<![CDATA[Recovery Reform: Navigating Harm Reduction, Recovery, and Drug Policy]]>Recovery Reform endeavors to break the stigma around substance use and explore recovery beyond traditional narratives. Hosted by McCauley Sexton, founder and Executive Director of Recovery Reform and a person with lived and living experience of substance use, and Dr. Taylor Nichols, an emergency medicine and addiction medicine physician, the Recovery Reform podcast dives into conversations with people with lived experience, experts in harm reduction and substance use treatment, and leaders in drug policy.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:43:36 GMTThu, 01 Oct 2026 17:13:24 GMT60Dr. Taylor Nichols and McCauley Sexton<p>Recovery Reform endeavors to break the stigma around substance use and explore recovery beyond traditional narratives. Hosted by McCauley Sexton, founder and Executive Director of Recovery Reform and a person with lived and living experience of substance use, and Dr. Taylor Nichols, an emergency medicine and addiction medicine physician, the Recovery Reform podcast dives into conversations with people with lived experience, experts in harm reduction and substance use treatment, and leaders in drug policy.</p>episodicDr. Taylor Nichols and McCauley Sextonrecoveryreformpodcast@gmail.comyes<![CDATA[Rachel Shuster on Lived Experience, Addictions Nursing, and Changing the Narrative]]>Rachel Shuster is a registered nurse and a person in recovery from opioid use disorder. As a high-achieving high schooler and college student, she never imagined that she would fall victim to having a substance use disorder. 

Recognizing that secrets die in the light, she is passionate about sharing her story, but is also interested in advocacy, evidence-based practice, harm reduction, and policy change within the addiction treatment field.

Rachel graduated from Waynesburg University in 2012 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After graduating, Rachel worked in critical care for over 4 years prior to her switching specialties to addictions nursing following her personal journey through addiction to recovery. Academic papers: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/inm.70024 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33647158/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nurserachelshuster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsrachelshuster/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@mrsrachelshuster Twitter / X: https://x.com/mynameisrachel

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/rachel-shuster-on-lived-experience-addictions-nursing-and-changing-the-narrative/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/b8332954-3207-3ba2-8a31-4cc97889640dThu, 06 Nov 2025 00:32:53 GMT<p>Rachel Shuster is a registered nurse and a person in recovery from opioid use disorder. As a high-achieving high schooler and college student, she never imagined that she would fall victim to having a substance use disorder. </p> <p>Recognizing that secrets die in the light, she is passionate about sharing her story, but is also interested in advocacy, evidence-based practice, harm reduction, and policy change within the addiction treatment field.</p> <p>Rachel graduated from Waynesburg University in 2012 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After graduating, Rachel worked in critical care for over 4 years prior to her switching specialties to addictions nursing following her personal journey through addiction to recovery. Academic papers: <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/inm.70024" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/inm.70024</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33647158/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33647158/ </a> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nurserachelshuster" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nurserachelshuster</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mrsrachelshuster/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/mrsrachelshuster/ </a> Threads: <a href="https://www.threads.com/@mrsrachelshuster" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.threads.com/@mrsrachelshuster </a> Twitter / X: <a href="https://x.com/mynameisrachel" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://x.com/mynameisrachel</a></p> yes01:00:1826Rachel Shuster on Lived Experience, Addictions Nursing, and Changing the Narrativefull<![CDATA[Interviewing McCauley Sexton - Part 2]]>Our hosts flip roles, and Dr. Taylor Nichols interviews co-host McCauley Sexton about his childhood, his family history of substance use, his lived experience with having a substance use disorder and in residential treatment, and how he feels he has grown and changed his perspective on harm reduction and the need to reform recovery spaces.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-5-mccauley-sexton-interview-part-2/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/3ca75e3a-35ff-33e7-a54f-df95691cd248Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:26:46 GMT<p>Our hosts flip roles, and Dr. Taylor Nichols interviews co-host McCauley Sexton about his childhood, his family history of substance use, his lived experience with having a substance use disorder and in residential treatment, and how he feels he has grown and changed his perspective on harm reduction and the need to reform recovery spaces.</p> yes01:00:2515Interviewing McCauley Sexton - Part 2full<![CDATA[Eddie Krumpotich on Harm Reduction and Drug Policy Reform]]>Dr. Taylor Nichols and McCauley Sexton interview Eddie Krumpotich, a person with lived experience, former teacher of the year, and an expert in substance use and harm reduction. He has consulted with two of the nations largest harm reduction organizations to help write and advocate for six substance use, harm reduction, and mental health bills in the states of Nebraska, Minnesota, and South Dakota.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-6-eddie-krumpotich-on-harm-reduction-and-drug-policy-reform/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/9b889a6e-e426-3279-a6b0-3f37dbf2aab7Wed, 06 Mar 2024 19:37:55 GMT<p>Dr. Taylor Nichols and McCauley Sexton interview Eddie Krumpotich, a person with lived experience, former teacher of the year, and an expert in substance use and harm reduction. He has consulted with two of the nations largest harm reduction organizations to help write and advocate for six substance use, harm reduction, and mental health bills in the states of Nebraska, Minnesota, and South Dakota.</p> yes00:58:386Eddie Krumpotich on Harm Reduction and Drug Policy Reformfull<![CDATA[Interviewing McCauley Sexton - Part 1]]>Our hosts flip roles, and Dr. Taylor Nichols interviews co-host McCauley Sexton about his childhood, his family history of substance use, his lived experience with having a substance use disorder and in residential treatment, and how he feels he has grown and changed his perspective on harm reduction and the need to reform recovery spaces.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-4-mccauley-sexton-interview-part-1/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/2f31d190-42a1-32e9-8d95-b36c3d5e50a4Wed, 14 Feb 2024 21:45:33 GMT<p>Our hosts flip roles, and Dr. Taylor Nichols interviews co-host McCauley Sexton about his childhood, his family history of substance use, his lived experience with having a substance use disorder and in residential treatment, and how he feels he has grown and changed his perspective on harm reduction and the need to reform recovery spaces.</p> yes00:59:5814Interviewing McCauley Sexton - Part 1full<![CDATA[Tara Grace on her path to harm reduction and alternative recovery]]>Tara Grace (Burn the Stigma Tara) became a harm reductionist out of necessity after seeing how the limitations of a 12 step recovery model was harming her and her community. She is a vocal advocate for harm reduction and recovering out loud, brining her story and harm reduction education to the community.

 

You can find Tara at @BurnTheStigma across social media.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/tara-grace-on-her-path-to-harm-reduction-and-alternative-recovery/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/02e10c7a-a8be-3962-afb1-e013caaf4548Thu, 27 Jun 2024 14:58:14 GMT<p>Tara Grace (Burn the Stigma Tara) became a harm reductionist out of necessity after seeing how the limitations of a 12 step recovery model was harming her and her community. She is a vocal advocate for harm reduction and recovering out loud, brining her story and harm reduction education to the community.</p> <p> </p> <p>You can find Tara at @BurnTheStigma across social media.</p> yes01:04:399Tara Grace on her path to harm reduction and alternative recoveryfull<![CDATA[Recovery Reform: An Introduction]]>McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols bring you Recovery Reform, a podcast focused on changing the narrative around substance use disorders, recovery, and harm reduction, bringing you clinical insights and alternative recovery perspectives.

The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are our own and do not represent that of our employers. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/recovery-reform-an-introduction/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/884e48c3-69da-3f3c-974c-1f570cb74095Sun, 24 Dec 2023 07:04:51 GMT<p>McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols bring you Recovery Reform, a podcast focused on changing the narrative around substance use disorders, recovery, and harm reduction, bringing you clinical insights and alternative recovery perspectives.</p> <p>The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are our own and do not represent that of our employers. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.</p> no00:14:0511Recovery Reform: An Introductionfull<![CDATA[Stigma in Healthcare and Recovery]]>Stigma: a set of negative attitudes, prejudices, or false or unfair beliefs that a society or group of people hold about specific traits or people. The negative attitudes held against people people who use drugs or people with substance use disorders both within healthcare and within recovery spaces cause harm to people who use drugs or are seeking recovery. As a society, we have the power to change that stigma, and we should.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/stigma-in-healthcare-and-recovery/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/c908cd19-05ac-3ebc-8b09-1a8c8480487aTue, 04 Mar 2025 00:33:07 GMT<p>Stigma: a set of negative attitudes, prejudices, or false or unfair beliefs that a society or group of people hold about specific traits or people. The negative attitudes held against people people who use drugs or people with substance use disorders both within healthcare and within recovery spaces cause harm to people who use drugs or are seeking recovery. As a society, we have the power to change that stigma, and we should.</p> yes01:04:4218Stigma in Healthcare and Recoveryfull<![CDATA[Sarah Laurel of Savage Sisters Recovery on finding and fighting for Harm Reduction]]>Sarah Laurel turned her traumatic experiences from substance use disorder and justice involvement into a powerful movement for harm reduction and the empowerment of people experiencing harms from substance use and homelessness.

She co-founded Savage Sisters Recovery initially as a residential treatment facility, and along the way went through her own process of finding harm reduction and unlearning the shame and stigma that had become so ingrained within society and in recovery spaces.

Through steady organic growth, she turned the non-profit into a large scale organization providing trauma-informed recovery housing, mobile harm reduction outreach, drug testing, wound care, and nationwide trainings. Operating in her hometown of Philadelphia, she and her team are operating in the region hardest hit by the increasingly dangerous drug supply, and leading the way through radial empathy and compassion.

Check out Savage Sisters at: https://savagesisters.org/

Find Savage Sisters on social media at:

https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesistersnonprofit

https://www.youtube.com/@savagesisters9069

 

