Interview with Sherri VandenAkker - Creator of the Film "My Name Was Bette"

On this episode, we interviewed Sherri VandenAkker and her sister, Krystyn White.

Sherri is the creator of the film My Name Was Bette:  The Life and Death of an Alcoholic. This stunning documentary offers a shocking yet moving look at women's alcoholism.  The film chronicles the progression of the disease in Sherri and Krystyn's mother, Bette VandenAkker -- a nurse, wife, and mother -- who died in September, 2007.   The film, which was also created by Josh WE Hays, employs interviews, family photographs, medical records and graphics, and court documents to provide a personal and detailed look at the physical, emotional, and mental toll of alcoholism.  The film also also offers hope to those affected by the disease who seek to heal their pain and strained relationships.

On this show we will talk with Sherri and Krystyn about their personal journeys with their mother's alcoholism, as well as discuss what it was like to create the film.  If you have ever loved someone who struggled with alcoholism, you understand the challenges of loving someone with this disease.

Sherri, who is  Co-producer, Director, and Writer of the film -- was raised in central Massachusetts.  She now lives north of Boston.  She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned her doctorate in English.  She is a Professor at the Springfield  College, School of Human Services, Boston.

This film is avaialble to rent on Amazon; to view the film click HERE.  Visit the film's website by clicking HERE.

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Special Guest: Greg Williams, One Year Later

A year ago, in September 2013 we interviewed Greg Williams and discussed his ground-breaking film, "The Anonymous People", which had just begun showing in theaters through a "theatrical-on-demand" format where individuals were able to request a showing at their local theater and then invited their communities to view the film. Word of this life-changing film spread quickly throughout the recovery community and screenings are being held all over the country and the world. 

On this episode we talked with Greg about the emerging recovery movement and the changes he has witnessed since the release of this powerful film. We also discussed his new project, Generation Found, a transformative community story about the people of Houston who are fighting to save young people from the leading cause of death of their generation. Generation Found is a powerful story of young people, families, and their community believing not just in the individual process of recovery – but the community’s power to fertilize the soil of change.  To Learn More Visit: tinyurl.com/GenerationFound

Greg Williams is a person in long-term recovery from alcohol and other drugs since age seventeen. He is a health policy advocate, and award-winning documentary filmmaker who specializes in the creation of compelling and purposeful content. At age 30, "The Anonymous People" is Greg’s first independent feature-length film. His new film is bringing lasting solutions to the screen for one of America’s top health problems. "The Anonymous People" has already received widespread critical acclaim and a variety of industry awards.

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Re-Broadcast: Special Guest - Greg Williams, Creator of the The Anonymous People

We were very excited to have Greg Williams, Creator of the full length documentary film The Anonymous People on our show!

The Anonymous People is a documentary film about the over 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction. Social stigma have kept recovery voices silent and faces hidden for decades. Courageous addiction recovery advocates have come out of the shadows and are organizing to end discrimination and move toward recovery-based solutions.


The Anonymous People story is told through the faces and voices of citizens, leaders, volunteers, corporate executives, public figures, and celebrities who are laying it all on the line to save the lives of others just like them.

Learn more about the Anonymous People by going to the website HERE, and/or liking their Facebook page HERE and be sure to check out the movie trailer below: