Society & Culture Episodes

Maryland State Senator and IBEW Local 24 leader Cory V. McCray joins Rich and Dan to share how a paid electrical apprenticeship rewired his life—from Baltimore City and the juvenile system to business owner and public service. Cory breaks down how union apprenticeships work, why mentors and discipline matter, and how practical pathways can lift families and entire communities. A grounded, honest guide for anyone who cares about second chances and real opportunity.  Sponsored by Daniel McGhee and the Victory Team

High-school teacher and nonprofit founder Diana Liberto Grove shares how she and her husband began fostering teens—and why she launched Shifting Gears to support youth ages 16–25 as they transition out of care. From Sunday dinners and tutoring to driver’s ed partnerships and a vision for tiny-home communities and an emergency shelter, Diana lays out practical, community-powered solutions anyone can help with. It’s a hopeful, action-oriented conversation about turning compassion into infrastructure.  Sponsored by Freedom Federal Credit Union

Author and recovery advocate Dennis “D.J.” Quinn joins Rich to share a deeply human mentoring journey—from Big Brothers Big Sisters to a 13-year bond with “Mike,” a foster-adopted child whose life was later upended by severe mental illness. Dennis unpacks how “just showing up” can anchor a life, the hard hospital visits, the gratitude that birthed his memoir Stick Figures, and why mentorship and recovery work still matter today.

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

Rapper, producer, and entrepreneur Robert “B-Cide” Cardillo joins Rich to share the raw story behind his memoir, Myelin My Shoes—from underground tours and handing out mixtapes to launching a streetwear brand from a wheelchair after an MS diagnosis at 28. He breaks down how creativity became therapy, what the music business really teaches you, and why he refuses to let chronic illness define the art—or the hustle. If you need proof that purpose outlasts pain, this one’s for you.  Sponsored by Daniel McGhee and the Victory Team

Retired FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gina L. Osborn takes us from Cold War counterintelligence in Europe to leading one of the largest FBI cyber & counterterrorism programs in Los Angeles—including the response to the 2014 Sony Pictures hack. She shares how “Maverick moves” and servant leadership shaped her teams, why she blew the whistle at LA Metro, and what it really takes to break barriers in male-dominated fields. If you want real-world lessons on courage, culture, and leading through crisis, this one delivers.  Sponsored by American Auto Repair

Owner/operator Brittany Russin Smith shares how she turned a love of baking and community into The Hive at Rumsey—Harford County’s collaborative commissary kitchen—and The Honey Loft upstairs venue. She walks through vendor partnerships, micro-weddings, BYO alcohol logistics, and what it takes to run a flexible event space on the water in Joppatowne. If you care about local entrepreneurship, food businesses, and community-powered growth, this one’s packed with practical insights.  Sponsored by Four Seasons Landscape & Construction Services

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

Coach, speaker, and medical intuitive Hanna Kok joins Rich to explore how unresolved emotions—especially unforgiveness—can disrupt hormones, immunity, and overall health. She explains why forgiveness is a biological act, not just a spiritual one, and shares tools for releasing “emotional toxins” so the body can self-repair. If you’ve felt stuck despite diets, diagnoses, and protocols, this conversation reframes healing from the inside out.  Sponsored by Harford County Living

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

Author and researcher D. H. Morris reveals the gripping true story behind her historical novel The Girl of Many Crowns, following Princess Judith of Francia and Baldwin “Iron Arm.” We dig into how Deborah turned medieval annals, songs, and court records into a vivid, faith-infused saga of love, power, and defiance—plus the surprising family link that started it all. If you love stories where history breathes and the stakes are royal, this one’s for you.  Sponsored by Daniel McGhee & the Victory Team

John Carter’s life reads like a movie: teenage enforcer, shot in the head and left for dead, spiraling into addiction, and then a decade-long prison sentence. In this raw, uplifting conversation, John shares the plan that saved him, the people who didn’t give up on him, and how fitness, service dogs, and service to others rebuilt his life into one of purpose. If you need a wake-up call on grit, accountability, and second chances, this is it.  Sponsored by Elite Power Washing

Rich sits down with ADHD coach and author Sue Day, whose journey runs from dropping out of high school and burning out in multiple careers to embracing her diagnosis and helping others design lives that actually work for their brains. They unpack ADHD strengths (creativity, crisis focus, fairness), common myths, practical first steps after diagnosis, and Sue’s workbook-style guide, ADHD Brilliance: A Journey Into Your Extraordinary Brain. If you or someone you love has ADHD—or you simply want a more humane, strength-based way to live—this one delivers.  Sponsored by Daniel McGhee & the Victory Team

Local fine artist Pamela Wilde joins Rich—along with her husband, veteran and GI Joe restorer Scott Wilde—to talk about portraits that capture the “human moment,” her 120-portrait community project in Havre de Grace, and her “Boots on the Ground” series honoring veterans. They dive into technique (why oil is “forgiving”), teaching/learning, galleries and grants, plus a wild mid-recording tech glitch and Scott’s eerie encounter at Bachelor’s Grove.

Diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis as a child, author and 2020 Bush Fellow Jenna Udenberg turned lifelong challenges into a mission: make accessibility the norm, not the exception. She shares how “Within My Spokes” captures resilience, why “committed over compliant” changes everything, and how her nonprofit Above & Beyond With U helps businesses and communities design with disabled people from the start. Expect practical truths on housing, travel, education, and what true inclusion really requires. Sponsored by Real Life Prosthetics

Allison Heiderman, Volunteer & Events Coordinator at SARC (Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center), joins Rich to unpack the full scope of SARC’s free services—24/7 helpline, counseling for adults and children, legal aid, a 40-bed confidential safehouse, and even an on-site pet kennel. They also cover community partnerships, volunteer pathways, and signature fundraisers like Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, Paws for a Cause, and Bubbles, Bourbon & Barrels. It’s a practical guide to getting and giving help in Harford County.  Sponsored by Your Pet AuPair

Horror author and editor Taryn Womack joins Rich and co-host Kayla Deickman to talk ghost hunting in Gettysburg, haunted dolls, and her short-story collection Down a Dark Road. She opens up about writing vs. editing, the reality of self-publishing and marketing, and why campfire-style micro-stories can still deliver big chills. You’ll also hear actionable ideas for audiobook production, gift-shop placement, and turning local legends into page-turners.  Sponsored by Harford County Living

Business leader and mentor Irina Alexander joins Rich to unpack a neuroscience-rooted framework for staying regulated under pressure—especially in high-stress fields like first response and frontline leadership. She explains her C.A.R.E.S.™ approach (Communication, Awareness, Resilience, Emotional literacy, Self-mastery), why “knowing isn’t enough,” and how resilience is the byproduct of daily practices. Irina also shares candid stories of burnout, recovery, and the practical tools that help people shift from reactivity to regulation.  Sponsored by Maryland Pickers

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