Sober Spill

In this deeply personal episode of Sober Spill, host Jana Wu sits down with trauma and recovery specialist Danielle Meldon-Cestari to share her journey through addiction, nearly 19 years of sobriety, love, and unimaginable loss. Danielle opens up about her late husband Michael's struggles with kratom use, depression, and chronic pain, revealing the warning signs she didn't recognize and the challenges of supporting someone battling addiction. Together, they explore the hidden risks of kratom, mental health, grief, and the importance of connection and support in recovery. It's an emotional conversation about finding strength after loss, honoring the people we love, and turning painful experiences into awareness and hope.

What does it take to make sobriety stick? In this episode of Sober Spill, Jana sits down with Stephanie Hazard, certified recovery coach and author, to explore recovery coaching, sustainable sobriety, eating disorders, body image, shame, and what it means to build a life in recovery, not just stop drinking.

Stephanie shares her own recovery journey and explains how recovery coaching differs from therapy and sponsorship, why recovery can look different for everyone, and why lasting change involves looking at what we're recovering to not only what we're recovering from.

Stephanie is the author of Making Sobriety Stick: A Recovery Coach’s Guide to Sustainable Change, a book exploring recovery coaching and building a holistic foundation for sustainable change.

Learn more about Stephanie Hazard and her work at:
https://www.pathtowardrecovery.com/

For more info about our Sober Spill Podcast, check us out at www.soberspillpodcast.com

#SoberSpill #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryCoach #Sobriety #RecoveryCommunity

For more info about our Sober Spill Podcast, check us out at https://www.soberspillpodcast.com/

Stay connected to the community that supports your recovery at https://www.mountainside.com/treatment/offerings/alumni-services/

Custom care for your unique recovery path — discover the Bespoke Program at https://www.mountainside.com/bespoke-addiction-treatment/

In this Recovery Month and 9/11 special, Isabel sits down with Pat McCarthy to talk about Pat’s emotional, and unforgettable story of addiction and recovery. Pat opens up about how alcoholism nearly destroyed his life and how his turning point—September 11, 2001—set him on a path to lasting sobriety. From his days chasing Grateful Dead shows to becoming a leader in recovery support, Pat shares the lessons, laughs, and love that come with sobriety. Now, decades later, he’s built a life filled with love, family, and purpose while giving back to others in recovery. This conversation is proof that it’s never too late to change your story. If you’ve ever wondered what long-term recovery looks like—or how hope can grow out of chaos—this is an episode you can’t miss.

#AddictionRecovery #SoberLife #RecoveryMonth #SobrietyStories #RecoveryPodcast

When does teenage experimentation with weed become something more serious? In this episode of Sober Spill, Jana sits down with Jessica and Nate to explore teen cannabis use, addiction, anxiety, and the warning signs families often struggle to recognize. Nate shares his own experience of becoming dependent on marijuana as a young teen and how his substance use eventually progressed to Xanax and opioids, while Jessica offers a clinical perspective on why anxiety, depression, peer pressure, identity, and the need for autonomy can make adolescents especially vulnerable to substance misuse. They also unpack what teens are encountering today—from high-potency THC vapes and prescription stimulants to benzodiazepines, over-the-counter medications, and kratom—and why accessibility and perceptions of safety matter. The conversation also explores harm reduction, adolescent treatment, peer support, family therapy, siblings, and how parents can respond with honesty and connection rather than shame or secrecy. Whether you’re a parent, young person, or someone working in recovery, this episode offers an honest look at how “just experimenting” can evolve—and how early support can make a difference.

#TeenAddiction #CannabisAddiction #TeenDrugUse #TeenMentalHealth #TeenSubstanceUse #MarijuanaAddiction #HarmReduction #AdolescentRecovery #ParentingTeens #AddictionRecovery #YouthRecovery #SoberSpill

For more info about our Sober Spill Podcast, check us out at https://www.soberspillpodcast.com/

Stay connected to the community that supports your recovery at https://www.mountainside.com/treatment/offerings/alumni-services/

Custom care for your unique recovery path — discover the Bespoke Program at https://www.mountainside.com/bespoke-addiction-treatment/

Why are so many teens struggling with anxiety, depression, substance use, and motivation? In this episode of Sober Spill, Jana sits down with Dr. Ashwinni to explore what may be contributing to today’s adolescent mental health crisis — from excessive screen time, social media, isolation, and disrupted sleep to cannabis use and other forms of self-medication. They discuss the developing teenage brain, why young people may turn to substances to cope with anxiety or depression, how cannabis can affect motivation and functioning, and the warning signs parents shouldn’t ignore. Dr. Ash also shares practical ways families can encourage healthier coping through real-world connection, creativity, community, and open conversations about drugs and alcohol.

