
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

Feb 2, 2023 • 31min
22 - 10 TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID RELAPSE, AND HOW THEY APLY TO ME ... addiction, recovery, overdose, relapse, #stopthestigma, true crime, funny
Unpacking 13 tips onhow to avoid relapse, and how they have applies to me 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

Feb 1, 2023 • 33min
20 - MY THOUGHTS ON SOCIAL DETOX AND CRAPPY SEX ... addiction, recovery, overdose, #stopthestigma, true crime, funny
An account of Social Detox, and the valuable things learned while there. 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

Jan 29, 2023 • 20min
18- MEMORIAL MONDAYS: JESSIE ... addiction, recovery, overdose, #stopthestigma, true crime, funny
A weekly tribute to the loved ones lost to addiciton 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

Jan 28, 2023 • 23min
16- FIGURING OUT WHO I AM; LITERALLY ... addiction, recovery, overdose, #stopthestigma, true crime, funny
A real look at the challenges facing an addict coming back into the fold from being homeless. 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

Jan 26, 2023 • 25min
14- NEW WORD;STIGMATYPING, AND I AM IT ... addiction, recovery, overdose, #stopthestigma, true crime, funny
A serious and emotional look at my own bias's.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

Jan 25, 2023 • 29min
12 - STIGMA ... addiction, recovery, overdose, #stopthestigma, true crime, funny
This epidosde takes a look at the stigma addiction and specifically in the health care sytem.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

Jan 22, 2023 • 41min
8- A LOOK AT FRIENSHIPS AND TRAUMA ... addiction, recovery, overdose, #stopthestigma, true crime, funny
An emotional look at friendships and traumaOLD EPISODE - EARLY DAYS OF ROUGH SOUND AND LACKING IN FORMAT. Still a solid message, and a reminder of our beginnings. I talk about sincere freindships, and how vital they are in recovery. #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #tommacdonald, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #tommacdonald, #togetherwecanrecovery, #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

Jan 20, 2023 • 31min
6- TOO FRICKIN MANY ..... ... #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #tommacdonald, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdos
OG EPISODE The sound is rough, and I've gone back and fix it as best I can. These episodes were recorded on a Windows 7 laptop with no external microphone, and the sound can be annoyingly rough, but the message is strong and I like the nostalgia.A sincere and emotional episode at the new landscape in the drug world, and the death that accompanies it--- #youareloved, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #tommacdonald, #stopthestigma, #recovery, #addiction, #addictionrecovery, #overdose, #recoveryjourney, #recoveryisworthit, #recoverywarrior, #tommacdonald, #togetherwecanrecovery, #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

Apr 9, 2022 • 3min
TRAILER FOR FIRST TIME LISTENERS #youareloved #stopthestigma #recovery #addiction #addictionrecovery #overdose #recoveryjourney #recoveryisworthit #recoverywarrior #tommacdonald
A trailer for firs time listeners. sqCG97uu0Cth00BqbGYbNate 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