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Heart of the Matter

Partnership to End Addiction
Mental Health
Addiction
Substance Use Disorder
Recovery
Addiction Recovery
Alcohol Use
Alcoholism
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Family Dynamics
Addiction Treatment
Opioid Addiction
Florida Shuffle
Sober Homes
Affordable Care Act
Oxycontin
12-Step Program
Below Deck Mediterranean
Alcohol Addiction
Sobriety
National Association Of Recovery Residences

Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas is a production from Partnership to End Addiction. Heart of the Matter is an interview series that gives guests the opportunity to share their personal, candid stories about addiction. This podcast offers a space to open up about addiction, substance use and mental health, to share the ways in which people are shifting their narrative – in their own relati... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes77Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessMental Health

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Artwork for Heart of the Matter

Latest Episodes

Can GLP-1 medications like Ozempic help treat addiction? Elizabeth Vargas talks with Pat Aussem, Vice President of Consumer Clinical Content Development at Partnership to End Addiction, about the ongoing clinical trials and the science behind how the... more

Season 7 of Heart of the Matter kicks off with country pop star Walker Hayes, whose Grammy-nominated hit "Fancy Like" catapulted him to fame. Walker opens up about his journey from drinking at 13 to finding recovery at 35. He discusses his deeply per... more

In the season finale of Heart of the Matter, Broadway star and American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis opens up about his personal struggle with substance use. He reveals to Elizabeth Vargas how professional and personal challenges led him to con... more

Jackie Siegel, also known as “The Queen of Versailles,” joins Elizabeth Vargas to share the heartbreaking journey of her daughter Victoria, who struggled with addiction and ultimately passed away from an overdose at 18 years old, after years of hidde... more

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Recent Guests

Walker Hayes
Country music star known for his hit song 'Fancy Like' and his candid discussions about addiction and recovery.
Episode: Walker Hayes on recovery and resilience
Jackie Siegel
A beauty queen and founder of Victoria's Voice Foundation
Episode: Jackie Siegel: “The Queen of Versailles” on her mission to save lives
Cammie Wolf Rice
Author and Philanthropist
Christopher Wolf Crusade
Episode: Cammie Wolf Rice's mission to save lives through opioid prevention
Patrick Kennedy
Former US Congressman and author of Profiles in Mental Health Courage
Episode: Patrick Kennedy and Tonie Dreher on the importance of sharing stories of mental health and addiction
Tonie Dreher
Mental health counselor and recovery advocate with a personal story of overcoming addiction.
Episode: Patrick Kennedy and Tonie Dreher on the importance of sharing stories of mental health and addiction
Stefanie Wilder-Taylor
Comedian, author, and speaker who has written extensively about motherhood and addiction.
Episode: Stefanie Wilder-Taylor on navigating parenthood and celebrating 15 years in recovery with new book “Drunk-ish”
Randy Grimes
Former professional football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, now an advocate for addiction recovery and support for athletes.
Episode: Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Randy Grimes on helping athletes with addiction
Braunwyn Windham-Burke
Reality television personality and alcohol recovery advocate
Former cast member of The Real Housewives of Orange County
Episode: Braunwyn Windham-Burke on quitting alcohol while on “The Real Housewives of Orange County"
Captain Sandy Yawn
Star of Below Deck Mediterranean and advocate for recovery and addiction awareness.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Episode: “Below Deck” star Captain Sandy Yawn celebrates over 30 years in recovery

Host

Elizabeth Vargas
Host who engages candidly with guests, providing a compassionate platform for sharing stories about addiction and recovery.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 366 ratings
  • Transparency matters.

    So great. Many of us struggling with our poor mental health and substance abuse consider ourselves rather worthless. Finding our truth tells us that these self-defeating endeavors are outright lies. Hopefully we make this realization before it’s too late.

    Thank you. Only honest conversations like shared here at HEART OF THE MATTER bring to light the fact we can use our hardships to our advantage. Thank you. We can recover, we can change, we can grow to be better than our worst selves. Thank yo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BIrdman312
    United Statesa year ago
  • Inspirational!

    As a mom trying to understand my sons’ substance use disorder this is wonderful! I appreciate learning about the disease and how people survive and thrive! Praise to my Al-Anon meetings — We can help our alcoholics by stopping our enabling behaviors. 💖

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KC Kardan
    United Statesa year ago
  • Loneliness episode-May/23

    Hi Elizabeth

    I really enjoy listening to you. I hope you speak to the professor again on loneliness with a longer interview.

    It sure hurts a lonely heart and this is the first time anyone has spoken up about this secret sad eyes

    Thanks again

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EH!5
    Canada2 years ago
  • So insightful

    Elisabeth Vargas is a consummate professional and amazing interviewer and a joy to listen to her interviewing people- the subject matter is so greatly covered, so insightful. Knowing Elisabeth had been open about her own struggles with alcoholism makes this absolutely one of the great podcasts. Especially covering the different ways women go through substance abuse is a breath of fresh air. We are truly coming to new ways of looking at addiction.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jadygrey
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Inspirational

    I love listening to this inspirational podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ryley65
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners express a desire for more frequent episodes, reflecting their eagerness for more content on such crucial topics.
The podcast is praised for its ability to destigmatize addiction, with several reviewers commenting on its importance in promoting understanding among families and communities.
Listeners appreciate the honest and personal conversations about addiction and mental health, finding them both insightful and uplifting.
Many find Elizabeth Vargas to be a compassionate and skilled interviewer, which adds depth to the stories shared.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Walker Hayes on recovery and resilience
Q: How did you get sober after a tragedy?
He explained that after the loss of his child, he almost relapsed but was stopped by forgetting his wallet which made him return home to support his wife instead of drinking.
Walker Hayes on recovery and resilience
Q: Was there a significant moment that made you realize you had to stop drinking?
Walker described the realization of feeling physical decay when waking up one morning, which propelled him to stop drinking out of survival.
Walker Hayes on recovery and resilience
Q: Did your wife or anybody else in your life say, Walker, you need to stop or even cut back?
Walker mentioned that his wife was very patient and frequently asked him to talk about his drinking, and he eventually admitted his problem to her.
Walker Hayes on recovery and resilience
Q: Was it just around and accessible? Why did you start drinking so young?
Walker shared that he first drank at 13 during a playground outing with older kids, using it to fit in and cope with his insecurities.
Jackie Siegel: “The Queen of Versailles” on her mission to save lives
Q: What do you hope sharing Victoria's story will achieve?
Jackie hopes to educate other parents about addiction and help children understand they're not alone in their struggles.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Heart of the Matter

What is Heart of the Matter about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides a platform for individuals to candidly share their personal experiences with addiction and mental health. Each episode features guests who narrate their journeys, highlighting struggles, resilience, and the importance of shifting the narrative around addiction in society. Topics commonly explored include the impact of substance use on relationships, the significance of mental health awareness, and advocacy efforts aimed at helping others facing similar challenges. Notably, the show emphasizes a compassionate approach, encouraging open discussions to destigmatize addiction and promote healing.

Where can I find podcast stats for Heart of the Matter?

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How many listeners does Heart of the Matter get?

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What are the audience demographics for Heart of the Matter?

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How many subscribers and views does Heart of the Matter have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Heart of the Matter has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Heart of the Matter?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Heart of the Matter:

1. Drunk-ish - A Sobriety Podcast
2. A Sober Girls Guide Podcast
3. Making Space with Hoda Kotb
4. The Sober Mom Life
5. The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women

How many episodes of Heart of the Matter are there?

Heart of the Matter launched 5 years ago and published 77 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Heart of the Matter?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Heart of the Matter?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Heart of the Matter from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Heart of the Matter?

Recent guests on Heart of the Matter include:

1. Walker Hayes
2. Jackie Siegel
3. Cammie Wolf Rice
4. Patrick Kennedy
5. Tonie Dreher
6. Stefanie Wilder-Taylor
7. Randy Grimes
8. Braunwyn Windham-Burke

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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