🎙️ On today's episode of The ClearlyWell Podcast, we're welcoming back a familiar voice from Season 1 — Brittany, the inspiring founder of Unite Rabun, a Recovery Community Organization (RCO) based in rural Georgia.

Brittany shares the powerful story of how her lived experience—from incarceration to recovery—led her to create a thriving space of hope and support for others. She dives into what an RCO truly is, the services Unite Rabun offers the local community, and how peer-led recovery is changing lives.

And we have even more to celebrate — yesterday marked Brittany’s 4-year sober anniversary. Her journey is a testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of community.

Welcome back to The ClearlyWell Podcast — I’m your host, Elizabeth McKeon.

Today, we’re having a brutally honest conversation about one of the most overlooked — and deadliest — drugs in the world: alcohol.

When we think of addiction, we often picture heroin, fentanyl, or meth. But alcohol quietly remains responsible for millions of deaths each year — and yet, society rarely calls it what it is: a drug.

It’s impossible to have this conversation without remembering lives lost too soon — including the tragic death of Amy Winehouse, whose remarkable talent was cut short at just 27 years old after years of struggling with alcohol use disorder.

Amy’s story isn’t unique — it reflects the quiet devastation alcohol can cause, even in the absence of “harder” drugs. It also highlights how addiction doesn’t discriminate: fame, fortune, or success don’t protect anyone from the biochemical grip of alcohol dependence.

But there is hope.
Today, we’ll also explore one of the most underutilized — but highly effective — treatments available: Naltrexone.
Both in oral and injectable form, Naltrexone has changed countless lives by reducing cravings, breaking the cycle of dependence, and giving people a path toward recovery.

So let’s break the silence. Let’s talk facts. And let’s stay ClearlyWell.

Today on The ClearlyWell Podcast, we delve into the wild, unapologetic life of Slash—the legendary guitarist known for his riffs in Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver—and the dark truth behind the glamour of rock stardom.

From the height of fame to the depths of addiction, Slash's story includes a near-fatal overdose and a rare diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition often linked to chronic substance use. We'll explore how years of heavy drinking and drug use caught up with him in his 30s, landing him in a hospital bed with a dire prognosis: you have six weeks to live if you don’t stop.

But this isn’t a redemption fantasy. This episode isn’t about a perfect recovery or a Hollywood ending. Instead, it’s about survival, the cost of excess, and the hidden toll addiction takes on the body—even when fame tries to mask it.

We’ll also talk about:

• The connection between opioid use and cardiomyopathy

• Slash’s controversial relationships with other rock legends like Scott Weiland and Juliette Lewis

• Why his story still matters in today’s conversation on addiction and recovery

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Todays “Did You Know?” is  about how opioid use can silently damage the heart, sometimes long before outward symptoms appear.

This is a gritty, real conversation on substance use, resilience, and the human body’s limits—through the lens of a man who lived loud and almost died louder. As always, thank you for tuning in!

Today on The ClearlyWell Podcast, we welcome a powerful voice for change: Shyunda Heard — cohost of The Let’s Talk Talk Show, Accountability Court Case Manager, justice-involved expert, and active collaborator with the RATV Network. Born in Franklin County, Georgia, as the fourth of six children, Shyunda shares her deeply personal and heartbreaking story of childhood trauma. She also opens up about how her work with accountability courts is transforming lives, offering individuals facing mental health and substance use disorders a real chance at recovery, redemption, and hope. This is a conversation about resilience, purpose, and the power of second chances.Fin her on all social platform @shyundaheard

🎙️ Today on The ClearlyWell Podcast, we take a deep dive into Medication-Assisted Recovery (MAR)—what it is, why it works, and how it's changing the landscape of addiction treatment. We'll unpack the misconceptions that have long stigmatized this evidence-based approach and explore how science, policy, and compassion intersect in recovery.

Then, we turn the spotlight to pop icon Demi Lovato, whose journey through substance use disorder, mental health struggles, and eventual advocacy for recovery gives us a powerful, personal look at resilience and hope. From near-fatal overdose to vocal support for treatment—including MAT—Demi’s story reminds us that recovery looks different for everyone, and every path is valid.

​In today's episode of the ClearlyWell Podcast, we delve into the intricate and controversial history of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family's pivotal role in the opioid epidemic. We also explore how these real-life events are mirrored in the fictional narrative of Season 4 of the Amazon Prime series Goliath, where the storyline centers around a pharmaceutical company named Zax Pharma.​

Purdue Pharma, owned by the Sackler family, introduced OxyContin in 1996, aggressively marketing it as a low-risk painkiller. This marketing strategy significantly contributed to the opioid crisis in the United States. 

In 2007, Purdue Pharma executives admitted in federal court to downplaying the drug's addictive potential, acknowledging that they had misled doctors and patients. The company faced numerous lawsuits, leading to a proposed settlement in 2025 where the Sackler family agreed to pay up to $7 billion and relinquish ownership of Purdue Pharma AP News.​

The fourth season of Goliath features attorney Billy McBride (played by Billy Bob Thornton) taking on Zax Pharma, a fictional pharmaceutical company responsible for a deadly opioid crisis. The character George Zax, portrayed by J.K. Simmons, leads the company in a narrative that closely parallels the real-life actions of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family hollywoodprogressive.com.​

Thank you for tuning in. If you or someone you know wants to be on The ClearlyWell Podcast, email us at [email protected]! Thank guys!!

In this episode of The ClearlyWell Podcast, host Elizabeth McKeon welcomes Mike Oxley, a subject matter expert in mental health and addiction, to explore the long-standing and complex relationship between the two. Mike brings not only professional insight but also lived experience that fuels his passion for advocacy.

Mike shares how his time spent incarcerated became a pivotal turning point in understanding the deep correlation between untreated mental health conditions and substance use disorders. His personal journey has informed his work, underscoring the need for integrated care, trauma-informed approaches, and stigma reduction in both clinical and community settings.

Furthermore, Mike is the co-host of the Talkin' Trash Addiction Recovery Podcast with Tim Snyder, where the duo dives into real and raw conversations around addiction, recovery, and mental resilience. He was also featured in Episode 22 of Recovery Stories Have Power, a podcast from Faces & Voices of Recovery, where he discusses the transformative power of storytelling in recovery.

This conversation on The ClearlyWell Podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in behavioral health, criminal justice reform, and the hope found in recovery.

🎙️ Today’s Guest on The ClearlyWell Podcast: Pam Brooks Crump

We’re honored to welcome Pam Brooks Crump, the creator of MonarchTransformationTrainings.com, to the show. Pam is a leading expert in nervous system regulation, helping individuals develop powerful strategies to manage stress, enhance meaningful connections, and build lasting resilience.

Pam is also a person in long-term recovery—a journey that informs her work, though she’s careful not to let it define her. She chooses instead to focus on the universal tools and practices that support healing and growth for everyone, regardless of their background.

Her approach is science-backed, heart-centered, and designed to spark real transformation.

This is a conversation filled with wisdom, inspiration, and practical tools you can begin using right away.

you can contact Pam on the listed website or on her LinkedIn http:/linkedin.com/in/pambrookscrumpmonarchtransformationtrainings

🎙️ Welcome back to The ClearlyWell Podcast, where I bring clarity to the most pressing mental health challenges of our time. Today, we’re diving into a critical and often misunderstood issue—Teen Substance Use Disorder. As adolescence is a time of exploration and growth, it’s also a period of vulnerability, making young people particularly susceptible to the dangers of substance misuse.

With data sourced from DrugAbuseStatistics.org, we’ll uncover the latest trends in teen drug use, the factors that contribute to addiction, and, most importantly, the steps we can take as parents, educators, and communities to support prevention and recovery.

Substance use among teens isn’t just about experimentation—it’s often a cry for help, an attempt to cope with stress, trauma, or social pressures. But how do we recognize the warning signs? And what can we do to foster open conversations that lead to healing rather than shame?

Join me today as I will provide actionable insights and data to help navigate this complex issue. Whether you’re a concerned parent, a young person facing peer pressure, or simply someone who cares about mental health, this episode is for you.

📢 Let’s break the stigma, educate ourselves, and take action—because awareness is the first step toward change.

In today’s episode of The ClearlyWell Podcast, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino shares his powerful journey to recovery. Once struggling with addiction and legal troubles, including a prison sentence, Mike has transformed his life into one of advocacy and hope. He discusses his path to sobriety, his podcast Here’s The Sitch, and his work with The Archangel Centers, a treatment facility dedicated to addiction recovery. Through his story, he emphasizes growth, resilience, and the importance of supporting others on their journey to wellness.