What Do I Do Now? - Helping Clients Build Sober Leisure Into Their Recovery with Abigail Bernard

What Do I Do Now? - Helping Clients Build Sober Leisure Into Their Recovery with Abigail Bernard

"What do I do now?" That's the question Abigail Bernard kept hearing from patients leaving treatment — and couldn't find a good answer for. So she wrote one. In this episode, Abigail shares the framework behind her workbook 12 Steps to Sober Leisure, which reframes the 12 steps through the lens of leisure and recreation. For alumni professionals, it's a powerful reminder that the events and programming you're creating aren't just nice extras — they're essential tools for building recovery capital. The conversation covers: * Why unstructured free time is one of the biggest challenges people face when they leave treatment * The use of time worksheet — a powerful visual exercise that helps people see what addiction actually took from them * How sober leisure addresses the fears people carry into early recovery — FOMO, boredom, not fitting in * Why the opposite of addiction isn't just sobriety — it's connection — and how leisure makes connection possible * How alumni events can be intentionally designed to help people discover meaningful interests, not just give them somewhere to be * The question that should shape every alumni event you plan Resources: * 12 Steps to Sober Leisure [https://12stepstosoberleisure.com/] by Abigail Bernard Connect with TPAS: tpassociation.org [tpassociation.org] TPAS Members: Access the full training in the TPAS app [https://www.tpas.org/download-the-app/]

The ROI of Alumni: How to Make the Business Case for the Work You're Already Doing

You're doing the work. But is your leadership seeing the value? In this episode, Colton Morgan, Founder and CEO of Team Recovery [teamrecovery.com], and Gary Garth, Founder and CEO of elev8 [https://elev8.io/ ], break down the business case for alumni programming — with the data, the math, and the language you need to make it land with your CEO. The conversation covers: * How to define and qualify alumni engagement — and what a healthy engagement rate actually looks like * The two metrics that define alumni ROI: readmissions and alumni referrals * Why alumni is a marketing function, not an admissions function — and why that distinction matters for your budget * The real math: how one program went from a $65k payroll to a $5M annual return on investment * How alumni referrals convert at nearly double the rate of paid digital channels * What executives actually want to see — and how to build a dashboard that speaks their language * How to advocate for yourself and get credit for the admissions your program is already driving Connect with Team Recovery: teamrecovery.com [teamrecovery.com] Connect with elev8.io: elev8.io [https://elev8.io/] Connect with TPAS: tpasrecovery.org [https://tpasrecovery.org/] TPAS Members: Access the full training in the TPAS app

Radical Candor: Why Saying the Hard Thing is the Kindest Thing You Can Do

Clarity is kindness. That's the idea at the heart of this conversation — and once you hear it framed this way, it's hard to unsee. In this episode, Gina sits down with Michael Maassel to talk about Radical Candor, the framework developed by Kim Scott that challenges all of us to lead and love the people around us by telling the truth — with care, with compassion, and without flinching. For alumni professionals, this one hits close to home. Whether you're navigating a hard conversation with a staff member, a colleague, or an alumni who needs to hear something difficult, Michael gives you the language and the mindset to do it well. The conversation covers: * Why avoiding hard conversations is actually the unkind choice — and what it costs your alumni and your program * Three phrases you can use right now to open a difficult conversation with care * How radical candor connects directly to recovery — and why secrets keep people and organizations sick * What it means to be in the delivery business, not the results business * How to manage the anxiety of saying the hard thing and still show up with integrity Resources: * Radical Candor [https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Candor-Revised-Kick-Ass-Humanity/dp/1250235375/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=186026281403&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WY_URGRBiSPosnnQeuejx6xAGXgRrGzfN6Ef8LhDiKwAJVH5eIq4wbLXYOsgdmMZt_BN9EF4tmVdN8J8C5T8aW61RNNn_5KZ_oYWvzsM2c_N8R1Fkpf9mFP0WsM2cV7_62Sb3oTLoQ4vrX_WSaw6aEDUAgoFWWezSdSwYIbaDwteiVlrJAk0KwEM10VlAWDezmHhkeVji_x6SIjQ_4DOVjv7b1to40GIELuwG-lUJhE.cecPmaALKS1n1KF0IRjUeerYVehdeGzBGg5JA5Vgr90&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779762256719&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9017291&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=16400148269964318432--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16400148269964318432&hvtargid=kwd-295322973806&hydadcr=24375_13859744_2336320&keywords=radical+candor&mcid=785b95afe11137ddaac3eee2ceaceadf&qid=1781546925&sr=8-1] by Kim Scott * Kim Scott's podcast: Radical Candor [https://open.spotify.com/show/3qOmzC2JoWv5wX9YZIqXGx] * Learn more at radicalcandor.com

Building a Thriving Virtual Alumni Community: Practical Strategies That Actually Work

Virtual alumni engagement isn't a consolation prize for programs that can't meet in person. Done well, it's one of the most powerful tools you have for keeping alumni connected, supported, and coming back. In this episode, Mickenzie Vought and Whitney Sylvia share what they've learned building virtual alumni communities from the ground up — including what finally moved the needle after showing up to meetings alone. The conversation covers: * Why consistency is the single most important factor in building virtual community — and what it actually looks like in practice * How to create community guidelines that alumni will actually follow * Practical course correction strategies for when someone takes the meeting off track * Creative content ideas beyond the weekly meeting — book clubs, journal challenges, bingo, and more * How alumni-led meetings can transform engagement and develop unexpected leaders in your community * The personal touches that keep alumni feeling seen even when you never meet in person TPAS Members: Access the full monthly workshop in the TPAS app.

Building a Movement: How She Recovers is Changing the Recovery Landscape for Women

How does a personal blog become a global movement of 300,000 people? In this episode, Gina sits down with Dawn Nickel, CEO and Co-Founder of She Recovers, to explore how an accidental idea born out of one woman's struggle with workaholism grew into one of the most expansive recovery communities in the world. She Recovers [https://sherecovers.org/] supports women and non-binary individuals recovering from substances, mental health challenges, trauma, and the full range of life experiences that require healing. And for alumni professionals, it may be one of the most powerful resources you're not yet using. The conversation covers: * The origin story behind She Recovers and why Dawn calls it an accidental movement * How She Recovers approaches multiple pathways — and why they always recommend 12-step first * The trusted resources program and what it means for treatment centers serving women * Retreat partnerships, in-person sharing circles, and other ways She Recovers can support your alumni program * The secret sauce behind long-term engagement and what alumni professionals can learn from it * What Dawn would tell any treatment center looking to keep alumni connected beyond year one Connect with She Recovers: * Website: sherecovers.org * Email Dawn directly: dawn.nickel@sherecovers.org [dawn.nickel@sherecovers.org] * Certifications & training: sherecovers.org/courses * Online gatherings, retreats, and sharing circles listed at sherecovers.org Connect with TPAS: tpassociation.org