One on One With Coach Blu: The Rebound
On today's podcast Coach Blu and Athletic Director Marissa talk about lessons learned from Covid 19, the keys to staying ahead of the illness, among other interesting insights. Coach Blu speaks about his 25 years of sobriety and they process emotional capacity and how much you're able to give others who seem to take and consume more than they produce.
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The Reps Keep You Sober
This week's episode focuses on aspects of keeping you on the path to recovery. So what happens when you relapse? What happens when sobriety loses its purpose? Listen as Max Hall, Brock Bevell, and Blu Robinson discuss how to avoid getting hit on your blindside. Listen as they describe how setbacks aren't reasons for you to restart your recovery but rather opportunities for growth and change. Mistakes create opportunities for us to become humble, more aware, and understand the principle of consistency. Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent. It's about you getting consistent with a routine, practicing your recovery and your daily life, and keeping your head on a swivel to ensure you never get hit on your blindside.
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Remembering Superman
Athletes, today we are dropping a very special episode. This was the very first interview I was able to do with the late Coach David Clark in 2017. Having thought this episode was lost when our former platform Pod Bash moved to the Radio Ronan network, I was happy to have found this episode and relive the chemistry, content, and friendship that developed from this meeting. In the short time, we were able to know David he taught us a lot about life, sobriety, and of course living every moment as if it's your last.
We lost Coach David Clark following a surgery he had last May. February 5, 2021, would have been Coach Clark's 50th birthday. What a fitting tribute to be able to re-experience the relationship we had with Coach Clark. Listen and enjoy as we discuss so many of the founding principles Addict to Athlete has come to know.
David shares his story of recovery from alcohol. He shares how he went from a 320lb alcoholic to ultra runner, coach, vegan, and sober warrior.
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How To Balance Recovery
Today Coach Blu and Athletic Director Marissa speak in detail on how to create, establish and maintain a balance while in recovery. There can be a great deal of time, energy, and resources, and money invested in maintaining the newly established recovery? Many times, we can become hyper fixated on our personal recovery which can distract us from the other aspects of our lives that are truly important. Many times, family systems get left out of the recovery process and then have a difficult time understanding the changes that have been made within a loved one's long-term goals. This podcast discusses points of interest on establishing balance, how to maintain motivation, and experiences associated with mindsets crucial for long-term success.
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page for only $2 per month and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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The Playbook of Recovery
This week's podcast takes a deep dive as Max Hall, Brock Bevell, and Blu Robinson discuss principles around developing your own recovery playbook. Listen as they discuss attributes of sobriety, choosing the people that will help you navigate through the difficult and challenging times that you will face on the road to recovery. It's important to know your opponent and be able to emotionally and mentally strategize. Do you offer yourself a winning mindset? From recognizing triggers and warning signs to preparing each day for a victory using Brocks's five daily "To-Do List", this podcast helps you make your mark and take your place in recovery.
Brock Bevell's 5 Daily "To Do's"
1. Something you will do today.
2. Something you will pay today.
3. Something you will resolve today.
4. Someone you will call today.
5. Something to get over today.
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One on One With Coach Blu: Depression and Perspective
On today's podcast Coach Blu fields questions from the listeners. Listen as he takes a deep dive into several listeners who have been experiencing depression. Coach also answers a question specifically about pornography addiction in the best ways to approach the issue with a loved one. And finally, how to look at a situation through a different mindset to change the perspective of what the situation is and how it could be better or how it could be worse.
One on One With Coach Blu is our weekly call-in show and bears live every Wednesday at 7 PM Mountain standard time. Access can be gained through our social media outlets, YouTube, Facebook live, or the zoom platform. Coach Blu is a licensed mental health therapist and a substance use disorder counselor.
Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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Agents Of Recovery: Meet The Agents Of Recovery
Welcome to The Agents of Recovery Podcast. Listen to the NFL's Max Hall, Coach Blu Robinson of Team Addict II Athlete, and Brock Bevell of Chase the Vase. They help men overcome addiction, produce a more excellent lifestyle, and inspire movement from being a victim of addiction to an agent of recovery. These men in recovery come together to address addiction, recovery, communication, and relationship roadblocks that hinder hope and healing.
