Best Kayla Isabelle Podcasts (2025)

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FAMILIES Speak: Woo or Not… How Does Our Energy Affect Things? 36:41

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5d ago36:41

36:41

Words are important. But what may be even more important than words is the energy behind them. How do our body language, the tone of our voice, the thoughts we’re thinking, the feelings we’re feeling, and what we’re grappling with in any moment, affect things with others around us, for example with our Loved One? As we reorient and become more awar…

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A Message from Isabel 1:20

12d ago1:20

1:20

A message from Isabel Cooney about some podcast changes. ** Starting in August, the support group that Kayla facilitates will be offered on a sliding scale. Wednesdays at 6:30pm ET Email [email protected] to join or learn more (Cost should not be a barrier— please reach out if you're interested) ** At Allies in Recovery, we know that change…

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FAMILIES Speak: Raising Our Vibration with Humor 46:51

19d ago46:51

46:51

“Humor is a release,” insists Kayla Solomon. If you can laugh, the perceived danger dissipates. Co-host Suzanne shares, “Even in the face of total darkness, we can laugh at the insanity. I think the line between humor and tragedy is very, very fine indeed.” In this lighthearted episode, our team offers deep thoughts about humor, including how to ac…

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FAMILIES Speak: Practice CRAFT On (Literally) Everyone! 47:35

19d ago47:35

47:35

Those of us who’ve been learning and practicing CRAFT as taught by Allies in Recovery tend to agree: this stuff should be taught in schools! All parents should know about this! All humans would benefit! As co-host Kenny explains, “In this journey, I’ve come to understand that the CRAFT skillset is really about relationships, generally, as much as i…

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VOICES from the Front Lines: Kayla Solomon, Love Warrior 1:01:07

1M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

Isabel Cooney interviews her beloved colleague, Kayla Solomon. Kayla admits that when she was first trained in CRAFT, the 12-week framework of the method felt artificial — "It got stuck in my craw," she says. You'll hear the myriad ways that Kayla, through her work with families at Allies in Recovery, has tweaked and embellished the approach. Kayla…

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FAMILIES Speak: Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop 42:53

1M ago42:53

42:53

When accumulated trauma and worry have our anxiety levels running high, we are often in a place where we simply expect that (more) bad things are going to happen—even when, objectively, things seem to be going well. It can actually be just this, things going well, that feel so out of the ordinary that we assume it won’t last and start to live in a …

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FAMILIES Speak: Doing CRAFT on Ourselves (Huh?) 43:45

2M ago43:45

43:45

Though designed for families to help shepherd Loved Ones into treatment and recovery, CRAFT turns out to be a versatile framework that you can use anywhere, with anyone. And since our relationship with our Self is foundational for all the rest, it’s only logical—essential, Kayla says—that we’d find ways to practice CRAFT on ourselves. Does this sou…

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FAMILIES Speak: Comparing Your Story to Others' 43:31

2M ago43:31

43:31

What are the pitfalls of comparing your story and situation to that of others? How do you live in the world where not everyone is experiencing or expecting substance use or mental health issues, where people more readily discuss their Loved Ones' celebrations, accomplishments, and milestones? Our co-hosts talk about their own frustrations with comp…

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FAMILIES Speak: Dads Doing the Work 1:22:11

2M ago1:22:11

1:22:11

Dads come together for a fascinating chat about the work they're doing around their children's substance use/recovery. What's different about how Moms and Dads approach the work? They suggest that the love felt for their Loved One is equal, but the interactions are quite different. James,a father of four, points out that Dads are often focused on d…

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FAMILIES Speak : Will My Loved One Mess Up the Wedding? 33:45

2M ago33:45

33:45

Responding to a question from an Allies member, our co-hosts tackle a tough situation. Our member fears her adult child will be triggered to drink at their sibling’s upcoming wedding. Things could really get out of hand. Mom's trying to anticipate things CRAFTily, but there are many people involved. Worry and high expectations tend to be baked into…

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VOICES from the Front Lines: Casey Fariello and Liz Reitman of Other Parents Like Me 39:32

3M ago39:32

39:32

How did Casie Fariello and Liz Reitman come to build Other Parents Like Me (OPLM), an impressive network of worldwide support meetings, expert talks and much more? Kayla speaks with Casey and Liz of OPLM, who describe themselves as "two moms determined to make a difference." The organization supports and educates parents with kids going through men…

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FAMILIES Speak: What's the Opposite of Black and White Thinking? 38:35

3M ago38:35

38:35

Though it seems intuitive and important to avoid black and white thinking, what do you do instead? There are shades of gray, but our host Elizabeth suggests that a rainbow spectrum is really where complexity can live, a world where color, acceptance, softening, connection, and recognition of micro-successes are the path leading away from the contra…

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FAMILIES Speak: Conversations on Creativity, Pt. 2 27:49

3M ago27:49

27:49

The team weighs in definitively on the question, Is Everyone Creative? They share with us some key ways to get your creative juices flowing and move past blockages, and point to creative outlets you may not have considered. The Families Speak team is comprised of mothers and fathers on a journey with an addicted loved one. These family members have…

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FAMILIES Speak: Conversations on Creativity, Pt. 1 24:26

3M ago24:26

24:26

Creativity has been a central element of healing for many of our Families Speak cohosts. For some, it arrived like a lifeline when their family was in crisis. For others, creativity remained frustratingly out of reach during the lowest point of crisis. The team dives into the countless ways we can access creative energy, and how it helped them. "Cr…

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VOICES from the Front Lines: Jane Clair Tyner on How Politics Are Affecting Funding for Substance Use Programs 37:29

3M ago37:29

37:29

Kayla and Isabel speak with Mississippi native Jane Clair Tyner, Communications Manager of the dynamic education and advocacy organization, End It For Good. Jane Clair describes the "Thank God moment" she had when she first discovered the CRAFT method, albeit bittersweet: she had already lost her first-born son to drug-related complications. She we…

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FAMILIES Speak: If I'm Part of the Problem, I'm Part of the Solution! 39:48

4M ago39:48

39:48

For these parents, behavior change started when they began coming to terms with not having control over their Loved One. Learn about the stages of behavior change that we all go through, and how to open to the challenge. Delve into this inspiring conversation and consider Kayla's affirmation that: "If I'm part of the problem, it means I'm also part…

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FAMILIES Speak: I Said He Could Come Home — Can I Change My Mind? 28:32

4M ago28:32

28:32

It’s human to make decisions that we later regret. Especially when addiction is present in our Loved Ones, fear and deep concern can often color our decision-making process. To see more clearly, we can take a step (or two) back and look at the situation through a new lens. I’m used to considering my Loved One’s needs first, but where do I fit into …

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FAMILIES Speak: How to Recognize Ripe Moments for Discussing Treatment 35:10

4M ago35:10

35:10

There's a science to identifying the ripest moments for talking with your Loved One and knowing how to navigate them. Find out the opening lines that are sure to shut the conversation down before it even starts. Find out how to approach your Loved One in a way that keeps communication lines open. And finally, find out what you should have in your b…

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FAMILIES Speak: How Do We Deal with Uncertainty in Uncertain Times? 31:24

4M ago31:24

31:24

When we face uncertainty, especially in relation to a Loved One struggling with substances, we tend to catastrophize, and challenging emotions like fear and helplessness can take over. As one mother puts it, "I jump on the zipline to nowhere." Each of our Families Speak co-hosts brings nuggets of wisdom and hard-earned strategy to this super-releva…

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Connecting Menstruators Across Canada with Nadia Ladak and Rashmi Prakash 48:53

