The Episode Short is back for our brief mid-summer break! In this bite sized episode format, you’ll hear audio clips from one of our favorite episodes.

This week, we’re sharing clips from Jodie Sweetin who melted our hearts and made us laugh for eight years as cherub-faced, goody-two-shoes middle child Stephanie Tanner. In this episode short, we share clips covering everything from her childhood anxiety, to self-sabotage, to adoption, to what her sobriety journey has entailed thus far.

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The Episode Short is back for our brief mid-summer break! In this bite sized episode format, you’ll hear audio clips from one of our favorite episodes.

This week, we’re going all the way back to the beginning by featuring our very own Ashley Loeb Blassingame. You’ll hear three clips from Season 1 Episode 1 including why Ashley calls cocaine the drug of more, how a meth induced hallucination turned into a beautiful story of restoring relationships after finding recovery, and how Ashley realized there was fun in recovery after going to her first Southern California AA meeting. 

Episode Resources

Connect with Ashley Loeb Blassingame

• Ashley's Instagram | @ashleyloebblassingame

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Producer Christiana Kimmich is back for this After the Episode. CK and Ashley Jo review clips from the stories of Don Cummins, Lyon Herron, Titus Gardner, and Alison Haase. 

E106 | Don Cummins

Don Cummins is a bank robber turned bank software developer. At a young age, he witnessed the tragic suicide of a family friend. Throughout this ATE, CK and AJB review the story Don shared and discuss ways to navigate difficult conversations - especially as parents. 

E107 | Lyon Herron 

Lyon Herron is a fifth generation Angelino who was born with Gardner Syndrome. CK and ABJ review a clip where Lyon talks about using pain meds to cope with pain. They also provide listeners with a medical update to share how Lyon is doing today.

E109 | Titus Gardner

As Titus Gardner entered a life of recovery, he began discovering different areas of his life that needed healing. You'll hear a clip where Titus talks about discovering an area that needed healing that he was not at all aware of. CK and AJB discuss the beauty of recovery as you walk through each different layer. 

E110 | Alison Haase

Alison Haase is an author who discusses the pitfalls of her addiction to drugs, alcohol, work, food, and people. In the After the Episode, you'll hear a clip where Alison discusses the first time she met a sexy, savvy, female alcoholic.

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Alison is an author, athlete, and recovery advocate. Her success comes from rising above the ashes and pitfalls of addictions which included drugs, alcohol, work, food, and people pleasing. This inspired her to take hold of her own journey and quit using external validation to fill her deep wounded soul. Using fitness, 12 steps, community, hard work, and accountability as her catalysts for change, she has since maintained nearly two decades of sobriety. Alison wrote her first book, ‘The Addict in Aisle 7’, to shine a light on the stigma that is both addiction and recovery, and to help women quit shaming themselves and step into their fullest potential.

Connect with Alison Haase

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Titus Gardner was born in Portchester, NY and raised by a man who he later found out was not his biological father. This news devastated Titus and he found himself in the throes of an identity crisis. Later in life, when he was a teenager, both of his parents were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, a disease that ultimately ended both of their lives. 

Following the death of his parents, Titus found himself on the streets as a high level drug dealer who 'always had a place to stay.' Alcohol became his outlet to cope with the stress life threw his way. It wasn’t until March 31, 2020 that Titus began a journey of self-healing and recovery. He has since started an Instagram account to encourage and help others to find strength and share their stories. 

Titus currently serves as the Vice President for a Fortune 1000 company overseeing the Arizona market. When he’s not working or connecting with others in recovery, Titus enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

Connect with Titus Gardner

• Titus' Instagram | @tmgmotivation

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Lionrock Resources

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Dr. Louise Stanger focuses on strength-based solutions and invitational change. As the 2019 Interventionist of the year, she is not only an Ivy League Award winner but also an educated social worker, author, internationally renowned clinician, and speaker on mental health, addiction, process disorders, and chronic pain. She has performed thousands of family interventions throughout the United States and abroad. 

In addition to her years of experience, Dr. Louise is a published author whose work covers a range of topics including mental health, substance abuse, and well-being, the opioid epidemic, marijuana and other drugs, parenting, high wealth clients, finding happiness, spirituality, failure to launch, chronic pain and pain management, family and many more. Her latest book, Addiction in the Family: Helping Families Navigate Challenges, Emotions, and Recovery (2020) is a #1 bestseller on Amazon. 

Dr. Louise lives in Marina Del Rey with her husband John and their doodles, Teddy and CoCo. Together, they have 7 grandchildren ranging from kindergarten to a senior in college. In her free time Dr. Louise loves having overnights with grandchildren swimming, soul cycling, and traveling.

Episode Resources

• Dr. Louise's Books Addiction in the Family, Learn to Thrive, Falling Up: A Memoir of Renewal, Aging & Addiction: The Silver Tsunami, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Intervention: A Collective Strategy | allaboutinterventions.com/books/

Connect with Dr. Louise Stanger

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Online Support Meetings

• View Lionrock.life's comprehensive meeting schedule here, and find a meeting to join today!

