Dave Andrews

These days we see more and more shows about getting sober popping up on TV. We have seen Mel Gibson’s rants when he is intoxicated. Lindsay Lohan could probably give you a few good hours on the subject as well. But it is not only Hollywood with the problem…22 million Americans have a drinking problem. Kinda sad that the number is that high. I was shocked when I saw that…but it really makes me wonder how many more there are that have not been counted? Well if you are one of those Americans or know someone who is, with the economy the way it is, have you thought about how much money you are spending on alcohol and how that is affecting your life? How it is doing for your relationship? Must be working wonders! Oh, and let’s not forget the health risks those doctors tell you about and what alcohol is doing to your body? Do you care? Well you should and our next guest is here to help. His name is Dave Andrews. I am not going to tell you his story, I am going to let him do that. But he has developed a system “The Sobriety Solution” with DVDs and a workbook to help you recover, reclaim and re-invent your life without alcohol. And it is our pleasure to welcome Dave Andrews to Your Life Matters.

Maren Angelotti

Here is an amazing statistic: More than one in four children with learning disabilities drop out of school, and only about one in eight attend four-year-college within two years of leaving high school (National Center for Learning Disabilities). Parents of children with learning differences such as ADD/ADHD and Dyslexia have a unique and exciting road ahead of them. This phenomenon may have been perceived as a burden when their child was first diagnosed with these learning differences, but they also know that God does not make mistakes. God has a special purpose in mind for every person created in His image, and that includes each one who is learning-different! Therefore, parents must refocus their personal expectations of what their child should be and find out where God is guiding this child. It is time to become God’s helper in raising His child. In the book “Of Different Minds” readers learn why their child is wired a little differently and how to cope with and educate this incredible person. Our guest today is the author of the book Maren Angelotti who is an Academic Language Therapist and AD/HD instructor for both children and adults.

Anne D.

We all have to go to the pharmacy time and time again. Some more than others. Whether it be in a large box store or a small local drug store in your town or city, you have all seen and maybe even talked with the local pharmacist. They are there to answer your questions about your medicines and be sure you stay well informed about your insurance coverage. Ever wonder who these people are? How trustworthy are they? Let’s think for a second…your prescription calls for 60 pills before the next refill…do you take them home and count them? How do you know you got 60 and not 58 or 55? You trust your pharmacist. They are good, honest people and almost all of them are. But like everything else, there may be a few with a problem. What if you were only getting 57 pills and the pharmacist was taking 3 for him or herself? What if the pharmacist has a drug problem? Almost like a kid in the candy store! Well today we are going to go down that avenue. Our guest today was a wife. Mother, Sunday school teacher, a 29 year registered pharmacist and a full-blown addict. This is her story. It’s a story of struggle, myths about addiction, some serious health issues and the long road to recovery. The book we will be discussing today is titled, “The Best Pharmacist”. Please welcome to Your Life Matters Anne D. 

Randy Baird 

Our guest was Randy Baird who discusses Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He is the author of "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Alcoholism and Disorder" Randy Baird grew up in a supportive family during the Fifties and Sixties – a time which afforded him boundless opportunities. However, at a young age, it was discovered that he suffered from what today is known as OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. For him, this disorder manifested itself in the form of constant and severe anxieties. Since little was known of this disorder when he was young, Randy quickly learned how to cope and cover up any signs of his problem. After fifty years battling this monster, along with an ongoing struggle with alcoholism, he has decided to open up and tell of experiences that only his immediate family knew of. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder expresses his finding the meaning of life in spite of the pain and suffering of OCD and alcoholism.

Malcolm Baptiste

We all try to be successes in life. Not only for ourselves but for our families as well. Our guest today was that success. In fact both professionally and financially. But in 1998, life as he knew it came to an end. It was not the economy or a death or injury. It was drugs. In fact in under two years, he had spent over $200,000. on drugs. He became jobless, homeless, broke and hopeless. He would try to stop for years, only to relapse. He finally heard the words that would give him the keys to a freedom he had not known before. He began to journal to sort through the feelings and his behaviors. He has a story to tell to help motivate other people. He does not consider himself an author, but today we will talk about his book, “The Inner Journey Home, Letters To My Son.” Please welcome to Your Life Matters Malcolm Baptiste.

Lorri Benson

When we look in today’s magazines or on TV shows, most of the time we see these very slim, sometimes skinny models on almost every page or every teen show. Young girls want to be like these models and live that glamorous life. Image is so important to these girls that they want to control the amount of food that is digested into their bodies to control how they look. Everyone is different: genetically and their metabolism. So what works for some, does not work for others. Here is something I found really disturbing: It is estimated that 8 million Americans have an eating disorder – seven million women and one million men. There are three women for every 100 American women who suffer from bulimia. Our guest today is Lorri Benson. Lorri along with her daughter Taryn have written the book DISTORTED: How a Mother and Daughter Unraveled the Truth, the Lies, and the Realities of an Eating Disorder.  Lorri is here to share their story with us today.

Richard Broom

On July 5, 1982, our guest today got drunk, fatally killed a man and did not remember doing it. He had suffered from what is called an alcoholic blackout. Today he is a recovering alcoholic with more than 23 years of sobriety.  He believes that prison and Alcoholics Anonymous saved his life. In 1997, he began working for Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches, Inc. (FL), where he continues to share his story of horror and delusion under the influence of addiction, and to celebrate the joy of his new life today. Our story today is about an addiction and how you can recover and begin to live life again. Our guest is author Richard Broom who speaks to us about his memoir Cocked and Loaded. The book will take readers on the ultimate road to redemption; finding recovery and healing inside prison; making peace with the repercussions of his disease and actions; and finding a place and purpose in life after murder. He explains to us how anyone can plot their own path back from the brink of self-destruction. I also want to note that He counsels law enforcement officials who are coping with their own addiction.

Georgene Collins

Our guest will be author, nurse Georgene Collins who will talk about her book "Obesity Free Forever" which discusses how not only to lose the weight but keep it off forever. Georgene lost over 140 pounds 5 years ago and has kept it off.

Wanting to become "Obesity Free Forever™" led to twenty-five years of researching facts on bad eating habits and the truth about eating disorders that resulted in a personal weight loss of over 120 pounds in 13 months. A total weight loss of 145 pounds!

Karen Conterio
Dr. Wendy Lader

Here is today’s question…do you know what Self Injury means? The dictionary says it is defined as the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue without suicidal intent. There is the assumption that, although temporarily helpful, self-injurious behavior is ultimately a dangerous and futile coping strategy which interferes with intimacy, productivity and happiness. But let’s get it straight, there is no "safe" or "healthy" amount of self-injury. Self-injury is not an addiction over which one is powerless for a lifetime. People can and do stop injuring, with the right kinds of help and support. Self-injury can be transformed from a seemingly uncontrollable compulsion to a choice. Self-injury is one of our society's fastest-growing and most disturbing epidemics. That is today’s subject…self injury. We will talk about the book “Bodily Harm: The Breakthrough Healing Program For Self Injurers”. We will discuss the S.A.F.E. Alternatives Program (which stands for Self Abuse Finally Ends). This program was founded by our two guests Karen Conterio and Dr. Wendy Lader. They are also the authors of the book. It is our pleasure to welcome Karen Conterio and Dr. Wendy Lader to our show. 

