Addiction and the Family

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Addiction and the Family is a podcast by and for family members of anyone with an addiction. We are working to bring experience, strength, and realistic hope so that you and your family can find recovery together. We do this through interviews with family members, people in recovery, and professionals who work with addiction every day. We also bring you research-backed information and practical ideas born of real-life experience. We are currently publishing on a monthly basis, with new episodes released near the end of each month.

Casey Arrillaga and Kira Arrillaga

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    • May 23, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 65 EPISODES

    4.9 from 19 ratings Listeners of Addiction and the Family that love the show mention: professional, needs, well done, family, work, great, casey and kira.



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    Latest episodes from Addiction and the Family

    Episode 65: Negative Emotions

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 28:12


    This episode looks at the role of negative emotions in our lives, how to recognize and ride through them, how to learn from them, and how these things show up in recovery from addiction (and other mental health disorders) for both the person with the disease and those who love them. This episode is based on the "Biology of Mental Health" series that I teach at Windmill Wellness Ranch. Our podcast has been going since February of 2020, and we started producing both video and audio versions of each episode starting April 2025. Moving forward, each episode will be released as both video on YouTube and audio on Fireside. YouTube channel: @addictionandthefamily

    Episode 64: Resilience and Hope After a Fentanyl Overdose

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 39:56


    When Jessica's young adult son JB overdosed on fentanyl, he had a massive brain injury, and Jessica was told to abandon all hope. Instead, she fought for him and found the care he needed. In this moving interview, we hear her story of heartbreak and hope. We also hear from Dr. Ivanhoe of TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, who has been working with the family for years. Video edition of this episode available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g4ptPLDZ0zo

    Episode 63: Making Recovery the New Family Pattern with Jami Carlacio

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 41:54


    In this episode, we talk to Jami Carlacio, a recovery coach and podcaster who grew up around addiction all her life, fell into the disease herself, and was the first in her family to find recovery. She talks about how she not only transformed her life, but also started changing the family lineage of addiction through her own parenting and work as a recovery professional. We discuss how important it is to change relationship patterns and some ideas on how this might be done. Special Guest: Jami Carlacio.

    Episode 62: The Illusion of Control

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 39:32


    We look at different aspects of the illusion of control. We talk about what it is, how it affects family dynamics, how it affects recovery, how to recognize it in your life, and how to start diminishing its impact in your life and relationships.

    Episode 61: Sara and Lera, Healing a Parent/Child Relationship in Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 43:58


    In this episode, we talk with one of my colleagues at Windmill Wellness Ranch, Sara, who has several years of recovery under her belt, and Lera, her teen daughter who grew up mostly apart from Sara until a few years ago. They talk about the impact of addiction in their lives, their ongoing struggles, how they have come together more as each finds her own growth, and what they feel has worked best to help the healing.

    Episode 60: The Year in Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 42:58


    We catch up with guests from previous episodes to see how 2024 has been for them. We find out how they have been experiencing and dealing with some of the victories and challenges that come with this life in recovery. In each case, we hear stories of experience, strength, and hope that can help inspire all of us as we wrap up 2024 and look forward to another year of recovery in 2025.

    Episode 59: The Difficulties of Parenting an Adult Child with Addiction, featuring Dr. Judith Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 43:44


    We talk with Dr. Judith Smith, who has researched and written about the difficulties of parenting adult children with addiction and other mental health challenges. We talk about what she has learned, how this interfaces with what we know about addiction in families, and how to find your way through these challenges. Special Guest: Judith Smith, PhD.

    Episode 58: What to Expect After Treatment

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 42:50


    We look at what to expect when you or someone you love leaves treatment. We talk about what you should do to prepare before discharge, what to do immediately after, and how to prepare for long term recovery.

    Episode 57: Amanda and Marissa: From Homeless to Homeowners

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 36:46


    Amanda and Marissa share their story of going from people suffering from addiction and homelessness to people living the gifts of recovery, including buying their first house as a place to raise their kids.

