In this episode of I Love Being Sober, Tim Westbrook sits down with Andrew Engbring, co-founder of Reflection Family Interventions, to break down why most addiction interventions fail—and what families can do differently to create real, lasting recovery.

Too often, families are told to wait for "rock bottom" or simply attend support groups while their loved one struggles. But according to Andrew, this outdated approach can actually make things worse—delaying recovery, increasing risk, and leaving families without the structure and guidance they truly need.

Drawing on years of experience leading high-stakes interventions and working with hundreds of families, Andrew shares a powerful, family-centered model that reframes intervention as a process—not a one-time event. This conversation dives into the critical role families play in recovery, the biggest mistakes that lead to relapse, and how early, structured intervention can change the trajectory of someone's life.

If you've ever tried to help someone you love and felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next—this episode will give you clarity, direction, and hope.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why most interventions fail to create lasting change

• The truth about "rock bottom" and why waiting is dangerous

• How addiction impacts the entire family system

• What effective, structured family involvement actually looks like

• The biggest mistakes families make when trying to help

• How to take action—even if your loved one doesn't want help yet

This episode is for individuals in recovery, families navigating addiction, and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of how healing actually happens.

Most people in recovery assume they have a broken brain, and it hinders them from getting better. But it is not the case. Every person in recovery always has a chance to succeed – all they need is the right support and treatment methods. Tim Westbrook is joined by Dr. Jason Giles, founder of Addiction Doctors, who has been helping people recover from addiction not just through clinical expertise but also real-life experience. He shares how he discards the notion of having a broken brain after going through addiction, and instead focuses on a long-term, intergenerational approach that focuses on the actual root of the problem. Dr. Giles also dispels the misconceptions about willpower, the three important things that make a difference in recovery, and how breathwork and meditation can lead to a powerful mindset shift.

This episode is a little different, and it might be exactly what you need. Instead of just talking about addiction recovery, self-love, and healing. We're inviting you to experience it. Donny Starkins is here to offer a powerful conversation on self-love in recovery, exploring why so many people struggle with unworthiness, shame, and low self-worth, especially in early sobriety. You'll learn how self-abandonment shows up in everyday life, what self-love actually looks like in action, and how mindfulness, discomfort, and presence can become powerful tools for growth. Then we shift.

This episode transitions into a live, guided self-love workshop with Donny, designed to help you reconnect with yourself, regulate your nervous system, and build real confidence and inner worth from the inside out. If you've ever felt like you're not enough, either you have struggled with guilt or shame, or are looking for practical tools to support your mental health and recovery journey, this episode is for you. This isn't just something to listen to. It's something to experience.

In this powerful live conversation recorded at Camelback Recovery, Tim Westbrook sits down with Dr. Don Middleton to explore the intersection of faith, addiction medicine, and lasting transformation.

Dr. Middleton is a board-certified physician with more than 30 years in family medicine and currently practices addiction medicine at the internationally renowned Meadows Behavioral Health in Wickenburg, Arizona. He also serves as medical director at Vital 4 Men and was named Arizona Physician of the Year at the state medical convention.

In this episode, we dive into his book The Dunamis Effect: When Your Higher Power Is Jesus and discuss what happens when Christian faith becomes the foundation of 12-step recovery.

This conversation covers:

• Christian 12-step recovery and the meaning of "Dunamis"

• The role of Jesus as a Higher Power in addiction recovery

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and faith-based recovery

• The balance between science, scripture, and sobriety

• Rebuilding identity after addiction

• Overcoming shame after relapse

• The future of Christian recovery ministries

Dr. Middleton also shares his perspective on the controversy surrounding medications in recovery and how medical science and spiritual transformation can work together — not against each other.

Whether you're early in recovery, a treatment professional, part of a Christian recovery ministry, or simply curious about the role of faith in sobriety, this episode offers practical insight and hope.

Learn more about Dr. Middleton's work:

📘 The Dunamis Effect: When Your Higher Power Is Jesus (Available on Amazon)

🌐 https://dunamisinitiative.com

📱 Follow "Dunamis Initiative" on Facebook and YouTube

In this powerful episode of I Love Being Sober, Tim Westbrook sits down with award-winning singer/songwriter, vocal coach, and woman in recovery Shylah Ray Sunshine for an honest conversation about sobriety, childhood trauma, motherhood, and the healing power of the human voice.

