SMART Recovery® Podcast

Maureen O'Conner is going through every parent's nightmare--the loss of a child. Her son Cody died after an opioid overdose and her world was shattered. After a time, she decided to write a book about her experience and filled it with prose, poetry, journal entries and stories. The book, titled Shadows of Me, is an honest exploration of what it took her to come back from such trauma and regain hope. It also includes pictures of shadows, which became a powerful metaphor in her search for meaning in the middle of this new, painful reality.

In this podcast espisode Maureen talks about Cody's journey alongside her own, and reads a moving passage about "hoodie girl" from her book, which marked a shift in her perspective. She also talks about the value of SMART Recovery's Family and Friends program, where she found community when she most needed it.

WARNING: this episode deals with traumatic events that may be difficult for some listeners.

Shadows of Me book

Crisis Line--988

Public policy work can sometimes be seen as too theoretical and detached from the real world of concerns about things like addictive behaviors and the consequences. In this conversation with Amber Lashbaugh we find out that practical application of public policy work amounts to more than just ideas. It can result in making resources more accessible and people able to work toward greater health of mind, body, and spirit.

Amber is co-president of the college based initiative Hoyas for Recovery, a SMART facilitator, community outreach worker, and is pursuing her master's degree in addiction policy and practice at Georgetown University. She combines lived experience with policy application with great success.

In this podcast we talk about her interest in political science, her personal recovery journey, working in the addiction field, and her involvement with SMART. We also touch on the concept of "decriminalizing survival," a more nuanced way of looking at how society treats woment who have substance use disorders.

Helpful links: Hoyas for Recovery

Amber's article in Ms. Magazine

Amber Lashbaugh LinkedIn

Dr. Amy Krentzman is an Associate Professor and Director of Research at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work. Her research interests include alcohol and other substance use disorders, positive psychology, spirituality, and journaling to support addiction recovery. Dr. Krentzman coauthored an article that was recently published in the Journal of Positive Psychology titled, Happiness with recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders predicts abstinence and treatment retention.

In this podcast Dr. Krentzman talks about her interest in the field of recovery, the results of her study of happiness, and the concept of "North of Neutral," which is a core principle in Positive psychology. This principle means that just trying to fix problems is not enough of a goal, instead it suggests that a person's well-being can extend into a state characterized by flourishing, pursuing passions, and finding a sense of meaning in life.

Helpful links:

Summary of Happiness With recovery research study

Positive Recovery Journaling

Dr. Amy Krentzman video on gratitude in recovery

As theory and practice evolve in both the addiction recovery and mental health fields there is a growing recognition of the intersection between treatment in both areas. One organization that has recognized this for quite some time is A Positive Alternative in Seattle. They are all about empowerment and choice for their clients and definitely subscribe to the view that recovery is not one size fits all.

In this episode we talk with their clinical director Kaitlyn Braile. She is a licensed mental health and substance use disorder counselor who received her training at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, developing a psychodynamic perspective that also incorporates her experience in community mental health settings. One fascination of Kaitlyn's is the area of motivation--how people both gain and lose it in the flow of making life changes.

Markita Renee is a dynamic recovery advocate, coach, sought after speaker, and SMART facilitator. She runs the national BIPOC meeting that has positively impacted so many. In this podcast, Markita talks about her personal recovery journey, the happy accident of finding SMART, her quest for knowledge, and the fact that her life is so full she has no time for negative pursuits.

Great question! In a nutshell, Volunteer Support Coordinators (VSCs) are experienced SMART Recovery volunteers dedicated to mentoring and supporting meeting facilitators. VSCs foster a welcoming and accessible environment for local volunteers to build connections and thrive.

On this podcast we are joined by three VSCs, each representing a different state: Kenzie Smith (North Carolina), Tammy Ginader (Florida), and Chris Gatewood (Virginia). Each of them shares their discovery of SMART, what lit their fire about it, and why they decided to give back by taking on the role of a Volunteer Support Coordinator.

Helpful links:

More information about VSCs

Nationwide Roster of VSCs

Wheeler is a nonprofit agency that provides comprehensive human services across the state of Connecticut. Their vision is, "All people will have the opportunity to grow, change, and live healthier, productive lives." In this podcast we have a conversation with two representatives of Wheeler initiatives: Heather Clinger, a Program Manager at the Connecticut Center for Prevention, Wellness, and Recovery and Laura Zeppieri, Project Coordinator for Youth Recovery Connecticut.

Both Heather and Laura share their passion for providing effective strategies for breaking into cycles of addictive behaviors and offering resources for individuals who might be coming from many different perspectives and backgrounds. They affirm SMART Recovery as an effective pathway to recovery, but offer a wide array of support tailored to individual needs.

When college student April Lombard first considered checking out a SMART Recovery meeting on her LSU campus, she worried that it would be both cringey and lame. Turns out it was neither. In fact, based on the value April found in the science-based approach, she decided to take the facilitator training and get even more involved.

In this podcast April shares some of her personal recovery journey, her perspective as a young person in recovery, and why having multiple pathways available to students just makes sense.

Sarah Laurel is the Founder and Executive Director of Savage Sisters Recovery, a nonprofit outreach and education organization focused on reducing the harm created by addictive behaviors. Sarah uses her lived experience to advance the organization's commitment to providing trauma-informed resources in a judgement-free way.

In this podcast Sarah shares her personal recovery journey and the "happy accidents" along the way that led to the work that she does today. Her hopeful message is filled with practical concern for how things are right now, along with encouragement for all of us to live in a ferocious and loving manner toward ourselves and the world we inhabit.

There is a well documented connection between problematic substance use and mental health conditions. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we asked SMART facilitator Kelly Scullin to join us in a conversation about mental health and recovery. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and has deep experience in the human resources field.

Kelly brings a unique perspective to her work based on her personal journey with substance use, her status as a "self-proclaimed recovering type A," and the coaching skills involved with facilitating group meetings and helping people make the best decisions for themselves. As a person who stays curious and explores the world around her, Kelly is a positive force in the continued growth and development of SMART.

Further resources:

SAMHSA Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health and substance Use Co-Occuring Disorders

National Alliance on Mental Illness