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
The Importance of Connecting with Others in Recovery - Chat with Todd Edwards
Happy to bring back Todd Edwards, my first sponsor, to the podcast where we talk about connecting with others as part of a recovery program. In AA lingo, it is often referred to as "the fellowship". For years I tried very, very, very hard to deal with my disease on my own, all alone and with daily, demoralizing failures. I've come to believe that connection is an important ingredient for anyone who is trying to address the disease of alcoholism and addiction. Something very powerful happens when we discover we aren't unique and alone. And for most, connecting with others becomes integral part of a program of recovery... which seemed scary and foreign to me at the beginning of my sobriety journey.
I mention a famous TED talk in the podcast on this topic that I'll share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs
And here's a direct link to Shatterproof.org's section on Addiction 101. Clean, concise, evidence based info: https://www.shatterproof.org/learn
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.