In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley welcome LaShona Mosby, founder of Families with a Broken Heart Due to Senseless Violence, for one of the most emotional conversations we've had on the show.

After losing her son, Corinthian, to gun violence in 2014—a tragedy that also left her two other sons wounded—LaShona made the courageous decision to turn unimaginable pain into a mission of hope. Instead of allowing tragedy to define her family, she chose to become an advocate for healing, supporting families affected by violence, addiction, trauma, and mental health challenges.

Through her organization and community initiatives like "Tragedy to Triumph," LaShona has created a space where survivors can share their stories, encourage one another, and remind families that they are never alone. Her message is simple but powerful: your greatest pain does not have to be the end of your story—it can become the beginning of someone else's hope.

Ronnie, Michael, and LaShona discuss grief, forgiveness, faith, and the connection between trauma and addiction. They explore how communities can come together to break cycles of violence, support mental wellness, and create lasting change through compassion and service.

This episode is a powerful reminder that even after life's darkest moments, healing is possible—and purpose can be found in places we never expected.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 104 to hear LaShona Mosby's incredible story of resilience, faith, and turning tragedy into triumph.

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley welcome Donna Burks, a mental health and substance abuse professional whose career has been dedicated to helping individuals find healing, stability, and long-term recovery.

Donna holds a Master's degree and serves as a PLPC (Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor) and SAP (Substance Abuse Professional), bringing both clinical knowledge and real-world experience to the conversation. She currently works as a Substance Abuse Professional in the Baton Rouge area, helping individuals navigate recovery, treatment, and the challenges that come with rebuilding life after addiction.

Throughout this episode, Donna shares her perspective on the connection between mental health and addiction, the importance of addressing underlying issues that fuel substance use, and why recovery requires more than simply abstaining from drugs or alcohol. She discusses the value of accountability, professional support, and creating healthy systems that allow people to thrive long after treatment ends.

Ronnie, Michael, and Donna dive into the realities many families face when addiction enters the picture, the role counselors play in helping individuals find hope, and why no one should have to walk the recovery journey alone.

This conversation is full of wisdom, encouragement, and practical insight for anyone seeking recovery, supporting a loved one, or working in the behavioral health field.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 103 to hear Donna Burks' perspective on healing, mental health, and building a strong foundation for lasting recovery.

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley welcome Katie True for an honest conversation about recovery, healing, and the power of finding your true identity after addiction.

Katie shares her personal journey through addiction, the challenges she faced along the way, and the moments that ultimately led her toward recovery. She opens up about rebuilding her life, learning to trust the process, and discovering that freedom is about much more than simply putting down a substance—it's about becoming the person you were always meant to be.

Throughout the episode, Katie discusses the importance of community, accountability, and surrounding yourself with people who genuinely want to see you succeed. Her story is one of resilience, growth, and hope for anyone who feels trapped by their past.

Ronnie, Michael, and Katie dive into the realities of recovery, the lessons learned through adversity, and how sharing our stories can help others realize they are not alone in their struggles.

This conversation is filled with honesty, encouragement, and proof that recovery is possible no matter where your journey begins.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 102 to hear Katie True’s story and learn how healing, purpose, and perseverance can transform a life.

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Rolando Wolfe, a substance abuse counselor, recovery advocate, and leader in the sober living community.

Rolando has dedicated his life to helping individuals find freedom from addiction and build a foundation for lasting recovery. Through his work in counseling and sober living, he has witnessed firsthand the challenges people face when trying to rebuild their lives—and the incredible transformations that happen when recovery is given a chance.

During this conversation, Rolando shares his perspective on addiction, mental health, accountability, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. He discusses what it takes to move beyond survival mode, develop healthy habits, and create a life worth staying sober for.

Ronnie, Michael, and Rolando dive into the realities of recovery, the role of community in healing, and why no one should have to walk the journey alone. This episode is full of practical wisdom, hope, and encouragement for anyone seeking a better life.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 101 to hear Rolando Wolfe's story and learn why recovery is about more than getting sober—it's about building a future.

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In this powerful episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Jody Plauché, author of Why Gary Why? and son of the late Gary Plauché, whose story became known around the world after he shot and killed the man who had abducted and sexually abused Jody.