    Episode 56: Forgiveness

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 36:00


    We look at many aspects of forgiveness: what it is, how it connects to recovery, and how to do it. We include a guided forgiveness meditation.

    Episode 55: Layers of Recovery with Matt F

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 42:42


    Matt F explores his family history, which includes generational patterns of addiction and the distress it creates, tracing this back through as far as he can find in his family tree. He talks about his recovery from multiple addictions and how recovery is positively impacting his kids.

    Episode 54: Embracing Family Recovery with Margaret Swift Thompson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 54:04


    Margaret shares her courageous story of a life impacted by addiction, first through her marriage and then in uncovering her own addiction. We explore the recovery journey she lives today and the work she does to help families navigate addiction in a loved one. Special Guest: Margaret Swift Thompson.

    Episode 53: Why We All Need to HALT

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 29:28


    We examine the recovery acronym "HALT" to see if its guidance to not let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired holds up to scientific scrutiny. We look at how each of these factors affects your brain and your recovery.

    Episode 52: From a Life of Addiction to a Life of Service

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 38:00


    Mellissa talks about seeing family patterns of addiction play out in her parents, siblings, and herself throughout childhood, adolescence, and much of her adult life. She looks at the transformations that have happened through recovery, leading her to a life of service.

    Episode 51: A Therapist Finds Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2024 44:20


    Mia Tracy is a therapist who found recovery while working in the field. She shares the ups and downs of her journey and how she found the strength a humility to claim her seat at the recovery table. Special Guest: Mia Tracy, LCSW.

    Episode 50: Eating Disorders and Addiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024 43:04


    Research is increasingly showing that eating disorders are a form of addictive/compulsive behavior. We explore this idea, what it implies, and what we can do. Along the way, we interview Dr. Heather Ingram to get further insight and perspective. Special Guest: Heather Ingram, PsyD.

    Episode 49: A Couple's Life Before and After Treatment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024 34:09


    Ashely and Tom reflect on what it was like for them as a couple and for their kids before Ashley found recovery at Windmill Wellness Ranch in 2022, what it was like while she was at the treatment center, and what it is like now.

    Episode 48: The Year in Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2023 42:54


    In this retrospective episode, we look back at the year in recovery as we interview several people who have been on the program in 2023. Each one talks about their year in recovery and what they hope for in 2024.

    Episode 47: What You Need to Know About NARCAN

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2023 29:06


    Now that NARCAN is approved as an OTC drug, we look at how this life-saving medication works, how to use it, how to recognize opiate OD, controversy around it, and where to get it (sometimes for free).

    Episode 46: Transforming Trauma Into Triumph with Tonja Myles

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2023 56:44


    Tonja Myles talks about her rise from family and personal trauma into the triumph of her amazing and accomplished life in recovery today. We discuss intergenerational trauma and how healing can happen for anyone. Check out her new book, "From the Crack House to the White House." Special Guest: Tonja Myles.

    Episode 45: Healing from Our Scars, with Christopher Morris

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 42:52


    Christopher Morris, author of "We Are All Made of Scars", talks about growing up with a mother who struggled with alcohol. He talks about what he learned along the way and finding his own recovery. Special Guest: Christopher Morris.

    Episode 44: How to Talk to Kids About Addiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 34:08


    In their new children's book, Casey and illustrator Skye Hilton worked together to help kids find hope and healing around a parent's addiction. Skye and Casey discuss why they wrote it and how to talk to kids about these issues. Special Guest: Skye Hilton.

    Episode 43: Rising from Tragedy to Become a Warrior in Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2023 51:42


    Valerie Silveira, founder of Warriors in Hope, talks about how the tragedy around addiction in her daughter changed her life, not only in how low it took her but also how it was transformed into a source of inspiration to help others. Special Guest: Valerie Silveira.

