by Ryan Schwantes | Nov 5, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Breaking Free Through Critical Thinking Have you been told not to question, do as you’re told, and just “trust the process”? When it comes to solving an addiction or mental health...
by Ryan Schwantes | Nov 3, 2025 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
The Antidepressant Myth: A “Miracle” Built on Marketing, Money, and Misleading Science This article is republished with permission from Ryan Schwantes. The original article appears here. Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and...
by Ryan Schwantes | Oct 27, 2025 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
Antidepressant Efficacy and Placebo Effect This article is republished with permission from Ryan Schwantes. The original article appears here. - Efficacy Data -> Goal: Compare -> Viz: Stacked Bar Chart -> Interaction: Tooltips -> Justification: Clearly...
by Ryan Schwantes | Oct 22, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Coming Wave of “AI Addiction” In this thought-provoking and timely episode, Mark and Michelle dive into the emerging issue of problematic AI use – how our growing...
by Ryan Schwantes | Oct 8, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Self Sabotage!!! Break the Cycle Why do we sometimes destroy the very progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve? In this episode Mark and Michelle explore the reasons people...
by Ryan Schwantes | Sep 26, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Discussing ADHD: Beyond the Diagnosis In this listener-requested episode Mark and Michelle explore ADD and ADHD beyond just the labels, challenging common beliefs and highlighting how...
by Ryan Schwantes | Sep 25, 2025 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
We’re Looking for Coaches! Do you want to be a coach? Would you want to be a Certified Freedom Model Coach? If you are someone who has left AA or NA, has begun to realize that rehab is not the best answer for solving addictions, or you simply want to help...
by Ryan Schwantes | Sep 23, 2025 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
Struggling with Alcohol? Watch This! If you’re struggling with an alcohol problem, you don’t have to go to a rehab, or meetings with strangers, and you don’t even have to swear off it forever to solve your problem. Freedom Model co-founder and...
by Ryan Schwantes | Sep 11, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! From Guilt to Growth: The Power of Self-Forgiveness In this episode, Mark and Michelle explore how self-forgiveness can be an important part of solving a substance use problem or other...
by Ryan Schwantes | Aug 29, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Pleasure, Habits, and the Illusion of Addiction In this episode, Mark and Michelle reveal why the same substance, food, or behavior can feel like innocent enjoyment to one person and...
by Ryan Schwantes | Aug 15, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Shattering Addiction Mythology Sets People Free In this episode, Mark and Michelle discuss The Freedom Model Movement – what it is, why it matters, and how it’s changing lives...
by Ryan Schwantes | Aug 1, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Dangers of Group Think: A Conversation with Rachel Bernstein, LMFT In this episode, Mark and Michelle sit down with cult expert and host of the IndoctriNation Podcast, Rachel...
by Ryan Schwantes | Jul 11, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Why Moderation Feels Impossible and What You Can Do About It Mark and Michelle break down how lingering beliefs, emotional attachments, and unexamined perceived benefits can keep you...
by Ryan Schwantes | Jun 27, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Celebrating Your Autonomy to Gain True Freedom Why The Freedom Model? In this Independence Day episode, Mark and Michelle reveal how the name was born from a bold realization: to truly...
by Ryan Schwantes | Jun 11, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! When the Model Is the Problem: Helping in a Broken System Are you burned out, disillusioned, or questioning everything you were taught about addiction? You’re not alone. Whether you’re...
by Ryan Schwantes | May 28, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Addiction Help That Doesn’t Help: Why It Feels Wrong When you’re vulnerable and seeking help, it’s easy to ignore your instincts in favor of what sounds comforting. But those gut...
by Ryan Schwantes | May 15, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! From Vaping to Scrolling: Why You Think You Can’t Stop For nearly a century, addiction myths have shaped the way we think—and feel—about our habits. Today, millions believe they’re...
by Ryan Schwantes | May 1, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! From Powerless to Free: Ending the 12-Step Era In this episode, Mark and Michelle discuss their plan to completely replace the outdated 12-step, disease-based approach with a global...
by Ryan Schwantes | Apr 23, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Allure of Regret: Why We Hold On and How to Let Go When you think about it, regret can feel strangely comforting. But dwelling on the past quietly keeps you stuck. In this episode,...
by Ryan Schwantes | Apr 17, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Truth About Changing: Action Usually Comes First Many people misunderstand The Freedom Model, thinking they need to feel different or wait for their preferences to shift before they...
by Ryan Schwantes | Apr 10, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Does the Freedom Model Conflict with Religious Beliefs? In this thought-provoking episode, Mark and Michelle respond to a listener’s question about whether The Freedom Model conflicts...
by Ryan Schwantes | Apr 3, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Real “Easier, Softer Way” to Solve Addiction Have you ever been told there is no “easier, softer way” to solve your addiction because you weren’t willing to go to meetings, do the...
by Ryan Schwantes | Mar 27, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Addiction and Mental Illness: A Profitable Connection Does mental illness cause addiction, or does substance use trigger mental illness? If you’ve been caught in the treatment and...
by Ryan Schwantes | Mar 20, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! The Secret to Happiness? Let Go of the False Sense of Control Too often, we make our happiness contingent on the actions of others, setting ourselves up for disappointment, frustration,...
by Ryan Schwantes | Mar 13, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Addiction is NOT a Disease and There is A Solution! Escaping the Illusion of Addiction Do you want to keep obsessing over your “addiction” or do you want to break free from it? Addiction treatment and 12 step meetings reinforce your...
by Ryan Schwantes | Mar 6, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Driven by Obligation or Happiness? Are you a slave to your obligations, or are you shaping a life that fulfills you? How you frame responsibilities can make all the difference. This episode explores how to align your duties with what...
by Ryan Schwantes | Feb 26, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast RFK Jr.’s Bold Plan for Addiction: Healing Farms? The new U.S. administration is making waves and challenging the status quo. In this episode, Mark and Michelle dive into RFK Jr.’s controversial approach to tackling the addiction...
by Ryan Schwantes | Feb 12, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Stoic Philosophy and Addiction Epictetus said, “It’s impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” Oftentimes people remain stuck in their habits even after reading The Freedom Model because of previously held beliefs...
by Ryan Schwantes | Feb 6, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Straddling the Fence: Holding On vs. Moving On Can you learn The Freedom Model and implement its concepts in your life while going to support group meetings like AA or NA to maintain friendships and a sense of community? Mark and...
by Ryan Schwantes | Jan 29, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Is the Addiction Disease Theory Compassionate? There is a false dichotomy in the addiction recovery world that treating addiction as a disorder or disorder is more compassionate, while viewing it in any other way is not. In this episode...
by Ryan Schwantes | Jan 23, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Helping Someone You Love Without Coercion and Conflict This is a must see episode if you love someone who is struggling with heavy substance use or another habit that is negatively impacting your life. Mark and Michelle provide insights...
by Ryan Schwantes | Jan 16, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast A Discussion on Love, Relationships, and Addiction Love, being in love, and loving are three different aspects of love. Mark and Michelle explore these different aspects of love, and apply Freedom Model concepts to improving your...
by Ryan Schwantes | Jan 7, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast 2024 Success Stories: Year in Review Mark and Michelle get the incredible opportunity to meet and work with some of the most interesting and amazing people through the workshops and coaching. Here are some of their stories and...
by Ryan Schwantes | Jan 2, 2025 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast No Rehabs, Steps, or Meetings: Out with the Old, In with the New! Did you know that addiction treatment programs are still largely based on a program that is now 90 years old? It’s 2025, it’s definitely time for a 21st century solution...
by Ryan Schwantes | Dec 26, 2024 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Persistence to Progress Requires Pushing Past Self-Doubt Working to change your preferences, beliefs, and habits may require persistence and action even in the face of what can feel like crippling self-doubt. But moving past the...
by Ryan Schwantes | Dec 17, 2024 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Kindness is Powerful – Don’t Underestimate it! When trying to fix something that is broken, we often need the right tool for the job. When that thing is a relationship or your emotional well-being, kindness should never be...
by Ryan Schwantes | Dec 10, 2024 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Giving Yourself Peace this Holiday Season Many people say that the most stressful part of the holidays is spending time with family. Relationships are habitual too, but you can break those negative habits that cause anxiety and pain and...
by Ryan Schwantes | Dec 3, 2024 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast Are You Truly Open to Change? You can understand your reasons for your habit, or “addiction” and stay stuck in it if you are not open to the possibility that you can change your preference and do so happily. Mark and Michelle discuss...
by Ryan Schwantes | Nov 26, 2024 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Prevention, Addiction Recovery, Audio/Video, Non 12 Step Programs, Podcast, Self-Help
The Addiction Solution Podcast The Problems with Addiction Recovery Support Groups – Part 2 Many people report that feeling lonely was the most difficult obstacle to overcome when leaving AA or one of the other addiction recovery support groups. Mark and...
by Ryan Schwantes | Nov 22, 2024 | 12 Step Programs, Addiction Help, Addiction Solutions, Alcohol Treatment, Articles, Deprogramming, Non 12 Step Programs, Reviews, Uncategorized
4 Strategies for Relieving Anxiety without Alcohol this Holiday Season One of the most common reasons people give for their heavy substance use, PMO, or other behavioral habits is that they believe it relieves their anxiety and stress. For some, the holiday...
