Ashes to Awesome Podcast - Rising in Recovery
Our podcast provides light, hope, and understanding about addiction and mental health to those living within that life and the people who love them. After spending 25 years in and out of active addiction, I was able to rise out of those ashes and found my way to recovery. I'm passionate about giving back to society and started my podcast to raise awareness of some of the issues surrounding addiction. People we lose to addiction and mental health, including those in the opioid crisis, are so much more than a statistic or how they passed. They were loved. We focus on addiction from many perspectives, including professionals in the healthcare and recovery industries; people who have risen from the ashes of addiction into the awesomeness of recovery; and those who may still be active in an addiction, and we include the families and loved ones that are conscripted soldiers in a war no one wanted. Every day of the week is different and unique. Memorial Monday is dedicated to the people lost to overdose and/or addiction. We allow a family member or friend to share the story of who they were in better times. Tuesdays are typically dedicated to the people who have risen from the ashes of addiction into the awesomeness of recovery and/or who are trying to still fight to find their way back. Wednesdays is named kaleidoscope Wednesday, and features Ryan Bathgate, a gifted therapist who possesses a master’s degree, and helps us to understand the science and psychology around addiction, and how to come back from the chaos and maintain a fulfilled life from any trauma. His wisdom, charisma, and passion are evident as he answers questions from our listeners. He unpacks his answers in a way that is uniquely valuable to all who listen. By Thursday, we are ready for some light n laughter and take a break from the seriousness of our usual topics with "Just the Tip(s)" Thursday, we have some fun with how to navigate society with sobriety. Family Fridays are dedicated to the families and loved ones of addicts, and sharing their stories as they are too often not told, but their battles are just as fierce and heart wrenching of those who are struggling on a daily basis. On the Weekend Ramble I am joined my cohost, Karl the Atheist; Lisa, a psychiatrist specializing in addiction, and often a fourth panelist that changes week to week so as to continue offering a different perspective. As a panel, we look back at the week and discuss some of the highlights and takeaways.
Latest episodes
Oct 14, 2024 • 1h 2min
280 TIA & KELLY - SUPPORTING FAMILY MEMBERS
Tia and Kelly head up a group called “Drug addiction family support Australia” and they joined Mike Miller from the Yatra Trauma Centre to talk about the importance of supporting the loved ones of people with SUD.
www.a2apodcast.com/280
Title Sponsor
Yatra Centre
PSA Sponsor
Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre - AARC
Daily Gratitude Sponsor
Families for Addiction Recovery "FAR"
Oct 13, 2024 • 1h 16min
279- CALEB OLSEN FOREVER 22
Caleb was lost to a dr*g poisoning at the age of 22, and his parents stopped in to not only tell us about their son and his story, but to share with us the unique kind of advocacy that they have directed their pain towards in an effort to help both themselves heal, and others to maybe avoid such tragedy in the future.
www.a2apodcast.com/279
Title Sponsor
Families for Addiction Recovery "FAR"
WWW.FARCANADA.ORG
PSA Sponsor
Yatra Centre
WWW.YATRACENTRE.COM
Daily Gratitude Sponsor
Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre - AARC
WWW.AARC.AB.CA
Oct 5, 2024 • 1h 8min
278 - PROTECTING CHILDREN WITH SUD FROM THEMSELVES
In the wake of the tragic passing of 13 year old, Brianna MacDonald, in British Columbia, due to a drug poisoning, Angie Hamilton from Families for Addiction Recovery, joins Dr. Lisa and I for a conversation about mandated treatment, and specifically concerning minors.
www.a2apodcast.com/278
Title Sponsor
AARC - Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
www.aarc.ab.ca
PSA Sponsor
Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentre.com
Daily Gratitude Sponsor
FAR - Families for Addiction Recovery
www.farcanada.org
PSA BY: Chad Valyear
Sep 28, 2024 • 1h 10min
277 - JASON MACMILLAN - MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICATION, AND 12 STEPS
Jason is back to talk about some of the struggles he has faced when coupling his own mental health in the 12 step community.
