This episode features Davina Mena, tribal liaison for the Arizona Division of Problem Gambling, discussing the importance of relationship-building, cultural humility, and authentic communication when working alongside tribal communities.

The conversation explores what tribal liaisons actually do, why many professionals are still unfamiliar with the role, and how tribal liaisons help bridge communication and collaboration between tribal communities and state agencies. Davina shares why listening first matters more than arriving with predetermined solutions and explains how trust is built through genuine human connection.

The discussion also challenges traditional Western approaches to treatment and prevention, particularly in problem gambling services. Storytelling, community, and relationship-centered conversations are highlighted as meaningful ways to engage tribal communities more effectively than statistics or symptom-focused models alone.

This episode is a thoughtful conversation about trust, culture, connection, and the future of problem gambling prevention and recovery support.

About the Guest

Davina Mena, the first tribal liaison for the Arizona Division of Problem Gambling, serves as a bridge between tribal communities and the division. She focuses on addressing problem gambling by promoting the prevention and treatment through culture revitalization and community empowerment. Davina has several years of experience ranging from trauma-informed direct practice to community outreach and prevention. Davina is a 4th generation Tucsonan, proud Chicana and holds a Masters degree in Social Work from Arizona State University.

Links:

• DPG Website: problemgambling.az.gov
• Immediate problem gambling supports:
  • Text NEXTSTEP to 53342
  • Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP
  • Chat With us on our website, ProblemGambling.az.gov
• Follow us on Facebook at Arizona Division of Problem Gambling
• X at ArizonaDPG
• Email: dmena@azgaming.gov

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail hello@andrewjschreier.com

The podcast is also a platform for FREE continuing education. Licensed and certified professionals are able to listen to select episodes at no cost. Listen to an episode. Take a quiz. Complete an eval. Earn a certificate. Learn more at www.andrewjschreier.com/continuing-education

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

Medical anthropologist and author Elizabeth F.S. Roberts joins the Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast to discuss her thought-provoking book, In Praise of Addiction: How We Can Learn to Love Dependency in a Damaged World.

Drawing on years of research in Mexico City, Roberts explores a radically different way of understanding addiction—not as the opposite of connection, but as a form of connection itself. She examines how cultural beliefs about independence, self-control, and dependency shape the way we think about substance use, recovery, and human relationships.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How the meaning of "addiction" has changed throughout history
• The difference between addiction and vice in Mexican cultural perspectives
• Why shame and isolation often worsen addiction-related harms
• How American individualism influences treatment and recovery approaches
• What soda consumption in Mexico can teach us about addiction
• Why dependency may be a universal human experience
• The role of community, belonging, and connection in recovery

This episode challenges many commonly held assumptions about addiction and offers a fresh lens for clinicians, people in recovery, family members, and anyone interested in understanding human behavior more deeply.

About the Guest

Elizabeth F. S. Roberts is professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan and the author of In Praise of Addiction: How We Can Learn To Love Dependency in a Damaged World and God’s Laboratory: Assisted Reproduction in the Andes. Since 2013, she has participated in collaborative environmental health research in Mexico City. She, along with many family members, has struggled with addiction.

Links:

• E-mail: lfsrob@umich.edu
• Book-
  • https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691245805/in-praise-of-addiction?srsltid=AfmBOoospzenUCk2UttASSl3jm03ctqyyjDDj04eEl4MZGhJLTMsDN2H
  • https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/elizabethroberts/

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail hello@andrewjschreier.com

The podcast is also a platform for FREE continuing education. Licensed and certified professionals are able to listen to select episodes at no cost. Listen to an episode. Take a quiz. Complete an eval. Earn a certificate. Learn more at www.andrewjschreier.com/continuing-education

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

Austin Taylor never expected a gambling sponsorship to change the course of his life. A software engineer, military veteran, and Twitch streamer, Austin accepted a crypto casino sponsorship in 2021 that quickly evolved from a side opportunity into a devastating gambling addiction. Within two years, he had lost millions of dollars, damaged important relationships, and entered inpatient treatment in search of recovery.

In this powerful episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery, Austin shares his personal journey through gambling addiction, the challenges he encountered while trying to find specialized treatment, and the lessons he learned throughout recovery. He discusses the unique nature of gambling disorder, the growing accessibility of sports betting and online gambling, and why recovery can be especially difficult when money itself becomes a trigger.

Austin also introduces Cope Compass, a free platform designed to help individuals affected by gambling addiction find specialized providers, access recovery tools, connect with peer support, and manage gambling urges between counseling sessions. The conversation explores how technology can be leveraged to improve access to care and support individuals during the critical moments when they need help most.

Whether you are a clinician, person in recovery, family member, or someone interested in understanding the evolving gambling landscape, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-growing behavioral health challenges today.

Recovery doesn't happen only during the hours spent in counseling. It also happens between sessions that don't always match office hours. This conversation explores what meaningful support can look like during those moments.

About the Guest

Austin Taylor is the founder of Cope Compass, a real-time recovery-support app for people struggling with gambling and other behavioral addictions. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he built Cope Compass to reach people in the moment that matters most: 2am, mid-urge, in the gap between a trigger and a bet. It pairs a real-time intervention engine with peer support, meetings, and progress tracking.

Links:

• Download the app (iPhone & Android): copecompass.com/download
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@copecompass
• Contact: austin@copecompass.com

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail hello@andrewjschreier.com

The podcast is also a platform for FREE continuing education. Licensed and certified professionals are able to listen to select episodes at no cost. Listen to an episode. Take a quiz. Complete an eval. Earn a certificate. Learn more at www.andrewjschreier.com/continuing-education

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.