The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

Welcome to The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast. We are a community of recovering people who have overcome the odds and made monumental life changes. We don't shy away from the nitty gritty - we like to laugh give inspiration and remind you there is hope. Come join us no matter where you are on your recovery journey. Together, we have the courage to change! Subscribe and join our podcast community to hear amazing stories of courage and transformation!

Episodes

End of Season 6, Amends, and Season 7

August 18, 2025 • 2 mins
I dropped the ball in Season 6. My guests were great but my cadence was not. Season 7 is coming back stronger than ever — Scott is back, we’ve got a sponsor, and I can’t wait to share what’s next.
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From the Archives: 137. Mother Battles Alcoholism After the Death of Her Young Son

April 23, 2025 • 60 mins
Sarah Campos was born in Arizona and raised in Southern California. She graduated from ASU with a BS in Business. A hairdresser by trade, she now runs a full time e-commerce business online that supports clean living and wellness. She is the mother to Jaxon, Alesa and Ford. When tragedy struck her family in the form of the death of her 8 year old son, it sent her drinking into a destructive spiral. Numbing the pain of the loss she ...
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243. TV Host Marci Hopkins: “Perimenopause played a huge role in my drinking”—Here’s What Saved Me

April 14, 2025 • 42 mins
TV host and author Marci Hopkins joins Ashley to share her deeply personal journey from childhood trauma and decades of functional drinking to hitting rock bottom—and rising again. In this raw and eye-opening conversation, Marci reveals how perimenopause played a critical but overlooked role in her escalating alcohol use, the hidden struggles behind her success in television, and how she finally found peace through sobriety, healin...
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242. The Cost of Silence: One Woman’s Fight to Break the Cycle of Abuse

February 26, 2025 • 46 mins
In this powerful episode, Alreen Haeggquist shares her journey of resilience, from surviving childhood abuse in a deeply patriarchal household to becoming a fierce advocate for justice. After decades of silence, Alreen made the brave decision in 2023 to publicly speak out about her experiences—challenging cultural stigmas, confronting family denial, and ultimately transforming her pain into purpose. Now a successful attorney, she d...
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241. Paralyzed but Unstoppable: Randy Hall’s Journey Through Guillain-Barre, Addiction, and Redefining Recovery

December 19, 2024 • 76 mins
In this inspiring episode of The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast, host Ashley Loeb Blassingame sits down with Randy Hall, a recovery advocate and facilitator based in Birmingham, Alabama. Randy shares his powerful journey from addiction to recovery, exploring how he found healing through multiple recovery programs, including Recovery Dharma, SMART Recovery, and the 12 Steps. Randy opens up about his struggles with addiction, ...
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240. Arlina Allen on Her New Book The 12-Step Guide For Skeptics: Clearing Up Common Misconceptions of a Path To Sobriety

November 7, 2024 • 71 mins
In this episode, Ashley Loeb Blassingame welcomes Arlina Allen, author and longtime recovery advocate, to discuss her latest book, The 12-Step Guide for Skeptics. Arlina shares her deeply personal journey from skepticism to embracing the transformative power of the 12-step process. Together, they explore common misconceptions about 12-step programs, the challenges of facing childhood trauma, and the nuances of navigating recovery a...
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239. Parenting in Recovery: Navigating Sobriety and Family Life with Sarah Allen Benton

October 23, 2024 • 71 mins
In this conversation, Ashley Loeb Blassingame and Sarah Allen Benton delve into the complexities of high functioning alcoholism, recovery, and the challenges of parenting while sober. They explore the nuances of addiction, the struggles of self-correction, and the importance of creating a sustainable recovery lifestyle. Through personal anecdotes and insights from interviews with other parents in recovery, they highlight the unique...
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238. Courage to Change Schedule Update!

October 18, 2024 • 3 mins
Hi everyone, thank you for your patience. I wasn’t able to release an episode the past two weeks, but I’m excited about the upcoming episodes! Tune in to my update on the new bi-weekly release schedule, and I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with you.
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237. The Courageous Book Club: The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk

September 26, 2024 • 61 mins
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236. From the Archives - Brendan McDonough: The Real-Life Hero Behind the Major Motion Picture The Lone Survivor and the Granite Mountain Hotshots

September 18, 2024 • 107 mins
Brendan was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin addict when he, for the sake of his young daughter, decided to turn his life around. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a crew of elite hotshot firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Their superintendent, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the crew, and seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit, he took a cha...
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235. Q&A: What is the Difference Between Dependence and Addiction? What is Compulsion?

