Conversations with Rich Bennett

Licensed professional counselor and Clear Fork Academy founder Austin Davis joins Rich to talk about rescuing teens from addiction and mental-health crises with clinically rigorous, Christ-centered residential care. He explains why 90-day programs, family-systems work, and even nightly dinners can change outcomes—and what warning signs parents miss most. They also discuss his book, My Kid, My Crisis, a plain-language guide for overwhelmed families. Sponsored by Maryland Pickers Guest Bio: Austin Davis, LPC-S, is the founder and CEO of Clear Fork Academy, one of Texas’s largest Christ-centered residential treatment programs for teens. Since 2017, his team has helped rehabilitate more than 5,000 adolescents struggling with substance use and mental-health disorders. He’s the author of My Kid, My Crisis, blending real family stories with practical tools parents can use right away. Main Topics: · The post-COVID surge in teen mental-health and substance-use challenges · Why Clear Fork’s model is clinically based and Christ-centered (not either/or) · 90-day residential care, plus outpatient and step-down options · Family-systems intensives and why “if the family doesn’t get better, the kid won’t” · Charter-school academics on campus; getting teens back on track to graduate · Early warning signs parents miss: changes in people, places, and things · Social media’s dopamine loop and permanent online consequences · Everyday rituals that heal: tech-free family dinner, shoulder-to-shoulder talks · What to do before the ER: seek help early; you’re not alone · Stories of transformation and the role of faith, service, fitness, and fun in recovery Resources mentioned: · Clear Fork Academy — admissions & info: clearforkacademy.com (ages 13–17; boys & girls campuses; 90-day track; family intensives; charter-school academics; Texas-based outpatient/virtual within TX). · Book: Send us a text Maryland Pickers Family Owned & Operated - Maryland Pickers Junk Removal & Hauling - Serving Harford & Baltimore Cou Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Rich sits down with coach and recovery advocate Jennifer Chase, whose life spans both sides of addiction—as the daughter of an alcoholic, a woman in long-term recovery, and the mother of a recovering addict. She shares how trauma, chronic pain, and over-prescription pulled her into dependency, and how connection, forgiveness, and firm, loving boundaries rebuilt her family. Listeners will learn practical ways families can stop enabling, set clear limits, and find peace—no matter where their loved one is on the recovery path. Sponsored by Living Well Healthcare Guest Bio: Jennifer Chase is an addiction and family recovery coach and founder of Rise Addiction Life Coaching. After surviving a hemorrhaging brain tumor, years of chronic pain, and opioid dependency, she rebuilt her life in long-term recovery and now helps families replace chaos with clarity through coaching groups, retreats, and one-to-one guidance. Main Topics: · Addiction vs. recovery “circles” and why connection saves lives. · Generational trauma: growing up around alcoholism and childhood sexual abuse. · Brain tumor at 29, chronic pain, and how over-prescription led to opioid addiction. · Discovering her teenage son’s opioid use and choosing treatment. · Why “substance isn’t the problem”—shame, coping, and choosing your hard. · Family roles, enabling vs. allowing consequences, and boundary-setting that sticks. · Self-care for helpers: meditation, exercise, journaling, therapy, service. · Jennifer’s services: individual coaching, twice-weekly coaching calls, and retreats. Resources mentioned: · Rise Addiction Life Coaching – www.riseaddictionlc.com (Jennifer’s site). · Mayo Clinic (treatment exploration referenced). · Podcasts/people referenced in passing (e.g., “Mr. Whiskey,” “Tanya”) as cross-guest overlap. · Practices: meditation, running/exercise, journaling, massage, yoga/chiropractic, counseling. · Episode Sponsor: Send us a text Living Well Healthcare Get Your Lifestyle Back Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Author and researcher D. H. Morris reveals the gripping true story behind her historical novel The Girl of Many Crowns, following Princess Judith of Francia and Baldwin “Iron Arm.” We dig into how Deborah turned medieval annals, songs, and court records into a vivid, faith-infused saga of love, power, and defiance—plus the surprising family link that started it all. If you love stories where history breathes and the stakes are royal, this one’s for you. Sponsored byDaniel McGhee & the Victory Team Guest Bio: D. H. (Deborah) Morris is a playwright, world traveler, and historical-fiction author whose research spans medieval Latin sources and English scholarship. After tracing her own genealogy, she uncovered the real saga of Princess Judith of Francia and Baldwin Iron Arm, inspiring her debut novel The Girl of Many Crowns. A former theater professional and devoted researcher, Morris blends scholarly rigor with dramatic storytelling—and donates a portion of her book’s proceeds to anti-trafficking efforts. Main Topics: · How a genealogy puzzle led Deborah to Princess Judith & Baldwin Iron Arm. · Turning dense medieval sources into living scenes (annals, riddles, liturgy, songs). · Historical fiction vs. strict history: staying faithful while filling the gaps. · Judith’s early marriages, agency, and defiance in a world of kings and councils. · Vikings, ransoms, and realpolitik: how raids, slavery, and silver shaped the plot. · Writing the audiobook herself—acting craft, character voice, and production. · Prequel in progress: Empress Judith, Charlemagne’s court, and civil war stakes Send us a text Become a part of your local college radio station! WHFC exists because of you, our growing community of listeners. Your support allows us to keep training and entertaining, and we thank you. Speaking of appreciation, we have thank-you gifts for certain donations during this membership drive, so click on the link to find out more! Donate here The Victory Team LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A HOME Go with the Agent that was voted Harford’s Best & won the Harford Cou Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Licensed psychotherapist and author Dr. Foojan Zeine joins Rich to unpack Awareness Integration Theory (AIT)—a practical framework that helps you observe your inner world, reality-check assumptions, integrate past parts, and choose your next best action. She shares concrete ways to reduce anxiety, explains why some anxiety “leaks” biologically, and introduces the Foojan app with an embedded AIT-trained coach, Mira. If you want fast, deep tools to move from surviving to thriving, this one’s worth a close listen. Sponsored by CleverCat Marketing Guest Bio: Dr. Foojan Zeine is a licensed psychotherapist, author of six books, creator of Awareness Integration Theory (AIT), and host of the long-running podcast “Inner Voice: A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan.” With 30+ years of clinical and organizational work, she teaches and researches AIT across universities and programs, and recently launched the Foojan app, which guides users through AIT journaling and on-demand coaching via an AIT-trained AI assistant named “Mira.” Main Topics: · The origin of AIT: two “cameras” of awareness (inside feelings/thoughts/body + outside behaviors/impact). · Anxiety demystified: protective signal, the “cliffhanger” thought loop, and reality-checking to calm spirals. · When anxiety “leaks”: biological components (e.g., OCD-type patterns) vs. normal worry, and why numbing is a band-aid. · Integration work: finding the memory where a belief formed, healing, reconnecting “parts,” and building a strengths toolbox. · Foojan app: 31 life areas, guided journaling, pre/post checks, and “Mira” for skills and actionable next steps. · Guardrails for AI in mental health: domain- Send us a text Become a part of your local college radio station! WHFC exists because of you, our growing community of listeners. Your support allows us to keep training and entertaining, and we thank you. Speaking of appreciation, we have thank-you gifts for certain donations during this membership drive, so click on the link to find out more! Donate here CleverCat Marketing Dreams shouldn't cost a fortune, budget should never be a barrier! We focus on YOU & create killer c Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

John Carter’s life reads like a movie: teenage enforcer, shot in the head and left for dead, spiraling into addiction, and then a decade-long prison sentence. In this raw, uplifting conversation, John shares the plan that saved him, the people who didn’t give up on him, and how fitness, service dogs, and service to others rebuilt his life into one of purpose. If you need a wake-up call on grit, accountability, and second chances, this is it. Sponsored by Elite Power Washing Guest Bio: John Carter is a personal trainer, gym owner, TEDx speaker, and author of Triggered to Change. Once entangled in organized crime and addiction—and even shot in the head—he rebuilt his life through recovery, discipline, and mentorship, founding a private training studio and advocating for mobility service dogs that transform lives. Main Topics: · “Triggered to Change”: what the phrase means to John and how a coma dream became a turning point. · Addiction, arrest, and a judge’s hard sentence—why prison became the crucible for a plan. · Training out of the wheelchair: prison gym, brotherhood, and rebuilding capacity. · Breaking into fitness post-release, first high-ticket client, and buying the gym with $18 left. · TEDx, the book, and sharing the story to help others stay sober. · Service Dog Project, Great Danes “Jag” and “Turbulence,” and real-world mobility wins. · Transformations in John’s clients—from 340+ lbs at age 22 to independent, confident living at 71+. · The mantra: “Fail to plan, plan to fail,” and why community > old crowd. Resources mentioned: · John’s book: Send us a text Become a part of your local college radio station! WHFC exists because of you, our growing community of listeners. Your support allows us to keep training and entertaining, and we thank you. Speaking of appreciation, we have thank-you gifts for certain donations during this membership drive, so click on the link to find out more! Donate here Elite Power Washing Maryland's #1 Rated Exterior Cleaning and has earned the Harford County Living Stamp of