"CAN'T STOP": The Critical Difference Between Addiction and Dependence - Episode 89
Release Date: 03/14/2025
Why Your Loved One "Doesn't Want Help" and What You Can Actually Control with Ryan Soave - Episode 103
Why Intervention Podcast
Ryan Soave, LMHC, a renowned addiction treatment specialist with decades of clinical experience and his own recovery story, sits down to share the conversations that typically happen behind closed doors in treatment centers. As someone working on the front lines helping people with addictions and their families daily, Ryan brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to help families move from reactive crisis mode to intentional healing- for everyone involved. Highlights The 94.7% Reality - Understanding why most people with addiction don't perceive they need help,...
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From Nine Years in Prison to Recovery Legacy: My Father's 'Impossible' Transformation - Episode 102
Why Intervention Podcast
When Christopher Doyle reflects on his father Jimmy's journey from nine years in prison to becoming a cornerstone of the recovery community, he sees more than just personal transformation. He sees a roadmap for families navigating their own loved one's addiction. This deeply personal conversation with longtime family friend John Ronayne reveals how recovery can reshape not just individuals, but entire family systems across generations. Jimmy Doyle's story spans decades of struggle and eventual triumph, offering families a powerful reminder that no bottom is too low and no situation too...
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Pulling People Out of Fentanyl Hell: A Former Cop's Story with Brock Bevell - Episode 101
Why Intervention Podcast
When Brock Bevel was in active addiction, he never imagined he'd one day be the person dropping a rope into the hole for others. Today, this former police officer and detective runs the Fentanyl Project in Arizona, where he saves lives on the streets every single day. His story reminds us that recovery is possible, even from the depths of fentanyl addiction. Brock brings a unique perspective to the conversation about addiction and recovery. As someone who experienced the physical and emotional devastation of opioid addiction firsthand, and now works directly with people struggling with...
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How One Father's Question Saved His Son's Life: A Story of Hope for Exhausted Families with Jeff Jay - Episode 100
Why Intervention Podcast
Jeff Jay was sleeping under bushes in San Francisco, physically deteriorating and contemplating suicide, when his parents found him through an unlikely series of events. What started as a simple phone call became the beginning of a 40+ year recovery journey, and eventually helped create the modern intervention methods that have guided thousands of families. Highlights What Every Family Needs to Know: The gentle question that changed everything- how one father's caring words reached his son when nothing else could (and why the approach mattered more than the words...
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From Heroin Overdose to Sober Entrepreneur: How One Moment of Grace Saved His Life with Michael Chernow - Episode 99
Why Intervention Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Why Intervention Podcast, host Christopher Doyle sits down with Michael Chernow, the founder of Kreatures of Habit and co-founder of The Meatball Shop, who shares his remarkable journey from addiction to 20 years of sobriety and entrepreneurial success. Highlights "Four hours later I was using again" — The shocking moment Michael realized the true meaning of powerlessness, and what it revealed about addiction's grip The unexpected ultimatum — How losing the one thing still tethering him to life became the catalyst that changed everything ...
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The Hero's Intervention: How Adam Jablin Transformed from Functioning Addict to Inspirational Coach - Episode 98
Why Intervention Podcast
In this riveting episode of the Why Intervention Podcast, host Christopher Doyle sits down with Adam Jablin – a man who once orchestrated his entire day around pills and alcohol while running a successful business, and now coaches some of the world's highest performers. Highlights The shocking morning-to-night "pharmacist routine" that kept Adam functioning while slowly killing him – and why no one suspected a thing The two words from his interventionist that Adam literally couldn't process (he repeated them FIVE times in disbelief) Why fixing your "outsides" (Adam...
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Trauma-Informed Intervention: Heather Hayes' Compassionate Approach to Addiction Recovery - Episode 97
Why Intervention Podcast
In this eye-opening episode of the Why Intervention Podcast, host Christopher Doyle interviews Heather Hayes, founder and CEO of Heather R. Hayes and Associates, Inc., a master's level licensed counselor and board registered interventionist with over 35 years of experience in treating complex mental health issues and addictive disorders. Guest’s Info Heather Hayes is the founder and CEO of Heather R. Hayes & Associates, Inc. She is a Master’s level Licensed Counselor in the State of Georgia, and Board Registered Interventionist (CIP). With over 35 years of experience in treating...
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When Your Child Has Addiction: A Mother's Guide to Setting Boundaries Without Losing Connection with Pam Lanhart - Episode 96
Why Intervention Podcast
Guest’s Info Pam Lanhart is a mother of four, grandmother of eight, author of "Praying Our Loved One Home," and founder of Thrive Recovery Resources. After experiencing the emotional rollercoaster of loving a family member with substance use disorder and struggling to find trustworthy treatment centers and evidence-based resources, Pam turned her pain into purpose by founding Thrive in 2016. Having grown up in a home where both parents struggled with alcohol use disorder, Pam brings a unique perspective as both a child affected by addiction and a parent who navigated her son's...
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‘It's Over': The Three Words That Saved This Young Man From A $500- A-Day Opioid Habit with Aidan Morgan - Episode 95
Why Intervention Podcast
In this powerful episode of The Why Intervention Podcast, host Christopher Doyle sits down with Aidan Morgan, who shares his harrowing journey from childhood experimentation to full-blown addiction and ultimately to recovery. Guest’s Info Aidan Morgan is a remarkable example of transformation and resilience. After battling addiction from age 12, Aidan has now maintained sobriety for six years, completely rebuilding his life in the process. A native New Yorker with deep roots in his community, Aidan's journey from addiction to recovery showcases the power of human connection and the...
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When to Call That Sober Friend: Why Families Shouldn't Wait for Rock Bottom with Joe Courtney - Episode 94
Why Intervention Podcast
In this powerful episode, recovery veterans Christopher Doyle and Joe Courtney (with 48 combined years of sobriety) dismantle the dangerous myth that you can't help someone until they "want it" or "hit bottom." Guest’s Info Joe Courtney is many people's first phone call when they need help with an addicted loved one. Joe is married 24 years, has 4 beautiful children, and 30 years sober. Highlights The truth behind "they have to want it" that the conventional wisdom gets totally backward Why your loved one's first meeting rarely happens because they chose it (and what actually gets them...
info_outlineIn this powerful episode, Christopher Doyle and Daniel Klein explore the critical distinction between addiction and dependence. Through personal stories and professional insights, they unpack how addiction fundamentally means "can't stop" - a completely different experience from dependence.
The conversation examines nuances of pain medication use, environmental factors, and why families often struggle to recognize true addiction. Klein shares vulnerable stories from his own journey while Doyle offers clinical perspectives from his extensive experience, creating a comprehensive guide for anyone trying to understand if their loved one is experiencing addiction, dependence, a phase, or simply a bad habit.
Highlights
- The overlooked "brake system" that 90% of substance users have – and why 10% are racing toward disaster without one
- Why the most dangerous phrase a parent can utter is "it's just a phase" – and the hidden warning signs most families completely miss until it's too late
- The bizarre Vietnam heroin phenomenon that shattered addiction myths – and what it reveals about your loved one's struggles
- The startling 5-minute conversation test that exposes whether you're dealing with addiction or dependence (warning: most therapists get this wrong)
- Why "pep talks" and "tough love" produce miracles for some users – and catastrophic failure for others
- The heartbreaking "tomorrow trap" that keeps addicted people believing they can quit for 365+ consecutive days – while family members waste precious time and resources
- How distinguishing between "can't stop" and "can stop" could literally save your loved one's life – and why getting this wrong leads to years of unnecessary suffering
Discover why everything you thought you knew about addiction might be wrong – and the surprisingly simple focus shift that could finally break through to your struggling loved one.
Links and Resources from this Episode
- https://whyintervention.com/
- https://twitter.com/whyintervention
- https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/
- https://www.instagram.com/whyintervention/
- https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/06/a-landmark-study-in-the-origins-of-alcoholism/563372/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs
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