Talking Addiction & Recovery

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

Talking Addiction & Recovery is a health podcast hosted by Andrew J. Schreier, with 179 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.

Andrew J. Schreier hosts Talking Addiction & Recovery, a health show with 179 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 #179

  Episode 179: Building a Life Worth Living in Gambling Recovery (featuring Sal Guarino)

  Aug 17, 202653 min

  What does recovery look like beyond simply stopping a behavior? Sal Guarino, recovery coach, community engagement specialist with eVive, and longtime advocate for gambling recovery explores that question with us. Sal shares his personal journey from cocaine and gambling addiction to a career dedicated to helping others find hope, purpose, and lasting recovery. The conversation explores the often-overlooked connection between stimulant use and gambling addiction, Sal's evolution from a traditional 12-step approach to a more forward-looking recovery coaching model, and the importance of helping people reconnect with their strengths, goals, and dreams. We also discuss how technology can play a positive role in recovery through platforms like eVive, which provides daily support, peer connection, accountability, and encouragement for individuals looking to stop or manage their gambling. Whether you're a clinician, person in recovery, family member, or someone interested in behavioral health, this episode offers practical insights into how recovery approaches can work together to help people not only survive—but thrive. About the Guest Sal Guarino is the Co-founder of The Recovery Partners and a Community Engagement Specialist with the Evive Community, where he helps individuals and families affected by gambling addiction through recovery coaching, family support, and long-term recovery planning. After overcoming his own struggles with gambling addiction, Sal turned his lived experience into a mission to help others build meaningful, connected, gambling-free lives rooted in honesty, accountability, and personal growth. Known for his direct yet compassionate approach, he speaks openly about the hidden emotional and financial toll of gambling addiction and the possibility of lasting recovery. Links: Website: https://www.therecoverypartners.com/ https://www.salguarino.com/ Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salguarino/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@therecoverypartners Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therecoverypartners Contact Sal@therecoverypartners.com Support the show Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast. To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail hello@andrewjschreier.com The podcast is also a platform for FREE continuing education. Licensed and certified professionals are able to listen to select episodes at no cost. Listen to an episode. Take a quiz. Complete an eval. Earn a certificate. Learn more at www.andrewjschreier.com/continuing-education Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #178

  Episode 178: Supporting Families by Parents Standing Together (featuring Kim Freudenberg)

  Aug 10, 20261h 3m

  In this episode of the Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast, we sit down with Kim Freudenberg, founder of Parents Standing Together, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by youth gambling addiction. Kim shares her family's personal journey after discovering her son's gambling addiction, which began at just 11 years old through video game skins and online gambling opportunities hidden within gaming environments. What started as a seemingly harmless gaming activity eventually evolved into a serious gambling problem, highlighting how accessible gambling has become for today's youth. Together, we explore how gambling is increasingly woven into video games, sports culture, online platforms, and social media, often exposing young people to gambling-related behaviors years before they encounter alcohol or other substances. Kim discusses the warning signs parents should watch for, the stigma families experience, and the critical need for earlier conversations about gambling risks. The conversation also examines the impact gambling addiction has on parents, siblings, and entire families, while highlighting the importance of support groups, education, and compassionate intervention. Kim explains how Parents Standing Together is working to provide resources, advocacy, and community support for families navigating these challenges. Whether you're a parent, educator, coach, clinician, or someone interested in youth behavioral health, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-growing and least-discussed public health concerns affecting young people today. About the Guest Bio: Kim Freudenberg is President of Parents Standing Together. After discovering that her 19 year-old son was struggling with gambling, Kim committed to learning about gambling disorder and its impact on families. In early 2025, she organized a peer support group for parents, which grew into Parents Standing Together, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about youth gambling and supporting families affected by gambling harm. Kim holds the International Gambling Recovery Specialist certification and is deeply committed to education, connection, and prevention to protect young people and support parents. Links: parentsstandingtogether.org hello@parentsstandingtogether.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-freudenberg-igrs-a7a43326b/ Support the show Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast. To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail hello@andrewjschreier.com The podcast is also a platform for FREE continuing education. Licensed and certified professionals are able to listen to select episodes at no cost. Listen to an episode. Take a quiz. Complete an eval. Earn a certificate. Learn more at www.andrewjschreier.com/continuing-education Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #177

