Conversations with Rich Bennett

Certified trainer and nutrition coach Dan Vaysburd joins Rich to share his road from early addictions—starting with video games—to substance use, relapse, and finally sustained recovery anchored in strength training and sustainable nutrition. He explains why “diets” fail, how counting macros and consistency changed his life, and why fitness paired with fellowship accelerates healing. This candid, practical conversation shows how to trade short-term highs for long-term health.Guest Bio:  Dan Vaysburd is a Los Angeles–based certified personal trainer and nutrition coach who left a high-stress finance career to pursue his passion for helping people get strong the sustainable way. An immigrant raised in New Jersey, Dan’s recovery began in 2024; he now sponsors others in 12-step programs, coaches clients in person (and selectively online), and advocates pairing fitness with recovery as a powerful path to purpose. Main Topics: ·         Early addiction roots: isolation, video games, and identity (age ~7)·         Escalation after his mother’s death; marijuana → alcohol → party drugs·         Peak addiction years in New York; returning to LA and starting recovery·         The relapse at a music festival and getting back on track (May 2024 milestone)·         Why diets don’t work: sustainability vs. restriction; tracking calories & macros·         Strength training as a “lifeline” and cornerstone for sobriety·         Coaching in commercial gyms, management track, and part-time work at a detox center·         Bringing recovery and fitness to schools and athletes (speaking vision)·         Living amends: being present for family; purpose-driven routines  Resources mentioned: ·         Dan’s website & socials (as stated on-air): “danvaysburd.com”; Instagram: “@dan.vaysburd” ·         Recovery fellowships referenced: AA, NA (12-step) ·         Supporter: Real Life Prosthetics·         Supporter: Full Circle Boards·         Supporter: Sincerely Sawyer Photography Send us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comSupport the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

Madison shares a raw, hopeful journey from early mental-health struggles and a fast-progressing opioid addiction to a total life turnaround—sparked by accountability, treatment, and the Harford County Drug Court. Now clean since March 5, 2021, she leads at Pyramid Healthcare and pours her energy into helping others recover. This conversation shows why recovery is possible—and why purpose and community matter. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Madison is a recovery advocate and healthcare leader who entered sobriety on March 5, 2021. After completing treatment and graduating the Harford County Drug Court program, she moved from case management to leadership and is now stepping into the Executive Director role at Pyramid Healthcare. A Towson University graduate and proud mom, Madison focuses on accountability, compassion, and helping others find lasting recovery. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         Early mental-health struggles and feeling “alone” as a preteen·         Abusive relationship in high school and rapid progression into opioid use·         “High-functioning” addiction through college, then post-grad legal consequences (20 arrests in three years)·         The turning point: detoxing in a cell, asking for help, and entering treatment·         Structure, aftercare, and why accountability (Drug Court) mattered·         Service as a recovery engine: from RSS to leadership in treatment·         Parenting, boundaries, and learning to take responsibility·         Why purpose, kindness, and community sustain long-term recovery  Resources mentioned: ·         Donate to Rage Against Addiction ·         Harford County Drug Court (Judge “Kerry,” Angela Royer)·         “Karen” treatment center in Pennsylvania (inpatient program referenced)·         Recovery Centers of America (alumni follow-up by Vince)·         Pyramid Healthcare Send us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comRage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