For decades, the public has focused on the dramatic moment captured on live television. But behind the headlines is a much deeper story—one of trauma, healing, forgiveness, and recovery.

Jody shares his personal journey of surviving abuse, navigating the aftermath of a tragedy that became national news, and finding purpose through speaking, writing, and helping others heal from trauma. He discusses the emotional toll of carrying such a public story, the importance of addressing childhood trauma, and how healing requires honesty, support, and courage.

This conversation goes beyond what most people know about the Plauché story. It's an honest look at resilience, recovery, forgiveness, and what it takes to move forward after unimaginable pain.

Whether you're a survivor, a parent, someone in recovery, or simply looking for a story of hope and perseverance, this episode offers a powerful reminder that healing is possible.

🎧 Tune in to hear Jody Plauché's story in his own words and learn why his message continues to impact lives across the country.

Get a Copy of Jody's Book here "Why Gary Why"

Amazon :
https://a.co/d/0dk24pAw

Audible :
https://www.audible.com/pd/Why-Gary-Why-Audiobook/B0BL1YPNNB?srsltid=AfmBOopypDYDjuLi9mMe_x6QXNOPJKe1bWFCBvH4OH9e71IfqmbTWv-k

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Trevon Tardy, a recovery advocate whose story is rooted in transformation, accountability, and helping others find freedom from addiction.

Through faith, surrender, and a commitment to recovery, Trevon has rebuilt his life and now dedicates himself to supporting others battling addiction. He has been involved in structured, 12-step based sober living environments focused on accountability, community, and long-term recovery.

Trevon opens up about the realities of addiction, mental health, and what it takes to break destructive cycles and begin building a new life. He shares how recovery gave him a second chance and why speaking honestly about struggle, growth, and healing matters so much in today’s world.

Ronnie, Michael, and Trevon also dive into the importance of brotherhood, support systems, and finding purpose after addiction. This conversation is raw, honest, and full of encouragement for anyone trying to find their way forward.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 99 to hear Trevon Tardy’s story of redemption, recovery, and rebuilding life one day at a time.

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This week, Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Mackenzie Selby for one of the rawest and most powerful conversations yet.

Mackenzie’s story is one of survival. She opens up about growing up around addiction, violence, abuse, and crime from an early age — a life most people couldn’t even imagine living through. By the time she was a teenager, addiction and chaos had already taken over her world. But instead of becoming another statistic, Mackenzie found recovery in 2009 and completely changed the direction of her life.

Today, she uses her story to help others struggling with substance abuse and addiction recovery, working in the recovery field and speaking openly about the realities of trauma, healing, and rebuilding a life from nothing. Her honesty throughout this episode is what makes it so impactful. Nothing is sugarcoated. Nothing feels rehearsed. It’s just real.

Ronnie, Michael, and Mackenzie talk about how childhood trauma shapes addiction, the moment things finally started to change, and what long-term recovery actually looks like after years of destruction. They also dive into purpose, self-worth, and why sharing your story can help save somebody else’s life.

This episode is heavy, inspiring, emotional, and hopeful all at the same time.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 98 and hear how Mackenzie Selby turned a life filled with pain into one built on recovery, honesty, and helping others.

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This week on Built By The Red Stick, Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Devan Castille, the Program Director and Educator at Serenity Treatment Center of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. Devan specializes in the 12 Step model of addiction and Recovery Dynamics, helping people understand addiction in a way that is practical, personal, and life-changing.

Devan’s story is powerful. He has been through prison, violence, addiction, and the kind of chaos most people never come back from. But recovery didn’t just give him a second chance — it gave him a whole new life. Today, he’s back at the same treatment center he graduated from, helping others find the same freedom he found.

In this episode, Devan talks about what finally made recovery click, why understanding the disease of addiction matters, and how honesty, faith, and the 12 Steps helped him rebuild his relationships, go back to school, and step into purpose. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Human Services and is now pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

This one is raw, real, and full of hope. If you’ve ever felt too far gone, Devan’s story is proof that recovery can completely rewrite your life.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 97 and hear how Devan Castille went from surviving the streets to helping others recover.

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