No Thanks But Yes

S3/E2: Joanna Free – Kicking Butts

Joanna Free is the author of BUTTKICKERS: Twenty Ways to Leave Tobacco and a writer for Journey Magazine. Find a copy of the 10^th anniversary edition of this little red book at your indie bookstore or library today. Joanna is an Army veteran, grounded in trauma-informed education and post-traumatic grown with over 30 years of experience and passion in tobacco and nicotine cessation. We have a delightful conversation about everything from uncovery to finding freedom from nicotine to walking in cemeteries.

• Recorded 11.6.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Portland, ME on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E1: Mario Bonds – Love Me More

We’re off to a great start with this splendid fellow. Mario Bonds is a singer, songwriter, author, motivational speaker, and advocate. We had a “chance” encounter last month at the 2023 Addiction Professionals of North Carolina Fall Conference in Beaufort, NC. We hit it off right away, and I’m optimistic we’ll be getting into good trouble again very soon. Listen to his ethos of courage, creativity, and determination on this pathway of learning to love ourselves more. Learn more about Mario at http://mabspeaks.com/.

• Recorded 10.30.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Bowie, MD on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S2/E20: Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John – Joy!

In this lovely season finale, join me as I sit down with the remarkable Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John, a co-founder of Eight Step Recovery, an alternative to the 12-step program for addiction and a founding facilitator of Compassionate Inquiry. With 10 books to their credit, including the best-selling & award-winning Eight Step Recovery: Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction and Detox Your Heart: Meditations for Emotional Trauma, Valerie has helped countless people to find freedom and wellness from chaotic relationships with substances & behaviors. We delve into the profound concept of recovery as an empowering journey towards uncovering authentic joy, and Valerie shares their insights on how we can find purpose and fulfillment (even in our jobs) by helping others discover their own joy. In Joy!

• Recorded 7.2.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Gibson, BC on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S2/E19: Jose Nicolas Flores – Freedom!

In this captivating episode, you’ll meet Jose Nicolas Flores, a remarkable man who has not only overcome his own struggles with the trauma of incarceration, extended solitary confinement, and behavioral health disorders but has also emerged as an advocate for others. Currently thriving in his roles as reentry peer specialist and addictions counselor, Jose is passionate about helping individuals navigate the challenges of reentering society after incarceration. His dedication extends beyond his profession, as he actively engages in policy advocacy as a Texas citizen, tirelessly striving to improve the lives of incarcerated and returning citizens. Our paths crossed through the national advocacy work we do together, collaborating on important initiatives via the Recovery Policy Collaborative at O’Neill Institute at Georgetown Law. His story is one of resilience, recovery, and an unwavering commitment to removing barriers to freedom and wellness for his fellows.

• Recorded 6.30.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Austin, TX on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S2/E18: Sheilah ‘SheShe’ Powell – Keep Making History

Sheilah ‘SheShe’ Powell is making history in the new new recovery advocacy movement. She meets people where they are at the digital intersection of recovery & harm reduction and helps to mobilize our massive constituency of consequence to demand what we deserve. We talk about harnessed anger, salt life self-care, deepening concepts of recovery, and continuing Bill White’s charge to “go make some history.”  

• Recorded 5.30.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Matawan, NJ on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S2/E17: Mrs. Kasha Davis – Always Time for Kindness

Mrs. Kasha Davis (she/her) is the stage name chosen by Ed Popil (he/him), best known for competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race season seven and, most currently, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Kasha’s tag line used to be, “There’s always time for a cocktail!” Now, coming up on eight years of sustained recovery, she’s best known for saying, “There’s always time for kindness.” We discuss childhood trauma, profoundly beautiful recovery experiences, and how more kindness may help heal our country’s sickness of fear and hate.

• Recorded 5.22.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Rochester, NY on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S2/E16: Andrea Haddox – Sheela-Na-Gig

Andrea Haddox is the founder and executive director of Oklahoma Harm Reduction Alliance (OKHRA), a social worker, passionate harm reductionist, and budding painter. We talk about everything from saving lives to finding our people to one of the greatest albums of all time.

• Recorded 4.26.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Tulsa, OK on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S2/E15: Ryan Hampton – Our True Center

Ryan Hampton is the best-selling author of American Fix — Inside the Opioid Addiction Crisis and How to End It (2018) and Unsettled: How the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Failed the Victims of the American Overdose Crisis (2021). In 2019, Ryan also created the national advocacy initiative, Mobilize Recovery, an annual experience now in its 5^th year, that brings participants together to build capacity for organized community engagement for people in recovery, family members, and recovery allies.

• Recorded 4.14.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Las Vegas, NV on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S2/E14: Patti Heffernan - I’m On My Side

Patti Heffernan is the co-owner of Helios Recovery Services and the executive director of Helios Heuristic in Appleton, Wisconsin. It is a wraparound support service for families who find themselves at the intersection of substance use and child welfare. We talk about everything from compassionate and realistic care for people who use substances to roller derby and cheese.

• Recorded 3.15.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Appleton, WI on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S2/E13: Dana Knowles - Just Ask

Dana Knowles is the inventor of “The Hanging Shower Caddy,” a mentor for women’s empowerment, and the first lady of Martinsburg, WV. Her book The P.A.U.S.E. Method will be available on Amazon very soon. 

• Recorded 2.03.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Martinsburg, WV on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest