The Recovery Guide

Why Modern Marijuana Is Causing Psychosis & Panic Attacks

Today we sit down with mental health professional John Puls to discuss the growing mental health crisis, the dangerous rise of high-potency THC, the failures within addiction treatment, and why recovery needs to evolve.
John breaks down the shocking differences between marijuana from decades ago versus today’s highly concentrated THC products, explaining why anxiety, panic attacks, psychosis, and hospitalizations are becoming increasingly common—especially among young adults.The conversation also dives into the addiction treatment industry, inexperienced clinicians entering private practice too early, the lack of family support in recovery, ketamine therapy, kratom, gas station drugs, and why purpose and meaningful living are essential for long-term sobriety.
This episode is an honest and eye-opening discussion about modern mental health, recovery, and the systems meant to help people heal.
Follow Guardian: https://www.instagram.com/guardianrecovery/Read More About John: https://full-life-comprehensive-care.com/ 
00:00 – Introduction02:21 – “Blind Leading the Blind” in Therapy03:09 – Impaired Therapists & Ethical Failures08:05 – Why Modern Weed Is Different10:25 – THC Potency Has Skyrocketed13:56 – Panic Attacks & Psychosis From Marijuana14:56 – Why Insurance Won’t Cover Marijuana Addiction17:00 – John Puls’ Personal Story & Addiction Journey22:02 – Why Rehab Fails So Many People23:21 – Recovery Needs More Than Meetings27:28 – Redefining Recovery & Purpose32:32 – Has Marijuana Legalization Gone Too Far?33:13 – The Cannabis Industry Is Unregulated38:04 – Why Young Adults Are Most At Risk41:25 – Plant Medicine, Ayahuasca & Recovery45:16 – Ketamine Therapy Explained50:02 – Kratom, Kava & Gas Station Drugs55:07 – Helping Families Through Addiction56:26 – Why Families Need Support Too59:26 – The Future of Mental Health & Recovery
This episode is sponsored by Guardian Recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, Guardian can help.Visit https://www.guardianrecovery.com  or call 888-721-3790 for confidential support and guidance.

The Truth About Sex Addiction: Shame, Secrets & Recovery

Sex addiction is one of the most misunderstood and hidden addictions—and it’s affecting more people than you think.In this episode, we sit down with sex addiction therapist Kim Litton to break down the truth about compulsive sexual behavior, the difference between sex addiction and love addiction, and why so many people struggle in silence.We dive into the cycle of shame, acting out, and remorse that keeps people stuck—and how recovery actually works. From the role of childhood and miseducation around sex to the impact on relationships, this conversation exposes what’s really going on beneath the surface.Whether you're in recovery, struggling with patterns you don’t fully understand, or trying to improve your relationships, this episode offers powerful insight into healing, boundaries, and building a life worth living.
Follow Guardian: https://www.instagram.com/guardianrecovery/Read More About Kim: https://klcounseling.com/ 
00:00 – What Is a Sex Addiction Therapist?00:39 – Sex Therapy vs Sex Addiction Explained01:38 – Why Some Experts Don’t Believe in Sex Addiction02:06 – The Addiction Cycle: Shame → Acting Out → Remorse02:48 – Rebuilding Intimacy After Addiction03:24 – Why Sex Is Still a Taboo Topic04:41 – The Hidden Link Between Addiction & Sexual Dysfunction06:21 – Why Sex Addiction Goes Undetected07:44 – Hitting Rock Bottom & Getting Help09:06 – How Childhood & Miseducation Shape Behavior10:42 – Men vs Women: The Double Standard13:27 – Learning About Sex the Wrong Way15:09 – How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex17:10 – Therapist Boundaries & Client Attraction22:20 – Why Men Seek Help More Directly24:34 – Handling Attraction in Therapy29:27 – The 30-Task Recovery Model Explained32:09 – Male vs Female Recovery Differences34:34 – What Healthy Sex Looks Like in Recovery37:02 – Sex Addiction vs Love Addiction40:16 – Transactional Behavior & Compulsion44:22 – Why People Stay in Broken Relationships48:13 – Education as the First Step to Healing50:00 – Replacing Addiction With Healthy Habits51:48 – Building a Life You Actually Want52:11 – Kim’s Story: Addiction & Redemption57:49 – Where to Find Kim Litton & Her Book
This episode is sponsored by Guardian Recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, Guardian can help.Visit https://www.guardianrecovery.com  or call 888-721-3790 for confidential support and guidance.

