WJFF - The Kingfisher Project

Steven D’Agata and Cathy Kennedy on Hope Not Handcuffs in the Hudson Valley

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Mark Ehrenkranz joins us for a conversation about addiction recovery, peer support, and the power of lived experience in helping people heal.Sober since 1985, Ehrenkranz has spent decades supporting individuals struggling with substance and alcohol use disorders. Today, he works alongside doctors and addiction specialists in hospital settings, helping patients navigate the emotional and human realities of recovery in emergency rooms, ICUs, detox units, and treatment programs.Before entering the recovery field, Ehrenkranz had a more than 40-year career in the entertainment industry. He created The NY Film Critics National Series®, hosted by ABC and Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers, and 800-VIDEO-411®, a national service used across the home entertainment industry. He has also worked as a screenwriter and producer.In this conversation, Mark Ehrenkranz reflects on what it means to be a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, how lived experience can help build trust with patients, and why recovery looks different for everyone. He also talks about the importance of reducing stigma around addiction and how storytelling can play a powerful role in healing.This episode is part of The Kingfisher Project, a storytelling initiative focused on recovery, resilience, and the human stories behind healing. Through honest conversations and personal narratives, the project aims to reduce stigma around addiction and highlight the many pathways to recovery.By sharing real experiences and creating space for open dialogue, The Kingfisher Project connects people who may be struggling with those who have walked a similar path and found hope on the other side. Join us as we explore stories of recovery, connection, and second chances.00:00 Meet Mark Krantz00:45 What Peer Recovery Means02:53 Radical Honesty Approach04:24 Resource Guide and Acronyms07:40 Getting Certified CPRS12:12 Training Gaps and New Drugs15:14 Hospital Work and Funding19:08 ER Workflow and Privacy27:38 Mark Story Begins30:43 Hollywood Drugs and Downfall33:49 AA in Florida34:32 Tramadol relapse spiral35:35 Harm reduction myth36:04 Cannabis crash and ward37:44 Weed addiction is real39:17 Potency and profit40:22 Fentanyl and xylazine43:32 Test strips and safety44:40 Inside the book49:17 Youth and brain development52:01 William White research54:59 Media and resources57:27 Where to buy58:48 Navy Seal recovery01:00:19 Final thanks and signoff

 On this episode of the Kingfisher Project, Radio Catskill’s Bill Williams speaks with Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and a former White House drug policy advisor, about the ongoing debate over marijuana legalization and its impact on public health and communities. Sabet discusses concerns around youth access, mental health risks, and the growing influence of the cannabis industry, while also addressing arguments from legalization advocates. The conversation looks at how states are navigating regulation, what current research shows, and what the future of marijuana policy could look like. 

Lisa Ann Poggi is an actress, producer, and advocate using storytelling to shine a light on one of the most urgent issues facing families today — addiction and recovery.With a career spanning film and television, Lisa has worked both in front of and behind the camera, but in recent years her focus has shifted toward purpose-driven projects that center healing, hope, and real-world impact. Through her work with the Choosing Hope Project, she supports families navigating substance use disorder, helping break stigma and offering resources, connection, and practical guidance for recovery.Blending creativity with advocacy, Lisa believes stories can change lives — and systems.On this episode of The Kingfisher Project, she shares her journey, the personal experiences that shaped her mission, and how film and media can be powerful tools for awareness, compassion, and change.

On The Kingfisher Project, we dive into a powerful conversation about addiction, enforcement, and education.I’m joined by Bridget Brennan, the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York. Senior Trial Counsel Chris Edel and Chief of Investigations Bernice Ordonez also join the discussion. Chris and Bernice lead the office’s Educational Outreach Committee, and together they break down the wide scope of their work and how it connects directly to communities in our region.

