Movies & Conversations
Our Live Experiences…
In-person and Virtual Keynotes and Workshops for your
school, company, organization…
The Experience:
“Movies and Conversations”
Our immersive multimedia experience - smoothly transitioning between short movie screenings and deeper conversations - works to change our relationships with struggle and growth.
We use intentionally-designed mini-movies as tools to prime viewers emotionally so that the discussions that follow will likely ignite the motivation that leads to long-term transformation and perspective-shifting.
For YOUR Workplace and Community
We’re here to help your community - whether at work, school, or elsewhere - experience less shame, blame, and stigma around the struggles we all face so that we might improve the way we show up for ourselves, others, and the world around us.
Keynote Packages include a one-hour deep dive with your organization so that Of Substance can learn your objectives, desired outcomes, & organizational culture in order to tailor the experience to best serve your audience and needs.
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1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness in a given year, and because most employees are not seeking treatment, employers are losing an estimated $225.8 billion annually due to stress, anxiety, depression, and substance use.
We know that organizations are providing phenomenal resources for employees struggling these days. But they aren’t helpful if they’re not being used due to remaining shame we have to admit we’re struggling. Of Substance’s experience eases that shame and improves employee use of said resources.
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Our programming for students and faculty focuses on prevention and emotional growth, improving empathy and compassion.
We also drive forward a goal to improve the way we all feel about ourselves — diminishing shame and improving our mindset — in order to face life, the world, and all struggles with less fear and more wonder.
Campus Organizations - Greek Houses to Chabads and Hillels and beyond.
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Offer your audience a next level experience:
Our keynotes and workshops are an exciting shift at conventions and conferences, engaging people in movies and vulnerable conversations.
Our adaptable experience allows us to speak about everything from making your work more impactful to improving communication, patience, and empathy, to being a better partner or teammate, and more!
Medical, Mental Health, & Addiction
Think differently about yourself, your patients, & your approach to holistic treatment.
Storytelling, Film, & Art
“It’s not about making your entertainment impactful, it’s about making impact entertaining.”
Innovation & Tech
Think differently about how you deliver your offerings and even how you might structure your company.
Leadership
Improve the way you captain your ship by learning to improve your own practice of vulnerability and shift your ideas of success and failure.
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Offering your community or congregation an improved and more effective experience regarding prevention, education, and support.
Churches, Synagogues, Mosques
Rotary Clubs
Community Center
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There’s a lot of pressure on athletes to show up for their teammates, be constantly in the public eye, and be relied upon by family and friends. That’s already several good reasons to find coping skills, from bad to good, from substances to gambling, and more.
Bring us to your club…
Major Leagues
Minor Leagues
College Athletics
Topics.
Not just for addiction - No matter what you struggle with, from gambling to being the founder of a company, it’s all isolating.
That’s why the topics we focus on are…
Changing Your Relationship with Struggle:
See progress where you currently see failure, both in yourself and others.
Overcome Loneliness & Experience Belonging:
Feel seen, heard, and loved so that you can free yourself from shame.
Accept That You're Already Enough:
Regularly experience "Aha!" and improve your emotional intelligence to have the life you want.
Outcomes.
Our experience focuses on improving a sense of belonging, self-image, courage, & empowerment, all leading to improved…
Family life
Social life
Work/School life
Output/Productivity
Creativity
Overall Engagement
Love Someone Struggling?
We tell stories from both sides, from those addicted and those who love them. We have films for you to identify with as a person affected by addiction – to help you feel less alone, while also sharing with those addicted in your life, giving them insight into how their struggle affects you!
Our Speaker: Meet Alex
Alex Kaplan is our Co-founding Executive Director Chief Vision Officer at Of Substance. Having survived addiction, Alex considers himself living proof that by changing your relationship with struggle, you can build the life you envision. Now he supports others in doing the same.
On his journey, Alex saw that his issue was far less about using substances than it was about WHY he used substances; it was about shame, isolation, a fear of not belonging, and a fear of not being good enough. But that’s not unique to addiction, we all experience these feelings. It’s part of being a person!
In everything he does, Alex works to transform people's relationships with themselves, others, and their belief in what's possible.
