Project Recovery

Keith Morey (Economic Development Division Director for Provo) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to share his first experience drinking alcohol out of curiosity in college as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, drinking to cope after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and how his faith was shattered after his alcohol abuse began to spiral out of control.

Keith also opens up about his rock bottom, what it took to commit to a life of recovery, and how recovery has taught him that resistance promotes growth.

Michelle Kolb joins Casey and Dr. Matt to talk about growing up in a secluded community that was centered around abuse, violence, and secrecy and how that completely altered her vision of what the world appeared to be once she was separated from the community.

Michelle also opens up about her first experience with alcohol in her junior year of college, her quick progression into partying, and how becoming a parental figure for her siblings at 15 years old impacted her teenage years.

We also talk about how Michelle’s drug use escalated once she became a mother, her first stint with sobriety, and why a cancer diagnosis shook her to her core.

Lastly, Michelle shares how her last cancer diagnosis challenged her sobriety after seven years of not drinking or doing any drugs and the joy she finds in embracing every single day with her children.

Savanna Kemp joins Casey and Dr. Matt to open up about blacking out after trying alcohol for the first time, her first experiences with trying substances, and how her addiction to drugs escalated once she moved to North Dakota for work.

Then Savanna shares how her life began to spiral out of control after meeting someone who introduced her to heroin and meth, being on the verge of death after binge drinking for a week straight, and the moment she relapsed after being sober for seven months.

Lastly, we dive into what Savanna has learned about herself and her recovery after being sober for the past sixteen months.

Hanora McCarty joins Casey and Dr. Matt to talk about starting with a chip on her shoulder after being bullied early on throughout school after being born with a haemangioma on her face. 

She also opens up about turning to alcohol to help build confidence during her years in college, how her brother’s battle with addiction helped influence her decision to move to Spain to teach English for five years, and why she believed that if she could change her environment, she could find happiness.

We also dive into how her addiction began to take a toll on Hanora, why working from home continued to fuel her addiction, and the morning she realized that she was never going to get better without help.

Charlie Osborne, LCSW (Clinical Director at Action Recovery), joins Casey and Dr. Matt to talk about how addiction has always run in his family, his battle with addiction as a teenager, and overdosing at work while working in an open kitchen.

Then Charlie opens up about the acts of kindness that turned his life around, his decision to pursue a career in helping others battling their trauma, and why gratitude and hope are paramount in his recovery.

Related Links

Action Recovery: https://www.actiontreatment.com/

Steve Jones joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to open up about his early experiences with alcohol in his teens and how it drastically escalated once he began attending high school to the point where he was spending time in an in-patient treatment center and nights in jail for altercations. 

Then, we dive into Steve’s time in college, where his drinking began to escalate until he fell into a dark depression. He opens up about how his alcohol and drug abuse caused him to drop out of college and left him with the realization that he was going to drink himself to death until his brother helped save him from addiction.

Lastly, Steve shares how he was able to go back to school and find his calling, helping others process their trauma and addiction through yoga, therapy, and mindfulness.

Related Links

Full Circle Yoga and Therapy: https://fullcircleut.com/

Dr. Matt dives into how AI is being used to predict successful addiction treatment rates, why boredom can be so mentally stressful, and a recent study that shows those who suffer from Cannabis-related disorders are at a higher risk for head and neck cancers.

In this week's episode, Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley are joined by Sam Wellman (Fit To Recover) to talk about his experience with experimenting with substances during college, why getting blackout drunk became a routine for him, and how his addiction sent him down a spiral into sickness and darkness.

Sam also shares his mindset of drinking every day until he died, why his routine got even worse once he began working at a treatment facility, and how the COVID-19 pandemic pushed him to the brink of death.

Lastly, we dive into Sam's decision to surrender for help and his road to recovery over the past two years.

To learn more about Sam and Fit To Recover, you can visit their website here: https://fit2recover.org/

In this week's episode, Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley are joined by Ian Hacker to talk about the inspiration behind creating Fit to Recover, why he never felt good enough growing up, and how seeing a close friend pass away in front of him created a lot of untreated trauma during his teenage years.

Ian also dives into his experience with abusing alcohol and pain medication to cope with his anxiety and trauma, the moment he realized that he needed to make a change as he was sitting in a jail cell, and why he decided to commit to service and helping others find recovery through Fit to Recover.

This week, Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley talk about why the idea of quitting substance abuse is much harder than most people realize, why empathy is crucial to understanding someone’s battles, and why you need to be all in to ensure a successful recovery.

Kolby Burdett joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about his experience with trying alcohol at a young age, how unlimited access to alcohol in high school built the framework for substance abuse, and why becoming a dad at 18 years old pushed him into addiction. 

Then Kolby talks about realizing that he had a problem with drinking at 21 despite appearing like he was living the perfect life from the outside.

We also dive into Kolby’s rock bottom, the moment he knew that he was broken and needed to seek treatment, and finding success with Action Recovery in Ogden.

Related Links

Action Recovery: https://www.actiontreatment.com/

Riley Loosemore (Peer Recovery Coach at USARA) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about how his abusive father leaving his family as a child created a hole in his life, being introduced to substances during his high school years, and how he became a father of 3 by the age of 19.

Riley also opens up about his introduction to crystal meth while running and gunning, spending 72 hours in jail as a murder suspect, and how running from the police in Ogden left him homeless for four years.

Then we talk about his attempts at getting help for his addiction throughout the years, his constant struggles with substance abuse continuing to creep back into his life, and the moment that changed his life with the introduction of Valley Camp, a recreation and rehabilitation center in Utah.

Lastly, Riley shares how he's helping others find their road to recovery by spreading awareness of substance addiction as a Peer Recovery Coach with USARA. 

You can also learn more about Riley and USARA at https://www.myusara.com/

Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley catch up with Riley Loosemore and talk about some of the great things he’s doing in the recovery community in Ogden. Then Tia Zangraft joins the show and opens up about the origination of her addiction, chasing the chaotic feeling that came from her addiction, and how the death of her firstborn pushed her deeper into substance abuse.

Then, we dive into how addiction pushed Tia’s children away, her journey to getting them back as she began to seek recovery, and how her life has changed since she's been sober.

Related Links

The Godfather Foundation: https://thegodfatherfoundation.com/

Alano Club - Ogden: https://northernutahaa.org/locations/alano-club-2/

Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley are joined by Marnae Moore to talk about her struggles with the idea that she wasn't liked growing up, the life events that led Marnae to develop an eating disorder at sixteen years old, and her decision to get married and have children by the time she was twenty.

Then Marnae talks about how a divorce coupled with her eating disorder led her to abuse opioids, how the abuse ultimately forced her to have a kidney transplant, and the moment she realized that she needed to seek out help to get her on the road to recovery.

Lastly, Marnae opens up about the struggles she is still dealing with to this day and the ways that she's promoting positive behaviors to keep addiction out of her life.

Jae Cho, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to discuss his decision to pursue a career in social work, how he uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to treat patients suffering from ADD and ADHD, and his work helping patients overcome trauma.

Related Links

Recovery Works: https://healthcare.utah.edu/hmhi/treatments/addiction-recovery/intensive-outpatient-program

Gabe Schiavonie joins Casey Scott to talk about growing up in the heart of Los Angeles, the moment he knew he wanted to be a professional musician, and how his introduction to alcohol at the age of 13 led him to live the rockstar lifestyle.

Gabe also opens up about his life as a touring musician, becoming dependent on alcohol, and the loneliness he began to feel as his world came crumbling down to addiction.

Then Gabe discusses his descent into being a drug dealer addicted to heroin, his struggles with trying to get sober, and the night he died after overdosing on heroin that contained fentanyl.

Lastly, we dive into Gabe’s success at finding recovery after spending time at Wasatch Recovery.

Related Links

Wasatch Recovery: https://wasatchrecovery.com/

Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley dive into some listener comments, dopamine’s impact on obesity, as well as how cannabis use led to more severe psychotic outcomes in teenagers than any other group.

Katie Roghaar , LCSW (Huntsman Mental Health Institute), joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about Katie’s decision to pursue social work, the importance of all-female recovery facilities, and the power of leveling with patients through Feminist Multicultural therapy.

Then, we talk about how the shame associated with addiction is evolving in society, the Bridge Program for opioid addiction through the University of Utah, and how the recovery community will continue to expand in Utah.

Richie Wilson (Operations Manager at Fit To Recover) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about growing up having a great childhood but struggling to express the anxiety he was experiencing during high school and how an injury at 16 years old introduced him to opioids that he says immediately took his anxiety away and led him down a road of abusing substances daily.

Then Richie opens up about going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, how a car accident during his mission led him to abuse pain pills, and his descent into hard drugs immediately after coming home from his mission.

Richie also talks about trying to find success in recovery after spending multiple bouts in recovery centers, his introduction to Fit To Recover, and FTR’s upcoming 5K for recovery on June 15th, 2024, at 8 am.

Related Links

Fit To Recover 4th Annual 5K for Recovery: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fit-to-recover-5k-for-recovery-registration-859678269847?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Fit To Recover: https://fit2recover.org/

Dr. Matt Woolley is solo this week to talk about ways parents can help prevent teenagers from drunk driving during the summer months following graduation, lock-in parties were created to help reduce drunk driving on graduation night, and some tips on how to approach the conversation of drunk driving with our children.

We also dive into some statistics as to how the stigma of addiction has evolved based on the words and labels that can be used to inaccurately describe various disorders.

Manny Lopez and Portia Louder join Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about their rock bottoms, what they have been up to since their time respective times on the show, and Portia’s new book, Born to Be Brave, which includes Manny’s inspirational life story, and what they’re doing to help reinforce their recovery.

Related Links

Born to Be Brave by Portia Louder: https://portialouder.com/

Manny's original episode: https://omny.fm/shows/project-recovery/manny-lopez-talks-about-quitting-drugs-and-the-gan

Portia's original episode: https://omny.fm/shows/project-recovery/portia-louder-opens-up-about-overcoming-addicting

This week we replay Cade Cooper’s story of how growing up a perfectionist engrained an "all or nothing" attitude, the impact that this mindset had on his youth when he started abusing substances, and how being introduced to pornography pushed him toward a dark place.

We also talk about Cade's experience with going on an LDS mission to Hawaii once he graduated, how the loss of his father sent him into a downward spiral of depression, and the struggles he dealt with trying to get sober.

Lastly, Cade shares how his children taught him about God and helped him find sobriety after years of trauma.

You can learn more about Cade and his journey by checking out his YouTube channel Gettin Your Life Back with Cade Cooper

Related Links

Getting Your Life Back with Cade Cooper: https://www.youtube.com/@gettinyourlifebackwithcadecoop

Casey Scott is flying solo this week while Dr. Matt is on vacation and we’re doing a therapy exercise called, “Free-Form Writing”. Free-form writing is an exercise that is used to help clear the mind and get our thoughts and feelings onto paper.

Dr. Bryce Herrera (Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW & Psychiatric Program Specialist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about his inspiration behind pursuing social justice, why working in addiction recovery can be so fulfilling, and his past work with treating veterans who suffer from substance abuse.

Then we talk about the process of being admitted to Huntsman for detoxing, the most difficult and rewarding aspects of working in addiction recovery, and some of the amazing services that HMHI offers.

To learn more about Huntsman Mental Health Institute, you can visit their website or call them at 801-583-2500.

You can also reach out to Bryce directly at 801-558-9456 or at bryceherreralcsw@gmail.com

Mark Pepper (Clinical Director at Steps Recovery Center) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to open up about struggling to find his place in life growing up and how turning to weed and alcohol early in life helped him fit in during high school.

Mark also talks about falling in love with being addicted to depression during his freshman year of college in Eugene, OR, his decision to transfer to Boulder, CO for the sole purpose of partying, and how a cocaine addiction would plague his thirties.

Then we dive into Mark’s time trying to get sober while hiding his addiction, what finally pushed him over the edge to start living a life of sobriety, and how he’s helping give back to others who are battling addiction.

Related Links

Steps Recovery Center: https://www.stepsrc.com/

Live On: https://liveonutah.org/

Matthew Jackson joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley again to talk about how his life has changed after his time on the podcast three years ago, the ways his recovery has shifted, and his decision to pursue being a Substance Use Disorder / Addiction Counselor for the youth.

We also dive into how substance abuse has evolved among the youth, modalities that Matthew uses to help the youth overcome substance abuse and addiction, as well as how dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help introduce emotional skills to the youth that can be used to combat addictive tendencies.

In this week's episode, Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley are joined by Matthew Jackson, a former BYU professor, to talk about Matthew's experimentation with substances growing up in a small town, the shame he felt after his addiction became more well-known, and how a spiritual awakening led him to experience recovery for the first time.

Then Matthew talks about his life without substance abuse, how pursuing his Ph.D. led to a reliance on caffeine, and his decision to begin abusing energy drinks and pain pills to stay focused on his goals.

Matthew also talks about the "Holy Trinity" of addiction, the events that led to his rock bottom, and what his recovery looks like now.

Scott Devine joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about his family’s experience moving to America from Ireland to be more active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, why he found comfort in pursuing rebellious behavior throughout high school, and his decision to attend BYU-Idaho, despite continuously disobeying the Honor Code.

Scott also talks about going off the rails and having to spend Christmas and New Year’s Day in a residential facility, his experience with relapsing, and the work he put toward his sobriety that would eventually help him climb out of the hole of addiction.

Amy Abshere joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about how she quickly learned that her achievements and success could lead to attention and praise when she was younger, using her successes in education and athletics to justify her substance abuse, and feeling as if her identity had been taken away after she graduated college.

We also dive into Amy’s experience with struggling to get off prescription pills following a serious injury after college, how her addiction to pain pills turned into a full-blown addiction to heroin, and why her rock bottom turned into a spiritual journey that would ultimately lead her to find recovery.

Related Links

Instagram: amygreenfitness

Season 11 champion of the hit television show, 'Ultimate Fighter', and Welterweight MMA fighter, Court McGee, joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt to talk about his experiences surrounding addiction and eventually overcoming years of struggle to ultimately become a professional UFC fighter.

Court also explains how an injury led to becoming addicted to pain pills in a week, which eventually led to a derailed college career as a wrestler and an overdose on September 9th, 2005.

He also details how he was able to find a path to sobriety after dying, only to be ruined by a single Long Island Iced Tea, leading to the worst two weeks of his life.

Court then talks about how his early love for wrestling was able to create a solid foundation to build his MMA skillset and how a loss to Jeremy Horn made him realize that he could compete in the UFC.

Lastly, we dive into the steps that eventually led him to become the champion of 'Ultimate Fighter' season 11 and how his success on TV and in the octagon helped him create the McGee Project, allowing him the opportunity to spread awareness surrounding addiction.

For more information about the McGee Project, visit courtmcgee.com/thecgeeproject.

Friend of the show, Christian Smith, joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about the causal factors of low success rates in the recovery community, how we can increase recovery outcomes, and how insurance companies impact the cost of attending treatment centers.

Then we talk about ways we can improve the process of preparing addicts for a stint in treatment, why addicts need to open up about their struggles, and why loving who you are can help become a turning point in recovery.

Adam Rudy joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to look back on his childhood where he was surrounded by drug abuse due to his father being a drug dealer, losing his father in a car accident while he was under the influence, and how the passing of his father shaped his mindset towards living life.

Adam then talks about experimenting with drugs and alcohol during his early twenties, spending time in and out of jail and drug court due to his excessive drug use after struggling to stay sober, and what his rock bottom looked like before turning a corner and committing to recovery.

Then he opens up about his struggles with feeling welcomed back into society once he started his recovery journey and how the recovery community has helped stabilize his battle against addiction.

Unfortunately, we have lost our good friend, Seneca Higley, to the disease of addiction. We wanted to honor him by sharing his story with everyone to hopefully inspire anyone to seek help and continue the fight against addiction. Seneca was an amazing storyteller and hearing him talk about his life was such an inspirational moment for us. We hope his story can bring some light and hope into your day and that you enjoy hearing about Seneca as much as we did...

Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley talk about the unfortunate and sudden passing of our good friend, Seneca Higley. Then Casey shares some of his favorite memories with Seneca and we talk about ways to help prevent overdoses.

