Podcast
The Truth About Addiction
Dr. Samantha Harte is a speaker, best selling author, coach and sober mom of two. She is here to tell the truth about her life, which requires telling the truth about her addiction: how it presents, how it manifests, and how it shows up again and again in her recovery. This podcast is one giant deep dive into the truth about ALL TYPES OF addiction (and living sober) to dispel the myths, expose the truths, and create a community experience of worthiness, understanding and compassion.
If you are a mompreneur and are looking for a community of like-minded women who are breaking all cycles of dysfunction and thriving in business, family, body image and spiritual well-being, join the waitlist below!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rXCADAwdxnvpLNYR143KgrGPD0DLT7ExZgLwCR9hiqk/edit
- Episodes
- 117
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 40 min
- On air since
- 2022
- Latest episode
- 6 days ago
Episodes
117 episodes, newest first
-
15 min
What If Your So Called "Defects" Are Actually Protective Adaptations...
Season 2, Episode 106
Show notes
Calling them “character defects” can feel like a punch you didn’t sign up for. We’re taking Steps Six and Seven and flipping the script with a trauma-informed reframe that replaces shame with understanding. If you’ve ever heard recovery language that made you recoil, you’re not broken. You may be having a very normal reaction to a label that doesn’t fit how human coping actually works.
We walk through why traits like perfectionism, people-pleasing, proving, performing, or shutting down aren’t evidence that you’re defective. They’re often adaptations, protective skills you learned early when you felt unseen, unheard, unsafe, or not enough. I break down a practical way to think about these patterns as assets and liabilities, and then go deeper: the real question isn’t whether a part of you is “bad,” it’s whether that part is burdened with so much fear or shame that it’s working at all costs. We also talk about the moment an adaptation turns maladaptive, how active addiction often forces that clarity, and why pain can become the circuit breaker that wakes us up to change.
From there we get specific about what recovery looks like day to day. Addiction is the silencing of parts. Sobriety turns the volume up. Recovery is listening with love and curiosity, restoring safety, and integrating those parts rather than trying to remove them. Whether God language feels supportive or loaded for you, there’s room to heal and make a real start. If this perspective helps, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs a kinder framework, and leave a review so more people can find trauma-informed recovery that actually feels human.
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Harte, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
8 min
A Trauma-Informed Take On Turning It Over with Dr. Sam
Season 2, Episode 106
Show notes
If the word “God” makes you tense up, Step Three can feel less like healing and more like being asked to surrender all over again. We take a clear-eyed look at the original Step Three language and why it can collide with religious trauma, coercive faith backgrounds, and anyone who has learned that “obedience” equals safety. When recovery asks for your will, it can accidentally echo the exact systems that silenced you in the first place.
We also push back on a common accusation people hear in traditional rooms: that hesitation means you are willful, prideful, or “too full of self.” Our take is the opposite. Many of us in addiction have spent years disconnected from our authentic self, shamed for our needs, and trained to distrust our own instincts. Real sobriety is not about becoming smaller. It is about becoming honest, integrated, and internally safe enough to choose better, day by day.
Then we offer a trauma-informed reframe of Step Three you can actually use: a decision, just for today, to align with your true self, your intuition, and the most compassionate energy you can access. If “God” works for you, we talk about finding a loving definition that does not punish. If it does not, we give you permission to remove the word, change the phrasing, and build a recovery path that helps your body exhale. If this resonates, subscribe, share this with someone navigating the 12 steps with religious trauma, and leave a review with the words that feel safest to you.
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, click he link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
10 min
You Are Not Insane You Are In Survival Mode-A new way to consider Step 2 of the 12 Steps of Recovery with Dr. Sam
Show notes
Step Two can be the moment people quietly decide the 12 steps are not for them. “A power greater than myself” can sound like religion, and “restore me to sanity” can feel like a slap, especially if your so-called insanity was actually what kept you alive in a volatile childhood. We go straight into that tension and name what many listeners have thought in meetings but rarely say out loud.
In this episode, Dr. Sam offers a modern, trauma-informed reframe of Step Two that does not require a specific belief system: can I trust that there is another part of me, beyond this protector part, that can restore me to safety? From there, we walk through a practical parts-work approach that fits naturally with addiction recovery, emotional sobriety, and nervous system regulation. You will hear how protective strategies like anxiety, perfectionism, and the urge to escape are not moral failures. They are adaptations, and they deserve care, not war.
