SOS: Sharing our Stories

We’re proud to share the powerful story of Pete, a journey marked by survival, surrender, and second chances.  Pete has lived through more than one coma, spent time in prison, and battled the kind of addiction that takes everything it touches. There were moments when it seemed like the story might end there. But recovery stepped in and gave Pete something he never expected, a second chance at life...

Tabitha knows what it means to survive. She has lived through homelessness, poverty, and the pain of being separated from her children. Through grit, growth, and relentless determination, she rebuilt her life from the ground up.  Today, Tabitha leads a street outreach team supporting people still living on the margins. Tabitha has earned her Master’s degree and is reunited with her children. Her s...

This week, we’re honored to share the powerful story of Kareem Hassan Alaziz Pasha, a journey marked by addiction, deep loss, and life-altering physical trauma, but also by healing, hope, and renewed purpose. Kareem opens up about the moments that nearly broke him and the people who helped carry him when he couldn’t move forward on his own. Through the unwavering love of family and the strength of...

     This week on Sharing Our Stories, we’re honored to welcome Ginger Aber, a powerful example of what recovery in action truly looks like.      Ginger’s journey is one marked by struggle, perseverance, and transformation. After years of addiction, she found healing through the therapeutic community, and that healing opened the door to something bigger than herself. Today, Ginger pours her lived...

We’re honored to welcome Devon Middleton, whose story speaks to both the weight of loss and the hope found on the other side of healing. Devon opens up about walking through seasons marked by grief, pain, and unhealthy relationships, places many of us know all too well. Those experiences shaped him, but they didn’t have the final word. Through recovery, Devon began to find clarity, strength, and a...

We’re honored to welcome Justin Melton, an Army veteran whose journey is a powerful testament to resilience, redemption, and the strength it takes to start again. Justin’s story is marked by battles both seen and unseen. Serving his country, he found himself facing addiction, incarceration, and the weight of choices that pulled him further from the life he wanted. Through hope, discipline, and the...

   Honoring Colorado women making history!  Sharing Our Stories is celebrating Tonya Wheeler, CPFS, and a powerful leader in Colorado’s recovery movement.    Tonya is a founding board member of Advocates for Recovery Colorado and became the organization’s first Executive Director in 2009. With over 30 years in the substance use disorder field, she has worked as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Couns...

We’re honored to welcome Nikki Pelletier, whose story is one of survival, surrender, and transformation. Back on November 17th, 2022, Nikki was in a car accident that should have taken her life. She was dope sick, chasing her next fix, and completely caught in the grip of addiction. But by the grace of God, she walked away with cracked ribs, a concussion, and bruises.  Injuries that could’ve been...

Today on Sharing Our Stories, we’re sitting with a woman whose life reads like a battle between darkness and light… and somehow, light kept finding its way in. Rhiannon grew up in a home filled with chaos, violence, and fear. A childhood shaped by control, manipulation, and trauma. A young mom who never had an example to follow. A daughter who was taught pain instead of love. And when life pushed...

This week on Sharing Our Stories, we sit down with Gio Chavez, a man whose life is a powerful testimony of change, perseverance, and redemption. After years of substance use and incarceration, Gio made the life-altering decision to start over, and he hasn’t looked back since. With the help of Avenues and Transitions Sober Living, Gio began rebuilding his life from the ground up. Starting out in ro...

    With 19 years sober, Rachel Menchaca is the example of resilience and service. As Vice President of Operations at Empower Recovery Homes, she’s dedicated to helping people find hope and healing through recovery.     A proud 12-step member of Narcotics Anonymous and advocate for women, Rachel proves that recovery isn’t just about staying sober, it’s about empowering others to rise!

   In this inspiring episode of Sharing Our Stories, Ben Cameron opens up about his powerful journey from addiction and drug dealing to finding freedom and purpose.    After serving time in prison, Ben has emerged as a living example that transformation is possible for anyone, no matter how far they’ve fallen. Through faith, perseverance, and a desire to help others, Ben has turned his pain into p...

  In this powerful episode of Sharing Our Stories, Paul Gonzales opens up about his journey from brokenness to breakthrough. Once caught in a life of pain and prison, Paul shares how God completely transformed his life, restoring hope.    Through the work of his Open Gate Prison Ministry family and a renewed faith, Paul shows that freedom isn’t just about walking out of a cell, it’s about walking...

We’re honored to welcome Daniel Okodo to the podcast. 🙌 Daniel’s story is one of transformation, perseverance, and faith in action. He’s walked through some challenging seasons, but through grace, community, and determination, he found the strength to rise above what once held him back. Today, Daniel uses his story to inspire others, to remind us that healing is possible, that purpose can come fr...

Dustin Chavez opens up about his journey through addiction and recovery, a story that weaves together the highs of life in the music business and the hard lessons of trying to fill a “God-sized hole” with unhealthy relationships. Today, Dustin is grateful for the gift of recovery and the healthy, meaningful connections and relationships he has today. Through his work building and creating with Emp...

James’ journey has not been an easy one. For years, he battled addiction, gangs, and the violence that often comes with that life. But through faith and recovery, he found a new path forward. Today, James is not only living in freedom, he’s giving back. His heart is with youth in the justice system, many of whom face the same struggles he once knew.   His life shows us that recovery is more than o...

We’re honored to welcome Jason Aubrey to the podcast. 🙌 Jason’s story is one of resilience, faith, and redemption. From his struggles to his breakthroughs, he’s walked a road that proves change is possible for anyone willing to take the first step, or sometimes multiple steps.  Through honesty, humility, and a deep trust in family, friends, and something greater than himself, Jason found the stre...

We’re honored to share the story of Alexis Laughlin, a story that reminds us no one is ever too far gone for grace. 💜 Alexis opens up about her battle with addiction and the long road that led her out of darkness. She’s honest about the pain, the struggle, and the moments when hope felt completely out of reach. But through surrender, community, and a growing faith in God, Alexis discovered someth...

Joseph Ellis is an Armed Forces Veteran, seasoned leader in the recovery community, and proud graduate of Stout Street in Commerce City, Colorado.  With over 13 years in long-term recovery, Joseph has built a career rooted in service, holding an MA, CPFS, and NCPRSS credentials.  He currently serves as Supervisor for the County Court Peer Specialist team and is Program Administrator for Outreach C...

We’re truly honored to welcome Kathrine Cisneros as our guest. 🙌 Kathrine’s story is one of courage, transformation, and unwavering authenticity. Her journey through addiction wasn’t easy, but it became the foundation for something powerful, a life built on purpose and recovery. Today, she stands as a voice of hope within the recovery community, using her experiences to lift others up through her...

Josh Kitka's journey reminds us that recovery is possible. After years in active addiction and time spent in prison, Josh found something he never thought he would again—hope. Surrounded by a like-minded recovery community, he discovered the power of connection, accountability, and support. Today, Josh stands as a living example that transformation is real. His story is proof that even in the dark...