Explore every episode of the podcast Hopestream: Parenting Kids Through Addiction & Mental Health
Dive into the complete episode list for Hopestream: Parenting Kids Through Addiction & Mental Health. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Why Can’t I Fix This? Eight Steps to Move From Wishing to Planning When Your Child Struggles with Addiction, with Brenda Zane
13 Nov 2025
00:45:58
ABOUT THE EPISODE:
Your 3am Google search spiral feels beyond frustrating when you're usually the one with answers. In this week's solo episode I acknowledge the unique exhaustion of spinning your wheels while your child struggles, and offer a concrete 8-step menu of ways to move from wishing into actionable planning and hope.
If your existing parenting toolkit isn't working to create positive change in your family this episode will offer ways to rethink and recharge. The best news is, when you change yourself, the rest of the family system cannot not change. And that's why we start with you.
What you'll learn:
The distinction between wishing vs. having real hope
Hope Theory: agency + pathways = real hope
Why even highly capable parents get stuck
The paralysis that comes from information overload without implementation
The paradox of excelling everywhere except with being able to help your child
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
When Your Child Doesn't Believe They're Ill: Understanding Anosognosia and Mental Illness, with Dr. Xavier Amador
06 Nov 2025
00:44:55
ABOUT THE EPISODE:
When your child doesn't believe they need help, finding a path forward can feel nearly impossible and is exhausting in every way. Dr. Xavier Amador offers profound hope through his LEAP method—a neuroscience-backed approach born from both his clinical expertise and the raw reality of loving family members with schizophrenia.
Dr. Amador's journey began with seven transformative days at his brother's side, where traditional confrontation failed spectacularly. His brother, brilliant yet trapped by anosognosia (the neurological inability to perceive one's own illness), couldn't recognize what everyone else could see. It wasn’t denial or stubbornness, but definitely looked like it. What Dr. Amador’s brother was suffering from is brain-based, affecting 50% of people with schizophrenia and 40% with bipolar disorder.
The beauty of LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner) lies in its counterintuitive wisdom: stop trying to convince someone they're ill. Instead, build a relationship where trust flourishes despite fundamental disagreements about reality. Dr. Amador's approach honors the cognitive friction between what you see and what your child experiences, while creating emotional proximity that transcends the diagnosis.
What you'll discover in this conversation:
Why arguing about symptoms backfires—and the neurological reasons behind anosognosia
How to implement LEAP strategies that preserve relationships when insight seems impossible (you’ll want to copy the actual words Dr. Amador provides!)
Dr. Amador's personal breakthrough with his brother that changed everything
Medications available for psychiatric disorders including injectables and ones suitable for adolescents
Why accepting their reality (without agreeing) opens doors that confrontation slams shut
Even if your loved one never gains recognition of their mental illness, you can still cultivate connection, influence positive choices, and maintain your own emotional equilibrium.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Ed Ternan, Song for Charlie's Founder On His Unrelenting Work to Warn About Fake Pills
04 Sep 2025
00:46:21
ABOUT THE EPISODE:
When Ed and Mary Ternan finally met the police officer who had been on scene at their son's overdose death, he had an off-the-record theory: "This is not official, and you'll have to wait for toxicology to come back, but this is going to be fentanyl," the officer told them.
News about the synthetic opioid is inescapable today, but in 2020, the couple had never heard of it. Charlie was a popular, successful student with no substance use issues. How could this have happened?
As it turned out, Charlie was Santa Clara County's seventh fentanyl death in only 10 days. Suffering occasional pain from back surgery a year earlier, Charlie had taken a single counterfeit pill purchased from a dealer ("plug") on Snapchat.
Incredibly, it took less than two months for Ed and Mary Ternan to found a nonprofit dedicated to awareness and education about the skyrocketing deaths from accidental fentanyl overdose. In this episode, we trace the lessons we can learn from Charlie's story, the storm of circumstances that has placed young people in such danger, and how to reach both kids and parents in specific ways.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Hopestream Golden Nuggets of 2023
28 Dec 2023
01:01:06
ABOUT THE EPISODE: I release about 50 episodes of Hopestream every year, and every year there are a few conversations that just stick. Months later I’ll find myself reflecting on how a specific story or perspective has the potential to change the way we think and act as parents of kids working toward recovery. I think of these important moments as this year's “golden nuggets.”
So at the end of every year, I share these nuggets in an episode packed with some of my favorite bits of wisdom, and we’ve got great ones this year!
Wes Robins explains why traditional recovery techniques didn’t resonate with him, and how he helps families with his own “radical” youth work
My own son, Enzo, finally appears on the show to talk about his early substance use, overdoses, and the importance of maintaining family relationships through addiction and recovery
Dave and Eleanor discuss the Netflix-worthy story of their daughter’s descent from upper-middle-class college freshman to homeless fentanyl dependence
Dr. Emily Kline explains some of the best techniques for beginning a conversation about substances with your kid (that don’t immediately get shut down)
Dr. Libby Stuyt lays out the magnitude of the marijuana problem in the nation’s earliest test case of recreational availability: Colorado
Our own Steve Andrews, host of the Woods Community for men, tells the frightening story of one hellish night with his son, as well as the most important lessons he’s learned since then
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Navigating Addiction With Your Child: You Are Going To Be OK, with Brenda Zane
21 Dec 2023
00:12:49
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Friend, we made it to the end of 2023. This is my final solo episode of the year and after much thought and debate, I decided to share a gift I'd like to give you, some words of hope and strength for wherever you are in The Journey.
This short episode is one you can save and play when things get tough, and I encourage you to share it with someone you know who's also going through difficulties - not just parenting challenges.
Looking forward to another year of connection, hope, and healing in 2024. _________________________________________
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Exposing the Hard Truths: Insurance Claims Denials for Substance Use Treatment, with Mark DeBofsky
14 Dec 2023
00:47:35
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Parents trying to navigate treatment with their kids are already pushed to their mental and emotional limits. When you're in it, you're so overwhelmed that it's hard to think about something as frustrating and time-consuming as insurance. But my guest today reminds us the earlier you get started and the more thorough your documentation, the more likely you are to receive coverage for the resources and services your child needs.
I contacted Mark DeBofsky before I even finished reading the first article I saw about his work. Finally, here was someone who could not only explain how insurance companies work in the context of mental health and substance use treatment, but also how you can increase the odds of receiving fair coverage.
