The Exhale: We’re Back (And Different) with Alyssa | Ep. 69

When Recovery Isn’t the Whole Story

👉 This conversation continues on the More Than Capable podcast. Subscribe here: Apple Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-capable/id1864999337] [Click Here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-capable/id1864999337]] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0P1UsM6pQvYwgjAKpFqKoI?si=7ee68c5b814743e9] [Click Here [https://open.spotify.com/show/0P1UsM6pQvYwgjAKpFqKoI?si=7ee68c5b814743e9]] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@MoreThanCapablePodcast] [Click Here [https://www.youtube.com/@MoreThanCapablePodcast]] To hear the full episode and continue forward with this work, please pause here and subscribe to the More Than Capable podcast on your listening platform of choice. Do you need immediate help? Suicide Hotline - 988 Substance Abuse and Mental Health hotline - 1-800-662-4357 Want to reach out? Find us on: Instagram (@chapter3stigma [https://www.instagram.com/chapter3stigma/]) YouTube (@Chapter3Stigma [https://www.youtube.com/@Chapter3Stigma]) Chapter 3 Stigma Substack [https://chapter3stigma.substack.com/] This episode marks an important turning point for Chapter 3 Stigma. In this conversation, I’m joined by my wife Alyssa to talk openly about why this body of work is being intentionally sunset — not abandoned — and how it’s evolving into something broader, deeper, and more aligned with where this journey has led. Chapter 3 Stigma was created for people at their lowest point — those battling addiction, shame, isolation, and the belief that they were beyond help. Its purpose was always clarity, accessibility, and hope. Short, honest episodes meant to meet someone in the depths of despair and remind them they weren’t alone. Over time, however, the conversation expanded beyond addiction itself. Recovery didn’t end the work — it revealed it. Together, Alyssa and I reflect on: Why growth sometimes requires letting go of what once served you The hidden work of recovery that begins after sobriety How identity, self-belief, and discipline are rebuilt in small, unglamorous steps The tension between accepting who you are and knowing there’s more ahead And why community — not motivation — is what carries people forward Chapter 3 Stigma will remain available as a resource for those in early recovery and for loved ones seeking understanding. There will be a small number of final episodes released here to thoughtfully close this chapter, with a focus on relationships, family, and life after recovery begins. This isn’t an ending. It’s a widening of the lens. If this work has ever helped you, please consider subscribing, rating, and sharing. Those simple actions help this message reach people who are still quietly searching for a way through. You are not alone. You are loved. And you are more capable than you think. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Chapter 3 Stigma 01:01 Transition to More Than Capable 02:43 Reflections on Past Conversations 07:22 The Purpose of Chapter 3 Stigma 10:19 Navigating Recovery and Relationships 11:48 The Garbage Can Sticker Project 16:59 The Concept of More Than Capable 22:11 The Journey of Self-Belief 28:38 The Human Experience of Struggle

Breaking Addiction Cycles: From 2.5 Seconds to 2.5 Years Sober | Ep. 72

Do you need immediate help? Suicide Hotline - 988 Substance Abuse and Mental Health hotline - 1-800-662-4357 Want to reach out? Find us on: Instagram (@chapter3stigma [https://www.instagram.com/chapter3stigma/]) YouTube (@Chapter3Stigma [https://www.youtube.com/@Chapter3Stigma]) Chapter 3 Stigma Substack [https://chapter3stigma.substack.com/] In this deeply personal solo episode, Kyle reads one of the most painful chapters from his upcoming memoir, a chapter titled Cycles. At two and a half years sober, Kyle revisits the paranoia, the rituals, the lies, and the physical and emotional unraveling that defined his drinking. It’s a window into the madness of addiction from the inside out: the secret alcohol runs, frantic cover-ups, manipulation of loved ones, and the suffocating obsession that made every day feel impossible to escape. This is not an easy listen. It’s uncomfortable, disgusting, and at times brutal. But it’s also a testimony to what recovery can make possible. Kyle shares this chapter not to shock, but to reach anyone who feels trapped in their own cycle of urges, relapse, and shame—and to show that there is a solution, no matter how hopeless it feels in the moment. If you’re struggling, or if someone you love is, you are not alone. There is a way out of the darkness. And life on the other side is bigger and brighter than you can imagine.

From Loss to Leadership: Building Community After a Stillbirth with Zach Tauscher | Ep 71

