Shair Addiction Recovery Podcast | Higher Power | 12 Step | Drug Addiction | Alcoholism | Sobriety | Hp Baby

Brian McAlister joins us today on the SHAIR Podcast.  Brian is a bestselling author, motivational speaker and the founder of Full Recovery Wellness Center in New Jersey. Brian is dedicated to helping recovering people achieve spiritual, personal and financial empowerment. Brian’s commitment to helping others recover from addiction and reach their full potential is his life’s mission.  From a low-bottom unemployed alcoholic and addict to leading a workforce of 1,800 people producing nearly half a billion dollars in annual sales is just a small part of Brian McAlister’s journey.   Husband, father, entrepreneur, best-selling recovery author and coach, Brian subscribes to the spiritual axiom that with God all things are possible.  He maintains an active role in the recovery community through his workshops and as a sought-after motivational speaker on the subject. These accomplishments are an example of the miracles that have taken place in Brian’s life. Miracles he believes can be taught, learned, and duplicate

Annie Highwater joins us today on The SHAIR Podcast. Annie is the author of Unhooked: A Mother's Story of Unhitching from the Roller Coaster of Her Son's Addiction. This memoir follows the experiences of one mother who started her own life in a neglected home and came to realize how those experiences both helped and hindered the hardest, most heartbreaking, yet illuminating changes of her life, her son's addiction to opiates. "I am the mother of an addict. I'm in recovery as much as my addicted son is in recovery.” Annie learns to understand that her own dysfunctional family upbringing influences her reactions. She is a fighter, never gives up, and digs deep into her past’s successful and unsuccessful strategies, including finding several treatment centers, the good and the disappointing ones. She sets boundaries, enlists resources, and finally moves through her life with determination and acceptance. As the country struggles to address the issues of the rampant epidemic of opiate abuse and addiction, this

Jason MacKenzie joins us on the SHAIR Podcast. Jason is a dad, a husband, an author, public speaker. His website: The Book of Open, is geared towards helping men become stronger, wiser, and more courageous fathers Jason is an expert on peak human performance. He’s a father, speaker, author and coach. He teaches audiences around the world how cultivating vulnerability will liberate the strength, wisdom and courage we already possess. He is a survivor of his wife's battle with bipolar disorder and subsequent suicide and has overcome a decade-long battle with alcohol. When he stopped running from grief and fear he became the husband and father his family deserves. His driving purpose is to help lift those who want more from their lives to increasingly higher levels of personal and professional performance. Jason is a strength-finder and works with you to help you ask powerful, affirmative questions about what's best about you and your life. His mission is to show you that you are inherently successful and th

Esther Nagle joins us today on The SHAIR Podcast.  Esther is the Founder of Balance and Breathe Recovery Support through Yoga.  Esther spent most of her adult life living with addiction and mental illness and has come out the other side older, wiser, happier, and free.  She is also the Author of Bent Back into Shape, Beating Addiction through Yoga.   Esther Nagle spent years of her life waging war on herself and blaming the world for her unhappiness. Numbing her pain and hiding in alcohol, drugs, loud music and other self-destructive tendencies, her life was a constant battle between the identity she had created for herself, and the real Esther that she had occasional glimpses of, a happy, relaxed, joyful person full of love and peace.  Esther's battles started to end the day she realized she was falling apart. A long dreamed of Yoga teacher training course showed her that there was a different way she could live, and she stepped gleefully into a life of happiness, healing and recovery. Sober since October 2

Robert Hammond joins us on the SHAIR Podcast.  Robert is an author, a writer and a consultant. He is the Author of self-help and consumer finance books, including Life After Debt, which sold over 100,000 copies as well as a film and television writer/producer.  Hammond’s script “C.B. DeMille” won Best Screenplay at the 2011 Los Angeles New Wave International Film Festival. He was also a dope fiend for many years where he lost everything, jobs, relationships, and his self-respect. He compromised all of his values and principles along the way and lost time that he can never get back.  Addicted to heroin, heading to prison, suffering from depression and a host of physical ailments. He was literally on death’s door. As part of my treatment plan, Robert’s counselor arranged for him to write out his moral inventory in the form of a memoir. For more than an hour a day he poured out all my thoughts and memories. The result was a catharsis that led to emotional healing and spiritual insight.  Writing transformed his

