - -please visit the official episode page.

Guest Bio

Laurie Dhue is Chief Brand Officer at Recovery Education and Applied Learning (REAL).

One of the nation’s leading recovery advocates, Laurie is in long-term recovery from alcohol misuse and drug addiction. She has worked closely with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) and the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD). Laurie has spoken on behalf of many national recovery organizations including the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the Caron Foundation.  

Laurie has had the distinct honor of speaking at the White House in 2014 and 2017 on behalf of ONDCP. She was also a featured speaker at the inaugural UNITE to Face Addiction national rally in Washington, DC in 2015. Laurie appeared in the award-winning 2013 documentary “The Anonymous People” and the Emmy-nominated 2017 documentary “Reversing the Stigma,” produced in conjunction with OASAS (New York State’s Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse).

Prior to her work in the recovery field, Dhue enjoyed a distinguished career as an award-winning national news anchor who hosted shows on all three major cable news networks: CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel. Her 25 years in news has included interviews with numerous world leaders, politicians, entertainers, and prominent newsmakers as well as extensive reporting from the Middle East during the War on Terror.

Dhue joined forces with REAL to give addiction a face and voice, helping crush the stigma surrounding the disease, further proving that long-term recovery is possible. She travels coast to coast giving speeches, emceeing events, and moderating panel discussions, as well as offering commentary in national media.

Inside Mental Health Podcast Host

Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.

To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

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