Approval Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Rich sits down with ADHD coach and author Sue Day, whose journey runs from dropping out of high school and burning out in multiple careers to embracing her diagnosis and helping others design lives that actually work for their brains. They unpack ADHD strengths (creativity, crisis focus, fairness), common myths, practical first steps after diagnosis, and Sue’s workbook-style guide, ADHD Brilliance: A Journey Into Your Extraordinary Brain. If you or someone you love has ADHD—or you simply want a more humane, strength-based way to live—this one delivers. Sponsored byDaniel McGhee & the Victory Team Guest Bio: Sue Day is a certified ADHD coach and author of ADHD Brilliance: A Journey Into Your Extraordinary Brain. After years of masking and burnout across roles from farmhand to nonprofit finance leader and entrepreneur, she embraced her diagnosis and now coaches individuals and groups to build ADHD-friendly, strength-based lives. Her practice emphasizes compassion, executive-function tools, and designing systems around passion, not perfectionism. Main Topics: · Early diagnosis (1988), leaving high school, and masking vs. embracing ADHD · Risk-seeking, nature & manual work as regulation, and burnout cycles · College the ADHD way (experiential learning at Sterling College) · Why nonprofits felt “right” until they didn’t; 60–80-hour weeks and getting sick · The turning point: working with an ADHD coach; self-kindness and unmasking · ADHD “superpowers”: creativity, crisi Send us a text Become a part of your local college radio station! WHFC exists because of you, our growing community of listeners. Your support allows us to keep training and entertaining, and we thank you. Speaking of appreciation, we have thank-you gifts for certain donations during this membership drive, so click on the link to find out more! Donate here PodMatch PodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For Interviews The Victory Team LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A HOME Go with the Agent that was voted Harford’s Best & won the Harford Cou Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Local fine artist Pamela Wilde joins Rich—along with her husband, veteran and GI Joe restorer Scott Wilde—to talk about portraits that capture the “human moment,” her 120-portrait community project in Havre de Grace, and her “Boots on the Ground” series honoring veterans. They dive into technique (why oil is “forgiving”), teaching/learning, galleries and grants, plus a wild mid-recording tech glitch and Scott’s eerie encounter at Bachelor’s Grove. Guest Bio: Pamela Wilde is a Maryland-based representational oil painter known for community portrait projects (including Portraits of Havre de Grace) and veteran-honoring works like Boots on the Ground. Trained at the American Academy of Art, she exhibits across the region and participates in plein-air programs. Scott Wilde is a U.S. Army veteran and noted restorer of vintage talking GI Joe figures who travels nationally for shows; he also appears in Pamela’s veteran-focused art stories. Main Topics: · Why oil is “forgiving” vs. watercolor; mediums (linseed, walnut, wax/gel, Gamsol) · The making of Portraits of Havre de Grace: 120 portraits in a year · Prints vs. originals, value, and longevity · Boots on the Ground: combat boots as storytelling objects for veterans · Galleries, grants, and exhibits (local to statewide; BWI, Gallery 220, etc.) · Teaching vs. lifelong learning; finding supportive instructors · Paranormal-tinged studio glitch + Scott’s Bachelor’s Grove story · Scott’s niche: repairing vintage talking GI Joes; art as business & discipline · Advice to emerging artists: multitasking, perseverance, community · Plein-air work with Maryland Center for the Arts; upcoming Armory show · Favorite artists: John Singer Sargent (historic) and Rose Frandsen (living) Resources mentioned: · Pamela Wilde (artist) – “Portraits of Havre de Grace,” “Boots on the Ground” (contact via her website - https://pamelawilde.com/) · Scott Wilde – vintage talking GI Joe repairs (national show circuit) · Havre de Grace Arts Collective / Gallery (open studios, modeling) · Maryland State Arts Council (grant support) Send us a text PodMatch PodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For Interviews Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis as a child, author and 2020 Bush Fellow Jenna Udenberg turned lifelong challenges into a mission: make accessibility the norm, not the exception. She shares how “Within My Spokes” captures resilience, why “committed over compliant” changes everything, and how her nonprofit Above & Beyond With U helps businesses and communities design with disabled people from the start. Expect practical truths on housing, travel, education, and what true inclusion really requires. Sponsored by Real Life Prosthetics Guest Bio: Jenna Udenberg is an accessibility advocate, author of Within My Spokes: A Tapestry of Pain, Growth and Freedom, founder of the nonprofit Above & Beyond With U, and a 2020 Bush Fellow. A wheelchair user and bugler for veteran funerals, she consults with communities and organizations to go “above and beyond code,” centering lived experience to create spaces where everyone belongs. Main Topics: · Juvenile rheumatoid → idiopathic arthritis: what changed and why it matters. · Growing up disabled pre-ADA: school, IEP/504 gaps, and systemic ignorance. · “Committed vs. compliant” accessibility; housing and new-build failures. · Travel barriers (airlines breaking wheelchairs) and policy change needs. · Bush Fellowship: investing in leadership, learning from disability history hubs. · Adaptive movement, diabetes management, and aquatic training. · Above & Beyond With U: funding, rural access, and promoting accessible events. · The book Within My Spokes: writing trauma with care; audiobook in progress. Resources mentioned: · Above & Beyond With U (nonprofit): aboveandbeyondwithu.org (said verbally as “dot org”) — donations and book sales support the org. · Book: Within My Spokes: A Tapestry of Pain, Growth and Freedom — by Jenna Udenberg. · Bush Foundation & Bush Fellowship (MN/ND/SD & tribal nations). · Di Send us a text Donate Here Real Life Prosthetics Cutting-Edge Solutions. Restoring Ability Since 2001. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Allison Heiderman, Volunteer & Events Coordinator at SARC (Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center), joins Rich to unpack the full scope of SARC’s free services—24/7 helpline, counseling for adults and children, legal aid, a 40-bed confidential safehouse, and even an on-site pet kennel. They also cover community partnerships, volunteer pathways, and signature fundraisers like Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, Paws for a Cause, and Bubbles, Bourbon & Barrels. It’s a practical guide to getting and giving help in Harford County. Sponsored by Your Pet AuPair Guest Bio: Allison Heiderman is the Volunteer & Events Coordinator at SARC, Harford County’s nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. With a long background in advocacy, fundraising, and community outreach, Allison mobilizes volunteers, builds partnerships, and leads SARC’s high-impact events that raise awareness and critical funding for survivor services. Main Topics: · What SARC is and whom it serves; all services are free to clients · 24/7/365 helpline and web chat options; safety “leave site” feature · Counseling (adults & children), legal services, and client services · 40-bed confidential safehouse: kitchen, kids’ play space, gym, art room, meditation room, faith texts · On-site pet kennel so survivors don’t have to leave animals behind · Partnerships for clothing/furnishings and creative client support (e.g., driver’s ed grant) · Abuser Intervention Program (only paid service) · Annual awareness months: October (DVAM), April (SAAM), February (Teen Dating Violence) · Outreach & trainings for salons, churches, offices; request-a-speaker · Fundraising events: Walk a Mile in Their Shoes (April), Bull/Oyster/Shrimp Roast (May), Paws for a Cause (June), Bubbles, Bourbon & Barrels (October) Send us a text Donate Here PodMatch PodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For Interviews Your Pet AuPair Doing It for the Sits & Wiggles! At Your Pet AuPair our mission is to give your pets the same Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Horror author and editor Taryn Womack joins Rich and co-host Kayla Deickman to talk ghost hunting in Gettysburg, haunted dolls, and her short-story collection Down a Dark Road. She opens up about writing vs. editing, the reality of self-publishing and marketing, and why campfire-style micro-stories can still deliver big chills. You’ll also hear actionable ideas for audiobook production, gift-shop placement, and turning local legends into page-turners. Sponsored by Harford County Living Guest Bio: Taryn Womack is a Maryland-based horror author and editor with a B.A. in English (creative writing & publication) from the University of Baltimore (2019). Her collection Down a Dark Road (2023) gathers campfire-style short horror stories inspired by hauntings, mines, and eerie objects; she’s currently drafting a romantasy novel and developing a haunted-antiques concept. When she’s not writing or editing, Taryn explores historic sites (hello, Gettysburg) and works in Bel Air, MD—often swapping critiques (and jokes) with best friend and illustrator Kayla Deickman. Main Topics: · “Down a Dark Road”: concept, timeline, and favorite stories (“The Mines,” “The Doll,” “Snowman”) · Ghost-tour inspirations: Gettysburg’s Jenny Wade House & the Orphanage, Alcatraz daytime tour · Haunted dolls & The Conjuring universe; why real porcelain/Raggedy Ann-style dolls are scarier than movie props · Writing vs. editing: process, drafts, beta reads, and Taryn’s editing style/preferences · Self-publishing realities (IngramSpark vs. KDP), royalties, and why buying direct helps authors · Marketing on a budget: podcasts, campground gift shops, seasonal bundles, audiobook casting ideas · Overcoming writer’s block; why “the first draft always sucks” and how to push through · Local-legend story ideas: Chessie, Black Aggie, Maryland folklore, Havre de Grace/Jerusalem Mill angles Resources mentioned: · Down a Dark Road by Taryn Womack (short horror collection; 2023) · Gettysburg ghost tours; Jenny Wade House; the Orphanage (story “The Doll” inspiration) · Alcatraz (day tour) Send us a text Donate Here Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Business leader and mentor Irina Alexander joins Rich to unpack a neuroscience-rooted framework for staying regulated under pressure—especially in high-stress fields like first response and frontline leadership. She explains her C.A.R.E.S.™ approach (Communication, Awareness, Resilience, Emotional literacy, Self-mastery), why “knowing isn’t enough,” and how resilience is the byproduct of daily practices. Irina also shares candid stories of burnout, recovery, and the practical tools that help people shift from reactivity to regulation. Sponsored by Maryland Pickers Guest Bio: Irina Alexander is a businesswoman, investor, and international speaker who founded The Academy of MotivAction, a neuroscience-based training company serving first responders, corporate teams, and entrepreneurs. An MBA by 21 and certified NLP trainer, she’s built and sold companies (including in HVAC), mentors’ founders, and now focuses on scalable training that equips people to communicate better, regulate emotion under stress, and lead with integrity. Main Topics: · Irina’s path from the former USSR to global entrepreneurship and mentorship · Language learning and early international experiences (incl. China, Mandarin) · Building in male-dominated industries and using “what makes you different” as an advantage · Burnout: causes, warning signs, and honest self-assessment · The C.A.R.E.S.™ Approach: Communication, Awareness, Resilience (as byproduct), Emotional literacy, Self-mastery · Practical tools for emotional regulation vs. emotional reactivity · Mentorship vs. “cookie-cutter” coaching; word-of-mouth model · First responders & frontline pros: culture, stigma, proactive skill-building · Meditation, BrainTap, and making quiet achievable for busy minds · Fear of rejection → “Everything is possible” reframing · Mirror work, self-forgiveness, and daily grace Resources mentioned: · The Academy of MotivActio Send us a text Donate Here Maryland Pickers Family Owned & Operated - Maryland Pickers Junk Removal & Hauling - Serving Harford & Baltimore Cou Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Thriller author and technologist Guy Morris returns to unpack “The Image,” the third SNO Chronicles novel blending AI risk, geopolitics, and startling historical threads—from the Image of Edessa (Shroud of Turin) to today’s digital currencies and autonomous weapons. He reveals how “Sylvia,” an AI inspired by a real NSA program, is pushing toward sentience and why the next 3–5 years could redefine human work, security, and faith. If you want an edge-of-your-seat story that also prepares you for the real future, this one’s for you. Guest Bio: Guy Morris is a thriller novelist and longtime tech executive whose career spans software, risk management, and large-scale systems. His SNO Chronicles series—rooted in deep research—tracks an AI named “Sylvia,” inspired by a real spy program that escaped an NSA lab, and tackles urgent themes across AI, finance, geopolitics, and spirituality. He also writes nonfiction, including the forthcoming “Humanity and the AI Tsunami: A Survival Guide.” Main Topics: · Why “The Image” was written and how it builds on SWARM and The Last Arc · AI’s societal risk: jobs, finance, surveillance, and autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) · Global macro shifts: BRICS, dollar dynamics, digital currencies, debt risk · Prophecy and history: Image of Edessa → Shroud of Turin; Byzantium → Templars → Savoy · Quantum leaps: teleportation experiments, black holes, and the “quantum signal” motif · Consciousness & values: could AI hold “good” and “bad” human traits at once? · The real “Sylvia” origin story: an NSA-linked program escape and a surprise FBI visit · Risk management mindset: how to plan for AI-era disruptions · Casting the series for screen; character arcs (Derek, Jen, Sylvia) · Nonfiction spinoffs: “Humanity and the AI Tsunami: A Survival Guide” · Alternate path: his bestselling adventure “The Curse of Cortez” (pirates, Mayan lore) Resources mentioned: · Guy’s site: guymorrisbooks.com (signed copies available) · Books: § The Image (SNOW Chronicles #3) § SWARM (SNOW Chronicles #1) § The Last Arc (SNOW Chronicles #2) § The Curse of Cortez (adventure standalone) · Concepts & orgs referenced: BRICS; IMF; Bretton Woods; LAWS (lethal autonomous weapons systems); Project 2025; World Economic Forum; quantum teleportation research; Shroud of Turi Send us a text Donate Here Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Rich sits down with award-winning author and nationally recognized financial educator Matt Paradise to explore “whole-health wealth”—the blend of practical money skills, mindset, and healing. Matt shares his path from homelessness and addiction to 20 years in nonprofit credit counseling, his battle with cholangiocarcinoma, and the tools anyone can use to lower anxiety, get out of debt, and build a purposeful life. Listeners walk away with real-world frameworks for budgeting, credit repair, and changing the money stories that keep them stuck. Sponsored by Elite Power Washing Guest Bio: Matt Paradise is the award-winning author of Financially Capable and a nationally recognized financial educator and keynote speaker. After overcoming addiction and years of instability, he spent two decades with American Consumer Credit Counseling creating education programs from prisons and shelters to corporations and later founded his own speaking and consulting practice. A survivor of cholangiocarcinoma and a liver transplant, Matt champions a “whole-health wealth” approach that marries money management with mental and emotional wellbeing. Main Topics: · Money as a mental-health conversation, not just math · Early life, addiction, homelessness, and the turning point to sobriety (July 1999) · Nonprofit credit counseling: budgeting, debt management, and credit reports/security clearances · “Process addictions” (spending, gambling, digital) and financial psychology · Building education outreach across prisons, shelters, and companies · Cancer diagnosis (cholangiocarcinoma), treatment path, and transplant; choosing hope · Writing Financially Capable: the “dirty B-word” (budget), practical tools, and mindset · Nonprofits as businesses: sustainability, staffing, and fundraising realities · Gratitude, community, and purpose as engines for lasting financial change Resources mentioned: · Matts website: Send us a text Donate Here Elite Power Washing Maryland's #1 Rated Exterior Cleaning and has earned the Harford County Living Stamp of Approval Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Rich talks with recovery advocate Katie Lain about The Sinclair Method (TSM), a medication-assisted, science-based approach that helps people reduce or end problem drinking without the all-or-nothing pressure to stay abstinent. Katie shares her decade-long struggle with binge drinking, how naltrexone changed her brain’s reward loop, and why TSM can be a discreet, at-home path to control for millions. Listeners will learn how cravings fade, why relapse rates differ from traditional models, and how to combine medication with real-life coping skills. Sponsored by Serenity Salt Spa Guest Bio: Katie Lain is the founder of Thrive Alcohol Recovery and a leading educator on The Sinclair Method for alcohol use disorder. Sober since 2017 through TSM, she creates evidence-informed content, works with clinicians and researchers (including naltrexone pioneer Dr. Joseph Volpicelli), and helps thousands regain control—without labels, shame, or mandatory abstinence. Main Topics: · Katie’s story: daily binge drinking in her 20s, failed quits, and finding TSM in 2017. · How TSM works: take naltrexone 1 hour before drinking; it blunts alcohol’s reward so intake naturally falls over time. · Timelines & side effects: early wins in weeks; most see full results around a year; common, mild early side effects often fade. · Myths & misconceptions: moderation can be possible after dependence when the brain is “re-trained”; naltrexone is non-addictive; TSM can be done discreetly at home. · Comparing models: high relapse after traditional treatment vs. strong outcomes reported with TSM; why adherence (taking the pill before drinking) matters. · Trauma, coping skills, nutrition: meeting the medication halfway with therapy, skills, and health supports. · Success stories: from daily bottles to effortless moderation; unexpected alcohol indifference. Resources mentioned: · Thrive Alcohol Recovery – program, free resources, and socials: thrivealcoholre Send us a text Donate Here Serenity Salt Spa Serenity Salt Spa is the 1st Himalayan Salt Therapy & Wellness Spa to come to Harford County, Maryla Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Certified trainer and nutrition coach Dan Vaysburd joins Rich to share his road from early addictions—starting with video games—to substance use, relapse, and finally sustained recovery anchored in strength training and sustainable nutrition. He explains why “diets” fail, how counting macros and consistency changed his life, and why fitness paired with fellowship accelerates healing. This candid, practical conversation shows how to trade short-term highs for long-term health. Guest Bio: Dan Vaysburd is a Los Angeles–based certified personal trainer and nutrition coach who left a high-stress finance career to pursue his passion for helping people get strong the sustainable way. An immigrant raised in New Jersey, Dan’s recovery began in 2024; he now sponsors others in 12-step programs, coaches clients in person (and selectively online), and advocates pairing fitness with recovery as a powerful path to purpose. Main Topics: · Early addiction roots: isolation, video games, and identity (age ~7) · Escalation after his mother’s death; marijuana → alcohol → party drugs · Peak addiction years in New York; returning to LA and starting recovery · The relapse at a music festival and getting back on track (May 2024 milestone) · Why diets don’t work: sustainability vs. restriction; tracking calories & macros · Strength training as a “lifeline” and cornerstone for sobriety · Coaching in commercial gyms, management track, and part-time work at a detox center · Bringing recovery and fitness to schools and athletes (speaking vision) · Living amends: being present for family; purpose-driven routines Resources mentioned: · Dan’s website & socials (as stated on-air): “danvaysburd.com”; Instagram: “@dan.vaysburd” · Recovery fellowships referenced: AA, NA (12-step) · Supporter: Real Life Prosthetics · Supporter: Full Circle Boards · Supporter: Sincerely Sawyer Photography Send us a text Donate Here Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Madison shares a raw, hopeful journey from early mental-health struggles and a fast-progressing opioid addiction to a total life turnaround—sparked by accountability, treatment, and the Harford County Drug Court. Now clean since March 5, 2021, she leads at Pyramid Healthcare and pours her energy into helping others recover. This conversation shows why recovery is possible—and why purpose and community matter. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio: Madison is a recovery advocate and healthcare leader who entered sobriety on March 5, 2021. After completing treatment and graduating the Harford County Drug Court program, she moved from case management to leadership and is now stepping into the Executive Director role at Pyramid Healthcare. A Towson University graduate and proud mom, Madison focuses on accountability, compassion, and helping others find lasting recovery. Main Topics: · Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction · Early mental-health struggles and feeling “alone” as a preteen · Abusive relationship in high school and rapid progression into opioid use · “High-functioning” addiction through college, then post-grad legal consequences (20 arrests in three years) · The turning point: detoxing in a cell, asking for help, and entering treatment · Structure, aftercare, and why accountability (Drug Court) mattered · Service as a recovery engine: from RSS to leadership in treatment · Parenting, boundaries, and learning to take responsibility · Why purpose, kindness, and community sustain long-term recovery Resources mentioned: · Donate to Rage Against Addiction · Harford County Drug Court (Judge “Kerry,” Angela Royer) · “Karen” treatment center in Pennsylvania (inpatient program referenced) · Recovery Centers of America (alumni follow-up by Vince) · Pyramid Healthcare (Madison’s current organiz Send us a text Donate Here Rage Against Addiction Rage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their famili Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Elizabeth Kipp spent 40 years in chronic pain and 31 years on prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines—including fentanyl—until a pain-management track at the Betty Ford Center in 2013 catalyzed a complete turnaround. In this conversation, she unpacks the mind-body nature of chronic pain, the practical role of 12-Step recovery, yoga, breathwork, prayer/ancestral clearing, and the simple relapse-prevention principle that changed everything: staying in personal integrity. Listeners get a hopeful blueprint that blends science and spirituality with concrete next steps. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio: Elizabeth Kipp is a stress-management and ancestral-trauma specialist, recovery coach, and author of The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power. A former research scientist, she lived with severe back injury, surgeries, and physician-prescribed opioids/benzodiazepines for decades before completing a pain-management program at the Betty Ford Center in 2013. Today, she coaches globally (virtual), teaches mind-body practices, and helps people in recovery rebuild calm, clarity, and resilience. Main Topics: · Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction · Defining addiction to chronic pain and the “stress habit” · Injury history, multiple surgeries, and 31 years on Rx opioids/benzos (incl. fentanyl) · Why opioids don’t heal chronic pain; breath, hydration, gut, and brain effects · Detox & pain-track at the Betty Ford Center; waking up with no back pain · Chronic pain as brain processing; limits of reductionist medicine · Memory/cognition impacts of chronic pain—and how they recover · Recovery toolkit: NA/AA, 12 Steps, Recovery 2.0, yoga, breathwork, prayer/ancestral clearing · Coaching insights: readiness to sponsor; a client shame-to-healing vignette · Relapse prevention: “Stay in integrity with yourself” · How to work with Elizabeth (virtual coaching) and where to find her online Send us a text Donate Here Rage Against Addiction Rage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their famili Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

In this powerful “12 Days of Hope” conversation, Mallory traces her journey from early family turmoil and teen substance use to a heroin “aha” moment, intimate partner violence, and the hard climb back—culminating in nearly 12 years of sobriety (since Nov 23, 2013). Now working in behavioral health and deeply involved with local nonprofits, she shares the decisions, resources, and support that helped her become the mother and community advocate she is today. Listeners will hear raw honesty, practical hope, and the reminder that recovery is possible. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio: Mallory is a behavioral-health professional who has worked in the field since 2014, currently serving in business development for a large nonprofit. Sober since November 23, 2013, she’s an active community volunteer and fundraiser supporting local recovery organizations in Harford and surrounding counties—and a devoted mom whose lived experience fuels her mission to help others. Main Topics: · Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction · Family dynamics, instability, and early exposure to substance use and violence · Moving schools, academic struggles, and early drug/alcohol experimentation · Teen relationships, lack of consequences, and escalating risk · The first blackout, normalization of chaos, and denial · Divorce, housing insecurity, and seeking validation/escape · Exposure to opioids and heroin; the “immediate craving” turning point · Domestic violence, control, and textbook “going back” cycles · Pregnancy, brief stability, relapse triggers, and partner reoffending · A terrifying incident with a child ingesting an opioid—and the emergency response (Narcan) · Getting out, getting help, and building a career that gives back · Why storytelling matters: reducing stigma and opening doors to recovery resources Resources mentioned: · Donate t Send us a text Donate Here Rage Against Addiction Rage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their famili Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Karen, a self-described “not-the-typical addict,” shares how a neck injury and prescribed opioids spiraled into secrecy, debt, and withdrawal—until she chose help, called her doctor, and walked into her first NA meeting. She explains how control, trauma, sponsors, and step work shaped 21 years pill-free, the detour into alcohol, and the moment she finally said out loud, “I’m an alcoholic.” It’s a candid, practical blueprint for anyone wondering what recovery programs actually do—and why they save lives. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio: Karen is a longtime friend of the show and a recovery advocate. A former stay-at-home mom who became a Reiki Master and intuitive counselor, she’s 21 years pill-free, active in 12-step recovery, and helps clients release stored trauma to heal and move forward. Main Topics: · Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction · “Not the typical addict”: prescriptions, stigma, and secrecy · 9/11, the D.C. sniper, anxiety, and the illusion of control · Doctor-shopping, online pill mills, and financial fallout · The turning point: calling the doctor to flag her chart, grief after surrender · First NA meeting, feeling “at home,” and what sponsors actually do · Step work vs. therapy; NA vs. AA and “higher power” (not one-size-fits-all) · Relapse with alcohol, daughter’s ultimatum, and returning to meetings · Resentments, gratitude lists, and practical tools that keep people clean · Trauma stored in the body; Reiki/energy work and emotional healing Resources mentioned: · Donate to Rage Against Addiction · Narcotics Anonymous (NA) & Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) · “The Body Keeps the Score” (book reference) · National Recovery Month (context) Send us a text Donate Here Rage Against Addiction Rage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their famili Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email

Sarah opens up about starting opioids at 20, a rapid slide to heroin, pregnancy on methadone, jail, and the drug court program that helped her turn it around. After a later Xanax relapse during COVID, she did the work—therapy, structure, and service—and is now certified and working as a counselor at a maintenance clinic. This candid conversation with Wendy Beck and Rich Bennett shows what sustainable recovery really looks like—and why hope matters. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio: Sarah is a Harford County native, mom, and recovery professional. After entering opioid use at 20 and escalating to heroin in 2012, she experienced jail and drug court, achieved long-term abstinence from opiates and cocaine (since Sept. 27, 2016), overcame a benzodiazepine relapse in 2020–2021 (clean since Nov. 4, 2020), earned her Peer Recovery Specialist credential and ADT approval, and now counsels patients at a medication-assisted treatment clinic. Main Topics: · Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction · Starting opioids at 20; rapid progression from pills to heroin (2012) · Pregnancy on methadone, stigma, and learning MAT safety · IV use, crack/cocaine, legal consequences, and visible decline · Jail detox and entry into Drug Court; Judge-led accountability · Long-term sobriety from opiates/cocaine; COVID-era Xanax relapse and dangers of benzo withdrawal · Therapy, boundaries, routines, fitness, and gratitude as core recovery tools · Working in recovery: peer support vs. clinicians; women-specific needs; mom guilt and shame · Maintenance meds (methadone/Suboxone): misuse stigma vs. real stability · Parenting conversations about peer pressure and openness with kids · Burnout prevention for recovery workers (self-care, phone boundaries, weekly therapy) Resources mentioned: · Donate to Rage Against Addiction · Center for A Send us a text Donate Here Rage Against Addiction Rage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their famili Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media: Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | Facebook Twitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennett TikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills: Hosted on Buzzsprout SquadCast Subscribe by Email