For more information follow our FaceBook Page. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Boston Strong with Henry Ward
Today's guest is ultra-runner an advocate of recovery, Henry Ward. Henry discusses the intricacy of his addiction, how difficult and challenging it was to uproot himself from his hometown of Boston Massachusetts, and make a fresh life in Arizona. Then to have that fresh life consumed once again by alcoholism, emotional isolation, and ultimately therapeutic intervention. Listen as he describes how difficult it was navigating addiction with a new marriage and how his choice of turning his life over to something of greater value has created a path to recovery, stronger relationships, and ultra running. Henry shares how he moved from addict to ultrarunner and more.
Learn more about Henry Ward's efforts to advocate for sobriety through his nonprofit program Running Without the Devil.
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athletes Patreon support page and help us turn the massive addiction into the message of sobriety!
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The Minor League: Find Your Passion
On today's podcast, 15 yo host Savannah discusses how to find your passion. What happens when you have a shift or a change of heart? How to work through balancing your time, your talents, and energy into what will bring you the most happiness?
Would you like bonus episodes, exclusive offers, and one of a kind team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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One on One With Coach Blu: Rising Above The Negativity
On tonight's episode of One on One with Coach Blu, the topic of rising above the negative mentality kicks off the conversation. Coach Blu gives tips and suggestions on how to avoid ruminating on negative emotions. We answer listeners' questions. One on One with Coach Blu is Addict to Athlete's weekly live call-in show. Join us every Wednesday at 7 PM MST. Jump on our social media pages to join or ask your questions on Facebook Live.
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety and recovery!
Dr. Bob Lynn: Recovery Takes Place In Our Community
On today's podcast Coach Blu talks with Dr. Bob Lynn, National and International Professional Clinical Advisor, Professor, Trainer, and Researcher. Dr. Bob has served in the addiction recovery world for over 50 years. He is the founder of the Addiction and Behavioral Health Alliance and has a unique view of the history and trends of addiction recovery.
Listen as Coach Blu and Dr. Bob discuss client-centered recovery, the need for more impactful programs with measurable outcomes. They discuss the importance of long term care and supportive communities to help people reach long term recovery. Dr. Bob provides insight, hope, love, and motivation simply by seeing each individual and working to address their needs. Dr. Bob's patient-centered approach of meeting the person where they are, to see their unique gifts and talents to strengthen the whole person has truly promoted change, hope, and direction in thousands of individuals. If you or a loved one have ever struggled with addiction, this is a podcast not to be missed so that you may be aware of the best kind of treatment for addiction recovery.
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page for only $2 per month and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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The Minor League: Your Story
Today the 15 yo host Savannah and Coach Blu discuss how important it is to share your story. Do not be afraid that you will be judged but rather who you can inspire. Our history is what helped shape our future so don't let the past define who you will become, let it serves as the foundation and launching pad for your future. They address some issues of being a child of an addict and alcoholic and how to work through it.
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page for only $2 per month and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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One on One With Coach Blu: Turn It Off
One on One with Coach Blu is our weekly call-in show, Wednesdays 7 pm MST. Today we discussed several questions that you, the listeners have for Coach Blu. Today we talk about knowing your emotional capacity, turning off all of the social media news so that you don't get overtaken by the political unrest and, speak with an athlete directly about her motivation to seek support rather than keeping it bottled up. One on One with Coach Blu is an opportunity for you to ask questions about addiction, mental health, or anything that you want to seek advice, resolution, or simply to get it off your chest.
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page for only $2 per month and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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Being A Child Of An Alcoholic And Addict
Today Coach Blu speaks with Team Captain and Athlete Holly Davies. Listen as Coach Blu and Holly open up about being the child of an alcoholic and addict in the family system. Children of alcoholics and addicts often have to deny their feelings of sadness, fear, and anger in order to survive. Since unresolved feelings will always surface eventually, they often manifest during adulthood. Listen as they discuss similarities between what they both learned growing up in a home where addiction was so prevalent. There are many ways that children of alcoholics or children of an addict navigate the family system and when the right principles are applied, can break the cycle of addiction for their own family. Athlete Davies gives amazing insight into what it's like growing up in such a home and then, watching the healing process begin. There is forgiveness, understanding, and accountability that is learned and can be heard as she says, "Being a child of an addict is part of my story. It doesn't define who I am." This is an amazing opportunity for anyone who struggled with addiction and their family system to know how it affects the children.
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page for only $2 per month and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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One on One With Coach Blu: 2021 Kick-off
Listen to One on One With Coach Blu as we kick-off 2021 answering questions from you. Coach Blu answers questions about life after relapse, what happens now that you are sober, choosing your own starting line, and building relationships after addiction.
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page for only $2 per month and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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Is Addiction A Disease Or Choice?
Today Coach Blu talks to Dr. Faried Banimahd the founder, CEO, and Clinical Director of American Addiction Institute of Mind and Medicine as well as the founder and clinical director of Zephyr Medical Group. He has years of experience as a Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at both UCLA and UC Irvine School of Medicine. Dr. B has a great history and understanding of addiction, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), evidenced-based practices, individualized treatment, and research.
Listen to this fascinating conversation that answers the question of whether addiction is a disease or a choice. They also cover medical marijuana, harm reduction, and if the old adage of once an addict always an addict is really true.
Find more from Dr. B on YouTube and TikTok
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page for only $2 per month and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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Minor League: Hello 2021
It's 2021 and Minor Leaguer Savannah and Coach Blu talk about things they've learned along the way. Listen as they talk about how important family time has been, how relationships have increased due to open communication, and a very emotional window into the parent-child relationship towards the end of the podcast. As parents, we only have a limited amount of time to be the best parent we can be. Teenagers, being open and honest, and genuine with your parents will bring you closer to a true relationship. Open communication, how to speak to your teenager, how to speak to your parent, are a few things you learn on this week's minor-league podcast.
Would you like bonus episodes of the added as a podcast, exclusive offers, and one of the time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page for only $2 per month and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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Can You Be Addicted To Food?
We are happy to have been guests on Brian Shellabarger's 100 down, Weightix podcast several months ago. Brian asked Marissa and me to be part of a discussion specifically asking the question, is there such thing as being addicted to food, can you be a food addict, and do you have a food addiction? I hope you enjoy this deep dive that Brian drove through his podcast and that you also feel his passion for helping people achieve goals that even he thought were impossible at one time. Addictions come in all shapes and sizes and on behalf of our team, we hope that in the 2021 season of Extracurricular Recovery, you will join team Addict to Athlete and achieve the goals you never thought possible. Happy new year athletes, and more importantly, happy sober New Year! Check out this blog post for more information about this topic. If you want support from Brian’s Weightix program use code '“A2A”
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Podcast Transcript
Introductions:
Blu -- 60-second introduction of himself, and A2A, and his role. (REALLY quick intro.. because I want to dive deeper into A2A and their approach about 15-20m into the podcast).
Jared - 60-second introduction. REALLY quick mention of heart-attack, decided it was time to do something, lost a ton of weight, decided to run a half marathon.. trained hard and did it... and then gained all the weight back (fairly quickly).... And now struggles with staying committed to it, even though his life is (quite literally) on the line.
How do you know if you’re addicted to something? [read phrases, let Blu common if that sounds like addiction or not..] Common phrases I hear:
"I'm not addicted to food. But I tend to rely on food as a coping mechanism when I get stressed or emotional."
"I'm not addicted to food. But I just really feel like I need 'comfort food' sometimes... Like when I'm sick, or when I've had a tough day"
"I'm not addicted to food. But even when I'm full, I still find myself reaching for my favorite snacks.. [chips, cake, etc.]"
"I'm not addicted to food.. But my doctor told me that if I don't lose some weight, I'm going to die soon.. but I just can't seem to stay committed to it.."
"I'm not addicted to food.. but many times in my life I've lost 20 to 100 lbs, and then within a few months, I just fall back on old habits and put all the weight right back on."
Tell us about AIIA.. and what’s your role? (Want to spend at least 10-15m on what AIIA is.. You might honestly find people in Weightix who resonate with what you're doing, and want to join... even though the "substance" they are addicted to is different).
What is the difference between a “drug user” and a “drug addict”.. (does that also apply to a “food eater” and a “food addict”?)... I’ve had conversations with soo many people who are overweight who don’t believe they are addicted to food... But also can’t often say no when faced with temptation. (Is that because “addiction” is such a hard word to own? Or is there really a possibility they aren’t addicted.. )
(My own journey.. I realized I was addicted when I would be eating two double whoppers for lunch... and the only thing I could think about WHILE THE FOOD WAS IN MY MOUTH was what delicious thing I was going to have for dinner...).
How do you balance, “you are beautiful, you are perfect just the way you are” with “you’re addicted to something that’s going to kill you and you need to change.”
”Admitting you have a problem” is the first step. What’s the second step?
I know you’re not a fan of the “12 step process”... talk about that. What's wrong with it? What do you like instead?
Jared has an amazing story.. and one of the ways he stayed so focused on his weight loss journey not too long ago was to make a goal to run a half marathon.. he crushed that goal... but lost focus after that.. What do you tell your athletes to keep them focused for the next few days.. weeks.. months.. years?
One of the things I love saying is that if you rely on motivation, you’ll always come up short — because it’s never there when you need it. I use the word “discipline” as a lot, as a substitute for motivation. How does discipline fit into this? Where does motivation fit?
Why is it that we can be so powerfully motivated to change our life.. but the first time we’re faced with a chance to prove we’ve changed... we crash and burn?
How do you break an addiction to something you need to survive? (Unlike substance.. we NEED food). further, one of the best ways to break addiction is to remove yourself from situations where you’re tempted. (Recovering alcoholics are taught to avoid bars, for example). How do we do that in the context of food, junk food, etc.. when it’s basically everywhere? You can’t even go to work without having someone offer you a plate of early-death.
I think there's a "stigma" about substance abusers.. I've seen people who are sitting in the McDonalds drive-through with a twinkie in their hand talk about ashamed they are of (someone they know) who is working through addiction, and cleaning up their life.
”You are the average of your 5 closest friends” — really resonated with me. I know when I started losing weight, my social circle changed. Talk about this... Do people need to get rid of their friends? Is that really how this works? What about being around family who aren't on board? For example, it would be really difficult to quit heroin if your spouse and kids all did heroin every day, and had absolutely no desire to change that... What's the best way to approach this? How do we help our loved ones understand what we're going through and what do we tell them so they can help?
Why do you think being an athlete is “the” angle to fighting addiction?
[Brian will] briefly mention the previous podcast on the secret to weight maintenance is daily exercise... 95% of people who los a significant amount of weight will gain it back wihin 1-2 years... The 5% who are exceptions all have one thing in common.. they started exercising daily.. (not "steps"... dedicated, put on workout clothes, and SWEAT kind of exercise).
One of the key tenants of breaking addiction is admitting that you’re going to fail sometimes... I hate telling people this... because they end up using it as an excuse in that moment of weakness “Ah.. I was told I was going to fail sometimes.. so I might as well have the cupcake.. ... How do you balance the “you’re going to fail sometimes” message with “stop failing”.
Question from Keith Collins: [paraphrasing a LOT..] Is the only way to recover from food addiction to never take that first unplanned bite? Cause once an addict unleashes the addiction, it takes over and ruins everything. What are some practical ways a food addict goes about recovery? Sometimes a cheat bite unleashes the monster for me and binge eating occurs, other times not. How do you handle the holidays where the ENTIRE CULTURE is built around consuming junk food?
Brian's Answer..
PLAN your cheat meals ahead of time.. if you didn't plan to eat it 24 hours ago.. you don't get to eat it.
Many people let a cheat MEAL turn into a cheat DAY, which turns into a cheat WEEKEND.. which turns into a cheat WEEK... which turns into, "Eh.. I guess I don't care about losing weight anymore."
Sugar tends to be particularly bad. For some people, a single bite of a sugary treat can send them on a full-on junk-food binging session. (Will fit this in somewhere)"
Rose Hunter: Wants "self-help" suggestions because going to counseling is "out of the question for several reasons".
How do you measure progress during an addiction-recovery journey? (It's easy with weight-loss.. since there are lots of black and white data points to show you... number on the scale, BF%, etc.)
Officer Down, But Not Out
Today Coach Blu interviews Brock Bevell and the incredible story of fulfilling a lifetime dream of becoming a law enforcement officer, working undercover then following a terrible accident, falling into the world of addiction, a world he never thought he would ever cross into. Listen as Brock describes falling into the grips of addiction after losing his identity, job, and relationships, only to find spiritual redemption through the process of erasing the addiction and replacing it with purpose, service, and compassion. It is true that addiction does not discriminate and this powerful story reinforces the fact that once an addict always an addict is simply not true.
Would you like bonus episodes, exclusive offers, and one of a kind time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete’s Patreon support page and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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What Do You Have To Give?
Merry Christmas Athletes! Holidays can often be a struggle. Listen as Coach Blu offers insight into the gift every addict, has within. In recovery, the light can overpower the dark but the talent you have can come forward. Never forget who you are and what gifts you have to give the world.
Would you like bonus episodes, exclusive offers, and one of a kind time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete’s Patreon support page and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
Listen to Addict II Athlete’s podcasts also on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Libsyn, Radio Ronin, TuneIn, Google Podcasts, Pandora, and iHeart Radio