Facing the Opioid Crisis Together: Family Ties (Mary FitzGerald & Briana Cunningham)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
Release Date: 10/13/2021
Facing the Opioid Crisis Together: The importance of ‘connectedness’ within communities of all demographics (Dr. Latika Davis-Jones)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, joins our host Heather Major for episode 4 of Someone You Know. This episode was recorded in September 2025, National Recovery Month. In this episode, we discuss: ● How Dr. Davis-Jones is leading the charge in elevating the power of recovery in Pennsylvania. ● The resource implementations the state is making to showcase that recovery is possible, and that there is hope. ● The importance...
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Facing the Opioid Crisis Together: The importance of ‘connectedness’ within the recovery journey (Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
Pennsylvania Montgomery County Commissioner joins our host Heather Major for episode 3 of Someone You Know. This episode was recorded in May 2025 in front of a live studio audience. In this episode, we discuss: The vast career of Commissioner Winder, spanning various roles in health and human services, particularly with underserved populations The personal connection that influenced her choice to join this line of work. The innovative and strategic ways Montgomery County is striving to use the opioid settlement dollars, to make a real impact. Collegiate Recovery Programs -...
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Facing the Opioid Crisis Together - 'Connectedness' in creating safe spaces (Stephen Knight of Dogs Matter)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
Stephen Knight, founder of joins our Host Heather Major for episode two of Someone You Know. In this episode, we discuss: The story of friendship, connection and fostering of his now 18-year-old dog Jade who sparked Stephen’s initial idea for Dogs Matter. How his organization uses connectedness to create a safe space for pet owners during their recovery journey. What it was like to grow up in an environment of stigma and why Stephen does not allow it to define who he is today. And the recognition Stephen received as CNN's Hero of the Year. This year, Dogs Matter is on track to...
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Facing the Opioid Crisis Together - The importance of ‘connectedness’ within recovery (Cass and Kellen Matthews)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
Cassandra Matthews, creator behind and , founder of Philadelphia’s join our Host Heather Major for the season 4 opener of Someone You Know. In this episode, we discuss: The turning point that inspired Kellen's Recovery. The pivotal role connection has played in that journey, especially with family. The doctor that introduced Kellen to running and how it's led him to multiple 100 plus mile runs, as well as participating in at least one marathon a month in 2024. A peek into how Cass is feeling about her own first race at...
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Facing the Opioid Crisis Together: Inclusive Recovery in Digital Health (Chris Molaro, NeuroFlow)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
Chris Molaro is the CEO of , a digital behavioral health platform that delivers mental health support while tracking and assessing progress through the app. Chris is a graduate of West Point and the University of Pennsylvania, and served in the army for five years, including a tour in Iraq as a platoon leader. In this episode, we discuss: The importance of behavioral health tools for front-line workers, both military and healthcare The ways technology and data can help with access to care How ‘access to care’ is not binary, and recovery is not linear Removing the barriers to the access of...
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Facing the Opioid Crisis Together: Intentional Inclusivity at Caron Treatment Centers (Bethany Franklin & Tom McDermitt)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
Bethany Franklin is a Lead Family Therapist, M.Ed., LCSW, CAADC, RAE and Tom McDermitt the Sr. Regional Resource Director, BA, AAC, RAE for . In this episode, we discuss: How addiction as a family disease The roles family and support systems play in recovery How Caron is supporting inclusive recovery environments Equitable access to recovery treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond What it looks like to enter a recovery journey with Caron Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation. Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our...
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Facing the Opioid Crisis Together: Exploring the interplay between substance misuse, mental health, and infectious disease (Dr. Jerome Adams)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
Dr. Jerome Adams is the 20th Surgeon General of the United States and former member of the President’s Coronavirus task force and is presently a Presidential Fellow and the Executive Director of Health Equity Initiatives at Purdue University. In this episode, we hear Dr. Adam’s speak on the importance of prevention in opioid use while exploring the interplay between substance misuse, mental health, and infectious disease. Dr. Adams also reflects on his panel discussion during the Independence Blue Cross Foundation’s 2018 Someone You Know conference and offers insight into how the...
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Facing the Opioid Crisis Together: An MD’s perspective on Inclusive Recovery (Dr. Jeanmarie Perrone)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
is the Director of the Division of Medical Toxicology and Addiction Medicine Initiatives and a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a successful published research author. In this episode, we discuss Dr. Perrone’s role as a national leader in efforts to address the opioid epidemic through her thoughts on stigmas in emergency medicine, equitable access to care through spearheading Penn’s CareConnect “warmline,” the stigma around using lifesaving medications to treat substance use disorder, and Dr. Perrone’s hope for the larger impact of her...
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Facing the Opioid Crisis Together: How digital tools can increase inclusion in recovery (Murphy Jensen)
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
is a former professional tennis player who co-founded a digital health management company, , to support others in the recovery community. In this episode, we hear about Murphy’s journey with substance misuse and recovery, while exploring the importance of digital tools when bridging the gap in equitable access to care. Murphy discusses how his own recovery journey has impacted him to help others battling with Substance Use Disorder. Murphy has a new feature documentary coming out soon called “Born to Serve.” The film explores the cultural impact to the world of tennis of the Jensen...
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Facing the Opioid Crisis Together: A Conversation with U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean and Harry Cunnane
Someone You Know: Facing the Opioid Crisis Together
United States Representative Madeleine Dean and her son Harry Cunnane recently joined Independence Blue Cross’ Someone You Know Associate Resource Group for a virtual town hall. The discussion was moderated by Patrick Flynn, Government Affairs Specialist and Co-lead of the Someone You Know Associate Resource Group, with an introduction by Stephen P. Fera, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. In this episode, host Heather Major narrates the virtual town hall event, which highlights Harry’s personal journey to recovery, how Rep. Dean is advocating for federal funding of collegiate...
info_outlineMary FitzGerald is the CEO of Eluna, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and families impacted by grief or addiction through innovative resources and programs. Briana Cunningham is a public affairs specialist at Independence Blue Cross, whose family has been impacted by substance use disorder.
In this episode, we discuss Briana’s experience throughout her sister’s struggle with addiction, how her family has navigated the journey, and how Eluna provides children with the tools to help restore hope and break the intergenerational cycle of addiction.
For more information on Eluna, visit https://elunanetwork.org. To access the Eluna Resource Center, visit https://elunanetwork.org/resources.
Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.
Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our website for more information, resources and inspiration: www.ibxfoundation.org/SYK
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This podcast contains opinionated content and may not reflect the opinions of any organizations this podcast is affiliated with.
This podcast discusses opioid use, opioid treatment, and physical and psychological trauma, which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
This podcast is solely for informational purposes. Listeners are advised to do their own diligence when it comes to making decisions that may affect their health. Patients in need of medical advice should consult their personal health care provider. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional.