Mental Health Episodes

Madison shares a raw, hopeful journey from early mental-health struggles and a fast-progressing opioid addiction to a total life turnaround—sparked by accountability, treatment, and the Harford County Drug Court. Now clean since March 5, 2021, she leads at Pyramid Healthcare and pours her energy in…

Elizabeth Kipp spent 40 years in chronic pain and 31 years on prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines—including fentanyl—until a pain-management track at the Betty Ford Center in 2013 catalyzed a complete turnaround. In this conversation, she unpacks the mind-body nature of chronic pain, the practic…

In this powerful “12 Days of Hope” conversation, Mallory traces her journey from early family turmoil and teen substance use to a heroin “aha” moment, intimate partner violence, and the hard climb back—culminating in nearly 12 years of sobriety (since Nov 23, 2013). Now working in behavioral health…

Karen, a self-described “not-the-typical addict,” shares how a neck injury and prescribed opioids spiraled into secrecy, debt, and withdrawal—until she chose help, called her doctor, and walked into her first NA meeting. She explains how control, trauma, sponsors, and step work shaped 21 years pill…

Sarah opens up about starting opioids at 20, a rapid slide to heroin, pregnancy on methadone, jail, and the drug court program that helped her turn it around. After a later Xanax relapse during COVID, she did the work—therapy, structure, and service—and is now certified and working as a counselor a…

Shelby shares a raw, unfiltered recovery story—how workaholism, untreated mental health, and an old pain-pill pathway led to relapse after four clean years, and how community and structure helped her rebuild. She walks us through Daughters House, intense anxiety, and eventually stepping up to help …

In this Podathon for Recovery episode, Rich and co-host Wendy Beck talk with Kat Leonard Scott—a Harford County native, mom of two, and treatment professional—about her winding path through early success, trauma, addiction, a brief relapse after eight years clean, and the hard reset that followed. …

In this Podathon For Recovery episode, Evie shares an extraordinary 44-year sobriety story—beginning with childhood trauma in post-war Austria, prescription drug misuse after a 1973 car accident, and the moment a newspaper listing led her to AA and a new life. She later sought help for sex addictio…

Kayla shares a raw, resilient journey from childhood trauma and early addiction to a terrifying DUI wake-up call—and the decision to fight for her life and for her daughter. With support from Rage Against Addiction’s Sister’s House and Daughters’ House, she embraced meetings, structure, and service…

In this Podathon for Recovery episode, co-hosted with Wendy Beck, Kayla G shares how an emotional plea—“try harder”—and a brutal bottom pushed her to choose recovery, detox at home during COVID, and rebuild her life through Narcotics Anonymous. Now five years clean, a mom and a certified peer recov…

In this National Recovery Month special, co-host Wendy Beck and program director Rachel share how Rage Against Addiction (RAA) went from a mother’s mission to a three-home sober living program for women, emphasizing that “healing begins with safe housing.” They walk through RAA’s structure—from 30-…

In this kickoff to the 12 Days of Hope Podathon, Rich Bennett sits down with Wendy Beck, founder and executive director of Rage Against Addiction. Wendy shares the deeply personal story behind starting the nonprofit and how it now operates three sober-living homes for women, providing safe housing,…

On Overdose Awareness Day, Rich Bennett and co-host Wendy Beck sit down with Mandolyne Eleazar for a courageous conversation about the life and loss of her 18-year-old son, Jovanni, to fentanyl toxicity. Mandolyne shares what helped, what didn’t, and why harm reduction, family therapy, and speaking…

Licensed mental health counselor and certified digital addiction specialist Mary Catherine Liscinski joins Rich to unpack how excessive screen time rewires our brains, fuels anxiety and depression, and strains families—and what we can do to reverse it. She breaks down the neuroscience (limbic syste…

Speech‑language pathologist James Burden, founder of Stuttering Blueprint, shares a compassionate, research‑backed path to speaking with confidence—whether or not fluency is the outcome. He explains why techniques like the Camperdown Method must be paired with Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT),…

Since this episode was recorded, it is with great sadness that I found out that Dan Steffensen passed away on July 26, 2025. Obituary information for Dan Steffensen Award-winning author and professor A.J. Otjen joins Rich to unpack “Burned Over,” the true story of Montana firefighter Dan Steffen…

ENT surgeon Dr. Brett Cordes shares his extraordinary arc from surviving Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma at 19 to building a thriving surgical career—then spiraling into a hidden opioid addiction that cost him everything. He opens up about rehab during COVID, the true causes of physician burnout, and how he r…

In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, angel medium and intuitive healer Laurie Parente shares her transformative journey of rediscovering her spiritual gifts in her 40s. Laurie reveals how she overcame chronic illness, connected deeply with the angelic realm, and began guiding others …

Marine Corps combat veteran and former police officer Joe Smarro shares his powerful journey from the battlefield to the forefront of mental health advocacy. Known for his role in the Emmy Award–winning documentary Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops, Joe opens up about childhood trauma, military service, a…

Dr. Albert Bramante joins Conversations with Rich Bennett to discuss how the mental “scripts” we live by can sabotage our growth, even when we appear successful. A former talent agent turned psychology professor and mindset coach, Dr. Bramante shares his personal journey of battling imposter syndro…

Sponsored by Freedom Federal Credit Union In this heartfelt and transformative episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett , Dr. Mark Hicks—counselor, minister, and author—shares the five essential components of love from his ...

Sponsored by Harford County Chamber of Commerce What happens when your world collapses and you're left with nothing but a bottle of whiskey and broken dreams? For Ben Albert, it became the turning point. In this energizing and heartfelt episode, Ben shares how he rose from being furloughed during…

Sponsored by Four Seasons Landscape & Construction Services  In this powerful episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Tigrilla Gardenia shares her extraordinary journey from Microsoft engineer to Cirque du Soleil performer to spiritual eco-community leader. Now a nature-inspired life coach a…

Sponsored by Eco-Cool HVAC  In this inspiring episode, Esther Avant—coach, speaker, entrepreneur, and host of the To Your Health podcast—joins Rich to discuss how small, sustainable changes can lead to big transformations. From her early passion for fitness to becoming a military spouse and succ…