 Sarah Levin is the founder of Secular Strategies.  She is also a lobbyist and coalition builder.  Sarah has made it her life’s work to fight for legislation protecting secular points of view.   Gerardo (Gee) Matamoros is a SMART Regional Coordinator, president of the SMART NYC Board, and self-described newfound activist.  He is impacting his community through his passion and dedication to ensuring SMART is an option for everyone in recovery.  In this podcast, they talk about:  Sarah growing up in a political family that loved to talk about religion and politics at the kitchen table  Sarah being introduced to SMART when she worked for the Secular Coalition for America  Being the engine of the secular movement   Gee grew up in different countries and came to the US for college  Gee’s stint with “naughty” substances and finding SMART  What brought Sarah and Gee together  Advocating for separation of church and state and evidence-based policy  Explaining to law makers why Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) should be supported in recovery  Ending the stigma of addiction for people in recovery  The First Amendment cases that protect choice in recovery pathways  Shifting the burden to the courts to ensure secular recovery options are given to people   Gee’s outreach and awareness efforts in NYC   Newfound energy in rallying people to get involved in SMART’s legislative changes  Why it’s important to learn the ecosystem of decision makers in your community and make SMART known  Telling your story because your voice matters to lawmakers at all levels  

SMART Recovery® Podcasts

Swimming Against the Legislative Tides

Dave Jansa is a SMART Facilitator in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and someone with lived experience with the Family & Friends program.  He also serves on the board of Face it Together (FIT), whose mission is to solve the nation’s greatest health challenge drug and alcohol addiction.  In this podcast, Dave talks about: Resolving his struggles with addictive behaviors on his own and by observing what others were going through as guidance Being curious and confused about his addiction experience and recovery transformation Face it Together being disturbing innovators The similarities between SMART and FIT and implementing SMART into their recovery options How using the Family & Friends program transformed the way he interacted with his son The needs of teens and young adults differs from adults in recovery The Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) method FIT’s Recovery Capital Index How addiction affects everyone in the family Being part of the solution in people’s recovery Finding the diamond in the rough 

Finding the Diamond in the Rough

Since 2016, Lorie Hammerstorm has been the lead onsite trainer for SMART.  She also facilitates the teen and young adult meetings.  Her passion for working with teens and young adults is evident in the hundreds of people she has helped in their recovery journey.  Rae Grady is an onsite trainer and Family & Friends facilitator, who has been with SMART since 2019.  Her prior experience working with adolescents as a guidance counselor and crisis coordinator has given her the tools and empathy to support the those in need.  In this podcast, they talk about: Lorie’s need to find life goals beyond drugs and alcohol in high school and how it shaped her future Rae’s career working with adolescents and finding SMART as a resource How Lorie found SMART and why the tools were crucial in her life SMART’s principles are things kids can grab onto Why the school approach makes the teens more comfortable in meetings Lorie and Rae’s experiences with their own children’s struggles Why it’s important that teens learn to communicate The skills that trainers and facilitators need to work with teens and young adults The value in creating relationships with people Using music as a way to connect and relate to recovery Planting the seeds for recovery A mistake isn’t a failure, but an opportunity to learn The parents’ need to understand the recovery process 

Planting the Seeds for Recovery

Chuck Novak’s life hasn’t always been easy.  A substance use problem led to five years in prison.  While incarcerated, Chuck decided to use his time to change his life for the better.  He earned a paralegal certificate and started on a path to recovery.  Today, Chuck is a Master Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor and a SMART Recovery Regional Coordinator in New Hampshire.    In this podcast, Chuck talks about: His experiences with addiction and being incarcerated How simple decisions were difficult after being released Changing the vocabulary for returning citizens How he became interested in becoming a counselor Using SMART tools within the tools during his meetings The role of regional coordinators is morphing Implementing “Operation Bed Bug” How the InsideOut: A SMART Recovery Correctional Program® aligns with the Federal Bureau of Prisons programing Consulting for the Drug and Mental Health Courts in New Hampshire Learning how to do life Discovering there is Life Beyond Addiction 

Learning How to Do Life

Barry Grant’s experiences being incarcerated over 20 years ago changed and shaped his future forever.  Today, Barry is the owner of S.A.F.E Counseling Services, Director of Outpatient Services at Hope House, and SMART board member.  His tireless championing of the SMART program has helped countless people in their recovery journey.  In this podcast, Barry talks about: His history of being incarcerated and finding SMART while in prison Using his time in prison as an opportunity to grow and share experiences with others SMART being in the here and now, not the past Examining and evaluating the human experience His meaning of recovery Choosing your behavior means choosing your consequences Becoming an autodidactic counselor The difference between being ready and being prepared Changing the vocabulary for incarcerated people How SMART principles are applicable to life situations Asking “Who Are You?” 

