In this powerful live conversation recorded at Camelback Recovery, Tim Westbrook sits down with Dr. Don Middleton to explore the intersection of faith, addiction medicine, and lasting transformation.

Dr. Middleton is a board-certified physician with more than 30 years in family medicine and currently practices addiction medicine at the internationally renowned Meadows Behavioral Health in Wickenburg, Arizona. He also serves as medical director at Vital 4 Men and was named Arizona Physician of the Year at the state medical convention.

In this episode, we dive into his book The Dunamis Effect: When Your Higher Power Is Jesus and discuss what happens when Christian faith becomes the foundation of 12-step recovery.

This conversation covers:

• Christian 12-step recovery and the meaning of "Dunamis"

• The role of Jesus as a Higher Power in addiction recovery

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and faith-based recovery

• The balance between science, scripture, and sobriety

• Rebuilding identity after addiction

• Overcoming shame after relapse

• The future of Christian recovery ministries

Dr. Middleton also shares his perspective on the controversy surrounding medications in recovery and how medical science and spiritual transformation can work together — not against each other.

Whether you're early in recovery, a treatment professional, part of a Christian recovery ministry, or simply curious about the role of faith in sobriety, this episode offers practical insight and hope.

Learn more about Dr. Middleton's work:

📘 The Dunamis Effect: When Your Higher Power Is Jesus (Available on Amazon)

🌐 https://dunamisinitiative.com

📱 Follow "Dunamis Initiative" on Facebook and YouTube

In this powerful episode of I Love Being Sober, Tim Westbrook sits down with award-winning singer/songwriter, vocal coach, and woman in recovery Shylah Ray Sunshine for an honest conversation about sobriety, childhood trauma, motherhood, and the healing power of the human voice.

Raised by parents struggling with alcoholism, Shylah shares how early exposure to addiction shaped her life — and how finding 12-step recovery helped her break generational patterns and begin deep emotional healing. She opens up about becoming a mother while navigating her own trauma recovery, balancing career and spiritual growth, and what it truly means to "come home to yourself."

Together, Tim and Shylah explore:

• Growing up in an alcoholic household and finding recovery

• The role of 12-step programs in healing trauma

• Breaking generational cycles through sobriety

• Motherhood and recovery

• Quitting smoking and reclaiming the physical voice

• How trauma lives in the body — and in the voice

• Music as medicine and facilitating healing through sound

• Using breath, vibration, and expression as tools for transformation

Shylah also shares insights from her work as a professional vocal coach and creator of Soul Voice Singing, explaining how reconnecting with your voice can unlock emotional freedom, self-expression, and spiritual alignment. This episode bridges addiction recovery, trauma healing, creativity, and spirituality — offering hope and practical insight for anyone seeking deeper healing. If you've ever struggled to speak your truth, break unhealthy patterns, or reconnect with your authentic self, this conversation is for you.

About the Guest

Shylah Ray Sunshine is a multi-award-winning Neo-Soul and R&B artist, DJ, professional vocal coach, and proud First Nations Algonquin woman based in Los Angeles. Her music has been shared worldwide, and her work focuses on healing, empowerment, and authentic expression.

Learn more about Shylah Ray Sunshine and her Soul Voice Singing work at:

www.shylahraysunshine.com