Addiction & Recovery Conversations with Brett Lovins
Real stories. Honest conversations. No judgment. This podcast dives into the raw, personal journeys of people navigating substance use, recovery, and everything in between. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just looking to understand the human side of addiction and healing, these stories offer insight, hope, and a reminder that no one is alone in this. Guests include advocates, Recovery Friendly Workplace experts, HR professionals, healthcare providers, musicians, family members, and friends—each bringing their unique perspective. We also explore how businesses can create Recovery Friendly Workplaces (RFW), breaking stigma and building real support for employees and their families. Since most people spend two-thirds of their waking lives at work, we talk about the critical role workplaces play in recovery, well-being, and changing the conversation around substance use.
Addiction & Recovery Conversations with Brett Lovins
Conversation with Dr. Mira Zein - Cisco’s Corporate Behavioral Health Director on the Disease Model of Addiction
I'm proud to work for Cisco Systems and honored that I got to share my story and have a conversation with Dr. Mira Zein as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. Dr. Zein is Cisco's Corporate Behavioral Health Director and someone that our company turns to in matters related to mental health. She and I recorded this in one take, completely improvised... we cover a lot of topics including: genetics, treatment, shame and stigma, and much more. I'm grateful to have had this conversation and grateful that she and the Cisco Benefits Team were cool with me sharing it on my podcast. If you want to learn more about substance use disorder, addiction and treatment, I can recommend Shatterproof.org.
Other useful links from Brett:
- Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
- Brett's YouTube channel
- Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
- Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
- Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
- Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.