Elizabeth Kipp spent 40 years in chronic pain and 31 years on prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines—including fentanyl—until a pain-management track at the Betty Ford Center in 2013 catalyzed a complete turnaround. In this conversation, she unpacks the mind-body nature of chronic pain, the practical role of 12-Step recovery, yoga, breathwork, prayer/ancestral clearing, and the simple relapse-prevention principle that changed everything: staying in personal integrity. Listeners get a hopeful blueprint that blends science and spirituality with concrete next steps. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Elizabeth Kipp is a stress-management and ancestral-trauma specialist, recovery coach, and author of The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power. A former research scientist, she lived with severe back injury, surgeries, and physician-prescribed opioids/benzodiazepines for decades before completing a pain-management program at the Betty Ford Center in 2013. Today, she coaches globally (virtual), teaches mind-body practices, and helps people in recovery rebuild calm, clarity, and resilience. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         Defining addiction to chronic pain and the “stress habit”·         Injury history, multiple surgeries, and 31 years on Rx opioids/benzos (incl. fentanyl)·         Why opioids don’t heal chronic pain; breath, hydration, gut, and brain effects·         Detox & pain-track at the Betty Ford Center; waking up with no back pain·         Chronic pain as brain processing; limits of reductionist medicine·         Memory/cognition impacts of chronic pain—and how they recover·         Recovery toolkit: NA/AA, 12 Steps, Recovery 2.0, yoga, breathwork, prayer/ancestral clearing·         Coaching insights: readiness to sponsor; a client shame-to-healing vignette·         Relapse prevention: “Stay in integrity with yourself”·         How to work with Elizabeth (virtual coaching) and where to Send us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comRage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

In this powerful “12 Days of Hope” conversation, Mallory traces her journey from early family turmoil and teen substance use to a heroin “aha” moment, intimate partner violence, and the hard climb back—culminating in nearly 12 years of sobriety (since Nov 23, 2013). Now working in behavioral health and deeply involved with local nonprofits, she shares the decisions, resources, and support that helped her become the mother and community advocate she is today. Listeners will hear raw honesty, practical hope, and the reminder that recovery is possible. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Mallory is a behavioral-health professional who has worked in the field since 2014, currently serving in business development for a large nonprofit. Sober since November 23, 2013, she’s an active community volunteer and fundraiser supporting local recovery organizations in Harford and surrounding counties—and a devoted mom whose lived experience fuels her mission to help others. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         Family dynamics, instability, and early exposure to substance use and violence·         Moving schools, academic struggles, and early drug/alcohol experimentation·         Teen relationships, lack of consequences, and escalating risk·         The first blackout, normalization of chaos, and denial·         Divorce, housing insecurity, and seeking validation/escape·         Exposure to opioids and heroin; the “immediate craving” turning point·         Domestic violence, control, and textbook “going back” cycles·         Pregnancy, brief stability, relapse triggers, and partner reoffending·         A terrifying incident with a child ingesting an opioid—and the emergency response (Narcan)·         Getting out, getting help, and building a career that gives back·         Why storytelling matters: reducing stigma and opening doors to recovery resources Resources mentioned: ·         Send us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comRage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

Karen, a self-described “not-the-typical addict,” shares how a neck injury and prescribed opioids spiraled into secrecy, debt, and withdrawal—until she chose help, called her doctor, and walked into her first NA meeting. She explains how control, trauma, sponsors, and step work shaped 21 years pill-free, the detour into alcohol, and the moment she finally said out loud, “I’m an alcoholic.” It’s a candid, practical blueprint for anyone wondering what recovery programs actually do—and why they save lives. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Karen is a longtime friend of the show and a recovery advocate. A former stay-at-home mom who became a Reiki Master and intuitive counselor, she’s 21 years pill-free, active in 12-step recovery, and helps clients release stored trauma to heal and move forward. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         “Not the typical addict”: prescriptions, stigma, and secrecy·         9/11, the D.C. sniper, anxiety, and the illusion of control·         Doctor-shopping, online pill mills, and financial fallout·         The turning point: calling the doctor to flag her chart, grief after surrender·         First NA meeting, feeling “at home,” and what sponsors actually do·         Step work vs. therapy; NA vs. AA and “higher power” (not one-size-fits-all)·         Relapse with alcohol, daughter’s ultimatum, and returning to meetings·         Resentments, gratitude lists, and practical tools that keep people clean·         Trauma stored in the body; Reiki/energy work and emotional healing  Resources mentioned: ·         Donate to Rage Against Addiction ·         Narcotics Anonymous (NA) & Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) ·         “The Body Keeps the Score” (book reference) ·         National Recovery Month (context) Send us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comRage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

Sarah opens up about starting opioids at 20, a rapid slide to heroin, pregnancy on methadone, jail, and the drug court program that helped her turn it around. After a later Xanax relapse during COVID, she did the work—therapy, structure, and service—and is now certified and working as a counselor at a maintenance clinic. This candid conversation with Wendy Beck and Rich Bennett shows what sustainable recovery really looks like—and why hope matters. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Sarah is a Harford County native, mom, and recovery professional. After entering opioid use at 20 and escalating to heroin in 2012, she experienced jail and drug court, achieved long-term abstinence from opiates and cocaine (since Sept. 27, 2016), overcame a benzodiazepine relapse in 2020–2021 (clean since Nov. 4, 2020), earned her Peer Recovery Specialist credential and ADT approval, and now counsels patients at a medication-assisted treatment clinic. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         Starting opioids at 20; rapid progression from pills to heroin (2012)·         Pregnancy on methadone, stigma, and learning MAT safety·         IV use, crack/cocaine, legal consequences, and visible decline·         Jail detox and entry into Drug Court; Judge-led accountability·         Long-term sobriety from opiates/cocaine; COVID-era Xanax relapse and dangers of benzo withdrawal·         Therapy, boundaries, routines, fitness, and gratitude as core recovery tools·         Working in recovery: peer support vs. clinicians; women-specific needs; mom guilt and shame·         Maintenance meds (methadone/Suboxone): misuse stigma vs. real stability·         Parenting conversations about peer pressure and openness with kids·         Burnout prevention for recovery workers (self-care, phone boundaries, weekly therapy)  Resources mentioned: ·         Donate to Rage Against Addiction Send us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comRage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

Shelby shares a raw, unfiltered recovery story—how workaholism, untreated mental health, and an old pain-pill pathway led to relapse after four clean years, and how community and structure helped her rebuild. She walks us through Daughters House, intense anxiety, and eventually stepping up to help other women as a 3.1 house manager. It’s a powerful listen about grief, grace, and the practical tools that keep recovery going one day at a time. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Shelby is a Maryland native from Rock Hall and a mother of two who’s “working on four” years in recovery. After time at Rage Against Addiction’s Daughters House, she now manages a women’s Level 3.1 recovery residence, guiding residents through structure, accountability, and hope—because she’s lived it. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         Early addiction path, overprescribing, and how a broken shoulder + pills lit the fuse·         Four years clean—then relapse tied to workaholism and stopping mental-health meds·         Pregnancy, NICU, CPS involvement, and complex family dynamics·         Grief after losing her partner and how that pain nearly consumed her·         Choosing safety and structure at Daughters House; rebuilding trust with family·         Severe anxiety during early recovery and learning new coping skills·         Becoming a house manager in a 3.1 women’s program; boundaries, burnout, and leadership·         Why a strong network matters: seven “call-anytime” friends and showing up for each other·         What monthly donors make possible for Rage Against Addiction (practical needs like mattresses, fridges, washers) Resources mentioned: ·         Donate to Rage Against Addiction ·         Summit (women’s Level 3.1 program) — clinicians come to the residence; first female house opened; operating details discussed ·         NA/AA meetings & recovery coSend us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comRage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

In this Podathon for Recovery episode, Rich and co-host Wendy Beck talk with Kat Leonard Scott—a Harford County native, mom of two, and treatment professional—about her winding path through early success, trauma, addiction, a brief relapse after eight years clean, and the hard reset that followed. Kat shares how jail, community support, and a renewed focus on “safety” helped her rebuild life, motherhood, and purpose. Listeners will hear candid lessons on accountability, boundaries, and why joy is possible in recovery. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Kat Leonard Scott is a recovery advocate and treatment professional from Harford County, Maryland. A graduate of Bel Air High School, she works in long-term residential treatment operations and is a devoted mom of two. After eight years clean, a short relapse led to new accountability, renewed recovery, and a mission to help others access care and community. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         Early life: fitting in, sports & academics, unseen struggles·         Trauma in high school and how dissociation shaped later behavior·         First DUI at 20; ineffective early interventions; “learning to be a better criminal”·         Caring for her father through terminal cancer; grief and escalating use·         Multiple treatment attempts; the power of sober living and community in Annapolis·         Becoming a house manager; court, “backup time,” and accountability·         Motherhood, work in treatment, and building a recovery network in Harford County·         The brief relapse after 8 years clean; DUI with kids in the car; blessing in disguise·         IOP, jail, and doing every program available; coming home and setting boundaries·         Protective orders, divorce, and rebuilding stability for her children·         Working in long-term residential treatment; finding purpose in service·         The new focus: personal and family “safety” as a foundational recoSend us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comRage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

