Thrive While Loving an Addict | Addiction | Sobriety | Recovery | Relapse
More than 50% of American families have a loved one or close relative who is an addict or alcoholic. Although there are ample resources to help these individuals recover, their families suffer, too. Parents, spouses, children, and friends need help navigating this unexpected, challenging disease. Welcome to Thrive While Loving an Addict with KL Wells. She brings together loved ones and family members of addicts and alcoholics. Their insights and perspectives create a community of healing, connecting, and rebuilding. While your addict may be working hard to make themselves better, you may feel left behind to face a different kind of battle. The negative stigma of having a loved one as an addict causes a lot of pain. How are you dealing with loneliness, fear, and shame? There are quick fixes for these difficult moments in your life. Now you can get real and raw advice from people who are walking and dealing with the path you’re on. This podcast highlights the vulnerable and courageous voices of these families. Listen to real-life stories of people who have addicted loved ones, and discover how they addressed the hardships. Also, hear the experiences of recovering addicts that share what is, and isn't, working in their journey towards healing. Gather useful tools and practical advice to alleviate your own journey by delving into these touching and inspiring stories. Contemplate what may not be working, and discover what it takes to face the challenges along the way. This podcast offers a safe platform for the loved ones of addicts. Rise to the challenge, and become a key player in being a part of this fresh community. There are also episodes that will widen your knowledge about addiction recovery. Get educated by real life experiences of people who reveal their journey to help addicts and alcoholics jump back on their feet. In addition to breaking down their practice, they bring a glimmer of hope for what can be done for individuals who may have given up on themselves. KL Wells is a community leader and influential speaker who led initiatives with senior executives, trustees, and board directors of various non-profit organizations. For more than twenty years, she focused on empowering leaders to create extraordinary human impact. Spending time with these people inspired her to do more, and start the company Voices InCourage. Most importantly, KL understands how painful it is to have an addicted loved one. She was married to an alcoholic, her current partner is recovering from alcohol addiction, and her son is an active addict. The mission of this podcast is not just advocacy. It hits very close to home to KL. Her reflections as a wife and mother are something you should not miss. Seeing your loved ones pulled down by drugs and alcohol is truly heartbreaking. As a result, you may feel miserable and isolated. You also have to deal with negative opinions from others, and it is up to you to fend for yourself. Nobody deserves to be treated this way. No one should go through this challenging episode of life alone. This is what KL offers in this podcast: the strength to move forward and guidance to have the courage to change. If you have the courage to use your voice, you can become an inspiration for your friend, spouse, parent, or child as they overcome their addictive behavior. Ultimately, it’s about transforming the lives of loved ones from surviving to thriving in the midst of chaos. Listen to Thrive While Loving an Addict with KL Wells at https://voicesincourage.com/podcast.
Episodes
In this episode of Thrive While Loving an Addict, host KL Wells welcomes Doug Ballinger—author, advocate, podcaster, and end-of-life doula. Doug shares his deeply personal journey after losing his son Logan to a fentanyl overdose. Through candid conversation, Doug discusses how grief propelled him into advocacy with the Hope Movement Coalition, his experiences with addiction and recovery, and his commitment to supporting others aff...
In this episode of Thrive While Loving an Addict, host KL Wells welcomes David Hampton, a certified professional recovery coach, author, and speaker from Tennessee. Drawing on his extensive experience in addiction recovery and family support, David joins KL for a candid conversation about the realities families face when a loved one struggles with substance use disorder. Together, they explore the complexities of recovery, the impo...
In this heartfelt episode of Thrive While Loving an Addict, host KL Wells sits down with Debbie Simmons—author, founder, and resilient mother of nine adopted children from the foster care system. Debbie shares her extraordinary journey through infertility, profound loss, and the challenges of raising children with traumatic backgrounds.
Together, they explore the power of resilience, faith, and the vital role of community support. ...
In this episode of Thrive While Loving an Addict, host KL Wells reconnects with Duane Osterlind, LMFT, founder of The Addicted Mind podcast and expert in addiction recovery and men's mental health.
After four years since their last conversation, KL and Duane dive deep into their journeys—KL’s work in mental health and her TED Talk, and Duane’s transition from the film industry to psychology. Together, they explore the complex inters...
In this episode of Thrive While Loving an Addict, host KL Wells welcomes Dr. Fredric Schiffer, a Harvard-affiliated expert on trauma and addiction. Dr. Schiffer shares his fascinating work on dual brain psychology and its applications in treating various mental health issues, including trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and addiction. He discusses his journey into this field, insights from his research on split-brain patients and l...
In this powerful episode, host KL Wells sits down with Jim Horton, who shares his transformative experience in Utah and opens up about his deeply personal journey through grief and addiction. Jim discusses the critical role of support systems in overcoming addiction, the evolving societal perceptions of cancer versus substance use disorder, and the unique challenges faced in recovery. Together, they highlight the importance of comm...
In this episode of Thrive While Loving an Addict, host KL Wells interviews Natasha Davis and Haley Sample, best friends of 25 years who have both personally navigated addiction and substance use disorder. Now working on the treatment side at Her Harbor in Fresno, they focus on specialized addiction treatment for women. Natasha and Haley share their personal journeys, insights on recovery, and compassionate advice for parents and lo...
In this continuation of our conversation with KL Wells, host Steve Cary dives deeper into the challenges and triumphs of navigating life alongside a loved one battling addiction. Picking up from Part 1, "Thriving Amidst Chaos: KL Wells on Loving Someone with Addiction," this episode explores KL's personal journey as her son, Sam, faces the trials of addiction and recovery. KL shares her insights on maintaining resilience, the impor...
In this powerful episode, host KL Wells sits down with Ian Morgan Cron, bestselling author, Enneagram expert, and host of the Typology Podcast, to explore the transformative power of the Twelve Steps—not just for those struggling with addiction, but for anyone seeking personal growth, healing, and a deeper spiritual awakening.
Ian shares his deeply personal journey as a recovering alcoholic and addict, the father of a son in recover...
In this podcast episode, producer and team member Steve Cary steps out from behind the scenes to host a heartfelt conversation with KL Wells, founder of Voices InCourage, about her experience as a mother navigating the complexities of loving someone struggling with addiction.
KL candidly shares her deeply personal journey, highlighting her son Sam’s battle with substance use disorder, particularly the pivotal moment she discovered h...
In this special episode of the Voices InCourage podcast, the tables turn as host Beverly Buncher interviews KL Wells - leadership coach, emotional fitness trainer, TEDx speaker and the mother of a young man in recovery.
Stepping into the guest seat, KL shares her deeply personal journey of resilience, courage, and the lessons learned while loving someone through addiction. This conversation dives into the heart of setting...
In this episode, host KL Wells speaks with Kathy Wrenn, a former health education teacher and current coach with BALM Family Recovery.
With over 20 years of experience in education, Kathy shares her personal journey of navigating her son Tucker's substance use disorder. As the executive director of ILUME Family Recovery, she discusses the importance of family education, understanding risk factors, and finding peace while supporting ...
In this episode, host KL Wells reflects on the new year and the challenges of multigenerational addiction and trauma. They introduce Melissa Engle, co-owner and executive vice president of Healing Springs Ranch, Texas, who has nearly 37 years of experience in addiction and mental health. Melissa discusses the importance of understanding trauma, epigenetics, and emotional suppression's impact on chronic addiction and mental health. ...
In this episode of "Thrive While Loving an Addict," host KL Wells and guest Cathie Coe Sipe, Founder/CEO of New Each Morning, discuss the challenges and triumphs of supporting loved ones in recovery. Cathie shares her personal journey, including her first husband's battle with alcoholism and her transition from hairdresser to nonprofit leader. Emphasizing the importance of community and post-recovery support, Cathie highlights the ...
In this episode of "Thrive While Loving an Addict," the host KL Wells welcomes Dr. Rais Vohra, an emergency room physician and medical toxicology expert, to discuss addiction and emergency preparedness during the holiday season. They emphasize the importance of having Narcan (naloxone) available to reverse opioid overdoses and provide practical tips for navigating emergency room visits. Dr. Vohra highlights the need for alternative...
In this episode, the host KL Wells engages with Beverly Buncher, founder of BALM Family Recovery, to discuss the emotional challenges families face during the holiday season when a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder. Beverly Buncher, with over 15 years of experience, shares strategies for managing emotions, setting boundaries, and providing support. Key topics include understanding emotional overwhelm ("flooding"),...
In this episode of "Thrive While Loving an Addict," host KL Wells welcomes Melissa Engle, co-owner and executive vice president of Healing Springs Ranch. Melissa, with nearly 40 years of experience in addiction and mental health, discusses the complexities of addiction, defining it as a "pervasive pattern of avoiding emotional pain." She emphasizes the link between trauma and addiction, advocating for a compassionate approach to un...
In this episode of "Thriving While Loving an Addict," host KL Wells speaks with Waylon Hirst, spouse of sobriety coach Jen Hirst. Waylon shares his journey of supporting Jen through her struggle with alcoholism and recovery. He discusses the early signs of her addiction, the emotional challenges he faced, and the importance of setting boundaries. Waylon reflects on the personal growth he experienced and the commitment required to r...
In this episode, the host KL Wells welcomes Beverly Buncher, founder of BALM Family Recovery, and discusses the challenges families face when dealing with addiction. Beverly shares her personal journey with her husband's addiction and emphasizes the importance of family recovery and support systems. She introduces her mindfulness-based recovery program, BALM Recovery, used at Healing Springs Ranch in Texas, which teaches families m...
In this podcast episode, the host KL Wells and guest Meredith Eicher discuss the themes of shame, guilt, judgment, and stigma surrounding substance use disorder. Meredith Eicher shares her personal journey of sobriety, detailing her early relationship with alcohol, the accumulation of shame, and the pivotal moments that led her to seek help. She emphasizes the importance of community, honesty, and service to others in maintaining s...
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