Mark is the namesake and President of DeBofsky Law, which specializes in litigating denial of claims by large insurance companies and corporations. Over the course of this conversation, we cover a lot of ground related to the infuriating process of receiving coverage for treatment services. Among other things, we discuss:
The confusing array of coverage guidelines used by companies and the courts
The industry of physicians contracted by insurance companies to back up their denials
What parts of treatment you should expect to get covered by insurance
How A.I. is being used to both support and deny claims
Why fewer than 2% of claim denials are appealed
What steps you can take to set your family up for the best possible level of coverage
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Recovery Reframes Parenting: Second Chances for a Father and Son Navigating Early Recovery
07 Dec 2023
00:40:47
ABOUT THE EPISODE: On today's coaching episode, we welcome our first dad from our community for dads, The Woods.
As a father, Brad has some great things going for him. He still has a meaningful connection of supportive parenting with his ex-wife, who first introduced him to the podcast, and he’s a member of The Woods, our community for dads, which means he’s not doing this alone. His 18-year-old son is in a good place as well, currently residing in a sober living community after attending wilderness therapy and a residential program.
Still, Brad is facing a lot of unknowns. Naturally, he wants his son to have every opportunity for success, but what does helpful parenting look like with a child in early recovery? How does a dad know when to step in and when to hold back and let his son just figure things out on his own? To add to the complexities, Brad’s son is potentially coming home to visit soon, which is exciting and also nerve wracking.
In this coaching episode, Brad and I talk about learning to trust through fear, and becoming a source of accountability without driving his son away or infringing on his decision-making. It's a very positive episode that should give parents a glimpse of life down the road with a child successfully navigating early recovery. __________________________________
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Real Talk: Transparency and Accountability in Teen Conversations, with Dr. Janet Edgette
30 Nov 2023
00:53:28
ABOUT THE EPISODE: So many kids who turn to substances are brilliant. Often that brilliance gets wielded in a variety of unhealthy ways and can wreck the power balance of an entire household. Perhaps you've felt telltale signs like being held hostage with gaslighting and emotional blackmail. Perhaps you woke up one day to realize you've been walking on eggshells, allowing your child to control the interactions in your own house for months.
My guest today says that there are ways to right the ship, stop negotiating when appropriate, and still communicate effectively with our kids. Dr. Janet Sasson-Edgette is not only a mother of three, but also a child and adolescent psychologist who has written half a dozen books in the field. Today we discuss:
- The surprisingly simple and genuine conversational techniques that sets Dr. Edgette apart from many other therapists
- Why it's important for your child to know you as a person (not just as a parent)
- Why kids are actually craving realism and accountability in their therapeutic relationships
- Some strategies from her book, Stop Negotiating With Your Teen: Strategies for parenting your angry, manipulative, moody or depressed adolescent _________________________________________
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Coaching A Mom Pushed To Her Limits, with Olivia
23 Nov 2023
00:46:13
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Long before Olivia became a single parent, she was forced to face her own trauma. The heartbreaking challenges she's faced since then have piled an incredible amount of stress onto an already complex life.
The difficult journey for Olivia's son began with his father's brain injury and substance misuse, leading to a messy divorce that would have been difficult for any child. Working full-time as a single parent, Olivia has faced her son's depression, took the blame for the divorce, and dealt with her son’s refusal to attend therapy. Without family support, Olivia has done her best to navigate the situation independently and has bolstered her team with a coach to help her navigate the storm.
Olivia’s son began experimenting with marijuana at the age of 13 and soon moved on to high-potency THC concentrates. He became more aggressive, his anger more volatile, and by the age of 15 was experiencing THC-induced psychotic breaks. He’s since been diagnosed with OCD, PTSD, ODD, marijuana use disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Between the COVID school closures and his mental health issues, Olivia’s son hasn't been in a structured learning environment for years but says he wants to go back to school. Olivia isn't sure this is a good idea for her and her son. After nearly a decade of this struggle, she’s depleted, exhausted, and depressed.
Today, we'll talk about how these kinds of persistent and extreme issues affect parents going through the worst of it and what Olivia might do to survive as she prepares to make some big life decisions.
If you've been through the wringer with a challenging child and it feels like no one else could possibly understand your journey, Olivia's story is a reminder that the Hopestream Community is full of people who DO truly get it.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Learn From My Mistakes If Your Child Is Struggling With Substance Use, with Julie Merberg
16 Nov 2023
00:52:56
ABOUT THE EPISODE: When Julie Merberg returned home from a work trip to find a scale and a pile of baggies on the table, she knew her son's involvement with substances was getting out of control.
In the early days of the Hopestream Community, not many people showed up to the group calls I offered to members. Julie and I were the only people who showed up the day I met her, but connecting with her one-on-one in the depths of her crisis was an incredible blessing for me and the entire community.
Foreshadowing her current work with Hopestream, Julie had already formed her own neighborhood support group of parents after her 16-year-old son began abusing Xanax and marijuana. As with so many of us, Julie and her husband tried to change their son’s behavior with punishment and control but found that it only made him more oppositional and defiant.
Three years later, Julie's son has embraced a life of recovery, and they both work to share the wisdom they've gained while getting there. In this episode, we discuss:
The importance of trusting your gut when choosing therapy and recovery
How untreated anxiety was driving Julie’s son to self medicate in unhealthy ways
Why parents shouldn't expect to find "the one that works" when it comes to treatment programs
Accepting that relapse is often part of the journey to recovery for young people
How self-care is also a service to our families
Why Julie thinks that the all-or-nothing 12 Step approach doesn't work well for teens
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Why Parents of LGBTQ+ Kids Need Their Own “Coming In” Process, with Matt Seelos
09 Nov 2023
00:45:23
ABOUT THE EPISODE: The experience of coming out as an LGBTQ+ youth varies wildly across the country and world. In some families and communities, it’s celebrated. In others, condemned. But my guest on this episode of Hopestream says that we often forget about the “coming in” process needed for parents and families of those youth.
Matt Seelos has worked in the mental health field for 20 years. He’s currently a primary therapist at Elevations Residential Treatment Center in Utah, where he administers an alphabet soup of therapeutic practices – EMDR, DBT, CBT, and ACT among others. In addition to all of this work, Matt goes out of his way to practice compassionate therapy specifically geared toward the needs of LGBTQ+ youth.
But he also understands that the coming out process for kids requires an acceptance process for parents. He points out that while a young person has usually been internally processing the reality of their identity for months or years, parents can often feel it’s being sprung on them suddenly. Part of Matt’s job is helping parents come to terms with the loss of expectations and even grief that may accompany the coming out of their kids.
In this conversation, we cover:
a quick primer on identity and pronouns
how the stresses of LGBTQ+ identity in some communities can contribute to mental health and substance use issues
how the “coming in” process works
how the “floating back” method helps kids process their feelings of not belonging
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
The Lifeboat Episode; Six Essential Provisions For Parenting Kids Through Drug Use or Addiction, with Cathy Cioth
02 Nov 2023
00:32:40
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Navigating life with a young person who’s misusing substances and struggling with mental health can feel like a ride in a very stormy sea. Parents need to be well equipped for the journey but often aren’t sure what the mandatory, life-saving provisions are to bring along.
In this episode, Cathy Cioth, Hopestream Community co-founder, joins me to share our top six recommended provisions for parents. We identify the items we wish we’d had in our lifeboat when we started our expedition so you can be better prepared.
EPISODE RESOURCES: Our six recommended provisions:
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Craving Spring: How a Greek Myth Fueled a Mother’s Quest To Save Her Daughter, with Ann Batchelder
26 Oct 2023
00:46:15
ABOUT THE EPISODE: When Ann Batchelder discovered her daughter’s suicidal thoughts, bulimia and substance misuse, she desperately sought wisdom in the places many of us do: therapy, 12-step programs, and Buddhist teachings.
But the ancient Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone gave her the greatest solace and understanding of parenting a wayward child. As Ann “did the work” to preserve mindfulness and realism about what she could control, she also began writing about her family's experiences.
Now, a decade after it began, her book is complete. Craving Spring: A Mother’s Quest, a Daughter’s Depression, and the Greek Myth that Brought Them Together is not just a memoir but a universal call for the renewal of families strained by the burden of substance use, mental health, and eating disorders.
In this episode, we discuss:
the power of Demeter and Persephone’s story for mothers (and all parents) of children struggling with substances
why it’s so difficult for parents to accept that they are going through trauma as well
finding the focus and willingness to care for our own well-being in chaotic times
the burden Ann was unknowingly placing on her daughter and how she changed herself
how the immense growth and change (of both Ann and her daughter) during recovery has led to a richer, more fulfilling relationship
EPISODE RESOURCES:
Craving Spring, A mother’s quest, a daughter’s depression, and the Greek myth that brought them together (buy here)
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
You Can Create Conditions For Change When Your Child Battles Addiction, with Dina Cannizzaro
28 Aug 2025
00:54:33
ABOUT THE EPISODE:
It’s hard to come to terms with how little control we have over whether our kids choose recovery or remain in an unhealthy lifestyle. In this episode, you’ll get to hear from Dina Cannizzaro, a mom who has been through hell and back (more than once), but has channeled all that fear and anxiety into taking actionable steps toward relearning how to connect with her son and how to harness the surprising power of self-care.
You’ll hear how far she and her son Parker have come now that he’s in long-term recovery. You’ll also hear how she had to repair relationships she let suffer (including her other children) as she became all-consumed in her fear and efforts to support her son.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why Dina chose to push through her crippling fear of rock climbing
How she invested in the relationship with her son, even when he wasn’t ready to be in contact
What anticipatory grief is and how it showed up in Dina’s life
What helped Dina realize she was just as sick as Parker, but without the influence of substances
Why she won’t stop sharing her story with anyone who will listen
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Filling The Sober, Fun And Social Gap In Early Recovery, with Eve Goldberg
19 Oct 2023
00:35:18
ABOUT THE EPISODE: The time period of recovery between a treatment program and responsible, independent living is an incredibly tricky one to navigate. My guest today says this is especially true in New York City, where marijuana smoke drifts down streets lined with thousands of alluring bars.
After her son’s overdose death in 2014, Eve Goldberg founded BigVision, a recovery peer community in NYC that provides a social club of sober young people looking to separate themselves from temptations that permeate every corner of the city.
Whether it’s with basketball tournaments, go-karting, half marathons, or trapeze classes, BigVision creates a cool, supportive social network for young adults in all stages of recovery.
In this episode, Eve and I discuss:
Our culture’s saturation with alcohol – even in athletics
How the stigma surrounding recovery made it hard to find a space for BigVision’s new headquarters and activities
The difference between therapy and therapeutic fun
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Ten Recovery Eye-Openers For Parenting a Child Through Substance Misuse or Addiction, with Brenda Zane
12 Oct 2023
00:20:17
ABOUT THE EPISODE: For parents who are on a roller coaster ride with their kids who misuse drugs and alcohol and struggle with mental health, recovery can sometimes feel like an elusive dream. So, after 187 episodes where I've talked with experts, people in recovery, parents, siblings, and my son who's in recovery, I wanted to distill down 10 of the top eye-opening recovery insights I've gathered on this journey. I also share related episodes for these so you can dive deeper into the ones that resonate most. If you're looking for ways to stay positive and hopeful or wondering how to be helpful as your child is in the early stages of recovery, this is your episode.
EPISODE RESOURCES:
Download the episode cheat sheet for a list of the 10 eye-openers and related podcast episodes (click here to download)
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
The Role of Mindfulness in Recovery from Eating Disorders and Substance Use, with Maureen and Josh White
05 Oct 2023
00:43:36
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Among the red rock cliffs of Sedona, a group of young adults sit together in the Arizona sun, meditating with their roshi - a master instructor in zen tradition. Many of the students have already been through wilderness therapy or other recovery programs. They reside at nearby Red Mountain Sedona, an independent living program where they’re learning how to integrate, alongside more traditional therapies, mindfulness practices to create a healthy, productive, and sustainable substance-free life.
My guest today is the founder of Red Mountain, Josh White, who is also a clinical mental health counselor, certified group psychotherapist, and second-ranking practitioner of Ten-Chi kenpo in the world.
In this episode, we discuss the incredible power that meditation and mindfulness practice can give young people in recovery - stepping outside cravings and impulses, observing them, interrogating them, and allowing them to pass. This conversation will also be my first foray into the issue of eating disorders, which Josh will place in the overall context of addiction.