Related Links

SAMSA: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/overdose-prevention-response-toolkit/pep23-03-00-001

Brandon Novack just turned 40, and he completed his 13th attempt at recovery in 2016. He's been sober ever since. At the age of 15, he was a pro skateboarder, endorsed by Gatorade and doing commercials with Michael Jordan. At 17, he was working for his idol, Tony Hawk. That's when he discovered the dark side of substance abuse. This would cause him to lose everything, save for a few personal belongings, and gain a restraining order from his Mom. It's a long road to recovery and one that you for sure want to hear.

Danielle Yarrington joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about her introduction to alcohol as a teenager, using alcohol to separate herself from her ex-husband in her mid-twenties, and the events that led her to drink alcohol every day.

Danielle also opens up about her struggles to manage the chaos in her life due to relationships in her life, how she was able to only go to one rehabilitation center before committing to sobriety, and how she found her voice in rehab.

Lastly, Danielle opens up about how she’s fighting for the recovery community at Brighton Recovery Center.

Related Links

Brighton Recovery: https://www.brightonrecoverycenter.com/

Kyle Raines joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Wooley to talk about the impact that losing his brother when he was growing up had on him and his family, why he started pushing people away following the loss of his brother, and his earliest realizations that he had a problem with substances.

Then Kyle opens up about how his addiction got out of control throughout the years, being sent to jail for a DUI, and why being held accountable helped push him towards seeking help for his addiction. 

We also talk about Kyle’s experiences with treatment centers, what he found to be an effective recovery method, and finding stability through service and giving back.

Related Links

School of Addiction Recovery: https://schoolofaddiction.org/

Breann Sagers joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about her niece, Kandis Harris, who has been missing for three years after running with the wrong crowd and struggling with addiction at an early age. 

We dive into Kandis’s time running in and out of multiple recovery programs, the day she stopped responding to family and friends, and how the search for Kandis has evolved over the past few years.

Breann also shares why Salt Lake City detectives have moved Kandis’s case now considered a homicide and why she is so passionate about sharing Kandis’s story.

If you or anyone you know may know about the whereabouts of Kandis Harris, please call the Salt Lake Police Department at (801) 799-3000 or the anonymous tip line at (801) 759-2248. You can also follow Bring Kandis Home for any updates.

Related LinksFacebook: Bring Kandis Home

Vili Auelua joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about his life growing up in Compton, CA. where he spent a lot of his time committing crimes as a gang member, why abusing alcohol and marijuana was commonplace in his environment, and how his time running the streets ultimately caught up with him.

Vili also opens up about his battles with addiction after struggling to realize that he had a problem for years and how his life is better than ever once he finally committed to a life of recovery.

Then Vili talks about the work that he’s doing for other recovering addicts at The Haven.

Related Links

The Haven: https://havenhelps.com/

Morgan Dimmitt joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about how his vigilant relationship with his brother naturally caused him to feel anxious and tense which ultimately led him to feel less anxious once he started experimenting with marijuana and alcohol.

Morgan also talks about how sports became an outlet for him to release a lot of the pent-up tension he dealt with in high school, the events that led him to serve over a thousand hours of community service after a physical altercation, and how an addiction to pain medication drastically transitioned to heroin.

Then we dive into Morgan’s time in prison after being arrested for drugs, the first time he was able to say no to drugs, and why it’s so important to build a community around you that supports recovery to stay sober.

Related Links

Reflections Recovery Center: https://reflectionsrecoveryutah.com/

Sean Dalton joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about growing up in a traditional New York family household, the effect that his father’s acceptance had on him while he was growing up, and why he was so focused on becoming a hard marine to gain acceptance from his peers.

Then Sean talks about his reliance on alcohol that stemmed from his time as a marine, being introduced to cocaine, and the events that led him to spend time in jail.

Lastly, Sean opens up about the mistakes he’s made during his addiction and why he had to accept his problems to start working towards a life of recovery.

Related Links

Steps Recovery: https://www.stepsrc.com/

Nate Heaslett joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about his experience growing up in a sailing family that was surrounded by drinking alcohol, getting drunk at thirteen years old, and being introduced to marijuana and opiates during his time throughout high school.

