End It For Good

In this episode, Christina sits down with Kathie McKinney, a parent, SMART Family & Friends facilitator, and advocate for families impacted by addiction. Kathie shares her own journey of moving from fear, frustration, and trying to “fix” the problem to learning how trust, empathy, and communication can transform relationships.

They discuss why families need support and skills of their own, how approaches like motivational interviewing and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) can help loved ones respond differently, and why creating a safe space for honest conversations can make all the difference in recovery.

If you love someone struggling with substance use, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and a reminder that connection is often the starting point for change.

 

Resources:

• Allies in Recovery: https://alliesinrecovery.net/
• Center for Motivation and Change: https://motivationandchange.com/
• Helping Families Help: https://helpingfamilieshelp.com/
• Hopestream Podcast: https://hopestreamcommunity.org
• Partnership to End Addiction: https://drugfree.org/
• Heather Ross Podcast: https://heatherrosscoaching.com/podcast-3/
• Put The Shovel Down: https://www.youtube.com/@PutTheShovelDown
• The School of Hard Talks: https://www.dremilykline.com/home/schoolofhardtalksonline
• SMART Recovery Family & Friends: https://smartrecovery.org/family

Ethan Nadelmann shares his insights from his four decades of experience in drug policy reform. The biggest wins, painful losses, and how we get to a healthier world.

 

Watch the TED Talk on ending the drug war by Ethan Nadelmann: https://www.ted.com/talks/ethan_nadelmann_why_we_need_to_end_the_war_on_drugs

 

Keywords: drug policy reform, marijuana legalization, harm reduction, criminal justice, psychedelics, tobacco harm reduction, public health, policy change, advocacy, Ethan Nadelmann

Christina Dent interviews Jon Seidl about his journey as a Christian who began struggling with alcohol addiction long after he became a Christian. They explore the power of storytelling, radical honesty, and practical steps for communities to support people on recovery journeys.

Resources:

• Jon's Website: https://www.jonseidl.com/
• Jon's Book: https://a.co/d/0bF1vCjY
• Veritas Recovery: https://www.veritasrecovery.org/

Keywords: faith, addiction, storytelling, recovery Christianity, mental health, sanctification, sobriety, church, vulnerability

Sam Chapman, founder of the Center for Psychedelic Policy and a driving force behind much of the psychedelic policy reform happening today, breaks down what it actually takes to move reform from idea to implementation. Drawing on Oregon’s first-in-the-nation psilocybin therapy program, he explains how the policy came together, what’s working so far, and where challenges remain. This conversation explores the intersection of mental health, regulation, and public perception—and what other states can learn before following Oregon’s lead.

Keywords: Psychedelic policy, psilocybin therapy, Oregon Measure 109, drug policy reform, psychedelic legalization, mental health treatment alternatives, regulated psychedelics

Colonel Steven Maxwell is a seasoned and decorated law enforcement officer, spending more than 30 years in narcotics work, rising to Executive Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

Maxwell shares his change of mind over the years as education and experience helped him understand addiction as a health crisis. He emphasizes the importance of listening to people and organizations that have differing viewpoints, because we can learn across differences in ways that strengthen both sides.

Esther Pilgrim is a nurse who has worked inside a prison as well as in crisis care for people with mental health challenges and those needing detox. But more importantly for this episode, she's a mother and an advocate shaped by her daughter’s struggle with addiction and incarceration. In this episode, she shares how her understanding of addiction transformed, and she and her daughter went from fighting against each other to becoming a team as they fought her addiction.

 

Links:

• About Invitation to Change: https://cmcffc.org/approach/invitation-to-change
• About CRAFT: https://motivationandchange.com/what-is-craft/

 

In this episode, State Representative Sam Creekmore from Mississippi, who is also the Chairman of the Public Health committee in the Mississippi House of Representatives, joins us to talk about new legislation he's proposing in order to open pathways for psychedelic treatment with ibogaine. Rep. Creekmore shares how he got interested in ibogaine, what he hopes this legislation will do, and why it's important in his home state of Mississippi. 

 

Links: 

• The Joe Rogan Experience podcast episode with Bryan Hubbard and Rick Perry on ibogaine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcCKDDa3MzY
• In Waves and War - Netflix documentary on veterans seeking healing through ibogaine treatment: https://www.netflix.com/title/82047468
• Mississippi Public Health Joint Committee Hearing on Ibogaine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M6cg9E9-Bk

Keywords: Ibogaine, Addiction Treatment, Psychedelic Therapy, PTSD, SUD, Traumatic Brain Injury, mental health, recovery, veterans

In this conversation, Brittany Denson shares her personal journey of recovery and the significance of events like Recovery Day at the Capitol in Mississippi. The discussion highlights the importance of community support, advocacy for legislative changes, and the role of sober living environments in the recovery process. Brittany emphasizes the need for individuals to engage in advocacy and the impact of sharing personal stories to foster understanding and support for those struggling with addiction.

 

Recovery Day 2026:

Join us January 22 at the Mississippi State Capitol for Recovery Day!

More info: https://enditforgood.com/events

 

Keywords: Recovery Day, addiction, advocacy, sober living, community support, Mississippi, mental health, recovery journey, legislative change, peer support

In this celebratory 100th episode of the End It For Good podcast, hosts Christina Dent and Bryan Mauk reflect on their favorite podcast episodes and the milestones of the organization. They also share their vision for the future in the midst of realities that are rolling back progress, such as bombing boats of suspected traffickers. Listeners are invited to share their personal stories as we look towards the next 100 episodes and the people End It For Good exists to help.

Keywords: End It For Good, addiction, recovery, milestones, outreach, community, advocacy, drug policy, personal stories, future goals, impact

In this conversation, Christina Dent and Stacey McKenna discuss the complexities of substance use, particularly in relation to motherhood and pregnancy. Stacey shares her personal journey with methamphetamine use and how it shaped her research as a medical anthropologist. They explore the impact of policies on substance use, the emotional context behind addiction, and the stigma surrounding mothers who use substances. The discussion emphasizes the importance of supportive environments and effective treatment options, particularly medications for opioid use disorder, to improve outcomes for both mothers and their children.

 

About Stacey:

Stacey McKenna is a medical anthropologist and senior fellow in integrated harm reduction at the R Street Institute. She has conducted research on substance use and addiction in the United States and Malawi. In her work with R Street, she studies and writes about how policy affects people's abilities to protect their health.

 

Keywords: substance use, addiction, motherhood, prenatal care, harm reduction, policy, recovery, stigma, mental health, support systems