Talking Addiction & Recovery Episode 129: Castles on the Ranch: Finding Redemption in Searching for the Elephant (featuring David Alford and Joseph Stam)
Join us for a candid conversation with David Alford (producer, director, writer, and founder) and Joseph Stam (award winner actor, co-director, and co-writer) of Searching for the Elephant. Set against the rugged beauty of a Southern ranch, this powerful drama follows Jason Bowden (Stam) as he reconnects—with his estranged Vietnam‑veteran grandfather, Griff (Rick McVey), and ultimately with himself. We’ll dig into themes of addiction, healing through family bonds, the challenges of independent filmmaking, and the transformative power of location‑driven storytelling.
About the Guests:
David Alford is a producer, director, writer, and founder of Cross Purposes Productions. David has spent decades in the world of storytelling—first in Christian radio, then as a theater actor and director, and now as a filmmaker. After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in Radio-Television-Film, he worked in Christian music and talk radio before transitioning to teaching and theater. David brings a wealth of knowledge on faith based filmmaking, from writing and directing to production and distribution, making him an invaluable guest for conversations on storytelling, faith, and media.
Joseph Stam is an award-winning actor, co director, and co-writer, Joseph has been integral to Cross Purposes Productions since his teenage years. He brings a fresh perspective on acting, writing, and directing in faith-driven projects. He grew up immersed in storytelling, first on stage and later behind the camera. He landed his first film role at 16 and quickly expanded his expertise, becoming a co-writer, co-director, and associate producer on multiple films. With a deep passion for faith-driven storytelling, Joseph has earned recognition as both a youth and adult actor, appearing at major Christian film festivals and securing global distribution deals.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.
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Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.