In this Podathon For Recovery episode, Evie shares an extraordinary 44-year sobriety story—beginning with childhood trauma in post-war Austria, prescription drug misuse after a 1973 car accident, and the moment a newspaper listing led her to AA and a new life. She later sought help for sex addiction, moved to Los Angeles in 1982 for deeper recovery, and now helps clients as a coach and hypnotherapist. It’s a candid, hopeful conversation about breaking cycles, choosing healing, and why support programs still save lives. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Evie is a recovery advocate with 44 years of sobriety (since March 31), a former journalist, and a coach/hypnotherapist who started her practice in 2014. After healing from alcohol and prescription drug dependence—and doing deep work in Sex Addicts Anonymous—she specializes in helping clients with sexual dysfunction and weight issues often linked to trauma. Her story spans Vienna to Los Angeles and demonstrates the power of AA, mentorship, and sustained inner work. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         Childhood stress and early substance use in Austria; family trauma from the Holocaust era and post-war antisemitism ·         Codependency and marriage to an alcoholic; later escalation with prescriptions after a 1973 car accident and PTSD ·         The turning point: finding AA via a newspaper listing and committing to sobriety; first meetings in Vienna (including men-only and international groups) ·         Moving to Los Angeles in 1982, sober living, women’s and mixed meetings; seeking help in Sex Addicts Anonymous ·         Long-term recovery practices; choosing singleness to avoid unhealthy patterns; sponsoring others and “Eskimo” outreach approach ·         Journalism career and interviews (e.g., Matthew Perry) touching on recovery; later training in spiritual psychology; launching a coaching/hypnotherapy practice in 2014 ·         Smoking/vaping discussion and health concerns; practical adviSend us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comRage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

Kayla shares a raw, resilient journey from childhood trauma and early addiction to a terrifying DUI wake-up call—and the decision to fight for her life and for her daughter. With support from Rage Against Addiction’s Sister’s House and Daughters’ House, she embraced meetings, structure, and service, eventually becoming a house manager and now helping other women enter recovery. This conversation shows how community, accountability, and motherhood can fuel lasting change. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Kayla W is a young mother in long-term recovery and a former resident—and later house manager—within Rage Against Addiction’s sober living program. After treatment, 90-in-90 meetings, and rebuilding custody and stability, she joined a local treatment center (Achieve) and now helps women access sober living and recovery supports. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         Childhood loss, instability, and abuse—and how unresolved trauma fed addiction·         Early dependence, homelessness with an infant, and escalating alcohol use·         Moment of clarity, the first rehab stay, and misconceptions about “detox only”·         Relapse, DUI crash, and fearing her daughter was in the car·         Entering Sister’s House; routine, meetings, sponsorship, and structure·         Becoming senior resident and house manager; learning leadership with compassion·         Opening a women & children’s house and then working in treatment (Achieve)·         Co-parenting progress, rebuilding trust, and maintaining life balance in recovery  Resources mentioned: ·         Donate to Rage Against Addiction ·         Ashley (residential treatment) & Achieve (treatment center where Kayla works) ·         Vivitrol shot (mentioned during early treatment plan) ·         WIC (nutrition support), crisis hotline, AA/NA “90 meetings in 90 days” Send us a texthttps://harfordcountyhealth.comRage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email