Addiction & Recovery Conversations with Brett Lovins

I have to be diligent, and stories like these are a great reminder of why. No matter how long I am sober, I have to know in my bones that I have this disease and I'll never be cured. I can never again drink safely, moderately, normally. Thank you Jim for sharing your story of being sober 24 years and what happened when you tested out what happened when you drank again.

Other useful links from Brett:

• Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
• Brett's YouTube channel
• Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
• Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
• Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
• Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.

I'm proud to work for Cisco Systems and honored that I got to share my story and have a conversation with Dr. Mira Zein as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. Dr. Zein is Cisco's Corporate Behavioral Health Director and someone that our company turns to in matters related to mental health. She and I recorded this in one take, completely improvised... we cover a lot of topics including: genetics, treatment, shame and stigma, and much more. I'm grateful to have had this conversation and grateful that she and the Cisco Benefits Team were cool with me sharing it on my podcast. If you want to learn more about substance use disorder, addiction and treatment, I can recommend Shatterproof.org.

Other useful links from Brett:

• Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
• Brett's YouTube channel
• Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
• Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
• Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
• Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.

Megan Tweedy lost her brother, Jeff Meyer, to a Fentanyl overdose Feb 20, 2022. Megan is a friend of mine, her husband is too... and so was Jeff. Jeff had lots of people who loved him. He lit up a room when he walked in, someone with whom conversation were easy and engaging, a guy who could make you belly laugh repeatedly. Lots of people miss Jeff. Since his passing, Megan has become an activist for Fentanyl education and overdose prevention. In this conversation, we'll touch on several aspects of the Fentanyl crisis. We hope you will learn some things in listening to our chat. Additional links to explore for more information and to obtain Naloxone/Narcan: Shatterproof.org and Stopoverdose.org.

Other useful links from Brett:

• Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
• Brett's YouTube channel
• Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
• Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
• Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
• Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.

In this conversation, I'll be asking Jim Mick to share some of his recovery story. We cover many topics including his involvement with AA alternatives: LifeRing Recovery and Recovery Dharma. Additionally, Jim talks about a recovery program that we met in for musicians: MusiCares. And finally, where I got my start: Alcoholic Anonymous (AA). As I've mentioned before, I'm an Ambassador for the non-profit recovery organization, Shatterproof.org. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction (also known as Substance Use Disorder), the links above may be helpful.

Other useful links from Brett:

• Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
• Brett's YouTube channel
• Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
• Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
• Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
• Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.

This eye-opening conversation with HR executive Michael Erisman discusses some barriers that can prevent meaningful support for employees in or seeking recovery.
Michael shares his powerful personal journey, beginning with a sobering realization on his 25th birthday that changed everything: "If you don't make radical changes, you won't see 30." Since that moment in 1989, his path through recovery has intertwined with a distinguished HR career spanning companies like Microsoft and GE across 160 countries.
Together we explore why companies default to the "box-checking exercise" of Employee Assistance Programs rather than creating truly recovery-friendly cultures. Michael challenges the common objections—fears of litigation, concerns about maintaining workplace social events, and uncertainties about appropriate boundaries—while offering practical wisdom for organizations ready to evolve.
What makes this conversation particularly valuable is how it bridges personal experience with professional expertise. Michael articulates what he calls "the air, food and water" of effective management: clear goals, feedback loops, and creating environments where people feel valued. These fundamentals create the psychological safety necessary for employees to seek help when struggling with substance use issues.
The potential impact extends far beyond those currently in recovery. As Michael puts it, "On the other side of recovery are some of the most amazing employees you can ever possibly get." People who have walked through addiction and recovery often bring extraordinary gratitude, honesty, and perspective to their work—qualities any employer should value.
Ready to explore how recovery-friendly practices could transform your workplace? This conversation provides both inspiration and practical next steps for creating environments where recovery is visible, normalized, and celebrated.

Other useful links from Brett:

• Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
• Brett's YouTube channel
• Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
• Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
• Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
• Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.