    Episode 42: Wired for Addiction with Dr. Evelyn Higgins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 39:52


    In this episode, we interview Dr. Evelyn Higgins about the work she is doing on teh gentics of addiction and how she uses it to bring hope and help through her company Wired for Addiction. She also talks about some the othe preson journey tha tled to her interest in helping those with addiction and their families. Special Guest: Dr. Evelyn Higgins.

    Episode 41: Incurable Hope with Lisa Gennosa

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2023 52:22


    Lisa Gennosa talks about the trials and blessings of her son's addiction, finding her own recovery, and helping others through personal encounters, professional talks, and her new book "Incurable Hope". Special Guest: Lisa Gennosa.

    Episode 40: Questions Families Ask

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2023 41:10


    We tackle some of the questions families have for people in active addiction, in treatment, and then in early recovery. Our all-star panel of people in recovery from addiction give honest and heartfelt answers.

    Episode 39: How to Help Relationships Survive Early Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 58:24


    We explore the stress that addiction and early recovery put on relationships of all kinds and how to find your way to healthier relationships through all of it. As part of this, we tell our story to illustrate some of the concepts.

    Episode 38: Family Helping Each Other Find Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 46:56


    As teens, Deanna and Travis were suddenly siblings when their parents married. Little did they suspect that they would help each other find and deepen the recovery they share today.

    Episode 37: How to Be Your Most Loving Self

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2023 46:32


    Dr. Gigi Langer talks about her recovery both from her own addiction and as a family member, and what this taught her about being her most loving self. She shares some of those insights, including removing roadblocks to being your most loving self.

    Episode 36: Navigating the Holidays in Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2022 40:10


    How to survive and even thrive during the holidays whether you are recovering from your own addiction or someone else's. Chock full of ideas and tips to get through this time of year.

    Episode 35: A Sibling's Perspective

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 47:36


    Author Ashleigh Nowakowski talks about how she was affected by her brother's addiction, recovery, and relapse, finding her own recovery in the process, setting boundaries, and how she has grown as a result. Her book "The Shadow Child" brings all this together, including many helpful ideas for other family members affected by a loved one's addiction. Special Guest: Ashleigh Nowakowski.

    Episode 34: Spirituality in Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 49:26


    Casey talks about why spirituality is important to many people in recovery, where it's hard, and how to get through some of the challenges. He shares insights from his new book, "Spirituality for People Who Hate Spirituality".

    Episode 33: The Guardian Initiative for Veterans and First Responders, Part Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2022 38:53


    Erika Unberhagen talks about how families of first responders and veterans are impacted by addiction and mental health issues, how The Guardian Initiative at Windmill Wellness Ranch helps, and her own experiences that led her to do this work.

    Episode 32: The Guardian Initiative for Veterans and First Responders, Part One

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2022 32:45


    Erika Unberhagen talks about The Guardian Initiative at Windmill Wellness Ranch, a program for first responders and veterans, and her own experiences in law enforcement and addiction that led her to do this work.

    Episode 31: Philosophy, Spirituality, and Recovery with Peg O'Connor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2022 55:48


    A wide-ranging conversation about philosophy, spirituality, and recovery with author Peg O'Connor, We talk about what these ideas mean for both people with addiction and those who love them. Peg talks about her new book "Higher and Friendly Powers" and how it comes out of her work and her own recovery. Special Guest: Peg O'Connor.

    Episode 30: What is SMART Recovery, with Lisa Davidson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2022 35:24


    Lisa Davidson, Clinical Director at Windmill Wellness Ranch, talks about her personal and professional journey of recovery using SMART Recovery, one of the major alternatives or adjuncts to 12 Step recovery. She gives examples of the tools of SMART and how they work on a practical level to help people with addiciton and those they love recover. Special Guest: Lisa Davidson.

    Episode 29: Innovations in Addiction Treatment

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2022 30:58


    We interview two innovators in addiction treatment: Dr. Heather Ingram and Shannon Malish, LCSW. Each talks about how she works directly with people's brains to help them recover. Special Guests: Heather Ingram, PsyD and Shannon Malish, LCSW-S.