Do you need immediate help? Suicide Hotline - 988 Substance Abuse and Mental Health hotline - 1-800-662-4357 Want to reach out? Find us on: Instagram (@chapter3stigma [https://www.instagram.com/chapter3stigma/]) YouTube (@Chapter3Stigma [https://www.youtube.com/@Chapter3Stigma]) Chapter 3 Stigma Substack [https://chapter3stigma.substack.com/] After losing their daughters — Lucy and Brynlee — cousins Kyle and Zach found themselves walking parallel paths through unimaginable loss and slow, patient healing. In this powerful conversation, Zach shares the story of Brynlee's stillbirth and how he and his wife, began rebuilding their lives while honoring her memory. Together, Kyle and Zach open up about the unseen side of grief, the guilt that fathers often carry, and how men can learn to grieve out loud instead of in silence. Zach explains how he transformed his pain into purpose — starting a local support group for parents navigating pregnancy and infant loss, speaking publicly for the first time, and finding meaning by helping others heal. This episode is for anyone learning to live after loss — parents, partners, or friends trying to understand what it means to move forward with both love and grief in hand. Topics Covered: Grief, guilt, and the father’s role in loss The power of community and shared healing How men can process emotion without shame Turning tragedy into purpose and leadership Chapters 00:00 — Introduction 03:40 — Brynlee’s Story: The Day Everything Changed 10:55 — Grieving as a Father: Isolation and Silent Pain 18:30 — The Unseen Weight: Guilt, Faith, and Questions Without Answers 26:15 — Communicating Grief: Marriage, Family, and Support Systems 34:10 — Finding Purpose in Pain: The Early Stages of Healing 42:55 — Building Community: The Birth of the Support Group 51:45 — Leadership Through Vulnerability 58:20 — Hope and Legacy: Keeping Brinley’s Memory Alive 1:04:40 — Closing Reflections: Living Forward with Love and Grief

The Science & Heart of Alcohol Recovery with Dr. Amy Swift | Ep. 70

Do you need immediate help? Suicide Hotline - 988 Substance Abuse and Mental Health hotline - 1-800-662-4357 Want to reach out? Find us on: Instagram (@chapter3stigma [https://www.instagram.com/chapter3stigma/]) YouTube (@Chapter3Stigma [https://www.youtube.com/@Chapter3Stigma]) Chapter 3 Stigma Substack [https://chapter3stigma.substack.com/] What actually happens inside rehab? What keeps people in recovery after they leave? Dr. Amy Swift, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Silver Hill Hospital, joins Kyle to pull back the curtain on the clinical and emotional sides of recovery. Silver Hill Hospital Website [https://silverhillhospital.org/] They explore: The difference between inpatient, residential, and outpatient programs—and how families fit into each. Why recovery starts with small, “chewable” steps (and what “holding hope” really means). How DBT tools like emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness reduce relapse risk. The power of family involvement—and how loved ones can help without enabling. The truth about co-occurring disorders (depression, anxiety, bipolar) hiding under addiction. What happens after rehab—discharge plans, emotional reactivity, and rebuilding relationships over time. Dr. Swift’s blend of clinical expertise and human compassion offers a roadmap for anyone touched by addiction—patients, families, and professionals alike. Chapters 00:00 Welcome & Dr. Smith Intro 01:08 Why This Conversation Matters 03:04 What Is Silver Hill Hospital 04:25 Inpatient vs Outpatient Explained 06:22 Who Decides the Right Program 07:15 When Families Bring Someone In 10:31 The Fear of Rehab & Early Resistance 12:43 The Family’s Role in Recovery 14:12 Post-Rehab Reality 16:30 DBT & Emotional Skills for Recovery 17:30 Using Conflict as Growth 18:00 Discharge Plans & Perfectionism 21:18 Recovery Is a Marathon 22:28 Family Week at Silver Hill 23:38 When the Family Isn’t Ready 25:35 Addiction Within Relationships 26:24 Dr. Swift’s Journey Into Addiction Medicine 28:11 Finding Confidence as a Clinician 29:46 Redefining Success & Holding Hope 31:29 Emotional Boundaries & Letting Go 33:15 Building Resilience as a Healer 36:44 Women, Shame & Motherhood in Recovery 38:01 Kyle’s Story: Leaving Family to Heal 41:30 Healing Parental Guilt & Late-Stage Redemption 43:19 The Light Returning Gratitude in Recovery 45:17 Co-Occurring Disorders Explained 50:48 Facing Emotions After Detox 51:29 Feeling Again 53:04 Advice for Families & Society 54:25 Closing Reflections

The Exhale: We’re Back (And Different) with Alyssa | Ep. 69

Do you need immediate help? Suicide Hotline - 988 Substance Abuse and Mental Health hotline - 1-800-662-4357 Want to reach out? Find us on: Instagram (@chapter3stigma [https://www.instagram.com/chapter3stigma/]) YouTube (@Chapter3Stigma [https://www.youtube.com/@Chapter3Stigma]) Chapter 3 Stigma Substack [https://chapter3stigma.substack.com/] In this episode of the Chapter 3 Stigma Podcast, Alyssa and Kyle share their personal journey of navigating family growth after loss, the emotional complexities of pregnancy, and the intertwining of grief and joy. They reflect on their experiences with addiction recovery, the anticipation of welcoming a new child, and the challenges of adjusting to life with two sons. The conversation emphasizes the importance of support, love, and finding a new normal amidst life's challenges and ever changing state. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Journey 02:20 Reflections on Family Growth 04:42 Navigating Pregnancy After Loss 07:16 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Expecting 10:16 Facing Medical Concerns 12:58 The Anticipation of New Life 15:47 The Birth Experience 18:31 Welcoming a New Family Member 21:07 Adjusting to Life with Two Sons 23:49 Grief and Joy Intertwined 26:13 Finding a New Normal 29:01 The Impact of Two Boys at Home on Family Dynamics 31:28 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans Keywords addiction, recovery, family, pregnancy, grief, parenting, emotional journey, support, love, healing