Meet Janet, an elite fitness coach who happens to be the mother of an addict. Her story is an inspiration of strength, self-discipline, and resilience. Janet speaks of her experience with her daughter's battle with addiction since she was seventeen. In her story, we hear about some of her heartbreaking moments, including seeing her daughter experience homelessness. In this episode, you will get three takeaways: never be afraid to show them that you're human, live your life authentically, and put yourself first to live your healthiest life. This is an episode for anyone needing to take back control of their life to live up to their full potential. You don't want to miss this episode!

Just like with everything else, there are dos and don’ts to addiction. What should you say to a loved one with an addiction problem? How can you stay connected with them? How can you make sure they don’t go over the edge? If you want these questions answered, you don’t want to miss this episode.

Ken Clark is back on the Voices InCourage Podcast with host KL Wells in another powerful conversation in the world of substance abuse disorder. In this episode, Ken discusses his “Dos and Don’ts” for those who are afflicted with the disease of alcoholism. Learn the top five things to say or do, as well as the five things never to say or do. Ultimately, Ken uncovers the gifts that substance abuse disorder can provide to your loved ones in the midst of chaos. If you, a family member, or a friend struggle to stay above the water, this discussion is for you.

Welcome back to another episode where our host KL Wells reconnects with Tucker Stine, which follows their first conversation in Episode #11. Shame and judgment are not needed in the workplace. Everyone either has substance abuse issues or knows someone that has it. The goal now is to spread awareness about it. More and more stories are coming out of Corporate America and around the world about the opioid crisis. There is also talk about how rising rates of alcohol abuse disorder are continuing to perpetuate an epidemic with no clear ending in sight.

KL and Tucker dive right back into their own experiences and stories of how we can begin to alleviate shame, the stigma, and the judgment prevalent in today’s society. This is where the narrative begins and changes. Listen to this powerful episode today!

Is it possible to thrive in the middle of alcohol addiction? What role do family members have in making it a possibility? In this episode, Dr. Bill Crawford is back with KL Wells to discuss and explore several key insights into how we can still thrive in the midst of the disease of alcohol and addiction. How we show up, resetting relationships, suspending worry, finding peace of mind and learning how to be the calm in the storm are just some of the many topics they explore together in this powerful conversation. If you did not listen to episode #12, please take a peek. This is another story you will not want to miss.

We take a moment to check in with our VPs Tucker and Jenn, who open up about where they are in their journey. Listen as they uncover their clarity of being a healthy, functioning family now vs. being a dysfunctional family living in a cloud of chaos. They share their humbling lessons of going from surviving the disease to thriving where simple gestures like breakfast in bed and holding hands while walking through the streets of Paris have become transformational. Who knew the power of a simple act of a bagel and coffee could uncover the trust that is being built back in their relationship? Find out how their perspectives have changed and the positive place in their relationship now that is such a gift. Their biggest fear? Losing how far they've come. Take a listen!

Grief is natural to humans, and its intensity resonates with our love for others. Although grief can be overwhelming, it is a healthy process for everyone to transform. In this powerful episode, KL Wells sits down with Dr. Bill Crawford—a licensed psychologist, author of 8 books, and an organizational consultant who helps organizations and individuals access their best knowledge and interpersonal skills, regardless of the situation. In this powerful episode, he and KL dive deep into discovering the 5 Steps of Healthy Grieving, learning how our brain works in times of grief and loss, and how we have the ability to take back our power even in the most traumatic situations. This is all illustrated in his message of “Grieving the Shattered Dream.” Don’t miss this episode!

With 65% of Americans searching for new jobs, only 20% finding fulfillment in work, and 84% saying they are bringing personal trauma to work, it’s no wonder that the mindset of corporate culture continues to struggle. Unfortunately, the conversations around shame and judgment in the workplace are not happening. This includes the understated and often overlooked, an epidemic of growing addiction at the executive level. In this powerful episode, KL and Tucker from Voices InCourage go into great depth on how we can start a new dialogue, change the narrative and offer insights into how business executives, leaders, and change agents can create healthier, safer, and more sustainable places to work. This is a must-see episode, check it out! Maybe you can be that changemaker.

Sol Espinosa is a Holistic Nutrition Health Coach, a Mexican living in Australia, a married mother of two tweens, a marketing entrepreneur, and the daughter of an alcoholic. For the majority of her life, she had a mother who was not emotionally available. A lot of inner work and her studies as a health coach have helped her navigate her mom's alcoholism and family dynamics. Sol started her recovery journey a few years ago, which has been a painful but enriching experience. In this episode, she will explore the gift behind the trauma, the power of self-love and the challenges she and countless others face within the cultural taboos of talking about the disease. Learn more about how she broke her silence and is finding solutions to finding her voice, both for herself and Latin communities.

Addiction can bring your life into total disarray, messing up your career and relationships. Despite this depressing end result, the hope of regaining a thriving life will never be gone. In this episode, Ken Clark shares how to discover self-care amid grief and shame. He talks about facing unaddressed trauma and transforming a crisis into a significant win. Ken also explains how people struggling with these issues behind the scenes can muster the right confidence to face them head-on. This in-depth conversation is a must-listen and serves as a vision for the future of addressing the mental health epidemic sweeping our country!

Today’s guest shifts the conversation around substance abuse disorder and makes forgiveness the dominating theme. Annie is a writer, speaker, and family advocate who focuses on addiction and family dynamics. Most importantly, she’s the mother of a son who is an addict. In 2016, Annie published her memoir, Unhooked: A Mother’s Story of Unhitching from the Roller Coaster of Her Son’s Addiction. Her story is especially relevant in helping us all understand the personal challenges facing parents and family members, and how family dynamics both help and hinder the recovery process. In this episode, Annie shares her heartbreaking and heartwarming story of how her family began to navigate the trauma to find hope and healing through the power of forgiveness. Take a listen!