E31: The Doctor Whisperer w/ Sharon Fekete

Please enjoy this Bonus Episode with the entire crew of The Point is Recovery Podcast: 

• Joan Browne - Producer
• Ashley Neal - Host & Writer
• Chris Nasuti - Co-Host
• Jeremiah Fowler - Sound Engineer

The Crew will be taking a creative break and we hope to be back with you real soon with new guests and the same important information. We are so grateful to have had this opportunity to share stories of hope for recovery with you.

Even though National Recovery Month is almost over, you can still celebrate recovery year round. We hope you will listen to episodes you may have missed - there are some really great moments that we won't soon forget.

Faces and Voices of Recovery - National Recovery Month

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September is National Recovery Month AND this year marks the two year anniversary of The Point is Recovery Podcast! Thank you to everyone who has listened, subscribed and shared - your support is what made this podcast the success that it is. We truly appreciate YOU!

For episode 37 we are joined by comedian and person in long term recovery, Alonzo Bodden. His first big comedy break came when he was on the “New Faces of Comedy” showcase at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, but it was as the season three winner of NBCʼs Last Comic Standing, where he was first introduced to America. Since then, Alonzo has starred in two comedy specials for Showtime, he’s made appearances on shows like Fresh Off the Boat, Dr. Phil, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, just to name a few.

Alonzo is also a car and motorcycle aficionado, having hosted Speed Channel’s 101 Cars You Must Drive and joining Jay Leno for several off-road trips on his CNBC series Jay Leno’s Garage. In 2018, he released his fifth comedy CD titled Man Overboard, and currently hosts the podcast Who's Paying Attention, where he gives his unique take on what's going on in the world.

If you live in the Tampa Bay area you may have seen Alonzo at Side Splitters Comedy Club or on stage for Turning Point of Tampa's Comedy Intervention IX this past March. Alonzo has been making audiences laugh for over 20 years, which he says beats honest work. LOL. If you like what you hear during this episode, you can see Alonzo live in Tampa in November or right now on YouTube for his new special, Stupid Don't Get Tired. Check the Show Notes for more information.

New Faces of Comedy

http://www.yukaholics.org

Alonzo's New Comedy Special - Stupid Don't Get Tired on YouTube

Alonzo @ Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa

Cocaine Anonymous (CA)

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Greg Williams is a person in long term recovery. Early on in his journey he witnessed challenges w/ others finding and sustaining recovery and became frustrated with people not looking at the real problems and issues, but rather making a lot of excuses. While in film school, Greg learned that in order to make a good documentary you needed access to unique subject matter. It was out of his access to positive, solution oriented stories that his passion for making documentaries about recovery was born.

Greg has spent his career highlighting addiction recovery stories through a series of projects, including documentaries, concerts and live events. He produced the documentaries The Anonymous People, Generation Found and most recently, Tipping the Pain Scale alongside the immensely talented, Jeff Reilly.

On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Greg about all of his projects and we get his perspective on the community response to the addiction crisis. Greg has been a part of some groundbreaking events focused on ending the stigma of addiction and has documented the courageous people who use their personal stories to participate in the democratic process and effectively change the public opinion about addiction.

**Turning Point of Tampa and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation are co-hosting a screening of Tipping the Pain Scale in celebration of National Recovery Month. Please check the show notes for more information on that exciting event**

Tipping the Pain Scale

Watch the Trailer - Tipping the Pain Scale

Watch the Trailer - The Anonymous People

Watch the Trailer - Generation Found

High Watch Media

Global Exchange 2022

Victory High School

Narcan

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Our guest for Episode 35 has dedicated most of his career to getting out a very important message - Addiction is a chronically relapsing brain disease, but with treatment and support, recovery is possible!

Neil Scott began his career in the addiction field as the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism (NCA), and at that time he had no idea how closely linked to Alcoholism he actually was. Shockingly, Neil learned that not only did his father die from complications of Alcoholism, but his mother, too, was a practicing alcoholic.  Later on in his career, Neil became the Executive Director of the National Foundation for Alcoholism Communications, co-founder of Alcoholism & Addiction Magazine and editor of The Alcoholism Report.

