We're Out of Time

On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with Dr. Katie Held, Chief Clinical Officer, and John Lieberman, CEO of Visions Teen Treatment Center, to expose the harsh realities adolescents face in today’s drug crisis. Drawing from frontline experience treating teens with substance use disorders, they break down what parents, educators, and clinicians urgently need to understand.The conversation begins with a sobering look at how adolescents are unknowingly using fentanyl, often without realizing it’s present in the substances they consume. Dr. Held and Lieberman explain what they’re seeing inside teen treatment centers and why fentanyl exposure has become increasingly common. They then explore how high-potency THC and cannabis extracts are triggering psychosis in teens, particularly among young brains that are still developing.Toxicology data reveals the scope of the problem, with 10–15% of teen admissions testing positive for fentanyl, a number that continues to climb. The discussion moves into the dangers of street vape cartridges and counterfeit products, highlighting how teens casually pick up unknown carts with potentially lethal consequences.Beyond substances, the episode confronts human trafficking risks tied to drug access, including real cases where teens normalize dangerous situations just to obtain drugs. The emotional weight deepens with stories of parents receiving hospital calls after overdoses—one father worrying about school while his son fights for his life, and another asking, “Can help get here fast enough to save my son?”Dr. Held and Lieberman address parental responsibility, denial, and fear, unpacking common misconceptions teens and families have about drugs. They examine the post-COVID and social media impact on adolescent mental health, emphasizing the urgent need for resilience-building. The episode also explores what it’s like to seek treatment for your own child while running a treatment center, the critical role of family support, and the key differences between treating adolescents versus adults.The conversation closes with a powerful reflection on why they choose to work with adolescents—because early intervention can change the trajectory of an entire life.

World-renowned interventionist Candy Finnigan joins host Richard Taite on We’re Out of Time for a deeply emotional and unfiltered conversation about addiction, recovery, accountability, and compassion. A pioneer in the intervention space and one of the first three women interventionists, Candy reflects on her 32-year career helping families confront substance use disorder—while also sharing her own lived experience with alcoholism.Candy opens up about hiding alcohol, being confronted by her mother-in-law, and facing the threat of losing her children, a pivotal moment that led her into sobriety. From there, she shares powerful stories from her time on the television series Intervention, including a man reuniting with his sons after 22 years, meeting an estranged family member and an unknown child, and witnessing the devastating clarity that can come—even amid cognitive decline—when someone realizes the harm addiction has caused their family.The episode explores memory loss during periods of severe alcoholism and homelessness, the tragic arc of a former lightweight boxing champion who became unhoused, and the long-term impact of trauma, brain injury, and substance abuse. One story highlights the moment a man, despite cognitive delay, instantly understood what he had done to his loved ones—an example of how awareness and remorse can still surface in unexpected ways.Richard Taite then shares one of his most painful experiences as an interventionist: a woman he believes he failed. He recounts running out of time, walking away knowing she would die, and carrying that grief years later. The moment underscores the emotional weight interventionists bear and the reality that outcomes are never guaranteed.Throughout the episode, Candy reinforces a core truth of the work: intervention is not about control or rescue, but about offering people a chance to choose recovery. As she says, “Our life work is helping people who suffer, get better.”

On this week’s episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with former NFL running back Montee Ball, whose journey from childhood Broncos fan to 2nd-round draft pick for the Denver Broncos reads like a dream—until it didn’t. Montee shares the surreal moment he was drafted, including the text he received from Peyton Manning, and how playing alongside legends like Manning and Tom Brady was both inspiring and overwhelming.At the height of his career—during his best year on the field—Montee was living his worst year off of it. He opens up about addiction, the pressure to perform, and the moments he declined calls from NFL teams to keep drinking and partying. He reflects on losing everything and the painful realization that his addiction had begun to push away the people who cared about him most.Montee revisits the expectations he set for himself—believing he’d “run off into the sunset with a gold jacket”—and the spiritual shift that redirected his path toward helping others. Richard highlights Montee’s rare athletic ability with the unforgettable line: “You’re the most impressive athlete I’ve ever met. EVER.”Now nine years into recovery, Montee says it’s been “better than any touchdown I’ve ever scored.” He talks about choosing sobriety, why making it to ten years becomes a life-changing milestone, and reflects on his NCAA all-time touchdown record. Today, he lives by a core belief: when you show up with the heart of a servant, committed to lifting others out of addiction, there’s no limit to the impact you can make.The episode dives into letting go of the past, the transformative moment Montee learned he was going to be a father after being released from jail, and the profound truth he discovered: you don’t know real love until you have a child. With purpose, humility, and renewed clarity, Montee shares why his mission is far from over: “I’m ready to continue helping more people. I’m not done yet, Richard.”

On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite is joined by Dr. Ben Shapiro and Dr. Brett Shurman, two leading addiction psychiatrists and co-owners of three psychiatric clinics specializing in substance use, mood disorders, and innovative mental health treatments. Together, they break down the realities of modern psychiatric care and the science behind addiction.The doctors begin by exploring why TMS has become one of their favorite and most effective tools in psychiatric treatment. They then dive into the neuroscience of addiction, explaining the true “reasons” people use substances and how these brain-based mechanisms shape dependency. The conversation shifts to the Fentanyl crisis, exposing what the public isn’t hearing and revealing how fentanyl contamination is impacting clinics behind the scenes. They warn that if someone is buying anything off the street—or unverified online sources—the risk is now higher than ever.Richard, Dr. Shapiro, and Dr. Shurman discusses why psychiatric illness and addiction must be treated in tandem rather than separately. They explain how childhood trauma, early mood issues, and developmental challenges often lay the groundwork for addiction later in life. The doctors also clarify how clinicians differentiate Bipolar Disorder from Borderline Personality Disorder, and why chronic mood problems starting at a young age shape attachment, personality structure, and long-term psychiatric health.The conversation covers the importance of a strong therapist–patient relationship and the dangers of misdiagnosis—especially when patients are given antidepressants or stimulants instead of proper addiction treatment. They offer essential guidance for families of loved ones battling addiction and compare classic psychotherapy to newer, emerging solutions. Finally, they break down how psychedelics, ketamine, and MDMA are being used in clinical settings—and why many first-time adult users report “seeing God.”

On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down for the first time with one of his own clients, Shane Neal—a Marine Corps veteran who has been sober for 18 months. Shane served 8 years in the Marines, leaving as a sergeant after a medical discharge due to a back injury. In this powerful conversation, he opens up about his journey through addiction, recovery, mental health treatment, and finding purpose after the military.Shane shares how treatment completely transformed his life and credits Richard for guiding him through the process. He talks about entering treatment initially for alcohol use, and how that opened the door for him to begin mental health treatment, breaking the cycle that had held him back for years. Shane also reveals how a DUI arrest became a turning point—one that led him to inspire change among his fellow inmates by sharing his own story and encouraging them to seek help.The episode also explores the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps, including its unexpected origins in a bar, and how Marine tradition continues to shape identity long after service ends. Shane closes with heartfelt advice for anyone struggling with substances, speaking directly to those who feel lost, stuck, or unsure if recovery is possible.