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PODCAST

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast

Ashley Loeb Blassingame

Welcome to The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast. We are a community of recovering people who have overcome the odds and made monumental life changes. We don"t shy away from the nitty gritty - we like to laugh give inspiration and remind you there is hope. Come join us no matter where you are on your recovery journey. Together, we have the courage to change! Subscribe and join our podcast community to hear amazing stories of courage and transformation!

health & fitness mental health

All Episodes

53:26

248. Postpartum OCD and Growing Up With Alcohol Use...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2025/12/19

In this episode of The Courage to Change, Ashley Loeb Blassingame speaks with author and illustrator Amanda Davis about two deeply connected experiences: growing up in a home impacted by alcohol use disorder and later navigating postpartum OCD as a new mother.Amanda shares what it was like to lose her father to alcohol-related illness at a young age and how growing up in an unpredictable, high-stress environment shaped her nervous system, anxiety, and sense of responsibility. She explains how

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59:41

247. The Myth of Rock Bottom: Why “Normal” Drinking...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2025/11/13

Lesley Jones never had the dramatic “rock bottom” people expect. No arrests, no lost job, no catastrophic implosion. Instead, she lived with the quiet, relentless hum of anxiety and the mental gymnastics of someone who intuitively knew alcohol worked a little too well. As a high-achieving oldest daughter, state-champion athlete, and lifelong perfectionist, she learned early how to drink with precision to silence the internal buzz of fear and pressure.In this conversation, Lesley shares what most

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66:09

246. Surviving Strokes, Suicide Loss, and Finding...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2025/10/30

Cory Suggs grew up in a tiny Oklahoma town where life looked perfect—until it wasn’t. After his parents’ divorce at sixteen, he spiraled into a decade of reckless living, validation-seeking, and self-destruction. At twenty-five, multiple unexplained strokes left him unable to walk, battling depression, and convinced his life was over.A year later, Cory went into the woods to end his life. What happened next changed everything. In a single blink, he saw two versions of his future—one dark and

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66:25

245. From Infertility to Postpartum Depression:...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2025/10/15

Therapist Neha Kumar opens up about infertility, IVF, endometriosis, and postpartum depression. We talk about cultural expectations in South Asian families, the reality of new motherhood, what “natural” doesn’t mean, and practical ways to support women through fertility treatment and postpartum mental health. It is honest, grounded, and full of hard-won perspective.This episode is sponsored by Reconstruction Unlimited, a recovery-focused organization that provides coaching, interventions, and

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49:31

244. Tides of Grief, Waves of Grace: Ashley Jo on...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2025/10/03

Welcome to the first episode of Season 7!This episode of The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast is brought to you by our sponsor Reconstruction Unlimited. As our sponsor, Reconstruction brings their mission to life by supporting individuals through personalized coaching, case management, and aftercare programs that foster meaningful transformation and sustained well-being. Learn more at www.reconstructionunlimited.com. Tides of Grief, Waves of Grace: Ashley Jo on Sobriety, Loss, and

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2:53

End of Season 6, Amends, and Season 7

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2025/08/19

I dropped the ball in Season 6. My guests were great but my cadence was not. Season 7 is coming back stronger than ever — Scott is back, we’ve got a sponsor, and I can’t wait to share what’s next.

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42:37

243. TV Host Marci Hopkins: “Perimenopause played a...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2025/04/15

TV host and author Marci Hopkins joins Ashley to share her deeply personal journey from childhood trauma and decades of functional drinking to hitting rock bottom—and rising again. In this raw and eye-opening conversation, Marci reveals how perimenopause played a critical but overlooked role in her escalating alcohol use, the hidden struggles behind her success in television, and how she finally found peace through sobriety, healing, and spiritual connection.Marci opens up about growing up in

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46:42

242. The Cost of Silence: One Woman’s Fight to Break...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2025/02/26

In this powerful episode, Alreen Haeggquist shares her journey of resilience, from surviving childhood abuse in a deeply patriarchal household to becoming a fierce advocate for justice. After decades of silence, Alreen made the brave decision in 2023 to publicly speak out about her experiences—challenging cultural stigmas, confronting family denial, and ultimately transforming her pain into purpose. Now a successful attorney, she dedicates her career to representing survivors of workplace harassment

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76:33

241. Paralyzed but Unstoppable: Randy Hall’s Journey...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/12/19

In this inspiring episode of The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast, host Ashley Loeb Blassingame sits down with Randy Hall, a recovery advocate and facilitator based in Birmingham, Alabama. Randy shares his powerful journey from addiction to recovery, exploring how he found healing through multiple recovery programs, including Recovery Dharma, SMART Recovery, and the 12 Steps.Randy opens up about his struggles with addiction, his near-fatal battle with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and the pivotal

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71:57

240. Arlina Allen on Her New Book The 12-Step Guide...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/11/07

In this episode, Ashley Loeb Blassingame welcomes Arlina Allen, author and longtime recovery advocate, to discuss her latest book, The 12-Step Guide for Skeptics. Arlina shares her deeply personal journey from skepticism to embracing the transformative power of the 12-step process. Together, they explore common misconceptions about 12-step programs, the challenges of facing childhood trauma, and the nuances of navigating recovery as a skeptic. Arlina offers insights into the true purpose behind each

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71:57

239. Parenting in Recovery: Navigating Sobriety and...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/10/23

In this conversation, Ashley Loeb Blassingame and Sarah Allen Benton delve into the complexities of high functioning alcoholism, recovery, and the challenges of parenting while sober. They explore the nuances of addiction, the struggles of self-correction, and the importance of creating a sustainable recovery lifestyle. Through personal anecdotes and insights from interviews with other parents in recovery, they highlight the unique challenges faced by those navigating sobriety while raising

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3:02

238. Courage to Change Schedule Update!

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/10/18

Hi everyone, thank you for your patience. I wasn’t able to release an episode the past two weeks, but I’m excited about the upcoming episodes! Tune in to my update on the new bi-weekly release schedule, and I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with you.

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61:51

237. The Courageous Book Club: The Body Keeps The...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/09/26

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107:22

236. From the Archives - Brendan McDonough: The...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/09/18

Brendan was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin addict when he, for the sake of his young daughter, decided to turn his life around. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a crew of elite hotshot firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Their superintendent, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the crew, and seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit, he took a chance on the unlikely McDonough, and the chance paid off. Despite the

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26:04

235. Q&A: What is the Difference Between Dependence...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/09/04

In this special Q&A episode, we dive deep into the science behind **compulsive behaviors** and explore what’s really happening in the brain of someone with a compulsive disorder. Whether it’s compulsive gambling, overeating, or obsessive cleaning, you’ll learn how the brain’s reward system, emotional regulation, and impulse control are impacted. We break down the key differences between physical dependence and addiction, and explain why people feel driven to repeat these behaviors even when they

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60:03

234. From Control to Connection: Sarah Moore's...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/08/28

In this episode of The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast, Ashley sits down with Sarah Moore, wife of previous guest Preston Moore, to explore her unique life journey. Born in Florida but raised in the UK, Sarah shares her experience of moving back to the United States with dual citizenship and building a life of resilience, creativity, and recovery.Sarah dives into her early life in England, the complexities of growing up in an alcoholic home, and how it shaped her emotional landscape. She

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67:36

233. A Mother's Resilience: Overcoming Grief and...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/08/22

In this poignant episode, I sat down with Brenda Daly, a licensed clinician with nearly 40 years of experience, who opened up about her deeply personal journey of loss, resilience, and love. Brenda shared the harrowing story of her son Kevin’s traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the 11 years of challenges that followed, culminating in his tragic death due to an accidental drug interaction involving fentanyl. We delved into the complexities of living with a TBI, the impact of chronic pain, and the often

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5:43

1A. New Series Announcement: The Courageous Book Club

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/08/14

The Courageous Book Club is a space where we’re going to explore some of the most important books related to mental health, trauma, recovery, and personal growth. Whether you’re a seasoned reader or someone who prefers to listen in and learn from discussions, this series is for you.Here’s how it’s going to work: I’ll be reading a book—annotating it, pulling out the key insights, and presenting them to you in a series of episodes. I’ll let you know ahead of time what book we’ll be covering so you

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58:40

232. Surviving a Convicted Murderer Mother, a Genius...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/08/08

Lauren Eager shares her story of growing up with a sociopath father and a mother who committed murder. She discusses the impact of her childhood on her adult life and the importance of being kind to children. Lauren's experiences shaped her into an independent and resilient individual, but also left her with anger and sleep issues. She emphasizes the significance of having a pet and the desire to live life to the fullest. Relationships, both familial and romantic, have been challenging for Lauren,

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82:20

331. Double Paternal Suicide: Greg Shindler's Journey...

The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast ·

2024/08/01

Greg Shindler shares his experience of growing up in an alcoholic household and the impact it had on him. He discusses the importance of vulnerability and the power of being raw and unfiltered. Greg reflects on his journey of healing and forgiveness, as well as the coping mechanisms he developed, such as drinking and drug use. He highlights the need for self-compassion and setting boundaries as part of the healing process. The conversation explores the concept of internal boundaries and the process

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324 results

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