Conversations with Rich Bennett Newsletter

​Remembering Jovanni: Mandolyne Eleazar’s Story of Love & Loss​

Published on August 31, 2025

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 our loved ones’ names matter. It’s a raw, hopeful listen for anyone navigating grief, stigma, or the realities of teen addiction. 

Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction 

Guest Bio:  

Mandolyne Eleazar is a mother, creative, and advocate for overdose awareness and harm reduction. After losing her son Jovanni in November 2024, she’s committed to honest, stigma-free conversations about addiction, mental health, Narcan access, and compassionate support for families. She continues Jovanni’s legacy by carefully releasing his recorded music so others feel less alone. 

Main Topics: 

·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction

·         Jovanni’s story: early experimentation, grief triggers, and the pull of opioids

·         Teen treatment barriers and breakthroughs (state programs vs. residential care)

·         Family therapy: rebuilding trust and communication at home

·         Stigma, complicated grief, and finding a supportive community

·         Harm reduction: making Narcan training and carrying normal for teens

·         Supporting siblings who grieve differently

·         Preserving legacy through art: Jovanni’s sketches and music releases

·         Understanding autopsy results and fentanyl lethality

·         The power of remembrance: “say his name”—Jovanni 

Resources mentioned: 

·         Donate to Rage Against Addiction 

·         Narcan / naloxone training & access (carry it, teach it, normalize it)

·         Newport Academy (CT teen residential treatment referenced)

·         Artist pages for LOSTMULTO (Jovanni) and his EP “The Big Bang Theory” on major platforms

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