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/sarah-laurel-of-savage-sisters-recovery-on-finding-and-fighting-for-harm-reduction/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/c1ce66ec-debf-3662-84bb-8ec16fdb7acaTue, 13 Aug 2024 08:48:52 GMT<p>Sarah Laurel turned her traumatic experiences from substance use disorder and justice involvement into a powerful movement for harm reduction and the empowerment of people experiencing harms from substance use and homelessness. </p> <p>She co-founded Savage Sisters Recovery initially as a residential treatment facility, and along the way went through her own process of finding harm reduction and unlearning the shame and stigma that had become so ingrained within society and in recovery spaces. </p> <p>Through steady organic growth, she turned the non-profit into a large scale organization providing trauma-informed recovery housing, mobile harm reduction outreach, drug testing, wound care, and nationwide trainings. Operating in her hometown of Philadelphia, she and her team are operating in the region hardest hit by the increasingly dangerous drug supply, and leading the way through radial empathy and compassion. </p> <p>Check out Savage Sisters at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUtuSXROYThmUmczUVJYbFNUdkJCR3JvWUJEZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsLVJCRFFSUURBMGJVMmszeGwzcGtqMkc3a181N1BUZ0VvWWpLMVdwY2ZQdWRDQmFWNWVEZFQ1V2M5d2FwZkFRREs4ci1Gald2MFREWFpNRlRub3FwZGZEUHl1ai1FYVNjcllFekI3NllvNlprd2FvYw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fsavagesisters.org%2F&amp;v=fI-xIhJREiY" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://savagesisters.org/</a></p> <p>Find Savage Sisters on social media at: </p> <p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesistersnonprofit" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesistersnonprofit</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@savagesisters9069" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/@savagesisters9069</a></p> <p> </p> yes01:06:4311Sarah Laurel of Savage Sisters Recovery on finding and fighting for Harm Reductionfull<![CDATA[Chad Sabora on the state of harm reduction and drug policy]]>Chad Sabora is a former lawyer with lived experience of drug use and a long-time grassroots harm reduction advocate turned subject matter expert. Starting his journey under the mentorship of some of the harm reduction movement's founders, Chad helped create underground naloxone distribution networks before it was legally sanctioned across the country. Chad embodied the spirit of one of his role models, Joe Strummer who said: ‘The future is unwritten’ because at that time nobody knew naloxone would gain such acceptance in this country, but the people that needed it, needed it now. He also pioneered the first syringe access programs in cities like St. Louis and regions such as South Florida. As the innovator of the hybrid recovery community center model, which integrates harm reduction with traditional recovery services, Chad has been at the forefront of advancing progressive drug policy. His work has earned him national recognition, including an Emmy, and he has been featured on the front page of The New York Times. Most recently, Chad served on the committee that authored the groundbreaking Harm Reduction Framework for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Today, he joins us to share his journey and perspectives and his thoughts on the current state of harm reduction.

You can find Chad on TikTok at:   / chadsabora  

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/chad-sabora-on-the-state-of-harm-reduction-and-drug-policy/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/dcdcf29d-97ac-3c06-bc2f-74a09a6752ccFri, 27 Sep 2024 21:49:01 GMT<p>Chad Sabora is a former lawyer with lived experience of drug use and a long-time grassroots harm reduction advocate turned subject matter expert. Starting his journey under the mentorship of some of the harm reduction movement's founders, Chad helped create underground naloxone distribution networks before it was legally sanctioned across the country. Chad embodied the spirit of one of his role models, Joe Strummer who said: ‘The future is unwritten’ because at that time nobody knew naloxone would gain such acceptance in this country, but the people that needed it, needed it now. He also pioneered the first syringe access programs in cities like St. Louis and regions such as South Florida. As the innovator of the hybrid recovery community center model, which integrates harm reduction with traditional recovery services, Chad has been at the forefront of advancing progressive drug policy. His work has earned him national recognition, including an Emmy, and he has been featured on the front page of The New York Times. Most recently, Chad served on the committee that authored the groundbreaking Harm Reduction Framework for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Today, he joins us to share his journey and perspectives and his thoughts on the current state of harm reduction.</p> <p>You can find Chad on TikTok at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbks0b25uTFhwaHlrOGhTaWF4cERsam94dUtPZ3xBQ3Jtc0trRkJIal9nMXEwb2xrdTdfa05oVFJYWG1IV003SlNLeGhROHlKMzNwN2JPOTZMNHJ6ejJEby1MdDExM3REU25mVDI5MGxpdFlpa3R4WUhsQVF4bnk5ZDd4SDB1d1F1RVFYUS1UUS1kTnI3RGg5dnhWTQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40chadsabora&amp;v=3JNtCgAP6WU" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">  / chadsabora  </a></p> yes00:51:1012Chad Sabora on the state of harm reduction and drug policyfull<![CDATA[Mary Beth O'Connor on finding alternative recovery to becoming a Judge]]>Mary Beth O'Connor is the author of the book "From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction." She began her recovery from methamphetamine use disorder, abuse, trauma, and anxiety in 1994. She never found traditional recovery spaces such as step-based recovery programs helpful to her, and found alternative recovery spaces early on.

Six years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended UC Berkeley School of Law. She worked at a large firm, then litigated class action suits for the federal government. In 2014, she was appointed a federal Administrative Law Judge, a position from which she retired early in 2020.

Mary Beth is now a Director for She Recovers Foundation and for LifeRing Secular Recovery. She also is on the Advisory Council for The Hyer Calling Foundation. She regularly speaks on behalf of these organizations and about multiple paths to recovery..