For the last 15 years, Neil has hosted America’s top authorities on addiction and recovery as they share their experience, strength and hope on the national podcast, Recovery Coast to Coast. Neil starts every episode of the podcast by saying "The Bright Side of Addiction is Recovery" in an effort to end the stigma associated with addiction and shine a light on recovery!

Recovery Coast to Coast

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Marty Mann

Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA)

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

Suicide Prevention Information

National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) Advocacy

NAATP Digital Addiction

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**Listener Note** This episode contains a discussion of traumatic events. If you believe you are experiencing PTSD, please consult with your doctor or a mental health professional. If you are having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 6 out of every 100 people will experience PTSD in their lifetime and the number of women impacted is higher than that of men by 50%.

The effects of trauma can be debilitating and may lead to symptoms like to self-destructive behavior, severe emotional distress, excessive drinking or use of addictive substances, angry outbursts and feeling detached from family and friends.

Today's guest, Kayla Bergeron, worked as the Director of Public Affairs for The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey on September 11, 2001. Kayla narrowly escaped the collapse of the North Tower down the only passable stairwell. During the immediate aftermath, Kayla was tasked with setting up systems to communicate with the families of people who were alive, missing and deceased and she did this with the help of PIO's (Public Information Officers - individuals responsible for communicating with the public and the media with incident related information). 

Years later, Kayla recognized she was suffering from the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and eventually found sobriety. Today she works in the recovery field, is a presenter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, sharing about her 9/11 experience and recovery journey and is a mental health advocate for ending the stigma of addiction and mental health.

National Center for PTSD

www.theconnectionforsyth.org

Recovery Community Organization (RCO) Information

Equine Therapy

NAMI

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Today's guest was an elite athlete from a middle-class family with no history of abuse. She grew up sheltered, but later learned that blackout drinking brought out a side of her that everyone around her relished. It was at this point that Nikki Soda started down a path to alcoholism.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, Alcohol-induced blackouts can lead to impaired memory of events that transpired while intoxicated and because blackouts tend to occur at high Blood Alcohol Concentrations, they commonly stem from binge drinking. According to a 2019 study of 18-22 year-olds, 28% of the people in this age group who are not enrolled in college and 33% of full-time college students in this age group reported binge drinking behaviors.

In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, Nikki shares her experience with alcohol use as well as her path to recovery. Nikki gets to share the hope for recovery across the country in her work with the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) and in her pursuit of a Masters Degree in Addiction Policy and Practice at Georgetown University. In the 18 years since she went to treatment, Nikki has built a life that is beyond her wildest dreams and we are grateful to witness her transformation.

www.naatp.org

Addiction Policy & Practice @ Georgetown University

Alcoholics Anonymous

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Our guest for Episode 32 had a rough start in life. Born with a heart defect and debilitating asthma, Leonard lost his father to a heart attack when he was just 3 weeks old. He grew up fast in Logan, PA, learning about being a man from the guys who hung out on the corner. His only real sense of stability was the home that he lived in for 20 years. He never really felt a sense of confidence until he started selling dope and then he felt like “the man” because he had the good stuff that everyone wanted. 

Leonard's first dabble with addictive behavior began with a pound of sunflower seeds and an upset stomach inside a movie theatre. Ironically, the last he used ended almost the same way, but this time he found himself sick and sweaty inside a phone booth in California. After a stint in rehab at the Betty Ford Center, Leonard emerged having lost the desire to use drugs and eventually, the desire to use alcohol as well. He has been sober ever since.

Today, Leonard Lee Buschel is a California Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, the founder of Writers In Treatment, director of the REEL Recovery Film Festival & Symposium® and the editor/publisher of the weekly Addiction/Recovery eBulletin®. He also directs and produces the annual Experience, Strength and Hope Awards® in Los Angeles. Leonard’s memoir, HIGH: Confessions of A Cannabis Addict, was published in 2021 and is about his journey from drug dealer to drug counselor.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous

HIGH: Confessions of a Cannabis Addict

Addiction Recovery EBulletin

REEL Recovery Film Festival

Comedy Intervention IX

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**Listener note** This episode contains discussions about suicide and suicidal ideation. If you are having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255

Our guest for Episode 31 is Sharon Fekete, Founder of The Doctor Whisperer & 13th Ave Media.  She has been whispering strategies to physicians for over 20 years & amplifies businesses through the power of social media. Sharon also speaks at medical conferences on topics such as hospitality in healthcare, hiring a dream team, and branding.

As a firm believer in advocating toward improved mental health, Sharon published her book, The Broken Road to Mental Health, in Life & in Business, on her 25th sober anniversary.  Her personal struggle with depression and thoughts of suicide were the impetus to writing her book, as she knew there were many people suffering in the business community who could relate.

Sharon also speaks to corporations about mental health in the workplace & includes her own previous struggles with addiction, depression and the journey to overcoming adversity.

Sharon hosts two podcasts, The Doctor Whisperer & The Broken Road to Mental Health.  Sharon is a wife, stepmom, fur baby mom, and avid bike rider who often says “We are all under construction.”

Sharon is quite witty and very grateful for all of her life experience, which she expertly weaves into her work with doctors. We hope you enjoy the episode.

Episode Resources

The Doctor Whisperer

Sharon's Book 

Al-Anon

Crisis Center of Tampa Bay

NAMI

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

SAMHSA

Susie Steiner Award from Hillsborough Community College

Comedy Intervention IX

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Mike Ortoll's world was turned upside down when his daughter Christine started abusing drugs and alcohol. Christine found recovery for several years, but sadly suffered a relapse and passed away from a fentanyl overdose in late 2020. In grieving his daughter, Mike started to think about how he could share his experience with other families facing addiction. Through a series of high-profile documentary films, including the Bowden Dynasty Film and another film documenting Christine’s story, Mike and a few of his Sigma Chi Fraternity Brothers are now providing support to the Collegiate Recovery Program at Florida State University (FSU), called LIFT. Mike also started the Christine Ortoll Recovery Organization to raise awareness, share resources, and lead a national “call to action” across the country of changing the conversation about addiction and recovery.

The CDC has reported that more than 100,000 Americans died of a drug overdose in a 12 month period from 2020 to 2021, and many of those deaths have been attributed to Fentanyl. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is often times added to heroin to increase its potency, or to be disguised as highly potent heroin. Many users believe they are purchasing heroin and don’t know that they are actually purchasing fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths.

Christine Ortoll Recovery Organization

Association of Recovery in Higher Education

LIFT at Florida State University (FSU)

Center for Health Advocacy Wellness at FSU

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

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If you are familiar with recovery, you know it is suggested that you change a few things in order to protect your sobriety: people, places and things. And by places they mean you might have to find a new place to live! When we were using, many of us found ourselves homeless, couch surfing or not welcome back to the place we had once called home.

Sober living has become an integral part of the recovery journey for countless people who are in need of a safe, sober and supportive living environment. The guest on today's podcast is Patrick Slattery, the owner/operator of Real Recovery Sober Living. Patrick had an interesting experience with finding a place to live in the early days of his own recovery and now operates a sober residence where he once lived. Talk about life coming full circle!

Real Recovery Sober Living is the largest provider of recovery residences in the state of Florida, with 300 beds for men across six locations in the greater Tampa Bay area. Patrick is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator (CRRA), a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) and a Certified Recovery Coach (CRC) and he uses his strong foundation in recovery to inform the work he does with men new in recovery.

Florida Alliance for State Advocacy Facebook Page 

Real Recovery

Real Recovery Facebook Page

FARR

NARR

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