Serving Southern and parts of Northern Nevada, and Weber and Davis Counties, Utah
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A heartfelt podcast series that brings to light the challenges and triumphs of families navigating substance use during and after pregnancy. Through compelling stories, expert insights, and actionable guidance, this series aims to empower listeners with understanding, compassion, and tools for support. From personal struggles to collective resilience, each episode is designed to foster empathy, break down stigmas, and promote healing within families and communities.
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Watch Season 2
Episode 6: Why Wrap-Around Services Are Critical in Building Resiliency
In this Season 2 finale, hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson explore why comprehensive wrap-around services are essential for pregnant and postpartum individuals with substance use disorder to achieve lasting recovery and resiliency. The conversation features Dr. Andria Peterson, co-founder and executive of EMPOWERED, who shares the program's compelling origin story and the critical gaps in care that led to its creation.
Episode 5: Substance Use During Pregnancy: Understanding Risks and Finding Support
Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson welcome special guest Dr. Manijeh "MJ" Kamyar, a board-certified Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist from High Risk Pregnancy Center for a judgment-free conversation covering evidence-based information on substance-specific risks, breaking down barriers to care including legal concerns and social stigma, pregnancy-safe treatment approaches that work, and how pregnancy can become a powerful catalyst for recovery.
Episode 4: Finding your Voice: Mind, Body & Spirit
EMPOWERED Voices: Recovery to Resiliency Season 2, Episode 4 explores the holistic healing approach of mind, body, and spirit in recovery. Hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson are joined by two experts: Rachel Williams, a licensed clinical social worker, and Dr. Stephanie Woodard, a distinguished psychologist who share insights on integrative recovery methods that address the whole person beyond traditional treatment approaches.
Episode 3: Substance Use in the Media
EMPOWERED Voices: Recovery to Resiliency Season 2, Episode 3 focuses on how substance use is portrayed in the media. Hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson are joined by two guests: Jason Roth, Roseman University's VP for Communications with 30+ years of media experience, and Peter Reiss, an Emmy-winning executive producer who has developed over 150 hours of TV series and documentaries for major networks.
Episode 2: Person First Language: The Power of Words in Recovery
In this emotionally charged episode, hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson welcome two extraordinary guests who reveal how the language we use profoundly shapes recovery journeys. EMPOWERED Program Care Manager Evonne Hernandez joins forces with EMPOWERED Mom Fabiana to share intimate perspectives on the transformative power of person-first language.
Episode 1: What Substance Use Looks Like: Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
In our Season 2 premiere, hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson welcome EMPOWERED Peer Recovery Support Specialist Sam Ketron for a candid conversation that challenges prevalent misconceptions about substance use disorders. Drawing from her lived experience and professional expertise, Sam shares powerful insights into how addiction touches lives across all demographic boundaries.
Watch Season 1
Episode 6: How to Support Your Child: Creating a Healthy, Nurturing Home
Co-hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson are joined by EMPOWERED Program Director Rachel Mack and mom in recovery Emilea to discuss how mothers in recovery from opioid and stimulant use can create a nurturing and healthy environment for their children. The conversation delved into strategies for fostering a safe and supportive home, emphasizing the importance of emotional well-being, and addressing the unique challenges faced postpartum.
Episode 5: Advocating for Yourself: How to Partner in Your Own Care
Guests Evonne Hernandez, Program Care Manager, and Samatha Ketron, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, both from EMPOWERED, join the program for an empowering discussion focused on the importance of self-advocacy in the healthcare system, particularly for mothers navigating the complexities of recovery from opioid, stimulant, and substance use during pregnancy and postpartum.
Episode 4: Harm Reduction: Meeting You Where You Are in Your Recovery
Joined by Peer Recovery Support Specialist Quinnie Winbush, co-hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson discuss harm reduction strategies that support women in their unique paths towards healing and resilience.
Episode 3: Healing Together: Supporting the Journey of Recovery and Resilience
EMPOWERED Voices co-hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson are joined by EMPOWERED's therapist Rachel Williams, and mother in recovery Darlene along with her young son. Together, they explore the transformative power of collective support in the journey towards recovery and resilience for mothers navigating substance use.
Episode 2: Building Bridges: Empathetic Approaches to Healing Fractured Relationships
Co-hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson are joined by EMPOWERED Program Director Rachel Mack to discuss rebuilding trust and understanding between mothers with substance use and families through empathy and communication.
Episode 1: The Untold Journey: Inside the World of Pregnancy and Substance Use
In this premiere episode of EMPOWERED Voices, co-hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson are joined by EMPOWERED Peer Support Specialist and former client Sam for a discussion focusing on the often-hidden world of substance use during pregnancy, sharing stories of courage and the complexities faced by expectant mothers in the grip of addiction.
Trailer: Introduction to EMPOWERED Voices and Preview of Coming Episodes
Co-hosts Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson introduce the EMPOWERED Voices podcast and discuss topics to be covered in future episodes.
Our Hosts
Farzad Kamyar, MD
Amani Wilson
Are you pregnant or recently had a baby and using opioids and/or stimulants for any reason?
If you live in Southern Nevada or in Reno, Carson City, Churchill County, or Lyon County in Northern Nevada or in Weber County, Utah, and you’re pregnant or recently had a baby and using opioids or stimulants for any reason, there is non-judgmental help available to you. No referral or insurance is required. Request Services by calling (833) 481-7681.
EMPOWERED currently only services the above communities in Nevada and Utah. If you live outside of these areas, we encourage you to find resources in your community. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911.
EMPOWERED Voices is a podcast production of the EMPOWERED program at Roseman University College of Medicine, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Overdose Data to Action Grant through the Southern Nevada Health District. This project has been funded by grant number NH28CE003534 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the Southern Nevada Health District, CDC, or the U.S. Government.
Hosts
Dr. Farzad Kamyar and Amani Wilson
Executive Producers
Dr. Andria Peterson and Jason Roth
Production Assistance
Rachel Mack
Writing Assistance
Troy Stefano
Recorded at the Video Podcast Studio at Canico Media in Las Vegas, Nevada
EMPOWERED - Roseman University College of Medicine
Toll Free (833) 481-7681 | empowered@roseman.edu
Copyright © 2024 Empowered - All Rights Reserved.
This publication was supported in whole or in part by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health Bureau of Behavioral Health, Prevention, and Wellness through funding provided by the Nevada State Opioid Response Grant awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
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