Thrive While Loving an Addict | Addiction | Sobriety | Recovery | Relapse

More than 50% of American families have a loved one or close relative who is an addict or alcoholic. Although there are ample resources to help these individuals recover, their families suffer, too. Parents, spouses, children, and friends need help navigating this unexpected, challenging disease. Welcome to Thrive While Loving an Addict with KL Wells. She brings together loved ones and family members of addicts and alcoholics. Their insights and perspectives create a community of healing, connecting, and rebuilding. While your addict may be working hard to make themselves better, you may feel left behind to face a different kind of battle. The negative stigma of having a loved one as an addict causes a lot of pain. How are you dealing with loneliness, fear, and shame? There are quick fixes for these difficult moments in your life. Now you can get real and raw advice from people who are walking and dealing with the path you’re on. This podcast highlights the vulnerable and courageous voices of these families. Listen to real-life stories of people who have addicted loved ones, and discover how they addressed the hardships. Also, hear the experiences of recovering addicts that share what is, and isn't, working in their journey towards healing. Gather useful tools and practical advice to alleviate your own journey by delving into these touching and inspiring stories. Contemplate what may not be working, and discover what it takes to face the challenges along the way. This podcast offers a safe platform for the loved ones of addicts. Rise to the challenge, and become a key player in being a part of this fresh community. There are also episodes that will widen your knowledge about addiction recovery. Get educated by real life experiences of people who reveal their journey to help addicts and alcoholics jump back on their feet. In addition to breaking down their practice, they bring a glimmer of hope for what can be done for individuals who may have given up on themselves. KL Wells is a community leader and influential speaker who led initiatives with senior executives, trustees, and board directors of various non-profit organizations. For more than twenty years, she focused on empowering leaders to create extraordinary human impact. Spending time with these people inspired her to do more, and start the company Voices InCourage. Most importantly, KL understands how painful it is to have an addicted loved one. She was married to an alcoholic, her current partner is recovering from alcohol addiction, and her son is an active addict. The mission of this podcast is not just advocacy. It hits very close to home to KL. Her reflections as a wife and mother are something you should not miss. Seeing your loved ones pulled down by drugs and alcohol is truly heartbreaking. As a result, you may feel miserable and isolated. You also have to deal with negative opinions from others, and it is up to you to fend for yourself. Nobody deserves to be treated this way. No one should go through this challenging episode of life alone. This is what KL offers in this podcast: the strength to move forward and guidance to have the courage to change. If you have the courage to use your voice, you can become an inspiration for your friend, spouse, parent, or child as they overcome their addictive behavior. Ultimately, it’s about transforming the lives of loved ones from surviving to thriving in the midst of chaos. Listen to Thrive While Loving an Addict with KL Wells at https://voicesincourage.com/podcast.

Thrive While Loving an Addict | Addiction | Sobriety | Recovery | Relapse is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 107 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.

Unknown Host hosts Thrive While Loving an Addict | Addiction | Sobriety | Recovery | Relapse, a education show with 107 episodes published.

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  Episode #107

  Grief Doesn't Get to Decide Who You Become

  Aug 11, 202641 min

  What happens when life changes in an instant? Within just ten days, Elizabeth Grandinetti lost both her grandfather and her fiancé while recovering from major surgery. The losses were overwhelming, and for a time, grief became the center of her world. This conversation explores what came next: the slow work of healing, rediscovering herself, and learning that while grief changes us, it does not have to define who we become. Episode Summary In this episode of Thrive While Loving an Addict , KL Wells sits down with Elizabeth Grandinetti to talk about navigating profound loss, rebuilding trust in herself, and finding hope after addiction and grief reshaped her life. Elizabeth shares the story of losing her fiancé to an overdose after his relapse following years of recovery, just days after losing the grandfather who helped raise her. Together, KL and Elizabeth explore the importance of community, stillness, self-trust, and the small daily choices that gradually make healing possible. This conversation offers encouragement for anyone grieving a loved one or trying to reconnect with themselves after life has been turned upside down. Key Discussion Points Losing multiple loved ones within days of each other Grieving the loss of a partner to addiction and overdose Recovering physically while navigating overwhelming emotional loss The role of grief support groups and community in healing Friends who showed up with consistent care during difficult seasons How busyness can become a form of emotional avoidance Learning to trust yourself and your instincts again Rebuilding life after profound loss Leaving a successful career to pursue a more meaningful path Reconnecting with joy through intentional daily practices Choosing how grief will shape, but not define, your future Some Questions I Ask What are three to five things you would share with someone who feels lost in grief or in someone else's addiction? When did you begin to realize that the strength you were looking for was already within you? What helped you learn to trust yourself again after everything you experienced? What patterns do you commonly see in the women you coach today? In This Episode, You Will Learn Why grief does not have to determine the rest of your life How community and support groups can provide hope during difficult seasons Why slowing down can reveal what constant busyness often hides How rebuilding trust in yourself happens one step at a time Why reconnecting with joy can become part of the healing process How childhood memories can help reconnect you with feelings of hope and possibility Why major life changes can sometimes lead to greater clarity about purpose How healing can create space for new relationships, new experiences, and a renewed sense of self Resources Learn more about This Way to Joy http://www.elizabeth-grand.com Notable Insight From The Episode "Grief doesn't get to decide who you become." Grief can change the course of our lives, but it does not have to define our identity. Healing often begins through small, intentional choices that gradually help us reconnect with hope, purpose, and ourselves. About the Guest Elizabeth Grandinetti is a Tampa-based coach and founder of This Way to Joy, where she helps women reconnect with themselves after seasons of grief, overwhelm, and life transition. Drawing from her own experiences with profound loss, Elizabeth encourages others to cultivate self-trust, embrace stillness, and intentionally reconnect with joy. Her coaching focuses on helping women move beyond survival and create lives rooted in authenticity, resilience, and purpose. Connect With the Guest Website http://www.elizabeth-grand.com Facebook Elizabeth Grandinetti Instagram @coach_elizabeth_g