She develops relationships with other organizations, such as Women for Sobriety and trains attorneys, judges, and medical professionals. Mary Beth regularly writes opinion pieces which have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Recovery Today, and other publications. Her memoir writings have been published in Memoir Magazine, Awakenings, and Ravens Perch, among others. Website: https://junkietojudge.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-beth-o-connor-8aaa4b121/

Bluesky: https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/marybethoconnor.bsky.social

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/mary-beth-oconnor-on-finding-alternative-recovery/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/a884a789-3de7-3e79-b536-c42d8f73a598Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:00:51 GMT<p>Mary Beth O'Connor is the author of the book "<a href="https://www.sandmanbooks.com/book/9780757324567?srsltid=AfmBOor4eKdl1wUJJILu0beU0PGiKsd9nfpV-o4pcBTCRFZswsdcZUtS" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction</a>." She began her recovery from methamphetamine use disorder, abuse, trauma, and anxiety in 1994. She never found traditional recovery spaces such as step-based recovery programs helpful to her, and found alternative recovery spaces early on.</p> <p>Six years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended UC Berkeley School of Law. She worked at a large firm, then litigated class action suits for the federal government. In 2014, she was appointed a federal Administrative Law Judge, a position from which she retired early in 2020.</p> <p>Mary Beth is now a Director for She Recovers Foundation and for LifeRing Secular Recovery. She also is on the Advisory Council for The Hyer Calling Foundation. She regularly speaks on behalf of these organizations and about multiple paths to recovery..</p> <p>She develops relationships with other organizations, such as Women for Sobriety and trains attorneys, judges, and medical professionals. Mary Beth regularly writes opinion pieces which have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Recovery Today, and other publications. Her memoir writings have been published in Memoir Magazine, Awakenings, and Ravens Perch, among others. Website: <a href="https://junkietojudge.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://junkietojudge.com/</a></p> <p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-beth-o-connor-8aaa4b121/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-beth-o-connor-8aaa4b121/</a></p> <p>Bluesky: <a href="https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/marybethoconnor.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/marybethoconnor.bsky.social</a></p> yes00:57:2124Mary Beth O'Connor on finding alternative recovery to becoming a Judgefull<![CDATA[Dee-Dee Stout on Harm Reduction Therapy]]>Harm reduction is more than "needles and Narcan" and Dee-Dee Stout is the perfect person to talk to about the evolution of harm reduction therapy. Through her own training and her experience as a person who used drugs, Dee Dee has been at the forefront of studying and teaching about harm reduction based modalities of treatment. Dee-Dee has a degrees in Psychology, Human Sexuality, and Business Management as well as an interdisciplinary Master’s degree in Health Counseling for Special Populations. For nearly 25 years, Dee-Dee has been a member of the international Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and a founding member of the California Association of Harm Reduction Therapists. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at St. Mary’s College, teaching courses in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed work, and substance use disorders. She regularly conducts trainings in client-centered approaches such as motivational interviewing, Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, and Solution Focused Therapy, and is additionally certified in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Tapping, and Brainspotting. Check out the recently released second edition of her groundbreaking book “Coming to Harm Reduction Kicking & Screaming: Stories of Radically Loving People Who Use Drugs.”

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/dee-dee-stout-on-harm-reduction-therapy/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/53d55dcc-ee9a-3a4e-a2b7-faff992a7ec7Thu, 29 May 2025 07:52:45 GMT<p>Harm reduction is more than "needles and Narcan" and Dee-Dee Stout is the perfect person to talk to about the evolution of harm reduction therapy. Through her own training and her experience as a person who used drugs, Dee Dee has been at the forefront of studying and teaching about harm reduction based modalities of treatment. Dee-Dee has a degrees in Psychology, Human Sexuality, and Business Management as well as an interdisciplinary Master’s degree in Health Counseling for Special Populations. For nearly 25 years, Dee-Dee has been a member of the international Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and a founding member of the California Association of Harm Reduction Therapists. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at St. Mary’s College, teaching courses in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed work, and substance use disorders. She regularly conducts trainings in client-centered approaches such as motivational interviewing, Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, and Solution Focused Therapy, and is additionally certified in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Tapping, and Brainspotting. Check out the recently released second edition of her groundbreaking book “<a href="https://www.deedeestoutconsulting.com/c%C3%B3pia-about" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Coming to Harm Reduction Kicking &amp; Screaming: Stories of Radically Loving People Who Use Drugs</a>.”</p> yes01:13:3220Dee-Dee Stout on Harm Reduction Therapyfull<![CDATA[Kratom: Breaking Down The Plant from The Extracts]]>Our co-hosts McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols talk about "Kratom" - both the plant and the extracts such as "7-OH" or 7-Hydroxymitragynine - as well as how the active alkaloids function in your body, including binding to opioid receptors, and how to be mindful about understanding and using unregulated substances.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/kratom-breaking-down-the-plant-from-the-extracts/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/6f196735-e6a5-33ff-b01a-a218a2bd9c3fFri, 27 Jun 2025 06:10:03 GMT<p>Our co-hosts McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols talk about "Kratom" - both the plant and the extracts such as "7-OH" or 7-Hydroxymitragynine - as well as how the active alkaloids function in your body, including binding to opioid receptors, and how to be mindful about understanding and using unregulated substances.</p> yes00:37:3322Kratom: Breaking Down The Plant from The Extractsfull<![CDATA[Viewing recovery through a harm reduction lens]]>Our co-hosts McCauley Sexton and Taylor Nichols, MD break down the term "recovery" to better understand the meaning of recovery from substance use disorders through a harm reduction framework and how we can reclaim the term recovery from the War on Drugs.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/mccauley-sexton-and-dr-taylor-nichols-on-viewing-recovery-through-harm-reduction/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/ba643c21-1929-363e-afe7-ad529ae114c2Fri, 01 Nov 2024 22:19:01 GMT<p>Our co-hosts McCauley Sexton and Taylor Nichols, MD break down the term "recovery" to better understand the meaning of recovery from substance use disorders through a harm reduction framework and how we can reclaim the term recovery from the War on Drugs.</p> yes00:59:4315Viewing recovery through a harm reduction lensfull<![CDATA[Interviewing Dr. Nichols - Part 2]]>In the second of two episodes, McCauley Sexton interviews Dr. Taylor Nichols on his path to medicine and how his personal experience with family connections to substance use disorders in combination with his emergency medicine training led him to an improved understanding of harm reduction and eventually to become board-certified in addiction medicine.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-3-interviewing-dr-nichols-part-2/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/fd1fd7f4-9eb4-3212-89ca-d5baf41cc6e4Fri, 09 Feb 2024 08:13:48 GMT<p>In the second of two episodes, McCauley Sexton interviews Dr. Taylor Nichols on his path to medicine and how his personal experience with family connections to substance use disorders in combination with his emergency medicine training led him to an improved understanding of harm reduction and eventually to become board-certified in addiction medicine.</p> yes01:02:2613Interviewing Dr. Nichols - Part 2full<![CDATA[Kirsten - AKA Sobriety Bestie - on Deconstructing AA]]>Kirsten - AKA Sobriety Bestie - last had an alcoholic drink in 2009, then spent over a decade in AA. She left AA in 2020 and began doing the work of unlearning and deconstructing AA dogma, told that she was powerless, "diseased" or forever broken. Now she is dedicated to telling the truth about recovery and about how to rebuild after leaving AA.

 

She created her YouTube channel and podcast to be the voice, support, and truth that she felt that she needed in her early recovery and when she was looking to leave AA.

 

Website = https://www.sobrietybestie.com/messages/15-years-of-addiction-recovery-advice-in-41-minutes

YouTube = https://www.youtube.com/sobrietybestie

Apple Podcast = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sobriety-bestie-podcast/id1750328642

Spotify Podcast = https://open.spotify.com/show/48bBadXm0tgvgbGzr6pDuF

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/sobrietybestie/

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/kirsten-aka-sobriety-bestie-on-deconstructing-aa/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/a1c2381d-87c8-300b-873e-e3ce3407c1e4Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:59:07 GMT<p>Kirsten - AKA Sobriety Bestie - last had an alcoholic drink in 2009, then spent over a decade in AA. She left AA in 2020 and began doing the work of unlearning and deconstructing AA dogma, told that she was powerless, "diseased" or forever broken. Now she is dedicated to telling the truth about recovery and about how to rebuild after leaving AA.</p> <p> </p> <p>She created her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/sobrietybestie" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">YouTube channel</a> and podcast to be the voice, support, and truth that she felt that she needed in her early recovery and when she was looking to leave AA.</p> <p> </p> <p>Website = <a href="https://www.sobrietybestie.com/messages/15-years-of-addiction-recovery-advice-in-41-minutes" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.sobrietybestie.com/messages/15-years-of-addiction-recovery-advice-in-41-minutes</a></p> <p> YouTube = <a href="https://www.youtube.com/sobrietybestie" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/sobrietybestie</a></p> <p>Apple Podcast = <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sobriety-bestie-podcast/id1750328642" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sobriety-bestie-podcast/id1750328642</a></p> <p>Spotify Podcast = <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/48bBadXm0tgvgbGzr6pDuF" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/show/48bBadXm0tgvgbGzr6pDuF</a></p> <p>Instagram = <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sobrietybestie/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/sobrietybestie/</a></p> yes01:04:0225Kirsten - AKA Sobriety Bestie - on Deconstructing AAfull<![CDATA[Brandi Mac, NP on her journey beyond the stigma]]>Brandi Mac, NP is a person who dropped out of high school and ended up becoming an ICU nurse practitioner.

She joins McCauley Sexton and Taylor Nichols, MD on the Recovery Reform podcast to talk about her journey to love, acceptance, and harm reduction as the daughter of someone with substance use disorder and who has documented her daughter's journey through active use, treatment trauma, and into remission online along with her own growth and understanding.

You can find her on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram as @the_original_brandi_mac

You can find her website at https://www.brandimac.com/about

You can contact her at Brandimac.creator@gmail.com

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/brandi-mac-np-on-her-journey-beyond-the-stigma/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/cd926cb3-8733-3bcc-aff9-ca434a81de67Tue, 23 Jul 2024 08:24:47 GMT<p>Brandi Mac, NP is a person who dropped out of high school and ended up becoming an ICU nurse practitioner. </p> <p>She joins McCauley Sexton and Taylor Nichols, MD on the Recovery Reform podcast to talk about her journey to love, acceptance, and harm reduction as the daughter of someone with substance use disorder and who has documented her daughter's journey through active use, treatment trauma, and into remission online along with her own growth and understanding.</p> <p>You can find her on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram as @the_original_brandi_mac </p> <p>You can find her website at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3VXQlpqV215UXo3Z0kwMWgtUGNuUmpmdVNUUXxBQ3Jtc0ttMDFnWG5XcXQ0bVRzTldZYUFqTFlKblN6WXA4R1NPYVVPTzVteWp2MnEtdTd1VXhWQmgxQ3hCc2xtR25Jak5hd3I1YzkyVGcwd0Q2aGNmZ25BbllaUEhDTlZ5YXNQVVhQN2Q3R3JRNkgzS3gzMTJYaw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brandimac.com%2Fabout&amp;v=P04ms4oTQoU" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.brandimac.com/about</a></p> <p>You can contact her at <a href="mailto:Brandimac.creator@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Brandimac.creator@gmail.com</a></p> yes00:55:3710Brandi Mac, NP on her journey beyond the stigmafull<![CDATA[Stanton Peele on addiction, recovery, and breaking the disease model]]>Stanton Peele began working on Love and Addiction in 1970, which was then published in 1975. In these fifty years he has predicted a remarkable number of addiction trends. By now it is clear that the way in which Stanton has reframed addiction for the past four decades – sometimes facing extreme opposition – has been prescient. His central thesis has always been that addiction is not a consequence of taking drugs and drinking; rather, addiction arises from the way in which these and other compelling activities fit into people’s lives and meanings. You can find his books and his Life Process Program on his website at: https://peele.net/index.html You can find his YouTube on his Life Process Program at: https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeProcessProgram You can find him on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeprocessprogram

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/stanton-peele-on-addiction-recovery-and-breaking-the-disease-model/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/8aabb1ca-9978-3b50-bb07-12bffcfe95c5Sat, 26 Oct 2024 23:14:56 GMT<p>Stanton Peele began working on Love and Addiction in 1970, which was then published in 1975. In these fifty years he has predicted a remarkable number of addiction trends. By now it is clear that the way in which Stanton has reframed addiction for the past four decades – sometimes facing extreme opposition – has been prescient. His central thesis has always been that addiction is not a consequence of taking drugs and drinking; rather, addiction arises from the way in which these and other compelling activities fit into people’s lives and meanings. You can find his books and his Life Process Program on his website at: <a href="https://peele.net/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://peele.net/index.html </a> You can find his YouTube on his Life Process Program at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeProcessProgram" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeProcessProgram </a> You can find him on TikTok at: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeprocessprogram" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeprocessprogram</a></p> yes00:41:1214Stanton Peele on addiction, recovery, and breaking the disease modelfull<![CDATA[Recovery Reform 2024 Year in Review]]>McCauley and Dr. Taylor Nichols review their first year of Recovery Reform, what they have learned and unpacked over this past year, and what they are looking for coming up in the next year.

 

Thank you all for listening or watching, for doing the work of unpacking substance use disorders and recovery, and for being a part of the Recovery Reform community. We truly appreciate all of you.

 

If you haven't already, please subscribe and leave a comment. That's the best way for other people to find out about us, and to ensure that you get the newest episodes directly into your feed, and to let other folks know about Recovery Reform as well. Happy 2025!

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/recovery-reform-2024-year-in-review/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/9771622b-7c68-342a-a97c-9991bf529c3eTue, 07 Jan 2025 18:29:29 GMT<p>McCauley and Dr. Taylor Nichols review their first year of Recovery Reform, what they have learned and unpacked over this past year, and what they are looking for coming up in the next year. </p> <p> </p> <p>Thank you all for listening or watching, for doing the work of unpacking substance use disorders and recovery, and for being a part of the Recovery Reform community. We truly appreciate all of you. </p> <p> </p> <p>If you haven't already, please subscribe and leave a comment. That's the best way for other people to find out about us, and to ensure that you get the newest episodes directly into your feed, and to let other folks know about Recovery Reform as well. Happy 2025!</p> yes01:00:1217Recovery Reform 2024 Year in Reviewfull<![CDATA[Kristina Dennis, CAI on Ethical Interventions]]>Kristina Dennis is a life coach and relationship expert whose life’s work is to show people how to release events of their past so they can become free of limiting beliefs.

Kristina has worked as a coach since 1997 when she realized she had a gift for effectively helping others. As a Certified Addiction Interventionist (CAI), Kristina’s ethical and compassionate approach to individuals with trauma allows her to show people an effective path forward.

