This episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley welcome Tyler Waguespack, an Intake Coordinator at Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Tyler brings a frontline perspective on the early stages of recovery—how people access help, what motivates that first step, and how compassionate intake work lays the foundation for long-term healing. He discusses the importance of meeting people where they are, reducing barriers to care, and helping individuals and their families navigate the often-overwhelming world of addiction treatment with dignity and respect.

With real-world experience supporting clients from their first phone call through program placement, Tyler shares insight into the courage it takes to ask for help and the systems that can make that process smoother, more welcoming, and more effective. Whether you’re considering treatment yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply want a better understanding of recovery access, this episode sheds light on the part of the journey that begins before the clinical work even starts.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 78 to hear Tyler’s take on intake work, early recovery momentum, and the power of encouragement when someone first reaches out for help.

#addictionrecovery #builtbytheredstick #podcast #addictiontreatment

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley welcome back Stuart Bostwick, RAC, a seasoned addiction counselor with deep experience in trauma-informed care and recovery support at Palmetto Recovery.

Stuart returns to dive deeper into what it takes to help people break cycles of addiction and find lasting freedom. In this conversation, he expands on his clinical insights, the realities of relapse and recovery, and how compassion must be paired with structure in treatment. Stuart also talks about how the work of recovery isn’t confined to the clinic—it extends into community, accountability, and ongoing growth.

Whether you’re early in your recovery journey, supporting someone you love, or working in the addiction-care field, this episode offers practical guidance and honest conversation about the challenges and opportunities that come with sustained recovery.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 77 for a thoughtful, grounded discussion on healing, resilience, and what recovery really looks like behind the scenes with someone who’s lived and worked in it for years.

HUGE thank you to Palmetto Recovery Center for sponsoring this video!
https://palmettocenter.com/contact-palmetto-recovery/
318-728-2970
86 Palmetto Road, Rayville, Louisiana 71269

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In this special holiday episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley kick back in Christmas flannel and pajamas for “Christmas Hangover”—a reflective, lighthearted look back at an incredible year of conversations, growth, and recovery.

Ronnie and Michael spend this episode recalling some of the amazing guests who joined them throughout the year—voices that brought honesty, courage, laughter, and hope to the recovery community. From powerful personal stories to professionals working on the front lines of addiction recovery, this episode is a thank-you to everyone who shared their story and trusted the show with it.

They also reflect on how these conversations shaped them personally, what they’ve learned along the way, and why creating a judgment-free space for recovery continues to matter more than ever—especially during the holidays.

🎄 Episode 76 is part gratitude, part reflection, and part cozy holiday hangout. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just found the show this year, this one is for you.

Thank you for the support!
Click the link to watch the full episode, subscribe, and leave us a comment letting us know which guest impacted you the most this year.

#AddictionRecovery #BuiltByTheRedStick #ChristmasHangover #YearInReview #HolidayRecovery #RonnieLeDuff #MichaelOakley #RecoveryCommunity

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In this powerful episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, Built By The Red Stick, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley welcome back Ronnie Delaune—Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), and National Certified Counselor (NCC)—for an inspiring conversation about transformation, resilience, and long-term recovery.

Ronnie brings decades of lived experience and professional insight to the mic. Now a Regional Supervisor of Outreach with Avenues Recovery Centers and a seasoned private practitioner, he’s seen both sides of the recovery journey: once caught in the grips of addiction himself and now thriving in recovery while guiding others toward lasting freedom.

During this conversation, Ronnie reflects on his personal recovery journey—from the chaos of active addiction to earning his master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with honors, becoming board certified, and dedicating his life to helping others find their way out of addiction. His story covers the brutal realities of addiction, the hope found in recovery, and the commitment required to walk side by side with those in need.

Ronnie’s approach combines deep compassion with practical strategies, helping individuals build refusal skills, prevent relapse, and establish strong support networks. He emphasizes that recovery isn’t a destination—it’s a continuous process of growth, accountability, and connection.

🎧 Tune in to this episode of Built By The Red Stick to hear how Ronnie Delaune turned his life around and now dedicates his life to empowering others through recovery, counseling, and community support.

#AddictionRecovery #BuiltByTheRedStick #RonnieDelaune #MichaelOakley #RecoveryStory #AvenuesRecovery #RealRecovery #LicensedCounselor

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In this episode of Beyond the Struggle, Michael and Ronnie take a break from the heavy stuff and jump straight into a game of “How well do you REALLY know your best friend?” Spoiler: not as well as they thought.

What starts as a simple question game turns into a hilarious back-and-forth of wrong answers, shocked reactions, and the kind of friendly roasting only two people who’ve been through a lot together can get away with. You’ll see a different side of them — the side that jokes, laughs, and still manages to learn something new about each other after all these years.

It’s a reminder that recovery isn’t all seriousness. Sometimes the joy, the connection, and the laughter are just as important as the hard conversations. If you’re looking for a lighthearted episode that shows the heart behind their friendship, you’ll love this one.

#addictionrecovery #addictiontreatment #builtbytheredstick #recoverychallenge

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n this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, Michael Oakley and Ronnie LeDuff sit down with Caitlyn Keppinger, a dedicated marketer working in the addiction recovery field at Lincoln Nova Vital Recovery Center.

Caitlyn shares her own journey through addiction recovery and how her experience now fuels her professional work—helping amplify the message of hope, connection, and community in recovery. She discusses the challenges of rising into a position of advocacy, the power of storytelling, and why marketing in this space means more than promotion—it means saving lives.

Whether you’re walking the recovery path, supporting someone who is, or looking to understand how community outreach works in the world of addiction recovery, this conversation will resonate. Caitlyn’s transition from personal healing to professional impact shows how recovery can open new doors and make a real difference—one story, one person at a time.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 73 and hear how marketing, mission, and mercy combine in a powerful conversation about addiction recovery.

#addictiontreatment #interview #youtubeshorts #addictionrecovery #recoverychallenge #builtbytheredstick #addictionhelp #holisticaddictionrecovery

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Brooke Bagbey, a dedicated female residential counselor at The Serenity Treatment Center of Louisiana who has been with the center since 2020 and has experience in multiple roles in the addiction-care field beginning as early as 2018.

Brooke shares her journey from early roles in mental health and utilization review to counseling clients in a residential setting. She opens up about what it means to stand with people at their most vulnerable, how her own values drive her work, and what true compassion looks like in recovery.

Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone in recovery, or curious about how addiction treatment really works from the inside, this conversation will bring you closer to the truth: healing happens when people show up, stay consistent, and believe in second chances.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 72 and hear Brooke Bagbey’s passionate, grounded, and hopeful take on the recovery-journey—and the people who live it every day.

#addictionrecovery #builtbytheredstick #addictiontreatment

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Sally Tullos, whose role as Marketing Director at The Washington Street Hope Center in Marksville, Louisiana, gives her a unique vantage point on addiction recovery, community outreach, and family support.

Sally brings both personal insight and professional drive—she’s celebrated four years of continuous sobriety, and her journey now fuels her work in helping others find hope and connection.

In this episode, you’ll hear how recovery outreach works, why community matters in healing, and the way Sally’s faith and story shape her efforts every day. Whether you’re walking the recovery path yourself, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for inspiration that real change is possible—this conversation hits deep.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 70 to hear Sally’s story, her mission, and how one person dedicated to recovery can help an entire community remember they’re not alone.

#addictionrecovery #youtubeshorts #builtbytheredstick

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