Addiction Talk

On this episode of Addiction Talk, we’re joined by author and former TV director, Art Dielhenn. In the 1980s and 90s, Art Dielhenn was at the top of his game, directing iconic sitcoms like Diff’rent Strokes, Punky Brewster, Head of the Class, and Sister, Sister. But behind the scenes, Art was fighting a private battle: his growing compulsion to drink. After white-knuckling sobriety for 15 years, Art entered a recovery program after hitting what he calls his rock bottom. Today, he’s sob...

As marijuana legalization expands, many assume cannabis is safe—but is it really? In this episode of Addiction Talk: Expert Insights, Dr. Gary Mitrevolis, Medical Director at Laguna Treatment Center, discusses the growing concerns around cannabis use. Learn about the mental health impacts, risk of addiction, rising THC levels, and the dangers of adolescent use. Dr. Mitrevolis also addresses the myth of "safe" edibles, potential laced products, withdrawal symptoms, and what treatment looks lik...

On this episode of Addiction Talk: My Recovery Story, we sit down with Liz Varnado—a resilient, insightful woman whose powerful journey through addiction, cultural identity, and healing is as inspiring as it is raw. As a Black, French, and Native American mother and professional, Liz opens up about the significance of cultural identity in treatment, the weight of generational trauma, and how she found strength through spiritual reconnection through Laguna Treatment Center’s Tribal Trac...

Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications are widely known for managing diabetes and aiding weight loss—but could they also help treat addiction? Dr. Gary Malone, Medical Director at Greenhouse Treatment Center and a top addiction psychiatrist, joins us to discuss the potential of GLP-1s for substance use disorders. Don’t miss this expert insight into a groundbreaking development in addiction treatment! Addiction Talk is brought to you by American Addiction Centers, a leading provider o...

Rod Espudo is a U.S. Veteran who transformed his life after battling addiction and PTSD. After struggling for years, Rod turned his life around and experienced an inspiring evolution into a well-known interventionist. Today, Rod has nearly 36 years of experience and over 1,500 interventions to his credit. In this episode, Rod will give us a behind-the-scenes look into his real-life intervention experiences and his time on the TV show “Intervention.” Rod’s story is one of resilience, showing t...

Leah McSweeney is a former star of “Real Housewives of New York City,” a fashion-industry pioneer who established the streetwear line Married to the Mob, a podcast host, and the author of Chaos Theory: Finding Meaning in the Madness, One Bad Decision at a Time. As Leah shares in her book, she battled with addiction from an early age and became sober for many years. After a very public relapse on national television, she worked to become sober again. Throughout it all, Leah has been a beacon o...

Melissa Etheridge is a well-known American rock star, famous for her confessional lyrics and raspy vocals. She has won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards and a “Songwriter of the Year” honor. Melissa is also an activist for Marriage Equality and has advocated for the therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis as a cancer survivor. In May 2020, Melissa lost her son Beckett from causes related to opioid addiction. In his memory, she founded the Etheridge Foundation to advance transfor...

Peter White is a true warrior of the Yaqan Nukiy tribe, which is a part of the Ktunaxa Nation. His journey of triumph over homelessness, addiction and a cancer diagnosis is nothing short of inspiring. After his cancer diagnosis in May of 2016, Peter knew that he needed to make a change in his life. He had always wanted to start powwow dancing, but kept pushing it off for the “right time.” Little did he know that his cancer diagnosis was the sign he had been waiting for. Today, Peter is a Men’...