In this episode replay, Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley are joined by Cass and Paulus from Inner Alchemy to talk about their experiences through partying as 19-year-olds, the moment they realized they had to change their lifestyle, and buying a motorcycle and moving to Mexico to travel and gain a better understanding of how to manage their addictions.

Then we talk about the idea of being human and how understanding that you don't have to be perfect all the time helped Cass overcome a lot of internal struggles that she was dealing with.

Paulus also opens up about what it took for him to overcome his alcohol abuse, his introduction to meditation, and why he decided to begin working on being mindful and practicing breathwork.

Lastly, Cass and Paulus share their work with breathwork and how it can help create clarity within ourselves.

You can find Cass and Paulus on Facebook at Inner Alchemy Living and online at http://www.inneralchemyliving.com/home.

Jesse Carlin joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to open up about his first time smoking weed in middle school, being scared off of marijuana after having a horrifying experience, and how the pressure to fit in led Jesse to smoke meth at sixteen years old.

Jesse also talks about chasing the feeling that he first felt when he tried meth for the first time, chasing a high just to feel normal after becoming dependent on heavy drugs, and how his drug use impacted his relationship with his family.

Then Jesse shares what his rock bottom looked like while running and gunning, the moment he knew he needed to reach out for help to try and get sober, and how he envisions his life moving forward now that he’s living in recovery.

Related Links:

7th Street Treatment: https://7treatment.org/

USARA: https://www.myusara.com/

Russ Sweeten joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about his experience with feeling social anxiety at a young age, trying alcohol for the first time with an older cousin at fourteen years old, and realizing that alcohol was going to be a problem for him after being unable to control his drinking as a teenager.

Russ also talks about navigating his early twenties while trying to cope with alcohol addiction, realizing that he had a problem with alcohol but avoiding rehab, and the heartbreaking moment that led him to seek treatment.

Then we dive into Russ’ six-month stay at Action Recovery, some of the most important lessons he learned throughout his time there, and what his weight loss journey has looked like ever since finding recovery.

Related Links:

Action Recovery: https://www.actiontreatment.com/

Lyndi Murray joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to share her addiction story that began at sixteen years old when she began to experiment with drugs and alcohol while living in a small town, being introduced to heroin after struggling to find pills as she got older, and her first experience with trying to seek treatment for her addiction.

Lyndi also opens up about her struggles with trying to stay sober and clean of heroin, what her life looked like while she was running and gunning, and deciding to die on the streets, be addicted to heroin, or get sober.

Then Lyndi talks about what her life looks like now and why she has turned to marijuana as a stabilizing agent that helps keep her grounded throughout her recovery.

Jared Casey (Clinical Director for Reprieve Recovery) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about the inspiration behind his decision to pursue social work after becoming depressed about where he was in life.

Then Jared talks about how I Am Recovery introduced him to a new world of helping others after hitting rock bottom as well as how he’s using what he’s learned as a Clinical Director to build Reprieve Recovery, a new recovery center in Morgan, Utah.

Lastly, we talk about some of the misconceptions surrounding recovery centers, what an average day in a recovery center looks like including meditation, exercise, and group sessions, and the importance of finding the right recovery center that fits the person accurately.

Related Links:

Reprieve Recovery: https://reprieverc.com/

Rob Eastman joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley again to talk about Rob's background with substance abuse and depression that stemmed from bullying, his new book, Warrior in the Garden, and what drove him to finally begin writing a book.

Rob also shares how he and his wife, Heidi, met, and the beautiful life they've built together. 

Related Links:

Rob Eastman: linktr.ee/tattooedlifecoach

Haylee Hoefgen (Communications Coordinator at Fit To Recover) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to share some of her experiences growing up in a small town in Kansas and how it led to her being introduced to drugs and alcohol through friends as a form of entertainment.

Haylee also talks about the events that led her to develop an eating disorder in her early years in college, struggling to do basic tasks such as getting out of bed, and how her drug abuse began to escalate further as her mental health began to deteriorate.

We also talk about how losing a close friend to an opioid overdose convinced Haylee to address her mental health struggles, her decision to move to Utah to be closer to like-minded people, and being blown away by Fit To Recover's welcoming atmosphere.

Related Links:

Fit To Recover: https://fit2recover.org/

Casey Scott and Dr. Matt are joined by Michael Birkeland (actor and producer, known for Phobic [2020], The Singles Ward [2002], and Everything You Want [2005]) to talk about his experience working in the film industry and his work with LDS comedies. We also dive into his experience with using cocaine to stay focused in the 90s and how abusing drugs caused him to spiral into addiction.

Then we talk about how early childhood trauma caused Michael to repress those memories that shaped his perception of women, trying to detox from his addiction in a hotel by himself, and how the entire experience changed his life.

Lastly, Michael recalls how he met his wife at a gas station on his road to recovery and how it helped him during his sobriety.

To learn more about Michael Birkeland, you can visit his website here:
http://www.themichaelb.com/

Matt Borget (Marketing Director at Wasatch Crest Treatment) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about growing up in a very happy, family-oriented family in Utah County, how he began to feel pressure to participate in church activities, and how it led to him feeling out of place.

Matt shares how these feelings led him to find Utah countercultures that introduced him to the world of hardcore music, alcohol, and drugs throughout his teenage years.

He also talks about flourishing financially after he started selling marijuana, becoming addicted to opioids after learning he could afford whatever he wanted, and landing in Utah Prison after he was raided by Utah County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Task Force.

We also talk about how Matt's addiction would ultimately escalate to the point of him habitually using heroin to fuel his habits, his combative mindset when heading into treatment, and being given the gift of a second chance at life after committing to recovery.

Related Links:

Wasatch Crest Treatment: https://wasatchcresttreatment.com/

Michelle Church joins Casey Scott to talk about, 'A Light To Remember', an event that honors those lost to substance abuse that also raises awareness about the dangers of opioids. In addition, the event also creates a meaningful experience for those in treatment. Michelle also shares how her brother's addiction to heroin impacted her throughout the years that he struggled with substance abuse and why she believes that losing her brother is her greatest failure.

Then we talk about the idea of harm reduction when looking at recovery from addiction, why addiction and substance abuse require long-term care to be effective, and the importance of setting accurate expectations for someone's recovery.

To participate in A Light To Remember, which takes place on August 31st, you can visit http://www.alighttoremember.life/ to find a location near you.

Related Links:

A Light To Remember: http://www.alighttoremember.life/