Overcoming Adversity

Yes, it's true. After one full year away, the OA podcast is back with episode number 34!

We've missed you dearly which is why we wanted our first episode back to be a heartfelt one.

Sarah Frias, a nurse in SoFla and the Family Support Specialist for Next Level Recovery Associates Inc, tells her story of surviving nursing school while battling a substance use disorder, navigating motherhood in recovery, and finding time to help othe...

Episode #33 is live and today's guest is the inspirational, Bonnie Mathews!

Bonnie's story dives deep into what it's like being addicted to a loved one's addiction. Bonnie is a therapist with decades of experience in the mental health and substance use field but she is also in recovery from codependency for three decades!

Bonnie tells the story of her mother's alcoholism, how she tried to save her, and how her father's words left a...

Episode 31 is out and available for your listening pleasure.

This episode's guest is the incredible, Brent Bryant.

Brent is a Family Ambassador for Family First Adolescent Services.

He is so much more than that, though. Brent is a highly sought-after speaker and advocate for addressing mental health and substance use disorder challenges within the adolescent population. He uses his personal experiences with addiction, mental health...

Help us bring in our 30th episode by listening to this episode of the Overcoming Adversity Podcast!

On this episode, your hosts, Amanda & Blake discuss the reason its taken so long to get from episode number 29 to number 30, the importance of shifting our mindsets to overcome fear, and how entrepreneurship has changed their lives!

Episode number dirty 30 is fun, funny, and inspiring so it's highly suggested you drop what you're doi...

Episode 29 is live and ready to rock some ear drums.

Speaking of drums, our guest this week is Jordan Meyers!

Jordan was diagnosed with depression at an early age but through a series of events found him self using percussion to get out of it. Little did he know that this life of playing drums professionally and traveling the world with his band would lead him down a very dark road.

Jordan is a true inspiration today. He is an exam...

Episode 28 is live and ready for your ears and minds to ingest!

This week we have Jeremy Plummer as our guest. He shares his incredible story of overing adversity, how there must be someone looking out for him, and how we can turn our tragedies into testimonies!

Jeremy is the creator of Recovery Through Repetition which is a CrossFit based workout program for those in recovery! It's free and open to anyone in Recovery that can ...

Episode number 27 of the OA podcast is now live for your listening pleasure and we have a guest this week that just makes us smile!

This week, Felicia Kleinpeter of Imagine Recovery, fills us in on her adversity and explains what it's like going from being deemed an "unfit mother" to an inspiration to thousands!

Her story is jam packed with loss, pain, humility and, of course, overcoming adversity.

This special episode is one...

Episode #26 is live and we've got a story for you.

This week's guest is George Bullock IV. George is now happily in recovery from a substance use disorder and leading a happy life but it wasn't always that way.

After the heartbreaking, and sudden, loss of his father and then his father-like Uncle, Bob, Georgie was left alone with his mother trying to figure out how to deal with the grief. 

George's story is emotional and riveting a...

"If you want a great community around you, you have to build it!"

Those are the words Matt's mentor spoke to him while he was in early recovery from a substance use disorder (addiction). That day and those words changed his life forever.

Matt is the founder of FroPro.

But he is so much more than that. He is a teacher, a coach, a mentor, and all around spreader of positivity. That doesn't mean he didn't face adversity though!

Check ...

The OA podcast is back in action and for this episode we have an incredible guest!

Today's episode features Cheri Garcia, the founder of the Cornbread Hustle which is an organization that offers job placement to formally incarcerated individuals. 

Her story is full of twists and turns but she made one thing very clear...everyone deserves a second chance and when you give them that second chance, be ready for the amazing gifts you'r...

Welcome to Episode #23 of the Overcoming Adversity Podcast with Amanda Marino & Blake Cohen!

Collectively, as a population, we are all in the midst of some incredible Adversity. The Coronavirus has flipped the world on its ear and we are all adjusting to the infamous "new normal".

In the midst of the chaos, the hosts of the OA podcast have added a little salt and pepper to the situation by venturing out to start their own company a...

Welcome back to the Overcoming Adversity Podcast with this show's guest, Rebecca Reeder!

Rebecca's inspiring story made for a great episode! She offers incredible insight into what it's like to live with, and overcome, an eating disorder as well as a Substance Use Disorder.

She is real, vulnerable, and incredibly passionate about using her story to inspire others. She helps offer a clear message of hope in Episode #22 of the OA Pod...

First off, let me start by saying that we apologize for the dropped calls that we've poorly tried to edit out of this episode.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, you are in for a real treat with one!

Tim Clarke is the co-founder and CEO of UNCrushed.org.

In episode #21, Blake and Amanda start off with some exciting news and then dive in the interesting live of Tim Clarke discussing how he's overcome a wide array of adversit...

As you'll hear Co-host Amanda Marino say many times in this episode, the OA podcast is looking to bring this show into the "next level"!

In this episode, Amanda and Blake recap 2019 and throw out their goals for 2020. They discuss what the future of the podcast looks like and what we can expect from the upcoming guests.

There are a ton of positive changes happening, starting with an improved listening experience!

Enjoy Episode #20!...

Eric Paskin, a man in long-term recovery and owner of a Substance Use Disorder treatment facility, and his wife faced one of most difficult times of their lives just three years ago. 

As their second son was born, he became fatally ill and with only moments to live, rushed him to the hospital to attempt to save his short life. They spent 90 days in that hospital facing adversity after medical adversity but were fortunate enough to ...

You may have been thinking to yourself, "Where have Amanda and Blake been for two weeks?"

Well, this podcast episode will answer your questions as to where your favorite two show hosts have been and what they have been up to.

This episode is a series of gems from Amanda and Blake regarding their experiences with their own positive/negative adversities.

We find ourselves at a turning point for the OA podcast. It's time to throw it i...

Randy Grimes, second round draft pick into the NFL, hit the lottery when his dream of playing professional football became a reality. Little did he know that the following decade would be the greatest years of his life but shortly after he would find himself living in the worst years of his life.

This is a story of adversity in so many ways where Randy discusses with Amanda and Blake how he found himself in the NFL, how he became a...

Thank you for listening to Episode #15 of the Overcoming Adversity Podcast with your hosts, Amanda Marino and Blake Cohen!

This episode is guest-less but full of gems that can be pulled out of a conversation between Amanda and Blake.

After much turmoil and growth experiences, the two hosts discuss what their techniques are to help deal with life's daily grind and have a conversation about hope.

If there is anything we've learned fr...