Executive Corner

January 30, 2018

The Executive Corner is a new weekly feature of the Addiction/Recovery eBulletin. We send our participants forty questions and ask them to choose twenty they would like to answer. It includes a short profile and a link to their website. We hope you enjoy it.

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PROFILE

Leonard Buschel is a Philadelphia native, and a very happy Los Angeles transplant. He is a California Certified Substance Abuse Counselor with years of experience working with people struggling with addiction. He attended Naropa University in Boulder, CO. Mr. Buschel is the founder of Writers In Treatment whose primary purpose is to promote ‘treatment’ as the best first step solution for addiction, alcoholism and other self-destructive behaviors. Leonard is the director of the nine year old REEL Recovery Film Festival & Symposium®, and for five years has been the editor/publisher of the weekly Addiction/Recovery eBulletin®. He also produces the annual Experience, Strength and Hope Awards® in Los Angeles.

Recipients of the Experience, Strength and Hope Awards have incuded Academy Award winning actor Lou Gossett, Jr., Astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, Duran Duran founding band member, John Taylor, Emmy award winning actor, Joey Pantoliano, recovery advocate and actress, Mackenzie Phillips and others. Celebrity guests appearing on stage have included: Actors Robert Downey, Jr.; Ed Begley, Jr.; Tony Denison; Joanna Cassidy; Jack McGee; Ione Skye; Danny Trejo; Joe Walsh; and broadcast legend Pat O’Brien, plus comedians Bobcat Goldthwait and Alonzo Bodden. He just celebrated 23 years clean and sober.

Leonard Buschel
Editor/Publisher, Addiction/Recovery eBulletin

Learn more about Writers In Treatment at

WritersInTreatment.org

 

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Q. If you are in recovery, what was your DOC and when did you discontinue its use?
A. Weed, Coke, Percodan, Absolute, Ecstasy, Schrooms, Valium and Heineken
Yes, I am clean and sober since 1994, after 28 days at the Betty Ford Center.
I had used daily for the previous 26 years.

Q. At which of the schools you attended did you learn the most?
A. The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University in Boulder, CO.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?
A. Enemy of the State with Will Smith and Gene Hackman

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?
A. Jane Velez-Mitchell

Q. How do you measure success?
A. Seeing a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower while holding infinity in the palm of your hand. Ecstatic experiences and a good night’s sleep.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?
A. Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

Q. Who was your biggest influence throughout your life?
A. Michio Kushi

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, Living or dead, who would they be? (you can choose 4 if you think one might be too drunk or stoned to attend.)
A. J.D. Salinger, William Saroyan, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Damon Runyon

Q. Who is your FAVORITE Director?
A. Paul Thomas Anderson and Francois Truffaut

Q. What is your FAVORITE Museum?
A. Musée d’Orsay, Art Institute of Chicago

Q. What is your FAVORITE Band/composer/musical artist?
A. Van Morrison

Q. What is your FAVORITE Broadway musical/play?
A. Sunday in the Park with George

Q. Who is your FAVORITE Psychologist or what school of thought as related to psychology?
A. Albert Ellis

Q. What is your FAVORITE Cuisine?
A. Japanese

Q. What is your FAVORITE Restaurant?
A. Souen, New York City

Q. What is your FAVORITE City?
A. San Francisco

Q. Do you have any children? Grandchildren?
A. Two sons

Q. Do you think the U.S. should adopt the Portuguese Decriminalization Model?
A. YES, Decriminalize all drugs. Stop locking up addicts.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. Do your best, and stay out of the results.