Recovery Episodes

Human trafficking isn't just an international problem. It's happening in our own communities, often hidden in plain sight. In this powerful roundtable discussion, Rich Bennett is joined by Linda Aluoch of HopeWorks Global, Wendy Beck of Rage Against Addiction, and Teresa Ragsdale of The Parents' Place of Maryland to expose the realities of trafficking, addiction, mental health, caregiver struggles, and the importance of prevention through education. The conversation goes far beyond statistics. Each guest shares deeply personal experiences that reveal how vulnerable people can be exploited, how caregivers often feel alone, and why communities must work together instead of operating in silos. This is an emotional episode that encourages listeners to become more aware, more compassionate, and more willing to take action.

Alexis Watson, Behavioral Health Specialist for Harford County with The Parents’ Place of Maryland, joins Rich and Wendy to discuss how parents and caregivers can find support when dealing with school challenges, mental health concerns, bullying, addiction, special education needs, and risky behaviors. This episode is worth listening to because it reminds families that they do not have to face these struggles alone.

Amy Harding shares the deeply personal story behind Ethan’s Hope: Paws and Hands Rescues and Recoveries, a nonprofit inspired by her son Ethan’s vision before he passed away from addiction. The program pairs people in substance recovery with hard to adopt shelter dogs, allowing both to heal through trust, responsibility, and connection. Amy explains how grief transformed into purpose and how Ethan’s legacy is now changing lives on both ends of the leash.

Jenny C. Cohen shares an unforgettable journey of resilience—surviving breast cancer, navigating family trauma, and using dance as a powerful path to healing and embodiment. From elite performance stages to the hardest moments of motherhood, Jenny reveals how reconnecting to your body can restore hope, confidence, and purpose. This is a raw, inspiring conversation about visibility, truth, and turning pain into power.

What does it really mean to love someone through addiction? In this powerful and unfiltered episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich is joined by cohost Wendy Beck for a deeply moving conversation with Alicia Bloss. Alicia shares her personal journey of marriage, motherhood, mental health, and standing beside a spouse through active addiction and long-term recovery. Together, they unpack the emotional realities families face, including denial, resentment, enabling versus survival, therapy, and what it truly takes to rebuild trust after rehab. Alicia also explains the difference between sobriety and recovery and why healing does not end when addiction does. This episode is for anyone who has loved someone battling addiction or who is seeking hope, clarity, and understanding on the road to recovery.

From living out of his truck at 27 to generating over $90 million in tech sales, Mark J. Silverman’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and real leadership. In this powerful episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Mark opens up about addiction, long-term sobriety, ADHD, fear, faith, and what it truly means to lead with presence and humanity. Mark shares how listening to guidance changed his life, why fear never disappears, and how meditation, structure, and self-awareness have shaped his success as a coach, author, and speaker. He also dives into writing best-selling books with ADHD, navigating leadership as a spiritual practice, and why helping even one person makes it all worth it. This is an honest, inspiring conversation for leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone rebuilding their life with purpose.

Former bartender and opiate addict Eric Turney hit multiple rock bottoms, including jail and failed treatment attempts, before a surprise wake up call changed everything. When he and his partner learned they were expecting their first child, Eric decided he was done burning bridges. He got serious about 12 step recovery and took a chance on a new life as an entry level sales rep at a small promotional products company. Today, Eric is the President and Sales and Marketing Director of The Monterey Company, a custom branded merch company founded in 1989 that creates premium challenge coins, lapel pins, belt buckles, hats, apparel, and more for brands like Google, Amazon, Target, Bentley, Lions Clubs, military units, and local organizations. After the founder offered employees the chance to buy the business, Eric and his partners stepped up and took it over. In this conversation, Eric and I dig into his journey through addiction and recovery, how he rebuilt his life and career, and …

Mental health is still one of the hardest things for people to talk about, even while more of us are willing to use words like anxiety, depression, and trauma. In this episode, Rich is joined once again by licensed clinical social worker and executive leader Jennifer Redding, founder of Harford Counseling and co-founder of Pebbles Throw Consulting, to dig into what real trauma-informed care looks like in everyday life and at work.  Jennifer breaks down why mental health has long been seen as a “character flaw,” how social media encourages self-diagnosis and labels, and why there is a big difference between a tough season and a clinical condition. She shares the origin story of Harford Counseling, explains how trauma and substance use are intertwined, and talks about the importance of treating people as whole human beings rather than separating “mental health,” “addiction,” and “life problems” into different boxes. The conversation then shifts into the workplace. Jennifer introdu…

Author and recovery advocate Damian Bloss returns to share how much life has changed since he first stepped onto the podcast and broke his silence. His memoir, Breaking the Silence, continues to reach people across the country, and in this conversation Damian opens up about speaking engagements, podcast appearances, and the surprising ways his story has made an impact. Damian also gives a first look at his next book, Recovering Out Loud, a hybrid of storytelling and workbook-style exercises designed to help readers navigate the recovery journey. He explains why Pink Cloud Syndrome needs more attention, how community support shaped his healing, and why he’s now pushing himself into new creative and outreach opportunities. From humor and honesty to deep reflection, this episode highlights the courage it takes to speak openly about recovery and the power of helping just one person at the right moment.

