The Social Exchange

Today’s guest is my sister Molly Rhoads, AKA "Sharktooth"—    we’ll explain that later.  

Molly is passionate about hiking; hiking in this context doesn’t mean taking a walk. . . . Hiking is her life.

In 2019 she hiked the Appalachian Trail— something she’d been longing to do for quite some time. The Appalachian trail is 2200 miles long, and crosses 14 states. It took her over 5 months of living outdoors to complete this journey, and If she were wearing a fit bit, she would have clocked in at approximately 5 million steps.

In today’s episode, she talks about her expedition and the effect it has made on her life. 

Molly was generous enough to talk about her experience with anxiety and depression. For her, hiking, nature, and the whole process of living, exploring and working outdoors has  paid her back many times over. Hiking gives her a sense of purpose; meaning; maturity; and expertise — The things that make life worth living.

Perhaps there is still a sense, in Molly's mind, that hiking-life and real-life exist in two independent realms. But she hopes to bridge that gap. I’ll let her tell you about it for herself. 

Enjoy episode 50 of The Social Exchange. 

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CHECK OUT PRODUCER AARON FERGUSON'S ORIGINAL MUSIC

http://soundcloud.com/knowmad1

Become a Patron  http://patreon.com/thesocialexchange

Visit our audible link--- download a free audio book and support the show! http://audibletrial.com/socialexchange

Listen on iTunes (and leave us a review!) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t... 

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Thanks to our new patrons

- James Stacks

- Chris L

- W Leon Naufahu 

- Sherry Chandler

- Dee-Dee Stout

- Christopher Hanlon 

- André Pampel

- CARTER Vermont 

- Rick Barnett 

- Anne M. Earle

- Inigo

- Jon Holt

- Laila Ferguson

- Mary Kay Villaverde

- Michelle

- NANCY

- Sean Holt

- Regina Ferguson

- Timmy Tucker

- Christian

- Thomas Rhoads

- Kathleen Cochran

- Marjorie Israel

- Diane T

- Trevor 

- Sue Mathieu

- Linda Rhoads

0:00 - 1:55:   Intro 

1:55 - 3:40 :  Thank you to Patreon Subscribers! 

3:40 - 42:13:  Regular Interview 

Bonus Content -- To hear a conversation about Ben's book, "Original Gangsters" go to Patreon.com/thesocialexchange and become a sustaining member for $2.00 or more) 

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Today's guest Ben Westhoff.

Westhoff is an award-winning investigative journalist who writes about culture, drugs, and poverty. His books are taught around the country and have been translated into languages all over the world. 

His new book is Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Are Creating the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic. It has received glowing reviews and was included on many year-end best lists. Westhoff was interviewed about the book for Fresh Air and Joe Rogan, and published an excerpt in The Atlantic. Since the book’s publication, Westhoff has advised top government officials on the fentanyl crisis, including from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the U.S. embassy in Beijing, and the U.S. State Department. 

His previous book Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap is one of the best-selling hip-hop books of all time. It received raves from Rolling Stone and People, and a starred review in Kirkus. S. Leigh Savidge, Academy Award nominee and co-writer of Straight Outta Compton said it "may be the best book ever written about the hip hop world."

Westhoff's work has appeared in the Library of Congress, The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Playboy, Vice, Oxford American, Pitchfork, and others. He's been honored by the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Entertainment Journalism Awards, Religion Newswriters Association, Best Music Writing, Best of Southern Food Writing, L.A. Press Club, and the Missouri Press Association. 

Today, Ben and I discussed the themes of his new book, but we spent much more time discussing his journalistic process along the way. This process proved, to me, to be just as interesting as the book itself. I hope you'll agree. 

Enjoy episode 49! 

