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
Jun 2, 2023 • 1h 1min
113 - FAMILY FRIDAY - LYNDALL FROM SOUTH AFRICA SHARES WITH US ABOUT HER SON AND THE STTRUGGLE OF FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE IN ADDICTION ............................... #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #reco
Lyndall is as warrior of love. Rather than try and and summarize her story, here is the email she sent me and caught my attention with including the links to her gifted sons YouTube page, and the crown fund link. She needs help to keep her son in recovery.-JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/tristan-valentine-5536367196818505227 https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-it-but-i-hate-it-single/1686907859https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-it-but-i-hate-it-single/1686907859https://open.spotify.com/track/0vM0NRbKjlX6gIZjbuPIeO?si=8a3ea100a8644af7https://youtu.be/dBRgx1yCFXE https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/tristan-valentine-5536367196818505227 https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-it-but-i-hate-it-single/1686907859https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-it-but-i-hate-it-single/1686907859https://open.spotify.com/track/0vM0NRbKjlX6gIZjbuPIeO?si=8a3ea100a8644af7https://youtu.be/dBRgx1yCFXE Nate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolution Recovery - WEBSITEYatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITSupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
Jun 1, 2023 • 33min
112- JUST THE TIP(S) THURSDAY -THIS TIME I SHARE A STORY WITH SCOTT ABOUT JUICE BOXES AND POOR JOICES ........ #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #
Scott and I discuss some generalities about life, and I share a story about how even juice boxes, combined with the resourcefulness of a motivated drug addict can be turned into a months worth of feeding the habit. ---JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE- you can call in your funny stories, ideas for a list to break down, or topics to -407-906-0543. Leave a voicemail ..3 min max - #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #thelovemodelNate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolution Recovery - WEBSITEYatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITSupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
May 31, 2023 • 1h 21min
111 - KALEIDOSCOPE WEDNESDAY – DEFINING WORDS IN OUR EMOTIONAL VOCABULARY, RESENTMENT AND HOW TO ADDRESS IT, AND MUCH MORE..................... #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recover
-Ryan and I talk about breaking down our emotional lexicon (vocabulary) then using them in abenevolent way, how choices equals freedom, navigating resentment, and of course all the other things that the mailbag brings us---JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE-- #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #thelovemodelNate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolutioon Recovdery -WEBSITETatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITESupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
May 30, 2023 • 1h 3min
110 PART 1 - SCOTTY H FROM B.C. CANADA, SHARES WITH US HIS CRAZY STORY OF RISING FROM THE ASHES OF ADDICTION, INTO THE AWESOMENESS OF RECOVERY ,.................................... #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery,
In our 110th episode, we split this epic story into two parts. There was so much engaging content, I couldn't cut anything significangt out, so I cut it down the middle to make it a little easier to follow. --JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HEREScotty H from The Diamond Life Academy is a great 12 step success story, and now shares his experience and the lessons learned in hopes of inspiring others. You can check out more on his website;www.thediamondlife.caOr on the socials; https://instagram.com/thediamondlife.ca?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg==https://www.facebook.com/DiamondLifeAcademy2019- #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #thelovemodelNate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolutioon Recovdery -WEBSITETatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITESupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
May 30, 2023 • 1h 20min
110 PART 2 - SCOTTY H FROM B.C. CANADA, SHARES WITH US HIS CRAZY STORY OF RISING FROM THE ASHES OF ADDICTION, INTO THE AWESOMENESS OF RECOVERY ,.................................... #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery,
In our 110th episode, we split this epic story into two parts. There was so much engaging content, I couldn't cut anything significangt out, so I cut it down the middle to make it a little easier to follow. --JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HEREScotty H from The Diamond Life Academy is a great 12 step success story, and now shares his experience and the lessons learned in hopes of inspiring others. You can check out more on his website;www.thediamondlife.caOr on the socials; https://instagram.com/thediamondlife.ca?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg==https://www.facebook.com/DiamondLifeAcademy2019- #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #thelovemodelNate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolutioon Recovdery -WEBSITETatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITESupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
May 29, 2023 • 39min
