Hopestream is the defacto resource for parents who have a teen or young adult child who’s misusing drugs or alcohol, hosted by Brenda Zane. Brenda is a Mayo Clinic Certified health & wellness coach, CRAFT Parent Coach, and mom of a son who nearly lost his life to addiction. Guests include addiction, prevention, and treatment experts, family members impacted by their loved one’s substance use, and wellness and self-care specialists. You’ll also hear heartfelt messages from me, your host. It’s a safe, nurturing respite from the chaos and confusion you live with. We gather in our private communities between the episodes, The Stream for moms and The Woods for dads. Learn more at www.hopestreamcommunity.org.
When your teen or young adult is misusing drugs or alcohol, it can feel like everything is spinning out of control. While you cannot control your child’s choices, you have significant control over six pivotal decisions that can dramatically impact both your wellbeing and your ability to help your child. What Parents Can Actually Control
When parents discover their teen is using substances, they often focus exclusively on stopping the drug use. But Dr. Brandon Park, founder and executive director of New Focus Academy, wants parents to dig deeper—especially when neurodiversity is part of the picture. Why Neurodiverse Teens Are More Vulnerable to Addiction According to Dr. Park, the connection
The Intersection of Autism and Addiction, with Dr. Brandon Park Read More »
When your child struggles with substance misuse, anger and resentment can seep into every corner of your life. As one parent described it, the emotional turmoil creates a war inside you between trying to present yourself as if everything is fine while struggling with chaos at home. This is where boundaries become not just helpful,
When your child is struggling with substance misuse, it’s natural to view every event through a lens of fear and judgment. But what if there’s another way to navigate this uncertain journey? The ancient Story of the Chinese Farmer offers parents a profound lesson in suspending judgment and staying present, even when the path forward
When Cindy Yoder Brown’s son Colin started drinking at age 13 or 14, she had no idea the family was beginning a journey that would span years of pain, confusion, and eventually profound healing. As a retired licensed clinical social worker and coach who now works with families facing similar struggles, Cindy brings both professional
Sometimes the most profound conversations about loss and addiction come wrapped in unexpected moments of humor and lightness. That’s exactly what happened when Jess Kupferman, CEO of She Podcasts, shared her daughter Emily’s story on this episode of Hopestream. Jess’s journey into the world of podcasting became deeply intertwined with her experience as a mother
Bill Guy was a parent coach with the Partnership to End Addiction and host of the Woods men’s community. His journey through his son Chris’s addiction and eventual loss to overdose made him a powerful advocate for a compassionate, relationship-focused approach to supporting children struggling with substances. Bill’s Background and Journey Bill came from a
When your child is misusing drugs or alcohol, every instinct tells you to react dramatically. The situation feels dangerous, disruptive, and chaotic—so shouldn’t your response match that intensity? Surprisingly, the answer is no. Why Calm Feels Counterintuitive As one parent describes it: ‘It can feel strange to take a calm, collected approach to a dangerous,
When your child struggles with substance use, your own childhood experiences can unconsciously drive your reactions. Dr. Crystal Collier, a therapist and person in long-term recovery since 1989, introduces the concept of FOO (Family of Origin) buttons—emotional triggers from our past that influence how we parent in the present. Understanding Family of Origin (FOO) Buttons
When Laura Stack’s son Johnny told her at age 14 that he’d tried marijuana at a party, she warned him it would destroy his brilliant brain. Five years later, three days before his death, Johnny told his mother she had been right. ‘Mom, I just I want you to know that you were right. And
