In this episode, Michael Prichard interviews Matt Martin. Matt is a person in long-term recovery from opioid and alcohol addiction. He is almost 8 years clean and sober. Matt works in the treatment and recovery space doing business development and outreach. He is also in a relationship with another person in recovery. Risk factors of affluence, opioid addiction and recovery, addiction treatment, and spirituality in recovery are some of the topics discussed in this episode.

Futures/Now Disclaimer: All views, opinions, and personal stories, expressed by Guest Participants on the Better Than Well Podcast episodes are so current views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) and do not reflect the views and opinions of The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations that were used to disseminate the show. The Guest Participant’s views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) expressed on the Better Than Well Podcast are based on information they considered accurate and reliable, but neither The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations warrant its complete accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.

This week, Michael Prichard interviews Taelor Wells. Taelor is a licensed marriage and family therapist and person in recovery with lived experience of an eating disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and alcoholism. Born into a two-parent middle class family, she shares her story of developing addiction and mental health problems despite growing up in a stable home with a relatively “normal” childhood, and how she got sober at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Taelor is 2 years sober and is passionate about serving through her 12 step program to help others achieve sobriety. Professionally, Taelor currently provides therapy to adults and is certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to treat clients’ underlying trauma. In this episode, Taelor will share what she has learned through her personal experience and clinical training as her keys to success in order to maintain long-term recovery for co-occurring conditions.

Futures/Now Disclaimer: All views, opinions, and personal stories, expressed by Guest Participants on the Better Than Well Podcast episodes are so current views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) and do not reflect the views and opinions of The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations that were used to disseminate the show. The Guest Participant’s views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) expressed on the Better Than Well Podcast are based on information they considered accurate and reliable, but neither The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations warrant its complete accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.

In this episode, Michael Prichard interviews Brian Semsem. Brian is the founder and CEO of Anago Consulting Inc., a local organization specializing in Neuroinformed Human Development Training and Consulting. Brian is also the CSO, Chief Strategy Officer, and Co-founder of Brain Wise Solutions, a non-profit organization in Fresno whose mission is to empower systems change through human development and training, grounded in the principles of neuroscience, cultural responsivity, racial equity, and social justice.

Brian has been married to his best friend Jessica for 25 years, they have 8 children (5 biological, 2 adoptive, and 1 foster child) and 9 grandchildren.

Brian has over 20 years of experience working with youth and families in under-resourced communities in various settings, including substance abuse treatment, foster care, group homes, and faith-based setting as a youth leader and lead pastor. Brian recently graduated from California State University Fresno with a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) program. Brian has served as:

Director of Parent Education with Exceptional Parenting Unlimited

Director of Recreational Resilience with Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP)

Additionally, Brian has served on the leadership committee as a co-facilitator of the Fresno County Trauma & Resilience Network, providing education, training, and support to cross-sector stakeholders throughout Fresno County.

In this interview, Michael and Brian discuss the common thread of childhood and adult trauma that is threaded through the stories told in previous episodes. This is a great episode. You want to miss this one.

Note: The book mentioned by the guest in the episode is "Training for Change" 1st ed. 2019 Edition by Moreland-Capuia 

Futures/Now Disclaimer: All views, opinions, and personal stories, expressed by Guest Participants on the Better Than Well Podcast episodes are so current views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) and do not reflect the views and opinions of The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations that were used to disseminate the show. The Guest Participant’s views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) expressed on the Better Than Well Podcast are based on information they considered accurate and reliable, but neither The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations warrant its complete accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.

Intimate Partner Violence Part: 3

In this episode, Michael Prichard interviews Ileana Hererra. Ileana is a mother of two grown daughters, she has 3 grandchildren, and has been in a healthy intimate relationship for the last 18 years. Raised in a religious home with domestic violence, she was conditioned to “victim mentality”. She experienced Domestic Violence herself as a teen mom. She will be sharing stories and the struggles that come with domestic violence residue and how victim mentality has caused some stunted development in her faith walk. Ileana has worked with victims of domestic violence for over 2 decades within a domestic violence agency in Fresno CA and is considered a subject matter expert. In 2001 she was recognized by Fresno County Probation for sharing her survival story with youth at Elkhorn Bootcamp and given “Cool Women of America” and “Outstanding Citizen” awards for working with victims of domestic violence in rural Fresno County. Family patterns of abuse, cycle of violence, child impacts, spirituality, services for victims of domestic violence, and more topics are discussed in this episode. Don't miss it.

Warning: This episode may be triggering for listeners who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). This episode does contain some profanity. Due to the prevalence of intimate partner violence in society today, I have included some national and local resources below.

Domestic Violence Hotline:

https://www.thehotline.org/ ⁠1.800.799.SAFE (7233)⁠

Marjorie Mason Center (Fresno CA)

⁠(559) 233-HELP⁠(4357)⁠HELP@MMCENTER.ORG⁠

Futures Now: Disclaimer

All views, opinions, and personal stories, expressed by Guest Participants on the Better Than Well Podcast episodes are so current views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) and do not reflect the views and opinions of The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations that were used to disseminate the show. The Guest Participant’s views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) expressed on the Better Than Well Podcast are based on information they considered accurate and reliable, but neither The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations warrant its complete accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.

Intimate Partner Violence Part 2:

In this episode, Michael Prichard interviews Tanya Villines. She is a mother of four girls and is an Intimate Partner Violence survivor. Tanya is the mother of the guest in Part 1 (Episode 23) of this series on Intimate Partner Violence and she agreed to share her story.

Warning: This episode may be triggering for listeners who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Due to the prevalence of intimate partner violence in society today, I have included some national and local resources below.

Domestic Violence Hotline:

https://www.thehotline.org/ 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)

Marjorie Mason Center (Fresno CA)

(559) 233-HELP(4357)
HELP@MMCENTER.ORG

Futures Now: Disclaimer

All views, opinions, and personal stories, expressed by Guest Participants on the Better Than Well Podcast episodes are so current views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) and do not reflect the views and opinions of The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations that were used to disseminate the show. The Guest Participant’s views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) expressed on the Better Than Well Podcast are based on information they considered accurate and reliable, but neither The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations warrant its complete accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.

Intimate Partner Violence Part 1:

In this episode, Michael Prichard interviews Isis Villines. Isis is 19 years old. She grew up in a home where both of her parents were using drugs and domestic violence was the norm. The chaos in the home ultimately contributed to her being removed by CPS and placed in foster care. Life circumstances led to mental health struggles down the road for Isis and she is here to tell us her story and what healing has looked like for her. The impact of childhood exposure to intimate partner violence, parental drug use, homeless, resiliency, healing from mental health challenges, and more are discussed in this episode.

Warning: This episode may be triggering for listeners who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Due to the prevalence of intimate partner violence in society today, I have included some national and local resources below.

Domestic Violence Hotline:

https://www.thehotline.org/ 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)

Marjorie Mason Center (Fresno CA)

(559) 233-HELP(4357)
HELP@MMCENTER.ORG

Futures Now: Disclaimer

All views, opinions, and personal stories, expressed by Guest Participants on the Better Than Well Podcast episodes are so current views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) and do not reflect the views and opinions of The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations that were used to disseminate the show. The Guest Participant’s views and opinions (including the guest's personal stories) expressed on the Better Than Well Podcast are based on information they considered accurate and reliable, but neither The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations warrant its complete accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.

In this episode, Michael Prichard interviews Rose Kirchgessner. Rose is a mother and grandmother. She is a person in long-term recovery from substance addiction. She has been in recovery for close to 12 years. She currently works at WestCare in Fresno, CA, as a Substance Use Disorder Counselor in outpatient treatment, and she is here to tell us her recovery story. Factors that contribute to addiction, addiction in the family system, spirituality, recovery success, and life as an addiction professional are discussed in this podcast.

Futures Now: Disclaimer

All views, opinions, and personal stories, expressed by Guest Participants on the Better Than Well Podcast episodes are so current views and opinions (including their personal stories) and do not reflect the views and opinions of The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations that were used to disseminate the show. The Guest Participant’s views and opinions (including their personal stories) expressed on the Better Than Well Podcast are based on information they considered accurate and reliable, but neither The Better Than Well Podcast host (Michael Prichard), Covenant Training and Consulting, or any affiliate organizations warrant its complete accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.