Saturday, December 5th, 2020
Special Edition: Celebrities on Addiction, Pandemic & Getting Help
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Today we’re talking with ‘The Hills’ star Jason Wahler and Billboard-charting singer Hilary Roberts about mental health, addiction, and how to get help.
Roberts founded the Red Songbird Foundation, which Wahler now co-chairs. Both of them overcame personal struggles with addiction and now dedicate their lives to helping others overcome it, too.
This topic is top of mind during the pandemic. New research shows 2020 has triggered a rise in emergency room visits for cardiac arrest tied to drug overdoses, while the CDC reported that 13 percent of adults started or increased alcohol consumption or drug use to cope with pandemic-related woes as of June. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported a growing number of U.S. adults are struggling with a variety of mental health issues, increasing from 32 percent in March to 53 percent in July.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Castle Grade and MagicSpoon.com/newsworthy.
Guest: Jason Wahler
Jason Wahler is a Host, Actor and TV personality who appeared on Laguna Beach, The Hills, Celebrity Rap Superstar, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, after battling through a public struggle with addiction. Sober since July 2010, Jason has dedicated his life to raising awareness towards addiction and hopes to one day change the public’s negative perception of this deadly disease. Currently, Jason has partnered with Northbound, a world-renowned treatment facility that is owned and operated by one of Betty Ford’s right hand men, to launch a scholarship program to help people that may not have the financial backing to obtain the care they need. On a regular basis Jason works with various media outlets, celebrities, young adults, schools, law enforcement, churches, and athletes in order to promote addiction education and prevention. This led him to create Speaker’s In Recovery, a speaker’s bureau that brings together high profile individuals to speak out on addiction. Jason, also, serves on the honorary boards of The Prism Awards, Entertainment Industry Council, The Los Angeles Mission, and The Brent Shapiro Foundation, as well as contributing to the highly respected Huffington Post. Learn more at www.jasonwahler.com
Photo Courtesy: Katie Levine
Guest: Hilary Roberts
Hilary “The Songbird” Roberts has a story of unimaginable troubles, traumatic circumstances, survival, and redemption. When her life was up-side-down and disease-ridden, Hilary turned to music to survive. With the support of some close friends, she was connected to help, and eventually given the tools to explore a music career, which ultimately saved her life. Hilary now dedicates her life to paying this deed forward; trying to help those in need, spread her message, help save lives, and ultimately make a positive impact on society.
Her podcast Let The Journey Begin which launched earlier this year serves as a safe environment to have uncomfortable conversations around life’s challenges and victories. Hosted by Hilary and Jason Wahler, the podcast featured new guests each week from all walks of life to hear their stories, trials, and tribulations that they have faced and/or are facing. She is an active member of the American Heart Association and does as much work as she can with any child advocacy center, any organization that helps the elderly, any no-kill shelters, and any animal rescues. You can learn more about her story here - https://www.hilaryroberts.com/
Photo Courtesy: Carolina Marie Howell