Recorded live at Edgewood American Legion Post 17, this special panel conversation brings together mental health professionals, a recovery leader, and a veteran suicide advocate to tackle stigma, access, and the realities facing Harford County residents. Moderator Ronya Nassar leads a raw discussion on youth anxiety, addiction, social media, cultural barriers, and veteran suicide, with practical ideas for how friends, families, and communities can truly “be the one” for someone in crisis. It is a grounded, hopeful conversation that shows listeners they are not alone and that healing is absolutely possible. Sponsored by Harford County Health Department

What happens when addiction talks back—and you answer? Dr. Larry Smith, author of Johnnie and Me: Facing the Voice of Alcohol Within, shares how he personified alcohol as “Johnnie,” survived decades of trauma and dependency, and built a daily plan that’s kept him sober since 1999. He also previews his forthcoming novel 2084: The Neuroxone Conspiracy, a medical-thriller riff on Big Pharma, recovery, and personal freedom—making this a raw, hopeful, and deeply human conversation worth hearing.  Sponsored by Harford County Living

Live from Edgewood American Legion Post 17, Rich celebrates 10 years and 750+ episodes with special guests Kristy Breslin, Sensei Sydney Brackins, and the Delbridge family who helped launch the show’s in-person era. They swap origin stories, community wins, and wild ideas (hello, “Santa Smackdown”), then the co-hosts take the mics for a candid Q&A on growth, recovery impact, and what’s next. Sponsors and local shout-outs abound—this one’s a love letter to Harford County and beyond.  Sponsored by Freedom Federal Credit Union, Daniel McGhee & the Victory Team, and Eco-Cool HVAC

Licensed professional counselor and Clear Fork Academy founder Austin Davis joins Rich to talk about rescuing teens from addiction and mental-health crises with clinically rigorous, Christ-centered residential care. He explains why 90-day programs, family-systems work, and even nightly dinners can change outcomes—and what warning signs parents miss most. They also discuss his book, My Kid, My Crisis, a plain-language guide for overwhelmed families.  Sponsored by Maryland Pickers

Rich sits down with coach and recovery advocate Jennifer Chase, whose life spans both sides of addiction—as the daughter of an alcoholic, a woman in long-term recovery, and the mother of a recovering addict. She shares how trauma, chronic pain, and over-prescription pulled her into dependency, and how connection, forgiveness, and firm, loving boundaries rebuilt her family. Listeners will learn practical ways families can stop enabling, set clear limits, and find peace—no matter where their loved one is on the recovery path.  Sponsored by Living Well Healthcare

Rich sits down with award-winning author and nationally recognized financial educator Matt Paradise to explore “whole-health wealth”—the blend of practical money skills, mindset, and healing. Matt shares his path from homelessness and addiction to 20 years in nonprofit credit counseling, his battle with cholangiocarcinoma, and the tools anyone can use to lower anxiety, get out of debt, and build a purposeful life. Listeners walk away with real-world frameworks for budgeting, credit repair, and changing the money stories that keep them stuck.  Sponsored by Elite Power Washing

Rich talks with recovery advocate Katie Lain about The Sinclair Method (TSM), a medication-assisted, science-based approach that helps people reduce or end problem drinking without the all-or-nothing pressure to stay abstinent. Katie shares her decade-long struggle with binge drinking, how naltrexone changed her brain’s reward loop, and why TSM can be a discreet, at-home path to control for millions. Listeners will learn how cravings fade, why relapse rates differ from traditional models, and how to combine medication with real-life coping skills.  Sponsored by Serenity Salt Spa

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 into helping others recover. This conversation shows why recovery is possible—and why purpose and community matter.  Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction

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 practical role of 12-Step recovery, yoga, breathwork, prayer/ancestral clearing, and the simple relapse-prevention principle that changed everything: staying in personal integrity. Listeners get a hopeful blueprint that blends science and spirituality with concrete next steps.  Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction

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 and deeply involved with local nonprofits, she shares the decisions, resources, and support that helped her become the mother and community advocate she is today. Listeners will hear raw honesty, practical hope, and the reminder that recovery is possible.  Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction

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-free, the detour into alcohol, and the moment she finally said out loud, “I’m an alcoholic.” It’s a candid, practical blueprint for anyone wondering what recovery programs actually do—and why they save lives.  Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction

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 at a maintenance clinic. This candid conversation with Wendy Beck and Rich Bennett shows what sustainable recovery really looks like—and why hope matters.  Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction

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 other women as a 3.1 house manager. It’s a powerful listen about grief, grace, and the practical tools that keep recovery going one day at a time.  Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction

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. Kat shares how jail, community support, and a renewed focus on “safety” helped her rebuild life, motherhood, and purpose. Listeners will hear candid lessons on accountability, boundaries, and why joy is possible in recovery.  Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction

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 addiction, moved to Los Angeles in 1982 for deeper recovery, and now helps clients as a coach and hypnotherapist. It’s a candid, hopeful conversation about breaking cycles, choosing healing, and why support programs still save lives.  Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction