Breaking Down Addiction

Breaking Down Addiction is a podcast from National Addiction Specialists featuring real stories of recovery, resilience, and hope. Each episode dives deep into the lived experiences of people overcoming addiction—raw, unfiltered, and rooted in healing.

Breaking Down Addiction is a health podcast hosted by National Addiction Specialists, with 21 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

National Addiction Specialists hosts Breaking Down Addiction, a health show with 21 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #21

  #21 Kristian Moore — Recovery Beyond Abstinence and Learning to Truly Heal

  Aug 10, 202657 minS1

  Kristian Moore’s recovery story challenges the idea that sobriety is the finish line. For Kristian, putting down drugs and alcohol saved her life—but lasting recovery meant confronting anxiety, depression, perfectionism, shame, and the deeply rooted belief that she was never enough. Raised in Nashville in a religious environment, Kristian struggled with anxiety and depression from an early age. After first using marijuana as a teenager, she believed she had finally found the answer to years of emotional pain. That search for relief quickly escalated into cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, heroin, and eventually severe alcohol dependence, leading to multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, treatment centers, and years of trying to get sober. Everything changed on December 31, 2019. Entering recovery just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Kristian found hope through connection, community, and a willingness to keep showing up—even before she fully believed recovery could work. Today, with nearly six years of sobriety, she openly discusses an often-overlooked reality: that recovery continues to evolve long after substances are removed. In this vulnerable conversation, Kristian and Jonny explore mental health, suicide, spirituality, trauma, perfectionism, boundaries, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and why recovery isn’t about following someone else’s formula—it’s about building a life worth living. You’ll Hear: * Why Kristian says she wasn’t trying to die—she was desperately searching for relief * How anxiety and depression shaped her life long before addiction * Why marijuana felt like the answer to years of emotional pain * How her addiction progressed from marijuana to cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, heroin, and alcohol * What it was like getting sober during the COVID-19 lockdown * Why connection became the foundation of her recovery * How AA meetings helped her long before she fully embraced the program * The role of sponsors, treatment, and community in building lasting sobriety * Why she believes recovery continues to change after years of sobriety * How perfectionism and black-and-white thinking became obstacles in long-term recovery * Why she began questioning whether recovery has to look the same for everyone * An honest discussion about Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), harm reduction, and reducing stigma * How setting difficult family boundaries became essential to protecting her recovery * The difference between self-destruction and self-improvement—and choosing one decision at a time * Why hope sometimes begins by borrowing someone else’s belief until you can believe in yourself Why Listen: * To better understand the connection between addiction, mental health, and emotional pain * To hear an honest conversation about depression, suicidal thinking, and finding hope * To learn why recovery is about much more than simply stopping drugs or alcohol * To understand how recovery evolves over time and why different people heal in different ways * To gain insight into harm reduction and Medication-Assisted Treatment from someone working in the field * To hear why community, vulnerability, and authentic connection remain essential long after sobriety begins * To be reminded that healing isn’t about doing recovery perfectly—it’s about continuing to grow If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

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  Episode #20

  #20 Dacey Fenton —Trauma, Faith, & Finding Freedom Beyond Sobriety

  Jul 29, 20261h 8mS1

  Dacey Fenton’s recovery story is about far more than overcoming addiction. It’s about discovering that getting sober was only the beginning of a much deeper journey toward healing shame, processing trauma, rebuilding identity, and learning what it truly means to feel safe. Growing up in what she describes as a loving home, Dacey’s life changed dramatically after her parents divorced when she was 12. As her sense of safety unraveled, alcohol quickly became more than just a way to have fun with friends—it became an escape from grief she didn’t yet know she was carrying. What began with drinking at 12 eventually progressed to prescription stimulants, marijuana, multiple DUIs, legal trouble, and a life that felt increasingly out of control. After a second DUI, house arrest, and her father taking her to her first AA meeting, Dacey committed fully to recovery at 22 years old. Yet years into sobriety, she experienced what she describes as a second rock bottom—not because of substances, but because unresolved trauma, codependency, and grief finally demanded attention. In this deeply honest conversation, Dacey shares how motherhood unexpectedly triggered buried trauma, how learning to regulate her nervous system transformed her recovery, why community with other women became essential to her healing, and how her relationship with Jesus reshaped her identity. Together, Dacey and Jonny explore shame versus guilt, attachment styles, trauma responses, codependency, parenting, faith, and why recovery is ultimately about becoming whole—not simply abstaining from substances. You’ll Hear : * How Dacey’s parents’ divorce at age 12 shaped her identity and relationship with addiction * Why addiction often begins as an attempt to cope with pain we don’t yet understand * The difference between guilt and shame—and why shame keeps people isolated * How prescription stimulants became part of her early addiction story * Why getting sober did not immediately heal the trauma underneath her addiction * What Dacey means when she says she experienced a “second rock bottom” years into recovery * How becoming a mother unexpectedly triggered PTSD and unresolved trauma * Why learning to regulate her nervous system became a turning point in healing * The role of trauma therapy, breathwork, yoga, and other holistic approaches in her recovery * How codependency became her next addiction after substances * Why finding community with other women transformed her recovery * How faith and an intimate relationship with Jesus became central to her healing * Why recovery often requires embracing discomfort instead of avoiding it * The importance of secure attachment, healthy relationships, and emotional awareness * How Dacey and her son’s father built a healthy co-parenting relationship through recovery * Why she believes healing happens one “yes” at a time Why Listen: * To understand why addiction is often rooted in grief, shame, and unresolved trauma—not simply substance use * To learn how recovery continues long after someone stops drinking or using drugs * To hear practical insights on healing trauma, codependency, and emotional wounds * To better understand the connection between attachment, nervous system regulation, and recovery * To discover why vulnerability and authentic community are essential for lasting healing * To hear an encouraging conversation about faith, hope, and rebuilding identity after addiction * To be reminded that recovery isn’t about becoming a different person—it’s about becoming the person you were always created to be If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

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  Episode #19

  #19 Lee Pepper — Breaking Stigma, Ethical Marketing, & Lessons from 10,000 Recovery Calls

  Jul 13, 20261h 8mS1

  Lee Pepper has spent nearly two decades helping behavioral health organizations reach more people, grow responsibly, and better understand what individuals and families experience when they make the difficult first call for help. A military veteran, author, marketing strategist, four-time Ironman, and longtime friend of the recovery community, Lee brings a unique perspective shaped by leadership, service, data, and thousands of conversations about addiction and treatment. After joining Foundations Recovery Network as its first Chief Information Officer in 2008, Lee helped the organization achieve extraordinary growth while building a marketing approach rooted in ethics, transparency, and measurable impact. Along the way, he listened to more than 10,000 calls from people seeking treatment—and discovered that many organizations don’t have a marketing problem. They have a listening problem. Lee explains why the first question a caller asks—“How much does treatment cost?” or “Where are you located?”—is rarely the question they truly need answered. Behind that question may be years of pain, fear, uncertainty, and the courage required to finally pick up the phone. In this wide-ranging conversation, Lee and Jonny explore the stigma surrounding addiction, the importance of approaching recovery without judgment, ethical storytelling, the hidden practices that can mislead families searching online for treatment, and why helping someone find the right care matters—even when it is not your organization. Lee also shares lessons from serving in the military, working for Ross Perot, completing four Ironman triathlons, mentoring veterans, and writing his book, Never Outmatched: Using Military Tactics to Master the Art of Business and Marketing. You’ll Hear: What Lee learned about addiction by attending open recovery meetings Why people outside the recovery community can mistakenly view addiction as simply a series of bad decisions How listening to more than 10,000 treatment calls changed Lee’s understanding of the first call for help Why asking “How much does treatment cost?” may be a caller’s way of saying, “I don’t know what else to ask” Why Lee says, “If you’re talking, you’re selling. If you’re listening, you’re caring.” The common training mistakes treatment centers make when answering calls from patients and families Why many perceived marketing problems are actually problems with how calls are handled How Foundations Recovery Network grew while using data to make smarter marketing decisions Why helping someone find appropriate treatment is a win—even when they are not admitted to your program How unethical online advertising can mislead families searching for trusted treatment providers Why Lee believes “anonymity is not secrecy” How Betty Ford inspired the creation of Heroes in Recovery and helped change the public conversation around addiction Why ethical standards are essential when marketing addiction treatment How military concepts such as force multiplication and commander’s intent can strengthen organizations What Lee learned about leadership while working with Ross Perot How Veterans Treatment Court helps veterans access treatment, purpose, community, and support Why completing four Ironman triathlons reinforced Lee’s belief in discipline and incremental growth What recovery and endurance training have in common Why meaningful change can begin with something as small as reaching the next mailbox How the principles in Never Outmatched apply beyond marketing and military service Why Listen: To better understand the courage it can take to make the first call for addiction treatment To learn why listening without judgment is essential when supporting people affected by addiction To discover what treatment providers often misunderstand about patients and families seeking help To understand how ethical marketing can connect people with care without exploiting their vulnerability To learn why growth and business success should never come at the expense of patient care To hear practical leadership lessons from Lee’s experiences in the military, behavioral healthcare, and working with Ross Perot To understand how small, consistent actions can create lasting change in recovery, health, leadership, and life To be reminded that treatment is not a quick fix—recovery is a lifelong process of building a stronger foundation To learn more about Lee Pepper and his book, Never Outmatched: Using Military Tactics to Master the Art of Business and Marketing , visit leepepper.com. If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