Peter Cropsey

Today I want to take our listeners a little out of their comfort zone. I want you to think about the homeless man or woman you see walking the streets, panhandling for money, sleeping in a cardboard box. I want you to think about the teen runaway who was sexually molested when she was younger and is now a drug addicted prostitute. I want you think about the convicts you see and gang members. I want you to think about the heroin addict sitting in an abandoned doorway shooting up to get his fix. Why are they where they are at? What has happened to them in life to make them end up that way? Do you think they are a lost cause? Can they ever turn their lives around? Well if you had met our next guest before 1987 you may have said he never could as well. Prior to that he stole everything he drove, lived in Motels and gang clubhouses, shot dope every day and never stepped outside without a pistol. What makes this story different is that he turned his life around. His transformation and healing through Christ's atonement and the guidance of God's Word is truly remarkable. The book is called “Dead Man Waking”. Please welcome pastor, custom motorcycle builder, cattle rancher and co-founder of a men’s treatment center Peter Cropsey.

Shannon Cutts

Imagine a World in which it is easy to find someone to turn to who understands your struggles, identifies with your wounds, and knows how lonely and scary it feels to live inside your skin. In this fantastic brave new world, you would face your eating disorder head on, standing tall and firm with supportive friends by your side as you get better—and stay that way! Well our next guest, author. speaker, writer, performing songwriter and mentor, Shannon Cutts will talk about her book “Beating Ana: How to outsmart your eating disorder and take your life back” shows us how to open the door to this world as she introduces you to a whole new way of thinking about and recovering from your eating disorder. Beating Ana takes on a new approach that no eating disorder book has taken; she emphasizes the importance of mentoring relationships to the recovery process.

Dr. Eric Davis 

Our guest is Eric Davis PhD. who is a drug and alcohol counselor as well as a provider for the treatment of stress. Dr, Davis is the Director of Clinical Services, Co-Founder of Life Recovery Center.
Life Recovery Center is an Outpatient facility specializing in the treatment of mental health, substance abuse, and related issues. With two locations in Indianapolis, Indiana, we serve individuals and families in Marion, Johnson and other surrounding counties. We have been serving our community since 2004 and are certified by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. We focus on many issues affecting the well-being of our clients including substance abuse, psychological and emotional issues, social and family relationships, personal and professional goals, wellness, spirituality, and coping with trauma and life stressors. Life Recovery Center offers specialized services designed to assist our clients in not only getting sober and healthy, but in developing and maintaining a sober and healthy lifestyle.

Mark Edick

Are You Normal? If you are like me, you may get asked this question a lot. But all kidding aside…What is Normal? Does being normal mean to fit in? I mean, if you fit in you are probably normal…right? Well, that too can depend upon the people you associate with. Now if you do not fit in, are you abnormal? What if you just do not feel in synch with everyone else? You will probably consider yourself odd or different. In fact people will probably think you are a bit unusual. But the question is unusual by what standard? What defines normal. Psychiatrists have made their living determining this for us for many years. But here is something to ponder…at one time during the 60s – 80s partying and doing drugs were considered normal for many. Today it is taboo. So does normal change? Sorta makes it confusing and hard to fit in sometimes. Today we are going to talk about the book, “Becoming Normal: An Ever Changing Perspective.” This book helps us focus on the reality in which we view ourselves and society sees us. The author has asked himself this question for most of his life. He is in long term recovery from addiction. Please welcome to Your Life Matters author Mark Edick.

David C Fuller 

Darryl Hagar 

Are you hiding a life-threatening addiction that puts your health, job, family, grade average or relationship at risk? Is that addiction holding you back from reaching your full potential? If you need a lifeline to pull you or a friend, co-worker or family member up from the depths of addiction, then our next guest has the powerful talk for you. The author of The Man Overboard: How a Merchant Marine Officer Survived the Raging Storm of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, Darryl Hagar knows what it's like to be trapped in addictions that hijack your life and prevent you from achieving your personal and professional dreams. A skilled ship's navigator, Darryl spent 20 years on the high seas working harder and longer than most of his shipmates, but his addictions cost him the rank of Captain. 

Chief Todd Hampton 

Our guest was Westport Police Chief Todd Hampton. Chief Hampton talks about drugs and their effects on teens and adults. He gives us insightful tips on what parents should be watching out for...signs that their children may be involved in drugs. Also what adults need to keep our eyes open for when it comes to drug operations in homes (such as meth labs). 
 

Gary Hennerberg

Dr. Jeff Herten

Today on our show we are going to talk about alcohol. The sobering effects that alcohol has on our health, on our lives and how things can change in a moment's notice. We see commercials on TV glamorizing drinking and how cool it is. We have seen the commercial for Captain Morgan asking you to assume the pose. Listen, it is a business. I will give them credit as they do tell you at the end of the commercial about the risk of drinking and even driving. But alcohol is ruining many lives, including the lives of teens. 25% of alcoholics are teenagers. 40% of sexually active girls aged 13-14 report that they were drunk the first time they had sex. If you are older and can drive and make the wrong choice you may take the lives of innocent people in another vehicle. Women & children who were not drinking have their lives taken from them because you chose to drink. How many fraternity parties do we hear about someone dying from alcohol poisoning? How about cancer, heart problems, pancreas problems, osteoporosis, insomnia, hepatitis, obesity, diabetes and more? So do you know the effects of alcohol on Your body? Maybe you are a little like our author today. A high functioning alcoholic. You drink everyday but are successful and function normally. His life was almost destroyed by alcohol and it can happen to you in the flash of a second. The book we will talk about today is called "The Sobering Truth: What You Don't Know Can Kill You". It is written by Dr. Jeff Herten who is our guest today. It is our honor to welcome to Your Life Matters Dr. Jeff Herten. 

Monique Holeyfield

Life hasn't always been what I thought it should be when I think about my past. I spent 16 years as a crack addict while married to two men who were also addicts; one of which was a drug dealer.  After two gunmen threatened to kill me in my own home, it was time to rethink the way I was living. This meant finding my way through the forest of fear and doubt; followed by embracing life in every way possible. Today, we begin a two part interview with author Monique Holeyfield. Monique was invited to speak about the book "Letters From Prison". Upon beginning her interview with us, she began to elaborate on the story of her years addicted to crack cocaine. We began to ask more questions and the first 45 minutes of our interview turned into a fascinating, intriguing story we wanted to share with our listeners.

Stephen S. Ilardi Ph.D.

The timing of today's show we are going to do I feel is extremely important. Not that any other time of the year is not important, but we are right smack dab in the middle of the Christmas season. Now listen to this…approximately 25% of Americans will suffer from major depression in some point of their lives. That’s 1 in 4! Kinda staggering if I may say so.  What’s causing this? Why are so many Americans depressed? Well we work long hours, grab a bite to eat anytime or anyplace we can fit it in, and some even live isolated lives. Starting to get the picture here? We are going to be talking today about the amazing book, “THE DEPRESSION CURE: THE 6 STEP PROGRAM TO BEAT DEPRESSION WITHOUT DRUGS.” We have talked about these type of subjects before.  If you want to live your life taking prescription medications when there may be a way to heal yourself naturally, then today’s show is not for you. But if you think about it, with 1 in 4 suffering, you probably know someone if it is not yourself. Winter and the holidays only amplify the problem for people who suffer from depression.  And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, just to name a few. HO HO HO. So much for peace and joy, right? Our guest today knows about depression as he has treated hundreds of depressed patients. He is an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Kansas and the author of over forty professional articles on mental illness. Please welcome Dr. Stephen S. Ilardi. 

Alexandra Katehakis

Salt ‘N Pepa once recorded a song, “Let’s Talk About Sex”.  So today we will. This show will contain mature subject matter so I have given you our disclaimer. “Will I ever have sex again?” This question is asked most often by sex addicts in the process of recovery. You have to remember sex addicts have a desire for sexual relations and recognize a need to understand how to have sex in healthy ways. So what is healthy sex? What classifies a sexual addict in the first place? Today we will be talking about the book “Erotic Intelligence: Igniting Hot Healthy Sex while in Recovery from Sex Addiction.” The book is written by a licensed Marriage, Family Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of the Center for Healthy Sex in West Los Angeles, CA. and is the author of the book. She is also one of the nation's foremost experts on sex addiction. It is our honor to welcome Alexandra Katehakis to Your Life Matters.

Carrie Keeton

I want to begin today’s show by reading a line directly out of the book we will speak about today…”Addictions cause so much pain and destruction in people’s lives, not only to the person struggling with the addiction, but also to friends and family members. In spite of many prayers and tearful repentance, the anger remained with numerous unanswered questions “Why God am I being punished?” Today’s question is could you handle your spouse being addicted to alcohol for 37 years? Who would you turn to for guidance and strength? For our guest today it was God. Today we will be talking about the amazing book “REMEMBERING TRUE LOVE: A story about a woman’s heartfelt prayers among thorns of addiction”. I am going to let the author tell you about the book as it’s her life story. It is our pleasure to welcome to Your Life Matters Show author Carrie Keeton.

Lisa Natoli and
Mariella School  

Tired of dieting? Going from one diet to another? Maybe you lose a few pounds, then end up putting it back on? Do you really feel this is healthy and helping you? Are you ready to be healed from Food Addiction? Our guests this morning, authors Lisa Natoli and Mariella School have written the book, “It Totally Matters: Healing Food Addiction with a course in Miracles” and are going to share something they and show you a program entailing 40 days of passion and purpose.  

Rosemary A. Cunliffe North 

Let me ask you for today’s question Is it only men that are addicted gamblers? Well very rarely do we see women portrayed as someone with a gambling addiction. It is mostly the men.  In the past it is true that men outnumbered the women in this category but more and more women are entering this disorder at an alarmingly high rate with the problem.  The compulsive gambling disorder in women then tends to get worse at a much faster rate than in men.  Men seem to become addicted to more interpersonal forms of gaming, like blackjack, craps or poker, whereas women tend to engage in less interpersonally based betting, like slot machines or bingo. Men with pathological gambling tend to receive counseling about issues other than gambling less often than their female counterparts. Surprise you? It did me. Our guest today knows all about this first hand. She is the author of 3 books we will be discussing today, “Beyond the Glitz & Glamour of Las Vegas”, “Women Overpowered by Compulsive Gambling” and her latest book, “A Stranger Within”. Please welcome to our show, author Rosemary A. Cunliffe North.

Mark Osteen

Today we are going to talk about autism. Now the word is becoming something that most people have heard about and maybe have a slight understanding of the meaning. So today’s question is what is autism? Here is something that is very alarming and we need to take note of…According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in every 110 births in US are born with autism. And it is almost 1 in 70 boys. There are currently a few million Americans living with this spectrum disorder. This can cost a family 3-5 million dollars over a lifetime. OK, so what if it was your child that has autism? There are different levels of autism, so what if your child has severe autism? How would you handle this? Could you accept the fact that your child would always seem different to others. Now, I emphasize the word different. See he may act differently and perceive the world differently from most, but he is a feeling, thinking human being with a disability who deserves acceptance and respect. Today we are going to talk about the amazing book, “ONE OF US: A FAMILY’S LIFE WITH AUTISM.” It is written by a proud father, sax player, has BA and MA degrees, an accomplished author, a Ph.D. in English literature and teaches at Loyola University in Maryland. Please welcome Mark Osteen to our show.

Dr. Demitri Papolos 

Here is today’s question: What is Bipolar Disorder? Do you really know the answer? If you are not a physician, you probably know since you have a child that suffers from the disorder. But for the rest of us we do not know how the disorder is diagnosed, what the symptoms are, if they are mistaken for something else, what do we do for treatment and what about long-term care? Many questions and our guest today has many of the answers. The book we will discuss today is called, “THE BIPOLAR CHILD: THE DEFINITIVE AND REASSURING GUIDE TO CHILDHOOD’S MOST MISUNDERSTOOD DISORDER.” Our guest today is an associate professor of psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and along with his wife, Janice present a comprehensive view of early-onset bipolar disorder, focusing on how this complicated illness evolves in children. It is our honor to welcome to Your Life Matters Dr. Demitri Papolos.

Ed Poole, Ed.D

As fall sets upon us, so does the holidays. Family gatherings will be taking place for Thanksgiving, Christmas & Hanukah. It is a time for happiness, celebration and a reconnection with family and loved ones. But you also need to understand that the holidays can be a time of increased sadness, pressure and stress for the millions of American who suffer from depression. Sometimes these family members just do not show up and family members get angry, frustrated and resentful and some even wonder what THEY did to drive this family member away. And we all have the relative who thinks that the person should just wake up and snap out of it. Our next guest lived with depression for 13 years. He too has missed some important family gatherings. We are going to talk about two amazing books today. The first book is titled “LESSONS FROM THE PORCH: A GATHERING PLACE FOR TELLING OUR STORIES” and the second is titled “LESSONS FROM THE CROSSROADS: FINDING MY AUTHENTIC PATH.” Our guest is a public speaker, business owner, consultant, story teller and holds a Doctor of Education Degree. Please welcome to Your Life Matters Ed Poole.

Barb Rogers 

"12 Steps That Can Save Your Life" author tells us about his struggles in life and her inspiring stories overcoming all of the challenges she faced.

Abby Leora Rohrer

While many people get the image of two women fighting, pulling on each other’s hair. Well today we want to talk about a different type of hair pulling, a serious impulse control disorder problem for some people. Trichotillomania (trick-a-till-o-mania) is a disorder that causes people to pull out the hair from their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic area, underarms, beard, chest, legs or other parts of the body, resulting in noticeable bald patches. Hair pulling varies greatly in its severity, location on the body, and response to treatment. For some people, at some times, it is mild and can be quelled with a bit of extra awareness and concentration. For others, at times the urge may be so strong that it makes thinking of anything else nearly impossible. It may seem to resemble a habit, an addiction, a tic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Our guest today is author Abby Leora Rohrer who is an ex 27-year compulsive hair puller. Her book, " What's Wrong with Pulling My Hair Out? Breakthrough Secrets & Powerful Answers to End Your Trichotillomania Forever Without Medication, Willpower or Diets” is based on her own healing experience with the disorder over 10 years ago. It provides the first rays for hope and healing from the previously grim outlook for hair-pullers.

Jeffrey Rossman, Ph.D.

So let’s start right off with today’s question, “What is the leading cause of disability in America?” My own personal first thought was obesity, but after giving it some thought, I am not surprised that major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44. Or that clinical or major depression is the top cause of disability throughout the world for persons 5 and over. In the United States alone, businesses may spend anywhere from twelve to seventy billion dollars caring for or paying for the medical expenses of employees that have depression or suffer from a related mental illness. So it is a fair guess that we have established that depression is a major problem. But what brings it on? We all get depressed at one time or another, but is that a major depressive disorder? How do we effectively treat depression? Do we just give them anti-depressant drugs? Well today our guest is going to answer these and many other questions you may have on depression. He has written a truly great book titled, “THE MIND- BODY MOOD SOLUTION – THE BREAKTHROUGH DRUG-FREE PROGRAM FOR LASTING RELIEF FROM DEPRESSION.” For over 30 years now he has been treating depressed people. He offers a comprehensive, drug-free depression treatment program that fully integrates psychological tools with lifestyle practices such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, breathing, and meditation. Please welcome Dr. Jeffrey Rossman to our show.

Jennifer Storm

Where the hell am I? How did I get here?" Beginning at the age of 12, our next guest asked herself these questions many times after waking from alcohol-induced blackouts. During her teens and early twenties, she turned to alcohol to deal with the traumas in her life. In addition to alcohol, she also experimented with drugs, and eventually began using crack to deal with the deep black hole of sadness, loss, and unworthiness that she felt inside herself. That is, until she awoke in a hospital psych ward and saw bandages on her wrists. "The doctor came in and said I was a very lucky girl to be alive," she explains, "and for the first time in my life, I believed it." Today we will talk about her book “Blackout Girl: Growing up and dying in America”. It is our pleasure to have on our show, the Executive Director of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program in Harrisburg, PA, she was also appointed commissioner to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, she has been featured in Rolling Stone and Time magazine, and we welcome author Jennifer Storm to our show today. 