In this episode, McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols interview Kristina about ethical addiction interventions and recovery, and how she feels the addiction medicine and recovery communities can improve our work in this space.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/kristina/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/5ec3f6ea-d87b-35ec-967d-a558f06b84ffThu, 13 Jun 2024 18:13:31 GMT<p>Kristina Dennis is a life coach and relationship expert whose life’s work is to show people how to release events of their past so they can become free of limiting beliefs.</p> <p>Kristina has worked as a coach since 1997 when she realized she had a gift for effectively helping others. As a Certified Addiction Interventionist (CAI), Kristina’s ethical and compassionate approach to individuals with trauma allows her to show people an effective path forward.</p> <p>In this episode, McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols interview Kristina about ethical addiction interventions and recovery, and how she feels the addiction medicine and recovery communities can improve our work in this space.</p> yes01:02:448Kristina Dennis, CAI on Ethical Interventionsfull<![CDATA[Recovery Reform Reboot]]>After a long hiatus, Recovery Reform is back. In this reboot episode, Dr. Taylor Nichols and McCauley Sexton reconnect to talk about where they’ve been, what they’ve been learning, and why they felt it was time to bring Recovery Reform back. We discuss the projects, research, advocacy, and other work Taylor and McCauley have been pursuing during the break, along with the experiences and conversations that have shaped their perspectives on substance use, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and the systems surrounding them. This episode is a reset and a return to the conversations that started Recovery Reform: bringing together clinical expertise and lived experience to examine the multifaceted causes of substance use and the complex systems built around recovery. Expertise meets lived experience to unpack the multifaceted cause that is recovery reform.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/recovery-reform-reboot/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/8b886dca-4a0b-340c-b77e-79dda701bbd5Sun, 27 Sep 2026 19:32:49 GMT<p>After a long hiatus, Recovery Reform is back. In this reboot episode, Dr. Taylor Nichols and McCauley Sexton reconnect to talk about where they’ve been, what they’ve been learning, and why they felt it was time to bring Recovery Reform back. We discuss the projects, research, advocacy, and other work Taylor and McCauley have been pursuing during the break, along with the experiences and conversations that have shaped their perspectives on substance use, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and the systems surrounding them. This episode is a reset and a return to the conversations that started Recovery Reform: bringing together clinical expertise and lived experience to examine the multifaceted causes of substance use and the complex systems built around recovery. Expertise meets lived experience to unpack the multifaceted cause that is recovery reform.</p> yes00:23:2127Recovery Reform Rebootfull<![CDATA[Ketamine Treatment and Recovery]]>Dr. Taylor Nichols and McCauley Sexton discuss a controversial topic - the use of ketamine in medical treatment including for mental health, such as depression and OCD, and for substance use disorders and recovery, and McCauley discusses his personal experience having received ketamine infusions.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/ketamine-treatment-and-recovery/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/1cc58ccb-bb60-39a4-9d3d-a2dd1871d9e9Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:51:46 GMT<p>Dr. Taylor Nichols and McCauley Sexton discuss a controversial topic - the use of ketamine in medical treatment including for mental health, such as depression and OCD, and for substance use disorders and recovery, and McCauley discusses his personal experience having received ketamine infusions.</p> yes00:43:0816Ketamine Treatment and Recoveryfull<![CDATA[The Continuum of Care in Substance Use Treatment]]>Co-hosts McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols break down the "continuum of care" in substance use treatment and discuss their experiences from the patient and provider side of the continuum - from interventions to inpatient hospitalizations, residential treatment to outpatient or clinic based treatment. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and tell others about the podcast. We really appreciate all of your support!

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/the-continuum-of-care-in-substance-use-treatment/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e8ca6be1-e367-3af3-a867-1d7b871037c7Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:35:11 GMT<p>Co-hosts McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols break down the "continuum of care" in substance use treatment and discuss their experiences from the patient and provider side of the continuum - from interventions to inpatient hospitalizations, residential treatment to outpatient or clinic based treatment. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and tell others about the podcast. We really appreciate all of your support!</p> yes01:04:4321The Continuum of Care in Substance Use Treatmentfull<![CDATA[Patrick Doyle, LCSW on Family Addiction Coaching and the evolution of SUD treatment]]>Join us for a conversation with Patrick Doyle, LCSW on a conversation breaking down his own evolution in SUD treatment and his approach in coaching people who use drugs and their families to help improve their lives and address the problems that can be caused by substance use. As a licensed clinical social worker and Family Addiction Coach, Patrick Doyle has dedicated his life to helping families to navigate the challenging journey of addiction recovery. He is an expert guide with the latest approaches for families who refuse to give up on their loved one.   The core of what Patrick can do for you is to teach people how to solve problems caused by substance use, helping to guide people through actionable steps to improve their situation and their relationships. Patrick Doyle’s family coaching works best for someone who wants to learn communication, problem-solving, safe and responsible boundary-setting, and self-care skills to improve their relationship with a loved one struggling with a substance use disorder. Check out his website at: https://familyaddictioncoach.com/ He also hosts a podcast called "Family Addiction Coaching Podcast" which you can check out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-addiction-coaching/id1483344454

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/patrick-doyle-lcsw-on-family-addiction-coaching-and-the-evolution-of-sud-treatment/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/a8bd0586-45b3-323d-ae71-1601dac0e2f0Tue, 12 Aug 2025 22:56:46 GMT<p>Join us for a conversation with Patrick Doyle, LCSW on a conversation breaking down his own evolution in SUD treatment and his approach in coaching people who use drugs and their families to help improve their lives and address the problems that can be caused by substance use. As a licensed clinical social worker and Family Addiction Coach, Patrick Doyle has dedicated his life to helping families to navigate the challenging journey of addiction recovery. He is an expert guide with the latest approaches for families who refuse to give up on their loved one.   The core of what Patrick can do for you is to teach people how to solve problems caused by substance use, helping to guide people through actionable steps to improve their situation and their relationships. Patrick Doyle’s family coaching works best for someone who wants to learn communication, problem-solving, safe and responsible boundary-setting, and self-care skills to improve their relationship with a loved one struggling with a substance use disorder. Check out his website at: <a href="https://familyaddictioncoach.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://familyaddictioncoach.com/ </a> He also hosts a podcast called "Family Addiction Coaching Podcast" which you can check out here: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-addiction-coaching/id1483344454" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-addiction-coaching/id1483344454</a></p> yes01:01:4723Patrick Doyle, LCSW on Family Addiction Coaching and the evolution of SUD treatmentfull<![CDATA[Dr. Lance Dodes on understanding substance use and addictive behaviors]]>Lance Dodes, MD is a psychiatrist and a Training and Supervising Analyst Emeritus with the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. He is a retired assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and prior Director of the substance use treatment unit of Harvard’s McLean Hospital and the Alcoholism Treatment Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

 

He is the author or co-author of a number of journal articles and book chapters about addiction, including The Heart of Addiction (HarperCollins, 2002), The Sober Truth (Beacon Press, 2014), and Breaking Addiction: A 7-Step Handbook for Ending Any Addiction (HarperCollins, 2011). Dr. Dodes has been honored by the Division on Addictions at Harvard Medical School for "Distinguished Contribution" to the study and treatment of addictive behavior, and has been elected a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

 

You can find Dr. Dodes and his books at http://www.drlancedodes.com/

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/dr-lance-dodes-on-understanding-substance-use-and-addictive-behaviors/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/146376fa-5f94-36ac-8bc7-da4364d6bad7Sun, 13 Oct 2024 15:40:50 GMT<p>Lance Dodes, MD is a psychiatrist and a Training and Supervising Analyst Emeritus with the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. He is a retired assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and prior Director of the substance use treatment unit of Harvard’s McLean Hospital and the Alcoholism Treatment Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. </p> <p> </p> <p>He is the author or co-author of a number of journal articles and book chapters about addiction, including The Heart of Addiction (HarperCollins, 2002), The Sober Truth (Beacon Press, 2014), and Breaking Addiction: A 7-Step Handbook for Ending Any Addiction (HarperCollins, 2011). Dr. Dodes has been honored by the Division on Addictions at Harvard Medical School for "Distinguished Contribution" to the study and treatment of addictive behavior, and has been elected a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. </p> <p> </p> <p>You can find Dr. Dodes and his books at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUNzOUpLb0VkNy11V0U1NWNScTcyUmNHRWRzQXxBQ3Jtc0traTNUVDF4QTlwYkZJOWo4WDFKVGJJTXRRTFpRbmVVaXltRzBZcl81RklTQzJCMk0zVjYtbWRIT0xGU281c2Q4Ul9keXVvb0xpWlZYYTRfbkxXVVNkVjdUMWZaQzdDTDRMeHJOYnpIRTV4TWNOOTFyQQ&amp;q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drlancedodes.com%2F&amp;v=NVAu0PK9RwU" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">http://www.drlancedodes.com/</a></p> yes00:54:5113Dr. Lance Dodes on understanding substance use and addictive behaviorsfull<![CDATA[Jordan Scott on Unlearning and Advocacy]]>Jordan Scott is a person with lived experience with opioid use disorder and powerful harm reduction advocate and person who continues to uses drugs in her recovery. While initially sought recovery from her opioid use disorder through abstinence based culture, which helped her initially obtain abstinence, she has spent years unpacking and unlearning.

She joined McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols and to discuss her unlearning journey, how she came to harm reduction, and her advocacy work.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/interview-with-jordan-scott/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/938fc1d4-f4d5-3ccd-a08a-13fb29070949Tue, 25 Mar 2025 16:45:08 GMT<p>Jordan Scott is a person with lived experience with opioid use disorder and powerful harm reduction advocate and person who continues to uses drugs in her recovery. While initially sought recovery from her opioid use disorder through abstinence based culture, which helped her initially obtain abstinence, she has spent years unpacking and unlearning.</p> <p>She joined McCauley Sexton and Dr. Taylor Nichols and to discuss her unlearning journey, how she came to harm reduction, and her advocacy work.</p> yes01:02:3519Jordan Scott on Unlearning and Advocacyfull<![CDATA[Interviewing Dr. Nichols - Part 1]]>In the first of two episodes, McCauley Sexton interviews Dr. Taylor Nichols on his path to medicine and how his personal experience with family connections to substance use disorders in combination with his emergency medicine training led him to an improved understanding of harm reduction and eventually to become board-certified in addiction medicine.

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-2-interviewing-dr-nichols-part-1/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/cc2d4c40-15d6-36d4-93fe-7c777871ab2cWed, 07 Feb 2024 06:01:43 GMT<p>In the first of two episodes, McCauley Sexton interviews Dr. Taylor Nichols on his path to medicine and how his personal experience with family connections to substance use disorders in combination with his emergency medicine training led him to an improved understanding of harm reduction and eventually to become board-certified in addiction medicine.</p> yes00:58:2812Interviewing Dr. Nichols - Part 1full<![CDATA[Nicholas Crapser, PhD on Peer-Based Support Programs]]>Nicholas Crapser PhD, is the current Clinical Director of 4D Recovery in Portland, OR, which is a peer-based support for youth and adolescents seeking addiction recovery. He has a history of lived experience with substance use disorder and justice involvement, and has been a vocal advocate for improved treatment for patients with substance use disorders and re-entry services. He has an excellent TED Talk titled "The Three E's of Re-entry".

]]>https://recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-7-nicholas-crapser-phd-on-peer-based-support-programs/recoveryreformpodcast.podbean.com/7d8b677d-2eb4-3610-9c78-1cf269331213Wed, 05 Jun 2024 21:26:01 GMT<p>Nicholas Crapser PhD, is the current Clinical Director of 4D Recovery in Portland, OR, which is a peer-based support for youth and adolescents seeking addiction recovery. He has a history of lived experience with substance use disorder and justice involvement, and has been a vocal advocate for improved treatment for patients with substance use disorders and re-entry services. He has an excellent TED Talk titled "The Three E's of Re-entry".</p> yes00:58:277Nicholas Crapser, PhD on Peer-Based Support Programsfull