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  Episode #106

  Drugs Destroyed My Life, and I Wasn't Even Using Them with Mark Manderson

  Jul 28, 202647 min

  What happens to the eight-year-old boy who finds his aunt collapsed on the floor, pills beneath his feet, and has to call for someone to help her? What happens when, years later, he discovers that the childhood memory he questioned was real? For Mark Manderson, that experience became part of a much larger story. His aunt died from a drug overdose when he was young, but the memory remained buried until therapy helped him revisit it years later. The grief and understanding that followed would eventually influence a career dedicated to helping people and families affected by addiction. Episode Summary In this episode of Thrive While Loving an Addict , KL Wells sits down with Mark Manderson, CEO and founder of Pacific Shores Recovery, to explore what more than two decades of working in addiction recovery have taught him about pain, substance use, family dynamics, and healing. Mark shares his belief that substance use often serves as an attempt to escape or numb deeper pain, and explains why focusing only on the substance can leave important underlying issues unaddressed. Together, KL and Mark discuss anger and grief, the limits of trying to control someone else's recovery, emotional literacy, generational patterns, and what it can mean to love someone without losing yourself in the process. Key Discussion Points Mark's childhood experience of losing his aunt to a drug overdose and how that loss influenced his life's work Revisiting a buried childhood memory through EMDR therapy Why substance use can become a way of numbing or escaping deeper emotional pain The difference between pain that keeps someone stuck and pain that becomes a source of meaning or purpose Why trying to control, fix, or change someone struggling with addiction can exhaust families The grief that may exist underneath anger for parents and loved ones Mark's five foundational freedoms and the patterns he observed among people who sustained recovery Addiction as isolation and the importance of connection and community in recovery Emotional literacy and why understanding feelings can be difficult when those skills were never taught How generational patterns can influence substance use and family relationships Loving someone with an open hand rather than attaching love to a specific outcome How the questions we repeatedly ask ourselves can shape our perspective and beliefs A Gestalt-based exercise Mark uses to explore guilt and shame carried by family members Some Questions I Ask Can you say more about the idea that pain may have something to teach or show us? What does "doing the work" actually look like for someone who has never begun that process? What might be a first step for a parent who feels trapped in anger? Do you see the addiction crisis as an invitation for people and families to become more aware of deeper patterns? How do you continue loving the person while struggling with what addiction is doing? In This Episode, You Will Learn Why addiction may be connected to an attempt to numb underlying emotional pain rather than simply a relationship with a substance How trying to control another person's choices can affect families emotionally Why grief may sit underneath anger, frustration, and exhaustion How pain can be explored and integrated rather than continually avoided The five foundational freedoms Mark identified through his work with people in recovery Why connection and community can play an important role in recovery How emotional literacy can help people better understand what they are experiencing How generational patterns may influence addiction and family dynamics Why the questions we ask ourselves can influence the answers and perspectives our minds repeatedly return to How families can begin examining guilt and shame they may have taken on as their own What it can mean to love someone without making your own well-being dependent on their recovery Resources The Recovery Way by Mark Manderson A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle TED Talk by Mark Manderson About the Guest Mark Manderson is the CEO and founder of Pacific Shores Recovery in Newport Beach, California, and has worked in addiction treatment for more than two decades. His work with individuals and families is informed by both professional experience and his own childhood experience of losing his aunt to addiction. Through his work, Mark focuses on understanding the pain and emotional patterns that can exist beneath substance use while helping individuals and families develop greater awareness, connection, and emotional understanding. His experience includes working with both veterans and civilians navigating addiction and recovery. Mark is also the author of The Recovery Way , a speaker, and a confidence coach who offers educational master classes for individuals and families navigating recovery. Connect With Mark Instagram @markcmanderson Pacific Shores Recovery Newport Beach, California

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  Episode #105

  Why She Had to Move Her Daughter Out to Save Them Both

  Jul 14, 202639 min

  Loving someone through addiction or mental illness can slowly consume every part of your life. The focus shifts to crisis after crisis, while your own well-being quietly slips into the background. In this episode, KL Wells sits down with Lisa Taylor to share the deeply personal story of reaching that breaking point. Together, they explore the difficult decision to step back, the courage it took to rebuild, and how caring for yourself can become an important part of loving someone else. Episode Summary Lisa Taylor is a former corporate sales executive and single mother from Ontario, Canada, whose daughter was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder as a teenager before experiencing a traumatic brain injury the following year. As the challenges continued to grow, Lisa found herself carrying the emotional, financial, and physical weight of trying to keep everything together while gradually losing herself in the process. In this conversation, Lisa reflects on the moment she realized something had to change. She shares how creating healthy boundaries, slowing down, and focusing on her own healing allowed her to rediscover herself while continuing to love her daughter. Together, KL and Lisa explore burnout, generational patterns, spirituality, and the quiet ways healing can influence the people we love. Key Discussion Points Parenting through both mental illness and addiction The emotional and physical exhaustion of long-term caregiving Burnout, financial stress, and losing your sense of self Why setting boundaries is different from abandoning someone you love The difficult decision to create distance for everyone's well-being Rebuilding life after years of crisis management Slowing down and discovering deeper patterns beneath constant busyness How generational patterns become visible through self-reflection Spirituality, stillness, and personal growth during recovery The unexpected ways personal healing can influence family relationships Loving from a distance while remaining connected with compassion Some Questions I Ask At what point did you begin taking your life back? What did slowing down teach you about yourself? How has your daughter become one of your greatest teachers? Was reaching your breaking point what finally opened the door to your own healing? In This Episode, You Will Learn Why setting boundaries with a child is not the same as abandoning them How chronic caregiving can lead to emotional and physical burnout What rebuilding life can look like after losing stability and identity Why personal healing may influence family relationships in unexpected ways How slowing down creates space to recognize generational patterns What loving someone from a healthy distance can look like Why caring for yourself is an important part of supporting someone else How healing often begins by turning inward rather than trying to change another person Resources Sashbear Foundation https://sashbear.org Turn the Lens Inward Podcast Notable Insight From The Episode Sometimes the most loving decision is also the hardest one. Creating distance from someone you love does not always mean giving up. For many families, it can become the boundary that allows both people the opportunity to begin healing. About the Guest Lisa Taylor is a confidence coach based in Ontario, Canada, who helps people move beyond living for the expectations of others and build lives rooted in authenticity and self-trust. After navigating years of supporting her daughter through mental health challenges and addiction, Lisa turned her own healing journey into a source of support for others. She is the co-host of the Turn the Lens Inward podcast, where she shares conversations about mental health, addiction, personal growth, and resilience. Today, she and her daughter also co-own a residential cleaning business, reflecting the new chapter they have built together. Connect With the Guest Website https://glowingconfidence.com

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  Episode #104

  What Sits Right Beside the Worst Thing That Ever Happened to You

  Jun 30, 202651 min

  Healing from trauma rarely happens all at once. It unfolds over time, often in ways that are difficult to recognize while you're living through them. The journey beyond survival can be uncertain, filled with moments of growth, grief, and unexpected clarity. In Part 2 of this conversation, Jason Prokowiew returns to continue sharing his story. Building on the experiences explored in Part 1, he reflects on what came after the interviews with his father, the grief that followed his father's death, and the ongoing work of building a life beyond inherited trauma. Episode Summary This episode continues KL Wells' conversation with Jason Prokowiew, author of War Boys . After spending years trying to understand the effects of growing up in an alcoholic home shaped by generational trauma, Jason found himself facing a new chapter after recording more than fifty hours of conversations with his father and then losing him just months later. Together, KL and Jason explore what healing looks like after understanding begins. They discuss grief, difficult family decisions, the importance of recognizing personal strengths, and how purpose can gradually emerge alongside life's most painful experiences. This conversation offers an honest perspective on the ongoing nature of recovery and the possibility of building a meaningful life beyond survival. Key Discussion Points Healing from trauma as a lifelong process rather than a single breakthrough Returning to old triggers years later and responding with greater awareness Listening to his father's recorded voice decades later and revisiting unresolved emotions The difficult decision to step away from family relationships that no longer supported growth Estrangement, grief, and making painful choices while honoring personal well-being Grief as a companion to healing rather than evidence that healing has failed The "emotional bank account" and the value of intentionally building positive experiences Discovering purpose alongside life's most painful experiences Learning to recognize long-held survival skills as strengths rather than flaws Viewing mental health as an ongoing journey instead of a destination Some Questions I Ask After your father passed away, how did you begin discovering who you were becoming? What did that conversation with your older siblings reveal about your own healing? Why was stepping away from your mother different from leaving other family relationships? What was it like hearing your father's voice again after twenty years? Do you believe your life's purpose sits alongside the most difficult experiences you've lived through? In This Episode, You Will Learn Why healing from trauma often unfolds over many years How old triggers can reappear even after significant personal growth The emotional complexity of creating distance from unhealthy family systems Why grief and healing can exist at the same time How intentionally creating positive experiences can strengthen emotional resilience The difference between survival strategies and personal strengths Why understanding yourself may matter more than reaching a perfect destination How purpose can emerge from experiences that once felt only painful Resources War Boys by Jason Prokowiew Available July 1, 2026 Learn more about War Boys https://warboysbook.com Al-Anon Family Groups https://al-anon.org Notable Insight From The Episode "What we are not going to do is pathologize our strengths." Jason recalls this powerful moment with his therapist as an invitation to reconsider qualities he had spent years viewing as flaws. Many of the traits developed while surviving difficult childhoods can become valuable strengths when they are understood, supported, and used with intention rather than driven by fear. About the Guest Jason Prokowiew is a writer, storyteller, and author of War Boys , a father-and-son memoir exploring generational trauma, addiction, and healing through the lens of his family's history. His work traces his father's survival during World War II, the lasting effects of wartime trauma, and Jason's own journey toward understanding life in an alcoholic family. Drawing from his experiences with Al-Anon, storytelling, and years of personal reflection, Jason writes about resilience, identity, and the possibility of healing across generations. He has appeared on Stories from the Stage and has shared readings from War Boys through literary and educational communities. Connect With the Guest Website https://www.jasonwprokowiew.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jasonprokowiew/