Why Movement Is One of the Most Powerful Recovery Tools

What if the way you’re working out is actually accelerating your aging?In this episode of The Recovery Guide Podcast, Kai Evans—founder of The Lift Lounge—breaks down the truth about longevity training, aging, and why most traditional workouts haven’t evolved in decades.From muscle loss after 30 to the real science behind strength, mobility, and recovery, this conversation dives deep into how to train smarter, avoid injury, and extend both your lifespan and healthspan.Kai shares his unique approach to training, blending science, movement, and mindset to help clients build strength, improve performance, and stay active well into their later years.You’ll also hear his powerful personal story—how fitness became his escape from bullying and ultimately shaped his mission to help others unlock their full potential.
💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:* Why most workouts are outdated and ineffective* What really happens to your body after age 30* The difference between healthspan vs lifespan* Why grip strength is a key indicator of longevity* The truth about flexibility, mobility, and stretching* How to train for strength without destroying your joints* The science behind flow state workouts and performance
Follow Guardian: https://www.instagram.com/guardianrecovery/Read More About The Lift Lounge: https://theliftlounge.com/
00:00 Why fitness hasn’t evolved in 50 years00:30 What is longevity training?03:13 What happens to your body after 3004:16 Longevity = buying your time back05:10 Top 3 priorities after age 5007:03 Why 65 is the new young08:42 The problem with traditional weightlifting10:35 Injuries from poor training12:27 Why stretching doesn’t increase flexibility15:43 Why these workouts are addictive16:30 Kai Evans’ origin story19:06 Trainer vs artist mindset21:21 Modern humans vs primitive fitness23:30 The science of flow state workouts25:18 Why most gym routines fail27:25 Why grip strength predicts longevity29:34 How to train at The Lift Lounge31:16 The 4 pillars of longevity

Why Families Keep Addiction Alive (And Don’t Know It)

What if addiction isn’t just about the person struggling… but the entire family system?
In this powerful episode of The Recovery Guide Podcast, licensed mental health counselor Tommy McGee shares his journey from addiction to becoming a therapist—and reveals the hard truths most people never hear about recovery.
From childhood trauma and loss to navigating the limitations of traditional 12-step programs, this conversation dives deep into the realities of addiction, family dynamics, and what it truly takes to heal.
You’ll learn why families often unknowingly enable addiction, how control can actually make things worse, and what real recovery looks like beyond surface-level solutions.
If you or someone you love is struggling, this episode will shift your perspective and give you a deeper understanding of what needs to change.
 
What You’ll Learn:
How trauma and environment shape addiction
Why 12-step recovery doesn’t work for everyone
The hidden role families play in addiction
Why control and monitoring don’t fix the problem
How therapy, spirituality, and action work together in recovery
What true long-term recovery actually requires
 
 
Follow Guardian: https://www.instagram.com/guardianrecovery/
Follow Tommy:  https://www.instagram.com/balance_matters/
 
This episode is sponsored by Guardian Recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, Guardian can help.
Visit https://www.guardianrecovery.com  or call 888-721-3790 for confidential support and guidance.
 
