April 9, 2024

From Junkie to Judge - The Mary Beth O'Connor Story

In this episode we delve into the remarkable journey of Mary Beth O'Connor, author of the memoir, "From Junkie to Judge." This candid conversation beautifully captures her transformation from a troubled childhood filled with violence and neglect, to ...

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The episode sheds light on pressing issues like mental health, and substance abuse. Explore her personal battles with PTSD, anxiety, and meth addiction, and witness her remarkable resilience as she breaks out from this consuming abyss of negativity to rise as an influential figure in the world of law and education.

Discover the significant role that education and dedicated teachers played in her life, offering the guidance and attention she craved as a solace from her turbulent past and gain some valuable life insights from her candid advice to her younger self.

Hear her spellbinding journey to overcoming adversity and succeeding in making an impactful change in society. Learn about her incredible transition from a meth addict to a Berkeley Law School graduate, shedding light on the transformative power of perseverance and resilience. Follow her journey to becoming a federal administrative law judge and her meaningful contributions to recovery organizations.

Dive deeper into the profound connection between trauma, mental health, and substance abuse, and understand the lifelong consequences of addiction. The episode emphasizes the importance of strong support networks in recovery and offers insights into various recovery pathways that can cater to individual needs.

Get inspired by Mary Beth's commitment to spread awareness and education about substance use and recovery challenges. This episode concludes with a powerful message of hope and resilience, reminding us that with patience and persistence, overcoming obstacles is within our reach.

🎙️ EPISODE LINKS ⬇

Mary Beth O'Connor's Guest Profile

Mary Beth's Website

🎙️ PODCAST LINKS ⬇

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Chapters

00:12 - Introduction

01:14 - Welcome Mary Beth

02:01 - Get To Know Mary Beth

13:03 - School Was Her Special Place

23:54 - Law School and Career Beginnings

27:39 - Multiple Pathways to Recovery

30:47 - Writing ”From Junkie to Judge”

34:32 - Message of Hope

35:39 - Finding the Book and Contacting Mary Beth

Mary Beth O'Connor

Author, Advocate

Mary Beth has been clean and sober from her methamphetamine use disorder since 1994. She also is in recovery from abuse, trauma, and anxiety. She wrote about her story in her award-winning memoir From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction.

Mary Beth is a Director, Secretary, and Founding Investor for She Recovers Foundation. She also is a Director for LifeRing Secular Recovery. She regularly speaks on behalf of these organizations and about multiple paths to recovery. This includes television, radio, conferences, podcasts, and recovery houses. She also develops relationships with other organizations, such as Women for Sobriety and trains attorneys, judges, and medical professionals.

Mary Beth regularly writes opinion pieces which have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Recovery Today, and other publications. Her memoir writings have been published in Memoir Magazine, Awakenings, and Ravens Perch, among others.

Professionally, 6 years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended Berkeley Law. She worked at a large firm, then litigated class actions for the federal government. In 2014 she was appointed a federal Administrative Law Judge from which position she retired early in 2020.