5M ago48:53

48:53

In this episode of the Startup Women podcast, we speak with Rashmi Prakash and Nadia Ladak, two innovative leaders in the menstrual health space. They discuss their journeys in creating Aruna Revolution and Marlow, the challenges they face in securing investment, and the importance of community building and education around menstrual health. Watch …

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Partner CRAFT: When Kids Are Involved 41:19

5M ago41:19

41:19

Children are often present when a parent or other Loved One uses substances problematically. It can be complicated to know how much to say to them about the substance use, and they might not necessarily have the words to talk about it. Kayla and Isabel talk about ways to spare the children as much as possible, and even "use them" as leverage. Partn…

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FAMILIES Speak: Navigating Life with Our Dad Who Drinks Problematically, Part 2 34:23

5M ago34:23

34:23

Two sisters continue to look at their present-day relationship with a Dad with problematic drinking and mental illness. How have they changed the way they respond now as young adults, when they see him drinking? What observations do they have of CRAFT in action? Kayla weighs in with some inspired guidance for the girls, going forward. The CRAFT met…

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Exploring Menopause and Perimenopause with Lori Casselman

5M ago

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In this episode of the Startup Woman podcast, Lori Casselman discusses her journey in launching June Health, a digital health platform focused on supporting midlife women through perimenopause and menopause. She shares insights on the unique challenges women face during this transition, the spectrum of symptoms that can arise, and the importance of…

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FAMILIES Speak: Navigating Life with Our Dad Who Drinks Problematically, Part 1 31:42

5M ago31:42

31:42

An honest and deeply real account from two sisters. They were pre-teens when their parents split up and they started to see the signs their Dad had a serious drinking problem. Their mom began using CRAFT with him and the girls navigated as best they could. Fast forward 13 years: they're young adults, both living far away. How have they been affecte…

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VOICES from the Front Lines: Author Annie Highwater 36:13

5M ago36:13

36:13

Kayla checks in with Annie Highwater, a regular contributor to our blog, about ways that CRAFT and Allies in Recovery's member site have changed her as a person. Is your Loved One struggling with addiction? Allies in Recovery’s online program can help. You’ll learn a powerful, evidence-based approach to improve your wellbeing and that of other fami…

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The Women Behind Trusti with Ella Farlinger and Serina Ahmad 46:49

5M ago46:49

46:49

In this episode, hosts Kayla Isabelle and Melanie Ewan welcome Ella Farlinger and Serina Ahmad, the co-founders of trusti, a platform aimed at making STI testing more accessible and stigma-free. The conversation explores the founders’ backgrounds, the vision behind trusti, the challenges of sexual health education, insights into the FemTech ecosyst…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: How Do You Have Difficult Conversations? 45:35

5M ago45:35

45:35

When your Loved One has substance use and/or mental illness, communication can get sticky and prickly pretty quickly. Yet there's no world where we'll never need to have difficult conversations with our family members. CRAFT provides an incredibly effective toolbox for developing more easeful relationships. In this episode, our co-hosts—family memb…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: These Episodes Helped Us Get Where We Are Today 27:21

6M ago27:21

27:21

What goes around, comes around. Kenny, Bridget, and Elizabeth came to Allies in Recovery as family members looking for help with shifting the dynamic with an addicted Loved One. At the time, rather than recording episodes for the world, they were listening and learning, like you. Listen to them speak about their all-time favorite Coming Up for Air …

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FAMILIES SPEAK: Should I Give My Loved One Money? 42:16

6M ago42:16

42:16

Money is already such a huge issue for almost everyone, before you even add Substance Use Disorder (SUD) into the mix! Things get exponentially more complex when it's your loved one with addiction issues asking for money. Whether it's "just 20 dollars" or rent for an apartment, families often experience the feeling of being hostage to their fear fo…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: Favorite Tools from CRAFT, Pt. 2 24:20

