Award-Winning Podcast The War on Drugs Returns with a Solutions-Driven Season Two

New Season Dives Deeper into The Real Stories Behind the War on Drugs Featuring Celebrity Guests

Lava for Good, Adweek’s 2024 Podcast Network of the Year, and Stand Together Music, an organization that unites musicians and their teams with proven changemakers to co-create solutions to some of the most pressing problems in our country, proudly announces the return of its acclaimed The War on Drugs podcast for a second season. Launched March 18, 2025, the 10-week series delivers fresh perspectives with Grammy-nominated musician Marcus King, MMA champion and Marine Corps veteran Liz Carmouche, hip-royalty B-Real of Cypress Hill, powerhouse vocalist Brent Smith of multi-platinum band Shinedown, and more, as they share firsthand experiences with the lasting impact of the War on Drugs — and the solutions they’ve found along the way.

Clayton English, award-winning comedian and “Last Comic Standing” champion, and Greg Glod, Advisor to Stand Together on Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, return to co-host the 10-week series that examines America’s failed War on Drugs — and highlights tangible, community-driven solutions.

“It’s About Dignity”: Personal Stories and Community-Driven Solutions Reshaping the Future

The War on Drugs has stripped individuals of their civil liberties, devastated marginalized communities, and reinforced a punishment-first mentality that has failed to address substance use. While these failures are well-documented, what often gets overlooked is what comes next. Season Two shifts the conversation:

• Marcus King opens up about music, mental health, and his path to sobriety, reflecting on how building a supportive community helped him break free from addiction. King dives into the shifting cultural conversation around addiction and why meeting people where they are — without stigma or judgment — is the key to real change.
• B-Real shares his journey from the streets of Los Angeles during the height of the drug war to becoming a business entrepreneur in the legal cannabis market — only to find that systemic barriers and federal regulations continue to hinder small businesses like his.
• Brent Smith reflects on his recovery journey, the music industry’s complicated relationship with substances, and the need for access to alternative recovery models, particularly those focused on community support, rather than isolation.
• Liz Carmouche talks about the challenges veterans face in accessing treatments and even information on things like CBD for pain management and cannabis for PTSD. She shares her own positive experiences with CBD and how counterproductive federal policies continue to limit options for those who need them most.

Communities and Entrepreneurs Are Leading the Way

Season Two doesn’t just expose the failures of punitive drug policies — it highlights solutions driven by the people who understand the problem best. Listeners will hear from artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs who have lived the consequences of outdated drug policies and are advocating for smarter, safer, and more compassionate solutions.

“Real change starts in communities, not in Washington,” says Glod. “It’s the people on the front lines — doctors, outreach workers, business owners, families — who are leading the way.”

“We’re here to do more than talk about the problem,” says English. “We’re here to prove that there’s a better way. And we’re doing it in a way that keeps you entertained while making you think.”

Season One: A Critical and Cultural Success

Since its debut in January 2023, The War on Drugs has received widespread acclaim for its unflinching storytelling and real-world impact, winning the 2024 Adweek Award for Best Audience Growth Strategy and the 2024 Anthem Award for Human & Civil Rights, Best Influencer Collaboration.

The first season unpacked how over 101,000 overdose deaths per year stem from systemic failures — failures rooted in stigma, criminalization, and top-down policies that don’t work.

A Movement, Not Just a Podcast

“The War on Drugs isn’t just a failed policy — it’s an attack on basic human dignity,” says Jason Flom, founder and CEO of Lava for Good. “This season highlights the heroes that are challenging the system, changing the conversation, and proving that the best solutions come from the ground up. This is more than a podcast — it’s a movement.”

Follow The War on Drugs

Website: www.lavaforgood.com/war-on-drugs
Instagram: @lavaforgood
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lavaforgood

Listen to The War on Drugs HERE