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CHECK OUT PRODUCER AARON FERGUSON'S ORIGINAL MUSIC

http://soundcloud.com/knowmad1

Become a Patron  http://patreon.com/thesocialexchange

Visit our audible link--- download a free audio book and support the show! http://audibletrial.com/socialexchange

Listen on iTunes (an

Every Thursday we will share an audio clip from one or more folks working at the Life Process Program. 

This will offer valuable addiction-related content and will give you a window into what we're up to with our program, and where we stand on the addiction-related issues that you care about. 

For free resources (articles, blogs, Q&A, videos, podcasts) about addiction concepts and solutions-- and to learn more about the online program---   visit the web site: 

http://LifeProcessProgram.com

10 years ago, Professor Peter Singer published the book, The Life You Can Save: Acting Now To End World Poverty. In this book, Singer argues that people in affluent countries have an ethical obligation to (at least make an effort to) save some of the poorest people in the world who are dying from totally preventable causes each day-- many of them under 5 years-old.

Today, Singer tells Zach Rhoads about the 10th anniversary edition of The Life You Can Save-- an upgrade that reflects the most relevant and current data.  

This interview is a short one, but the two manage to reach a number of topics, including moral philosophy; giving to charity; practical and psychological obstacles to giving; and ways to assess various charitable organizations. 

Enjoy episode #48 with the brilliant Professor Peter Singer. 

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Download a FREE VERSION of The Life You Can Save ebook or audiobook here (1 download = US $1 donated to The Life You Can Save through Dec. 21st): https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/the-book/ 

*****

Check out The Life You Can Save main page: http://www.thelifeyoucansave.org

*****

Look at reviews of various charities (and the cost-effectiveness of giving to each one of them): https://www.givewell.org/how-we-work/our-criteria/cost-effectiveness 

*****

Look at reviews and cost-effectiveness of animal charities: https://animalcharityevaluators.org/

*****

CHECK OUT PRODUCER AARON FERGUSON'S ORIGINAL MUSIC

http://soundcloud.com/knowmad1

Become a Patron  http://patreon.com/thesocialexchange

Visit our audible link--- download a free audio book and support the show! http://audibletrial.com/socialexchange

Listen on iTunes (and leave us a review!) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t... 

* * * * * * 

Thanks to our new patrons

- James Stacks

- Chris L

- W Leon Naufahu 

- Sherry Chandler

- Dee-Dee Stout

- Christopher Hanlon 

- André Pampel

- CARTER Vermont 

- Rick Barnett 

- Anne M. Earle

- Inigo

- Jon Holt

- Laila Ferguson

- Mary Kay Villaverde

- Michelle

- NANCY

- Sean Holt

- Regina Ferguson

- Timmy Tucker

- Christian

- Thomas Rhoads

- Kathleen Cochran

- Marjorie Israel

- Diane T

- Trevor <

Many have asked me when the audiobook version of, Outgrowing Addiction: With Common Sense Instead of "Disease" Therapy, will be released. 

I'm not sure about an exact date, but we're working on it now-- I'll be narrating the book. 

Here is a preview. 

• 0:00 - 1:25 -- Title pages, acknowledgements, and dedication
• 1:25 - 3:25-- Foreword (by Tom Horvath Ph.D.; ABPP)
  
• 3:25 - 12:23-- Introduction
  
  
  
  * * * * * *

  CHECK OUT PRODUCER AARON FERGUSON'S ORIGINAL MUSIC

  http://soundcloud.com/knowmad1

   

  Become a Patron  http://patreon.com/thesocialexchange

   

  Visit our audible link--- download a free audio book and support the show! http://audibletrial.com/socialexchange

   

  Listen on iTunes (and leave us a review!) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t... 

