Ep. 131 Beneath the Shimmering Surface: A Mother's Story of Addiction, Love, and Healing

Welcome to today’s podcast episode, where we dive into the deeply personal and transformative journey of Janine Züst, a mother, artist, and author who navigated her partner's devastating struggle with addiction. She opens up about the moment everything changed, the hidden weight she carried while raising two young children, and the choice she had to make to protect her family. What followed was a long and emotional path toward healing, one that pushed her to seek support in unexpected places and ultimately inspired her to create a powerful children's book that explains addiction to kids with honesty and heart. Her book has since become a beacon of hope for other families. We also explore the emotional weight of carrying an invisible struggle in a society that often does not understand, the isolation of being a single parent during the pandemic, and the complex grief of loving someone who is still alive but lost to addiction. Janine’s story is raw, honest, and filled with moments that will stay with you. It is a reminder that healing is not linear; it is a blend of courage, tenacity, self-care, and community support, all of which became vital in her family's recovery. This conversation invites you into the complexity of loving someone who is lost to addiction and the strength it takes to rebuild your life on the other side. Find Janine Züst at: Website: Instagram: Discussed on the PODCAST: Janine's Book, "Beneath the Shimmering Surface": Al-Anon Family Groups: Learn More: Be part of history—join us in creating Canada’s first Chronic Disease Reversal Hotel and Wellness Clinic. Founding partner spots are open now. Book your intro call with Dr. Nicolette Richer. Food is the most powerful medicine we have. Learn how in the brand-new edition of Eat Real to Heal—now available everywhere books are sold. Our award-winning film Grounded In My Roots tells the story of how food, land, and tradition can reverse chronic disease and reclaim health. Watch it today at Imagine a Canada where our children grow up free from chronic disease. With your support, our Charity, Sea to Sky Thrivers, is making this vision real—through education in schools and partnerships with Indigenous communities. Join us by donating today. Visit Nicolette’s Green Moustache Organic Plant-Based Whole Food Cafés—where every meal is medicine. Fresh, organic, and made to heal. Your healing journey starts now. The Eat Real to Heal Online Course gives you the step-by-step system to reverse your chronic disease permanently—and it comes with weekly group coaching for life, so you’re never alone. - DISCLAIMER Richer Health Consulting is a for-profit organisation in British Columbia, Canada, dedicated to providing education on using daily metabolic nutrition and detoxification for the reversal of cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases. The contents of this video, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained in the video and text below ("Content"), are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice; the Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read, seen or heard from this Content. In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately.

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Ep. 131 Beneath the Shimmering Surface: A Mother's Story of Addiction, Love, and Healing is an episode from Eat Real To Heal Podcast by Nicolette Richer.

This episode is 1:17:15 long.

This episode was published on Nov 19, 2025.

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