Positive Sobriety Podcast

Episode 177 • Meeting People Where They Are: Addiction, Faith, and Healing -- with Dr. Lipi Roy

In this deeply moving episode of the Positive Sobriety Podcast, Nate Larkin and David Hampton welcome Dr. Lipi Roy, an internal medicine and addiction medicine physician and national voice for compassionate, evidence-based addiction care.

 

The episode opens with a heartfelt remembrance of Nancy Priya, whose quiet faithfulness and grace shaped the early recovery journeys of many. That spirit of compassion carries into a wide-ranging conversation about addiction, trauma, mental health, and spirituality.

 

Dr. Roy explains why addiction affects people across all backgrounds and why it so often co-occurs with mental health conditions. She challenges stigma by reframing addiction as a chronic disease rather than a moral failure, and she highlights the importance of harm reduction, individualized treatment, and evidence-based care.

 

A central focus of the discussion is spirituality—how faith and spiritual practices can support recovery by fostering meaning, connection, and hope, but can also hinder healing when framed through shame or rigid dogma. This episode offers a hopeful, humane vision of recovery grounded in science, compassion, and dignity.

 

Key Topics Covered:

• Addiction as a chronic disease, not a moral failing

• Trauma and mental health in addiction

• Dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders

• Harm reduction and individualized care

• The role of spirituality and faith in recovery

• Breaking stigma and shame

• Evidence-based treatment and emerging research

• Why connection is central to healing

 

Notable Quotes:

“The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety — it’s connection.” — Dr. Lipi Roy

“Addiction is a chronic disease of the brain, not a moral failure.” — Dr. Lipi Roy

“Recovery is not linear. It’s a process that ebbs and flows.” — Dr. Lipi Roy

“I only get to keep my freedom by giving it away.” — Nate Larkin

 

About the Guest:

Dr. Lipi Roy is an internal medicine and addiction medicine physician, speaker, and writer. She has worked in hospitals, homeless health programs, jails, and academic medicine, and is a leading advocate for trauma-informed, compassionate addiction care.

 

Resources:

YouTube: Health, Humor & Harmony (search “Dr. Lipi Roy”)

Instagram / TikTok: @LipiRoyMD

Website: https://SitaMedLLC.com

Episode 175 • Access, Community, and the Future of Addiction Recovery - with Cooper Zelnick

In this episode of the Positive Sobriety Podcast, Nate Larkin and David Hampton explore what happens after treatment—and why long-term recovery depends on more than good intentions and a discharge binder.

They are joined by Cooper Zelnick, CEO of Groups Recover Together, a national provider of outpatient addiction treatment that combines medication-assisted treatment, group therapy, and wraparound community support. Cooper shares his own recovery story, getting sober at age 22, and reflects on why so many people succeed in treatment but struggle once they return home.

Together, the conversation examines the limits of short-term, acute care and the urgent need for accessible, community-based recovery models—especially in rural and underserved areas.

Key Topics Covered:

• Recovery as a long-term process

• The aftercare gap

• Group-based recovery and peer support

• Medication-assisted treatment

• Harm reduction vs. zero-tolerance

• Trauma-informed, evidence-based care

• Access to treatment in rural communities

• Breaking secrecy and shame

Notable Quotes:

“Recovery is a collaborative exercise. Nobody recovers alone.” — Nate Larkin

“If addiction runs in social circles, recovery can too.” — Cooper Zelnick

“You can find in recovery what you were looking for in addiction.” — Cooper Zelnick

“The first step isn’t treatment. The first step is telling somebody.” — Cooper Zelnick

 

Guest Bio:

Cooper Zelnick is the CEO of Groups Recover Together, a national organization providing outpatient treatment for substance use disorders through medication-assisted treatment, group therapy, and community-based support.

Resources:

Website: https://joingroups.com

Phone: 888-581-7233

Episode 176 • Stress, Alcohol, and the Biology of Craving -- with Dr. Joseph Volpicelli

In this episode of the Positive Sobriety Podcast, Nate Larkin and David Hampton reflect on how grief, health challenges, and prolonged stress can quietly reopen the door to alcohol. Drawing from their own recent experiences, they explore why alcohol feels regulating in the moment—but ultimately increases anxiety and emotional strain.

They are joined by Dr. Joseph Volpicelli, Executive Director of the Institute for Addiction Medicine, who explains the biological connection between stress, alcohol use, and the brain’s opioid system. Dr. Volpicelli shares how uncontrollable stress can increase drinking, why some people are more biologically vulnerable than others, and how medications like naltrexone can help reduce cravings by blocking alcohol’s rewarding effects.

This episode blends personal honesty with neuroscience, offering hope and clarity for anyone seeking a positive, sustainable path to sobriety.

Episode 174 • How Science and Kindness Help People Change, with Dr. Carrie Wilkens

This deeply compassionate episode features Dr. Carrie Wilkens, co-founder of the Center for Motivation and Change (CMC) and co-author of Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Wilkens offers a fresh, evidence-based approach to helping families support loved ones with substance use challenges. She debunks myths like “hitting rock bottom” and highlights the power of CRAFT and the Invitation to Change (ITC) approach, combining science with empathy to promote real, sustainable change.

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Key Takeaways

• CRAFT vs. Traditional Methods

  Dr. Wilkens explains how Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) empowers families to influence change through positive reinforcement and effective communication—far outperforming confrontational or 12-step-only approaches. Research shows CRAFT engages 65–75% of unmotivated loved ones in treatment .

• Invitation to Change (ITC)

  Developed by CMC:Foundation for Change, ITC blends CRAFT, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). It’s structured yet compassionate—and designed for both professionals and families .

• Breaking Stigma with Science & Kindness

  Dr. Wilkens underscores her mission at CMC: “Science plus kindness equals change,” seeking to dismantle stigma while grounding strategies in rigorous evidence .

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Resources Mentioned in the Episode

• **Invitation to Change (ITC) Training (16-hour virtual workshop)**

  A structured training in ITC for professionals—offered by CMC: Foundation for Change

  → Register or Learn More

• **Rethinking Rock Bottom**

  A 6-part CMC-hosted podcast series co-led by Dr. Carrie Wilkens and Rev. Jan Brown, exploring the impact of stigma and offering empathetic support to families

  → Listen or Learn More

• **Center for Motivation & Change (CMC)**

  Dr. Wilkens’s organization offering a range of resources, including books, workbooks, trainings, and support services

  → Visit CMC

• Books by Dr. Carrie Wilkens

  • Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change

  • The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends

 

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Quote Highlight

“Families don’t have to choose between enabling or giving up. With science and compassion on your side, you can be the bridge—not the barrier—to change.” — Dr. Carrie Wilkens

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Connect & Learn More

• Dr. Carrie Wilkens & CMC: motivationandchange.com

• Invitation to Change Training: Register/Register Info

• Rethinking Rock Bottom Podcast: Listen Here

• Books by Dr. Wilkens: Beyond Addiction and Beyond Addiction Workbook

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Episode 173 • From Chaos to Clarity with Dr. Samantha Harte

In this soul-stirring episode of the Positive Sobriety Podcast, co-hosts welcome Dr. Samantha Blake Harte—physician, author, podcast host, and trauma survivor—whose multidisciplinary background and unflinching honesty bring a refreshing depth to the conversation about addiction and recovery.

 

Dr. Harte shares the inspiration behind her groundbreaking book, Breaking The Circuit: How To Rewire Your Mind for Hope, Resilience and Joy in the Face of Trauma. Drawing from her personal journey through childhood trauma, betrayal, addiction, and loss, she speaks candidly about the emotional and neurological circuits that keep us stuck—and how we can break free.

 

With the grace of a healer and the grit of a survivor, Dr. Harte opens up about:

• Navigating life with a mother struggling with mental illness

• The hidden patterns of addiction and how they resurface in recovery

• Her path to becoming a sober mom of two and a voice for truth in healing

• Why speaking the unspoken truths of addiction is essential for true transformation

 

The conversation also highlights Dr. Harte’s podcast, The Truth About Addiction, where she tackles myths, shame, and the emotional residue of trauma in a no-holds-barred format.

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🔑 Key Takeaways

• Addiction isn’t just about substances—it’s a wiring issue.

  Dr. Harte explains how our nervous system can get stuck in loops of survival and how we can begin the hard but hopeful work of rewiring.

• Telling the truth is healing.

  By speaking her truth, Dr. Harte invites others to step out of secrecy and into a space of shared worthiness.

• Sobriety is a whole-body, whole-life transformation.

  Through her work in physical therapy, coaching, and trauma-informed practices, she emphasizes the importance of healing both physically and emotionally.

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📚 Learn More About Dr. Harte

• Book: Breaking The Circuit

• Podcast: The Truth About Addiction

• Website & Retreats: samanthaharte.com

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💬 Quote from the Episode

 

“Addiction isn’t just about using. It’s about what we’re trying not to feel. And healing means getting honest with ourselves and each other.” — Dr. Samantha Harte

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Episode 172 • When Your Child is Addicted, with Kim Humphrey

An illuminating conversation with Kim Humphrey, Executive Director and CEO of PAL (Parents of Addicted Loved Ones).

Episode 170 • No More Pretending -- an Open Conversation with Lara Love Hardin

An inspiring conversation with recovering addict, prison reform advocate, and best-selling author Lara Love Hardin, whose memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love, is a 2024 Oprah Book Club pick and a New York Times bestseller. 

Episode 169 • Even Celebrities Need Community, with Tom Farley

A candid conversation with Tom Farley, brother of the late Chris Farley and longtime advocate for mental health and addiction recovery. Tom has recently joined as one of the key leaders of Recovery.com, a network of 15,000+ treatment centers, helping others navigate their paths toward sobriety and wellness.

Episode 168 • Healing Addiction in Family Practice, with Dr. Christopher Schenewerk

What happens when a physician gets treatment for addiction? In the case of Dr. Christopher Schenewerk, his practice expands as he talks about his experience and creates new opportunities for recovery.

Episode 167 • Rebuilding Relationships with Janice Johnson Dowd

An entertaining and inspiring conversation with Janice Johnson Dowd, author of Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery: How to Connect with Family and Friends After Active Alcoholism and Addiction.