Episodes

Oct. 11, 2021

Navigating Without

In this second installment of a 4-part series on 'grief,' host Marc Lee Shannon introduces us to his close friend, Terry Weaver. Terry recounts her 'magical' relationship with her husband, Jeff, and how a sudden lung cancer diagnosis sent shockwaves …

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Oct. 4, 2021

You Gotta Tell This Story

As a photographer, telling the story of a cancer patient’s journey would be difficult enough. But what if the patient was also your wife? In the initial offering of this season’s 4-part recovery series on ‘grief,’ Marc goes in-depth with …

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Sept. 27, 2021

Thank You, COVID

Seasoned touring music-technician Abbey Wright is an anomaly: she has a keen sense of gratitude for COVID-19 and what it brought to her life. Marc explores Abbey’s recovery journey, in this poignant episode, and the addictions that nearly shut her …

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Sept. 20, 2021

Everyone‘s a Snowflake

Emily Beers didn’t get in to this because she is a recovering addict, and she didn’t learn about it out of a book. As the Program Administrator for Oriana House, it was a hole in her that made her yearn …

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Sept. 13, 2021

Hangin‘ with the Winners

“I accepted the fact that I was going to die before I was 40.” Tower of Power founder and saxophonist Emilio Castillo was diving down into a deep hole. But it wasn’t until he walked into a 12-step meeting that …

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Sept. 6, 2021

Coins In Our Pockets

Coins in our pockets. What if the years of our life were a representation of those jangles and jingles in our pouches, and each day symbolized the spending of those coins. How many do we have? Is our change purse …

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April 15, 2021

Season 2 Finale - Did We Help?

Aside from ‘how does it sound’ and ‘did we have cool guests’ and should we change the theme music’ and all of the questions that we ask ourselves, the primary question is: did we help anyone? As Season Two of …

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April 8, 2021

The Big Moment

How do you know? And what do you do when you DO know? In this episode, Marc turns the guest microphone over to Dr. Doug Smith, the medical director of the Summit County ADM Board. As you’ll hear, Dr. Smith …

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April 2, 2021

When You Think You Call the Shots

Jeff Dafler thought he could call the shots. People sometimes think that when they feel like they play the role of God. But when he realized that he couldn’t start the morning without a shot, he knew he needed help. …

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March 25, 2021

You're Not Gonna Be Here

Imagine you wake up in a recovery-room at the hospital after a procedure, and the first thought you have is: maybe I should be in recovery. Before Billy Sullivan’s real ‘awakening’, this inescapable conclusion rose to the surface. He woke …

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March 18, 2021

I Had Everything and I Had Nothing

For over a decade, drummer Troy Luccetta lived the dream. Record deals. World tours. And all the ‘fringe benefits’ that come with it. When you’re a member of a band with the pedigree of Tesla, these things are to be …

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March 11, 2021

I Loved Being Loved

Angels. Celestial beings who make their influence felt in our galaxy, in our world. How do they come to be? And if they present themselves, can we recognize them? And what if the ‘angel’ is the person with whom we …

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March 4, 2021

I Looked Really Great on Paper

‘Bad-Ass-ery’ comes in many forms. But it usually doesn’t reveal itself wearing a white lab coat. For Dr. Nicole Labor, getting through medical school and passing her Boards, all the while doing so secretly as an addict, wasn’t the impressive …

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Feb. 25, 2021

Higher Power, Higher Purpose

Nashville producer, session-player, teacher, and 12-year Darius Rucker band-member Lee Turner is unashamed to admit it and pulls no punches in celebrating it: his sobriety is largely dependent on his ‘higher power’. As you’ll discover with Marc during th...

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Feb. 18, 2021

Showing Up Messy

Mary K. Riley possesses a list of degrees and academic accolades as long as your arm. And as a recovering alcoholic and addict, she admitted to ‘getting sober and having things go well really quickly’. But as Dr. Riley discusses …

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Feb. 12, 2021

Living Two Days At a Time

“If you can’t kill yourself, maybe you ought to learn how to live”. These words coursed through the brain of Krishna Pendyala, which meant that they were the catalyst that started to lift him up when he was at his …

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Feb. 4, 2021

I Was So Damaged

“They wouldn’t pick on you if you just sat down and shut up’. Metal guitarist and boutique amp-designer Curran Murphy utilized this warped strategy, until his anger-issues would not obey. Then, he had to seek help. Curran joins Marc Lee …

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Jan. 28, 2021

The Power of the Benefit of the Doubt

NEOMED Chair of Psychiatry and ‘compassion bad-ass’ Dr. Randon Welton joins the podcast as he and Marc flip the switch and spotlight the person on the other end of the therapist/patient relationship. Dr. Welton focuses on the successes and challenges …

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Jan. 21, 2021

See Door, Open Door

In this episode, Marc shines the lantern on Megan Maxwell, a self-described "Former Suburban Soccer Mom" alcoholic in long-term recovery and, now, five years sober. Megan found that door in the darkness, opened it, and it led to her eventually …

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Dec. 3, 2020

Blowing on the Embers (From the 'Gettysburg of Modern Recovery')

Legendary broadcaster, ‘Rock and Recovery’ host, and long-time Summit veteran Garrett Hart sits on the other side of the microphone as he and Marc talk about the beginnings of ‘Rock and Recovery’, how the show came to be, why the …

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Nov. 25, 2020

Less Can Be Enough

While he may be alone for this Holiday, Marc shares a recipe for being appreciative and grateful during this singular Thanksgiving event. With inspiration from the Dalai Lama, carefully-chosen excerpts from a timely periodical, a special 12-Step story, ...

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Nov. 19, 2020

Running On Self-Will

It’s easier to blow 15k on drugs and alcohol than you might think. ITAL founder David Smeltz shares his journey from the darkness in to the light with Marc Lee Shannon, as he charts his path from occasional user to …

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Nov. 12, 2020

The Corrosive Rust of Resentment

A challenging childhood. A disruptive marriage. And a peeling-away of self-worth. For musician Stephanie Kranik, all of these life-events contributed to her drug and alcohol abuse, as well as her eating disorder. Follow Stephanie’s ongoing journey fro...

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Nov. 5, 2020

Mental Health Is Now My Full-Time Job

Documentary photographer, mall-historian, Instagram prophet, and native Akron, Ohio-music fan Jessica Anshutz joins Marc on the podcast. In this episode, Jessica chronicles her long, treacherous journey on the road to wellness and mental health. She talk...

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