In this week’s episode of In The Circle, we are joined by Raiza who brings us a profound inquiry: How Can I Embrace The Present Moment and Trust My Journey As It Unfolds? Raiza shares that she started her spiritual journey later in life, while many teachers she admires began their paths and awakenings early on. This has left her feeling 'behind,' as though she should be further along her journey. This question resonates deeply with us as we navigate time—perceiving it as past, present, and...

In this week’s episode of In The Circle, I’m privileged to be joined by Ellen, who brings us a powerful inquiry that will open a conversation about the family dynamics of addiction. Ellin asks: How can I support friends and family in addiction while respecting boundaries?  Whenever one person in a family struggles with addiction, the entire family is at risk of falling into an addictive and unhealthy dynamic. In this episode, we’ll be diving into topics like codependency, and family...

In this week’s episode of In The Circle, I have the joy and honor of connecting with my dear friend, Elena Brower. Elena is a mother, mentor, poet, artist, volunteer, bestselling author, and the host of the Practice You podcast.  With 25 years of experience in yoga and meditation, she’s inspired countless individuals through her insightful teachings. Her books—Art of Attention, Practice You, Being You, and Softening Time—invite us to explore practice, life, and the art of deep...

In this week’s episode of In The Circle, I’m thrilled to dive into an incredibly meaningful topic that impacts each of us — our relationship with food. Alyssa joins us with an inquiry about something fundamental to the human experience - How Can I Move Beyond Addictive Patterns with Food?  Food has a powerful impact on how we feel, think, and interact in the world. It affects our energy, our mood, and even the way we show up in relationships.  For those of us on the recovery path, it can be...