You will also learn a simple daily practice we call the spiritual boardroom, where each part gets a seat at the table and your authentic self takes the CEO role. Then we share a three-step tool you can use in real time: regulate the body with long exhales, reassure the activated part that you are safe now, and take one action aligned with your true self while letting your parts come along. If you are looking for trauma-informed recovery, a fresh take on AA Step Two, or a way to build self-trust without preaching, press play. Subscribe, share with someone who feels stuck on Step Two, and leave a review so more people can find this reframe.
To book a free discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
8 min
A Trauma-Informed Reframe Of Powerlessness and Unmanageability In Recovery-with Dr. Sam
Show notes
“We admitted we were powerless… and our lives had become unmanageable.” If those words make you feel smaller instead of safer, you’re not broken and you’re not failing recovery. I’m sharing a raw, solo deep dive into Step One and why the traditional 12-step framing can hit differently when trauma is part of your story. I also talk about a recent personal shift, an “identity collapse” that finally freed me to speak clearly and directly about a modern, trauma-informed reframe of the 12 steps.
I take you back to a pivotal moment: a cocaine overdose the same night I was accepted into my doctoral program, followed by the unsettling reality that fear didn’t instantly stop my use. From there, I unpack why I initially recoiled at AA language and why labeling ourselves as “powerless” can reenact the very helplessness many of us already lived through. Yes, addiction can become chaotic and dangerous, and responsibility matters, but shame and harsh labels are not the same thing as accountability.
Then we build something better. I offer an alternative Step One anchored in two simple, expansive ideas: release what you cannot control, especially what was done to you against your will, and reclaim your sovereignty, agency, and power over what you can change. If you’re newly sober, questioning AA, or tired of repeating the words powerless and unmanageable, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review with the recovery language that actually helps you heal.
To book a free discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
11 min
My sister did NOT die of a drug overdose-even though that's what the records say.
Season 2, Episode 112
Show notes
The call said my big sister died of a drug overdose. The death certificate might agree, but I don’t. What I watched, what I lived through, and what I’ve learned in 17 years of recovery points to something quieter and more lethal: untreated shame. The kind of shame that doesn’t say “I did something bad,” but whispers “I am bad,” then demands secrecy, denial, and isolation as the price of staying numb.
I walk through the months leading up to that call, when texts became rare, reassurance sounded scripted, and the truth stayed just out of reach. Then came the photos that made my stomach drop and the explanation that didn’t add up. If you’ve ever loved someone through relapse, you know that sick mix of panic, hope, and helplessness. I also share the hardest boundary I’ve had to learn: being a lighthouse, not a rescue boat, and why that distinction matters for families, friends, and anyone trying to support addiction recovery without losing themselves.
From there, I pull the conversation down to the floor, beneath the surface talk about ego, self-centeredness, or willpower. When someone believes they are not worth saving, drugs can become a last-ditch painkiller for an identity that feels broken. The way out is not more punishment or more silence; it’s honest connection, trauma-aware support, and the slow work of building self-trust and self-compassion until a new identity starts to feel real.
If shame has been the loudest voice in your head, I want you to hear this: you can create something new. Listen, share this with someone who needs it, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find honest conversations about addiction, relapse, trauma, and recovery.
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
11 min
How to RADICALLY SHIFT from Sobriety to Recovery with Dr. Sam
Season 2, Episode 111
Show notes
Quitting alcohol can be a miracle and still feel miserable. I’m talking straight today about the gap nobody explains clearly enough: sobriety versus recovery. Sobriety is putting the substance down. Recovery is getting your life back and, more importantly, getting yourself back. If you’ve been “doing everything right” but you still feel anxious, angry, or hollow, you’re not failing. You might just be trying to heal with willpower alone.
I share what early sobriety really looks like, including why staying in the same places and routines can keep you triggered and activated. When the numbing stops, all the buried feelings come up fast: anxiety, rage, sorrow, sadness, and the urge to control everything or disappear into people pleasing. That constant internal battle can turn into white knuckling, and it often sets the stage for relapse. I also name the quieter threat: behavioral relapse, where we swap substances for “acceptable” obsessions like perfectionism, body control, or other compulsions that keep us on the surface of the pain.
The turning point, for me, is learning how to meet shame with self-compassion. I talk about how forgiveness isn’t a single lightning bolt moment, it’s hundreds and thousands of small choices that rebuild trust with yourself. That’s how authenticity comes back online, intuition gets louder, and you start living from love instead of punishment. If this resonates, listen through to the end, share it with someone who’s newly sober, and please subscribe and leave a review so more people can find real recovery.
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
53 min
The difference between SUCCESS and FULFILLMENT-with Ricky Rebel
Season 2, Episode 110
Show notes
Success can be a drug, especially if you’ve lived through addiction, people-pleasing, or the kind of hustle that turns your nervous system into a constant alarm. We sit down with Ricky Rebel and get painfully honest about the moment success starts to mean “money, period” and the moment that belief collapses into a deeper question: if you’re already talented and loved, why does chasing the next milestone still feel like survival?
We talk about the difference between success and fulfillment, and why external markers like cash, status, followers, and “being seen” can hijack your self-worth. You’ll hear how we handle the perfectionist voice when goals feel far away, what gratitude actually does for mindset and emotional regulation, and why an existential view of life’s absurdity can restore perspective instead of making you numb. We also dig into the real-world friction: discipline and structure can create financial freedom, but if it crushes your spirit, it can also poison everything you’re building.
Then we bring it back to action and creativity: somatic dance as body-based healing, workshops that blend movement and meaning, Vegas shows, DJ sets, and an upcoming album that uses auto-tune as an artistic choice while still telling the truth emotionally. If you’re chasing big dreams, building a wellness business, navigating sobriety, or redefining work-life balance, this conversation gives you language and tools to hold the “both-and.”
Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who’s chasing goals without peace, and leave a review telling us: what does success mean to you right now?
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Harte, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
16 min
Breaking The Anxious Attachment Cycle with Dr. Sam
Season 2, Episode 109
Show notes
Anxious attachment can convince you that love means urgency, intensity, and proving yourself. When someone pulls back, it can feel like your whole body is on fire, and you’ll do anything to get close again, over-text, over-give, over-think, and over-function. I’m sharing a solo, deeply personal look at how that pattern has shown up in my life, why it can feel just like addiction, and what I’m doing to change it after 17 years sober.
We break down what anxious attachment actually looks like day to day: getting “all in” too fast, obsessing about someone’s availability, and unraveling when the relationship hits a bump. I walk through the moment a friendship rupture snapped me into awareness, and the sentence that captured the whole wound: “If I love you hard enough, maybe you won’t leave me.” From there, we trace the roots back to childhood, where hypervigilance and self-silencing can become survival skills that later shape adult relationships.
Then we get practical. I share the framework that guides my healing, repair what you can and mourn what you can’t, plus the slow, steady building blocks of secure attachment: pacing new connections, treating instant intensity like a red flag, and letting people earn access to your love and attention. When you feel activated, I offer a simple body-based self-soothing practice (hand on heart, speaking to the younger parts) to ride the emotional wave without acting it out.
If this hits home, share it with someone who needs it, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find the tools to move from anxious attachment to secure attachment. What pattern are you ready to notice first?
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
16 min
When Sobriety Is Not Enough with Dr. Sam
Season 2, Episode 108
Show notes
Sobriety can be a miracle and still not be enough to make you well. When mental illness or childhood trauma is underneath the drinking or using, quitting substances will only reveal the real problem you were trying to survive. I’m getting honest about the overlap between addiction recovery and mental health, and why so many people are unknowingly self-medicating with alcohol, drugs, or even “harmless” prescription use.
I share what it was like growing up watching a parent rely on pills and only later realizing a mood disorder was part of the picture. We talk about how depression can be the most visible symptom for years, how mania can show up in frightening ways, and why loving someone with a true mental illness can pull you into rescuing, fixing, and losing yourself. That’s where boundaries come in and I break down the definition that actually gives you your power back: boundaries are about what you will do, not what you demand someone else will do.