www.a2apodcast.com/277
Title Sponsor
Yatra Trauma Centre www.yatracentre.comPSA Sponsor
AARC - Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
www.aarc.ab.ca
Daily Gratitude Sponsor
FAR - Families for Addiction Recovery
www.farcanada.org
PSA BY: ADDICT WITH PURPOSE
Sep 14, 2024 • 1h 5min
276 - DR. LISA - LOVING YOUR FAMILY MEMBER WITH SUD
Lisa shares about being the sister of someone with SUD, how that has shaped their family, some of the insight that has given her, and more. www.a2apodcast.com/276
Title Sponsor
Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentre.com
PSA Sponsor
AARC - Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
www.aarc.ab.ca
Daily Gratitude Sponsor FAR -
Families for Addiction Recovery
www.farcanada.org
PSA BY: Chad Valyear
Sep 12, 2024 • 54min
275- RYAN BATHGATE
Ryan and I discuss what it was like growing up in a home with addiction, how important it is for him to end the cycle, some of what he is doing these days in order to do just that, and more. www.a2apodcast.com/275
Title Sponsor
AARC - Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
www.aarc.ab.ca
PSA Sponsor
FAR - Families for Addiction Recovery
www.farcanada.org
Daily Gratitude Sponsor
Yatra Trauma Center
www.yatracentre.com
PSA BY: Jamie Tall
Sep 7, 2024 • 1h 6min
274 - YOUTH ADDICTION - A DAD’S REFLECTIVE JOURNEY
Dr. Lisa and I talk with Tony who, along with his son with SUD, and the rest of his family graduated from the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (AARC) Program, and some years later is still a passionate member of the supportive alumni community.
This episode, and the previous ones with graduates/alumni and team members from AARC have served to show me in a sometimes profound and emotional way how compassionately intervening with SUD when people are still young, can have an obvious impact on a family, and an untold impact on literally generations to come.
Granted there is a commitment from the family unlike any other program I am aware of, but as Dr. Lisa has pointed out numerous times, once a loved one is in the throes of addiction, a commitment of some kind is inevitable. AARC is offering families a chance to decide on the nature of what can turn into a lifelong commitment if not addressed in the early stages.www.a2apodcast.com/274
Title Sponsor
FAR - Families for Addiction Recovery
www.farcanada.org
PSA Sponsor
Yatra Trauma Center
www.yatracentre.com
Daily Gratitude Sponsor
AARC - Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
www.aarc.ab.ca
PSA BY: Chad Valyear
Sep 5, 2024 • 53min
273 - RYAN BATHGATE - WEAPONIZED CLEAN TIME
Ryan and I discuss the ego that can at times surround clean time and more.
For links to enjoy on all platforms, visit: www.a2apodcast.com/272
Title Sponsor
Yatra Trauma Center
www.yatracentre.com
PSA Sponsor
AARC - Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
www.aarc.ab.ca
Daily Gratitude Sponsor
FAR - Families for Addiction Recovery
www.farcanada.org
PSA BY: Addict with Purpose
Aug 31, 2024 • 1h 13min
272 - ANGIE HAMILTON from FAMILIES FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY (FAR)
Angie is back for another conversation with Dr. Lisa and I, about recent policy around recovery and much more.
www.a2apodcast.com/272
Title Sponsor
AARC - Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
www.aarc.ab.ca
PSA Sponsor
FAR - Families for Addiction Recovery
www.farcanada.org
Daily Gratitude Sponsor
Yatra Trauma Center
www.yatracentre.com
PSA by: Jamie Tall
Aug 29, 2024 • 41min
271 - CRYSTAL RAYE
Crystal survived an attempt on her own life, using fire, due to the shame of relapse. These days she is a real life ashes to awesome story. This conversation moved me in a profound way.
For links to watch/listen on all platforms visit:www.a2apodcast.com/271
Title SponsorYatra Trauma Center
www.yatracentre.com
PSA SponsorFAR - Families for Addiction Recovery
www.farcanada.org
Daily Gratitude Sponsor
AARC - Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
www.aarc.ab.ca
PSA by Chad Valyear
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