In this week’s episode of In The Circle, Gwen presents a powerful inquiry about personal empowerment. She asks: How Can I Overcome The Fear-Based Limitations I Put On Myself? Gwen opens up about her recovery journey, reflecting on how her once fierce drive was replaced by fear after years of active addiction. Her story of wanting to overcome this fear and embrace an empowered life resonates with all of us. This episode delves into the crucial question of what holds us back—mentally,...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we welcome Stuart, who is celebrating one year of sobriety from long-term cannabis use. Stuart's success stands as a beacon of hope for those struggling to let go of cannabis, showing that recovery and thriving are possible. In this episode, he asks a question many of us can relate to: how can I break free from negative thinking patterns?  How can we shift from negative thinking to a more realistic and positive outlook? The recovery journey can...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, I’m thrilled to reconnect with my friend, Dr. Gabor Maté.  Gabor Maté is a renowned medical doctor, five-time international bestselling author, humanitarian, and highly respected speaker. His acclaimed book on addiction, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, is widely used in academic institutions across Canada and the U.S.  His latest work, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture, spent 19 weeks on...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we’re diving into another powerful inquiry from someone who traveled with me to one of our Recovery 2.0 retreats in England. Today’s guest, Perry, asks: How can I push through my resistance to change?  During our England retreat, we discussed something I call resistance training. When I mention resistance training, I’m talking about engaging in activities that naturally bring up our own resistance. I’m referring to – the voice that says, "I’ll do it...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we are truly blessed to have Linda, an elder, joining us. When I say "elder," I'm referring not just to age, but to the wisdom and humility gained over time. Linda brings us such a powerful inquiry when she asks: What does conscious recovery look like as we grow older?  This deeply humbles me. It's a profound inquiry from someone with so much life experience in recovery, reminding us all that the journey continues no matter where we are. As we age and...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we’re joined by Mariana, who brings us an impactful inquiry: How Can I Maintain Healthy Boundaries While Being of Service in Recovery? We often read in spiritual scriptures that we are meant to give without expectation. Yet, as humans in relationships, we recognize that boundaries are essential, especially in recovery.  Spiritual and religious teachings often compare service to an express train for personal and spiritual growth. While giving and...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, I am honored to connect with Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, founder and CEO of Agape International Spiritual Center, a renowned trans-denominational community in Los Angeles.  With thousands of local members and global live streamers, Agape is celebrated for its cultural, racial, and spiritual inclusivity. The late Coretta Scott King once praised Dr. Beckwith, saying, "I greatly admire what you are doing to bring about the beloved community," echoing...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we are joined by Rosie, who brings a relevant and powerful inquiry for our consideration:  How can I quickly regulate my emotions and ground myself, so I don't get lost in the story my mind creates? This is a deeply relevant inquiry—who hasn’t found themselves trapped by the narratives they carry in their mind? It’s all too common to become our own biggest triggers, getting swept away by our thoughts and emotions. Recovery, however, is more than...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we’re joined by Elaine, who draws our attention to one of the most challenging scenarios in all of addiction: What steps can parents take to support their grown child in addiction recovery? How do I remain silent when my child continues to make bad choices?  I don't want to enable them. I don't know how to support them. What can I do? This inquiry will bring up important questions about how to position oneself to be of maximum use to a person who is...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we have Kathy bringing a very unique yet relevant inquiry that requires a bit of unpacking. Kathy inquires: what is the difference between being an introvert and isolating?  Kathy wrote to us and said, “I usually hear that human beings are hardwired for connection and that we are social creatures. I do not believe it to be true for every human being - it isn’t true for me.”  As we go down the path of this inquiry, we'll learn that Kathy has been...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, I’m incredibly excited to share my interview with Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. Bruce is an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit. He was on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin's School of Medicine, and later performed groundbreaking stem cell research at Stanford University. You may have read about that in his best-selling book, The Biology of Belief.  In 2009, Bruce received the prestigious Goy East Award in Japan in honor of...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we are joined by Donna, who asks such a brave, honest, and raw question: Is It Possible To Fully Heal From Sexual Trauma? Can the trauma of childhood sexual abuse be overcome? The unfortunate reality is that sexual and physical abuse are very present in our world. Donna’s inquiry gives us an opportunity to explore healing from these deep, formative wounds. I believe that healing is always possible. It requires a combination of ingredients, a certain...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we are joined by Elizabeth, who brings an incredibly powerful inquiry: How Can I Remain Spiritual During Troubling Times? So many people I speak with are feeling lost, sad, depressed, or despairing in the face of the world's difficulties. Of course, it doesn’t help that we are attached to devices that inform us endlessly of other people's challenges. This inquiry gives us a moment to explore the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, Galen brings to light the addictive nature of procrastination. When we actively avoid things we need to do - and even things we may want to do - it erodes our confidence. We may even take other actions that cause us harm.   I look at procrastination as one of the four aggravations: Negative thinking, self-doubt, procrastination, and resentment. These are all patterns of belief and behavior that get in the way of a person's happiness. So, while nobody...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we are joined by Tracy, who inquires: Will my recovery journey positively impact my children? This is such a powerful inquiry that I know will have relevance for us all. Part of this exploration will lead us to understand that there is no such thing as a perfect parent. There is no such thing as parenting without doing some harm. We all have negative ingrained behaviors we see in ourselves that inevitably get passed to our children.  Many of us...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, Nicole is here with us bringing an inquiry about what I call the real gateway drug. Of course, I'm speaking about sugar. Nicole asks: Am I addicted to sugar? Should I abstain completely or is there a place of moderation? Now, I believe that addressing one's relationship with food and sugar in particular is a central part of recovery for everyone. In Nicole's case, she let go of alcohol several years ago and wants to take her recovery journey to the...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we have Bob here with us at 20 years sober. Bob is asking a profound question related to the 12 step path: How would you describe the process of becoming entirely ready? Now, for those who are not familiar with step six, it reads: we were entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character.  This brings up a lot of questions and some confusion about what God is doing and how God does it exactly. We need to explore this and ask ourselves: what...

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, Brian asks an incredibly profound question: Can a person change their personality? He goes on to explain that the origin of his inquiry is due to his use of sarcasm and how he does not want to speak in that same tone with that same sharpness, especially to those he loves. As someone who grew up in New York City, I'm well-trained in sarcasm, and this inquiry hit home for me.  This naturally leads us to a powerful discussion about the nature of...

This week, I am very excited to share a podcast that breaks tradition with our normal format.   Normally, I answer questions from people in recovery all over the world. This episode features an interview I conducted with Zach Bush, MD., from the recent Life Beyond Addiction Conference.  Zach is a renowned, multi-disciplinary physician of internal medicine, endocrinology, and hospice care, as well as an internationally recognized educator on the microbiome as it relates to human health, soil...

In this episode of In the Circle, we dive into a compelling discussion with Patrick, a dedicated individual in long-term recovery, who inquires: Should Purpose Guide Your Path When Helping Others? Patrick is at a crossroads in his service journey as he questions whether to pursue a conventional counseling career or continue his grassroots efforts of directly assisting people on the streets of San Francisco. Our discussion opens up a broader exploration of what it means to follow one's...