6M ago24:20

24:20

In part 2 of 2, Isabel, Kayla, and their co-hosts -- family members with direct experience -- discuss their favorite tools and tips they've picked up from working with the CRAFT method through Allies in Recovery. Our Families Speak series features a wonderful team of people navigating life with an addicted loved one. They are all members of Allies …

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FAMILIES SPEAK: Favorite Tools from CRAFT, Pt. 1 22:34

7M ago22:34

22:34

Isabel, Kayla, and co-hosts with direct experience discuss their favorite tools and tips they've picked up from working with the CRAFT method through Allies in Recovery. Part 1 of 2. Our Families Speak series features a wonderful team of people navigating life with an addicted loved one. They are all members of Allies in Recovery, an online platfor…

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VOICES from the Front Lines: Unpacking "Survival Mode" with Wellness Coach Emily Cooney 41:33

7M ago41:33

41:33

If you have an addicted loved one, chances are you're all too familiar with "hyper-arousal" or "survival mode." As Emily explains with brio, this state is meant to serve us when there's danger, then pass. What does it look like when we're chronically in this mode? Physical and mental/emotional signs are there and can serve as signposts, Emily expla…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: Hazel's Dilemma 30:04

7M ago30:04

30:04

Sometimes, our Loved Ones' situations call for incredibly difficult decisions. Co-host Hazel shares a recent high-stakes moment that felt like a necessary betrayal. Our Families Speak series features a wonderful team of people navigating life with an addicted loved one. They are all members of Allies in Recovery, an online platform providing traini…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: Using CRAFT with Substance Use and Mental Health Issues 28:51

7M ago28:51

28:51

When there's Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and mental health diagnoses, what do you do? Can you use CRAFT? Yes, most of the time you can, unless the mental health issues make you or them unsafe. Co-host Bridget offers a central point: with this difficult combo, think of what is, not "what if." Our Families Speak series features a wonderful team of p…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: Handling Hard Feelings 30:05

7M ago30:05

30:05

How do you deal with having hard feelings around your loved one's substance use? Kayla, Carolyn, Bridget, Elizabeth, and Kenny discuss their experiences and feelings of anxiety, frustration, and fear and their tools for handling the situation. The Allies in Recovery program and the CRAFT Method for families seeking to help a loved one with addictio…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: Don't Let Perfectionism Get in the Way 28:22

8M ago28:22

28:22

It's easy to feel like you have to be perfect with CRAFT, perfect with your loved one to be successful. But perfectionism gets in the way of connection. It can blind us, keep us from seeing our loved one fully. Acknowledging things not going the way you wanted, taking responsibility for behavior that doesn’t work--that’s part of the connection, and…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: What If I Believe My Loved One Isn't Capable? 24:59

8M ago24:59

24:59

If we're doing too much for our loved ones with substance use disorder, we'll never truly know how capable they are. We need to step back to see their capability and witness their choices, realizing that they have their own motivations and values. CRAFT is about creating a strong connection without necessarily doing things for them. This is a proce…

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Partner CRAFT: The Hokey Pokey of Rewarding 33:47

8M ago33:47

33:47

Kayla and Isabel discuss the complications of rewarding your Loved One with addiction, in the context of a partner relationship. How does it affect time with children? How about intimacy? Partner CRAFT is the podcast series by Allies in Recovery that focuses on applying the CRAFT method with a romantic partner (or ex-partner) who struggles with add…

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Partner CRAFT: Early Recovery 28:14

8M ago28:14

28:14

Kayla and Isabel discuss the challenges of early recovery. What are realistic expectations to have of our loved ones in this period? What can we do as a family member to support them and, importantly, to keep ourselves in check? It's helpful to know what "early recovery" means -- there's a spectrum that goes from complete abstinence to harm reducti…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: How Do You Make It Through the Holidays? 23:56

8M ago23:56

23:56

Oy, the holidays. It can be a time full of triggers, for our Loved One with substance use disorder, but also for the family member. It's also a time where we can get disconcerting questions about our how our loved ones have been doing. Three family members join Kayla to share wisdom and experiences around the holidays, from answering questions abou…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: Recovery—Progress, not Perfection 29:52