Then I go into my own recovery story, including postpartum depression and crushing insomnia that made all my tools feel out of reach. We tackle the stigma inside recovery spaces around antidepressants and other psychiatric medication, and why following a doctor’s orders is not relapse. If medication, therapy and psychological support are what keep you stable and sober, there is no shame in that.
If this hits home, listen, share it with someone who needs permission to get help, and leave a review so more people searching for addiction recovery, mental health support, antidepressants, and boundaries can find us. What part of this conversation do you want to talk about next?
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
1 hr 7 min
How To Cultivate Certainty Beyond Logic with Lindsay Marie
Season 2, Episode 107
Show notes
Control can look like ambition, discipline, even “spiritual growth” until you notice the cost: anxiety, exhaustion, and that quiet fear that you are only lovable if you earn it. I sit down with Lindsay Marie for a deep, honest conversation about what she calls certainty beyond logic, the kind that doesn’t promise a specific outcome, but does promise you’ll be okay no matter what. That shift is simple to say and incredibly challenging to embody, especially when business, relationships, or family life press on old wounds.
We talk openly about sobriety, addiction recovery, and how so much of our coping is really a search for nervous system safety. We unpack the tension between taking real action and releasing the result, plus the sneaky ways ego turns healing into another performance. We also compare our evolving definitions of God, Source, and intuition, and why expanding the language can make spirituality feel safer for people with religious pain, trauma, or a visceral reaction to the word itself.
You’ll hear practical tools too: “remembering” as a daily practice, the spiritual boardroom image for parts work and inner child healing, and a powerful somatic approach to rejection and failure that replaces bypassing with presence. Lindsay also shares the origin story of her Powerhouse Women event and how it became a space where big dreams and real struggles can both exist. If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the moment that hit you most.
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
49 min
Rewire Your Life with Erica Spiegelman
Season 2, Episode 106
Show notes
The fastest way to stay stuck is to keep betraying what you already know is true about you. We start with a real-life twist of timing that brought us together, then move into the deeper question underneath so many addiction and mental health struggles: what happens to your nervous system and your self-trust when you ignore your own inner signals for years?
Our guest, Erica Spiegelman, author of Rewired and creator of the Rewired Method, shares how her path moved through traditional 12-step recovery, what she loved about the community, and why she ultimately built a different framework. We talk about “identity evolution” and the difference between being unclear versus being conscious and still refusing to act. When awareness shows up without action, stress rises. When awareness meets action, everything can change.
We also get practical about the body. Erica explains why nervous system regulation matters for healing, and how a healthy routine can create the consistency and safety many of us never had. We dig into the four pillars of the Rewired Method (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual), how to start when you don’t have support nearby, and whether a rock-bottom moment is required for real transformation. Along the way, we unpack shame, compassionate curiosity, radical responsibility, and the childhood narratives that quietly shape adult choices including how we parent and how we repair when we miss the mark.
If you want tools for addiction recovery, trauma-informed personal growth, mindset change, and rebuilding self-trust, this conversation gives you a clear place to begin. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the one routine you’re committing to this week.
To connect with Erica, go to:
https://www.ericaspiegelman.com/
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
49 min
Healing Beyond The Prescription with Dr. Christine Manukyan
Season 2, Episode 105
Show notes
One man in his 40s walks out of the hospital with more than 20 prescriptions and we can’t stop thinking about what that says about modern healthcare. We sit down with Dr. Christine, a former hospital pharmacist who made a radical career pivot from dispensing meds to practicing holistic healing, functional medicine, and nervous system work. Together, we unpack the moment an identity breaks, the fear that follows, and the freedom that comes when you finally admit, “This isn’t who I am anymore.”
We go deep on prevention and root cause healing: how stress, sleep, trauma, and trapped emotions can drive anxiety, gut issues, depression, chronic symptoms, and relapse cycles. We also name the part nobody wants to talk about in the wellness world: if your body doesn’t feel safe, even the best tools can backfire. Trauma-informed support, co-regulation, and practical nervous system regulation come first, especially for people carrying microtrauma, complex trauma, codependency patterns, or perfectionism disguised as “being fine.”
Then the conversation turns personal. We share family stories of mental illness, grief, shame, self-abandonment, and what it takes to choose boundaries without closing your heart. Forgiveness shows up as a skill, not a slogan, including the life-changing practice of making amends to yourself. If you’ve been trying to heal inside a system that never taught you how to feel safe, you’ll leave with language, perspective, and next steps you can actually use.