Ryan G. Van Cleave Ph.D.

It started years ago with Donkey Kong, Super Mario or Space Invaders. People would line up at the video machines in stores to play and to play against each other. As home PCs became more common, the games made it into people’s homes and lives. The game “The Sims” started people sitting in front of their pc for hours on end. More and more games came out. The access of the Internet made gaming even more common and acceptable. Anyone who has ever been on Facebook knows about Farmville, or Mafia Wars. X-Box, WII, and now lets even try to lure some of the older people back in with The Rock Band Series and The Beatles! So here is today’s question….how much time do you spend a week playing video games? Be honest, we cannot hear your answer. If you do not think video game addiction is a problem, know that in 2007 more than 5 million kids may have been addicted. It is a multi-billion dollar industry. Like cigarettes, many people are hooked and will not even admit it. You will hear, “I am doing it to have fun…I am not harming anymore…” Our guest today has heard all of this…we will talk about his book “UNPLUGGED: MY JOURNEY INTO THE DARK WORLD OF VIDEO GAME ADDICTION”. It is our pleasure to welcome to Your Life Matters teacher, professional speaker, an addiction & recovery consultant, Executive Director of C&R Press and author of 16 books, Ryan G. Van Cleave.

Meg Henderson Wade

Today we are going to talk about GRITS. No, this is not a cooking show and that is not food. GRITS stands for Girl Raised In The South. We are going to take you back to a small southern town of Martinsville, VA. A town known for NASCAR. So take this innocent southern belle and let’s add crack-cocaine in the mix. OK let’s add the New York Mafia and even San Francisco into the mix. See she was not only exposed to the crack she also became addicted. She ends up in rehab wondering how does a nice, well-mannered girl from the South end up here? This is her personal journey through drug addiction as only she can tell it. Today we are going to talk about the book, “CONFESSIONS OF A SOUTHERN BABY BOOMER: HOW I SURVIVED CRACK COCAINE ADDICTION, THE MAFIA AND OTHER TOTALLY TRUE TALES.” Our guest today has performed on stage, screen, television and radio. She is an actress, dancer and story-teller who uses her talents to bring a powerful anti-drug motivational message across the country and the world. She is a blend of Carrie Fisher, Emma Bombeck, Dolly Parton and a little Kathy Griffin. Please welcome Meg Henderson Wade to Your Life Matters. 

Michael Winder

OK here is today’s question…”What if you were a graduate of the prestigious US Military Academy West Point, earned the commission of an officer in the Army, gained an honorable discharge and get accepted into one of the top law schools in the nation—all while maintaining a daily regimen of alcohol, GHB, LSD, cocaine and prescription drug cocktails. Basically a junkie. What you be able to do it? Would you be able to function? Our guest today did not have the ability to function without hourly doses of narcotics and alcohol chasers. He became delusional and came to believe he was the reincarnation of Mexican impressionist painter Frida Kahlo and ultimately Jesus Christ. When he finally does give up drugs and embraces sobriety, he receives what his doctors assure him is a lifelong sentence of antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing medication. But his fine intellect remains, as does his brutal honesty and his riveting and unforgettable account of his descent into madness. The book we will talk about today is titled ‘AN OFFICER AND A JUNKIE: FROM WEST POINT TO THE POINT OF NO RETURN.” And our guest today is a personal trainer, speaker, author, recovering addict and is also off to Morocco to be with the Peace Corps to North Africa to teach Moroccan children, please welcome Michael Winder to Your Life Matters.

Bruce Zamelsky