   

  * * * * * * 

  Thanks to our new patrons

  - James Stacks

  - Chris L

  - W Leon Naufahu 

  - Sherry Chandler

  - Dee-Dee Stout

  - Christopher Hanlon 

  - André Pampel

  - CARTER Vermont 

  - Rick Barnett 

  - Anne M. Earle

  - Inigo

  - Jon Holt

  - Laila Ferguson

  - Mary Kay Villaverde

  - Michelle

  - NANCY

  - Sean Holt

  - Regina Ferguson

  - Timmy Tucker

  - Christian

  - Thomas Rhoads

  - Kathleen Cochran

  - Marjorie Israel

  - Diane T

  - Trevor 

  - Sue Mathieu

  - Linda Rhoads

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This is Part 2 of a 2-part conversation with Dr. Terri A. Lewis. You can listen to Part 1 here: https://thesocialexchange.libsyn.com/terri-a-lewis-part-1-wicked-problems-and-systems-thinking

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In 2019, virtually countless  cities, counties, and states filed lawsuits against major drug companies-- a sociopolitical trend with no signs of slowing down.

The basis for these lawsuits, according to many plaintiffs, is two-fold:

1.) Drug companies are responsible for our nation's drug death epidemic, and they deserve to be held accountable.

2.) The money awarded from drug companies to cities/counties/states will be used to fund further community efforts to combat addiction in those respective areas. 

Today's guest, Dr. Terri A. Lewis, believes that, while the sentiment behind these premises may be perfectly good, the premises themselves are ultimately illogical and bound to fall short of success. . . . Or worse! 

Dr. Lewis is a healthcare consultant, helping people solve (or even wrap their minds around) major systematic problems that cannot be fixed through only one solution-- and to which certainly no simple solutions exist.  These problems are called "Wicked Problems,"  and Terri Lewis believes our nation's addiction and drug-death issues are both facets of a major nation-wide wicked problem!

Today, in part 2 of this interview, Terri Lewis explains that filing lawsuits against pharmaceutical industries are attempts to solve a "wicked problem" with a single simple solution, and under a false set of assumptions. She expresses concern that, while we believe we are making headway in solving a major problem, we may actually be headed in the exact wrong direction-- perhaps even fueling the problem rather than fixing it. 

Terri and Zach will talk about some of the major issues underlying the modish trend of attacking drug companies for our problem. They will also offer an alternative way to conceptualize addiction/drug death problems and suggest ways to operationalize a systems-oriented approach to solving them. 

(Part 1 is broader. Before addressing that problem specifically, Terri spent some time educating Zach (and listeners) about the nature of wicked problems and ways of solving said problems using systems-thinking.  If you'd like to listen to Part 1, follow this link, or look for it in your podcast app https://thesocialexchange.libsyn.com/terri-a-lewis-part-1-wicked-problems-and-systems-thinking)

Enjoy today's episode: Terri Lewis (Part 2/2)-- Systems Thinking, Wicked Problems, and Lawsuits Against Drug Companies

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CHECK OUT PRODUCER AARON FERGUSON'S ORIGINAL MUSIC

http://soundcloud.com/knowmad1

Become a Patron  http://patreon.com/thesocialexchange

Visit our audible link--- download a free audio book and support the show! 

In this 5-minute clip, Zach gives a "Steelman" interpretation of the disease model of addiction and explains why he disagrees with the model. 

This is an excerpt from an interview in which  Dr. Rick Barnett interviewed Zach about his book with Stanton Peele, Outgrowing Addiction: With Common Sense Instead of "Disease" Therapy.  

Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4_d6JIaLM8&t=253s 

Dr. Barnett is the founder of the non-profit, CARTER Vermont, which offers help to folks with a range of addiction-related problems. (Visit CARTER here: https://www.cartervermont.org/about-us-rick/ ) 

Welcome to episode 47! 

Today Zach Rhoads speaks with Dr. Robert Schwebel about his latest book, Leap of Power (available now). 

Robert Schwebel is a clinical psychologist who developed The Seven Challenges Program: holistic life counseling for people with alcohol and other drug problems. This program is widely used for adolescents across the United States in hundreds of organizations (Learn more about the adolescent program from his book, "The Seven Challenges.")

More recently, Dr. Schwebel has established a version of his program for adults which he describes in his latest book, Leap of Power: Take Control of Alcohol, Drugs, and Your Life-- and which is the theme of today's discussion.

Dr. Schwebel tells Zach about the story of his career, his basis for creating the Seven Challenges Program, and he explains the differences between the adolescent and adult versions of his program.

Zach and Robert also take questions from listeners. 

We also answer bonus questions!  To access bonus material, donate $2.00 or more to our Patreon page at
http://patreon.com/thesocialexchange 

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(THIS WEEK ONLY) Buy Leap of Power at a 50% discount by using the following link: https://amzn.to/2PHrps6

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Follow Dr. Schwebel on social media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SevenChallengesProgram/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robertschwebel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.schwebel.phd/

Contact Robert using the following email: [email protected] 

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CHECK OUT PRODUCER AARON FERGUSON'S ORIGINAL MUSIC

http://soundcloud.com/knowmad1

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LEARN ABOUT ZACH'S BOOK WITH STANTON PEELE, OUTGROWING ADDICTION http://outgrowingaddiction.com <

This is a 10-min clip from a conversation between Zach Rhoads and Harry Nelson on the podcast, "FSDP Presents"

Listen to the full interview here: http://fsdpfamilies.libsyn.com/websit...

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Listen to episodes of "The Social Exchange Podcast" here: https://thesocialexchange.libsyn.com/

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Support The Social Exchange (and FSDP) here: 

http://patreon.com/thesocialexchange

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Learn more about FSDP here: 

http://fsdp.org 

Part 1: Wicked Problems and Systems Thinking

Part 2: Civil Suits Against Big Pharma 

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In 2019, virtually countless  cities, counties, and states filed lawsuits against major drug companies-- a sociopolitical trend with no signs of slowing down.

The basis for these lawsuits, according to their many plaintiffs, is two-fold:

1.) Drug companies are responsible for our nation's drug death epidemic, and they deserve to be held accountable.

2.) The money awarded from drug companies to cities/counties/states will be used to fund further community efforts to combat addiction in those respective areas. 

Today's guest, Dr. Terri A. Lewis, believes that, while the sentiment behind these premises may be perfectly good, the premises themselves are ultimately illogical and bound to fall short of success. . . . Or worse! 

Dr. Lewis is a healthcare consultant, helping people solve (or even wrap their minds around) major systematic problems that cannot be fixed through only one solution-- and to which certainly no simple solutions.  These problems are called "Wicked Problems,"  and Terri Lewis believes our nation's addiction and drug-death issues are both facets of a major nation-wide wicked problem!

In part 2 of this interview, Terri Lewis explains that filing lawsuits against pharmaceutical industries are attempts to solve a "wicked problem" with a single simple solution, and under a false set of assumptions. She expresses concern that, while we believe we are making headway in solving a major problem, we may actually be headed in the exact wrong direction-- perhaps even fueling the problem rather than fixing it. 

Part 1 is broader. Before addressing that problem specifically, Terri spent some time educating Zach (and listeners) about the nature of wicked problems and ways of solving said problems using systems-thinking. This crash-course in systems-thinking is what you will hear today.

Stay tuned next week for part 2 of this discussion, when Terri and Zach will talk about some of the major issues underlying the modish trend of attacking drug companies for our problem. They will also offer an alternative way to conceptualize addiction/drug death problems and suggest ways to operationalize a systems-oriented approach to solving them. 

Enjoy Today's Episode:

"Terri A. Lewis (Part 1): Wicked Problems and Systems Thinking"

* * * * * * 

CHECK OUT PRODUCER AARON FERGUSON'S ORIGINAL MUSIC

http://soundcloud.com/knowmad1

Become a Patron  http://patreon.com/thesocialexchange

Visit our audible link--- download a free audio book and support the show! http://audibletrial.com/socialexchange

Listen on iTunes (and leave us a review!)