How the Next Generation of Behavioral Health Leaders Is Building Culture, Trust, and AI-Driven Care

How the Next Generation of Behavioral Health Leaders Is Building Culture, Trust, and AI-Driven Care

What actually separates a future behavioral health leader from someone who's just filling a title? In this episode of Mastermined, Mark Scrivner and co-host Jeff Skillen sit down with Sam Bierman, co-founder of Maryland Addiction Recovery Center, and Ryan Brewer, co-founder and CEO of Zia Recovery Center, at NAATP National 2026 for a candid conversation on what it takes to lead a treatment organization through change without losing what made it work in the first place. Sam and Ryan trace their paths from entry-level roles to the executive chair, the mentors who shaped them, and the "hire for character, train for skill" philosophy driving their retention and culture. They dig into how they're deploying AI for documentation, staff training, and ambient meeting capture without letting it replace clinical judgment, and they get candid about where the real pressure sits: the intersection of care and finance. For behavioral health executives navigating consolidation, staffing, and rapid technology adoption, this conversation is a working blueprint for staying mission-first while still growing. Key Moments 02:39 – Sam on the mentors who shaped his 20-year career and why young leaders need to find theirs 05:30 – Ryan on what young leadership brings to a foundation already built by others 07:54 – Sam and Ryan on why comfort and trust define the client experience from the first walkthrough 10:13 – The diamond analogy: why organizations, like people, grow under pressure 15:36 – Sam and Ryan on staying "always on the Care side" of the finance-and-care intersection 20:17 – Ryan on building an AI co-pilot for staff training, admissions, and crisis response 28:24 – Sam on MARC's hiring philosophy: "We hire for character and train for skill" 33:16 – The CFO/CEO adage that shapes how both leaders think about investing in their people Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined [https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined] Connect with Sam Bierman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-bierman-cap-icadc-337b5072/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-bierman-cap-icadc-337b5072/] | https://www.marylandaddictionrecovery.com/ [https://www.marylandaddictionrecovery.com/] Connect with Ryan Brewer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-brewer-a670b823b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-brewer-a670b823b/] | https://ziarecoverycenter.com/ [https://ziarecoverycenter.com/] Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner] | https://snapshot.agency/health [https://snapshot.agency/health] Connect with Jeff Skillen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-skillen-199507/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-skillen-199507/] | https://www.skillsetenterprises.com [https://www.skillsetenterprises.com] Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health [https://snapshot.agency/health] Follow MasterMined: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined [https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined] #MasterMinedPodcast #BehavioralHealth #AddictionRecovery #BehavioralHealthLeadership #TreatmentCenterCulture #AIinHealthcare #EmergingLeaders

Adolescent Treatment in Crisis: THC, Social Media and Recovery with John Lieberman

What do 41 years in adolescent behavioral health teach you, and what does the field still get wrong? John Lieberman, CEO of Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, joined MasterMined at NAATP Nationals 2026 to break down the forces reshaping teen addiction: skyrocketing THC potency, social media's role in rewiring young brains, and why the warning signs parents have been taught to look for no longer apply. John also shares what effective adolescent treatment actually looks like, how family systems drive or derail recovery, and the story behind AYAC, one of the field's most respected annual gatherings. If you work in behavioral health, lead a treatment organization, or care about what's happening to the next generation, this conversation is essential listening. Key Moments 02:32 – John introduces himself and reveals he's been in the field since July 29, 1985 — 41 years 04:28 – Why adolescent treatment's best-kept secret is how quickly young people can change 05:40 – The three forces driving teen addiction today: THC, social media, and misinformation 06:36 – UCLA's Dr. Fong on THC and mental health: the research says zero benefits 09:40 – Why traditional warning signs of teen substance abuse no longer apply — and what parents should watch for instead 26:18 – John's philosophy of staff culture: everyone who shows up at Visions shows up because they care 39:03 – The origin story of AYAC and the late Dr. Fiona Ray's role in building the conference 42:21 – John's daughter's treatment center, Spirit Mountain Recovery, and the legacy recovery builds Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined [https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined] Connect with John Lieberman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/visionsadolescenttreatment/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/visionsadolescenttreatment/] | https://visionsteen.com/ [https://visionsteen.com/] Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner] | https://snapshot.agency/health [https://snapshot.agency/health] Connect with Jeff Skillen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-skillen-199507/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-skillen-199507/] | https://www.skillsetenterprises.com [https://www.skillsetenterprises.com] Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health [https://snapshot.agency/health] Snapshot Health | Behavioral Health Marketing Built for Growth and Impact Snapshot Health is a strategic growth and marketing partner for behavioral health organizations nationwide. We help treatment centers, mental health providers, and recovery programs grow responsibly by aligning brand, digital strategy, and patient acquisition with clinical integrity and long-term outcomes. Our team specializes in performance-driven marketing for behavioral health, including SEO, paid media, branding, marketing strategy, website development, and admissions enablement. We focus on attracting the right patients, improving conversion, and building scalable systems that support sustainable growth. Snapshot Health brings deep expertise in compliance, ethics, and trust-based marketing. We partner closely with executive teams to drive predictable admissions growth while protecting reputation, mission, and quality of care. Follow MasterMined: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined [https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined] #MasterMinedPodcast #BehavioralHealth #AdolescentTreatment #AddictionRecovery #TeenMentalHealth #THCAwareness #BehavioralHealthLeadership

AI in Behavioral Health: How a Year of Data Transformed Clinical Outcomes with Brian Wind

What happens when a clinically-minded leader decides to stop watching AI from the sidelines and actually run the experiment? Brian Wind, Ph.D., Chief Clinical Officer at JourneyPure, did exactly that, launching a year-long clinical research study into AI-assisted documentation and operations, and measuring every metric that mattered. This episode of MasterMined covers how JourneyPure implemented the Sunwave AI assistant across a multi-state system of care, the data they collected, and the outcomes that surprised even Brian. Leaders tuned in will come away with a clear-eyed, evidence-grounded playbook for evaluating AI in their own organizations, and a compelling case for why the time to move is now. Key Moments 02:07 – Brian shares his background as a psychologist, person in long-term recovery, and how personal mission drives his work 04:08 – How declining KPIs sparked the decision to explore AI integration at JourneyPure 06:00 – The logic behind consolidating into Sunwave's ecosystem before adding AI 08:50 – Year-long clinical research methodology: user satisfaction surveys at launch, 3 months, and 12 months 10:16 – Unexpected finding: the AI's biggest initial concern (accuracy) became its most celebrated benefit 11:56 – How AI-freed clinician time led to a 9% drop in AMA rates — and an estimated $14.52M annualized revenue impact 15:57 – Unused authorized days reduced from 24% to 2.5%, and the combination of factors that made it happen 25:35 – 44 minutes saved per biopsychosocial assessment; QA ratings up 46% for clinicians and 39% for medical providers 28:20 – From caution to craving more: how staff sentiment shifted completely by the one-year mark Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined Connect with Brian Wind: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-wind-7a365216b | https://journeypure.com/ Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshot.agency/health Connect with Jeff Skillen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-skillen-199507/ | https://www.skillsetenterprises.com Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health Follow MasterMined: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined #MasterMinedPodcast #BehavioralHealth #AddictionRecovery #BehavioralHealthLeadership #TreatmentCenter #AIinHealthcare #ClinicalOperations #MentalHealthLeadership

What Happens After Discharge: Closing the Gap in Addiction Recovery Care with AJ Diaz

What happens to your patients when they walk out the door? For most treatment centers, that question is answered with a sheet of paper and a handshake, and AJ Diaz knows exactly how that feels. Co-founder of You Are Accountable and a person in long-term recovery himself, AJ joined hosts Mark Scrivner and Jeff Skillen on the floor of NAATP National 2026 to share how he and his co-founder, Matt, turned a gap in the continuum of care into a thriving, peer-led continuing care platform. The conversation covers the clinical and personal origins of Accountable, why the first four hours after discharge may be the most dangerous, how 5,000 patients have produced outcomes that are turning heads industry-wide, and what the future of tech-enabled peer support looks like for behavioral health operators. Whether you run a treatment center, manage discharge planning, or are simply trying to extend the reach of your clinical work, this episode delivers a blueprint for rethinking post-discharge care. Key Moments * 03:11 – AJ shares the personal origin story: leaving treatment with a sheet of paper, a terrified family, and a self-designed accountability system that carried him through 3 years of early recovery * 04:42 – The clinical insight that sparked Accountable: 12–13 hours in group, 168 hours in a week, and no window into what patients were doing outside the therapeutic structure * 06:55 – Why peers deserve to be more than "Joe who takes you to a meeting" — the case for professionalizing peer support * 08:31 – Outcomes that challenge the industry standard: 12% return to higher level of care against a national average of 40–50%, drawn from 5,000 patients * 11:42 – Contingency management, recovery capital assessments, and the engagement mechanics that keep members active on the platform * 14:45 – The discharge timing debate: why Accountable starts engaging patients two hours before they leave, not days after * 18:10 – Transparent pricing, insurance reimbursement goals, and the equity argument for making continuing care accessible to the masses * 21:30 – Connection as the antidote to addiction: how virtual peer support expands access to community across treatment deserts and time zones Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined [https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined] Connect with AJ Diaz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-diaz-lmsw-casac-19608a195/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-diaz-lmsw-casac-19608a195/] | https://www.youareaccountable.com/ [https://www.youareaccountable.com/] Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner] | https://snapshot.agency/health [https://snapshot.agency/health] Connect with Jeff Skillen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-skillen-199507/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-skillen-199507/] | https://www.skillsetenterprises.com [https://www.skillsetenterprises.com] Connect with Lee Pepper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leepepper [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leepepper] | https://www.neveroutmatched.com [https://www.neveroutmatched.com] Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health [https://snapshot.agency/health] Follow MasterMined: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined [https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined] #MasterMinedPodcast #BehavioralHealth #AddictionRecovery #PeerSupport #BehavioralHealthLeadership #TreatmentCenter #RecoverySupport

Recovery, Belonging, and the Future of Behavioral Healthcare with Dr. Joseph Lee

What does it take to move behavioral healthcare from the margins into the mainstream? Mark Scrivner and Jeff Skillen sit down with Dr. Joseph Lee, President and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, for a powerful conversation about stigma, community, innovation, and the future of addiction treatment at NAATP National 2026. Dr. Lee shares how Betty Ford's legacy continues to shape the industry, why belonging may be the most overlooked element of recovery, and how Hazelden Betty Ford is leveraging data, AI, research, and standardized care to advance truly personalized treatment. From the role of recovery communities to the promise of emerging therapies, this episode explores how behavioral healthcare can maintain its humanity while embracing innovation, and why people get better when they feel seen, valued, and connected. Key Moments 00:56 – The story behind Betty Ford's commemorative White House stamp and recovery legacy 03:26 – Why breaking stigma requires more than storytelling 05:07 – How training at Duke and Johns Hopkins shaped Dr. Lee's leadership philosophy 10:20 – The evolution of Hazelden and the power of recovery communities 15:22 – Why standardized care is the foundation for personalized treatment 20:07 – Building workforce pipelines through innovative education programs 25:06 – Measuring "changing hearts" in addiction recovery 31:04 – Why the traditional medical model struggles with chronic behavioral health conditions 35:14 – The opportunities and risks of AI in behavioral healthcare 41:44 – The surprising lesson a young patient taught about community and connection Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined [https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined] Connect with Joseph Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-lee-m-d-0063b931/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-lee-m-d-0063b931/] | https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/ [https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/] Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner/] | https://snapshot.agency/health [https://snapshot.agency/health] Connect with Jeff Skillen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-skillen-199507/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-skillen-199507/] | https://www.skillsetenterprises.com [https://www.skillsetenterprises.com] Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health [https://snapshot.agency/health] Snapshot Health | Behavioral Health Marketing Built for Growth and Impact Snapshot Health is a strategic growth and marketing partner for behavioral health organizations nationwide. We help treatment centers, mental health providers, and recovery programs grow responsibly by aligning brand, digital strategy, and patient acquisition with clinical integrity and long-term outcomes. Our team specializes in performance-driven marketing for behavioral health, including SEO, paid media, branding, marketing strategy, website development, and admissions enablement. We focus on attracting the right patients, improving conversion, and building scalable systems that support sustainable growth. Snapshot Health brings deep expertise in compliance, ethics, and trust-based marketing. We partner closely with executive teams to drive predictable admissions growth while protecting reputation, mission, and quality of care.