Over the course of this discussion, we’ll talk about:
How we build the muscles of mindfulness
How young people today respond to the concept of using mindfulness in their quest for recovery from substance misuse
The difference between meditation and mindfulness, and their individual roles in recovery
How the isolation of covid and social media are affecting eating disorders and body issues in young people
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
The Other Side of Addiction: A Compilation of Guests Who Made it Out
28 Sep 2023
00:48:34
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Recovery Golden Nuggets episode. I’m sharing a curated collection of some of my favorite interview clips with people in recovery to celebrate National Recovery Month. All of these guests have been to the darkest places – jail, suicide attempts, overdoses. And yet, all have completely changed their lives, with several now working to help others in the field of recovery.
Their direct, personal experience with addiction gives them insight and perspective that can’t be found without it. The collection is inspirational to those working toward their own recovery but also for those seeking to understand and support the recovery of loved ones.
These excerpts represent hours of inspiring interviews; some will make you want to go back and listen to the original episodes. To make it easy, I’m putting links to each episode in the show notes. If you need a dose of hope, join us as we look back over the last four years of Hopestream.
EPISODE RESOURCES: Guests from this episode and their original episode:
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Close To Home: Personal Details and Insights From His Addiction and Recovery with Brenda’s Son, Enzo Narciso
21 Sep 2023
00:57:50
ABOUT THE EPISODE: For years, listeners of Hopestream have heard stories about my own family’s experiences with substance misuse and recovery. Today, after 184 episodes, I’m thrilled to finally introduce you to my son, Enzo.
I’m inspired by how he’s built a meaningful life free of substance misuse and for the time and energy he now dedicates to helping kids struggling with their own path to recovery. This is a conversation between two people who did (mostly) everything wrong but now spend our lives trying to help others meet these challenges more prepared than we were.
For this conversation, I tried my best to step outside the situation I was so intimately involved in – all the confusion, anger, and fear – and talk to Enzo like any other guest. During the conversation, we discuss:
The early influences of divorce and Enzo’s shifting friend group on his eventual high-risk lifestyle and substance use
Why it’s always hard to answer what treatment program “worked” for him
What Enzo was (and wasn’t) thinking about during his addiction
The consistent characteristics he sees in kids in treatment, and how he connects with them
Enzo’s near-fatal overdoses and the intense medical recovery that followed
Why it’s so important to spend judgment-free time with kids caught up in substance use
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
The Pivotal Role of Identity and Self-Worth in Addiction & Recovery, with Matt Elliott
14 Sep 2023
00:52:54
ABOUT THE EPISODE: I’ve been reminded of something over the past few months: Stories of hope are all around us, even if we don’t hear them.
Just last week, I got to speak to my coworker from a former life, Steve Andrews, whose son had a frightening brush with death during the throes of his substance abuse. Both Steve and his son are now living fulfilling lives, and Steve himself has become the caretaker of our men’s community, The Woods.
Since then, I was also contacted by today’s guest, Matt Elliott, a client of mine from my life in the corporate world. Until he got in touch, I hadn’t seen or spoken to Matt in five years. I had no idea that he had his own recovery story to share.
In this episode, we talk about the traumas Matt put his family through as a young man, the role substances played in his perception of his own value as a human being, how his recovery played out, and what his younger self needed to hear at the time.
This National Recovery Month, it’s worth pausing to reflect on just how many families we interact with daily who’ve endured substance use in their families – and how many come out the other side stronger, wiser and more compassionate. _________________________________
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Fathering With Accountability and Grace When Your Teen Struggles with Addiction, with Steve Andrews
07 Sep 2023
00:52:25
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Today, I have the privilege of introducing the new host of The Woods, our community specifically for dads, stepdads, and male co-parents.
After Steve Andrews and his wife got sober through Alcoholics Anonymous as a young couple, their sons never saw them drink or use substances. They warned their kids of the alcoholism and mental health issues on both sides of the family, but when one of them began misusing DXM, Kratom, alcohol, and marijuana in middle school, the couple found themselves in an increasingly volatile situation.
Meanwhile, Steve was also trying to maintain a stressful and demanding work life at the office – with me! Yes, Steve and I worked at the same ad agency while our families dealt with the chaos of substance misuse.
We found in each other what Hopestream Community provides to all its members: the company of someone who truly understands what you’re going through.
Steve is now a practicing therapist, and today we welcome him as host of The Woods with a discussion that includes:
The frightening story of Steve’s son losing control – and how he moved into recovery
Proof that there is no “one size fits all” way for our kids to find recovery
How Steve’s new position with The Woods brings full circle yet another personal story of hope
How a child with substance issues affects work-life perspective and experience
How we can take accountability for our actions without falling into the “it’s-all-my-fault” trap
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Ten Simple and Effective Phrases That Help Diffuse Difficult Conversations, With Brenda Zane
31 Aug 2023
00:17:41
ABOUT THE EPISODE: When you have a complex child, all your conversations and relationships might feel more strained. If you're like me, you sometimes find yourself at a complete loss for words and struggle with how to diffuse or launch your communication in a helpful and productive way.
If this sounds like you, you're in luck as I'm sharing ten very simple and highly effective phrases you can use when you're stuck for words or your words aren't currently working.
And to make it even easier, there's a PDF in the show notes you can download free, so you've got these ten phrases handy when you need them.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
The Secret Menu; Reframing The Experience of Parenting and Addiction, with Brenda Zane
24 Aug 2023
00:09:13
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Sometimes you can gain a different understanding of things by looking at them through a new lens. Today's bite-size episode does that for you as the parent of a young person who struggle with substances - in the form of a short story.
You'll hear about a restaurant owner and her strange, secret menu. And for those who eat from it, it can provide benefits and gifts not available anywhere else.
It's one you may want to single-task for to absorb the full meaning. Created with love and compassion by me, just for you. ______________________________
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Accepting the Invitation To Change: Two Parents Confront Fentanyl’s Hold On Their Daughter, with Eleanor & Dave
17 Aug 2023
01:00:44
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Every once in a while, I have the opportunity to speak with parents whose experiences are a perfect case study of why Hopestream Community exists. This episode with Eleanor and Dave is one of those conversations – especially for those of you with kids who are young adults living outside the home.
Eleanor and Dave raised their two children in Silicon Valley, where they had a nice house, a beautiful community, and access to California's best schools. But as many parents recognize, economic stability is not necessarily a shield against substance misuse.
In the span of one short year, Eleanor and Dave watched their daughter spiral from a university student to homeless, living in her car and using fentanyl regularly.
After a brief period of denial about the seriousness of her situation, the couple was forced to accept the reality in front of them. The hard work that followed should be held up as an example of what to do right, and that’s why I’m speaking with them today.
You'll hear how Eleanor and Dave implemented many of the tools and strategies we talk about frequently in Hopestream Community – creating supportive boundaries, rooting actions in love and empathy, implementing strategies from The Invitation to Change Approach, performing loving, family-based interventions, and so much more.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Sending Your Struggling Kid Off To College?, with Cathy Cioth
21 Aug 2025
00:50:31
ABOUT THE EPISODE:
It’s the season parents often dream of - their high school senior has successfully walked the stage and they’re now packing the family car to make the ceremonial drive to the four-year university their family goes to. They’ll do Parent Weekend, buy the sweatshirt and bumper sticker and wave their child off until they see them at Thanksgiving.
But it doesn’t go like that for everyone, and it sometimes feels like a facade if your child is on their way to a four-year university when they may be better suited for a community college - or a treatment program.
Cathy and I sat down to talk about this very difficult transition period for parents - discussing various reasons why parents hesitate to change plans last minute when their budding college student shows signs they may be headed in the wrong direction, the pressure parents are under at this time, and of course, our personal experience and insights. We also share what parents can be looking for in the senior year of high school and the summer before beginning college, as well as options there are for kids in this tricky season.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Coaching Episode – Helping Your Child Progress Through Early Recovery and Begin Adulting, with Alice
10 Aug 2023
00:46:38
ABOUT THE EPISODE: In this coaching episode we reconnect with Stream member Alice who I spoke to 18 months ago, when her son was in the worst of his substance misuse. And what incredible growth and development her family has seen since then!
After wilderness and a therapeutic boarding school, Alice’s son is now an 18-year-old holding down a heavy load including work, volunteering and school in sober living. But the everyday things that Alice used to do for him at home – laundry, groceries, appointments, picking up prescriptions – are starting to create a level of stress that is no longer buffered by substances.
Alice learned a lot over the past 18 months about natural consequences and setting boundaries, but now that her son is well on his way to full recovery, she can’t help but want to jump in and help maintain everything he’s worked for. How much should she get involved? Should her boundaries shift? And how much should he participate in drawing those boundaries?
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
How Parents Can Transcend Shame – and Help Their Kids Do the Same, with Patrick Hawkins
03 Aug 2023
00:50:23
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Today we tackle the difficult topic of shame and how it can affect our entire families. As parents of kids who are misusing drugs or alcohol, it’s common to experience a profound sense of failure or guilt when their lives begin to spin out of control.
And as today’s guest says, “How could you not?” For many of us, it can seem like our kids are entirely different than the people we raised. As a substance use disorder progresses, they may engage in ugly behaviors like lying, cheating, or stealing that are contrary to everything we taught them. It’s not hard to understand why that often leads to a sense of shame in parents.
On this episode, I’m joined by Patrick Hawkins, founder of Triple Divide Lodge, a 90-day program that combines residential treatment and adventure therapy for young men ages 14-19. Patrick’s wealth of experience helps us work through these family dynamics of shame and how they affect not just our kids but us as well.
You'll hear:
How “spontaneous rationalizations” trump unidentified and unresolved feelings in our kids
How those feelings pile up over time into chronic emotional distress, which is often used as a subconscious justification for continuing their substance use
Why kids are truly unaware that the problem is addiction, and why that should alleviate so much of the guilt we may feel
Why turning our child into our parental report card leads to emotionally driven behavior – and why that’s rarely good
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Substance Misuse Makes Perfect Sense: Redefining Addiction and Recovery, with Adam Sud
27 Jul 2023
01:24:08
ABOUT THE EPISODE: When I heard today’s guest on another (seemingly unrelated) podcast, I immediately wanted to bring his wisdom and perspective to the listeners of Hopestream.
After years of stimulant and other substance abuse, Adam Sud tried to take his own life with an overdose - which thankfully failed. In the decade that followed that pivotal event, he became a behavioral wellness nutrition expert, international speaker, and the founder and CEO of a nonprofit that studies how nutrition impacts mental health and addiction.
I began this interview wanting to bring you a conversation more specifically about food and nutrition, but once we got started, it was clear that Adam had SO MUCH MORE to share – about the core motivations and behaviors connected to substance misuse.
He’s full of truths that are sometimes hard to hear but are invaluable to help parents understand what their kids are going through, how to be an active part of their recovery, and, importantly, how not to sabotage it.
This episode is long, but that’s because it’s full of gems that I couldn’t bury in the editing room. Over the course of this conversation, we discuss:
Why we must understand how it “makes perfect sense” to misuse drugs and alcohol
The evolutionary programming that leaves humans susceptible to addiction
Why we should never ask, “Why won’t you stop?” and what to ask instead
How food both fueled and healed Adam’s addictive patterns
How the notion of willpower has become a trap
Why Adam believes the word “recovery” shouldn’t be defined as “an absence of substances”
EPISODE RESOURCES:
INFINITE Study about the benefits of a plant-based diet in addiction recovery
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Six Pivotal Decisions Parents Get To Make When Their Child Struggles With Substances and Addiction
20 Jul 2023
00:17:48
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Shorty episode alert 💫 Today I'm taking a break from talking about addiction, substances, mental health, all.the.things. Instead, I'm sharing six decisions you get to make as a parent that can help better your life when you have a child struggling with substances or finding their way to recovery. It's a quicky that will give you a few things to consider if you feel a bit untethered or like life is controlling you vs. the other way around.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
The Intersection of Autism and Addiction, with Dr. Brandon Park
13 Jul 2023
00:41:41
ABOUT THE EPISODE: On several occasions, Hopestream has hosted conversations about the complex intersection of substance use and other issues like anxiety, trauma, and ADD.
But there’s one convergence we haven’t yet discussed: substance use, addiction, and autism. After searching for a trustworthy specialist, we're finally covering this topic today with neuropsychologist Dr. Brandon Park, Founder and Executive Director of New Focus Academy.
In this episode, Dr. Park explains why kids with autism can find themselves especially susceptible to addictions – not just to alcohol and drugs, but also technology use and other behaviors. Over the course of this conversation we discuss:
What is neurodiversity and how does it impact teens and young adults?
Indicators for undiagnosed autism
Why some kids (especially girls) are good at masking neurodivergence and how that makes them even more vulnerable
What parents need to know if they're considering treatment for a neurodiverse child
How therapists and mental health professionals can sometimes misunderstand the experience and needs of kids with autism
The importance of working with professionals who can parse the connections between trauma, autism, substance use, and other issues
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
What Are Boundaries And Why Parents Need Them When Their Child Misuses Drugs or Alcohol, with Cathy Cioth
06 Jul 2023
00:44:59
ABOUT THE EPISODE: You might hear the term "boundaries" thrown around as you work to parent your child who's misusing drugs and alcohol - but what exactly are they, and why do you need them?
Hopestream Community co-founder Cathy Cioth and I deep dive into this topic today because we see parents in our communities struggle with it constantly.
We share:
What boundaries are and are not
We divulge some of our own struggles with setting and holding boundaries
What can happen if you don't have boundaries
Why Cathy called herself the "marshmallow" when it came to holding boundaries with her kids
Examples of boundaries we set with our families during our experience with our kids
It's practical, a little humorous, and revealing in a way that may help you gain some confidence and control in what can feel like a very out-of-control situation.
Please click here if you'd like to join the Hopestream Community two-hour boundaries workshop and come away with an actionable plan to make a change in your life and family.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
What the Chinese Farmer Teaches Us About Parenting Kids Using Substances, with Dina Cannizzaro
29 Jun 2023
00:38:06
ABOUT THE EPISODE: In this episode, Stream advisor Dina Cannizzaro is back with me to discuss the profound lessons in the story of the Chinese farmer. The parable applies to everyone’s lives, but it is especially relevant for those going through difficult times, as many parents in the Hopestream Community are. Take it from two moms who have survived their child’s extreme substance misuse: you never know what good may come from tragedy and misfortune.
Yes, we are acutely aware of how crazy that sounds to parents currently going through it. It certainly would have sounded crazy to us amid our children’s struggles. But take a few minutes to hear us out. In this episode, we discuss:
what the radical skepticism of the Chinese farmer has to teach us about withholding judgment and letting go of what we cannot control
the one thing we can (and should!) control in situations that often leave us feeling powerless
how Dina’s son taught her that she had her own recovery to do
the power of a parent's “tagline”
being a shining light in the dark experiences of children dealing with substance use
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
A Mother & Son Walk Us Through Addiction, Recovery and Rebuilding Family Connection, With Cindy & Colin
22 Jun 2023
00:49:18
ABOUT THE EPISODE: By the time Cindy learned to establish boundaries with her son Colin, he had already endured brain injuries and intubations as a result of his alcohol abuse. When Colin finally called her from jail one night, she knew that she shouldn’t bail him out despite her instincts. She expressed sympathy but didn't offer to rescue him - again.
As Colin stewed in a holding cell that night, he realized his parents would no longer buffer him from the natural consequences of his actions. And he knew if he continued down his current path, his life would culminate into nothing.
Since that day, Cindy and Colin have both experienced profound personal growth. Colin is now a fitness enthusiast serving as director of personal training at a gym. Cindy is an advisor in The Stream Community and personal coach to several moms. Their story gives hope that change can and does happen – and that’s what Hopestream is all about.
In this episode, I talk to Cindy and Colin together about how they each experienced Colin’s addiction and the work they both had to do to move beyond it. We discuss:
Cindy's go-to strategy for getting through their family's crisis
what they each wish they had known during Colin’s addiction and recovery
why parents must confront their own issues to have whole-family healing
the practical application of boundaries
a Netflix show that helped Colin move forward and thrive in long-term recovery
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
An Unexpectedly Humorous Take on Substance Misuse, Borderline Personality, Trauma and Tragic Loss, with Jess Kupferman
15 Jun 2023
00:57:10
ABOUT THE EPISODE: On this episode of Hopestream, the show comes full circle to its roots. My guest, Jess Kupferman, is the CEO of She Podcasts, a membership-based group of all-women podcasters that played an important role in the creation of this show.
What I didn’t know when I launched the podcast was that Jess lost her daughter to a heroin overdose at the same time I was going through our family struggles with my son.
One of the most fascinating things about Jess is the way she has learned to process this trauma with a sharp sense of humor rarely seen in addiction and recovery spaces. Don’t feel bad if you laugh a few times while listening to her story, but take her advice on telling your own story seriously.
On this episode Jess and I discuss:
why she sometimes views her family’s struggles as great sitcom material
how she “kinda kidnapped” her daughter from a rehab facility
the frustrating state of recovery centers for those who suffer from other mental health issues
the incredible benefits of an all-female podcasting community
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
A Tribute To Bill Guy, A Role Model For Parents Who Love A Child Struggling With Drugs and Alcohol
08 Jun 2023
00:28:36
ABOUT THE EPISODE: It's a very special Hopestream episode today in memory of a dear friend and host of The Woods Community, Bill Guy.
Bill passed away June 2nd and he leaves a big gap in the world - we were fortunate to have had him as a generous and brave leader for our community in it's infancy.
Bill was on the podcast late last year and to honor his legacy of helping parents of kids with substance misuse challenges I decided to share a compilation of beautiful thoughts and insights from our previous conversation.
If you want to hear the voice of someone who led by example and epitomized the approach of love, education, empathy, boundaries and self-care when your child is misusing substances, you won't find anyone more pure than Bill.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
What Your 'Failure to Launch' Teen or Young Adult Kid Really Needs, with Dr. Mark McConville
14 Aug 2025
00:52:47
EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
In this summer 'from the vault' episode I'm resharing an impactful interview with Dr. Mark McConville, a clinical psychologist specializing in adolescents and young adults. We discuss:
Strategies for parents to transition from directive parenting into a consultant role
How to offer wisdom while allowing your child to take the initiative
The difference between enabling and supporting
How pre-competence might look like incompetence and what to do about it
The value of thinking through the worst-case scenario
Practical examples of limits and setting expectations with a not-yet-launched teen or young adult
And the critical importance of maintaining a supportive relationship
We also explore the challenges and anxieties that young adults face, as well as the benefits of non-authoritarian guidance. As always, we share practical tips and personal anecdotes that will give you ideas for strategies to foster independence and resilience in your child.
EPISODE RESOURCES:
Failure to Launch: Why Your Twentysomething Hasn't Grown Up...and What to Do About It - buy here
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Is It Ok To Use A CALM Approach With A Child Who Misuses Drugs and Alcohol? With Brenda Zane
01 Jun 2023
00:14:40
ABOUT THE EPISODE: It's a shorty episode today, tackling the question of whether a calm approach can work when you have a child misusing substances.
I share my perspective on why I believe parents often think they need to use aggressive, confrontational tactics to get their children to change and invite you into an experiment to test the theory.
I then provide a four-step way to move into a CALM approach when things get heated with your child. It's a simple but effective way to have less drama and more control.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
FOO Fighter: Deprogramming Our “Family Of Origin” Triggers For More Effective Parenting, with Dr. Crystal Collier
25 May 2023
00:44:52
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Figuring out how to parent a teen or young adult experimenting with substances is hard enough on its own. But if you’re like me, there’s an additional layer of confusion about how this all happened: Didn’t we provide a stable home life for our kids? Didn’t they have access to everything they needed? What did I miss to prevent this?
My guest today is Dr. Crystal Collier, an award-winning therapist working with adolescents and adults suffering from mental illness, behavioral problems, and substance use disorders. But her experience is not entirely academic. What made her so interested in recovery was her own misuse of alcohol beginning at age 12, and the difficult times that followed.
After finding recovery at a young age, Crystal had the same question about herself that Hopestream Community parents often have about their own children: How did an otherwise smart kid with a great family end up making terrible decisions about substance use?
That question led to a 30-year journey of study and service, and I’m happy to share some of Crystal’s insights with you in this episode, including:
How our own childhood experiences created “Family Of Origin (FOO) buttons,” and how they connect to present-day responses to our kids
The FOO buttons we are programming into our own kids, and why they could lead to escapism, drug use, and antisocial behavior
The pervasive myth that when parents allow drinking at home, it prevents excess “forbidden fruit” binging later on
How helicopter parenting destroys a sense of self-efficacy in young people
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Johnny’s Ambassadors: How One Mother’s Loss Started a Youth Marijuana Awareness Movement, With Laura Stack
18 May 2023
00:47:11
ABOUT THE EPISODE: If you currently have a teen or young adult, you likely grew up in an era of marijuana liberalization and legalization. At that time, many of us learned that marijuana was not nearly as dangerous as we were led to believe by films like Reefer Madness and claims that showed our "brain on drugs.”
But those studies were based on the potency of leaf material available before marijuana became a legal, multi-billion dollar industry – and the industry has radically changed.
New, high-potency forms of marijuana (like shatter, wax, edibles and vape oils) are delivering regular doses of THC that are hundreds of times more powerful than the original recommendations for medical treatment. To make matters worse, they're increasingly available to middle and high school kids.
My guest today is Laura Stack, founder of Johnny’s Ambassadors and a mother who lives in Colorado – ground zero for the nation’s marijuana legalization. Laura watched her son go from a straight-A student with no mental illness to marijuana-induced psychosis after obtaining his medical marijuana card. He eventually, tragically, took his own life. Laura now travels the country speaking frankly with high school students about what the frightening new science says about young people and high-potency THC extracts.
In this interview, we discuss:
Why parents are sometimes less concerned when their children try marijuana
Why old studies showing the medicinal benefits of marijuana are often irrelevant in the world of concentrates
New science surrounding the use of concentrates and their connection to marijuana-induced psychosis
How parents can help spread the word through Johnny's Ambassadors
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Bonus Episode: A Mother's Day Card For All The Mommas
14 May 2023
00:05:16
ABOUT THE EPISODE: It's Mother's Day and for those with kids who struggle, or who lost their struggle, it can be hard. It can also be joyous and amazing, kind of a mixed bag. So this is your Mother's Day card from me. Sending so much love your way.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Back Pocket Parenting; Getting Un-Enmeshed From A Child Who Misuses Drugs and Alcohol, with Cathy Cioth
11 May 2023
00:37:11
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Parents often don’t realize they’re deeply and unhealthfully embedded in their child’s life- especially when that child struggles with their relationship to substances. The official term for this dysfunction is called enmeshment, but since Cathy and I aren’t therapists, we liken it to back-pocket parenting.
If you find yourself intertwined in your child’s life to the degree that they’re not doing age-appropriate things for themselves, or you don’t know where they end and you begin, this is your episode.
We talk about what enmeshment looks like, examples of our own relationships, the impact it has on a teen or young adult, and ideas for how to start to disentangle from your child using boundaries and natural consequences (and a good therapist!)
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Jessica Lahey, NYT Best Selling Author on The Addiction Inoculation, Inviting Failure and The Ultimate Challenge For Parents
27 Apr 2023
01:03:17
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Jessica Lahey has been surrounded by addiction her whole life. As a person now in long-term recovery, she grew up around alcoholism, came to her own reckoning with dinking, has taught every grade from 6-12, worked with adolescents in residential treatment, and written two New York Times best-selling books, The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation.
Jessica’s books are a gift to parents looking for ways to set their kids up for the best possible outcome regarding substances and the ability to navigate life independently as they progress through high school and their young adulthood.
You’ll hear how Jessica went from being adamantly against substance use to realizing she had a serious drinking problem, why she wants parents to focus on progress, not product, why allowing our kids to struggle truly is a gift, and explains the data behind the mantra, “delay, delay, delay.”
It’s appointment listening, even if your child is already down the path of misusing substances. You’ll gain so much from this frank and encouraging conversation.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
The High Cost of High-Potency Marijuana For Adolescents, with Dr. Libby Stuyt
20 Apr 2023
01:01:03
ABOUT THE EPISODE: When voters in Colorado legalized marijuana in the year 2000, they did so with good intentions: as compassionate health care for people with serious conditions. After all, the FDA was approving THC-based medicines like marinol at doses of 20mg.
Then concentrates hit the market.
In Colorado today, an 18-year-old with a medical marijuana card can legally purchase more than 50 times the daily dose of THC originally prescribed as medicine. And my guest for this episode, Dr. Libby Stuyt, says she is seeing the consequences.
Dr. Stuyt is a board-certified addiction psychiatrist, and has worked in the addiction and behavioral health field for more than 30 years. Most of that time was spent as medical director at a Colorado inpatient program for people who had failed to progress through other treatments. She has seen it all.
In this episode Dr. Stuyt explains how we are gaining new understanding of the potential dangers of high-potency marijuana products, especially for adolescents. We discuss:
How the market transformed from well-intentioned medicine to a THC free-for-all
What parents need to understand before they ask, “Where would my kid even get marijuana?”
Why edibles can be more dangerous than smoking
What we’ve learned about the connection between adolescent marijuana use and opiates
Some of the most frightening problems associated with heavy users of concentrates, including rapid-onset addiction, IQ-loss, psychosis, and hyperemesis
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Replacing Addiction Shame with Addiction Energy and the Importance of Parent Boundaries, With Dr. Wes Robins
13 Apr 2023
00:31:52
ABOUT THE EPISODE: It’s nearly impossible for our kids to see us as anything but authority figures. And, of course, we are. We want to protect them from the world and sometimes even from the consequences of their own actions. But teens and young adults struggling with substance misuse often need a different kind of relationship to accept responsibility for their actions and explore their behavior's roots.
My guest for this episode is Dr. Wes Robins, founder and CEO of Eternal Strength, which focuses on what he calls “radical youth work”. This work breaks down the perception of counselors or therapists as authority figures, focusing on relationships rather than behavior modification. Over the course of his life, Wes has progressed from his own addiction to cocaine and methamphetamine to a doctoral thesis in Consciousness and Society, making him a unique lens through which to view teens and young adults in recovery.
On this episode we discuss:
Why parents should shift their energies from behavioral control to support with boundaries and self-care
Why recognizing the sovereignty and responsibility of teens and young adults is key to helping them open up
How Wes builds mutual respect with young adults that sidesteps a hierarchical relationship – and why it’s so difficult for parents.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
The Influence Paradox: How Giving Up Control Can Give You Sway, with Dr. Emily Kline
06 Apr 2023
00:43:42
ABOUT THE EPISODE: You’ve probably heard me (and many of my guests) talk about letting go of the idea that you can control your teen or young adult child. This is so hard to do, for obvious reasons, and parents who struggle with this have some valid questions:
Isn’t it our job to protect our kids at all costs? If I stop confronting these problems, isn’t that just avoidance? How is this different from just giving up?
My guest today says that these questions miss an important paradox: The more we let go of controlling behavior (which often doesn’t work anyway), the more opportunity we have to gain real influence – especially with skills like Motivational Interviewing.
Dr. Emily Kline received her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, following up with clinical and post-doc training at Harvard Medical School. She has presented to audiences all over the world on the topics of mental health and interpersonal communication. Her new book and (free!) E-course is titled The School of Hard Talks.
I’ve been seeing Emily’s name everywhere lately and I’m excited to finally bring you this conversation, in which we discuss:
How Motivational Interviewing can help us give up control in exchange for influence
One big reason adolescents and young adults can be self-destructive
Some go-to phrases to facilitate low-conflict discussion and relationship building
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Six Parenting Tools You Need for Navigating A Child's Substance Issues, with Cathy Cioth
07 Aug 2025
00:33:03
EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
A fresh new, 'from-the-vault' episode that is as relevant today as it was in 2022!
Navigating life with a young person who’s misusing substances and struggling with mental health can feel like a ride in a very stormy sea. Parents need to be well-equipped for the journey, but often aren’t sure what the mandatory, life-saving provisions are to bring along.
In this episode, Cathy Cioth, Hopestream Community co-founder, joins me to share our top six recommended provisions for parents as you navigate the turbulence that comes with a challenging child. We identify the items we wish we’d had in our lifeboat when we started our expedition, so you can be better prepared.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
The Question Parents Really Need To Ask Their Kid Who Struggles With Substances, with Brenda Zane
30 Mar 2023
00:14:57
ABOUT THE EPISODE: In today’s episode, I announce some big news for my organization and also share the question I've come to believe parents really need to ask to help their kids heal and move away from misusing substances. This question is hard to ask and many parents don't want to go there, but it's necessary and doable with the right support.
I share what parents see "above the iceberg" and why that's only part of a big picture they need to have visibility to. It's a short but important message you'll want to hear if you're confounded by your child's unhealthy relationship with drugs, alcohol, or anything else that's taking away from their health and wellbeing.
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Adultolescence: Preparing Young Adults Who Struggle With Skills For Wellness and Independence, With Greg Ostler
23 Mar 2023
00:50:59
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Teen girls and young women are experiencing unprecedented spikes in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. There are differing opinions about what’s driving this surge, but nearly everyone agrees it’s happening. These young women often struggle with their identity and role in the world, manifesting a wide range of unproductive behaviors: withdrawal, avoidance, manipulation, and misuse of substances. And of course, substance misuse complicates every problem even further.
My guest is Greg Ostler, Clinical Director at Skyterra Young Adult Wellness Retreat. Greg says young women in recovery often don’t have environments conducive to learning healthy routines, essential skills, and the importance of self-care. Skyterra couples this kind of practical knowledge with communication and conflict resolution skills that allow young women to transition into healthy, responsible adulthood.
In this interview, we talk about:
The five pillars of lifestyle habits that help young adults thrive
“Adultolescence”, and why 18 is just a number
Why it can be helpful to “blow things up” at times
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Addiction Psychologist By Day, Parenting A Child Through Addiction By Night, with Julie
16 Mar 2023
00:48:07
ABOUT THE EPISODE: At the time Julie’s teenage son began misusing drugs, she had been a clinical psychologist specializing in addiction for more than 15 years. In her own words:
“I know most of what there is to know, and we’re still here anyway. How did that happen?”
After working with families in the area of addiction for years, Julie was now one of “those parents.” This personal experience layered onto her academic expertise gives her a unique, holistic perspective that can benefit us all.
Join us for this incredibly vulnerable and enlightening conversation, where we discuss:
the difference between an intellectual understanding of substance misuse and the emotional, first-person experience
why Julie was resistant to wilderness therapy – and why she’s glad she tried it
and how to react when it seems like C.R.A.F.T. tools “aren’t working”
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
Coaching Episode: Learning to Let Go with Tracey
09 Mar 2023
00:50:50
ABOUT THE EPISODE: Having a child who misuses drugs or alcohol can look very different for all of us – especially for children of different ages. For parents of kids who are still living at home, the responsibilities and realities are simply not the same as parents whose children are young adults, living on their own outside the home.
In today’s coaching episode, my guest Tracey tells us how her 26-year-old son finally accepted treatment just a few months ago, after more than a decade of alcohol misuse. Tracey is still learning how to strike that balance between support and control, and how to let go of the downward spiral of anxiety about her son’s relapse that, I’m sure, so many of us can relate to.
In this episode we discuss:
how Tracey finally came to understand why her son began drinking so many years ago
how she has made so much progress toward her goal of relinquishing control of her son’s life, and what she might still do to improve
and a few tips and tricks to staying grounded – from a “letter of resignation” to ice cube handling
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.