Gabrielle “Gaby” Campagna joins us on The SHAIR Podcast.  Gaby was an active alcoholic from age 15 to 36. In 2009, at age 36, her liver and kidneys shut down from drinking vodka heavily for over a year and she slipped into a coma. While Gaby was dying in the ICU from Non-viral hepatitis Alcoholic liver disease her my family was told she wasn't expected to make it. However her Higher Power had different plans for her and she survived, it took her over two years to recover her health back. Unfortunately, she did not seek treatment or get any help. Gaby white knuckled it for over 3 years and smoked pot. When she turned 40 she relapsed for an entire year. On July 23, 2013, at age 41, Gaby entered an outpatient treatment program that is 12 Stepped based at Kaiser Chemical Dependency Recovery Program.  She completed all phases of the program in 16 months. Gaby’s recovery story is full of amazing miracles and her life is beyond good. Life is great! Clean Date: July 23, 2013 Omar: What is the best suggestion you h

Keith Campbell joins us on the SHAIR Podcast today. Keith has a thriving Facebook Group called Sober and Serious with over 3,700 active members.  This is a group for people who are Serious about their recovery and striving to be a better people every day! Omar:    Let's talk a little bit about what your daily routine looks like and include your recovery routine. Keith:    I usually wake in the morning and I do a little meditation and prayer, and then take a shower, get ready, go to work. Usually when I get home from work, then I head off to a meeting usually if I have time. After that, usually some fellowship with the people in the meeting, and life is good. Try to help people. I got some guys that I sponsor, and when they're willing, I'll meet up with them and take then through the book too. Omar:    Now, you say pray and meditate in the mornings, so how do you maintain your spiritual condition your conscious contact with a higher power on a regular basis, either daily basis or weekly basis? Keith:    I

Dawn Lutrell joins us on The SHAIR Podcast. Dawn is a recovering addict, a comedian and an entertainer who does one hell of a job impersonating Ellen DeGeneres. This year Dawn will be hosting In Recovery Magazine's 3rd Annual Gratitude Gala event on November 18th in Scottsdale, Arizona.      Dawn:    I hear that I do. I'm not sure I do, but a lot of people seem to think I have it nailed. Omar:    Absolutely, I think you do, Ellen, I mean Dawn. Dawn:    Right, right. I'm the sober Ellen. Omar:    First, we just want to get to know a little bit about what you do on a regular basis, Dawn, what does your normal daily routine look like including recovery? Dawn:    I usually start the day with a good stiff black cup of coffee. I'm an early riser, so I'm at it pretty early, maybe sometimes before the sun comes up. I just take that time to be with my higher power and my prayers are usually conversational. I just try to have a conversation with God first thing in the morning, because I've been by myself, I'm goin

Carly Benson joins us today on The SHAIR Podcast the founder of Miracles Are Brewing.  She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and Coaches. She is a Certified Christian Life Coach through Light University and has also served on the Board of Directors for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Her mission is to teach people to love their weirdness and to bring forth the most epic versions of themselves. To live epic lives that are purpose-driven, passion-fueled, faith-centered and serve others in a way that offers impactful change. But life wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows for Carly. For a decade, her life was jam packed, fully loaded with a party scene on constant repeat as if she had an IV of adrenaline directly connected to a brain that didn’t think the word NO even existed. There was no place she wouldn’t go or thing she wouldn’t do to get her fix. One morning after a night of drug-filled oblivion and reckless alcohol consumption, she made the decision to clean up her act. Not

Alan Charles joins today us on The SHAIR Podcast. Alan is the author of Walking Out the Other Side and most recently Charles has been doing a lot of public speaking on the discussion of addiction and recovery in schools, businesses, and universities.   "So many people share about seeing me go in and out of the program over the years, how heartbreaking it was, thinking I would die before I got well. They talk about how I am living proof no one is ever too far gone to get clean. The common theme is: if Alan can get sober, anyone can get sober." Walking Out the Other Side is the story of a journey from childhood to adulthood, from addiction to sobriety, from fearing life to living joyfully. Join Alan S. Charles through the dramatic ups and downs of his life from an adventurous childhood to the tragic early death of his father and his traumatic home life with a mentally ill brother and depressed mother. Watch Alan's attempts to overcome his past through professional sports--baseball and harness racing--and the

Rebecca Ronning joins us on the SHAIR Podcast today. Rebecca is 21 years old and recently celebrates 1 year clean.  She began using heroin at age 17 and from that point on has been battling drug addiction. She came from a good family, got into college full time at age 16 and graduated with her associates of arts degree at 17 while graduating from high school at the same time. A star athlete in high school in diving and went to state 4 times. After graduation Rebecca got into nursing school and with 2 semesters left for her RN degree she dropped out to go to rehab. She had everything going for her but heroin took her down hard. She went to her first inpatient at age19, was admitted to 5 inpatients, 3 sober houses, and fired from pretty much every job she had, using drugs the entire time. It got so bad she began selling her body for drugs, was charged with a felony and overdosed 4 times. She lost all hope. Her family would tell her you HAD so much going for you how could you throw it away. Her parents are 25 ye

Herby Bell joins us on The SHAIR Podcast. Herby is a recovery and wellness coach and you can find Herby at his website, www.recoveryhealthcare.me and he also has a podcast called Sober Conversations. “First and foremost, a sober/wellness lifestyle is the only way to go. I know this because I am a man in long-term addiction recovery and I have experienced firsthand, the destructive forces of active addiction personally and in my family. But also, there’s a true, transformational gift in addiction recovery that seems to elude us–until we commit 100%. Commitment includes recruiting help, and I can help. Addiction affects three out of four of our families and I am comforted in knowing I am joined by many others who are looking to heal themselves–and their families. If you are one of these people, thank you for looking into this work!” -    Dr. Herby Bell Omar:    Herby, let's dive right in. First, tell us a little bit about what your daily routine is like and how you incorporate recovery in the mix? Herby:  

Alicia Cook joins us on The SHAIR Podcast today. She writes on the other side of addiction. In other words, how addiction directly affects the family, and loved ones, of the addict. Her articles are read, and shared, by tens of thousands. She writes for the Huffington Post, and Gannett, on topic of addiction, and also regularly shares other people’s stories on how they were touched by addiction. Her website is TheAliciaCook.com where she discusses the other side of addiction. The Other Side of Addiction shares stories of people who have experienced this disease. After losing her cousin to a heroin overdose, Alicia began using her words to help other families going through similar situations feel less alone. These are very personal accounts, written to shed light on this deadly epidemic and prove that anyone can be affected. Articles have appeared in the Huffington Post, Asbury Park Press, The Advertiser, Addiction Unscripted, on the national news, and hundreds of other addiction awareness sites.   

Edward Keohane joins us on the SHAIR Podcast. Ed is very active in the private group, has been a long-time listener to the podcast, huge supporter, and he's got a hell of a story, so he reached out to me quite a few months back, and I'm finally getting him on the show.  This is one of my favorites, you do not want to miss this episode. Omar:    So Ed, let's dive right in, buddy. You ready? Ed:    I'm ready to go when you are. Omar:    All right, let's do this, man. So first, let's talk about what your daily routine looks like today and then throw in how you maintain your recovery. Ed:    Well, my days are backwards for most people. I work nights. I work for the United States post office, so I work nights, and so everything's kind of flip flopped. How it usually begins is I get up after going to work all night after a few hours, I go to the gym, I go from the gym and then I go to a meeting four to five times a week, I come home, I just hang out, I do yard work, stuff like that, stuff to keep me busy. I rec

Don St. John joins us on The SHAIR Podcast, the author of Healing the Wounds of Childhood. In his book, Don shares his personal story and discoveries about what our bodies, our minds and understanding of what it means to be a whole human being and what your relationships need in order to heal from the wounds, the traumas and the toxic stress of life. He also takes us through his battle with addiction and his own journey of recovery. Dr. Don St John has spent over 45 years engaging the process of becoming whole, both personally and professionally, as well as in his own relationship. Most of today’s social problems have the same roots—a lack of understanding of what it means to be a whole human being. What if violence, illness, addictions, suicides, toxic stress, depression, anxiety and relationship dysfunctions could be traced to the same source? The implications for education, childrearing and our comprehension of mental and physical health would be staggering. What does it mean to be a “whole human being

Sunny Buick shares with us her battle with drugs and alcohol and her inspiring journey into recovery. Sunny was born in British Columbia, Canada in a small cabin in the woods. She was then raised in California by a single hippy mother, who always encouraged her creative spirit. Finally arriving in San Francisco at age fifteen after years and years of constant displacement, she finally felt at home. The next year she decided to become a tattoo artist after meeting some influential misfits. Many years later after finishing college she gained a tattoo apprenticeship with Henry Goldfield and it was in North Beach, not too far from where Lenny Bruce fell out of his hotel window that her career was started. Her work is heavily influenced by tattoo imagery which has become a symbolic language in her work. Sunny started exposing her paintings around the same time as she started tattooing. She has appeared in several art books like Vicious, Delicious, Abitious about female artists in the lowbrow scene, also in Beats

Damon Stoddard joins us on The SHAIR Podcast today, the author of Pain Drives Change. Damon Stoddard adds value to people’s lives. He recently authored his first book, “Pain Drives Change”, his personal story of God’s redemptive power. He built a thriving small groups ministry as a volunteer at his church and led men’s ministry. He currently serves on the board of directors for one of the largest Christian junior football programs in Washington State. While at Microsoft Damon won numerous awards for his work in Hardware Quality including Xbox and Surface. He and his wife Debbie live in Seattle and have four children. “On January 13, 1999 I placed my video camera on a tripod and began video journaling the season of my life that transformed me into the man I am today.  I had just separated from my wife and moved into a small house in the slums of South Seattle.  I had no idea how much emotional pain I’d be facing in the years to come and I had no idea that I’d need this pain to turn me into the man God created

Yovana “Rawvana” Mendoza joins us today on The SHAIR Podcast. You will recognize her more easily as the YouTube and Instagram sensation, Rawvana. With over 400,000 Instagram followers and over 150,000 YouTube fans, Rawvana has taken the raw food lifestyle to the next level. A little about Rawvana “After years of feeling toxic, anxious, depressed, and without passion, I found raw foods in January of 2013. I decided I needed a "detox" so I went to a place specialized in detoxifying the body. I was there for two weeks, eating raw foods, juicing, and learning about this new way of eating, I was amazed! After two weeks of being there, I felt like a new person, with energy, enthusiasm, clarity, emotional stability, and heightened consciousness. It was there where I kneeled before God, asked Him for forgiveness and strength, so I would never go back to my previous lifestyle. With the strength of my family, friends, and faith, I’ve never looked back and to this day I no longer drink, smoke, eat any processed or coo

Stephen Girard joins us today on The SHAIR Podcast. Stephen is an accomplished percussionist who works with unusual sound sources, including self-made instruments and found objects. Recently, he launched a podcast called Real Deal Recovery that centers around relapse prevention with an emphasis on emotional sobriety and recovery. Stephen Girard is 32 years clean and sober, a Nationally Certified Recovery Coach, has 25 years coaching and consulting experience and clients include high-profile musicians and actors.  He is a Recording Artist (20+ releases), Author, Music Educator and he was also a former Monk in Thailand.  He has an amazing story, you’re going to love it. Stephan offers additional support, guidance, and motivation to alcoholics and addicts in all phases of recovery. His approach is action oriented, and provides a solid foundation for long-term emotional and physical sobriety offering two different 8-week programs, and ongoing consulting for those who qualify. So let’s dive into Stephen’s story

Jenny Reese Clark joins us on The SHAIR Podcast today, the author of Field of Influence. She's a public speaker and the founder of the Spencer Project.   Jenny Reese is a living testimony of what true faith in a higher power can bring.  As a multiple felon of various drug charges including Unlawful Manufacturing of Methamphetamines, Jenny is no stranger to breaking the rules or suffering their consequences. In April of 2010, Jenny’s life hit an all-time low as she turned her back on the home burning behind her. As a result of a chemical interaction, the clandestine laboratory that she brought secretly into her sister’s home, exploded. As she took off shoeless, she ran as far as she could to escape the consequences. With her sister’s pet dead inside, and her relationships destroyed through her own betrayals, Jenny woke up as a Jane Doe on a ventilator in an ICU 24 hours later knowing there was no way to come back from such destruction. “I’m not proud of how I’ve obtained the authority to write or speak on the