The “Making Bets In A Burning House” Podcast
Our goal is to amplify the voices and experiences of those who, just like us, have had our lives set ablaze by a loved one’s gambling addiction. We believe that it’s these stories that show us not just that we’re not alone in the blaze, but that we’re also capable of firefighting in the healthiest and loving ways.
Do you have a story to share, hope to offer, inspiration to ignite? Fill out the brief questionnaire and well be in touch: https://forms.gle/3sP4aXAjkXfaqxCf9
Ep. 1:
Mouse’s Story
In this episode, Mouse shares her journey through her 1st & 2nd husbands’ gambling addictions. Trigger Warning: intimate partner abuse, domestic violence, suicide; language.
Ep. 2:
Kat’s Story
In this episode, Kat shares her story of discovering her husband’s gambling addiction. Trigger Warning: child abuse, emotional abuse, suicidal ideation; language.
Ep. 3:
Surfacing Hope
In this episode, Kat and Mouse tackle one of the hardest topics when it comes to living with a compulsive gambler: hope. Each shares how they found hope from within and outside of the flames consuming their lives, and finding peace. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 4:
What Do You Do When Kids Are Involved?
In this episode, Kat and Mouse discuss something that makes living life with gambling addiction more complicated than ever: kiddos. Kat shares her experiences of trying to heal her then-9 and -11 year olds. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 5:
The Beginning
In this episode, Kat and Mouse discuss their initial confrontation with gambling with the hope that their experiences and knowledge can help you navigate your own. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 6:
Stay or Go?
In this episode, Kat and Mouse discuss the options presented to loved ones with a compulsive gambler in their life: work through the house fires, or run? Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 7, Part 1:
Dr. Michelle Malkin, JD & PhD
In this episode, Part 1, Mouse is joined by Dr. Michelle Malkin, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology and the Director of the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative (GRPI) at East Carolina University. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 8, Part 2:
Dr. Michelle Malkin, JD & PhD
This episode is the second half of Mouse’s conversations with Dr. Malkin about gambling-related harms & gambling-motivated crime and risk of historically oppressed, marginalized, and under-researched populations. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 9:
Don’t 101: Enabling
Kat and Mouse tackle the frustrations and complications that come with the first directive for friends and families of compulsive gamblers: stop enabling. But, what is enabling, really? What does it look like? And, how can loved one’s support their gambling addicts without doing this? Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 10:
The Neurobiology of Gambling Addiction
Join Mouse in her conversation with Rick Smith, co-founder of Mental Health Counseling and Consultants. He’ll help us understand the neurobiology of gambling addiction and how loved ones can protect themselves and help their compulsive gamblers in the recovery process. Trigger Warning: Suicide, Language
Ep. 11:
The Big T: Trust
We tackle a common question family and friends of compulsive gamblers ask at the start of and throughout their recovery: When does the trust come back ? This topic is a big one and Kat and Mouse are here to talk through their experience of it. Trigger Warning: Language, Abuse
Ep. 12:
The Importance of Storytelling
Join Kat and Mouse in their conversation with Ted Hartwell, former Executive Director, now Director of Storytelling for the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, and learn more about the importance of speaking our stories to our healing and recovery process. Trigger Warning: Suicide, Language
Ep. 13:
Debunking the Myth of “I’m Fine”
After a lengthy side conversation, Kat and Mouse invite us to consider what that phrase “I’m Fine!” actually means, and why it’s such a detriment to our recovery when navigating life with a compulsive gambler. Whether protective or silencing, “Fine” is never this simple. Trigger Warning: Language, Suicide
Ep. 14:
Addiction Recovery Coaching
Kat and Mouse talk with Amanda Lockyer, Addiction Recovery Coach, podcaster, and founder of Addiction Makes 3, a coaching program all about supporting loved ones doing the heavy lifting of loving someone battling addiction. She’ll help us tackle the really hard questions: for them and for ourselves. Trigger Warning: Language.
Ep. 15:
Supporting Kids Who Love A Compulsive Gambler
Join Kat and Mouse in conversation about how we can better support kiddos who have a compulsive gambler in their life. Kat will talk through her children’s workbook and adult facilitator’s guide as she shows us the importance of bringing kids into recovery not just for them, but for their trust adults, too. For more on the books and Kat’s research including where to order, visit the website: www.kvbwritesoutloud.com
Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 16:
The Untangle Project, Supporting Women Affected by Problem Gambling
We’re talking with Anna Martin, lawyer and Founder of The Untangle Project, an innovative healing community in Australia dedicated to supporting women through recovery in their own ways. She’s also a compulsive gambler in long-time recovery who speaks candidly about her experiences and the ways that society can make necessary changes to fight this horrific disease. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 17:
Surprises From Our Gamblers
In this episode, Kat and Mouse explore some of the experiences that caught them off guard in as they discovered their ex-husbands’ gambling addiction. In discussing these unwelcome surprises they hope you’ll be prepared. Trigger Warning: Suicide, Language
Ep. 18, Part 1:
When Your Wife is the Compulsive Gambler
Join Kat and Mouse in a conversation with Chad: musician, business owner, father, husband, and fellow 12-stepper. He shares with us his journey to recovery from alcohol addiction, to navigating his wife’s problem gambling. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 19, Part 2:
When Your Wife is the Compulsive Gambler
Join us in part 2 of a conversation with Chad: musician, business owner, father, husband, and fellow 12-stepper. He shares with us his journey to recovery from alcohol addiction, to navigating his wife’s problem gambling. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 20:
Listener Questions, Part 1
The discussion turns over to you as Kat and Mouse do their best to answer some common questions about life with a compulsive gambler in it. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 21:
Rob_Odaat and Online Gambling
Join Kat and Mouse as they chat with Rob_Odaat, founder of ODAAT Gambling Awareness. We’ll talk about his experience of gambling addiction and how his recovery involves calling out the dangers of online betting to the world’s young people in particular. Trigger Warning: Language
Ep. 22:
Make It Stop!
In this episode, Kat and Mouse discuss the surprising things that didn’t stop when they divorced their gamblers, leading them to realize that there’s no magic button that turns off the stress and anxiety of a life with a compulsive gambler. Trigger Warning: Language, Suicide
Ep. 23:
Adolescents, Addiction, & Problem Gambling
Kat and Mouse are joined by Paul Lavella, founder & Director of NJ Recovery & Wellness as we learn about his work in behavioral health since 2004 and, particularly, how he helps adolescents and young adults leave addiction behind them.
Ep. 24:
Diane’s Story
Do you have a sign on your head that says, “Stupid”? Diane felt this way when she found out in one night that her husband had been a compulsive gambler for years, committed crimes, and no longer wanted to live. She believed the rug had been pulled out from underneath her life. But she found help and hope from some unlikely sources. Trigger Warning: Language, Suicide
Ep. 25:
Tiye Chambers, Boundary Strategist
Boundaries are essential when loving a compulsive gambler, but knowing what they are and hold to hold them can be wildly challenging. That’s why Kat and Mouse are thrilled to be joined by Tiye Chambers, Boundary Strategist, EQ Enthusiast, Manipulator’s Nightmare, who will teach us about how to do these things, and so much more.
Ep. 26:
Sharon’s Story
Why are you wasting the toothpaste?!? After Sharon found out her husband was hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt from gambling, she cracked down on everything to pay it off. She made sacrifices and felt that her husband was not. Toothpaste is what sent her over the edge. Trigger warning: Talk about suicide and attempted suicide
Ep. 27:
Cyclic Behaviors with Rick Smith
We already talked with Rick about the neurobiology of an addicts brain. In this episode, he continues the conversation with cyclic behaviors that both addicts and enablers do. Rick gives us practical tools to help change these behaviors.
Ep. 28:
Tiffany’s Story
When someone we love gets caught in a gambling addiction, there is a lot of conflict. It is not just with the gambler, but in our personal thoughts. Of course, we could simply leave them, but we love them so much and we don’t want to see them hurt. We want to help them, fix them, and in the process, we almost destroy ourselves. Tiffany openly shares her story and takes us through the ups and downs of living with someone who has addictions.
Ep. 29:
Change Is In The Air
I wanted to tell you about some changes with the Podcast. I am also going to take this opportunity to tell you where you can find resources and people who can help you when you find yourself impacted by someone with a gambling addiction.
Ep. 30:
Michael Sciandra
Today we talk with the Executive Director of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, Michael Sciandra. He has been around gambling from a young age. After 5+ years of not placing a bet, he is now helping gamblers and their families to find peace in their lives, just like he has.
402-217-1500
betfreemike@gmail.com
Ep. 31:
What Gam-Anon Is And What It Is Not
Many people do not understand or even know anything about 12-step programs. Today, Melissa and Diane, our new co-host, talk about all the things that Gam-Anon is and what it is not. We hope that this will help clear the air about some misconceptions about what to expect in attending a meeting.
Ep. 32:
Nelson Nghe, Artist
When you are a child, you aren’t expected to be the one who takes care of the family. In Nelson’s case, his family was too busy gambling to take care of him. He is not alone in Australia’s tragic gambling scene. To help others in a similar position understand what gambling harm does, Nelson created art. His pieces tell a story of what it looks like growing up in a family that is obsessed with spending time in the casinos.
nelsonart.com.au
instagram.com/nelsonartofficial/
facebook.com/nelsonartofficial/
Email: info@nelsonart.com.au
Ep. 33:
Things Your Addict Will Say
Addicts will say anything to get you to allow them to continue to gamble. Here are some of the things Diane and I have heard. We hope that this will help you understand what people will do when they are in the grips of an addiction.
Ep. 34:
Dr. Harry Levant
Harry is everywhere; 60 Minutes, CNN, The Whole Story. Now he’s on this podcast! Harry will share his experience as a gambler and how it almost destroyed his life. Then he decided to do something about it. If you have been harmed by someone else’s gambling, please, sign up with FFOG and help us get control of this public health crisis.
FFOG: hurtbygambling.org
Ep. 35:
Trust The Process
This is what therapy should look like. Jody and Robin work together along with many other counselors at The Better Institute, (where you go to get better!) to make sure that everyone is taken care of.
jody@betterinstitute.com
robin@betterinstitute.com
Ep. 36:
Podcasthon Special Edition
The Podcasthon will feature podcasts dedicating an episode to help the charity of their choice. My charity is The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. Today we are speaking with Ted, the Councils Storyteller. We have spoken with Ted before in Episode 12, if you haven’t heard his story. Today he will tell us exactly what the NVCPG does and how it is helping people impacted by gambling addiction.
DONATE TO: nevadacouncil.org/get-involved/make-contribution/
Ep. 37:
Obstacles to Recovery for the Gambler and Non-Gambler with Rick Smith
Rick is back on the podcast today to talk about things that can hinder recovery. You might be surprised to hear what some of these things are. But the good news is, you can change the way you see recovery.
Ep. 38:
Ep. 39: