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 6, 2024 • 1h 10min
250 - RYAN BATHGATE
Ryan is sliding back into his role as co-host, and this time talks about what it’s like for someone to go from long term recovery, to early recovery. For links to watch and listen on all platforms, as well as more from Ryan Bathgate, visit www.a2apodcast.com/250
Title Sponsor:
FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)
www.farcanada.org Special Sponsor:
Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentre.com
Jun 4, 2024 • 1h 13min
249 - BRANDON CHATAGNIER
Brandon has been through the ringer. He’s been on both sides of the law, lost it all, got it back, and these days is a published author working every day to give back to the community. Alongside his wife Nicole Chatagnier aka Nicole Victorious on TikTok, they own a recovery house, and a landscaping business helping to employ some of the people who need hope and not dope.
Title Sponsor:
Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentre.com
Special Sponsor:
FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)
www.farcanada.org
Jun 2, 2024 • 1h 7min
248- CIARA BRADY FROM AARC
Ciara is passionate about getting the message out about this unique family treatment program for people with children with SUD. That is because she, like our other guest Raynel, have experienced the program, and after a lot of work, are enjoying the benefits as a family. Dr. Lisa and I are both left more informed, and sharing some of their passion about the need for more people to know. For more links to watch/listen on all platforms, visit www.a2apodcast.com/248
Title Sponsor:
FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)
www.farcanada.org
Special Sponsor: Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentre.com
May 27, 2024 • 55min
247 - RACHAEL PIOLTINI
Rachael and I skip past the gorey details, and get right to recovery. We cover some of her journey, her advocacy, and we have an organic conversation about some of the hot issues, things that bug us, things we love, and more… For more links to watch/listen on all platforms, visit www.a2apodcast.com/247
Title Sponsor:
FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)
www.farcanada.org
Special Sponsor:
Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentre.com
May 25, 2024 • 1h 2min
246 - ANGIE HAMILTON
Angie Hamilton is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Families for Addiction Recovery (FAR), and is back to talk about decriminalizing personal drug use the right way, as well as responsible harm reduction, evidence based policy making, and more ….For more links to watch/listen on all platforms, visit www.a2apodcast.com/246
Title Sponsor:
Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentrre.com
Special Sponsor: FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)
www.farcanada.org
May 22, 2024 • 57min
245 - RYAN BATHGATE
Ryan has cohosted with me on many episodes, and has been absent latley. He has been dealing with consequences of a recent relapse, but more importantly he has been working hard at, and prioritizing his recovery. In this episode, we have a very honest conversation about how he got there, teh consequences, and how he is trying to learn and grow from the experience now.
For more from Ryan, and for links to watch/listen on all platforms, visit www.a2apodcast.com/245
Title Sponsor:
Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentrre.com
Special Sponsor:
FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)
www.farcanada.org
May 21, 2024 • 1h 1min
244 NICOLE VICTORIOUS
Nicole Pearson Chatagnier aka Nicole Victorious has a story unlike any I have ever heard.
For links to listen/watch on all platforms, and more about her, including where you can get her book “Victorious -My Path to Redemption”, visit www.a2apodcast.com/244
Title Sponsor:
FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)
www.farcanada.org
Special Sponsor: Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentrre.com
May 18, 2024 • 1h 5min
243 MIKE MILLER
Mike Miller is the head clinician and co-founder at the Yatra Trauma Center. He is back on the Weekend Ramble once again. In the wake of our mutual friend and giant in the recovery community, Devin McGuire’s passing, we talk about grief in general and also how EMDR, in some cases, can be a great tool to help navigate such a powerful process. We also about the trauma that loved ones of people with SUD can be left with, and how important self care is, and how well timed therapy, can be very helpful in the decision making process. For links to listen and/or watch on all platforms visit www.a2apodcast.com/242Title Sponsor:
Yatra Trauma Centre www.yatracentrre.com
Special Sponsor: FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)
www.farcanada.org
May 14, 2024 • 18min
241 - CASEY JORDAN
To follow Casey Jordan is to sometimes ask WTF is going on with him. Here ya go….
For more on Casey, and to watch listen on all platforms visit
www.a2apodcast.com/241
Title Sponsor -
Yatra Trauma Centre
www.yatracentre.com
Special Sponsor
FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery) www.farcanada.com
May 12, 2024 • 46min
240 - CHANTEL HUEL
Chantel is back to have a conversation about her journey to becoming a leader in the community, and the program that is helping to get her there.
For links to watch/listen everywhere, visit www.a2apodcast.com/240
Title Sponsor:
FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)
www.farcanada.org
Special Sponsor: Yatra Trauma Centre www.yatracentrre.com
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