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  Episode #18

  #18 Logan Terry — Heroin, Grief, & Finding Hope In Recovery

  Jun 30, 20261h 6mS1

  Logan Terry’s story is one of devastating loss, remarkable resilience, and discovering that hope, love, and purpose are stronger than addiction. Growing up outside Nashville, Logan’s addiction began with alcohol at 12 before escalating into OxyContin, Xanax, heroin, fentanyl, and intravenous drug use. What started as teenage partying slowly consumed every part of his life, eventually leaving him homeless, living out of a car, grieving the overdose death of his best friend, and convinced his own story was over. After multiple treatment stays, relapses, and one final desperate night on New Year’s Eve, Logan surrendered completely and embraced recovery. Today, he serves as Executive Director of Hope in the Hills, the nonprofit behind Healing Appalachia, where music, community, and recovery come together to expand access to treatment and long-term recovery across Appalachia. In one of the podcast’s most moving conversations, Logan also shares the heartbreaking loss of his fiancée, Morgan, and how choosing love, service, and purpose has helped him continue moving forward. You’ll Hear: * What Logan would say to himself at the darkest point of addiction * How drinking at 12 led to OxyContin, heroin, fentanyl, and IV drug use * Why he realized “White House wasn’t the problem. Logan was the problem.” * The overdose death of his best friend and how grief fueled deeper addiction * What life looked like living homeless in a car while using fentanyl * The New Year’s Eve moment that led him to make one final call for help * Why his fourth treatment stay succeeded when the others didn’t * How recovery became more than abstinence—it became a way of life * The heartbreaking story of losing his fiancée, Morgan, just weeks before their wedding * How Healing Appalachia uses music to bring hope and recovery to thousands * Why Logan believes connection, love, and purpose are essential to lasting recovery * His advice for families who feel like they’ve run out of hope Why Listen: * To hear an honest story of recovery after fentanyl addiction, homelessness, and repeated relapse * To understand why recovery often takes multiple attempts—and why it’s always worth trying again * To learn how grief can either deepen addiction or become part of healing * To discover the powerful role music, community, and purpose can play in recovery * To gain encouragement if you or someone you love has lost hope * To be reminded that recovery isn’t a 28-day process—and that it’s never too late to keep trying To learn more about Logan Terry, Hope in the Hills, and the Healing Appalachia Music Festival, visit healingappalachia.org. If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

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  Episode #17

  #17 Zach Grace — Heroin, Fatherhood, Faith & the Decision That Changed Everything

  Jun 9, 20261 hourS1

  Zach Grace’s story is a wild ride through addiction, heroin use, incarceration, treatment, fatherhood, faith, and long-term recovery. What began with drinking at 13 quickly escalated into prescription pills, heroin, and intravenous drug use. Zach spent years chasing relief from the anxiety, insecurity, and pain that followed him from adolescence into adulthood. Along the way came arrests, overdoses, treatment centers, probation, and the loss of custody of his newborn son. Everything changed when a compassionate probation officer offered treatment instead of prison and Zach made the decision to give recovery everything he had. Today, nearly eight years sober, Zach is a father, speaker, mentor, recovery advocate, and Business Development Representative for Freeman Recovery Center, helping others find hope when they need it most. You’ll Hear: • What Zach would say to himself at his lowest point in addiction • How a few drinks at 13 led to heroin and intravenous drug use • Why addiction made him believe he wasn’t worth saving • The progression from Percocets and Opanas to heroin • What life looked like living homeless in California while addicted • The role jail, probation, and treatment played in his recovery journey • The emotional impact of losing custody of his son at birth • The story behind his final shot on September 28, 2018 • How faith and recovery became inseparable in his healing process • Why service, therapy, and helping others remain central to his recovery today • The difference between helping and enabling a loved one struggling with addiction • Why collaboration between treatment providers saves lives Why Listen: • To hear an honest, inspiring story of transformation from heroin addiction to recovery • To understand how quickly substance use can escalate when left unchecked • To learn how fatherhood became a turning point in one man’s recovery journey • To hear how faith, treatment, and community can work together to sustain long-term sobriety • To gain practical insight for families supporting a loved one with addiction • To be reminded that recovery is possible, even when everything feels lost If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

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