Tonight, we speak with Dr. Melody Glenn, an emergency and addiction medicine physician, associate professor at the University of Arizona, and author of the new book Mother of Methadone from Beacon Press — a hybrid memoir weaving her own story with that of Dr. Marie Nyswander, the radical pioneer of methadone treatment.In this episode, Dr. Glenn shares how stigma and misunderstanding around addiction remain deeply entrenched — even within medicine — and why she believes compassion and evidence must go hand in hand if we’re to truly heal. We talk about the history of addiction treatment, her writing journey, and the women who paved the way for a more humane approach to care.As Dr. Glenn reminds us, addiction medicine is about meeting people where they are — not where we wish they were — and ensuring the treatment is easier to access than the poison.

My guest is Prof. Thomas Van Nortwick, an emeritus professor of Classics at Oberlin and someone I’ve known since the fall of 1960. Together, we’ll reflect on what it was like to grow up in a home shaped by substance use and how those early experiences stay with us. We’ll also explore Rebecca Pisall’s story, viewing it through Tom’s Classicist perspective—bringing ancient insights to a very modern struggle. 

Dr. Arthur Robin Williams, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University and Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Williams, a leading voice in the field of substance use disorders, will discuss his work and research with a special focus on Ophelia—a platform that expands access to evidence-based telehealth treatment for opioid use disorder.We’ll explore how telehealth is transforming the treatment landscape, especially in rural and underserved communities like ours, where access to care can be limited. Dr. Williams will also share insights on the future of addiction care, the challenges patients face, and the role technology can play in reducing stigma and improving outcomes.

 In this episode, my guests are Jody D’Agostini (Founder and Board Chair, right) and Andi Williams (Executive Director, left) of Community in Crisis. Based in the Somerset Hills of New Jersey, Community in Crisis works to reduce substance use and its impacts by uniting communities through education, prevention, and holistic recovery support—free from stigma. 

Dr. Stephen Loyd is a nationally recognized expert in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine, currently serving as Director of West Virginia’s Office of Drug Control Policy and Chief Medical Officer at Cedar Recovery in Tennessee. Formerly Tennessee’s Assistant Commissioner for Substance Abuse Services, Dr. Loyd has been a pivotal voice in shaping statewide pain treatment guidelines—especially for opioid-dependent pregnant women.With experience as an expert witness in high-profile prescription drug cases and recognition as an "Advocate for Action" by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Dr. Loyd’s impact spans drug courts, anti-drug coalitions, and law enforcement efforts across the country.His personal journey is just as powerful—Dr. Loyd has been in recovery from opioid and benzodiazepine addiction since July 8, 2004. His lived experience fuels his relentless commitment to reform and recovery advocacy. He even inspired the character Dr. Finnix, portrayed by Michael Keaton in Hulu’s award-winning series Dopesick.Dr. Loyd is more than a physician—he’s a leader, a changemaker, and a source of hope.

On this week’s episode of The Kingfisher Project, we are honored to welcome Alexander Y. Walley, M.D., M.Sc., a nationally recognized expert in addiction medicine and overdose prevention. Dr. Walley is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and the Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Boston Medical Center.With deep expertise in the intersection of substance use and public health, Dr. Walley has dedicated his career to advancing care for individuals affected by addiction. He is an active clinician, providing both primary care and addiction treatment to patients with HIV, and also works in methadone maintenance treatment at Health Care Resource Centers.In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Walley leads research focused on overdose prevention and the medical complications of substance use, particularly HIV. He also serves as the Medical Director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Pilot Program, playing a critical role in the state’s response to the overdose crisis.His work integrates medical care, harm reduction, and education, and his insights offer valuable lessons for anyone interested in understanding and addressing substance use in our communities.This is a conversation filled with knowledge, compassion, and actionable insight. We promise—there is so much to learn from listening to Dr. Walley.

Kevin Hyer is a management-side labor and employment attorney in long-term recovery from Methamphetamine Use Disorder. He is the CEO of The Hyer Calling Foundation (THCF), a Philadelphia-based nonprofit with a satellite office near Richmond, VA.  THCF helps individuals in recovery secure second-chance careers through free, personalized support services not covered by insurance. It also educates employers on the benefits of a Recovery-Friendly Workplace.  Kevin holds degrees from Penn State's School of Labor and Employment Relations and the University of Baltimore Law. He serves as Board Counsel for Faces & Voices of Recovery and sits on the Board of the FL Recovery-Friendly Workplace Coalition. Before founding THCF, he spent a decade practicing law at SEIU Healthcare PA, Compass Group USA, and Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP.

On the Kingfisher Project, Tuesday, February 4th, at 6:00 PM EDT on Local Edition, Radio CatskillGuests, Lindsey Vuolo and Robyn Oster from the Partnership to End Addiction, are experts in health law and policy. Lindsey, the Vice President of Health Law and Policy, and Robyn, the Associate Director of Health Law and Policy, work to shape federal and state policies that improve addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery.

Dr. Fred Muench is a clinical psychologist and digital health expert, formerly president of the Partnership to End Addiction and now a professor at Hofstra University. He’s known for pioneering digital interventions, like AI and text-based tools, to address adolescent substance use, especially around cannabis. Dr. Muench continues to lead innovation in behavioral health through The Unregret Foundation and Vagus Labs.

Jessica Hoppe, author of the newly released memoir FIRST IN THE FAMILY – A Story of Survival, Recovery, and The American Dream. Jessica is a Honduran Ecuadorian writer based in New York City.  She has been featured on ABC News and HBOMax Pa’lante! and her work has appeared in the Latino Book Review, The New York Times, Vogue, Paper Magazine, and elsewhere.  Jessica is a board member of Time of Butterflies, a non-profit supporting families through domestic abuse recovery, and an organizer with the Central American Writer’s group.Previous Kingfisher guest Carl Erik Fisher, MD writes: “FIRST IN THE FAMILY sings with love and shouts with rage, offering an uplifting account of resilience and recovery even while calling out the seductive dangers of the American Dream.  Jessica Hoppe has crafted an important, pathbreaking contribution by distilling the historical stakes of the addiction crisis while simultaneously presenting a wrenching and unique personal narrative. It’s an insightful chronicle of the burdens of specialness, the weight of intergenerational trauma, and the stigma of addiction.  In the end, it’s an inspiring and essential message that there are numerous and diverse pathways of recovery.”  

Bob Lindsey. Bob is a life-long Recovery Advocate who has worked and volunteered on addiction prevention, treatment and recovery issues since college.  Bob’s passionate commitment to recovery is connected to the fact that he has 12 family members in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.  As a result of his personal family history and professional understanding of addiction, he has not used alcohol or other drugs since 1976.Prior to his most recent retirement, Bob served as the first non-physician, Executive Director of International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous (IDAA), which was founded in 1949. During his tenure with IDAA he helped lead a major transition in the management, operations and governance of IDAA.Before his time at IDAA, Bob served as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Friends of Recovery New York (FOR-NY) from 2015 to 2017, helping to secure state funding, opened the office and hired the first full-time staff leading to remarkable growth and development of a statewide network of local Recovery Community Organizations (RCO’s), Recovery Community and Outreach Centers (RCOC’s) and an expanding network of recovery advocates for individuals and families impacted by addiction.Before coming to FOR-NY, Bob was President/CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) in NYC from 2006 – 2013.  NCADD recently merged with Facing Addiction.  During Bob’s tenure, each year, more than 700,000 people contacted NCADD and it’s National Network of Affiliates seeking help and the NCADD website averaged over 2 million visitors.Prior to NCADD Bob was Director of Community Relations for the Betty Ford Center; served as the Executive Director of the New York State Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Addictions, Inc. (NYSCADA) from 1982-1990; a Unit Manger/Therapist at Spofford Hall in Spofford, NH from 1980-1982 and served as Executive Director of the Allegany County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc. (ACCASA) in Wellsville, NY from 1975-1980. During his tenure at ACCASA Bob was elected as President of the New York Federation of Alcoholism Counselors (NYFAC), the organization that created the oral and written examination for alcoholism counselors, currently known as CASAC (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors).

You may remember Rob as a Kingfisher guest in April of 2023.  At the time he was the General Counsel with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in the executive office of the President. In that role Rob provided overall legal support to all components of ONDCP. More recently Rob has moved on to become the founder and president of Kent Strategic Advisors, a healthcare strategic policy advisor focused on helping clients maximize their opportunities to serve those in need of helpFor a number of years Rob served as the General Counsel for the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). In this role, Robert provided overall legal support, policy guidance, and direction to the OASAS Executive Office and all divisions of the agency. Rob led the OASAS efforts to implement New York State’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force recommendations, including the Combat Addiction/Heroin Campaign, the Federal Opioid Targeted Grant program, and Medicaid Redesign Team initiatives including implementation of historic legislation to increase access to treatment, including harm reduction services. Robert has co-authored articles on patient confidentiality and sober homes and has presented nationally and throughout New York State on the addiction system of care. In 2011, Robert was recognized by the Caron Foundation with their Legal Professional Public Service Award. In 2013, Robert was recognized by the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies with their Leadership Award. In 2016, Robert was recognized by the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence with their Nyswander/Dole “Marie” award; the Long Island Recovery Association Friend of Recovery Award; and the Northern Tier Providers Coalition Public Service Award. In 2018, Robert was honored by the Friends of Recovery New York with the Charles Devlin Recovery Advocate Award and by Christopher’s Reason with the Outstanding Leader in the Recovery Community Award. In 2019, Robert was honored by NYAPRS with its Public Policy Leadership Award and by the MHANYS with their CEO Award. In 2020, Robert was honored by the NYS Justice Center with their Champion Award. Mr. Kent is a graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law.

Marcia Lee Taylor is the Founder of MLT Strategies, LLC, a behavioral health consulting firm. She is the former President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, with 30 years of experience in the addiction field. At the Partnership, Marcia managed government and stakeholder relationships, fundraising, and served as a media spokesperson. She partnered with major corporations and led the Medicine Abuse Project, a campaign to reduce teen prescription medication misuse.Previously, Marcia was a Senior Advisor for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs and the Democratic Staff Director of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, working on drug policy bills with then-Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. She also worked for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and served as a community organizer in Baltimore with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.Marcia holds a degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University, where she has been an Adjunct Professor. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and completed nine years on the Board of the United States Anti-Doping Agency. She and her husband Jeff have two teenage daughters.

James L. Baker, MD, Dr. Baker is a physician—but also a father who lost a child to opioid addiction and overdose. Following his son Macky's journey through addiction, recovery, relapse, and death from overdose, Dr. Baker has dedicated himself to helping others recover from substance use disorder and stopping the devastation that addiction brings to families throughout the United States. Tomorrow, May 7th, marks the publication date of his new book, *This Monstrous Obsession – Hard Lessons Learned About Addiction*. There is much to be learned from his experience.

On The Kingfisher Project is Spencer Norris. Spencer is a reporter for New York Focus investigating drug policy with a focus on the state’s addiction treatment facilities. His latest piece, “In These State Prisons, Addiction Treatment is Out of Reach” examines the stark disparities in access to life-saving medication for addiction that persist between facilities – and racial groups.

The Kingfisher Project is Sheila P. Vakharia, Ph.D.  Dr. Vakharia received her Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Florida International University, a Master’s in Social Work from Binghamton University, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Addictions from New York University. She is a nationally recognized harm reduction expert with over 15 years of combined experience in addiction treatment, harm reduction, higher education, research, and drug policy reform.  She currently works at the Drug Policy Alliance, a national advocacy organization fighting to end the war on drugs.  At the DPA Sheila is the Deputy Director of Research and Academic Engagement. In this role, she helps DPA staff and others understand a range of drug policy issues. Dr. Vakharia builds relationships with drug researchers and helps to advance policy-relevant research. She also mobilizes researchers in support of DPA policy campaigns and organizes conferences on key issues in drug policy. She is also the author of the newly released book The Harm Reduction Gap – Helping Individuals Left Behind by Conventional Drug Prevention and Abstinence-only Addiction Treatment.

In this episode, we're joined by Carol McDaid, former Principal at Capitol Decisions, Inc., a powerhouse in the realm of policy consulting. With decades of experience and a special expertise in addiction and mental health policy, Carol shares her insights, experiences, and the critical role Capitol Decisions played in shaping policies that impact millions.