Incarcerated by Your Own Thinking

Matt Frank has been a SMART Facilitator for over seven years.  His uses his experience and LGBTQ+ perspectives to shape the tools and conversations to be most effective for his meeting participants.  In this podcast, Matt talks about: How pride can be a problem emotion SMART discourages using labels Practicing recovery actively Focusing on behavior versus identity The difference between self-esteem and self-acceptance Using Motivational Interviewing in his Sexual Maladaptive Behavior meeting What people need is a good listening to The pros and cons on online versus in-person meetings Not letting pride lead you astray Appreciating the small things in life 

Don't Let Pride Lead You Astray

Brett Saarela’s personal and professional experience led her to find her passion in helping older adults with mental health and addiction issues.  She is a licensed clinical social worker in New York and has devoted her time and efforts to ensuring the older population is seen and treated properly.  Brett is the Vice President of the SMART Recovery Board of Directors and serves on the SMART International Board of Directors.  In this podcast, Brett talks about: Why the word geriatrics is a challenging term Her heart and passion is working with older adults Her personal and family history of mental health and substance use Discovering SMART Recovery and ultimately changing careers Modifying SMART tools for each client Barriers to detection among the geriatric population Motivational interviewing being a cornerstone of SMART Guidance for family and friends whose older loved ones have a substance use problem Goals for SMART for helping older adults Future of mental health and addiction services for older adults 

Older Adults: Unseen. Untreated. Misdiagnosed.

Mike Massey has been facilitating SMART Recovery Online (SROL) meetings since 2013.  His professional experience as a former teacher and union leader, as well as his personal experience with substance use, gave him the skills and abilities to help meeting participants.  When many of the participants said they also were dealing with a mental health disorder, he struggled with how best to help them and decided there needed to be a reference guide for facilitators on how to handle this aspect of recovery.  So, he and several others created one: Facilitator Best Practices for Addressing Mental Health Disorders and Suicide in SMART Recovery Meetings. In this podcast, Mike talks about: What led to writing the Facilitator Best Practices for Addressing Mental Health Disorders and Suicide in SMART Recovery Meetings Most facilitators are not experts or professional therapists, but should have a familiarity with mental health disorders People coming to the meeting for hope and inspiration Reframing the terms of mental health Two types of stigma – self and society Searching for patterns and reasons for addictions Asking participants, “What do you need to get through this?” The mystery and magic of being in a meeting Doing a better job of helping others help themselves How to handle the mention of suicide Contributors in writing the guide, including the QPR Institute Finding the guide on VolunteerHQ 

The Intersection of Mental Health and Addiction

Bill Greer came up through the ranks of SMART Recovery. He started as a participant in 2012, then became a facilitator, then Regional Coordinator, and joined the Board of Directors in 2017. He is currently the President of the Board. As SMART releases its 2021-2022 Strategic Plan to the community, he knows the importance of implementing goals that will shape SMART’s future.    In this podcast, Bill talks about: The 2021-2022 Strategic Plan Coming up through the ranks of SMART The lived experience of SMART What the Strategic Plan means How the Strategic Plan achieves the SMART mission How the Strategic Plan is aimed towards supporting our volunteers A decade of incredible growth and why the Strategic Plan is necessary for continued growth Addressing uncomfortable and challenging questions Why it’s critical to shift to a fund development culture Making SMART a household name His meaning of Life Beyond Addiction What the Strategic Plan means to you and how to take action 

Looking at Ourselves in an Honest, Open Way

Eboni Jewel Sears’s life has been full of unique and interesting experiences and opportunities.  Growing up, her military family moved throughout the country; today Las Vegas, Nevada, is home. Her professional journey has taken her from being a Navy Seabee to a long-haul truck driver to currently a peer recovery support specialist at the Alternative Peer Group Las Vegas.  It’s here that she counsels teens in recovery using the SMART Recovery tools and principles.  In this podcast, Eboni talks about: Being a SMART facilitator and peer recovery support specialist Using exchange vocabulary with the teens to bridge the gap between AA and SMART terminology Why she was reluctant to become a SMART facilitator and what changed her mind Ways she makes learning the SMART tools fun for her teen participants Keeping her recovery and sexual identity hidden while in the Navy That it’s okay to have fun in recovery Wanting a better life for herself and daughter Facilitating a SMART Recovery Online (SROL) meeting for Maladaptive Behaviors Working with the Las Vegas School District to get SMART Recovery into the Mission High School curriculum Being an African American, LGBT, Female SMART concepts fitting well into spiritual concepts 2020 being a year of change 

