Catching up with another powerful episode as Michael Peres sits down with Mary Beth O’Connor – former federal judge, author of From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction, and a woman who went from shooting meth at 17 to over three decades of continuous sobriety. From surviving severe childhood abuse to rebuilding her life in recovery, earning a Berkeley Law degree, and eventually serving on the federal bench, Mary Beth opens up about what “rock bottom” really looked like and why we shouldn’t wait for it to seek help. She breaks down dual diagnosis, multiple pathways to recovery, and why tough love and TV-style interventions often miss the mark for both families and people struggling with addiction.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How childhood abuse, trauma, and early drug use intertwined in Mary Beth’s story—and how she finally found her way into rehab at 32.
• Why recovery is rarely a single “epiphany moment” and more often a slow, hopeful process of small steps and trying again.
• What dual diagnosis actually means, and why addressing trauma, mental health, and substance use together is critical.
• Why evidence-based approaches like CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) can be more effective than “tough love” for families.
• How long-term recovery changes relapse risk, including what the data really say about lifetime recovery from substance use disorders.
• How Mary Beth’s lived experience shaped her empathy and approach as a federal administrative law judge hearing cases involving mental health and addiction.