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Lyon Herron is a fifth generation Angeleno whose family first came to LA in the late 1800’s. At the young age of 7, Lyon was diagnosed with Gardner Syndrome, an extremely rare disease that puts individuals at high risk for developing colorectal cancer and desmoid tumors. Lyon was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer and embarked on a healing journey that included a variety of conventional and alternative treatment methods. He has had countless surgeries, including the removal of a six pound tumor, stem cell therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and traveled near and far to see the top doctors in the world. 

Somewhere along the way, Lyon discovered the power of drugs and alcohol, began feeling he was invincible, and found himself entrenched in addiction. Lyon committed to sobriety after his health took a turn for the worse. Throughout his healing journey, he has discovered how to harness the power of the mind realizing that our bodies can often endure much if our mind allows. While his battle with Gardner Syndrome is ongoing, he is surrounded by an amazing community of people who provide ongoing support. Lyon ultimately knows that his suffering will help others.

Episode Resources

Connect with Lyon

• Lyon's Instagram | @lyon_herron

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Online Support Meetings

• View Lionrock.life's comprehensive meeting schedule here, and find a meeting to join today!

Listen and Subscribe to The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

Our Pride month bonus episode features School of Rock child star Rivkah Reyes. 

Rivkah Reyes (they/them) is a Filipina-Jewish actor, writer, musician, comedian and self-acceptance warrior from Chicago. Riv has been performing since the age of 4 and made their film debut as Katie in the beloved film School of Rock in 2003. Since then, Riv has performed in plays, sketch revues, TV, and film all over the country. They currently reside in Los Angeles and spend their days writing and hosting a podcast called Where Are We Now?

Episode Resources

Connect with Rivkah Reyes

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Coffee, Coffee Alternatives, & Support Meetings

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Don Cummins is an author, transformational speaker, and coach.

Don suffered for decades with the effects of trauma and addiction. These issues resulted in homelessness, damaged relationships, depression and anxiety, and unemployability. Don was repeatedly committed to mental health institutions and experienced extreme incarceration and isolation, having served over twenty years in prison for bank robberies.

One day, Don had an awakening to his inherent goodness and value. He saw that he was not a horrible person. He saw that he deserved to recover and that he was worth the hard work it would take to do so. So he embarked on a path of recovery, transforming his life in ways that had seemed impossible, experiencing success in relationships, business, leadership and helping others recover.

Don’s story is detailed in The Prison Within: A Memoir of Breaking Free. 

When he’s not hanging out with his family or working on a project, Don’s usually riding his bike or playing guitar.

We're excited to share Don's story with you today. Let's do this! 

Episode Resources

Connect with Don Cummins

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Online Support Meetings

• View Lionrock.life's comprehensive meeting schedule here, and find a meeting to join today!

Listen and Subscribe to The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

Join Ashley and Ashley as they review clips from the stories of Stuart O'Neill, Andre Roberts, Lucas Crigler, and Keith Smith and share the latest news and research on the topics discussed. Throughout their review they cover everything from suicidal ideation to wanting to be accepted as your authentic self. 

E100 | Stuart O'Neill

Stuart O'Neill, author of Just One Reason from Episode 100, has experienced suicidal ideation for most of his adult life. You'll hear a portion of his episode where he and ALB talk about why he finds suicidal thoughts comforting. After listening to the clip, ALB shares research on the topic of suicidal ideation. 

If you'd like a copy of Stuart's book Just One Reason, we have a few copies available on first come first serve basis. Email [email protected] to claim your copy.

E101 | Andre Roberts

Andre Roberts is a returning guest who originally shared his story in a bonus episode in Season 2.  ALB and AJB review a clip from his 'Where Are They Now?' episode where ALB and Andre talk about sanitizing history.  ALB shares the latest news on the topic of sanitizing history. 

E103 | Lucas Crigler

Our guest from Episode 103, Lucas Crigler, is a transgender man and transgender activist. Tune in as we review a clip from his story where he talks about being accepted for who he is.  The conversation continues as ALB and AJB consider the thought that maybe acceptance is where we can all align because we all want to be accepted for who we are not the descriptive words that can be tied to us. 

E104 | Keith Smith

Keith Smith's story is both heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. Having  been molested at a young age, Keith finally embarked on a healing journey as an adult. You'll hear a clip where he discusses how being molested made sexuality very confusing because he didn't feel he had a choice. The discussion continues as ALB provides insight as to how people can begin to heal from sexual trauma. 

As you can see, there's lots to cover. Let's do this! 

Episodes Reviewed 

Other Episodes Mentioned

Episode Resources

Connect with Us at The Courage to Change

Online Support Meetings

• View Lionrock.life's comprehensive meeting schedule here, and find a meeting to join today!

Listen and Subscribe to The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast