For those who love someone with the disease of addiction; hear the stories that rarely get told.

As a Hazelden Betty Ford counselor for 23 years, I worked with thousands of patients and family members who struggled with the disease of addiction.

I also have personal experience with food addiction and co-dependency; as such, I know the journey from the perspective of the person with the disease and that of someone who loves them.

I wanted to serve families more comprehensively. One way to do that was to launch my family coaching business, Embrace Family Recovery and the other was through my heart-centered service project, The Embrace Family Recovery Podcast.

I knew I would get the opportunity to work with a few of the millions of families hurting due to the family disease of addiction. I wanted to do a service project where anyone anywhere could listen and hear a story they identify with, learn from various professionals and authors, and begin to feel less alone. My podcast listeners are typically those loved ones, whether parents, siblings, partners, children, friends, or more.
 

I knew I would get the opportunity to work with a few of the millions of families hurting due to the family disease of addiction. I wanted to do a service project where anyone anywhere could listen and hear a story they identify with, learn from various professionals and authors, and begin to feel less alone.

My initial goal was to create a space for community and for those loved ones to hear other stories of struggles, triumphs, and real life from people in similar positions. I know that resources focused on the loved ones of someone with the disease of addiction are less available and yet equally needed. I know first-hand and through working with thousands of families over 23 years how isolating the disease of addiction is. I wanted to create a place where those suffering did not have to feel so alone. I began making my podcast in January, and in February 2021, I launched my trailer and first episode. So one month to record and then release!
 

The Embrace Family Recovery Podcast is the primary platform for my coaching business, and it is included in my weekly business activities. I am the solo funder of my podcast. Episodes have aired weekly, with at least one break for a few months annually so that I can recharge my battery; that's a non-negotiable in recovery. Each episode takes roughly 4 hours to produce, from interviewing my amazing guests and sending it to my fantastic editor. My excellent virtual assistant helps with Social Media and makes me look good!
 

The biggest thing I gain from podcasting is the feeling that I am contributing to a woefully underserved community. The conversations I am able to have with loved ones, authors, and other professionals are fulfilling personally and professionally. Receiving reviews and comments that thank me for showcasing someone's stories and hearing that people are no longer feeling so alone after listening is something that fills my cup every time.

I am just now opening my podcast to prospective sponsors as my primary focus was to share the message of family recovery being vital and possible for my community.
 

My podcasting journey began in my closet with a microphone and my laptop. I use Audacity and Zoom to record the episodes and Buzzsprout to launch them. I edited my first episode, which took me 18 hours, so I hired an editor early. Thanks to my decades working in addiction, guests were easy to find, generous people wanted to share to help others, and then people began to find me, and my reach has expanded.

My preparation is minimal as I want the conversations to feel like two people sharing over a cup of coffee, and you get to listen in.
 

My biggest channel is iTunes, with 41% of listeners tuning in there and another 19% tuning in from Apple apps.

The strongest marketing channel is word of mouth and referrals from fellow clinicians from my time as a counselor at Hazelden Betty Ford.
 

When I began the podcast in February of 2021, the number of downloads was four/ten. I was given wise counsel; imagine them as individuals in a room where you speak, not as numbers. Incredibly helpful, and to think of over 15,000 people in a room is beyond my wildest dreams. That's my top tip for a new podcaster; imagine every download as one more person in the room with you. It doesn't matter if you assume they're your friends and family; they are people choosing to spend their time listening to you, and that's invaluable. One thing I have discovered that could have been more obvious at the beginning is that as much as you can do all of the podcast work yourself; interviewing, editing, music selection, etc., it is worth getting support if you can! This is my primary business platform and a service project; I LOVE my podcast. It is also a lot of work. With my fantastic editor and VA's support, I can stay more present during my interviews with amazing guests instead of getting mired in editing. The Buzzsprout Newsletter, and You Tube have been valuable resources for my podcasting journey.
 

My website is www.embracefamilyrecovery.com. That's the best way to stay up to date on my offerings and reach out via the contact form. You can also email me at margaret@embracefamilyrecovery.com. If you are on social media, I have a Facebook page at Embrace Family Recovery and an Instagram and LinkedIn page under the same name.