The Recovery Playbook: Conversations about Addiction & Recovery

Hunger quiets, cravings fade, and the conversation around recovery shifts when biology finally meets behavior. We unpack GLP-1 receptor agonists—how they signal fullness early, slow gastric emptying, and may unexpectedly lower alcohol intake and even smoking—through personal experience and fresh science. Ryan shares how a weekly injection moved his A1C from prediabetic to optimal without losing strength or ditching the gym, while also softening the pull of old addictive patterns. Dr. Daryl Shorter explains why these drugs, approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity, are generating buzz well beyond weight loss, and how they challenge the willpower-only model that has long fueled shame around food and substance use.We break down a recent phase 2, placebo-controlled trial of low-dose semaglutide that showed reduced alcohol self-administration, lower cravings, and fewer drinks per drinking day, with a bonus signal on smoking. Then we get practical: what responsible, off-label consideration looks like; why first-line treatments and therapy still matter; and how to weigh lawsuits, side effects, and costs against the reality of stalled recovery. The goal isn’t hype—it’s clarity. For some, GLP-1s may be a bridge to consistent habits, social meals without overeating, and a quieter mind around alcohol. For others, the risks or lack of indication mean they’re not the right fit.We also look ahead to oral formulations in development and a care model where metabolic health, psychiatry, and recovery intersect. If you’re curious whether biology-informed tools can make change stick, this conversation offers nuance, guardrails, and hope. Listen, reflect, and share with someone who’s weighing their options. If this resonated, follow the show, leave a review, and tell us: could GLP-1s be a game changer in your recovery toolkit?Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

Ever wish the “runner’s high” came with instructions?  Our hosts, addiction and recovery expert, Dr.  Daryl Shorter, and former NFL quarterback, Ryan Leaf,  break down a practical, science-backed plan to use movement, food choices, and micro-mindfulness to ease cravings, lower stress, and make sobriety more sustainable. No macho workouts, no guilt—just small steps that add up.We start with why exercise works: endorphins lift mood, while lower cortisol steadies your nervous system. Then we get tactical. You’ll hear how to begin with minutes, not miles; why a quick doctor check and basic labs protect your progress; and how listening to joint pain and sleep can guide smarter training. We talk real-world routines—walks, gentle stretches, mobility work—and the research-backed dose that delivers results: 20 to 60 minutes, three times a week, for eight to twelve weeks.Food becomes your ally, not your enemy. We swap processed snacks for unprocessed, plant-forward meals, lean into Mediterranean-style cooking with olive oil, and share budget wins like a single weekly cook day that beats takeout costs. You’ll learn how lowering dietary inflammation can calm pain and brain fog, making it easier to stick with your plan. We also explore recovery for the body—why aging athletes and beginners alike need more mobility and less ego lifting to stay consistent.Finally, we bring in cold exposure and meditation as compact tools that train calm under pressure. A few minutes in a cold plunge or a 60-second breathing break can reset your day and help you ride out urges. We talk environment design—shoes by the door, a favorite park loop, a quiet chair in the sun—because the right setting makes healthy choices the easy ones. The message is simple: personalize the toolkit, take what fits, and build the life you want one small, repeatable action at a time.If this playbook helps, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to tell us which habit you’re starting today.You can also find The Recovery Playbook by video on YouTube.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

In this episode of The Recovery Playbook, Daryl Shorter, MD, and Ryan Leaf, Menninger’s Ambassador in Recovery, address both the pros and cons of recovery treatment.Dr. Shorter shares an experience of asking a patient what they thought about going into recovery, while Leaf admits that one big “con” is “… that everyone knows. The fear of someone knowing you have a problem is worse than the fear of getting the help you need.”For Leaf, one fear about recovery was being made fun of or ostracized. He also had concerns about having a social life, since so much of Americans’ social lives involves drinking, whether at restaurants or bars. This made him concerned about finding a partner, as many of the places where you typically meet people would be off limits.For Dr. Shorter, addressing an addict’s fears about recovery is an important part of treatment. Without such a discussion, there’s no opportunity to help an addict learn to manage those fears.Dr. Shorter highlights two good things specifically related to Leaf’s recovery: the ability to be of service to others and the capacity to experience self-acceptance. According to Dr. Shorter, radical change is possible for everyone.“There are no negatives in recovery,” says Leaf.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

Despite progress in recent years, stigma surrounding substance use disorders and mental health issues continues to be the “dirty little secret” of addiction.While many people are using social media channels like TikTok and Instagram to talk about their experiences in recovery, plenty of others continue to be silent about it, even with friends and family.For Leaf, being silent wasn’t an option. He says the very public nature of his rock-bottom moment and subsequent struggle meant he needed to have an equally public “redemption,” which meant going public with the details of his addiction and recovery.“I don’t necessarily think that it helps that a lot of these fellowships have ‘anonymous’ attached to them,” he adds. “Getting sober is the proudest thing I’ve ever done, and I made it to the NFL. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done; so I wear it as a badge of honor.”Dr. Shorter wonders what the medical profession contributes to the stigma and to the reluctance of patients in recovery to share their stories.“Asking for help is the strongest thing you’ll ever do,” says Leaf. “But you need to do whatever you can to stay sober, whether that’s remaining anonymous or not. That’s the most important thing.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

Welcome to The Recovery Playbook, Menninger’s YouTube series featuring Daryl I. Shorter, MD, medical director for the Menninger Addictions & Recovery Medicine Center, and Ryan Leaf, who is The Clinic's Ambassador in Recovery and a college and professional football analyst. Each month, they discuss relevant recovery topics on the minds of individuals, family and friends, and treatment providers alike. They look at what’s new in substance-use recovery today, sticking points that affect relationships, coping with adversity, and breakthroughs in treatment and policy matters. Their goal is to elevate conversation about real issues of substance use and addictions. Join us each month as Dr. Shorter and Leaf open The Recovery Playbook. Episode 4: When Do You Know You Need Help?You don't have to hit rock bottom before getting help for a substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder. In fact, there may be big clues about the need to seek treatment long before hitting rock bottom. In this episode of The Recovery Playbook, Dr. Shorter and Leaf discuss what those big clues might look like and why you should pay attention to them. Leaf says, "I couldn't do it on my own; I had to be intervened with." According to Dr. Shorter, "One of the barriers to accessing care or getting treatment is this belief that you have to do it on your own." Yet there are lots of ways, including medication and psychotherapy, in which to approach recovery. The duo also discuss how stigma continues to be a barrier to treatment and point out that many people view the treatment of medical disorders differently from the treatment of substance use disorders. It's this refusal to acknowledge the medical origins of addiction that helps perpetuate the stigma. They also explore the concept of pre-addiction, a relatively new idea within the field of addiction psychiatry.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

"This is a family disease," says Leaf, as he outlines why families are so important in the healing journey of someone with an addiction. In this episode of The Recovery Playbook, our co-hosts run out the clock discussing how families enable addiction, need treatment as a unit, and more."Even if an individual in active addiction doesn't get into treatment, that person's family could still be helped by family therapy," says Dr. Shorter. "It also can teach family members how to interact with their loved one in a way that doesn't continue the enabling."Leaf shares moving stories about his father's and brother's response to his addiction and how the stigma surrounding it still impacts our decisions about how to respond to a loved one's addiction today. Our co-hosts also point out that it's not just biological families who can enable an addict's substance use disorder; even friends — a person's chosen family — can play a role in it as well. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

Adversity happens to everyone. However, those in recovery can find themselves thinking that their life should be smooth sailing now that they’ve given up drugs or alcohol. Then, when they find themselves struggling with anxiety or depression or some other issue, they’re discouraged. In this episode of The Recovery Playbook, Dr. Shorter and Leaf explore what can happen when someone in recovery encounters adversity and what to do about it.For Leaf, recovery meant that he had to address underlying mental health issues, which for him included social anxiety, depression, and narcissistic personality disorder. He says those diagnoses were a game changer because it meant there was a “why” to his addiction.“Addiction helped calm those mental illnesses.” In order to heal, he still needed to address them. Dr. Shorter points out that “You don’t have to wait until a crisis has happened in order to seek any sort of treatment, especially mental health treatment.”Leaf says everyone new to recovery should seek treatment because sharing your story is so powerful and sharing your story with others is a way to be of service to others. According to Dr. Shorter, some people deal with adversity during recovery by going back to using drugs or alcohol or engaging in their behavioral addiction. Leaf encourages these individuals to begin the recovery process again.“Be transparent and vulnerable about the adversity you’re facing with your therapist, physician and the people who are supportive of your recovery,” says Leaf. “And believe that they are not going to judge you or shame you.”Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.

What’s it like being in recovery from opioid use disorder or other substances today? In the inaugural episode of Recovery Playbook, our co-hosts run out the clock discussing this topic and more.With increasing media attention on opioid addiction and overdoses in America, and with more money being spent to tackle this issue, more of us are aware of the impact it’s having on individuals. Yet what kind of recovery is possible? What does it take to recover?  “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” says Leaf. “I made it to the NFL … and this is the hardest thing I’ve done. But there is a solution.”For Leaf, understanding the science of addiction and taking advantage of medication-assisted therapy were the keys to jumpstarting his recovery, which he’s now been in for 11 years. Dr. Shorter addresses what medications can help, how long they work, and their multiple benefits.“Medications can actually reduce the craving or the desire to use substances of all kinds, but opioids in particular,” says Dr. Shorter. In addition, medications can also assist with the symptoms of detox, which should always be done under the supervision of a physician. In this exciting discussion, Dr. Shorter also talks about the impact of stigma, controversies within the recovery field, and more. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.