Mike has witnessed the devastating impact of addiction in his life, work, and community. He began his career as a Navy helicopter pilot and went on to serve as a Corrections Officer, DC Police Officer, and FBI Agent. In 2010, while teaching at the FBI Academy, he developed a course to help police executives better understand alcoholism, prescription drug abuse, PTSD, suicide, and domestic violence. After retiring from the FBI in 2019, he earned a Master’s in Addiction Counseling and now work ...
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Michael Van Meter Podcasts
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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Each week, Ryen Russillo will break down the biggest topics in sports.
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StateScoop features the latest leaders and innovators, news and events in state and local government technology. StateScoop gathers top leaders from across government, academia and the tech industry to discuss ways technology can improve government, and to exchange best practices and identify ways to achieve common goals.
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The Colts Machine, a Giant Disaster, Hock Tua, Baby Doll’s Luck Corner, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal
2:03:05
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2:03:05The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to react to Week 7 NFL highlights and wishing luck with “Baby Doll” corner (2:29). Then, they check in with the Cowboys before guessing the lines for Week 8 and ending with Parent Corner (01:01:13). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Cousin Sal Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo #ULTRACourtside could…
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Episode 175 - Put The Shovel Down-Amber Hollingsworth
1:01:54
1:01:54
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1:01:54In this episode, I sit down with Amber Hollingsworth, the creator and host of the YouTube channel Put the Shovel Down. As an Addiction Recovery Specialist, Amber shares valuable insights on focusing on what's going right in recovery and the importance of building healthy relationships along the way. She highlights how supporting others in making th…
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A Crazy Good NBA Rookie Class With J. Kyle Mann, Plus Tua’s Cleveland Adventure, and NFL Week 7 Picks With Joe House
1:34:08
1:34:08
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1:34:08The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by J. Kyle Mann to react to the NBA rookie class in the preseason (2:55). Then, Joe House joins to make their Ringer 107 picks for the week (39:22). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: J. Kyle Mann and Joe House Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo Get Gameday Deals all season long only on Uber Eats. Order Now. The …
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NBA Over/Unders, Part 1: The West With Zach Lowe and Joe House
2:22:31
2:22:31
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2:22:31The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Zach and Joe House for Part 1 of the annual Over/Unders pod, as they run through the win totals for every team in the Western Conference! Intro: (00:00) Thunder (04:00) Nuggets (12:10) Timberwolves (29:15) Trail Blazers (35:35) Jazz (43:25) Rockets (52:10) Spurs (01:00:56) Mavericks (01:10:55) Grizzlies (01:19…
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NBA Over/Unders, Part 2: The East With Zach Lowe and Joe House
1:45:13
1:45:13
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1:45:13The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Zach Lowe and Joe House for Part 2 of the annual Over/Unders pod as they run through the win totals for every team in the Eastern Conference! Intro (00:00) Cavaliers (02:00) Pistons (09:28) Bucks (14:53) Pacers (23:35) Bulls (31:28) Knicks (38:08) Sixers (44:11) Celtics (50:07) Raptors (57:37) Nets (01:02:48) …
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Chiefs, Bucs, and Drake Maye Are Big Winners. Plus, Danny Kanell on Penn State’s Overreaction, Indiana’s Biggest Win, and the SEC’s Problem.
2:00:02
2:00:02
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2:00:02Russillo starts with some thoughts on the NFL weekend, including whether the Chiefs or Bucs had the better win and the fact that Drake Maye is looking like the best QB in the 2024 class. Next, he chats with old friend Danny Kanell about Indiana’s massive win over Oregon, whether Penn State made a mistake by firing James Franklin, and the big proble…
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BakerMania, Kelce’s New Identity, Cross-Off Teams, Guess the Lines, and Parent Corner With Cousin Sal and Jimmy Kimmel
1:57:40
1:57:40
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1:57:40The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to react to Week 6 of the NFL season, including Baker Mayfield’s MVP case, the Chiefs’ win over the Lions, and more (2:34). Then, they guess the lines for Week 7 (57:24), and close with a special Parent Corner with Jimmy Kimmel (75:55)! Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Cousin Sal and Jimmy Kimmel Producer…
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Episode 174 - The Deception of Denial
1:02:18
1:02:18
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1:02:18In this episode, we explore how the disease of addiction can convince you that you don't have it. We take a closer look at the defense mechanisms and cognitive distortions that fuel denial-such as rationalization, minimization, self-deception, blame-shifting, and justification. We also share practical strategies to help you break through denial and…
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Prime-Time Giants! NBA GM Survey Thoughts. Plus: Jeff Darlington on Baker’s Career Turnaround, Shanahan Love, and Belichick’s future.