Raised by parents struggling with alcoholism, Shylah shares how early exposure to addiction shaped her life — and how finding 12-step recovery helped her break generational patterns and begin deep emotional healing. She opens up about becoming a mother while navigating her own trauma recovery, balancing career and spiritual growth, and what it truly means to "come home to yourself."

Together, Tim and Shylah explore:

• Growing up in an alcoholic household and finding recovery

• The role of 12-step programs in healing trauma

• Breaking generational cycles through sobriety

• Motherhood and recovery

• Quitting smoking and reclaiming the physical voice

• How trauma lives in the body — and in the voice

• Music as medicine and facilitating healing through sound

• Using breath, vibration, and expression as tools for transformation

Shylah also shares insights from her work as a professional vocal coach and creator of Soul Voice Singing, explaining how reconnecting with your voice can unlock emotional freedom, self-expression, and spiritual alignment. This episode bridges addiction recovery, trauma healing, creativity, and spirituality — offering hope and practical insight for anyone seeking deeper healing. If you've ever struggled to speak your truth, break unhealthy patterns, or reconnect with your authentic self, this conversation is for you.

About the Guest

Shylah Ray Sunshine is a multi-award-winning Neo-Soul and R&B artist, DJ, professional vocal coach, and proud First Nations Algonquin woman based in Los Angeles. Her music has been shared worldwide, and her work focuses on healing, empowerment, and authentic expression.

Learn more about Shylah Ray Sunshine and her Soul Voice Singing work at:

www.shylahraysunshine.com

In this episode of I Love Being Sober, Tim Westbrook sits down with Grammy Award–winning composer and sound healing pioneer Barry Goldstein to explore how music can be used as medicine for mental health, nervous system regulation, sleep, and addiction recovery.

Barry is the creator of Acousticeuticals™—therapeutic music designed to support emotional regulation, reduce stress, and guide the brain into more coherent and regulated states. His work has been used in hospitals, treatment centers, medical practices, and research settings, and he has collaborated with leaders such as Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Joe Dispenza, and Dave Asprey.

Tim shares his personal experience using the sleep playlist Barry created with Dr. Daniel Amen, which he listens to every night as part of his recovery and mental health routine. Together, they break down why certain music works, how sound impacts the brain and nervous system, and how people in recovery can use music intentionally to calm anxiety, quiet negative self-talk, and improve sleep.

This conversation blends neuroscience, frequency, energy, and practical tools, making it especially relevant for anyone navigating anxiety, trauma, burnout, or addiction recovery.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How music regulates the nervous system

• The science behind sound, frequency, and brain states

• Why music can reduce anxiety and emotional overwhelm

• How to biohack your brain with intentional music

• The role of music in trauma healing and recovery

• Why sleep-focused music improves sleep quality, not just sleep duration

• How to build a simple music practice for mental health and recovery

Whether you're in recovery, a mental health professional, or someone looking for natural tools to support emotional regulation and sleep, this episode offers a powerful new way to think about music as medicine.

In this episode of I Love Being Sober, Tim Westbrook sits down in person with Jaime Vinck, President of The Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, to have an honest, no-hype conversation about addiction treatment and recovery.

Jaime is the author of The Rehab Playbook: Demystifying Addiction Treatment, a guide written to help people in treatment and their families understand what rehab actually does, why it sometimes falls short, and how to approach recovery with clarity instead of confusion.

Recorded live at Camelback Recovery Treatment Center in front of outpatient clients, this conversation speaks directly to people who are:

• Currently in treatment
• Early in recovery
• Returning to treatment after relapse
• Skeptical due to past treatment experiences
• Family members trying to help without causing harm

Together, Tim and Jaime explore why rehab isn't a "fix," how trauma and mental health influence addiction, what accountability really means in recovery, and why aftercare and daily structure matter more than motivation alone.

This episode also addresses common misconceptions about rehab, including:

• Why treatment doesn't always work the way people expect
• How broken or poorly matched programs can impact recovery
• Why relapse is not a moral failure
• What ethical, effective addiction treatment actually looks like

If you or someone you love is navigating addiction treatment, recovery, or the decision to seek help, this conversation offers realistic hope, practical insight, and a clearer understanding of the recovery process — without shame, fear, or false promises.