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
Opioids After Surgery for People in Recovery with Phillip and Bob
For people in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse or addiction, one very precarious circumstance that most will face is using opioids for pain after surgery. Listen in as I discuss this important topic with my two friends from Colorado, Phillip Hayes (college recruiter) and Bob Hickman (retired dentist). Thank you Bob and Phillip for your willingness to be vulnerable and talk about this shortly after surgery in both of your cases.
To pursue this topic further, I'd like to recommend another podcast with actor and comedian Dax Shepherd where he talks with his wife, Kristen Bell, about his 2020 relapse on opioids after a surgery. Link: https://armchairexpertpod.com/pods/day-7
Here's another link to learn more and get help (there are many resources, here is one): https://www.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.