Nate also talks about the impact that COVID-19 had on his college experience and drug abuse, how joining the workforce increased his drinking habits and his attempts at seeking rehabilitation and therapy after realizing that he had a problem.

Then we talk about what Nate’s rock bottom looked like after struggling to cope with sobriety and how being introduced to Fit To Recover has helped stabilize his recovery after moving to Utah.

Randall Carlisle has been a broadcaster for nearly 60 years. He spent the lion's share of that time on our TVs here in Utah where he was first on Channel 2, and then Channel 4 as a news anchor. He retired from the job in 2017, and now he works with Odyssey House Treatment Center. Many people may not know that Randall himself has dealt with his share of addiction and recovery. He is also now living sober after decades of alcohol abuse. 

Many people may not know that Randall himself has dealt with his share of addiction and recovery. He is also now living sober after decades of alcohol abuse. Find out more about how drinking affected the life of Randall Carlisle in part two of this week's Project Recovery.

In this week’s episode, Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley recap how they met each other, the events that led Casey to hit rock bottom, and the day he learned that he would be fired from KSL for his actions during his addiction.

Then we talk about the first iterations of the show, how our guests’ stories over the years have changed the way we look at addiction and substance abuse in our communities, and how the show has changed us.

Blu Robinson joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about his experiences growing up constantly being on the move from household to household due to his mother being in and out of marriages, living a life of lies early in his childhood, and trying to find a connection with others by integrating himself into the partying scene.

Then Blu shares when he started finding his passion for helping others in their recovery journeys, how therapy helped him define who he was as a person, and his process of mourning his late mother after losing a relationship with her over the years.

We also dive into Blu’s decision to create Addict II Athlete to help introduce addicts to a lifestyle that is focused on being physically active to create discipline in their recovery.

Related Links:

Addict II Athlete: https://www.addicttoathlete.com/

Addict II Athlete Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/addict-ii-athlete-podcast/id1441699705

John Curran joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about how his experience with trying drugs and alcohol at an early age due to being heavily influenced by his father and older brother, as well as how his drug and alcohol use led him to be addicted to meth at 13 years old. John also opens up about being introduced to the prison system as a teenager, his struggles with being a parent suffering from addiction, and his attempts at staying sober while his world was spiraling down.

Then John explains his mindset when he was at rock bottom and his attempt to end his life after trying to overdose on heroin. 

Lastly, we dive into John’s recovery, the amazing work he’s doing with USARA, and what his recovery looks like now after years of addiction.

Related Links:

USARA: https://www.myusara.com/

Peter Shipman joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to tell his story of growing up with anxiety and how feeling normal after trying drugs and alcohol led him to hide in the shadows of addiction. Peter also opens up about how his parents’ separation impacted his relationship with his family throughout his addiction and being introduced to heroin after his first semester of college.

Then Peter shares when he was arrested for drugs the day before he was set to fly to New York after being accepted to NYU for graduate school, his experience with relapsing after trying to seek help for his addiction, and the guilt he feels after continuing to abuse substances throughout his career as a middle school teacher.

Lastly, Peter talks about the worst moments of his addiction that eventually led him to complete treatment.

Related Links:

Fit To Recover: https://fit2recover.org/

In this week's episode, we're talking about the things we're thankful for including family, friends, and nuns. Yep, that's right, nuns. We take a look into a study from the 1930s that analyzed a group of nuns over the course of seventy years. The study determined happier nuns were ultimately healthier and lived longer.

We also dive into whether or not happiness is a choice and the powerful effects of gratitude. Then we give a couple of tips on how to be more grateful in your life that can be used during the holiday season and beyond!

Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley talk about the benefits of hitting the snooze button before getting out of bed, the truth behind a “runner’s high” vs. medications, and how judgment can often be the thing that holds us back from seeking help for what’s keeping us down.

We also talk about Matt’s experience with getting stage fright for the first time while teaching online students, the impact that meditation and mindfulness can have on panic attacks, and how self-compassion and affirmations have become a superpower for our mental health. 

Lastly, Dr. Matt leads us in a mindfulness exercise to help us relax and ease our daily grind.

Related Links:

The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Dr. Kristen Neff

Cherice Ells (Wasatch Recovery) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to open up about her tumultuous relationship with her biological father, being forced to try meth for the first time by a partner as a young adult, and how quickly her addiction took control of her entire life.

Cherice also talks about how addiction led her to have her children removed from her care, the impact that her drug use had on relationships throughout the years, and how she ended up being arrested for smuggling drugs from Mexico to the US.

Then Cherice talks about what she learned throughout her time being locked up in MCC San Diego, her struggles of navigating life after she was released from MCC, and how she’s helping others find recovery at Wasatch Recovery.

Related Links:

Wasatch Recovery: https://wasatchrecovery.com/

In this episode replay, Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley are joined by Cass and Paulus from Inner Alchemy to talk about their experiences through partying as 19-year-olds, the moment they realized they had to change their lifestyle, and buying a motorcycle and moving to Mexico to travel and gain a better understanding of how to manage their addictions.

Then we talk about the idea of being human and how understanding that you don't have to be perfect all the time helped Cass overcome a lot of internal struggles that she was dealing with.

Paulus also opens up about what it took for him to overcome his alcohol abuse, his introduction to meditation, and why he decided to begin working on being mindful and practicing breathwork.

Lastly, Cass and Paulus share their work with breathwork and how it can help create clarity within ourselves.

You can find Cass and Paulus on Facebook at Inner Alchemy Living and online at http://www.inneralchemyliving.com/home.

Jesse Carlin joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to open up about his first time smoking weed in middle school, being scared off of marijuana after having a horrifying experience, and how the pressure to fit in led Jesse to smoke meth at sixteen years old.

Jesse also talks about chasing the feeling that he first felt when he tried meth for the first time, chasing a high just to feel normal after becoming dependent on heavy drugs, and how his drug use impacted his relationship with his family.

Then Jesse shares what his rock bottom looked like while running and gunning, the moment he knew he needed to reach out for help to try and get sober, and how he envisions his life moving forward now that he’s living in recovery.

Related Links:

7th Street Treatment: https://7treatment.org/

USARA: https://www.myusara.com/

Russ Sweeten joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about his experience with feeling social anxiety at a young age, trying alcohol for the first time with an older cousin at fourteen years old, and realizing that alcohol was going to be a problem for him after being unable to control his drinking as a teenager.

Russ also talks about navigating his early twenties while trying to cope with alcohol addiction, realizing that he had a problem with alcohol but avoiding rehab, and the heartbreaking moment that led him to seek treatment.

Then we dive into Russ’ six-month stay at Action Recovery, some of the most important lessons he learned throughout his time there, and what his weight loss journey has looked like ever since finding recovery.

Related Links:

Action Recovery: https://www.actiontreatment.com/

Lyndi Murray joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to share her addiction story that began at sixteen years old when she began to experiment with drugs and alcohol while living in a small town, being introduced to heroin after struggling to find pills as she got older, and her first experience with trying to seek treatment for her addiction.

Lyndi also opens up about her struggles with trying to stay sober and clean of heroin, what her life looked like while she was running and gunning, and deciding to die on the streets, be addicted to heroin, or get sober.

Then Lyndi talks about what her life looks like now and why she has turned to marijuana as a stabilizing agent that helps keep her grounded throughout her recovery.

Jared Casey (Clinical Director for Reprieve Recovery) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about the inspiration behind his decision to pursue social work after becoming depressed about where he was in life.

Then Jared talks about how I Am Recovery introduced him to a new world of helping others after hitting rock bottom as well as how he’s using what he’s learned as a Clinical Director to build Reprieve Recovery, a new recovery center in Morgan, Utah.

Lastly, we talk about some of the misconceptions surrounding recovery centers, what an average day in a recovery center looks like including meditation, exercise, and group sessions, and the importance of finding the right recovery center that fits the person accurately.

Related Links:

Reprieve Recovery: https://reprieverc.com/

Rob Eastman joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley again to talk about Rob's background with substance abuse and depression that stemmed from bullying, his new book, Warrior in the Garden, and what drove him to finally begin writing a book.

Rob also shares how he and his wife, Heidi, met, and the beautiful life they've built together. 

Related Links:

Rob Eastman: linktr.ee/tattooedlifecoach