109 - MEMORIAL MONDAY - CHRISTINA SHARES HER MEMORIES OF HER SON ROBERT AND FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM ................................. #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #reco
In the 109th episode of our show, Christina tells her story in a way that puts you right there with her in a unique memorial Monday submission.There is a foundation called the -Robert Rojas Foundation Worldwide, that she set up in his name, and whose mission is to get the lawmakers in her state of California to start holding fentanyl dealers accountable for the deaths that they caused. She is also a Naloxone or Narcan advocate, and has funneled the pain of losing her son into the "cause". One of way too many conscripted soldiers in the battle against addiction, she is a warrior of love.----JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE-- #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, thelovemodeNate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolutioon Recovdery -WEBSITETatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITESupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
May 28, 2023 • 1h 52min
108-WEEKEND RAMBLE - RYAN BATHGATE COMES TO THE RAMBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME .................... #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #thelovemodel,
Ryan Bathgate joins Karl the Athiest, Lisa, and myself to talk about this past week in the ashes 2 awesome podcast. It is a different dynamic having two people with higher education sitting with a couple simple folks like KTA and myself. Of course these days, where harm reduction seems to come up in almost every episode, we have some healthy discussion, even debate about the clean supply elements of harm reduction.--JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERERyan Mentions two documentaries that can be watched on Netflix:The 13th Amendmenttrailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr2V6pP1wzwThe House We Live In Trailer: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0atL1HSwi8We also talked about Cody from Monday and about his music. Here is the link to his YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@yourztruly1887- #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #thelovemodel,Nate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolutioon Recovdery -WEBSITETatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITESupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
May 26, 2023 • 49min
107 - FAMILY FRIDAY. MOM JOINS ME ONCE AGAIN, TO TALK ABOUT THE STRUGGLES FACING A LOVED ONE FRESH OUT OF TREATMENT.................................... #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney,
Mom and I discuss the challenges faced by somebody who is in early recovery, using Jessie, my cousin who was the subject of the first memorial Monday in episode 18, as an example. When she came out of treatment, and was sober for the first 11 month stretch in a very very long time, Mom recalls some of the details about getting ID, banking, and what you might think are little things, but can be mountains to climb for someone who is fresh out of the chaos---JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE-- #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #thelovemodelNate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolutioon Recovdery -WEBSITETatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITESupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
May 25, 2023 • 39min
106-JUST THE TIP(S) THURSDAY - STILL NOT TAKING A BREAK FROM THE LISTS, I TELL SCOTT A CLASSIC STORY ABOUT A RABID MONKEY IN A SATCHEL ...................... #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjou
Scott and I aren't ready to go back to the lists yet, we debate the offensiveness of our humor and I decide to tell him one of my crazy, and very true, stories involving a pissed off monkey. ---JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HEREhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAgRgyBHn44-- #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #tommacdonald,Nate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolution Recovery - WEBSITEYatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITSupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
May 24, 2023 • 1h 30min
105 - KALEIDOSCOPE WEDNESDAY - IN THIS WEEKS EPISODE, RYAN AND I TALK ABOUT HOW FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO CURIOSITY AND INTEREST, AND M #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourne
This week, Ryan Bathgate and I discuss how to take fear of the unknown, and take it from a detriment, and transform it into a tool. We also take questions from the mailbag, and in discussing strategies such as intervention when dealing with somebody suffering in addiction, unpack how the love model can be applied. Of course there is so much more inside...........----JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE- #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #thelovemodelNate D Memorial SloPitch Tournament Facebook PageTogether We Can Recovery Society WEBSITERevolution Recovery - WEBSITETatra Trauma Therapy Center -WEBSITENate D Foundation =WEBSITSupport the showThank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the Spotify platform, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm an really helps us to spread the message.Also please visit our Facebook page here, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously.Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group herethank you for listening and remember, YOU ARE LOVED
