I met Dr. Mike Barnes in 2018, when I served as executive coach for the leadership at the Foundry, the addiction treatment center here in Steamboat Springs, CO, where he served as Clinical Director. My respect and appreciation for Mike grew quickly in the course of that partnership, built especially upon Mike's willingness to learn from anything and anyone–despite the long alphabet salad of credentials behind his name and his position of esteem in the addiction treatment, trauma, and family therapy community. Since then, our paths have continued to cross, and I've continued to benefit greatly from his friendship and mentorship.

This year, he published his first book, When the Solution Becomes the Problem: Helping Families Struggling with Addiction and Trauma. Unlike most books on families and addiction that give prescriptive advice, this book partners with families to help them understand why implementing expert recommendations can be so challenging. By delving into the "why," families gain insights into their current crisis and the factors contributing to it. Ultimately, the book aims to guide families away from the perspective of "we are a family with a loved one who struggles with addiction" towards embracing the identity of "we are a family in recovery from addiction and trauma." By fostering understanding, empathy, and actionable guidance, it empowers families to break free from the cycle of addiction and trauma, promoting healing and a renewed sense of togetherness.

It's a pleasure to introduce you to Mike and provide a glimpse into an innovative and compassionate approach to helping families struggling with addiction and trauma.

Let's Connect

If this episode helped you, I'd love to know. Find me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, visit my website, or email me.

Connect with Mike

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Get Mike's Book

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At the beginning of 2024, Chris Ray embarked on a new Adventure. We captured Chris' thoughts and expectations at the beginning of the Adventure in Ep. 096. This is the promised "after" episode, in which Chris and I explore how the Adventure impacted him.

Chris' story showcases the power of the Big 6 to create big results in our lives. The Big 6 are essential ingredients in the recipe for a life we're outrageously proud of: Courage, Humility, Truth-telling, Self-permission, Self-responsibility, and Self-knowledge. Tune in to Ep. 095, How to Become Someone You Feel Genuinely Good About, for a deep dive into the Big 6.

I hope this episode is useful to you! As always, thank you for your time, trust, and attention.

Remember, you ARE going to die. But you're not dead yet. So get after it!

How Did This Episode Land for You?

I'd love to know. Find me on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, visit my website, or email me.

Connect with Chris

Email | Instagram | Facebook (public) | Facebook (private) | Website

Follow Andrew Petty is Dying & Leave a Review

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If You Liked This Episode, I Think You'll Like These, Too

• Ep. 086 | The Best is Yet to Come: Rediscovering an Ancient Compass for a Life of Purpose and Adventure Today
• Ep. 090 | A Tale of Two Mountaineers: How Comfort Sabotages Our Contentment, and What To Do About It
• Ep. 092 | Crack the Contentment Code: Find the Path to Contentment
• Ep. 094 | Beyond Resolutions: A Heroic Path to Your Best Year Yet

New Here?

If you're new to this show, welcome! I invite you to browse the archive of past interviews with fascinating people and short, topical solo episodes--all designed to equip you with the mindset and the means to become the person you were made to be and live the life you were made to live with guts, gusto, and abandon. We flip the script by inviting our ancient foe, Death, to become an unlikely ally in our heroic journey to leave it all out on the field of life. Mortality might just be the best motivator available--blasting us out of our ambivalence and complacency and toward the fullness of our potential. I'm so glad you tuned in today. Thank you for your time, trust, and attention. Don't forget to follow this show, and I'll see you next time on Andrew Petty is Dying.

In this episode, I sit down with my pastor and friend, Chris Marsh, to dig into how a very recent and very close encounter with Mortality has impacted him and his family. Along the way, we explore:

• how to find solid ground in the face of crippling fear
• the necessity of appealing to the transcendent
• the gift of suffering

As always, thank you for your time, trust, and attention.

Remember, you ARE going to die. But you're not dead yet. So get after it!

Let's Connect

If this episode helped you, I'd love to know. Find me on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, visit my website, or email me.

Connect with Chris: Email

Follow Andrew Petty is Dying & Leave a Review

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

If You Liked This Episode, I Think You'll Like These, Too

• Ep. 011 | Embracing Mystery, When to Call It a Day, and What Matters Most: Lessons from an Astonishing Life-After-Death Story
• Ep. 018 | Life's 3 Big Questions: A Conversation with the Coroner