If this resonates, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
For more on Dr. Christine:
Contact Dr. Christine Manukyan
Email: dr.christine.manukyan@gmail.comWebsite: https://drchristinemanukyan.com/ or https://www.xpandcapacity.com/ Join us in Bali May 24 - 30, 2026 https://drchristinemanukyan.com/bali-retreat/
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christine-manukyan/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/drchristinemanukyan/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/drchristinemanukyan
XPAND CAPACITY™ Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/xpand-capacity/id1544165446
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@DrChristineManukyan
To book your FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
56 min
What if we have an ADDICTION To Our Mind? with Michael Bryan
Season 2, Episode 104
Show notes
Your mind can talk you into anything, including the next hit, the next drink, the next text you know you shouldn’t send, or the next spiral that feels like “truth” while it’s wrecking your peace. We sit down with Michael for a first-time, no-script conversation that goes straight to the root: addiction is often an attachment to the mind’s narrative, and freedom starts when you can watch the story instead of becoming it. Along the way we connect the dots between trauma, shame, somatic body memory, and the way cravings and compulsions show up as “reasonable” thoughts in real time.
We also get personal about the messy middle of recovery: perfectionism as a survival strategy, why control gets rewarded until it fails you, and how rewriting the 12 steps can apply to marriage, resentment, and self-worth, not just substances. We dig into what “amends” really means when you’re trying to become someone new, plus how parts work and self-compassion can help you speak to the inner critic without letting it run the company.
The conversation turns toward intuition, grief, and joy after devastating loss, including the challenge of matching the level of calamity in your life with equal amounts of serenity. If you’ve been searching for trauma-informed recovery, emotional sobriety, nervous system healing, or a deeper spiritual framework that still feels practical, this one offers both language and lived experience. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest mind loop you’re ready to stop believing.
To connect with Michael, go to:
https://www.michaelcbryan.com/
For a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, go to:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
1 hr 1 min
From Shame To Storytelling Through Faith with Romi Marie
Season 2, Episode 103
Show notes
She wrote the book, deleted the files, and almost erased her own voice. Then she found the draft again and decided to publish it anyway, one raw chapter at a time. We sit down with returning guest Romy Marie, identity coach and the writer behind Breathe Mija, to talk about what it really takes to tell the truth when your story includes addiction, shame, sexual survival, and a lifelong search to be loved.
Romy opens up about stepping off social media, rebuilding after a marriage ends, navigating her father’s relapse, and trying to keep life steady as a single mom while her daughter faces a new health scare and they’re forced to move. Instead of polishing the pain into something “marketable,” she chooses creative control and vulnerability by releasing her memoir on Substack, trusting God with the outcome. We also dig into the deeper pattern underneath so many addictions and compulsions: chasing validation from partners, work, sex, substances, and attention when secure love was never modeled.
Along the way, we get painfully honest about the moments when nobody is coming to save you, and the only way through is self-soothing, prayer, and tiny actions that rebuild identity. If you’ve ever felt trapped by secrecy, afraid your past makes you unlovable, or stuck in the in-between of healing, this conversation will meet you there and show you a way forward.
Subscribe, share this with someone who needs permission to heal, and leave a review with the line that hit you hardest.
For more on Romi:
https://substack.com/@romimarie?r=5ld48s&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=image
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
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#soberwomen
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#perspective -
1 hr 20 min
Your Relapse Is A Nervous System Story with Lisa Arrigo
Season 2, Episode 102
Show notes
Your relapse story might not be about “lack of willingness” at all. It might be your nervous system doing its job the only way it learned how: pushing you toward anything that creates a fast hit of safety. I’m joined by Lisa Arrigo, a New York licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, trauma specialist, and recovering addict, for a candid conversation about what changes when we stop treating addiction like a moral problem and start treating it like a trauma-informed, nervous system problem.
We talk about why AA and 12-step recovery can be lifesaving for community and structure, and why it can still fall short for people living with complex PTSD, dissociation, and deep attachment wounds. Lisa breaks down how the brain and body respond to threat, what the window of tolerance looks like in real life, and why “knowing better” isn’t enough when the prefrontal cortex goes offline. We also dig into shame as a physiological experience, how it gets wired early, and why compassionate curiosity paired with radical responsibility can change the relapse loop.
