Cassandra Matthews, creator behind Cass and the City and Kellen Matthews, founder of Philadelphia’s Recovery Run Club join our Host Heather Major for the season 4 opener of Someone You Know.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The turning point that inspired Kellen's Recovery.
• The pivotal role connection has played in that journey, especially with family
• The doctor that introduced Kellen to running and how it's led him to multiple 100 plus mile runs, as well as participating in at least one marathon a month in 2024.
• A peek into how Cass is feeling about her own first race at this year's Independence Blue Cross, Broad Street Run, and the impact of social media to connect with and grow a community like this.

Today, the Recovery Run Club meets monthly and is for anyone on the recovery journey, as well as a place where loved ones and allies can show up and participate, too.

Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.

Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our website to learn how we are collaborating to address this crisis: www.ibxfoundation.org.

TM 2025 Someone You Know®. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimers

The information contained in this podcast is solely for informational purposes and should not replace advice from a medical provider when making healthcare decisions. This podcast contains opinionated content and may not reflect the opinions of any organizations this podcast is affiliated with. Nothing discussed in this podcast shall constitute or should be construed as endorsement by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation or Independence Blue Cross, LLC of any product or service discussed herein. We will discuss opioid use and opioid treatment, which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know is suffering from opioid addiction, please visit ibxfoundation.org/SYK.

Connect with the Independence Blue Cross Foundation! Learn how we're improving the health of the community: https://www.ibxfoundation.org/

Our blog and newsroom: https://infocus.ibxfoundation.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independence-blue-cross-foundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibxfdn/

Someone You Know Podcast: https://someoneyouknow.libsyn.com/

Chris Molaro is the CEO of NeuroFlow, a digital behavioral health platform that delivers mental health support while tracking and assessing progress through the app. Chris is a graduate of West Point and the University of Pennsylvania, and served in the army for five years, including a tour in Iraq as a platoon leader.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The importance of behavioral health tools for front-line workers, both military and healthcare
• The ways technology and data can help with access to care
• How ‘access to care’ is not binary, and recovery is not linear
• Removing the barriers to the access of information
• The importance of all behavioral health resources creating a united front and working together.
• Why they call NeuroFlow “The Netflix for Mental Health.”

Today, NeuroFlow is helping 15 million Americans across the country, providing the tools to those who need it, where they are at, in pursuit to create the most engaging digital mental health experience.  

Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.

Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our website to learn how we are collaborating to address this crisis: www.ibxfoundation.org.

TM 2023 Someone You Know®. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimers

This podcast contains opinionated content and may not reflect the opinions of any organizations this podcast is affiliated with.

Nothing discussed in this podcast shall constitute or should be construed as an endorsement by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation or Independence Blue Cross, LLC of any product or service discussed herein.

This podcast discusses opioid use, opioid treatment, and physical and psychological trauma, which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

This podcast is solely for informational purposes. Listeners are advised to do their own diligence when it comes to making decisions that may affect their health. Patients in need of medical advice should consult their personal health care provider. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Bethany Franklin is a Lead Family Therapist, M.Ed., LCSW, CAADC, RAE and Tom McDermitt the Sr. Regional Resource Director, BA, AAC, RAE for Caron Treatment Centers.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How addiction as a family disease
• The roles family and support systems play in recovery
• How Caron is supporting inclusive recovery environments
• Equitable access to recovery treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
• What it looks like to enter a recovery journey with Caron

Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.

Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our website to learn how we are collaborating to address this crisis: www.ibxfoundation.org .

TM 2023 Someone You Know®. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimers

This podcast contains opinionated content and may not reflect the opinions of any organizations this podcast is affiliated with.

Nothing discussed in this podcast shall constitute or should be construed as an endorsement by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation or Independence Blue Cross, LLC of any product or service discussed herein.

This podcast discusses opioid use, opioid treatment, and physical and psychological trauma, which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

This podcast is solely for informational purposes. Listeners are advised to do their own diligence when it comes to making decisions that may affect their health. Patients in need of medical advice should consult their personal health care provider. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Dr. Jerome Adams is the 20th Surgeon General of the United States and former member of the President’s Coronavirus task force and is presently a Presidential Fellow and the Executive Director of Health Equity Initiatives at Purdue University.

In this episode, we hear Dr. Adam’s speak on the importance of prevention in opioid use while exploring the interplay between substance misuse, mental health, and infectious disease. Dr. Adams also reflects on his panel discussion during the Independence Blue Cross Foundation’s 2018 Someone You Know conference and offers insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic presented new treatment options for those seeking recovery.

At Purdue University, Dr. Adams is working to leverage the 40,000 undergraduate students, thousands of graduate students, faculty, and staff to move the needle on important issues across the state of Indiana. This includes mental health and substance misuse, infectious diseases, and food for health.

Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.

Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our website for more information, resources, and inspiration: www.ibxfoundation.org/SYK

TM 2023 Someone You Know®. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimers

This podcast contains opinionated content and may not reflect the opinions of any organizations this podcast is affiliated with.

This podcast discusses opioid use, opioid treatment, and physical and psychological trauma, which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

This podcast is solely for informational purposes. Listeners are advised to do their own diligence when it comes to making decisions that may affect their health. Patients in need of medical advice should consult their personal health care provider. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Dr. Jeanmarie Perrone is the Director of the Division of Medical Toxicology and Addiction Medicine Initiatives and a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a successful published research author.

In this episode, we discuss Dr. Perrone’s role as a national leader in efforts to address the opioid epidemic through her thoughts on stigmas in emergency medicine, equitable access to care through spearheading Penn’s CareConnect “warmline,” the stigma around using lifesaving medications to treat substance use disorder, and Dr. Perrone’s hope for the larger impact of her work.  

Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.

Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our website for more information, resources and inspiration: www.ibxfoundation.org/SYK

TM 2022 Someone You Know®. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimers

This podcast contains opinionated content and may not reflect the opinions of any organizations this podcast is affiliated with.

This podcast discusses opioid use, opioid treatment, and physical and psychological trauma, which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

This podcast is solely for informational purposes. Listeners are advised to do their own diligence when it comes to making decisions that may affect their health. Patients in need of medical advice should consult their personal health care provider. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Murphy Jensen is a former professional tennis player who co-founded a digital health management company, WEconnect, to support others in the recovery community.

In this episode, we hear about Murphy’s journey with substance misuse and recovery, while exploring the importance of digital tools when bridging the gap in equitable access to care. Murphy discusses how his own recovery journey has impacted him to help others battling with Substance Use Disorder.

Murphy has a new feature documentary coming out soon called “Born to Serve.” The film explores the cultural impact to the world of tennis of the Jensen brothers during the 1990’s, and how addiction recovery took Murphy in a direction beyond his wildest dreams. You can watch the trailer here.

Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.

Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our website for more information, resources and inspiration: www.ibxfoundation.org/SYK

TM 2022 Someone You Know®. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimers

This podcast contains opinionated content and may not reflect the opinions of any organizations this podcast is affiliated with.

This podcast discusses opioid use, opioid treatment, and physical and psychological trauma, which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

This podcast is solely for informational purposes. Listeners are advised to do their own diligence when it comes to making decisions that may affect their health. Patients in need of medical advice should consult their personal health care provider. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional.

United States Representative Madeleine Dean and her son Harry Cunnane recently joined Independence Blue Cross’ Someone You Know Associate Resource Group for a virtual town hall. The discussion was moderated by Patrick Flynn, Government Affairs Specialist and Co-lead of the Someone You Know Associate Resource Group, with an introduction by Stephen P. Fera, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs.

In this episode, host Heather Major narrates the virtual town hall event, which highlights Harry’s personal journey to recovery, how Rep. Dean is advocating for federal funding of collegiate recovery programs, and the inspiration behind their memoir, “Under Our Roof: A Son's Battle for Recovery, a Mother's Battle for Her Son.”

Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.

Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our website for more information, resources and inspiration: www.ibxfoundation.org/SYK

TM 2021 Someone You Know®. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimers

This podcast contains opinionated content and may not reflect the opinions of any organizations this podcast is affiliated with.

This podcast discusses opioid use, opioid treatment, and physical and psychological trauma, which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

This podcast is solely for informational purposes. Listeners are advised to do their own diligence when it comes to making decisions that may affect their health. Patients in need of medical advice should consult their personal health care provider. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional.

The Honorable John F. White, Jr. is the President & CEO of The Consortium, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides holistic, community-based services for the empowerment and recovery of all who seek assistance with behavioral health and substance use. Kyle Shearer is a client of The Consortium who benefited from its services throughout his journey to recovery.

In this episode, we discuss staying committed to recovery during times of transition, the pandemic’s impact on individuals struggling with addiction, and the value of support services that address the social determinants of health.

For more information on The Consortium, visit https://consortiuminc.org.  

Hosted by Heather Major, Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.

Recovery is possible, and help is available. Please visit our website for more information, resources and inspiration: www.ibxfoundation.org/SYK

TM 2021 Someone You Know®. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimers

This podcast contains opinionated content and may not reflect the opinions of any organizations this podcast is affiliated with.

This podcast discusses opioid use, opioid treatment, and physical and psychological trauma, which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

This podcast is solely for informational purposes. Listeners are advised to do their own diligence when it comes to making decisions that may affect their health. Patients in need of medical advice should consult their personal health care provider. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional.