Voices In Recovery Podcast

This week, Othman returns and we talk about Palestine and the ongoing bombing and genocide while the world looks elsewhere. We talk about the United States influence in the middle East and how policy, propaganda, and secret deals have created the current circumstances in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Congo, and the ever growing number of countries under attack and exploitation by imperialist forces of one description or another. Thank you Othman!

This week, the one and only Michelle Robinson joins us. As usual we talk about a while lot of stuff. We talk about the heck of a year 2025 was and how 2026 is looking worse somehow after one week. Tune in as we chat racism, ongoing genocide, bigotry, attack on human rights, queerness, 2SLGBTQIA rights, exploitation, and the list of subjects associated. We start this year off as best we can. Thank you Michelle, your work and voice is vital towards change.

This episode, Darcy and I talk about giving and being of use to others. We chat about  many of the ways we can be of use to one another in our daily lives and during this stressful holiday season. We talk about how challenging it can be to know where to direct our support and community care. We also discuss many things around non for profit and charities.Our hope is that we all find ways to survive if we have to and what it might look like to thrive once survival turns into healing and living.

This week Riley stops by and shares their incredible journey. We talk about the hate trans folks are facing everyday just for existing. We talk about the Trans Day of Remembrance and how powerful it is when folks gather together for human rights. We learn about some of the challenges working as a teacher in this province and how being a trans woman teaching can add not only challenges, but opportunities to be a safe place for kids, who need love and support for being who they are. We of course talk about being queer in a straight world and many other things. I fan girled for her a little bit and you'll see why. The queer kid in me recognizes a teacher I wish I would have had growing up.Thank you Riley, you are fabulous!

This week Darcy and I are joined by Steve from Stonewall Recovery Centre. We talk about the Trans Day of Remembrance memorial rally, which definitely turned into a wonderful protest as well. Steve and I discuss upcoming changes for Stonewall and Freedom's Path Recovery Society. We share our thoughts on supporting people and places around the city. Thank you all for your continued support and love.

This week Darcy and I get together for a review of the last few weeks and it gets pretty wild. Mostly because I was there, as usual, yammering up a storm and laughing like a hyena. If you can stand the hyper active David, give us a listen. If not, give us a listen anyway. You'll hear Darcy's smooth voice sutbly calming the manic me. So there's that. We talk about protesting and things related. We talk about this city being exactly what activists have been telling us for years. At this point, if you can't see our city as a violent, cop city then you may be dead or under a rock. I talk about supporting legal funds for activists like that for the Calgary People's Assembly, Stop The Stack YYC, etc. We discuss  Freedom's Path Recovery Society and Voices in Recovery Podcast news. We also mention our friend, Taylor McNallie, who is constantly harrased by the Calgary police service. She was arrested by them once again while her child in the car. You may think it happens all the the time. It does to her and others every day. Their goal is to make her react so they can stack more charges. You see the police do not care that she is not breaking the law. Their constant harassment of Taylor is not only unnecessary, it resembles daily torture and one more way for the police to keep her from living a normal life. They are afraid of her, of her relentless efforts to destroy the illusion many of us have of police agencies and our desperate need to abolish such. Know your enemy folkx. It's not an individual. It's the entire system and the police are the henchmen.

This week, Darcy and I discuss The Imprisoned Blogger, Othman Hamdan. We talk about the ongoing protests to end the genocide of the indigenous peoples, in  Palestine and around the world. I open up about the art piece I unveiled at a recent rally, using the old uniforms I once wore. The piece was born the instant, the Calgary Police Service decided to attack unarmed civilians at the university of Calgary on May 9th 2024. Having been a support person, once dedicated to providing supportive counselling to officers on the job. This event, irreversibly altered my perception of the police and the government's/corporation's utilization of these police organizations to crush opposition to imperialism and colonialism.Who do you serve?

Our guest this week is Othman (Adam) Hamdan. His story of being persecuted, detained, and imprisoned because of his race, ideas, and kindness by the government of kkkanada and all of the vast resources at their command. Is he bitter? Hard to sense even a slight bitterness when, in my mind, he has every right to bitterness and resentment. To fill his cups so to speak based on how these entities treated him. He is not bitter. He is focused on sharing his story in hopes that he can be of use to those still suffering within the system and to help him sort through the pain left by being falsely imprisoned. He sheds light on the immigration system, or as it is applied to those kkkanada deems threatening. Check out all that you can about The Imprisoned Blogger; Instagram, Facebook, and tiktok. Check out the website as well! Thank you Othman!

This week Darcy and I chat about the upcoming Pride parade, the Black Pride YYC festival, and protesting. We talk about trying to find the joy and embracing this joy when it's around us within our grief, within our love, and within our sorrow. Coming soon, we'll be going live from a protest or two so we can show you some of the most loving humans we've ever met. We hope you're all enjoying your summers as best you can in whatever ways are filled with joy.

This week Darcy and I settle in for a conversation about the Voices in Recovery Podcast and where we are headed in the near future. It's exciting and nerve racking at the same time. Due to changes in the Community Wise building, Freedom's Path Recovery Society will be moving forward looking for space with Stonewall Recovery Centre, Black Pride YYC and others whom share our values. We are beginning to share our podcast on Patrion as well moving forward into the unknown. Thank you all for your continued support.