The Addicted Mind Podcast

In this episode of The Addicted Mind, host Duane Osterlind is joined by Joanna Conti, founder of Conquer Addiction and the Vista Research Group. Driven by her personal journey navigating her daughter’s severe alcohol addiction, Joanna set out to solve a major gap in the addiction treatment industry: the lack of hard, verifiable outcome data.
Joanna shares how her background in software and engineering led her to launch Vista Research Group to track patient progress during and after rehab, as well as Conquer Addiction, a non-profit helping families find evidence-based care. They discuss what the data reveals about long-term recovery, why the 90-day care benchmark is critical, and how real-time patient monitoring can save lives.
Key Topics Covered
A Personal Catalyst: Joanna’s harrowing experience with her daughter’s severe alcohol addiction, six years of navigating rehabs, and her daughter's eventual 13-year recovery.
Marketing vs. Hard Data: The frustration of encountering unverified success claims (such as "98% success rates") and discovering in 2015 that only five treatment centers nationwide were scientifically tracking and publicly sharing post-treatment outcomes.
Launching Vista Research Group: How tracking patient progress during treatment—including cravings, depression, and therapeutic alliance—improves patient outcomes in real time.
What the Data Reveals: Insights gathered from monitoring over 100,000 patients in treatment and following up with over 50,000 post-treatment.
Factors Influencing Success: How primary substance choice (alcohol vs. fentanyl or meth), age, peer culture, and ongoing support impact recovery rates.
Why Industry Data Has Stagnated: Why nationwide 1-year recovery rates have remained around 36% to 37% since 1993, and how systematic measurement can drive outcome leaps similar to those in cancer research.
Key Takeaways & Data Insights
The 90-Day Benchmark: Patients who stay engaged in care across various levels (residential, IOP, outpatient) for at least 90 days are twice as likely to be in recovery one year later compared to those who leave in 20 days or less.
Support Networks: Active involvement in recovery communities (such as AA or SMART Recovery) or living in sober housing doubles the likelihood of maintaining long-term recovery.
Real-Time Feedback: Self-reported patient surveys often surface critical mental health warning signs—such as hidden suicidal ideation or rising cravings—that patients might hesitate to share face-to-face with clinicians.
Hope for Chronic Relapse: Data confirms that individuals with 10 to 15 prior treatment episodes for severe substance use disorders are still fully capable of achieving lasting recovery.
Guest Message
"Love them and help them find effective treatment. Don't give up." — Joanna Conti
Resources & Links
Conquer Addiction: conquer-addiction.org — Treatment centers with verified, above-average outcome data.
Vista Research Group: Data-driven patient progress monitoring and outcome tracking for addiction treatment providers.

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Supporting Resources:
If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center
NovusMindfulLife.com
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In this episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, host Duane Osterlind speaks with actor, playwright, and recovery advocate Ned Van Zandt. Ned shares his life story—from an exotic childhood traveling the world to studying under Olympia Dukakis and working alongside high-profile actors and musicians in the 1970s. He candidly details his descent into hard drugs while living at New York's iconic Chelsea Hotel, his first 13-year stretch of surface-level sobriety, a sudden relapse that led to an arrest in Texas, and his eventual surrender to deep, service-driven recovery. Today, Ned is the managing director of a NYC sober living facility and the creator of the one-man show Lost in Del Valle.
Key Topics Covered
Roots and Early Career: Growing up in a prominent Fort Worth family, child acting in The Music Man and Oliver!, and studying acting at NYU under Olympia Dukakis.
The Chelsea Hotel Era (1978): Moving into the legendary hotel the same week as Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, accelerating a lifestyle of heavy drug use and rock-and-roll partying.
First Sobriety Attempt & Relapse: Getting sober in 1987 following legal pressure, putting together 13 years of continuous recovery, and landing roles on Broadway and Law & Order. Ned reflects on how skipping the deeper step work left him vulnerable to a sudden relapse on New Year's Eve 1999.
The Downward Spiral: Overdosing on cocaine, leaving New York to hide out in Texas, losing his life savings, and being arrested on a dirt road outside Austin for possession with intent to distribute.
Jail at Del Valle: Navigating time in jail, where the head of the local Texas Aryan Brotherhood gang recognized him from his role on the soap opera One Life to Live.
True Recovery in Hawaii: Entering treatment in Hawaii in 2007, embracing sponsorship and service work, and rebuilding his acting career with roles on Lost and film projects.
Creating Lost in Del Valle: Developing a raw, humorous one-man play directed by Amir Arrison (The Blacklist) recounting his wild history, rock-and-roll encounters, time in jail, and path to redemption.
Service as a Pillar of Sobriety: Working as managing director and partner at Transcend NYC, helping young men find direction and recovery.
Words of Wisdom for Anyone Struggling
Focus on the Single Frame: View life like a long roll of film. Instead of obsessing over the outcome or the end of the reel, focus exclusively on the single frame in front of you right now.
Move a Muscle, Change a Thought: Physical action shifts mental state. Go for a walk or change your environment to break negative thought patterns.
Get Out of Your Own Head: Engaging in service and helping others brings back the purpose and vitality that addiction strips away.
Mentioned in This Episode
Resources & Links for Ned:
Ned's Play Lost in Del Valley at the Soho Playhouse
Play Official Website: lostindelvalle.com
Sober Living Facility Transcend NYC (Upper West Side, Manhattan)
Podcast Websitetheaddictedmind.com
Supporting Resources: Duane Osterlind LMFT CSAT
If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center
NovusMindfulLife.com
Shame to Resilience
We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind
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In this episode of The Addicted Mind, host Duane Osterlind speaks with orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom about his book, Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind. They explore the deep physiological connection between chronic pain, anxiety, and addiction, outlining how regulating the nervous system can lead to genuine, lasting healing.
Key Takeaways
The Problem with Chronic Surgery: A vast majority of spine surgeries for non-structural chronic pain fail because they treat a symptom rather than the root cause. Chronic physical pain is frequently driven by an oversensitized nervous system rather than structural spinal flaws.
Threat Physiology vs. Psychology: Anxiety and anger are physical, chemical reactions—a "fight-or-flight" survival mechanism—rather than purely psychological issues. Because the unconscious brain processes roughly 1 billion bits of information per second compared to the conscious brain’s 20–30 bits, you cannot simply talk or willpower your way out of deep physiological threat states.
The Bridge to Addiction: When the body remains trapped in sustained threat physiology, mental and physical pain become unbearable. Without tools to down-regulate the nervous system, individuals often turn to substances or compulsive behaviors as a last-ditch effort to soothe the body's alarm system.
Reframing Trauma Work: Continuously discussing and re-analyzing past trauma can sometimes act as a "trauma anchor," reinforcing pain circuits in the brain. Long-term recovery requires shifting focus toward present-moment awareness and neuroplasticity.
The 4-Part Framework for Healing
Thought Separation: Using expressive writing and mindfulness to separate your identity from repetitive, negative thought patterns.
Calming the Physiology: Directly toning down fight-or-flight chemistry by engaging the vagus nerve and creating a felt sense of physical safety.
Softening the Ego: Cultivating self-awareness to spot cognitive distortions without needing to defend a rigid identity.
Neuroplasticity: Constructing new brain pathways by intentionally practicing gratitude, engaging with community, and pursuing purpose.
Resources & Links
Book: Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind by Dr. David Hanscom
Website: Back in Control
Guided Healing Program: The DOC Journey

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Supporting Resources:
If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center
NovusMindfulLife.com
We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind
Disclaimer
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, host Duane Osterlind welcomes physician, trauma-informed coach, and author Dr. Frank Spinelli for an honest conversation about trauma, addiction, and the root causes of shame. Dr. Spinelli shares his personal story—from surviving childhood abuse in the Boy Scouts and helping law enforcement bring his abuser to justice, to experiencing a profound breakdown during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Together, Duane and Frank explore why addiction and shame stem from the same underlying wound, how to separate healthy guilt from toxic shame, and how reframing shame as a tool rather than a sentence can guide us back toward self-acceptance and alignment with our core values.

Key Topics Discussed
Trauma and the Hidden Roots of Addiction: How unaddressed childhood trauma often manifests as compulsive behaviors—whether involving alcohol, food, work, or sex.
Shame vs. Guilt: Why guilt focuses on behavior ("I did something bad") while shame attacks identity ("I am bad"), and how the inner voice of shame is often an installed narrative from past abuse or upbringing.
The Isolation Trigger: How the removal of external coping routines during the COVID-19 pandemic caused dormant trauma and shame to resurface for millions of people.
Shame as Information, Not Indictment: How leaning into shame—rather than running from or numbing it—can reveal where you are out of alignment with your core values.
Naming the "Unreliable Narrator": Why personifying and giving a distinct name to your inner critic helps separate your core self from intrusive, shame-based thoughts.
Key Frameworks & Tools
The 4 P’s of Emotional Regulation
A practical exercise to build "shame literacy" when triggered:
Pause: Stop before reacting or speaking.
Be Present: Bring awareness to the immediate moment and physical surroundings.
Ponder: Evaluate if your emotional response belongs to the present situation or an old memory.
Possibilities: Select an intentional, grounded adult response rather than an automatic reaction.
The 3 Bodies of Processing Shame
Somatic (Physical) Body: Noticing physical sensations (chest tightness, sweating, tension) in the nervous system without judgment.
Story Body: Recognizing the internal narrative, challenging the "unreliable narrator," and separating objective facts from emotional thoughts.
Relational Body: Understanding how shame builds isolation walls instead of healthy, protective boundaries in relationships.
Key Quotes
"What if shame is not something we need to move away from? What if we leaned into it and used it not as an indictment, but as information?" — Dr. Frank Spinelli
"Guilt is 'I did something bad.' Shame is 'I’m bad.' The voice telling you that you're bad is probably not your own voice—it was installed by someone else." — Dr. Frank Spinelli
"Addiction and shame are not separate problems. They're the same wound—they're just expressed differently." — Dr. Frank Spinelli
Guest Resources & Links
Book: The Shame Compass: A Radical Framework for Trauma Healing and Self-Acceptance by Dr. Frank Spinelli
Memoir: P-Shy by Dr. Frank Spinelli
Website: FrankSpinelli.com
Social Media: Follow Dr. Frank Spinelli on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for daily short-form content on overcoming shame.

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The more we learn about the addicted mind, the more we uncover the deep connections between trauma, mental health disorders, and addiction. Today, we’re taking this exploration personal, guided by the experiences of Janet Whitney—a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist, a mother, and a woman who has walked a challenging path alongside her daughter.
Meet Janet Whitney!
Janet Whitney is a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist, but her journey extends far beyond her professional title. As a devoted mother, she has stood by her daughter, Hannah, through an unimaginably difficult battle with anorexia and eating disorders—a fight that has spanned years and tested the limits of resilience, love, and perseverance.
No parent ever wants to watch their child endure a life-threatening illness, especially one as complex and elusive as an eating disorder. Yet, Janet’s unwavering support for Hannah has not only shaped their relationship but also transformed her professional approach to therapy and recovery.
From Theory to Personal Insight
Recovery from eating disorders and addiction share striking similarities—so much so that Janet has woven her own life experiences into her therapeutic practice. Today, we move beyond theory and dive into the raw, unfiltered reality of healing.
The insights Janet brings to the table are profound, born from years of navigating the highs and lows of her daughter’s recovery. Her story is a testament to the power of love, patience, and the courage to challenge conventional narratives around mental health.
Key Topics Explored
The Intersection of Eating Disorders and Addiction: How these struggles intertwine and what it means for recovery.
Hannah’s Story: A mother’s account of the struggles, setbacks, and small victories in her daughter’s battle with an eating disorder.
Changing the Narrative: Breaking down stigma and misconceptions surrounding eating disorders.
The Long Road to Recovery: Understanding the time, effort, and emotional toll required to overcome such a complex disease.
Trauma’s Role in Addiction: How past experiences shape the path to healing.
The Conscientious Dissenter Study: A deep dive into the physical and psychological effects of starvation on the body.
Self-Care for Caregivers: Navigating your own anxiety while creating a safe space for loved ones.
The Path to Hannah’s Recovery: The critical factors that played a role in her journey toward healing.
A Call to Parents: The importance of tough love in saving a child’s life—when and how to step in with strength and compassion.

Final Thought:
Janet’s story is a reminder that recovery is not linear, but with the right support, resilience, and love, healing is possible. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone touched by addiction, trauma, or the journey of supporting a loved one through their darkest days.

Resources:
https://www.janetwhitneymft.com/

Want to explore more? Let’s dive deeper into the science of addiction, the role of trauma, or share your own story. Reach out and join the conversation!

Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
Supporting Resources:
If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center
NovusMindfulLife.com
We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind
Disclaimer

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.