#TeenMentalHealth #TeenSubstanceUse #CannabisAwareness #TeenAnxiety #AdolescentMentalHealth #AddictionPrevention #ParentingTeens #YouthRecovery #SubstanceUse #SoberSpill

Build routine, stay confident in your recovery and maintain peace of mind with our Sober Monitoring program. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/treatment/offerings/client-support-services/

Stay connected, stay grounded — explore our support groups. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/resources/support-groups/

In this episode of Sober Spill, Jana sits down with psychologist Dr. Ben Bernstein of Redwood Psychology Group for an honest conversation about parenting, addiction, technology, and mental health. They explore why cocaine use is rising again, how gaming and social media are changing adolescent brains, what parents often get wrong when trying to help struggling teens, and why listening matters more than lecturing. Dr. Bernstein also shares how his background in improv comedy shaped the way he practices therapy, offering surprising insights into connection, empathy, and recovery. Whether you're a parent, clinician, or someone navigating your own mental health journey, this episode is filled with practical advice and meaningful takeaways.

#MentalHealth #Parenting #AddictionRecovery #Therapy #SoberSpill

To learn more about Dr. Ben Bernstein, check out his website, https://benjaminbernsteinphd.com/

Stay connected to the community that supports your recovery. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/treatment/offerings/alumni-services/

Custom care for your unique recovery path — discover the Bespoke Program. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/bespoke-addiction-treatment/

Buckle up for this special mashup episode of Sober Spill — a jaw-dropping compilation of the most authentic, funniest, and most unforgettable moments from the podcast so far! We're pulling back the curtain on our wildest confessions, hardest truths, and lighthearted laughs- all remixed into one binge-worthy episode. Whether you're new here or a day-one listener, this highlight reel captures everything that makes Sober Spill the show you can't stop talking about. Kick back, relax, and enjoy our best moments so far!

#SoberSpill #PodcastCompilation #BestMoments #SoberPodcast #RecoveryJourney

Detoxing from home is more possible — and more dangerous — than you think. In this episode of Sober Spill, Dr. Ashwinii Hari-Kurapati, Assistant Medical Director of Outpatient Withdrawal Management at Mountainside, breaks down which substances can be safely detoxed at home and which ones require immediate medical care. From the alarming rise of gas-station kratom and "designer benzos" to the truth about ketamine addiction (and why some clinics quietly hook patients on more), Dr. Hari-Kurapati explains the real science behind withdrawal seizures, delirium tremens, and why your nervous system can turn deadly without warning. Whether you're a busy parent afraid to leave your kids for treatment or someone quietly self-medicating anxiety with alcohol or cannabis, this conversation lays out the medical truth, the warning signs, and the resources that meet you exactly where you are.

#SoberSpill #AddictionRecovery #WithdrawalManagement #SoberLiving #MentalHealthMatters

Stay connected, stay grounded — explore our support groups. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/resources/support-groups/

Healing happens step by step — discover our outpatient options. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/treatment/programs/outpatient-services/

Kratom is sold legally in gas stations, vape shops, and even adult novelty stores across the U.S. — with almost zero regulation or warning labels. In this powerful episode of Sober Spill, host Jana sits down with Patti Wheeler — film producer, mother, and founder of "A Beautiful Life Stolen" — to discuss the death of her 27-year-old son Wyatt and the making of her documentary, "Kratom Side Effects May Include." Patti pulls back the curtain on how kratom use has exploded from 2 million to 28 million users in just a few years, why it has been called harder to quit than fentanyl or heroin, and why teenagers as young as 14 are buying it at gas stations with zero oversight. This is a raw, honest conversation about grief, addiction, accountability, and the fight for truth, transparency, and informed consent before more families lose their children. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, help is available — call (860) 365-6764.

#KratomAwareness #SoberSpill #AddictionRecovery #KratomDangers #SubstanceAbuseAwareness

To learn more about Patti, check out her website, https://abeautifullifestolen.com/ and her Instagram @patticwheeler

Mountainside respects that people can have diverse experiences with kratom and we welcome all who wish to discuss how kratom use has affected their lives. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/resources/support-groups/virtual/ltk-support-group/

Healing happens step by step — discover our outpatient options. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/treatment/programs/outpatient-services/

Can addiction be inherited? In this fascinating 60th episode of Sober Spill, leading addiction researcher Danielle Dick, Ph.D., breaks down the science of genetics, addiction risk, ADHD, anxiety, and the environmental factors that shape our lives. As Director of the world's largest addiction research center at Rutgers University and author of The Child Code, Dr. Dick explains why there is no single "addiction gene," how parents can build resilience in their children, and what groundbreaking advances in genetics could mean for addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. Whether you're a parent, clinician, person in recovery, or simply curious about the science behind addiction, this conversation offers practical insights and hope for the future.

#AddictionRecovery #Genetics #MentalHealth #Parenting #SoberSpill

To learn more about Dr. Dick, check out her website, https://www.danielledick.com/about and her Instagram @drdanielledick

Families heal together — explore our Family Wellness services. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/treatment/offerings/family-wellness/

This is a safe, supportive space for individuals and families to reconnect, communicate more effectively, and begin healing together. Visit https://www.mountainside.com/treatment/programs/family-services/