Description:
In this episode, Jude sits down with Christina Dent, author of Curious: A Foster Mom’s Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction, to explore a radically different way of understanding addiction. Drawing from her experience as a foster mom and nonprofit leader, Christina challenges the traditional view of addiction as a moral failure and instead reframes it as a complex health issue rooted in trauma, environment, and human need. Together, they examine how fear, criminalization, and misunderstanding have shaped current systems—and why a more compassionate, health-centered approach may lead to better outcomes for individuals, families, and society.
We talk about:
• How Christina’s journey as a foster mom reshaped her understanding of addiction
• The shift from seeing addiction as a moral failure to a response to pain and trauma
• The role of fear in shaping public policy and personal beliefs about substance use
• Why criminalization and punishment have failed to reduce addiction and related harm
• The hidden consequences of underground drug markets, including violence and overdose
• The impact of incarceration on families, especially children
• The connection between trauma and addiction risk
• Why empathy, connection, and health-based solutions are more effective
• The tension between faith-based views of addiction and modern research
• A powerful real-life story of recovery that challenges traditional definitions of sobriety
• Why redefining success in recovery can lead to more people healing and thriving
Join the Conversation:
We’d love to hear how you’ve seen the “gift of need” show up in your life. Share your story in the comments or leave a review. Please follow this podcast and rate it. Subscribe to my free newsletter to get future episodes and newsletters sent right to your inbox.
Music Credit: Gabe Kubanda / Damn Plans (Instrumental) © 2021 Kubanda Music
Engineer: Ray Ingegneri, Third Street Productions, Tucson, AZ
Producer: Jude DiMeglio Trang