00:00 – Childhood trauma, loss & first drink
03:02 – The moment that started recovery
06:09 – From “good kid” to addiction
11:35 – Falling into the recovery field by accident
15:04 – Early struggles as a therapist (imposter syndrome)
17:03 – The limitations of 12-step recovery
20:32 – Choosing integrity over money
26:12 – Learning culture over credentials (Seminole Tribe)
30:28 – Working with high-level clients & new environments
31:54 – Race, culture & therapy challenges
35:19 – Why people resist therapy
37:01 – Religion vs therapy (and bridging the gap)
42:26 – Outgrowing your environment
45:07 – Why action matters more than insight
46:31 – Working with couples & families
49:21 – Families suffer just like addicts
53:14 – The truth about control & enabling
55:19 – When families lose hope
56:09 – There IS hope in recovery
59:19 – Why families relapse too
01:01:34 – Final thoughts + how to connect with Tommy

Yoga, Healing, and Learning to Feel Safe Again

What if yoga isn't a supplement to addiction recovery — but one of its most powerful tools? In this episode of The Recovery Guide Podcast, host Michael Herbert sits down with Fern L Conn, a certified yoga teacher with 35 years of experience and owner of the Dancing Lion Studio in Delray Beach, Florida, to make exactly that case.
Fern brings a grounded, science-backed perspective on why yoga — and Yin yoga in particular — belongs at the center of recovery programs rather than as a schedule filler. Through breathwork, present-moment awareness, and moving the body as a vessel for healing, she explains how the practice addresses what traditional talk therapy often can't: the stress locked in the nervous system, the cravings held in the tissues, and the shame quietly running the show.
Michael shares his own journey into yoga — the skepticism, the six-month commitment, the daily attendance, and the genuine transformation he's experienced. Together they explore comparison, self-judgment, surrender, and what it means to find stillness when the world won't slow down.Midway through the episode, Fern leads listeners through a live guided breathwork exercise you can follow along with right now.
Follow Guardian: https://www.instagram.com/guardianrecovery/Follow Fern: https://www.instagram.com/fernlconn/ 
This episode is sponsored by Guardian Recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, Guardian can help.Visit https://www.guardianrecovery.com  or call 888-721-3790 for confidential support and guidance.
00:00 Introduction01:24 Misconceptions About Yoga03:05 Is Yoga Just a “Filler” in Treatment?04:52 The Philosophy of Yoga & Healing07:14 Taking Control of Your Thinking08:02 Yoga for Stress, Cravings & Emotions09:32 Living in the Present (Anxiety vs Peace)13:09 Yoga as a Spiritual Practice15:52 Letting Go of Comparison & Judgment18:02 Healing Shame & Trauma Through Yoga23:40 Longevity, Health & the Body26:48 Breathwork & the Nervous System27:54 Guided Breathwork Exercise31:26 Meditation Made Simple34:47 Fern’s Story: From Dance to Yoga39:24 The Meaning of Shavasana41:18 Surrender & Recovery41:40 How to Start a Yoga Practice45:47 Final Thoughts

Reality TV, Rock Bottom & Eating Disorder Recovery | Julianne Forrest

Julianne Forrest, former star of The Real Housewives of New York, opens up about her deeply personal journey with bulimia, recovery, identity, and healing.
Julianne shares how growing up in a high-pressure environment and struggling with perfectionism contributed to the development of her eating disorder at a young age. She reflects on how the loss of structure in her life triggered the disorder, and how secrecy and shame kept it alive for years.
Julianne discusses her experience in treatment, the importance of honesty in recovery, and the life-changing moment she realized that “secrets keep you sick.”
She also shares what it was like to step into the public spotlight on The Real Housewives of New York, the vulnerability of speaking openly about her struggles on television, and how her recovery journey continues today through meditation, spirituality, and self-awareness.
This episode explores the realities of eating disorders, the power of recovery, and how even life’s most difficult moments can lead to growth, healing, and purpose.
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder or addiction, this conversation offers insight, hope, and a reminder that recovery is possible.
Follow Guardian: https://www.instagram.com/guardianrecovery/Follow Michael Herbert: https://www.instagram.com/coachmichaelherbert/ Follow Jules: https://www.instagram.com/juleswainstein  This episode is sponsored by Guardian Recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, Guardian can help.
Visit https://www.guardianrecovery.com  or call 888-721-3790 for confidential support and guidance.
00:00 Introduction00:55 Biracial Identity, Family Pressure & Perfectionism03:09 When the Eating Disorder Became Active04:04 Bulimia, Control & Keeping Busy05:25 Shame, Secrecy & Wanting to Stay Small06:53 Treatment, Independence & Recovery08:42 Joining The Real Housewives of New York10:16 Reality TV, Vulnerability & Pressure13:16 “Secrets Keep You Sick”14:34 Building a Support System in Recovery17:19 Divorce, Arrest & Major Life Changes19:39 Moving to Florida & Starting Over20:52 Her Father’s Death & Spiritual Awakening23:05 Meditation, Healing & Energy24:35 A Meditation Trick for Relaxation27:48 Daydreaming, Intuition & Connection29:16 Why Meditation Changed Her Recovery31:04 Future Goals: Just Be Happy33:38 Final Thoughts, Michael’s Book & Recovery Wisdom35:49 Her Mother, Creativity & Healing38:07 The Power of Words & Manifestation42:02 Be Ready When Opportunity Comes42:30 Local Honey, Healing & Closing Thoughts