You’ll leave with practical, simple somatic tools you can use immediately: feet-on-the-floor grounding, posture and breath cues, hand-on-heart support, and orienting to present-day safety. We close by naming a truth many of us avoid: healing happens in relationship, and real recovery includes learning how to stop outsourcing safety while still letting safe people in. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find trauma-informed addiction recovery.
For more about Lisa:
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
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#sobriety
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#emotionalsobriety
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#spirituality
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#recoveroutloud
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#soberwomen
#author
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#purpose
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#perspective -
55 min
How Long-Term Sobriety Becomes Inner Child Healing with Darren Prince
Season 2, Episode 101
Show notes
Your life can look successful on paper and still feel like you’re circling the drain inside. That’s where this conversation goes, fast. We sit down with Darren Prince, one of the most well-known sports and celebrity agents, to talk about what recovery actually looks like after years of sobriety when the old script stops working and the real work begins.
We get into authenticity as the highest frequency, and why long-term addiction recovery can’t stay stuck at the surface. Darren shares the daily practices that keep him grounded in a high-pressure world, plus the moment he realized he needed more than “keep taking inventory” and started going after root cause healing. He walks us through powerful inner child work using NLP, the early shame that shaped his identity, and what changed when he finally reconciled with the younger version of himself.
From there, we widen the lens to relationship patterns, codependency, nervous system regulation, and what it means to be sober and aligned with your values. Darren also tells unforgettable “God shot” stories, what his friend called God-managed coincidences, that turned random moments into guidance and service, including an Uber ride that led directly to treatment. If you care about trauma-informed recovery, relapse prevention, the 12 steps in modern life, and building a life that feels true, this one will land.
Subscribe for more honest conversations about addiction recovery, share this with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review with the biggest insight you’re taking from Darren’s story.
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
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#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
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#aa
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#mindfulness
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#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
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#soberwomen
#author
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#purpose
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#perspective -
40 min
From Grammys To Growth: Healing The Hustle Without Losing Your Soul with Ricky Rebel
Season 2, Episode 100
Show notes
What if the real secret to success isn’t hustle, hacks, or going viral—but your inner steadiness when the noise gets loud? We sit down with recording artist and producer Ricky Rebel to unpack why consistency is a spiritual practice, how fear and comparison derail it, and the tools that bring you back to yourself when ambition heats up. From a blue hue that became brand, book, and talisman to red-carpet choices that sparked both applause and backlash, we track the journey from “prove them wrong” to “let them in.”
Ricky opens up about identity policing in the industry, the weight of old bullying, and the moment he realized controversy had become armor. We talk through threat versus safety in the nervous system and why trauma makes us forget what we already know: we’re capable, worthy, and allowed to take up space. That’s where the real pivot happens—when statements stop coming from defense and start flowing from alignment. Along the way, we explore energetic boundaries on set, finding flow at high-stakes events, and how serendipity shows up once you stop negotiating against yourself.
You’ll leave with a simple, repeatable spiritual inventory you can do nightly—what went well within you, what could be kinder or cleaner next time, the small “glimmers” that brightened the day, and intentions for tomorrow. Paired with a grounded gratitude practice that names both outer blessings and inner qualities, these tools restore focus, reduce reactivity, and make consistency feel human. If you’re building a creative career, scaling a business, or just trying to live on-purpose without losing your center, this conversation offers a map back to the source.
If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a reframe, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—we read every word.
To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
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#aa
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#recoveroutloud
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#soberwomen
#author
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#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
18 min
When The World Feels Overwhelming, Let Purpose Lead You!
Season 1, Episode 99
Show notes
A stadium roared, the beat dropped, and something else happened beneath the lights: hope cut through the noise. Watching the Super Bowl halftime show through a dancer’s eye, we talk about what it means to see someone rise from a cashier job to the world’s biggest stage, and how that arc of grit, culture, and pride can reset our sense of what’s possible. The performance wasn’t just entertainment; it was a reminder that creativity, inclusion, and shared joy still carry power, even when our feeds feel like a firehose of outrage.
