Episode 353: Art Dielhenn's Journey: From TV Director to Author and Coach, Finding Humor and Healing in Recovery

Episode 353: Art Dielhenn's Journey: From TV Director to Author and Coach, Finding Humor and Healing in Recovery

Author: Duane Osterlind, LMFT September 29, 2025 Duration: 41:30
Art Dielhenn's journey from directing beloved TV classics like Sister Sister and Punky Brewster to becoming an author and career coach is nothing short of remarkable. Facing his own struggles with addiction, Art found recovery and shared his insights through two humorous and insightful books, "Get Out of Your Head, It's a Mess in There" and "Addiction is a Family Disease." Join Art as he discusses how the pandemic spurred his writing endeavors, weaving humor with heavy topics to make them more approachable. With artist Clemmy McWilliam-Le Busque's lively cartoons, Art's books illustrate the chaotic yet relatable inner workings of our minds, making recovery both accessible and entertaining. Art's personal stories add depth and authenticity to the conversation, especially as he navigates the profound grief of losing a child to addiction during the pandemic. He opens up about how he found comfort and creativity through writing, illustrating how humor and shared wisdom can coexist with sorrow to aid healing. By exploring internal reconciliation and the liberation found in truth, Art underscores the universal nature of recovery, emphasizing resilience and the relentless drive to rebuild after life's challenges.  In this episode, you will hear:Art Dielhenn's transformation from TV director to author and career coach, using humor to tackle recovery topics.The impact of the pandemic as a catalyst for Art's writing journey and creative expression.Art's personal experiences with grief and addiction, illustrating the healing power of humor and community.Exploration of the universal nature of recovery, focusing on resilience and rebuilding after adversity.Collaboration with artist Clemmy McWilliam-Le Busque to bring Art's vision to life through lively, humorous illustrations.The role of humor in recovery, making heavy topics more approachable and emphasizing the joy found in shared recovery experiences. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com https://www.theaddictedmind.com/community  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by licensed therapist Duane Osterlind, The Addicted Mind Podcast moves beyond simple discussions to explore the complex realities of addiction and recovery. Each episode blends compassionate conversation with practical insight, creating a resource that feels both supportive and actionable. You’ll hear from a range of voices, including specialists in the field and individuals who have personally navigated the path to recovery, sharing their stories and the strategies that made a difference. These conversations delve into how addiction shapes thoughts and behaviors, while also highlighting the many forms healing can take. The aim is to provide genuine understanding and tangible guidance for anyone touched by addiction, whether personally or through a loved one. By focusing on real-world experiences and relevant research, this podcast builds a bridge from struggle to possibility, emphasizing that recovery, while challenging, is a journey filled with hope. Tune in for honest dialogue that respects the difficulty of the process while illuminating the steps forward.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 101

The Addicted Mind Podcast
Podcast Episodes
145: Achieving Recovery Through The Wolf You Feed with Sophie Aghdami [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:43
Sophie Aghdami is an addiction recovery coach in Australia. Today, she shares her own story of recovery from alcoholism as well as how a particular parable helped change her whole perspective on recovery, find success in…
144: The Journey Through Alcoholism and Recovery with Charlie Gray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:31
On today’s episode, Duane talks with Charlie Gray about his journey of hope and resiliency through his toxic relationship with vodka and the one thing that allowed him to stay sober. In his memoir, At Least I’m Not The F…
143: A Hope to Put an End to the Opioid Epidemic with Robert Kanter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:17
In this episode, Duane speaks with Robert Kanter, an international recovery advocate addressing the opioid epidemic. Today, he talks about his advocacy work with the opioid epidemic. He also tells his own story of recove…
141: Pregnancy and Addiction with Dr. Charles Schauberger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:16
Patients with substance use disorder have every right to be pregnant and have children as much as anyone else. Some people look at it as being irresponsible but who are we to judge? In fact, our guest today explains how…
140: Stop Hiding and Start Healing with Craig Brown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:41
What happens when your pain is greater than your fears? On this episode, Duane speaks with Recovery Pastor Craig Brown and author of the book, Stop Hiding, Start Healing. Craig shares his recovery journey coming out of a…
88: Recovery Dharma with Josh Rychert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:26
Josh Rychert joins us today. He will be talking about the recovery community called Recovery Dharma, in Boise, Idaho. Josh shares his personal story and explains how mindfulness, Buddhism, and learning to understand his…
87: The Root of the Addictive Process with Alex Katehakis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:21
Today's guest is Alex Katehakis. Alex is a Clinical Sexologist with a doctorate in human sexuality. She's also the Clinical Director of the Center For Healthy Sex in Los Angeles, California. Alex has written several book…
86: Treatment and Recovery from Chemsex Addiction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:35
David Fawcett is our guest for today and he will be talking about chemsex addiction. He will explain what it is and how people recover when they fuse a drug addiction and a sex addiction. Episode Link>>>>>www.theaddicted…
85: Using Breathwork to Cope with a Food Addiction with Kathleen Oh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:20
Kathleen Oh is our guest for today. We have a great conversation with her about breathwork, facilitating change, and non-ordinary experiences. Episode Link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/85 Kathleen is an Integration Coach,…