Voices In Recovery Podcast

This week's guest is Jeremy and to be honest he reminds me of how important it is be there for others. He's a bit of an earth angel working in harm reduction. I will give everyone a trigger warning as we talk openly about drug use in medicinal and recreational conditions. ***Under no circumstances are we suggesting people should take drugs. We are in no position to tell people what they should be doing. ***We are asking that if you decide to use drugs please be as safe as possible. Have open discussions about the dangers, benefits and pitfalls. We also hope that you try and understand what you're taking into your system so that you can make an educated decision. We value each person's right to self determination, as it is an essential part of being human.

This week's guest is Brooklyn, a local artist and helper, who works with Diamond Willow Youth Lodge. She has been sober for 4 years and works daily on her sobriety and making the right choices for herself and those she cares for. She has lost many people during her life and is grateful she can face her life and grief with clear, sober eyes. We didn't know a lot about each other, as this was the first time we met in person, but I have no doubt she'll be helping others and creating some amazing art along the way. Thank you Brooklyn.

We are grateful to have a friend and colleague, Shannon, on the show to tell us about her life in recovery. Shannon has found her way from an abusive and painful childhood, past, and feeling lost and scared all the time. She is now focused not just on staying sober and helping others, but learning to enjoy life through things like yoga, continuing her education, and embracing changes and what life has to offer. Shanon now uses her lived experience and education to give back and help other humans in finding their path to recovery. Thank you Shannon for all that you do and for being open and unfiltered during our conversation. We appreciate you.

This week, a marvelous human being and friend, Wayne drops by to share his story. We start by talking about an amazing human and another friend of ours and many others, Brady Winters. I welcome any opportunity to talk about our departed friend. Wayne takes us through his childhood in an alcoholic household where it was chaos and more chaos. One of the coolest things about this guy is his compassion for others. He is an amazing human all around and we are grateful for your vulnerability dude.

This week Nicole stops by and shares her amazing journey with us. From living the street life she takes us through committing crimes, jail, attempts at staying clean, into finding the catalyst for change. Today she is committed to helping other addicts and alcoholics in both her personal and professional life. She is one of those helpers this world really needs! I want to say a special thanks Nicole. After talking with you on the podcast we became aware that you came to visit us after what sounded like an incredibly difficult day at work. Thank you for all that you are doing in the community and everywhere you go. We appreciate you.

This week long time friend of our family, James Woods joins us with his working dog Rebel! They work together finding bed bugs in homes, offices, apartment complexes, condos, hotels, shelters, treatment centers, health care facilities, or anywhere bed bugs can be found! They are also really good at creeping Darcy out. We all enjoyed some doggo time last year before we got locked down again. James is an accomplice to an "accidental" bird death when he was a young dude and some of our family cannot forget this traumatic event. We explore this and many other things. Thank you James! Love yah dudeCheck out his website at https://www.assuredk9.com

We are very grateful to have Kerry join us to talk about his journey. Kerry is a second generation Residential School survivor and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, with which he turned to addiction in order to numb the pain. After witnessing his Mother struggle through her own issues of abuse from the Residential School upbringing and numerous suicide attempts. Kerry found himself in jail where he eventually made the decision to change. Now Kerry finds happiness in helping others with their addictions, and is involved in the Canadian Centre for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse.Kerry is also an author with his book Second Chances: The Kerry Gladue Story available HERE 

Jon, Dom, David, and Darcy all get together to finish up our insane 2020 experience.

We are so grateful to have a longtime friend and a part of our family, Teresa drop by this week. She opens up about her family, health, addiction, and recovery. Starting at a very young age her addiction took a strangle hold over her life. Once she had a life and death scare with the added motivation of being a better mom to her children did Teresa start walking the road of recovery. Today her life includes building and maintaining strong relationships in her personal and professional life. She works on her recovery, health and happiness while enjoying as much time with her children dn grandchildren as she can. We are grateful for you Teresa, you have changed the very world we live in.

We are grateful to be joined by Arthur. He spends his work days and off days looking for ways to not only improve himself but his approach to life, love, work, etc. After sitting with him, I know I leave with energy and a desire to do better each day. He talks about his life before moving to Canada from Belarus. We talk about the contrasted difference of policing and life in Canada to that of Belarus. If there is going to be great change within these archaic structures of policing, there is no doubt it will be because of people like Arthur. Thank you sir!