From there we turn toward the personal: how do we keep our center when the world feels loud? I share why I choose conscious leadership over performative takes, and how speaking with conviction—without shaming or demanding agreement—opens space for real connection. We explore the crucial shift from pushing for results to being pulled by a mission, and why a strong why can outlast fear, fatigue, and the need for external validation. This isn’t about fixing every crisis; it’s about ending the small, daily forms of suffering we can actually reach.
You’ll hear practical ways to locate your purpose, test it against your calendar, and build rituals that protect your energy while serving others. We get honest about grief, rage, and helplessness, and how to feel them fully without handing over your agency. If the halftime moment stirred something in you, use it. Let it point to the value you refuse to abandon—dignity, recovery, belonging, joy—and then live it in small, consistent steps that compound into a life you can stand behind.
If this conversation gave you clarity or courage, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more people can find their why.
To book a FREE discovery call, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
25 min
Honor The Call: Building Healing Beyond The Body with Dr. Sam
Season 1, Episode 98
Show notes
A key opens more than a door when the mission behind it is bigger than a workout. We share how StrongHarte Fitness returns—not as another studio—but as a sanctuary built to fuse movement science, nervous system regulation, and identity-level healing under one roof. The journey winds from escaping a broken insurance model to building a cash-based practice, surviving a pandemic pivot, and carrying the weight and wisdom of grief after losing a sister to overdose. That pain sharpened our purpose: people don’t just need sessions; they need continuity, community, and tools that change their days.
We talk candidly about starting in a rented apartment, becoming a “glorified landlord,” and realizing the brand wasn’t a room—it was the rigor, compassion, and results people felt. Then comes the twist: a client’s offhand comment leads to a 2,500-square-foot space in Thousand Oaks, zoned for everything we do. Instead of saying yes on adrenaline, we sat with it. What emerged is a clear plan: year one focused on twenty high-touch clients integrating physical therapy, strength, breath, and somatic skills; monthly soulful circles where we listen and teach; quarterly Harte Conscious Creators events; and workshops like yoga for longevity customized to injury history.
Along the way, we outline a smarter model—no more renting out rooms that dilute the brand. We dig into why discharging at 60 percent better keeps people stuck, how regulation skills unlock better recovery, and why reframing your story is as important as hip stability or shoulder mechanics. The goal is simple and audacious: people leave different than they arrive, with precise drills, micro-practices for stress, and a narrative that invites agency. If you’ve been craving real change, not just reps, this is your map and your invitation.
Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a hopeful reset, and leave a review to help more people find their way to stronger hearts and steadier lives.
To book your FREE discovery call with Dr. Sam, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective -
51 min
Friendship, Boundaries, And The Art Of Not Self-Abandoning with Ricki Rebel
Season 1, Episode 97
Show notes
Ever wonder why some friendships survive fire while others burn out fast? We dig into the real mechanics of durable connection: why respect—not chemistry—keeps relationships from collapsing after conflict, and how to stop confusing intensity with intimacy. As artists and builders, we talk candidly about drawing clean lines between business, friendship, and sex, and why fewer, stronger ties can be a sign of healing rather than isolation.
We also share a living experiment: launching a Star Academy to train teens for the spotlight with both craft and mindset. From mental rehearsal to lyric anchoring, we unpack practical tools for stage fright, comparison, and anxiety—the same habits that keep adults present under pressure. Along the way, we contrast empty success with “Keanu energy,” the grounded generosity that sustains excellence without sacrificing your soul. Real friends tell you the hard thing, not just the flattering thing, and that feedback lands when we stop tying our worth to perfection.
Control, codependency, and enmeshment get honest airtime. We explore how childhood wounds drive us to merge too fast, give too much, and then panic when people don’t fill the void. The pivot is self-trust: stacking “spiritual reference points,” those moments you don’t self-abandon and life turns out better than fear promised. Acceptance helps too; when you stop asking a cat to be a dog, boundaries get cleaner and gratitude grows. We close by returning to dance—the shared ritual that restores identity and joy beneath all the roles.
If you’re ready to choose people who lift your soul, build boundaries that protect your art, and practice courage under pressure, hit play now. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.
To book your FREE discovery call with Dr. Harte, click the link below:
https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte
#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective
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