Today’s conversation is with Carrie Wilkens, Ph.D., who is co-founder and clinical director of CMC, The Center for Motivation and Change in New York City. Dr. Wilkens is a dedicated practitioner and researcher of the most effective treatments for substance use problems and compulsive behaviors. Her expertise is regularly sought by the CBS Early Show; Fox News; Newsweek; O, The Oprah Magazine; and Psychology Today.

Together with Jeffrey Foote, Ph.D. and Nicole Kosanke, Ph.D., Dr. Wilkens is the co-author of Beyond Addiction – How Science and Kindness Can Help People Change. She has collaborated with Dr. Foote in a number of clinical and research settings. Her most recent work as Project Director for The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) was on a federal grant examining the effectiveness of motivational interventions for college binge drinking. In her work on the project, Dr. Wilkens gained extensive experience working with young adults and is well-versed in the developmental and environmentally specific factors that need to be addressed with this population. Previously, Dr. Wilkens was the Clinical Coordinator for Evaluation Services at the Smithers Addiction Treatment and Research Center in NYC. Dr. Wilkens specializes in motivational treatments and group psychotherapy, and has worked with traumatized populations in both individual and group modalities.

Join us as Dr. Wilkens discusses her team’s, “revolution in addiction treatment based on evidence and a new model for change.” For more information go to MotivationAndChange.com.

Today’s episode # 30 is a conversation with health and wellness expert Mark Sisson. Mark is the bestselling author of The Primal Blueprint and one of the leading voices of the burgeoning Evolutionary Health Movement. His highest ranked blog, MarksDailyApple.com, with millions of visitors each month, has paved the way for robust health enthusiasts to challenge conventional wisdom’s diet and exercise principles and take personal responsibility for their health and well-being. He operates Primal Blueprint Publishing in Malibu, CA, publishing his own titles as well as work from other authors promoting ancestral health principles. Mark lays it out there clearly and scientifically: It’s up to us to take responsibility for our own health and wellbeing–a message the addiction recovery community will appreciate. He has graciously agreed to join us today to talk about how his work is just what the addiction recovery community needs: Right Now.

Today’s conversation is about the journey of family recovery with father, son, blogger and exemplary recovery advocate, Dean Dauphinais. Dean’s blog, “My Life As 3D, (Dean’s initials are DDD…) – 3D-mensional musings from the father of an addict”, was just named as one of the top 55 Recovery Blogs for 2014. Dean’s transparency comes through as he describes what he’s about, “Me? As the father of a recovering son, I try to do the best I can under the circumstances, living in the moment and working on my own recovery one day at a time–sometimes one hour at a time. This blog helps. I hope it might help you, too.” Listen in as Dean humbly and seriously takes the suggestion of one of his respected addiction recovery counselors by, “being the change he wanted to see in his son.” Dean is ready and is doing what it takes, while working toward breaking the stigma associated with addiction as he generously shares with us one Dad’s experience of family recovery. Go to Dean’s blog here: MyLifeAs3D.blogspot.com.

Today’s episode # 28 is a conversation with Dr. John Kelly, the founder and Director of Recovery Research Institute in association with Harvard Medical School and its affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. His mission is, “To push the agenda for addiction recovery forward by conducting high quality, recovery relevant research and implementing results for the benefit of our communities and broader society.” My kinna guy…Dr. Kelly is, as you’ll learn, a man dedicated to integrating cutting edge research with programs that really make a difference. To learn more about the Recovery Research Institute and Dr. Kelly, go to: RecoveryAnswers.org.

Today’s conversation is with Troy Casey, The Certified Health Nut. Troy’s mission is teaching holistic health, self-care and getting back in touch with what he calls our “symbiotic relationship with Planet Earth.” Troy’s journey and studies have taken him to gather knowledge and wisdom from the Amazon Rain Forests and its indigenous intelligence to bringing it home to what he teaches us is, “Truly relevant for mankind: Clean air, water, soil and peace on Earth.” Our discussion includes his story about “getting sober” and the power of his at-home, underwater birth of one of his children. Troy is present, On Fire and FULL of LIFE. Join us for this invigorating conversation. To learn more about Troy go to: CertifiedHealthNut.com. 

Today’s conversation is about yoga and recovery with author, speaker and yoga instructor, Kyczy (“Keet Ski”) Hawk. Kyczy has with much dedication and practice, wedded the ancient tradition of yoga practice with the wisdom of the Twelve Steps. She has also written the critically acclaimed, Yoga and the Twelve-Step Path and teaches students through her “Y12SR” program and also teaches yoga instructors through her “SOAR” (Success Over Addiction Relapse) certification program. Kyczy has taught in excess of 1500 classes to recovering individuals asserting that each one, a renewing and revitalizing experience. Kyczy explains why a mind-body-spirit practice like yoga is so important for recovering individuals and how easy it truly is to have some form of a practice every day and only–one day at a time. Listen in to have a refreshing, mindful and peaceful experience. In my experience, Kyczy is very contactable, communicative and available for presentations and speaking engagements about this important work. To find out more about her go to YogaRecovery.com or Facebook.com/KyczyHawk.

Today’s conversation is with Dr. Mayday Levine-Mata, Program Director at Sierra Tucson Hospital in stunning, Tucson, Arizona. Sierra Tucson Hospital is dually licensed as both a Special Hospital and a Behavioral Health Residential Treatment Center for addiction and compulsive disorders. Dr. Levine-Mata is uniquely qualified to spearhead the leadership of programs at Sierra Tucson with her impressive resume and her focus to patient centered care, holism and the Heart she brings to her work. Sierra Tucson approaches addiction treatment with a cutting edge and ever evolving integrated, multidisciplinary team as the addiction treatment community continues to learn more about the multifactorial causes and best outcomes for the brain disorder and disease of addiction and related conditions. Join us for an uplifting and informative conversation about what’s happening in this leading residential treatment facility.

Today’s episode # 24 is a conversation entitled, “Dude, Where’s My Health?!” Nothing better than being around Spirit, enthusiasm and endless energy all of which my guest today embodies. Transformational Coach, Clark Danger is the gracious host of the podcasts PaleoHacks and Dude, Where’s My Health? He comes to Sober Conversations as a lover of holistic health, personal development and has a passion for inspiring others–as you’ll soon hear. Clark’s forthcoming book, “Dude, Where’s My Health?!” promises to be a no-nonsense, “dental to mental” guide on the how and what makes for a healthy, thriving life. Find Clark–and Dude, you’ll be glad you did, at ClarkDanger.com.

Coach and consultant, Tripp Lanier joins us today to talk about authentic masculinity for the 21st Century man or as Tripp refers to it, The New Man. His, The New Man Podcastand eBook, The New MANual are refreshing, cutting edge bodies of work that help men find their true ways of being and the careers, relationships and family lives of their dreams. I asked Tripp to talk about how his work is similar to addiction recovery since he agrees, old habits die hard. He delivers clear and insightful ways as to how men can go for the best versions of themselves if they’re willing to, #1: Discover emotional power, #2: Do what we love instead of playing it safe and #3: Know that we can’t do it alone. Tripp is an affable, intelligent, “doing-my-life’s-homework” man. Join the conversation as two men share what they’ve learned about giving up what they are to become who they can be.

Today’s episode # 22 is a conversation entitled “Rehab: Now What?”. I have the distinct pleasure of having a conversation with Alex Zemeckis, visionary and founder of a healing place called, The Grounds in beautiful La Jolla, California. Alex and his team of professionals have created a model for a continuum of care as he calls it and as we all know is required for long-term addiction recovery. The Grounds specializes in working with young men from 18 to 30 years in age who are seeking a holistic path toward finding the right balance of education, work, good health and community to support a sober and wellness lifestyle. Go to www.TheGroundsRecovery.com or call 805.698.1947 for more information.