For Love of Recovery

You've probably heard the myths: that offering housing, food, or money to someone struggling with addiction just “enables” them. That people using suboxone or methadone aren’t ready to make a “real change.” But what if those ideas are not only wrong—but harmful?

In this episode, harm reduction advocate and person in recovery Sarah Laurel dismantles the most persistent misconceptions about harm reduction and addiction, and what it me...

 I used to think it was normal—expected, even—for older siblings to step in as a “third parent,” especially when addiction takes hold of a brother or sister. But the deeper my brother’s addiction pulled him in, the more I realized that the real change had to start with me.

In this episode, I open up about my journey from being consumed by fear, anger, and shame to accepting uncertainty, practicing compassion, and learning to meet my...

When someone "gets sober" or begins their recovery journey, we want to believe everything will fall back into place. But the truth? Recovery is M E S S Y.

Relationships don’t magically heal overnight. Trust isn’t instantly restored. And for families, the real work is just beginning.

In this episode, Janice Johnson Dowd—author, social worker, and person in recovery—gets real about what it takes to rebuild trust and connectio...

Sibling estrangement can create grief like no other, especially when addiction is part of the equation. In this episode, Fern Schumer Chapman, journalist and author of Brothers, Sisters, Strangers and The Sibling Estrangement Journal, opens up about her 40-year estrangement from her brother and the profound emotional toll it took on her.

Fern’s story offers a raw look at the pain and complexities of sibling relationships affected b...

Feeling torn between “tough love” and showing support? What if the answer is not choosing between helping or detaching, but finding a balance? In this episode, Molly Sinclair, takes us through her journey of navigating her mom’s, her brother’s, and her own addiction with empathy and boundaries. Molly explains evidence-based tools like the Invitation to Change approach, whether you should let someone hit “rock-bottom” and other insi...

Family addiction can bring holiday stress, uncertainty, heartbreak, and tension to what’s supposed to be a joyful season. If gatherings feel overwhelming as you're navigating a loved one’s substance use (especially a sibling's), you're not alone.

Minaa B., licensed social worker, mental health educator, and author of Owning Our Struggles, shares how to set boundaries, prioritize self-care, and protect your peace amidst the chaos. B...

Ever wondered about the stories behind the people you pass on the street experiencing homelessness? The reality can hit close to home, especially when a loved one is grappling with addiction, mental health struggles, or the risk of losing housing.

In this episode, we speak with Kevin Adler, author of When We Walk By and founder of Miracle Messages. Kevin reveals the powerful, often hidden narratives of those facing homelessness an...

Teen drinking or drug use may start off with curiosity or peer pressure, but it often goes beyond that. In this episode, we uncover the connection between undiagnosed ADHD and substance use—a surprising link that’s often missed but affects nearly half of adolescents in drug and alcohol treatment.

Learn how to spot the signs of both conditions, and discover how families can support loved ones struggling with these challenges. We'll ...

When a family gathering transforms into a chaotic battleground, no one leaves unscathed. Season 2 of The Bear took us beyond the chaotic kitchen of the restaurant and into the heart and home of the Berzatto family. In the emotional episode "Fishes," we witnessed the complex dynamics and strong sibling bonds of the Berzatto family during a turbulent Christmas dinner that becomes a battleground for unresolved pain. 

At the ...

At some point, most of us have been blamed for something, have taken on more responsibility than we can handle or cracked a joke to avoid an awkward moment. For families where there’s addiction, these experiences are often heightened and can ignite intense feelings like fear, guilt and shame.

This episode dives into the complicated family dynamics at play and how siblings often find themselves in unexpected roles, like the “h...

Recognizing when helping is actually doing more harm than good can be confusing when a loved one is misusing drugs or alcohol. Sibling relationships can be even more complicated depending on age differences and whether there’s a natural desire to support one another.

This episode dives into what those raw and complex emotions look like for one sister, Gillian. She opens up about her journey with a younger sister battling alco...

Dominique introduces her personal journey of loving and supporting her younger brother, Justin, through his struggles with substance use. She discusses the complexities of addiction, the impact it has on siblings and their entire family, and when helping risks doing more harm than good. Dominique also shares the inspiration behind FLOR as the need to shatter stigma and focus on personal recovery.

Join her for a journey that naviga...