Alex’s innate vulnerability and empathy - along with his ability to connect and engage any audience - establishes an environment of trust and safety, allowing us to open up in ways we often avoid.
Get to know Alex and Of Substance on these recent podcasts…
What Others Want you to Know.
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“Of Substance’s films bravely allow us into the experience & travel with you on this journey that leads to understanding - and while addiction is the vehicle, the real message is about the beautifully messy experience of being human, and what it means to belong to each other.”
Jessica Buchanan
NYT Bestselling author, professional speaker, Mental Health Advocate, & “We Should Talk About That” Podcast Host -
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“Of Substance’s films accelerate participants into an atmosphere of focused attention through compelling stories in a therapeutic environment. Attention goes up, engagement goes up, interactivity rises. When we see this level of attention, engagement, and relating through well-facilitated discussions, we have the ideal environment for learning and transformation.”
Molly McGinn Ph.D.
Co-founder at Treehouse Learning Community -
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“Of Substance’s films have traversed the chasms of culture, language, and age. They are a way to imagine and relate to situations you haven’t been able to imagine in your own head. These are great tools for self-reflection and also helping others.”
Rabbi Igael Gurin-Malous
Founding Rabbi & CEO at T’Shuvah Center -
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“For people to demand an end to the opioid crisis we have to make it personal for them. Of Substance’s films immerse you in the graphic impact and effects of this crisis on individuals. Once you see one, it will become personal for you too. Meeting folks where they are is what makes this work so impactful.”
Ed Rendell
Former Governor of PA & former Head of the Democratic National Conventions -
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“Of Substance is a critical tool in educating society about not only addiction but of uniquely human experiences. Through immersive storytelling and film, Alex sheds light on what it truly is like to be in the shoes of someone living with addiction, trauma, and depression. It’s one thing to listen and attempt to understand what someone is going through, but through film, we are able to gain an immersive feel to enhance compassion, empathy, and love for those in our communities living with mental health struggles.”
Dr. Raghu Kiran Appasani, MD
Integrative Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist, Founder and CEO, The MINDS Foundation -
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“Of Substance’s ability to articulate the struggles that are universally experienced by those who have endured the throes of addiction is nothing short of profound. The work they do and the way in which they communicate through immersive experiences have left me with a deeper sense of connection and understanding for those in my sphere who heroically deal with substance and alcohol addiction.”
Jessica Buchanan
NYT Bestselling author, professional speaker, Mental Health Advocate, & “We Should Talk About That” Podcast Host -
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“After the Of Substance workshop, I felt like I had a better understanding of what it is like to have an addiction and how it feels to the individual who is suffering. I totally resonated with what Alex said about how there is a deeper-rooted issue and cause to the addiction. It helped me become more empathetic toward people who are suffering from substance abuse. So thank you!”
Student Peer Educator
University of Miami, FL -
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“Of Substance’s powerful short films change the game. Their unique and visionary approach makes the enormous task of tackling these difficult subjects much more effortless. My students were all inspired by Of Substance’s mission, films, and vulnerability. The films are an excellent tool for educating college students and we cannot wait to use them in creative ways to spark discussion and promote understanding amongst our students. We are profoundly grateful for our partnership with Of Substance.”
Rachel Askowitz, MPH
Assistant Dean of Students & Director of the Sandler Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Education -
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“As soon as you explained that in this group we will be starting with short movies to prime us emotionally so that our group conversation would be more deeply impactful, I thought “THAT IS BRILLIANT!” and got SO excited!!!”
USC Student
Of Substance Clinical Group Participant" n treatment at The Haven -
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“Alex brings incredible energy, dedication and empathy to every interaction and it is clear that he is fully committed to helping those who struggle and their loved ones connect to the core feelings that are part of the addiction equation. The films Of Substance makes and the commitment to the conversation in everything they do is obvious.”
Dr. Adi Jaffe
Founder of IGNTD TEDx Speaker -
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"Alex has a genuine curiosity about people and their lives that immediately puts everyone at ease. He is open about his own addiction journey without ever needing to dominate a conversation. Because he is so willing to share, he creates a safe place for others to open up and talk through their path, too."
Dayna Del Val
Co-Founder at Daily Dose of Dr Marry & DD
Our Films Impact Real People.
Proven Impact.