8M ago29:52

29:52

Recovery is progress, not perfection, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. As the family of a Loved One with substance use disorder (SUD), it can be tempting to impose our own expectations onto our Loved One. But as we ease up on expectations, we're taking pressure off our Loved One, allowing them space to try things and see how it goes. Some…

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FAMILIES SPEAK: When Your Loved One is Homeless 32:03

8M ago32:03

32:03

It’s incredibly hard to have a Loved One who’s experiencing homelessness. Our hosts—Hazel, Kevin, and Greer—join Kayla Solomon to discuss their experiences with their Loved Ones and offer hard-won advice. They say it’s important to try to create an environment of openness, connection, and availability—up to a point. But it’s also important to have …

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FAMILIES SPEAK: What You Don't Do Is Important, Too 19:41

9M ago19:41

19:41

What you don’t do – like get caught up in being a superhero, or telling your Loved One what they “should do” – can help your relationship emerge as a partnership. If we develop good relationships, we have power. If we have the capacity to change, we have power. If we have awareness, we can make choices, and that gives us power, too. By accepting th…

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Partner CRAFT: Self-care 37:04

10M ago37:04

37:04

Self-care is a pillar of CRAFT; helping yourself is essential to helping your Loved One. A lot of CRAFT focuses on a parent trying to help an adult child, so how do we shift things in a partner relationship so we're able to play the starring role in our own lives? Is there room to focus on ourselves when our loved one is not showing up in the relat…

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Partner CRAFT: Realistic Expectations 25:13

10M ago25:13

25:13

When your partner suffers from Substance Use Disorder, what are realistic expectations in your relationship? Are your expectations setting you up for frustration? Which of your needs can you meet for yourself? Kayla Solomon and Isabel Cooney explore the often sticky nature of partnership when SUD is involved. Partner CRAFT is a podcast series by Al…

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Partner CRAFT: Why Am I Staying? 26:45

10M ago26:45

26:45

When your partner is using substances year after year and you don't see change, you may end up wondering, "Why am I staying?" A listener wrote in that she wondered about staying with her husband, who struggles with alcohol but hasn't responded to her efforts to practice CRAFT thus far. Would leaving him constitute "natural consequences?" Isabel Coo…

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How CRAFT Works in the Mental Health Field 25:48

10M ago25:48

25:48

The original CRAFT is outcome-driven and behavioral-based, aimed at getting people into treatment. Allies has made it more connection- and relationship-oriented, focused on listening and communication. The same skill set Allies focuses on — validating, not arguing, not giving advice or challenging someone's reality or perception — often works with …

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What About the 30 Percent? 24:12

11M ago24:12

24:12

What happens to the 30 percent who, in the traditional, research-based CRAFT model, don't make it to treatment in 12 weeks? The Allies in Recovery version — "applied" CRAFT — goes beyond the 12-week version and focuses on change, not just going to treatment. We discuss where you can begin the process, and how you can lead by modelling. Long-term ch…

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Using Tropes: "Dry Drunk" and "Manipulation" 25:30

11M ago25:30

25:30

What do these terms mean? Should we use them? And are they disparaging? "Dry drunk" comes from Alcoholics Anonymous, and refers to someone who's abstinent, but may not obviously be doing more than remaining abstinent. And "manipulation" is often in the eye of the beholder. CRAFT can help take the judgment out of it and help you get to know your pro…

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The Gift of Anxiety 23:32

11M ago23:32

23:32

How do you work with anxiety so it's of service to you? Sometimes, anxiety is information akin to intuition, a sign that maybe you need to set up a boundary. At the same time, the only completely accurate fact in moments of anxiety is that you don't know. Part of the work we need to do is getting comfortable with and coping with not-knowing. Allies…