Voices In Recovery Podcast

Our guest this week is Autumn and Wow, she is an incredible human. She's a mother, archaeologist, artist, world traveller, and seeker of justice for women... amongst other things. She is reclaiming her culture through every action she takes and is teaching her 15 month old son her Ojibway language and others! This practice helps her learns every day as well. Check out her story this week, you won't be disappointed! Also, check out her art on Instagram @ojicreations and on her website www.autumn.ca Thank you so much Autumn, we appreciate you.

Darcy and I begin a new chapter for Voices in Recovery. We are bringing in video podcasts where we talk recovery topics amongst other things. We will occasionally have guests coming on and will keep bringing you stories from amazing people. Today we talk about relapse, negative stereotypes, what it means to relapse, and so much more. Thank you for listening and take good care.

Recently, I had another chance to sit down with my friend and activist, First Light. He talks about the found bodies of children at the residential schools across Canada, accountability, reconciliation, love, pain, family, friends, healing, and much more. He brings a clear, honest perspective to so many subjects and I just try to keep up with him. He is one of my favorite humans out there and his constant pressure continues to give me hope for all young people.

Darcy joins me to talk about change, how it makes us feel, our anxieties, and what we are learning from the recent big changes in our lives.

This week, our friend and a repeat guest, Anita brought her beautiful therapy dog, Bob in for this visit. We had a great chat about some positive potential growth within the ranks of the RCMP in her area if not one day overall. I am pulling for her and for the members to be given the space and ability to care for their individual and group mental health. Healthy and supported officers lead to positive  enforcement standards, which could lead to more positive commitments to the communities they serve. She shared about Bob, who after being with Anita for a while became a therapy dog. We love Anita and Bob. Bob is the best boi.

This week our brand new friend, Dakshima, drops by and shares her journey. She comes from Sri Lanka where it is against the law to be yourself if you happen to be a lesbian and she proudly is. In Sri Lanka, the consequences of being found out as a lesbian can be ten years in prison. Not only could she not be herself, she was raised believing that who she was, was wrong and a crime. Her life was an incredible challenge for many reasons when she first arrived in Canada. One of these was being a lawyer when she arrived. Once in Canada, she had to work multiple jobs while she went back to university. Recognizing that she would basically have to start at the beginning if she was to practice law, Dakshima went into social work. She runs a program for new immigrants to Canada, who are also experiencing difficulty with identity. After sitting with her, there is no doubt that if you are struggling with identity and the multiple challenges facing immigrants coming to Canada, she is someone who can help. Thank you for your bravery and for being you!

Taylor stops by for her second visit on the show and we have another wonderfully complex conversation about her journey so far. There is no question she is a presence; full of spirit, strength, kindness, toughness, and the list goes on. It is always such a pleasure to to talk with and listen to. I feel better off for knowing her and knowing she is out there digging into life. We talk sobriety and how different that can look for different people. We talk a lot about codependency and many of the ways it can interfere with and destroy any relationship. I know that I have many difficulties with codependency at times and it really does help me talking about these things openly.

Our guest this week is Shayne. His story begins in an alcoholic, abusive household where he found himself experimenting with both alcohol and cannabis at an extremely early age. His addiction took him in and out of prison until he came to Calgary for a fresh start. For a few months it seemed as though the geographical change was working. He found himself in and out of treatment centers living the street life in Calgary, drinking and using whatever drug he could and he was unable to stay clean and sober. When he found himself ready to do the work it takes to get and stay sober, he did exactly that. In sobriety today, he chooses to clean house, trust God, and help others and it seems to be working big time in his life today. Thank you Shayne, we appreciate you!

This week we sit down with mister Chris B. I cannot say enough kind things about him although his kindness stands out. Not because he's perfect because he is not, but because he's genuine, compassionate and searching. He works hard to keep learning and share all that he's gained in life and his 9 year journey in recovery. He was a fire fighter until PTSD intervened, which was when drinking became the real problem it was meant to be. I'm grateful to call him a friend and someone I look up to. Today, he works hard building the life he dreamt of and one that goes beyond what he could imagine! If you are one of those humans, who wonders whether or not they can? After listening to Chris, I believe a little bit more in possibilities. Thank you Chris, we appreciate you my friend.

Our friend, Chelsea stopped by to share her recovery journey. Early on in her life she experienced the loss of her father. She survived multiple life altering challenges to find herself fighting for her life in recovery, as an adult, from alcohol and drug use. As her illness progressed, she found herself not only fighting for her life, but for the lives of her children as well. Her continued desire to live a clean and sober life has her trying to help others any way she can and staying connected to the resources that she has surrounded herself with. Thank you so much for your openness Chelsea and good luck with the new town and job!