Voices In Recovery Podcast

This week, Darcy and I get together celebrating our survival of another year. Through grief, struggle, obstacles, and whatever else came our way. I won't speak for Darcy - I feel like maybe I slid, flailing arms and legs, into 2023. For that, I am grateful to be here relatively unscathed! Hopefully we are both a bit wiser and able to be of greater use in the year ahead. Thank you for listening 🙏We hope happiness, health, and peacefulness finds each of in the year to come.

This week's guest, Benji stops by and shares his journey with us. He and his family moved up to Canada from California after the Rodney King assault, the not guilty verdicts for officers involved and the following 1992 riots. His journey through alcohol and drug addiction is filled with grief, love and loss. From coming out as a young person to finding his group of humans later in life where he would meet his long time partner. They were together for 13 years when he passed away. This sent Benji towards his bottom that would see him find sobriety and recovery. His life now is a testamony of becoming open minded and willing to make new, healthy choices. He tries to be of service in as many ways as possible in his life today and for that, we thank you Benji! The world needs you just as you are.

This week's guest, Darren stops by and shares his experience, strength and hope with us. From a difficult childhood where alcoholism was modelled into young adulthood where he first tried his drug of choice. His story illustrates the incredibly destructive and progressive nature of addiction. Thank you for your story and recovery Darren!

This week's guest is a friend, Joshua. He shares his journey out of a place of fear, confusion, and judgment into a place of light and healing. Josh's story includes battles with substances, self doubt, and self loathing. He has worked diligently through the last few years in utilizing different treatment options to overcome some of the blockages in his path. In order to become and share his authentic self with the world around him. It is not always easy living there in the open. His family has difficulty accepting his husband and that he will be a part of reality. Today Josh tries to live authentically and is grateful for where he is today. Thank you Josh!

This week's guest is our friend, Jeannine. She shares her experience, strength and hope with us and it is our honour to share it with you. When Jeannine was young, her parents divorced and she experienced a verbally abusive home life. She developed disordered eating systems as a you human, which required incredible energy and obsessive focus. Laying fertile ground for further addictive behaviours as she grew up. I'll let her tell you the rest! Thank you Jeannine.

This week I sit down and share my coming out story with Darcy. Well, and now all of you. I have never gone into what it means for me to be queer, however this year when the day came around to share our coming out stories - it felt like it was time to put it together. Sitting down with my friend Darcy and his young human Sam, I felt safe as I had their permission to open up. They also encouraged and reassured me quite often. I am grateful for them. It means a lot that we have a platform to share; letting you get to know me, as we get to learn from so many. Thank you for being such a huge part of my life and recovery journey.

This week, my friend Mitch comes back on for an in person chat with Darcy and I. His story is an amazing journey from the darkness in addiction into the beautiful light he basks in today. Living a life he never dreamt of... Mitch, you're an inspiration and being around you is a gift for everyone! I appreciate you and your family my friend; keep up the great work you're doing in your life and all around Alberta sir! Thank you for your experience, strength and hope!

This week our guest, Odessa stops by and shares her journey of recovery. Her childhood found her growing up in a family riddled with potential alcoholism. It took some very tough years of active addiction to bring her into the twelve step fellowships. She finds that doing the work has changed her way of thinking in so many ways. Thank you Odessa, you're doing it!

This week we are sharing a special short episode on Jayme Minor. He shares his story of addiction and being sober for 3 years. He wants to share his music and energy as his way of remaining sober. We wanted to let anyone interested know about Jayme Minor's upcoming show, OktSOBERfest! Tickets are 30.00 and details can be found here https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/octsoberfest-tickets-421088195127This event is not affiliated with Freedom's Path Recovery Society.Check out his instagram here https://www.instagram.com/jayme_minz/?hl=en

Our guest this week, Cade, shares his story of addiction and recovery. Cade survived an abusive childhood to find himself deep into addiction. So deep that he lost his home and family. A couple of years ago he entered treatment and has been sober since. He now works in a treatment centre, helping others get and remain sober.