Biography
Founder & CEO, Fellowship House | Author | Filmmaker | Recovery Advocate
Joe Van Wie is a father, husband, filmmaker, and reformed media consultant living in long-term recovery. He is the founder and CEO of Fellowship House, a Scranton-based substance use disorder treatment center that serves up to 75 men per month through a 90-day Partial Hospitalization Program. Under Joe’s leadership, Fellowship House has become a symbol of dignity and restoration—most notably through the opening of the Green Ridge House, a historic coal-era mansion restored with a $3 million investment. The project received official recognition from the United States Congress for its contribution to dignified residential care and its role in revitalizing community infrastructure for those in recovery.
Joe is the host of the AllBetter podcast, where he explores the intersection of addiction, trauma, and healing through thought-provoking conversations with clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and individuals pursuing diverse recovery paths. His interviews challenge outdated narratives and invite compassion, science, and curiosity into the discourse on recovery.
He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the State University of New York and is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). In 2023, he completed the Executive Leadership Program at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and Schwarzman College of Computing, specializing in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Business. Joe is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) through Columbia University’s one-year residency program.
A nationally recognized speaker and international award-winning filmmaker, Joe’s earlier work in media included strategic consulting for political campaigns and national brand initiatives. His film La Soga premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and his film FORGED ( Best Picture at HBO Film Festival 2011) earned critical acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of justice and human struggle.
Joe has served on several boards, including Outreach, The Scranton Club, and the American Advertising Federation (AAF). He is also the author of the book Family Addictus, which blends memoir, science, and social commentary to help families understand the deeper roots of addiction and the systemic conditions that often go unspoken.
Through all his work, Joe remains committed to creating honest conversations, elevating standards of care in addiction treatment, and building spaces where individuals and families can heal with dignity, connection, and hope.