Recovery is a brain thing, according to Dave and Susan Kenney, founders of the Emergo Academy, a recovery treatment and education program who describe themselves as "brain upgraders." In their conversation with Host Gail Ferguson Jones, the Kenneys describe their trademarked "Actualized Recovery" approach for replacing the temporary pleasure of add…

This holiday season is often the most challenging for those who love someone struggling with addiction and those who are newly sober. In recovery circles, the celebrations that run from Thanksgiving through Christmas and New Years is referred to as the trifecta of holidays. In this episode, host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Kate Duffy, founder o…

When it comes to taking that first drink of alcohol, most of us don't expect to get hooked. After all, consuming alcohol is legal and seen as a socially-acceptable way to unwind. However, It's so easy to depend on that nightly cocktail, beer or glass of wine to relax at the end of the day, unwittingly heading into gray area drinking, a slippery slo…

When loving someone struggling with addiction, it's often hard to see the best in them because of the chaos and confusion they bring into our lives. The situation may also bring out the worst in us. But Dr. Robert Weiss offers a different perspective on such troubling relationships, which he talks about with host Gail Ferguson Jones. Dr. Rob, a lic…

One of the most disheartening and confusing aspects of a relationship with someone in active addiction is the loneliness and emotional disconnect. In this episode, Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Marriage and Family Therapist Travis Thompson about the challenges of loving a partner engaged in a "chemical affair" with drugs and alcohol. Travis,…

Can chronic pain be treated without the prescription drugs that are leading to an epidemic of addiction and death? Guest Elizabeth Kipp says "Yes." Kipp is an Addiction Recovery Coach and author of the book, "The Way Through Chronic Pain. Tools To Reclaim Your Healing Power." In this conversation with host Gail Ferguson Jones, she shares her 40-yea…

There's been a steady climb in addictions since the start of the pandemic in 2020, according to Recovery Coach and Best-Selling Author David Essel, who said studies show alcohol consumption has risen 1,000 percent over the past three years. While alcoholism tops the list of addictions, porn and sex addictions are a close second, said Essel, who thr…

What are the early days of recovery like after long-term active addiction? What does it feel like physically and emotionally to try to live free of substances after self-medicating for so long? Host Gail Ferguson Jones gets answers to these questions and more in a conversation with Certified Peer Recovery Coach Kirstin Gourlay, a relapse prevention…

After a lifetime of casual attitudes toward substance use among baby boomers, their rate of accidential overdoses and alcohol-related deaths are climbing. In this conversation, researcher Alexis Kuerbis explains why. Kuerbis is an Associate Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Her research speciality is vlunerable pol…

Did you know marijuana use is a growing cause of suicide among teens? Guest Laura Stack of Johnny's Ambassadors says as more state's legalize recreational use, the potency is reaching dangerous levels and leading to serious mental health issues, especially among youth. Stack's son, Johnny, was an honor student with a promising future who suffered a…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones and Social Worker Taneshia Johnson discuss five ways to recognize you might be heading for rock bottom as a codependent. Taneshia, also known as TJ the Self-Care Coach, speaks from personal experience as a recovering codependent. She is also host of the Heal, Pray, Grow Podcast. Learn more about the resources Taneshia offer…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with Sans Bar owner Chris Marshall about the growing Sober Curious Movement. Sans Bar in Austin, Texas is believed to be the first in the U.S. to serve only non-alcoholic cocktails, wines and beers. The Sober Curious trend was the impetus for such establishments with the spread of the global observance of Dry January …

Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with Michael Askew, Executive Director of The Center for African American Recovery Development (CAARD), about cultural barriers to accessing treatment and maintaining long-term recovery faced by black Americans. In this episode, we talk about how African Americans were unjustly targeted by the war on drugs, how lives …

Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Nikki Myers, founder of the international relapse prevention program Y12sr (Yoga of 12-Step Recovery), which weaves the art and science of Yoga with the practical tools of the 12 steps. Nikki is credited with coining the phrase "the dis-ease of the lost self" to best describe codependency. In this episode she sh…

In this episode, host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Codependency Healing Expert Marshall Burtcher about the unhealthy compromises made in codependent relationships. Burtcher describes codependency as a survival strategy in which one's sense of self-worth is diminished by a need to seek validation from another. Through his Free the Self program, h…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Kevin Petersen of The Chronic Hope Institute about the best ways for families to deal with those who may disrupt their holiday celebration by overindulging in intoxicants or how to support loved ones who are newly sober. Ferguson Jones is a best-selling author, award-winning journalist, speaker, podcaster and Ce…

In this episode, Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with Positive Psychology and Resilience Coach Andrea Seydel about the ways misplaced loyalty to an addicted loved one may be harmful. She is also a best-selling author. In the conversation, Seydel shares some of the signs of addiction that she initially did not recognize, such as her loved one's mood …

Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Darlene Lancer, author of "Conquering Shame and Codependency: 8 Steps to Freeing the True You." Lancer is author of seven books on the subject, including "Codependency for Dummies." In this episode, she explains how most people grapple with feelings of shame because of vario…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones announces the publication of her new book, "Butterfly Rising. A Journey to Love, Healing and Freedom from the Cocoon of Codependency." The ebook edition will be on sale at Amazon for 99 cents on Tuesday, July 20 for one day only. The link to purchase the book at that price will be included in the show notes on that day. Her…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones marks the one-year anniversary of The Buttrfly Effect Podcast with a compelling conversation with best-selling author Christine Naman, whose new book is "About Natalie. A Daughter's Addiction. A Mother's Love. Finding Their Way Back to Each Other." Christine shares her experience with her daughter's opioid addiction and rec…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with her friend Nick SantFoster, who found personal recovery through Al-Anon 33 years ago, after recognizing a pattern of dysfunctional relationships in his life. Nick is a retired professional photographer and visual artist who has developed an anthology of affirmations and quotations, titled "Recovering Wisdom." He…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones and Certified Recovery Coach Deryl Glaze discuss the five most common manipulation tactics used by addicts to pressure their loved ones into enabling them. Glaze is an ordained minister and head recovery coach at Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge. He is a motivational speaker who has worked in the recovery field for nearly…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones and Coach Barb Nangle discuss the benefits of 12-Step fellowship, especially the 4th step, which calls for taking a personal inventory. Barb is founder and CEO of Higher Power Coaching and Consulting and host of the podcast, "Fragmented to Whole: Life Lessons from 12-Step Recovery." She helps clients work through issues of …

Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with Mike Wilson, president of Baystate Recovery Center in Beverly, Mass. He is a nationally-recognized certified interventionist, and author of the book, "Loving Lions. A Guide for Families Struggling with Addiction." Mike helps families get their addicted loved ones into treatment and teaches them how to support the…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with Clinical Psychologist Barry Weinhold, who has coined the phrase "counter-dependence," which he describes as living a false self that keeps one from establishing intimate relationships. Weinhold is the author of more than 75 books, the latest of which is titled "Get Real. The Hazard of Living Out of Your False Sel…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Paul Noiles, an addiction recovery coach specializing in substance use, behavioral issues and family dysfunction. He is the author of the upcoming book "Mistaken Identity. The Sacred Journey from Addiction to Awakening." Paul says the key to recovering from addiction begins with recognizing the source of pain in…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Jay Rivera, program director for CFC Recovery in New Jersey. He is a certified peer recovery specialist, a drug and alcohol counselor, and an interventionist. Jay explains how the social isolation of the Covic-19 pandemic is affecting the recovery community, and talks about the common challenges the holidays pos…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Psychotherapist Sherry Gaba, author of the new book, "Love Smacked: How to Stop the Cycle of Relationship Addiction and Codependency to Find Everlasting Love." Some may remember Sherry from her role on VH1's "Celebrity Rehab," with Dr. Drew Pinsky, and the spinoffs, "Sober House" and "Celebrity Rehab's Sex Addic…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Sheri Salis, co-host with her husband, Matt, of the Untoxicated Podcast, and co-author of the ebook, "He's Sober. Now What? A Spouse's Guide of Alcoholism Recovery." Sheri shares her experience of healing a marriage damaged by years of her husband's alcohol abuse, the need to overcome resentments, regain trust a…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with Matt Salis, author of "soberevolution: Evolve into Sobriety and Recover Your Alcoholic Marriage." Matt and his wife, Sheri, are host of the Untoxicated Podcast, and offer a community of support through their Echoes of Recovery program. In the first of this two-part episode, Matt describes his descent into alcohol…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with Donna Gapas, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in individual, couples and family therapy. She takes an interactive therapeutic approach to helping clients address personal life challenges. Gapas has 30 years experience treating trauma, anxiety disorders, depression, addiction and grief. She is a part…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones discusses the topic of gaslighting with Tami Reseda Atman, host of The Stuck Stops Here Podcast, and author of a book by the same name. Atman, who has done extensive research on the subject, shares her experience with abusive narcissistic family relationships and codependency. She stresses that setting healthy boundaries, a…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Author, Speaker and Consultant Lisa Frederiksen about secondhand drinking, a term she coined to describe the effects of alcohol use on loved ones. Frederiksen has spent 16 years researching substance abuse and mental health disorders. She has written 12 books, including her latest, the 10 Anniversary Edition of …

Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with author and life coach Jeoffrey R. Hutcherson, a teacher and speaker who helps others develop a personal recipe for happiness in every area of their life, no matter how trying the circumstances. In this episode, he shares how he helped a friend find his way back to happiness after being caught in the struggle of h…

Host Gail Ferguson Jones talks with guest Caledonia Curry, a multi-media and portraiture artist also known as Swoon. She is a philanthropist and founder of the Heliotrope Foundation, which includes on its board such luminaries as Music Producer Swizz Beatz. In this episode, Callie shares her story of growing up in a dysfunctional family plagued by …

Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Drug and Alcohol Counselor Paxton Dickerson, a recovering addict, Detox Specialist and Recovery Coach, about how his substance abuse affected his family and his response, while using, to their concerns. He describes the mindset of those caught in the grips of addiction and their manipulative approach to relation…

In this episode, Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Kate Duffy, a Recovery Coach, Interventionist and Founder of Tipping Point Recovery, Inc., and Recovery Conversations (TM). Kate shares her personal experience of overcoming substance abuse, and her work with addicts and their loved ones when they land in the hospital emergency room after overdo…

By Gail Ferguson Jones

In this episode, Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Certified Life Coach Nancy Koenig, also known as Coach Nancy K, about the traits of codependency and her own experience. Koenig is a former drug and alcohol counselor, and sober coach, who calls herself a self-love and self-care specialist. She is also a recovering codependent. Jones is a Family…