2:01:27
2:01:27
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2:01:27Russillo starts with a rare fun Giants prime-time game and why he’s still unsure about Jalen Hurts. Then, he and Ceruti talk about the most interesting parts of the latest NBA GM survey. Next, ESPN NFL reporter Jeff Darlington stops by to talk about this weekend's 49ers-Bucs matchup, the banged up Ravens, eventually taking the Jaguars seriously, th…
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Belichick’s ‘Legacy,' a Texas NBA Gauntlet, Boston’s 3 Party, Ja’s Big Season, and Week 6 NFL Picks With Kirk Goldsberry, Chris Vernon, and Joe House
2:08:35
2:08:35
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2:08:35The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Kirk Goldsberry to check in on the exciting Texas NBA teams, react to the NBA GM survey, and talk about the trends around the league (8:39). Then, Chris Vernon joins Bill and House to discuss the Grizzlies and other NBA topics before making their Ringer 107 picks (01:03:57). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Kirk Gol…
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The Giannis-Knicks Flirtation. Plus, Jeff Passan on Judge Saving the Yankees, More MLB Playoffs, and Life Advice!
1:43:36
1:43:36
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1:43:36Russillo opens with the Giannis-Knicks story and the biggest red flags for the Bucks, even if it’s unlikely to happen. Then, ESPN baseball writer Jeff Passan stops by to talk about Aaron Judge saving the Yankees, the disappointing Phillies, and more MLB playoffs. Plus, he sticks around for some Life Advice, including questions about a major hater a…
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Why Giannis Won’t Be a Knick, UFC’s Latest Boom, the Movie Theater Renaissance, Six Stages of Sean Penn, and ‘One Battle After Another’ With Ariel Helwani and Wesley Morris
2:00:06
2:00:06
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2:00:06By The Ringer
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Episode 173 - Saying No: Real Talk on Social Drinking Pressures
1:02:37
1:02:37
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1:02:37By Mike Van Meter
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Broncos or Pats for the Best Win? Plus, the Best Coach Right Now and the Team Misery Index With Mike Sando and Ryen’s First CFB Top 12 Playoff Rankings!
1:45:06
1:45:06
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1:45:06By The Ringer
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Drake Definitely Beats Buffalo, Baker for MVP, a Bad QB Draft, Guess the Lines, and Parent Corner With Cousin Sal
1:46:06
1:46:06
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1:46:06The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to react to the Patriots taking down the Bills, and other Week 5 highlights (2:33). Then, they have a bad QB fantasy draft before guessing the lines for Week 6 and ending with Parent Corner (50:33). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Cousin Sal Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo Fill your fridge with…
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Yanks Pack Up the Sox, the Strange 4-0 Eagles, and Fixing the Ravens With Kevin Clark. Plus, Is Kyle Shanahan a $30M coach?
1:22:12
1:22:12
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1:22:12Russillo opens the show talking about Cam Schlittler’s incredible performance last night to eliminate the Red Sox. Then ESPN’s Kevin Clark stops by to discuss the 49ers' win over the Rams and just how impressive Kyle Shanahan is at maximizing QBs. They also discuss the Eagles' poor stats despite remaining undefeated through four weeks, the upcoming…
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Niners Magic, Schlitt Happens, a Red Sox Postmortem, the Seahawks Ceiling, and Week 5 NFL Picks With Kevin Hench and Joe House
1:49:09
1:49:09
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1:49:09The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Hench to react to the end of the Red Sox's season (5:43). Then, Joe House joins for their Ringer 107 picks for NFL Week 5 before discussing some early NBA bets (47:22). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Kevin Hench and Joe House Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo The Ringer is committed to responsible g…
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Talkin’ Baseball! Plus, Oregon, Ohio State, and Miami or the Field? And the Top CFB Stadiums With Fox’s Chris Fallica.
1:33:48
1:33:48
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1:33:48Russillo starts with some baseball talk, getting into why it’s so easy to get hooked on the playoffs. Then, he chats with Fox’s Chris Fallica about who the real contenders are in college football, how he’d rank the SEC right now, why this week is massive for Arch Manning and Texas, and the top stadium atmospheres. Finally, the guys close it out wit…
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A Sox-Yanks Nail-Biter, Intriguing NBA Story Lines, and Five Biggest Fantasy Football Story Lines With Bill’s Dad, Michael Pina, and Craig Horlbeck
1:46:13
1:46:13
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1:46:13The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and his dad react to the Red Sox taking Game 1 in the wild-card round against the Yankees (3:46). Then, Michael Pina joins to talk about the five things to monitor before the NBA season starts (28:13). Finally, Craig Horlbeck joins to recap his NFL experience in Ireland before discussing the top five fantasy football stori…
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Episode 172 - Using Genetics to Predict Addiction: James Piacentino and Thrive Genetics
1:06:40
1:06:40
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1:06:40Where does addiction really come from, and how can we get ahead of it? In this episode, I interview James Piacentino, Co-Founder and CEO of Thrive Genetics to explore how genetics may hold the key to predicting addiction risk. We dive into the groundbreaking role of genetic insights in guiding treatment; more importantly, supporting lasting recover…
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The Packers' Worst Loss, the Chiefs' Best Win, and a Tough Jalen Hurts Convo With Sheil Kapadia. Plus, Same Old Penn State?
1:53:19
1:53:19
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1:53:19Russillo starts with his best win and worst loss from the NFL weekend and talks through the Ravens' and Packers' struggles and why we need to chill a little on Jaxson Dart’s debut. Then, he chats with Sheil Kapadia about the big questions around Jalen Hurts and the 4-0 Eagles, whether Puka Nacua is a top-three receiver, the Rams' place in the NFC, …
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A Goofy Cowboys Tie, the Reeling Ravens, a Crazy Sports Weekend, Guess the Lines, Mets Sadness, and Sox-Yanks With Cousin Sal
1:50:25
1:50:25
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1:50:25The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to react to the overtime matchup between the Packers and Cowboys before discussing the players and teams that have won them over in the NFL through four weeks (4:40). Then, they guess the lines for Week 5 before talking about baseball, the Ryder Cup, and closing with Parent Corner (01:03:11). Host: …
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Actor Tom Pelphrey Talks ‘Task’, Being a Giants Fan and Throwing Out a First Pitch. Plus Some 'TNF', Texans, and Cam Ward Thoughts.
1:36:05
1:36:05
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1:36:05Russillo starts with some thoughts on 'Thursday Night Football', including how to judge the start to Marvin Harrison Jr’s career. Plus, can the Texans' season be saved? Shedeur Sanders comments on being ready, and Cam Ward’s struggles. Then Russillo chats with actor Tom Pelphrey about his new hit show “Task”, plus the struggles of being a Giants fa…
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The Best College QBs With Todd McShay. Plus, the Irresistible Jags, the Resistible Steelers, and NFL Week 4 Picks With Joe House
1:56:16
1:56:16
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1:56:16The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Todd McShay to catch up on college football QBs before discussing the NFL “Cut the s***” QBs and Drake Maye (3:33). Then, House joins Bill to make their Ringer 107 picks for the week and close with a Ryder Cup discussion (01:02:46). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Todd McShay and Joe House Producers: Chia Hao Tat a…
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Dart and Caleb Outlooks, and the Disappointing 2026 QB Class With Coach Quincy Avery. Plus, Ryder Cup Talk With Michael Kim
1:40:41
1:40:41
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1:40:41Russillo is first joined by QB Coach Quincy Avery to discuss the Giants giving Jaxson Dart the starting job, why Caleb Williams's ceiling is still so high, and the disappointing state of some college quarterback prospects, including Arch, Nussmeier, Klubnik, and more. He then chats with pro golfer Michael Kim, fresh off a win at the Open de France,…
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A Rockets Gut Punch, Expectations for the Celtics and Pacers, and a Vegas Tourism Slump With Zach Lowe, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan
1:58:55
1:58:55
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1:58:55The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Zach Lowe to react to the Fred VanVleet injury and to discuss how it may have derailed the promising Rockets season (7:19). Then, Bill and Zach check in with the Celtics and the Pacers ahead of the season (01:12:11). Finally, Chris Ryan and Sean Fennessey join to talk about what’s going on in Vegas (01:26:05).…
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A living amends is more than apologizing; it's about radically changing one's behavior and lifestyle to support ongoing sobriety and healing relationships. In this episode, we dispel myths about the living amends, encourage practical change, and provide hope for long-term growth. Please visit our web site at: vanmeterwellnesssolutions.com Music-Joh…
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Are the Eagles the New Chiefs? And Herbert Defenders, Stand Up! Plus, Todd McShay on Improved Indiana, Scary Miami, and More.