I Wasn't Looking Until I Was Looking

Henry Steinberger, of Madison, Wisconsin, is a long-time, trusted advisor and facilitator for SMART.  His extensive educational credentials and background have been invaluable in shaping SMART Recovery into the organization it is today.  In this podcast, Henry talks about: Working with Albert Ellis The fork in the road with Jack Trimpy The psychology of understanding why people “are so messed up” Discovering SMART and serving on the Board of Directors Contributing to the SMART Recovery Handbook The seven therapeutic lifestyle changes The Japanese concept of Shinrin-Yoku (translated as Forest bathing) Using CRAFT and the SMART Family & Friends Handbook Meeting people where they are and varying degrees of religiosity Rebuilding the trust bank Incorporating the SMART Facilitator Training for Professionals into your practice His definition of Life Beyond Addiction Being present is part of being in love, romance, and intimacy 

Rebuilding the Trust Bank

Dr. Reid Hester is a psychologist and researcher.  He is the founder and director of the science division of Checkup & Choices.  Reid’s extensive research in alcohol abuse has led to professional opportunities and collaborations with many experts in the field.  One long-standing partnership has been with SMART Recovery.  In this podcast, Reid talks about: His educational background and path to earning a doctorate in psychology Meeting the “rising star” William Miller in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1978 Finding a kindred spirit in Tom Horvath, a founding member of SMART Recovery Publishing findings from a drug and alcohol abstinence focused protocol, in conjunction with SMART, in the Journal of Medical Internet Research How the pandemic is affecting recovery The Checkup & Choices approach and app Receiving funding for continued research through Small Business Innovative Research Grants Carpe diem is the term when looking for web-based applications to make changes Future innovators including Chess Health and Vorvida Reasons to be hopeful and optimistic in recovery The positive ripple effect 

Carpe Diem is the Term

Shawn Fisk is an addiction treatment counselor in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  His lived personal and professional experiences have led him to challenge cognitive discrepancies and chart a new path for his and his clients’ lives.    In this podcast, Shawn talks about: The privilege of working at Serenity House, an intensive, in-house men’s recovery home Giving the residents the opportunity to model and practice new skills to replace old behaviors His life as a competitive athlete and sports psychology coach Getting the opportunity to hit the reset button Taking Carl Young’s advice to find the courage to look at the dark things and find freedom Learning to value himself enough to take care of himself Applying SMART tools to behaviors like over-eating or spending Understanding labels Freedom from judgement His perspective on Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Helping people see their value Finding a new hobby every year 

If Me; Yes You

Stacey McKeever is a librarian in southern California.  Her lifelong struggle with food addiction has led her to use SMART Recovery as one pathway to maintaining balance in her life.    In this podcast, Stacey talks about: How she was a librarian even before she earned her degree  Being put on diet pills at eight years old  Using food to cope with her feelings  Finding out she had a food addiction  Her inability to feel space or boundaries   The blocked memories from her childhood  Growing up in a household of women, where everyone was continuously dieting How needing food to live makes the struggle more difficult  Learning how to have boundaries with words not food  Incorporating SMART Recovery and Weight Watchers programs into her life  Finding balance on the beam and knowing when enough is enough  Making excuses because it’s the holidays  The sexiness is all about the planning of the meal  Going into the holidays with eyes wide open  Trying other programs   Learning how to be a whole person with SMART What is most valuable about SMART meetings  Advice for staying on the balance beam  Learning recovery is an individual journey  Ways of supporting others without accepting their burdens          

Going Into the Holidays with Eyes Wide Open

Les Waite is a veteran and a clinical psychologist at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York.  His struggles with addiction lead him to SMART Recovery.  Now, he uses the SMART tools daily in his practice for veterans.      In this podcast, Les talks about:  His educational resume that includes learning the teachings of Alfred Adler  Serving in the military during the first Gulf War  Seeing his comrades come back from deployment with trauma issues and finding limited professional resources to help them How trauma and substance use disorders are linked  His own struggles with addiction  Being introduced to SMART and why he fell in love with the program  Why the VA hospitals' programs dovetail beautifully with SMART's teachings His “been there, done that” connection with patients  Why the structure and order of the SMART program is effective for veterans  Playing Jonny Appleseed in the VA hospitals by starting SMART meetings everywhere he goes Motivational interviewing and the stages of change model Having honest, genuine dialog with his patients about the reasons they are seeing him Reconnecting a veteran to their own values using the hierarchy of values tool  His post-COVID goals of launching more SMART meetings for veterans and in his community   

The "Been There, Done That" Connection

SMART Recovery® Podcasts, a library of talks on addiction from the leading self-empowering peer support recovery group in the world. Enjoy entertaining, thought-provoking discussion with experts in the field of science-based addiction treatment and recovery. SMART Recovery provides services for those overcoming addictions of all types.