BenjaminLerner . com
In 2019 , I interviewed Benjamin Lerner for the Fall issue of Vermont Magazine , highlighting his remarkable story and our ambitious shared vision for his debut album , CLEAN . The project was entirely recorded in Vermont at Old Mill Road Recording , and it was this project that originally brought Benjamin and I together in a creative capacity . We worked together on developing the album , which combined elements of classical piano and Hip-Hop music to tell the true story of his recovery from opioid use disorder .
That article and that album were the start of a joint campaign that has evolved over the past five years in very powerful ways .
Working together , Benjamin and I combined our shared knowledge , me as a physician and music producer , and him as a musician in recovery , to confront the stigma surrounding substance use disorder ( SUD ).
We brought that message to a wide number of places , ranging from the Aspen Institute in Washington D . C ., where Benjamin performed , spoke , and met with politicians , leaders in the medical field , and nationwide advocates ; to the stages of Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of The Indie Collaborative .
Since then , our determination to use our platforms to break the stigma surrounding SUD has only grown .
His debut album , CLEAN , was released in February 2020 . That album served as the catalyst of the CLEAN campaign , which has gone on to reach far beyond Vermont ’ s borders . The release of the album coincided with the launch of the CLEAN Column , which was first published in the Vermont News Guide in 2020 and was syndicated in Seven Days from 2021-2022 . The column gave a voice to those in the recovery community and their families through Benjamin ’ s personal , written stories .
Our collaboration with the beloved ,
Manchester-based alternative radio station , WEQX , also began in 2021 . Working together , Benjamin and I developed a radio show called CLEAN Jams , which still airs every Thursday night at 11 PM EST on 102.7 WEQX . CLEAN Jams combines recovery-affirming Hip-Hop music and in-depth interviews with recovery allies across the state and beyond in a novel way , bringing a new level of visibility to open recovery conversations . Featured guests have included Vermont ’ s Commissioner of Health , Dr . Mark Levine ; Vermont ’ s former Commissioner of Corrections , Jim Baker ; and Mickey Wiles , founder of the groundbreaking Vermont-based recovery nonprofit , Working Fields ; among many others . These Vermonters engaged in deeply meaningful conversations with Benjamin on the airwaves about recovery and hope , adding their voices to the growing dialogue .
In November 2022 , Benjamin and I took these efforts even further by taking the campaign to digital media . Using the CLEAN columns and the conversations on CLEAN Jams as a guiding light , we developed a strategy for posting daily , spoken-word videos and short-form music videos that spoke to people at all stages of recovery . The social media reels soon turned into a viral movement , which has now amassed over 100 million views across platforms . Benjamin ’ s social media presence has now grown to over 300,000 followers , with every daily video serving as a reminder of the power of honesty in breaking down the stigma surrounding SUD and inspiring others to seek help .
And now , we are preparing for the release of three consecutive EPs through Old Mill Road Recording , entitled Keep Moving Forward , Run Towards The Truth , and Don ’ t Quit Before The Miracle Happens . The three titles for the upcoming EPs were taken directly from the signoff from Benjamin ’ s CLEAN column . The upcoming musical releases are a testament to the journey Benjamin and I have been on together , both as creative partners and community advocates for recovery . And like everything that has come before them in the CLEAN campaign , these EPs are deeply-rooted in the Vermont community , where all of this began , and where it continues to grow .
From the start , our shared work has been grounded in the Green Mountain State , and we are grateful to have had the honor of partnering with several dedicated community organizations throughout the campaign ’ s evolution , such as The Collaborative ( a multifaceted youth prevention advocacy group in Londonderry ) and Turning Point Center of Bennington County , among others . From the CLEAN album and CLEAN Jams , recorded in East Arlington , to the social media reels filmed in Southern Vermont ’ s communities , every piece of content we ’ ve created has been tied to the Green Mountain State , its remarkable and resilient people , and its strong recovery community .
Vermont has not only embraced us — it has embraced the message of recovery , and for that , we are incredibly thankful .
— Joshua Sherman , M . D .
Learn more about Benjamin ’ s music and join us on this journey :
BenjaminLerner . com
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