    Episode 28: Interview with the Interventionist

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 40:28


    We interview Dustin Williams, who owns an intervention and personal recovery service. He shares some of his story of recovery and how he helps families get a loved on into and through treatment, then supports them afterward.

    Episode 27: Dianne: Living the Al-Anon Principles in Marriage

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2022 51:12


    We hear from Dianne, who learned how to live the principles of Al-Anon in her marriage, and how this helped her to have a long relationship full of recovery for both her and her husband. She talks about learning to set boundaries and what this did for her recovery as well as her husband's. She discusses how she practices detachment with love.

    Episode 26: Conversations With Counselors #2 - Paige Majko

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 45:50


    In this interview, counselor Paige Majko talks about her personal and professional relationship with addiction and recovery, including her work with families affected by addiction, and what recovery has done for her family.

    Episode 25: Enabling vs. Helping

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 28:18


    In this episode, we explore underlying assumptions that lead to unhealthy enabling and how to challenge these, how Shakespeare can help you move from enabling to helping, and provide some questions you can ask yourself in order to see if you are about to enable someone or help them.

    Episode 24: Brian and Tamara: Relationships in Long-Term Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2022 52:10


    In this wide-ranging conversation with Brian and Tamara, Kira and Casey explore the ins and outs of being in recovery while being in long-term relationships. Both couples share their stories, what has worked best for them, and how they have grown together.

    Episode 23: Conversations With Counselors #1 - Merrit Hartblay

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 36:38


    We talk with Merrit Hartblay, social worker and addiction counselor in New York. Merrit and Casey talk about the things they've seen most help families deal with addiction, and their personal stories of how they found healing in their own families. Merrit hosts his own podcast "Recovery Road" and is the author of "Lost Innocence: My Journey From Addiction to Recovery".

    Episode 22: Abigail: Addiction, the Family, and the Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 42:18


    We interview Abigail Seymour, who specializes in family law around addiction, especially the tricky waters of child custody. She offers insight for people in recovery, their co-parents, and other family members who find themselves suddenly thrust into these difficult issues. She also shares what drew her to this work and what inspires her to keep going.

    Episode 21: Creating Happiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2021 41:20


    In this episode, we look at various ways you can create happiness through the tools of positive recovery, including PERMA, a focus on strengths, resilience, and the power of gratitude. For each concept, we will present a practical exercise you can use to start seeing benefits.

    Episode 20: Ashley: Letting Go of Codependent Patterns

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2021 53:20


    We interview Ashley, who traces the roots of her codependent patterns back to childhood, who married someone with addiction, and who learned to let these patterns go. She looks at how she learned to moved into a healthier way of seeing and caring for herself. She talks about how she made these changes and how she now helps others do the same.

    Episode 19: Effective Communication and Boundaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2021 41:44


    In this episode, we look at how to have more effective communication and boundaries. We learn about communication styles, how to tell which one is your default, and tips on how to communicate more effectively in any situation. We also discuss what makes an effective boundary and how to set some boundaries of your own.

    Episode 18: Arnold: Reflections on a Lifetime in Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2021 37:18


    Arnold shares what he has learned during his 50 years in AA, how his family was affected before and after his wife found her own recovery, and what family members can do when faced with addiction.

    Episode 16: Emotional Sobriety

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2021 43:54


    We look at the idea of emotional sobriety, how it applies for family members as well as those with addictions, why it's important for everyone, and how to enhance it in your life. We feature an interview with Teresa, who has over 30 years in recovery and was one of our first role models for emotional sobriety.

    Episode 15: 60 Years of Recovery as a Family Member

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 57:38


    Dr. Al Mooney entered family recovery at age 10, when his parents got sober. Sixty years later, he reflects on how this experience shaped him and led to a lifetime of helping others to recover. Special Guest: Dr. Al Mooney.

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