September 4, 2024 • 26 mins
In this special Q&A episode, we dive deep into the science behind **compulsive behaviors** and explore what’s really happening in the brain of someone with a compulsive disorder. Whether it’s compulsive gambling, overeating, or obsessive cleaning, you’ll learn how the brain’s reward system, emotional regulation, and impulse control are impacted. We break down the key differences between physical dependence and addiction, and explai...
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234. From Control to Connection: Sarah Moore's Journey in Al-Anon and Personal Recovery

August 28, 2024 • 60 mins
In this episode of The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast, Ashley sits down with Sarah Moore, wife of previous guest Preston Moore, to explore her unique life journey. Born in Florida but raised in the UK, Sarah shares her experience of moving back to the United States with dual citizenship and building a life of resilience, creativity, and recovery. Sarah dives into her early life in England, the complexities of growing up in a...
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233. A Mother's Resilience: Overcoming Grief and Barriers After Her Son's TBI and, Later, Death

August 22, 2024 • 67 mins
In this poignant episode, I sat down with Brenda Daly, a licensed clinician with nearly 40 years of experience, who opened up about her deeply personal journey of loss, resilience, and love. Brenda shared the harrowing story of her son Kevin’s traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the 11 years of challenges that followed, culminating in his tragic death due to an accidental drug interaction involving fentanyl. We delved into the complex...
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1A. New Series Announcement: The Courageous Book Club

August 14, 2024 • 5 mins
The Courageous Book Club is a space where we’re going to explore some of the most important books related to mental health, trauma, recovery, and personal growth. Whether you’re a seasoned reader or someone who prefers to listen in and learn from discussions, this series is for you. Here’s how it’s going to work: I’ll be reading a book—annotating it, pulling out the key insights, and presenting them to you in a series of episodes. ...
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232. Surviving a Convicted Murderer Mother, a Genius Sociopath Father, and Rising from Poverty - The Lauren Eager Story

August 7, 2024 • 58 mins
Lauren Eager shares her story of growing up with a sociopath father and a mother who committed murder. She discusses the impact of her childhood on her adult life and the importance of being kind to children. Lauren's experiences shaped her into an independent and resilient individual, but also left her with anger and sleep issues. She emphasizes the significance of having a pet and the desire to live life to the fullest. Relations...
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231. Double Paternal Suicide: Greg Shindler's Journey from Trauma, Grief, and Addiction to Transforming Cellular Medicine

August 1, 2024 • 82 mins
Greg Shindler shares his experience of growing up in an alcoholic household and the impact it had on him. He discusses the importance of vulnerability and the power of being raw and unfiltered. Greg reflects on his journey of healing and forgiveness, as well as the coping mechanisms he developed, such as drinking and drug use. He highlights the need for self-compassion and setting boundaries as part of the healing process. The conv...
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230. Sober Curious: Kaitlin Henry's Journey from Questioning Normal Drinking to Finding Peace and Self-Care

July 24, 2024 • 69 mins
In this episode, award-winning podcast host Ashley Loeb Blassingame interviews Kaitlin Henry, who has been sober for five years. Kaitlin shares her journey from growing up in an environment where alcohol was normalized to becoming a mother and struggling with the pressures of parenthood and societal expectations. She discusses her experience with the sober curious movement, realizing that despite not having outward consequences, sh...
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229. Finding Light in the Dark: Julie Reisler's Journey Through Divorce, Food Dysfunction, Healing, and Self-Worth

July 17, 2024 • 75 mins
In this episode, Julie Reisler shares her compelling journey through a challenging childhood marked by a father's PTSD and a mother's emotional instability. Julie opens up about the impact of her parents' love and dysfunction, and how it shaped her coping mechanisms and path to recovery. Through honest reflection, Julie discusses her struggles with food addiction, the pressures of people-pleasing, and the profound realization of he...
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228. Transforming Our Inner Critic: Diana Zaheer on Energy, Spirituality, and Over the Counter Meditations

July 10, 2024 • 49 mins
In this enlightening episode of "The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast," host Ashley Loeb Blassingame sits down with Diana Zaheer, a spiritual teacher and healer with a unique background in energy work and global spiritual traditions. Diana shares her journey from seeing energy as a child to studying with spiritual teachers across Asia. They delve into the concept of the critical voice, its impact on our lives, and how to work ...
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227. Shot in the Head at Route 91: Elle Gargano's Inspiring Journey of Survival and Recovery

July 3, 2024 • 57 mins
Elle shares her incredible story of surviving a mass shooting at a music festival. She opens up about her adoption, the challenges she faced growing up, and the impact of the shooting on her mental health. Elle discusses her physical injuries, including being shot in the head, and the surgeries she underwent to remove bullet fragments. She also talks about the emotional journey of healing and processing the trauma, including experi...
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