by Mark Scheeren | Aug 12, 2026 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
Is Moderation Possible for the “Real Alcoholic”? Few ideas have shaped and misled heavy drinkers and drug users more profoundly than the concept of “real alcoholic” and “real addict.” For nearly a century, millions of people have been taught that some individuals...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Aug 6, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Is Fear of Moderation Justified or Irrational? Why does the mere suggestion that anyone can learn to moderate their substance use make so many people anxious or even angry? Is it...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Jul 24, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Every Single Addiction Success Story Includes This… What do all people who solve an “addiction” have in common? They change their mind. In this episode Mark and Michelle explain...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Jul 9, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Biggest Lie About Addiction: Disease or Moral Failure? Society tells us there are only two ways to view addiction: it’s either a lifelong disease that renders you powerless...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Jun 28, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Burden of Misplaced Guilt What if the guilt you’ve been carrying is the very thing keeping you stuck? In this episode, Mark and Michelle explore how guilt erodes self-worth,...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Jun 10, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! What About the People Who “Keep Coming Back?” If you credit AA, treatment, and recovery with helping you to solve your problem, we’re happy for you. This episode is not about...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | May 28, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Just Because You Don’t Stop, Doesn’t Mean You Can’t If you’ve ever believed or said, “I just can’t stop,” this episode will change your entire perspective. Mark and Michelle discuss why...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | May 13, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Moving Beyond 12-Step Recovery! Are You Ready? In this episode Mark and Michelle share why they’ve spent decades challenging the addiction treatment and recovery industry, their...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | May 5, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Rethinking Food, Behavior, and Choice with Briana Theroux In this episode we introduce Certified Freedom Model Coach, Briana Theroux, an expert in eating psychology and behavioral...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Apr 23, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! From 12 Step to Total Autonomy: Stacie Ysidro’s Unfiltered Journey In this episode we introduce Certified Freedom Model Coach, Stacie Ysidro whose work explores the powerful connection...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Mar 24, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! From Confusion to Clarity: Navigating the First Several Days of Changing a Habit In this episode Mark and Michelle answer a viewer’s question about why the first several days of...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Mar 11, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! “Isn’t AA Better Than Nothing?” – Breaking Down this Harmful Myth Mark and Michelle respond to a challenging YouTube comment: “Isn’t it better for poor people in developing...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Feb 26, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! When Questioning Addiction and Recovery Triggers Outrage “You’re just trying to profit off others’ suffering” or “Those who can stop without AA aren’t real addicts.” Or how about this...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Feb 11, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Ditching Addiction Recovery to Actually Solve Your Problem The Freedom Model is NOT an “alternative recovery program”. It’s actually a Recovery Deconstruction Model – and for good...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Jan 27, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Why “Addiction Recovery” is Bullsh*t – And How to Move Past It for Good In this episode, Mark and Michelle challenge the sacred cow – lifelong “recovery”. They explain how...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Jan 6, 2026 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Reiner Tragedy: Addiction, Mental Illness, and a System that Failed Everyone In this important episode, Mark and Michelle reflect on this recent family tragedy that was quickly...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Dec 16, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Choosing Calm in the Chaos: A Better Way to Do the Holidays The holidays are meant to be joyful – but for many people, they become stressful, overwhelming, and emotionally...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 5, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Breaking Free Through Critical Thinking Have you been told not to question, do as you’re told, and just “trust the process”? When it comes to solving an addiction or mental health...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 3, 2025 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
The Antidepressant Myth: A “Miracle” Built on Marketing, Money, and Misleading Science This article is republished with permission from Ryan Schwantes. The original article appears here. Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 27, 2025 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
Antidepressant Efficacy and Placebo Effect This article is republished with permission from Ryan Schwantes. The original article appears here. - Efficacy Data -> Goal: Compare -> Viz: Stacked Bar Chart -> Interaction: Tooltips -> Justification:...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 22, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Coming Wave of “AI Addiction” In this thought-provoking and timely episode, Mark and Michelle dive into the emerging issue of problematic AI use – how our growing...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 8, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Self Sabotage!!! Break the Cycle Why do we sometimes destroy the very progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve? In this episode Mark and Michelle explore the reasons people...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Sep 26, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Discussing ADHD: Beyond the Diagnosis In this listener-requested episode Mark and Michelle explore ADD and ADHD beyond just the labels, challenging common beliefs and highlighting how...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Sep 25, 2025 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
We’re Looking for Coaches! Do you want to be a coach? Would you want to be a Certified Freedom Model Coach? If you are someone who has left AA or NA, has begun to realize that rehab is not the best answer for solving addictions, or you simply want to help...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Sep 23, 2025 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
Struggling with Alcohol? Watch This! If you’re struggling with an alcohol problem, you don’t have to go to a rehab, or meetings with strangers, and you don’t even have to swear off it forever to solve your problem. Freedom Model co-founder and...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Sep 11, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! From Guilt to Growth: The Power of Self-Forgiveness In this episode, Mark and Michelle explore how self-forgiveness can be an important part of solving a substance use problem or other...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Aug 29, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Pleasure, Habits, and the Illusion of Addiction In this episode, Mark and Michelle reveal why the same substance, food, or behavior can feel like innocent enjoyment to one person and...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Aug 15, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Shattering Addiction Mythology Sets People Free In this episode, Mark and Michelle discuss The Freedom Model Movement – what it is, why it matters, and how it’s changing lives...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Aug 1, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Dangers of Group Think: A Conversation with Rachel Bernstein, LMFT In this episode, Mark and Michelle sit down with cult expert and host of the IndoctriNation Podcast, Rachel...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Jul 11, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Why Moderation Feels Impossible and What You Can Do About It Mark and Michelle break down how lingering beliefs, emotional attachments, and unexamined perceived benefits can keep you...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Jun 27, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Celebrating Your Autonomy to Gain True Freedom Why The Freedom Model? In this Independence Day episode, Mark and Michelle reveal how the name was born from a bold realization: to truly...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Jun 11, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! When the Model Is the Problem: Helping in a Broken System Are you burned out, disillusioned, or questioning everything you were taught about addiction? You’re not alone. Whether you’re...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | May 28, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Addiction Help That Doesn’t Help: Why It Feels Wrong When you’re vulnerable and seeking help, it’s easy to ignore your instincts in favor of what sounds comforting. But those gut...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | May 15, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! From Vaping to Scrolling: Why You Think You Can’t Stop For nearly a century, addiction myths have shaped the way we think—and feel—about our habits. Today, millions believe they’re...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | May 1, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! From Powerless to Free: Ending the 12-Step Era In this episode, Mark and Michelle discuss their plan to completely replace the outdated 12-step, disease-based approach with a global...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Apr 23, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Allure of Regret: Why We Hold On and How to Let Go When you think about it, regret can feel strangely comforting. But dwelling on the past quietly keeps you stuck. In this episode,...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Apr 17, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Truth About Changing: Action Usually Comes First Many people misunderstand The Freedom Model, thinking they need to feel different or wait for their preferences to shift before they...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Apr 10, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Does the Freedom Model Conflict with Religious Beliefs? In this thought-provoking episode, Mark and Michelle respond to a listener’s question about whether The Freedom Model conflicts...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Apr 3, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Real “Easier, Softer Way” to Solve Addiction Have you ever been told there is no “easier, softer way” to solve your addiction because you weren’t willing to go to meetings, do the...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Mar 27, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Addiction and Mental Illness: A Profitable Connection Does mental illness cause addiction, or does substance use trigger mental illness? If you’ve been caught in the treatment and...