  Episode 177: Finding Hope: Grief, Healing, and Recovery After Suicide (Lisa Sugarman)

  Aug 3, 20261h 12m

  What happens when the questions never get answered? In this powerful episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery , author, mental health advocate, and suicide loss survivor Lisa Sugarman sits down to discuss her book, Surviving: Finding Hope After Suicide Loss. Lisa shares the deeply personal story behind the book, including the unique and meaningful role her mother played in helping bring the project to life. Together, they explore the complexities of grief after suicide, the search for answers that may never come, and the reality that healing is not about "moving on" but learning how to move forward while carrying loss with us. The conversation examines the unique challenges faced by those grieving a suicide, including guilt, shame, unanswered questions, and the ongoing struggle to find meaning after tragedy. Lisa discusses why she intentionally integrated practical tools, resources, and coping strategies throughout her book, providing readers with support alongside her personal story. Lisa challenges the common notion that time alone heals grief. Instead, she explores the value of community, connection, support groups, therapy, mindfulness, journaling, and other tools that can help individuals navigate loss and build resilience. The episode concludes with a discussion of Lisa's Help Hub, a free online resource directory designed to connect individuals, families, clinicians, and communities with trusted mental health, crisis, and grief-support resources. Whether you have experienced suicide loss personally, support someone who has, or work in the helping professions, this conversation offers compassion, practical guidance, and a reminder that hope can exist alongside grief. Healing from suicide loss is not about finding all the answers. It is about learning to live alongside grief, building support, accessing helpful tools, and discovering that hope can remain present even in the midst of profound loss. About the Guest Lisa Sugarman is a three-time suicide loss survivor, author, and leading mental health advocate. She’s a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project and a storyteller with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), using her lived experience to help others heal through connection and community. She’s also the Founder of The HelpHUB™, a free online platform offering inclusive mental health resources, crisis support, and treatment options for every community. Lisa cohosts The Survivors Podcast and is the author of Surviving: Finding Hope After Suicide Loss (2026) and three previous books on parenting and embracing our perfect imperfectness. A Safe Place facilitator and board member with Samaritans Southcoast, Lisa’s work has been featured on the Mental Health Television Network and on platforms like Calmerry, Recovery.com , Healthline Parenthood, Grown & Flown, TODAY Parents, The Washington Post, and Psychology Today. She lives and writes just north of Boston. Links: Facebook: facebook.com/thelisasugarman Youtube: youtube.com/@thehelphubonyoutube TikTok: tiktok.com/@thehelphubontiktok Instagram: instagram.com/thehelphub.co Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lisa-sugarman-she-her-hers-16925b69/ My book Surviving: https://a.co/d/0298h9gy Support the show Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast. To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail hello@andrewjschreier.com The podcast is also a platform for FREE continuing education. Licensed and certified professionals are able to listen to select episodes at no cost. Listen to an episode. Take a quiz. Complete an eval. Earn a certificate. Learn more at www.andrewjschreier.com/continuing-education Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #176

  Episode 176: Offline Now: Rethinking Digital Balance Without Shame or Rules (featuring Eli Singer)

  Jul 27, 202647 min

  In this episode of the Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast , we sit down with Eli Singer, author of Offline Now: A Practical Guide to Healthy Digital Balance, to explore how our relationships with screens, social media, and technology impact mental health, recovery, and everyday life. Drawing from decades of experience in digital culture and coaching individuals with ADHD, Eli shares a compassionate, non-judgmental approach to digital balance that moves beyond willpower, shame, or rigid screen-time rules. The conversation dives into Eli’s four-quadrant matrix framework—Ready, Overwhelmed, Stuck, and Unconcerned—and how this model can help clinicians, families, and individuals better understand digital habits without labeling or blaming. We also discuss how conversations about screen use can be integrated into clinical assessments, why setbacks should be viewed as learning opportunities, and what emerging technologies like AI may mean for future relationships with devices and digital companionship. This episode offers practical insight for clinicians, people in recovery, educators, parents, and anyone trying to build a healthier relationship with technology. About the Guest Eli Singer is a Toronto-based founder, writer, and speaker focused on helping families build healthier relationships with technology. He is the author of Offline.now: A Practical Guide to Healthy Digital Balance and the founder of Offline.now, a new wellness platform dedicated to helping families achieve healthy digital balance in a realistic, non-judgmental way. Eli’s approach is grounded in the belief that lasting change comes from confidence, not willpower. Rather than promoting abstinence, alarmism, or “all-or-nothing” digital detoxes, Offline.now offers practical micro-steps and simple frameworks families can use immediately - especially during common friction points like mornings, homework transitions, bedtime, and screen-time boundaries. The platform also includes a growing Digital Wellness Directory, connecting families with vetted professionals - therapists, coaches, and specialists - who can support issues ranging from screen-time conflict and digital dependency to sleep, focus, and family dynamics. Before launching Offline.now, Eli built a career at the intersection of behavior, media, and modern culture. He founded one of Canada’s early social media agencies and worked with leading brands and institutions, giving him a front-row seat to how technology and design influence the “attention economy”, habit formation, and everyday well-being. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review. Links: Take the quiz - https://offline.now/quiz/ Homepage - https://offline.now ADHD & Anxiety resource page - https://offline.now/adhd/adhd-anxiety-the-brain-how-screens-harm-your-focus/ Directory homepage - https://offline.now/experts/ Support the show Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast. To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail hello@andrewjschreier.com The podcast is also a platform for FREE continuing education. Licensed and certified professionals are able to listen to select episodes at no cost. Listen to an episode. Take a quiz. Complete an eval. Earn a certificate. Learn more at www.andrewjschreier.com/continuing-education Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #175

  Episode 175: Bridging Cultures & Conversations: Tribal Communities, Storytelling, and Problem Gambling Prevention (featuring Davina Mena)

  Jul 20, 202655 min

  This episode features Davina Mena, tribal liaison for the Arizona Division of Problem Gambling, discussing the importance of relationship-building, cultural humility, and authentic communication when working alongside tribal communities. The conversation explores what tribal liaisons actually do, why many professionals are still unfamiliar with the role, and how tribal liaisons help bridge communication and collaboration between tribal communities and state agencies. Davina shares why listening first matters more than arriving with predetermined solutions and explains how trust is built through genuine human connection. The discussion also challenges traditional Western approaches to treatment and prevention, particularly in problem gambling services. Storytelling, community, and relationship-centered conversations are highlighted as meaningful ways to engage tribal communities more effectively than statistics or symptom-focused models alone. This episode is a thoughtful conversation about trust, culture, connection, and the future of problem gambling prevention and recovery support. About the Guest Davina Mena, the first tribal liaison for the Arizona Division of Problem Gambling, serves as a bridge between tribal communities and the division. She focuses on addressing problem gambling by promoting the prevention and treatment through culture revitalization and community empowerment. Davina has several years of experience ranging from trauma-informed direct practice to community outreach and prevention. Davina is a 4th generation Tucsonan, proud Chicana and holds a Masters degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. Links: DPG Website: problemgambling.az.gov Immediate problem gambling supports: Text NEXTSTEP to 53342 Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP Chat With us on our website, ProblemGambling.az.gov Follow us on Facebook at Arizona Division of Problem Gambling X at ArizonaDPG Email: dmena@azgaming.gov Support the show Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast. To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail hello@andrewjschreier.com The podcast is also a platform for FREE continuing education. Licensed and certified professionals are able to listen to select episodes at no cost. Listen to an episode. Take a quiz. Complete an eval. Earn a certificate. Learn more at www.andrewjschreier.com/continuing-education Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

  ListenShow Notes

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