Voices In Recovery Podcast

Since the recording of this episode, myself and other folks involved in the pro Palestine, end the Genocide movement have been approached by members of police intelligence officers from both the Calgary Police Service and the RCMP. They've approached most of us under the guise of "building community". Due to the RCMP's continued violence against indigenous people of Canada and the world, I refused to speak with them. If you're wondering whether you have to speak with them, you do not. No matter how nice they seem to be. It's always your choice in this country. This week, our friend and regular guest, Wesam stops by and we talk about the continuous genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestine, ongoing exploitation of African countries, protesting even though it might feel overwhelming, police violence in the name of state security, and many other subjects. We talk about the bogus charges the Calgary Police Service laid against him. How through constant pressure and fighting in court, he has had some conditions removed while awaiting trial. The Calgary Police Service has unlimited funds to punish anyone standing up against oppression. In the end we know the police service are performing for the cameras as they always do - as we approach the one year anniversary of the brutal attacks by both Calgary and Edmonton police services on unarmed students and supporters, including women and children. These departments have sold out the people of Alberta. Thank you for coming back on my friend. We appreciate all of the your work and presence in the community. The people united, will never be defeated.

This week, Lia stops by and shares her incredible journey as a young, 14 year old entering into the volatile world of politics. We talk about her discovery of alcohol as a coping mechanism. She talks about her understanding of alcohol as a problematic part of her and her partner's life a few months into their collective journey years ago. She talks about living life and continuing to grown and evolve. Thank you for taking the time Lia, we appreciate you.

This week Darcy and I sit down to chat about the complicated task of maintaining empathy in a world where it's seen and treated as a weakness and a defect. We talk about government tactics to destroy morale, connectivity, and solidarity of protestors. The obvious and unapologetic imbalance in police response to Black, Indigenous and People of Color protesting in our cities. The audacity of local law enforcement as we approach the one year anniversary of the attack by police on peaceful protestors at the University of Calgary. Ordered by the school administration and our provincial government.

This week, Darcy and I sit down and chat about millennial scoop and the continued use of the child welfare system to enforce racist and colonial control over indigenous peoples of turtle Island. We talk about the foster care system which continues the policy of "killing the indigenous" within every indigenous child in order to assimilate them to colonial kkkanada. We also discuss the continued genocide in Palestine, Congo, Syria, etc. We talk about forced incarceration in Alberta, which is dressed up as treatment.

This week's guest, Steve from Stonewall Recovery Centre here in Calgary stops by and shares portions of his journey. He talks about not only his life in active addiction, but through his coming out as a queer man in a fuller recovery for himself. I won't share too much, we have a great conversation and it is always lovely sitting down with members of the queer communityWe are full of love for Steve and of course Stonewall Recovery Centre as the first 2SLGBTQi+ treatment centre in Canada. We at Freedom’s Path Recovery Society are so pleased to announce that we have been working closely with Steve and could not be more excited about the present and future.

This week artist, frontline worker, activist, and advocate; Nikk Goodswimmer also known as PunkIndigenous (they/she 2S) is Stoney Nakota and Cree from Treaty 8 Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. They share their incredible, painful and harrowing journey starting with the millennial scoop of 2000's. Where the federal government continued its awful practice of removing indigenous children from their families. Now it isn't to send away to residential schools, but into the very same system under the guise of foster care. Then to be placed in white, Christian foster care where as recently as ten years ago they held Nikk down and cut their hair. Our governments are apologetic about abuse and genocide, all the while committing atrocities under different names and guises. https://www.interruptingcriminalization.com/defundpolice-toolkithttps://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/End genocide 💔***If you are interested in coming on the podcast please direct inquiries to david@davidlewry.com******If you are interested in making a donation to Freedom's Path Recovery Society please visit our website*** www.freedomspathrecoverysociety.ca*Produced by Darcy Robinson

This week's guest, Kyle, stops by and shares his journey through addiction into recovery. Kyle essentially grew up working in the restaurant and bar industry while working and studying finance. There were times when working in the bar industry when his alcoholism simply took over after multiple times of sobriety. Kyle's story is an illustration of how what once was fun and exciting can quickly turn into darkness. I won't spoil it for you, thank you Kyle!

This week my friend and all around amazing human, Michelle Robinson stops by and we discuss the very real, ongoing world of racism - not only policing. We discuss how other government bodies police Black, Indigenous, People of Color, the unhoused, identifiable queer folkx, and those engaged in active drug use. We examine a recent altercation that I had with police, as a witness to them "dealing" with a victim of serious crime. We also talk about many different ways privilege, nepotism, and my own race played a role in how the occurrence played out from start to finish. Thank you Michelle. https://www.interruptingcriminalization.com/defundpolice-toolkithttps://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/End genocide***If you are interested in coming on the podcast please direct inquiries to david@davidlewry.com******If you are interested in making a donation to Freedom's Path Recovery Society please visit our website*** www.freedomspathrecoverysociety.ca*Produced by Darcy Robinson

This week's guest, Aidan stops by and shares about his life. He talks about the violence he experienced when the Calgary police attacked and assaulted peaceful protestors and students May 9th, 2024. We are sharing some of the photos of his injuries taken directly after being released. We talk about his life and the journey which brought him to activism. Thank you Aidan, don't ever stop standing up for what's right.

Welp, 2024 is over and now what... 2025!? Darcy and I try to turn our frowns upside down with a year end episode. We do talk about loss and the awfulness of some humans in our world. We also talk about something neither of us have had in plenty this last year. Hope. Opportunity to work harder on ourselves so that we can be of more use to others in our daily lives. Whomever we may encounter. Happy new year, take good care ❤️Thank you for all of the support and love