1:21:49
1:21:49
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1:21:49Russillo opens with some NFL Week 3 thoughts, including how the Rams lost to the Eagles, whether the Eagles are the new Chiefs, why Herbert defenders have been so stubborn, and why Caleb Williams is working his way back to being the best QB from the 2024 draft class. Plus, Todd McShay stops by to talk college football, including Indiana being even …
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Are the Chargers for Real? Plus: the Tommy Boy Titans, a New York Swoon, Throwback Pats PTSD, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal.
1:43:31
1:43:31
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1:43:31The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to react to Week 3 of the NFL season (3:26). Then, they guess the lines for Week 4 before closing with Parent Corner (01:01:04). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Cousin Sal Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo Get Gameday Deals all season long only on Uber Eats. Order Now. The Ringer is committed to …
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Another Brutal Tua Pick, Plus Best Rookies and the 2026 QB Class With Daniel Jeremiah
1:40:15
1:40:15
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1:40:15Russillo starts with a recap of Dolphins-Bills and what essentially was the game-losing interception from Tua. Then he’s joined by the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah for more on Tua’s issues, plus why Josh Allen may have ruined our thoughts on QB development, his favorite rookies so far, and an early look at the 2026 QB draft class. Finally, the guy…
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The Kimmel Situation. Plus, "Can the Chiefs Really Go 0-3?" and More Week 3 Gambling Questions With Joe House
1:11:34
1:11:34
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1:11:34The Ringer’s Bill Simmons reacts to ABC pulling Jimmy Kimmel off the air (2:23). Then, Joe House joins the pod to make their Ringer 107 picks before checking in on the Clippers drama and other NBA news (16:42). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Joe House Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Eduardo Ocampo, and Steve Ceruti The Ringer is committed to responsible gamin…
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Best CFB Transfers and Arch's Issues With Max Olson. Plus, a Deep Dive on the Chiefs' Struggles With Mitchell Schwartz.
1:37:45
1:37:45
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1:37:45Russillo is joined by Max Olson to talk about the best transfer acquisitions in college football, preview this weekend’s biggest games, and reveal the teams that have surprised them the most this season. Then, Mitchell Schwartz comes on to break down O-line play leaguewide, discuss the Chiefs' issues, and talk about stories from his playing days. P…
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Winning QBs and Football Nerds With Mina Kimes, Plus Robert Redford’s Incredible Career With Brian Koppelman
1:47:24
1:47:24
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1:47:24The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Mina Kimes to discuss various NFL topics two weeks into the season and some television shows (3:01). Then, Brian Koppelman joins the pod to remember the late movie star Robert Redford (01:08:01). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Mina Kimes and Brian Koppelman Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Eduardo Ocampo, and Steve Ceruti…
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Chiefs 0-2, Tush Push Drama (Again), Joe Burrow's Injury, and the Dolphins' Mess With Dianna Russini. Plus, Should Miami Be Ranked No. 1?
1:48:04
1:48:04
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1:48:04Russillo starts the show with his awards for Week 2 in the NFL. Then he’s joined by Dianna Russini to learn more about Joe Burrow’s injury, break down Philadelphia’s big win over the Chiefs, and discuss the rise in QB play this week. Then, Ryen shares his thoughts on the updated AP poll and which teams have impressed in college football. Plus, Life…
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