From Addiction to the Bench: Mary Beth’s Journey of Triumph, Community, and Resilience
Imagine battling addiction as a teenager and later becoming a federal judge—sounds like the plot of a movie, right? Join us in this heartfelt episode as we sit down with Mary Beth, the remarkable author of "From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction." Mary Beth opens up about her tumultuous journey through addiction and how she found her path to sobriety at age 32 by addressing underlying trauma and mental health issues. Her story is not just about overcoming substance abuse but about hope, resilience, and the incredible power of transformation.
We also shed light on the essential role of community support in recovery. Discover evidence-based approaches like CRAFT that focus on positive reinforcement, and learn about invaluable resources such as "Beyond Addiction." Peer support organizations like LifeRings Secular Recovery, SMART Recovery, and SheRecovers Foundation offer a lifeline to those navigating the complexities of addiction. This episode emphasizes personalized recovery plans and community involvement, while also touching on the life-threatening risks of stopping certain substances cold turkey. To cap it off, we share some lighter moments, including a fun question about dream dinner guests. This episode is packed with insights, personal stories, and practical advice for anyone touched by addiction.
(00:00) Servant’s Heart in Business
(09:41) Importance of Community in Recovery
(20:21) Recovery and Support for Addiction
Mary Beth has been sober from her methamphetamine use disorder since 1994. She also is in recovery
from abuse, trauma, and Anxiety. She wrote about her story in her award-winning memoir From Junkie to
Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction.
Mary Beth is a Director for She Recovers Foundation and for LifeRing Secular Recovery. She also is on
the Advisory Council for The Hyer Calling Foundation. She regularly speaks on behalf of these
organizations and about multiple paths to recovery. This includes television, radio, conferences,
podcasts, and recovery houses. She develops Relationships with other organizations, such as Women for
Sobriety and trains attorneys, judges, and medical professionals.
Mary Beth regularly writes opinion pieces which have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles
Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Recovery Today, and other publications. Her memoir writings have been
published in Memoir Magazine, Awakenings, and Ravens Perch, among others.
Professionally, 6 years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended Berkeley Law. She worked at a large firm,
then litigated class actions for the federal government. In 2014 she was appointed a federal
Administrative Law Judge from which position she retired early in 2020.
NEWSLETTER: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/64e2b98cca259e13f0890575
SERVING JOURNAL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSNSY1M1
PODCAST SWAG: https://millions.co/doing-business-with-a-servant-s-heart-san-jose
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