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The Addicted Mind Podcast

"The Addicted Mind Podcast" offers hope, understanding, and guidance for those dealing with addiction, with real stories and research to inspire and show the journey to recovery is worth it.

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How Your Childhood Shapes Your Adult Life

Hi Reader, I’m excited to share a new episode of The Addicted Mind+ that’s particularly meaningful to me. Eric and I discuss something incredibly important: the ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study. This groundbreaking research helps explain how difficult experiences in our early years—like abuse, neglect, or family challenges—can have a lasting impact on our mental and physical health as adults. In our conversation, we break down what the study found, discuss how to recognize the...

Hi Reader, I’ve got a really fascinating episode for you this week. I sat down with Brad Sorte, the co-founder of Sober Companion AI, to talk about how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape addiction recovery. Brad’s own journey from battling addiction to creating new tools for healing is nothing short of inspiring. In our conversation, Brad shares how AI can act as a 24-hour support system—not just for individuals in recovery, but for families too. From guiding parents through...

Hi Reader, What if the harshest critic you’ve ever faced lives right inside your own head? In our latest episode, Eric and I dive into that relentless inner voice that tells us we’re not good enough, we’ll never change, or that we always mess things up. But here’s the good news—you don’t have to believe that voice anymore. Using tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we’ll show you how to challenge those thoughts, rewire your brain, and find a more balanced, compassionate way to talk...

Hi Reader, I just published a new episode that I’m really excited to share with you. It’s called Redefining Recovery: Dr. Adi Jaffe’s Journey from Addiction to Empowerment. Dr. Jaffe’s story is incredible. Imagine being caught in the depths of meth addiction and staring down the possibility of prison—then transforming all of that pain into a life filled with purpose and hope. We talked about his deeply personal recovery process, his struggles with traditional recovery programs, and why he...

Hi Reader, It’s Duane here. We just dropped a new podcast episode, and I really think it’s one of the most important ones Eric and I have done. What if all the ways you’ve tried to deal with anxiety, depression, addiction, or trauma are actually keeping you stuck? In this episode, my guest Eric and I talk about something called creative hopelessness. I know—it sounds heavy, but it’s not about giving up on life. It’s about letting go of the exhausting fight to control how you feel all the...

Hi Reader, I’m thrilled to share this week’s episode with you—it’s one that I believe will deeply resonate with so many of you. Today, I sit down with Justin B. Long, author of The Righteous Rage of a Ten-Year-Old Boy: A Journey of Self-Discovery. Justin opens up about his childhood trauma, the toxic masculinity that kept him trapped in silence, and how alcohol became his way of coping with the pain. But this isn’t just a story of struggle—it’s a story of hope. Justin shares how he found the...

Hi Reader, Have you ever felt like your body is on high alert, as if braced for an impact that never comes? Maybe you're exhausted from living in a state of fight-or-flight, always waiting for the next shoe to drop. And in those quiet, overwhelming moments, you might find yourself reaching for something to switch off the noise—a drink, a pill, a distraction. I want you to know two things right now: You’re not broken. And you’re definitely not alone. When we experience trauma, our brains can...

Hi Reader, I just released a truly moving episode of The Addicted Mind podcast that I think you'll connect with deeply. This week, I had the privilege of speaking with Beau Williams, author of One Year With My Soulmate. Beau shares his powerful and emotional story of navigating life after the heartbreaking loss of his partner, Melanie. From her struggles with unresolved trauma and dependency to his own transformative healing process in Bali, Beau opens up in a way that will resonate with...

Hi Reader, Ever feel like you're caught in a painful cycle that you can’t break free from? Whether it’s addiction, anxiety, depression, or just feeling overwhelmed by life, I’ve been there too. Here’s the hard truth—we make the struggle worse by fighting reality. But I’ve got good news. There’s a way out, and it starts with something called radical acceptance. In our latest podcast episode, Eric and I break down this life-changing tool from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) that’s helped...

Hi Reader, Are you allowing yourself the grace to celebrate each small victory on your recovery path? Healing isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. Think of recovery like planting a seed. At first, it might not look like much... But with consistent watering (aka self-care) and sunlight (support from your community), it grows. Some days, weeds (stress, triggers) might sneak in—that’s okay. Pull them out and keep tending to your garden. The truth? Every small step forward matters....