Ep. 31 — Genie Francis Gets Real About Social Anxiety

Avoidance, Genetics, and How Exposure Helps

Dr. Suzette Glasner responds to Genie Francis’ powerful conversation on Maurice Benard’s State of Mind, where the longtime General Hospital actress opens up about living with social anxiety. Her insight — “I have this anxiety when I have to be Genie” — offers a clear look at how anxiety can hide behind confidence and performance.

You can watch or listen to the full interview on Maurice's podcast here: https://youtu.be/WgiIuV0T0nE?si=BBHXf9c4HJUTtzdn

Dr. Glasner explains why avoidance worsens anxiety, how exposure therapy works, and how genetics and family patterns contribute to vulnerability. She also shares simple, evidence-based steps to begin reducing anxiety and rebuilding confidence.

Questions for Dr. Glasner? askdrglasner@gmail.com

Gratitude & Recovery: Lessons from Bev Vance Aikins’ Journey

As we move into the Thanksgiving season, gratitude becomes a cultural talking point — but in mental health and addiction science, gratitude is far more than a holiday theme. It’s a measurable driver of resilience, emotional regulation, and long-term recovery.

In this episode of The Dr. Suzette Glasner Podcast, I explore why gratitude matters so deeply in addiction recovery and mental health…and why lived experience helps us understand the research better than any textbook.

To do that, I reflect on my recent interview with Bev Vance Aikins, mother of JD Vance. Bev spent 15 years in active opioid addiction before entering recovery. Her story is deeply human — filled with guilt, shame, repair, and ultimately, transformation. And throughout our conversation, one theme surfaced over and over again:

Gratitude changed the trajectory of her life.

But she didn’t always call it “gratitude.”

Sometimes she called it being blessed.

Sometimes it showed up in noticing the “little things.”

Sometimes it emerged through spirituality and connection.

Those moments map directly onto what research tells us:

Gratitude is not passive. It’s an active psychological process that strengthens recovery.

In this episode, I break down:

What you’ll learn

• Why gratitude is such a powerful driver of mental health

• What Bev Vance Aikins’ journey teaches us about healing

• How gratitude supports long-term addiction recovery

• How spirituality and meaning-making strengthen resilience

• Why spiritual connection improves treatment outcomes

• How mindfulness helps us notice the “little things” after addiction

• How guilt and shame transform through self-forgiveness

• How gratitude + forgiveness rebuild damaged relationships

• What self-compassion really means — and why it matters

• The Dalai Lama’s insight on self-love as a prerequisite for compassion

• Gratitude and compassion meditations that can support daily practice

• A closing Thanksgiving reflection on staying grounded all year

Bev’s willingness to confront her past — even when portrayed negatively in a memoir and film — shows how gratitude and self-forgiveness work together. They make sustained recovery possible.

They make connection possible.

They make healing possible.

If you missed the full Bev interview, I strongly recommend watching it: https://youtu.be/2OP4BlGJZwA

It’s one of the clearest lived examples of applied recovery science I’ve seen in years.

As always, thank you for being part of this community.

Wishing you a grounded, compassionate, mindful Thanksgiving — wherever you are in your journey.

💬 Have a question for a future episode? Email: askdrglasner@gmail.com

In this episode, Dr. Suzette Glasner breaks down why holiday weight gain happens—and what behavior science teaches us about staying in control during the season of abundance. Drawing on her O, The Oprah Magazine article and her expertise as a UCLA addiction scientist, she introduces an updated version of her “assertive eating” method.

These tools help you maintain boundaries, make intentional choices, and avoid turning one slip into a spiral.

🍽️ Practical Tools You Can Use From the Episode:

• Most holiday weight gain comes from “just one pound”… that sticks.

• Social eating—not hunger—is the #1 trigger for overeating.

• “Assertive eating” protects your goals.

• Planning ahead reduces impulsive choices.

• One slip is not a failure.

📝 Referenced in the Episode

NEJM Holiday Weight Gain Study: https://bit.ly/NEJMholidayweightstudy

Dr. Glasner’s Oprah Magazine Article (“Avoiding the Holiday Spread”): https://bit.ly/drglasneroprahholidayeating

🎙️About Dr. Suzette Glasner

Dr. Suzette Glasner is a UCLA addiction scientist, clinical psychologist, and author whose research focuses on behavior change, cravings, and evidence-based coping strategies. Her work has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, NPR, Psychology Today, and academic journals. She hosts The Dr. Suzette Glasner Podcast, where she brings scientific clarity to real-world behavioral challenges.

In this episode, award-winning addiction scientist Dr. Suzette Glasner explores the neuroscience and psychology of gambling disorder, one of the fastest-growing behavioral addictions in the U.S.

She explains how the thrill of risk activates the same dopamine pathways as drugs and alcohol, how mobile betting has transformed gambling into a near-instant cycle of urge and reward, and why this makes addiction both easier to start and harder to stop.

Dr. Glasner also shares who’s most at risk, how financial stress and shame contribute to relapse and even suicidality, and the evidence-based therapies proven to help people recover — from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to motivational approaches and couples counseling for rebuilding trust.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, help is available 24/7:

• Call: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) — speak with a master’s-level counselor any time

• Text: “SUPPORT” to 53342 (standard rates may apply)

• Chat: 800gambler.chat for real-time online support

🙏 A heartfelt thank-you to the individuals and families who reach out to share their recovery stories and insights. Every time someone speaks openly about addiction, it helps reduce stigma and remind others that recovery is possible.

💡 Early Access: Substack subscribers get exclusive early audio access on Tuesdays.

📺 Premiere: New episodes drop publicly on YouTube every Thursday at 8:00 AM PT.

Set a reminder to watch the premiere: https://youtu.be/LET4__Sqd1g

📬 Have a question for Dr. Glasner?

Email askdrglasner@gmail.com — your question may be featured in an upcoming episode.

#GamblingAddiction #OnlineGambling #AddictionRecovery #BehavioralHealth #CBT #Neuroscience #AddictionScience #DrSuzetteGlasner #MentalHealthPodcast⚠️ Disclaimer:

This episode reflects Dr. Glasner’s professional opinion and commentary based on publicly available research and data. It is not a diagnosis or medical recommendation.

When Joe Rogan first discussed kratom on his show six years ago, he described it as a legal, plant-based supplement that could “alleviate the symptoms of opiates.”

In this episode, Dr. Suzette Glasner—a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, addiction scientist, and researcher—breaks down what science now tells us about kratom’s true effects, risks, and addiction potential. Drawing from decades of research and her own clinical practice, Dr. Glasner explains how kratom acts on the brain’s opioid receptors, why people use it for withdrawal, and how unregulated extracts like 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) have contributed to new patterns of dependence and overdose.

From Joe Rogan’s early impressions to what clinicians are seeing today, this episode explores how “natural” doesn’t always mean “safe,” and why public conversations about addiction need to stay grounded in evidence—not hype.

💡 In This Episode

What Joe Rogan got right—and wrong—about kratom

How kratom mimics opioid effects and why it can become addictive

The science behind kratom use disorder and emerging treatment insights

Why “natural” doesn’t always mean “safe,” especially for people with addiction risk

💬 Questions or topic ideas?

Email AskDrGlasner@gmail.com

📺 Subscribe for evidence-based conversations about addiction, recovery, and mental health—each episode breaking down complex topics like Joe Rogan’s kratom claims through a clinical lens.

📲 Follow Dr. Suzette Glasner on Instagram and LinkedIn for daily insights on the science of behavior change and recovery.

If you found this episode helpful, subscribe to receive new episodes and insights from Dr. Glasner—each grounded in science, compassion, and decades of clinical expertise.

🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://youtube.com/@drglasner

🌐 Learn more: https://drglasner.com

🍽️ Is food addiction real — and can it really be treated like other addictions?

In this episode of The Dr. Suzette Glasner Podcast, Dr. Glasner explains why food addiction meets the same scientific criteria as substance use disorders and how evidence-based therapies like CBT and GLP-1 medications offer new paths to recovery.

You’ll learn how ultra-processed foods activate the brain’s reward pathways, why loss of control is the hallmark of any addiction, and how to navigate food cravings without shame or stigma—especially during the holiday season.

🎙️ Episode Highlights

* Three scientific lines of evidence that support food addiction as a real condition

* How ultra-processed foods mirror drug and alcohol reward pathways

* Different behavior patterns—binge eating, compulsive grazing, and loss of control

* Why CBT and other addiction treatments work for food-related compulsions

* What GLP-1 medications like Ozempic reveal about the biology of cravings

* Science-based tips for managing holiday eating without relapse

💬 Questions or topic ideas: askdrglasner@gmail.com

📺 Subscribe for evidence-based conversations about addiction, recovery & mental health

📲 Follow Dr. Suzette Glasner on Instagram and LinkedIn @drglasner

If you found this episode helpful, subscribe to receive new episodes and insights from Dr. Suzette Glasner directly in your inbox—each grounded in science and compassionate care.

In this episode, award-winning addiction scientist Dr. Suzette Glasner shares her expert opinion and commentary on Shaquille O’Neal’s candid reflections on opioid use, tolerance, and performance pressure. She explains subtle signs of addiction that are often missed—even by high performers—and why early recognition matters.

About Dr. Glasner: Dr. Suzette Glasner is an award-winning addiction scientist and clinical researcher, author, and educator focused on evidence-based approaches to substance use and recovery.

Contact the show: askdrglasner@gmail.com

Early access: Substack subscribers receive audio on Tuesdays.

Premiere: New episodes publish on YouTube every Thursday at 8:00 AM PT: https://youtu.be/PTIfi8sztAI

Thank you to Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard for fostering open, thoughtful conversations that help dismantle addiction stigma.

Disclaimer: This episode reflects Dr. Glasner’s professional opinion and commentary based on publicly available interviews. It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, seek help from a qualified healthcare professional.

Episode 25 | Sober October Tips: 3 Thoughts Holding You Back (and How to Move Forward)

In this episode, Dr. Suzette Glasner explains how to overcome three common mental barriers that can keep you from reducing or quitting alcohol and other substances this month. Drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), she guides listeners through simple, research-backed ways to rethink habits and gain momentum—even if you start late in the month.

🧠 Topics Include:

• Reframing “I can’t do this” thinking

• Experimenting with new ways to relax without substances

• Assessing your own motivation and progress

• When to seek professional help for dependence

📈 Key Takeaway: Even small reductions can improve mood, sleep, concentration, and liver function within 30 days.

⏱ Length: ~25 minutes

📅 Release: October 2025

The Addiction Recovery Skills Workbook https://amzn.to/3J1FTkA

Addiction: What Everyone Needs to Know https://amzn.to/4nIvWI1

📩 askdrglasner@gmail.com | drsuzetteglasner.com