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  Episode #103

  Two Wars: One His Father Fought, One Jason Lived In

  Jun 16, 202650 min

  What does it take to understand a parent who hurt you? Not excuse them. Not justify what happened. Simply understand them in a way that helps make sense of wounds that have been carried for years. In this episode, KL Wells sits down with Jason Prokowiew, author of War Boys , to explore the lasting impact of addiction, generational trauma, and the possibility of finding healing through understanding. Episode Summary Jason Prokowiew grew up as the youngest of thirteen children in a Massachusetts family shaped by alcoholism, silence, and the lingering effects of war. His father survived extraordinary hardship as a child during World War II, carrying experiences of loss, displacement, and trauma that would continue to influence his family for decades. Together, KL and Jason explore what it was like to grow up in an alcoholic home, how childhood survival strategies followed him into adulthood, and the journey that eventually led him to record more than fifty hours of conversations with his father. Through those conversations, Jason gained a deeper understanding of both his father's story and his own. Key Discussion Points Growing up in a household affected by alcoholism and unprocessed trauma The impact of wartime experiences across multiple generations The lasting effects of emotional messages received during childhood The concept of the "dry drunk" and what happens when drinking stops but healing does not Finding your voice after years of learning to stay invisible The influence of teachers, mentors, and supportive communities Panic attacks, emotional overwhelm, and the body's response to unresolved pain The role of Al-Anon in providing language and understanding Curiosity as a pathway toward healing and understanding Understanding a parent's history without minimizing its impact Some Questions I Ask When your father stopped drinking, what was happening inside you that still needed attention? When did you realize that what you thought was shyness might actually have been something else? What helped you continue rewriting your story as new understanding emerged? What motivated you to begin interviewing your father about his experiences? Before your father passed away, did you find your own experience of forgiveness? In This Episode, You Will Learn How growing up in an alcoholic home can shape identity and survival strategies Why childhood coping mechanisms often continue into adulthood The impact of generational trauma on families How mentors and supportive relationships can create new possibilities Why understanding and forgiveness are not always the same thing How curiosity can open doors to healing and connection The value of hearing a loved one's full story How community support can help individuals make sense of experiences that once felt isolating Resources War Boys by Jason Prokowiew https://www.jasonwprokowiew.com/war-boys-praise Al-Anon Family Groups https://al-anon.org The Awakening by Kate Chopin Come and See (1985 film directed by Elem Klimov) Stories from the Stage (PBS) Notable Insight From The Episode "In order to understand what was still hemorrhaging inside of me, I had to hear my dad's stories." This reflection speaks to something many families experience. Understanding the history behind someone's behavior does not erase the pain it caused, but it can offer context, perspective, and a different path toward healing. About the Guest Jason Prokowiew is the author of War Boys , a father-and-son memoir that traces his father's survival during World War II, his immigration to the United States, and the lasting impact of wartime trauma on their family. Through storytelling, writing, and public speaking, Jason explores themes of family, resilience, addiction, and generational healing. He has appeared on Stories from the Stage and has shared readings and presentations about War Boys , including appearances connected to Oberlin College, where he first began recording his father's history. Connect With the Guest Learn more about Jason Prokowiew and War Boys https://www.jasonwprokowiew.com

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