The Mirror Moment That Saved My Life – Charles Rosa

Charles Rosa’s life could have ended in jail — or worse.After losing two older brothers to drug overdoses, Charles spiraled into addiction, grief, and self-destruction. One day, staring into the mirror, he didn’t recognize the person looking back at him. That moment changed everything.
Charles shares how a spiritual awakening led him to treatment, how a bicycle became the foundation of his discipline, and how a single sparring session at American Top Team lit the fire that would carry him into the UFC.
From riding 9 miles to the gym every day…
To winning 20 amateur fights in a row…
To fighting under the bright lights of the Boston Garden…This is a story of resilience, redemption, and what it truly means when you say:“Every day is a fight you can win.”If you’re struggling, chasing a dream, or rebuilding your life — this episode is for you.
Follow Charles: https://www.instagram.com/charlesrosamma/ Follow Guardian: https://www.instagram.com/guardianrecovery/Follow Michael Herbert: https://www.instagram.com/coachmichaelherbert/ 
This episode is sponsored by Guardian Recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, Guardian can help.Visit https://www.guardianrecovery.com or call 888-721 3790 for confidential support and guidance.
00:00 – Introduction01:42 – Introduction to Charles Rosa03:50 – Growing Up in Boston & Losing Two Brothers to Overdose06:34 – His Father’s Cold Water Ritual & Chucky’s Fight11:04 – “Every Day Is a Fight You Can Win”12:21 – How His Addiction Began15:00 – Bottoming Out in New Hampshire16:22 – The Hotline Call That Changed Everything18:42 – The Police Raid & What Could Have Happened20:00 – Treatment in Pennsylvania & Florida23:30 – The Therapy Directive That Sparked His Career27:00 – Riding a Bicycle to Build a Dream32:00 – Sparring a Top 10 UFC Fighter on Day One35:48 – Meeting Kimbo Slice39:41 – Replacing Addiction with Martial Arts41:06 – 20-0 Amateur Run43:00 – The Fighter’s Mindset: Kill or Be Killed44:30 – Turning Pain Into Power47:56 – Why He Still Has Normal Ears

Welcome to the Recovery Guide Podcast

Host Michael Herbert brings over 35 years of personal recovery experience and 37 years working in addiction and mental health to introduce a broader, more expansive view of recovery.
 
This episode explores what recovery really means — beyond meetings and abstinence. While abstinence gets you in the door, what keeps you there is building a life worth staying sober for.
 
Michael shares his philosophy of trying “a thousand things and finding the five that work,” and why recovery includes perseverance, spirituality, journaling, exercise, diet, purpose, adventure, and even reclaiming dreams you may have abandoned.
 
This podcast is for:
People struggling with addiction
Those in active recovery
Families and loved ones seeking understanding
Anyone looking for hope and direction
Recovery is not about perfection.It’s about consistency.And you don’t have to do it alone.
There is hope — and this is your guide.
 
Follow Guardian: https://www.instagram.com/guardianrecovery/
Follow Michael Herbert: https://www.instagram.com/coachmichaelherbert/
 
This episode is sponsored by Guardian Recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, Guardian can help.
Visit https://www.guardianrecovery.com  or call 888-721-3790 for confidential support and guidance.