Thriving with Addiction with Dr. Jonathan Avery

Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher, M.D., M.F.A., is the Director of the General Psychiatry Residency Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, the Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine, and host of the department’s official podcast, On the Mind (https://weillcornell.org/patient-education/health-podcasts/on-the-mind).
 
After attending Columbia University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a major in Religion, he completed his M.F.A. in Film Production at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. He embarked on a successful career in the entertainment industry as an editor specializing in theatrical and television marketing campaigns for major studio films.
 
Driven by a desire to apply his passion for human narratives to making a deeper difference in people’s lives, he pivoted to medicine, eventually completing his psychiatry residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he has remained ever since as a faculty member. Dr. Knoepflmacher draws on his unique professional background in his work as a psychiatrist, educator, consultant, and public communicator, having appeared as a medical expert across television, print, and other media. He champions a humanistic approach to psychiatry and a deep commitment to destigmatizing common mental health challenges, believing that open conversation and human connection are essential elements of thriving.

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Zac Clark is the Founder and CEO of Release Recovery and a founding board member of the Release Recovery Foundation. A person in long-term recovery, Zac transformed his own experience with addiction into a mission to help others build meaningful, lasting recovery. After beginning his career in direct client care, he grew into a leader in the behavioral health field, combining clinical insight with entrepreneurial vision to expand access to high-quality, individualized treatment. Many first came to know Zac through his appearance on The Bachelorette, where he shared his recovery story with a national audience and has since become a leading advocate for reducing stigma and promoting hope in recovery.

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Richard Taite is currently the founder and Executive Chairman of Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa, an ultra luxury addiction treatment facility, and also the Executive Chairman of 1 Method Centers, affordable substance use disorder treatment facilities. Richard graduated from UCLA with a degree in Political Science and Public Law and intended to become a lawyer, but life and fate had a different plan for him.

After struggling with addiction himself, Richard learned what worked, what didn’t work, and where programs fell short and failed clients. With more than years of continuous sobriety, Richard has transformed his personal struggle with addiction into a lifelong mission to help others, providing him with unique insight into the challenges and possibilities of recovery.

https://www.richardtaite.com/

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Dr. Kenneth Spielvogel is a board-certified physician with nearly 30 years of clinical experience and a specialized focus on addiction medicine, metabolic health, hormonal optimization, and long-term recovery. As Senior Medical Officer at Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa, he helps lead a physician-driven approach to recovery that integrates medical, psychological, and lifestyle interventions to support lasting healing.

A graduate of the George Washington University School of Medicine and residency-trained at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Dr. Spielvogel is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Throughout his distinguished career, he has cared for thousands of patients in areas including women's health, hormone replacement therapy, fertility, prenatal care, minimally invasive surgery, and preventive medicine.

Witnessing the devastating impact of substance use disorders on patients and families inspired Dr. Spielvogel to expand his focus into addiction medicine. He has since dedicated years of continuing education and clinical practice to the treatment of substance use disorders, integrating evidence-based addiction care into both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Today, Dr. Spielvogel is particularly interested in the intersection of addiction medicine, metabolic health, and recovery. His work explores the role of GLP-1 therapies, hormonal health, exercise physiology, body composition, and biomarker-driven care in reducing cravings, improving overall health, and supporting sustainable recovery outcomes.

Known for his compassionate, patient-centered approach, Dr. Spielvogel believes in building strong relationships with those he serves, helping individuals make informed decisions about their health and recovery. Fluent in Spanish, he is committed to delivering culturally competent care to diverse patient populations.

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Jeremy Lipkowitz is a former Buddhist monk, meditation teacher, and ICF-certified executive coach who helps high-achieving men break free from compulsive behaviors—especially porn addiction—and build lives of integrity, discipline, and deep fulfillment. With over 13 years of meditation experience and hundreds of days spent in silent retreat, Jeremy blends ancient wisdom with cutting-edge science to guide individuals toward emotional resilience and personal freedom.

A former genetic researcher who earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Genetics & Genomics and pursued a PhD at Duke University, Jeremy left academia after confronting his own struggles with addiction, shame, and self-judgment. A brief period of monastic training in Myanmar deepened his mindfulness practice and marked the start of a lifelong commitment to personal growth and service.

As the founder of Unhooked Academy and host of the Unhooked Podcast, Jeremy is a leading voice in destigmatizing porn addiction and educating the public on effective, science-based recovery strategies. His work helps men overcome shame, understand the neuroscience of addiction, and create lasting transformation through mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and habit change.

For over a decade, Jeremy has taught at universities, recovery centers, and global companies across the U.S. and Asia. His calm, grounded presence and ability to bridge analytical thinking with inner work make him a sought-after guide for professionals and executives looking to reclaim their lives from digital distractions and self-sabotaging patterns.

https://unhookedacademy.com/

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Pam Jenkins is Chief Executive Officer of Shatterproof and an ex officio member of the Shatterproof Board of Directors, which she joined in 2021. 

Prior to joining Shatterproof, Pam was Chief Public Health Officer and Chief Public Affairs Officer for a leading global communications agency where, for the past two decades, she counseled and partnered with a range of public and private sector clients to change health behaviors and policies, engage stakeholders in critical issues, raise funds and support patient advocacy.   

Pam is best known for leading award-winning health campaigns that break through the clutter of health messaging. She led the team that developed the red dress as a symbol of women and heart disease for National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Heart Association, a landmark initiative that enlisted the fashion industry and numerous corporate partners. For nearly a decade, she worked on HIV/AIDS prevention for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC);  led a tween-targeted alcohol prevention campaign for National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); and helped conceive and run a community-based pilot program to reduce alcohol-related injuries and death among college students in partnership with the University of Virginia and other stakeholders. Much of her public health work has focused on helping vulnerable populations in the U.S. and around the world.   

Pam has a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Colorado, where she serves on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board; and also studied at Harvard University. She lives outside of Washington, D.C., with her husband and two chocolate labradors.   

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Hilary Phelps is a recovery advocate, speaker, coach, and founder of The Right Room, a community dedicated to helping women navigate recovery, personal growth, and life's biggest transitions. A former competitive swimmer and the sister of Olympic legend Michael Phelps, Hilary has become a powerful voice on addiction, mental health, self-compassion, and resilience. Through her speaking, coaching, and podcasting, she helps people move beyond shame and rediscover purpose, connection, and authenticity.

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Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW, is an Endowed Professor in Health Sciences at the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego, where he directs UCSD ONEMIND. A leading figure in mindfulness science and addiction treatment, he developed Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), an innovative intervention grounded in cognitive, affective, and neurobiological research. Dr. Garland has led or co-led more than $90 million in federally funded research, including major trials supported by the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense, focused on addiction, chronic pain, and integrative health. Previously a Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Utah, he has also advised national policy through the NIH HEAL Initiative and briefed both the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and Congress on evidence-based approaches to the opioid crisis. With over 280 scientific publications, he has been identified as one of the most prolific mindfulness researchers globally, and his work has been widely featured in major media outlets. A licensed psychotherapist with more than two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Garland integrates mindfulness-based therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and clinical hypnosis in treating addiction, trauma, and chronic pain, and is widely regarded as a leading expert on mind-body interventions for opioid misuse.

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Ben Mushlin is the founder of Searchlight Therapy, a practice dedicated to providing individualized care for adolescents, young adults, and families navigating substance use and mental health challenges. A psychotherapist whose work is informed by his own lived experience with substance use and trauma, he began his career in New York City’s recovery community in sober living residences before moving into roles as a Recovery Coach, Case Manager, and leader of a NYC Department of Health opioid overdose response team. He earned his Master of Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and has held positions as an outpatient psychotherapist, director of a transitional living program for adults with co-occurring disorders, and Clinical Director at a leading adolescent and young adult outpatient program in New York City.  In 2026, he authored Lighting the Way: A Parent’s Guide to Walking With Teens and Young Adults Through Substance Use and Mental Health Challenges.

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Stephanie Hazard is a highly sought-after recovery coach and companion. In recovery for 26 years, her experiential knowledge, expertise, and professional training, empower her ability to help others achieve and sustain recovery and wellness.

She is a certified peer recovery specialist (CPRS) as well as a certified Carolyn Costin Institute eating disorder recovery coach (CCIEDC). She has been a Keynote speaker and leads recovery and wellness workshops. She is a member of the International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals (IARCP), and the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Stephanie also volunteers her time at Silver Hill Hospital, CCAR, and serves on the Advisory Board of Inservice Foundation. Stephanie launched her private coaching practice in 2020 and continues to work with premier recovery support services agencies in the U.S. and internationally.

 Her book, Making Sobriety Stick: A Recovery Coach’s Guide to Sustainable Change is being published by Diversion Books on September 22, 20-26 during National Recovery Month, and will be distributed by Simon and Schuster.

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