From Darkness to Life Podcast: Stories of Recovery & Resilience

This week Rick and Ryan welcome a huge supporter of OCJ, MLA for the Brooks/Medicine Hat region Michaela Frey. A lot of people cringe when they hear from a politician, but many politicians are more than their title. Michaela openly shares from her personal experience with mental health along with who was there to support her when she needed. Throughout the episode, her passion for helping others b...

Friend of OCJ, Pastor Dave Maneschyn joins Ryan to welcome this week’s guest Claire Rae. Claire is a Lifestyle Coach, Health and Wellness Coach, Entrepreneur, Author, and Recovery Advocate living in Invermere, BC. Claire shares parts of her early experiences in life and how addiction has stolen three very close people from her. She discloses how that impacted her and the changes she made along the...

By the time our guest Tom Wolf first encountered San Francisco Police Officer Rob Gilson, his addiction was spinning out of control. He was sitting in his car in the midst of a 10-day bender in the city's drug-ridden Tenderloin district. Wolf believes that without Gilson's compassion, he would most likely be dead by now. Tom takes us through his journey from blue collar, family man into ad...

A strong recovery advocate from New Westminster, BC joins the show today. Giuseppe is the Director of Community Development for Last Door Recovery Society and a passionate voice for recovery. This is a powerful, informative hour with someone who has been on both sides of the addiction/recovery journey. Very important topics explored include: 🔹 Stigma being faced in regard to Recovery 🔹 Recovery-...

This week we welcome a brilliant Doctor to the show. Dr. Nathanial Day is a Medical Director with Alberta Health Services who is a driving force inside the Alberta’s Recovery Orientated System of Care (ROSC). Dr. Day was one of the minds behind the development and implementation of Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program. If someone is ready to get medical support with their opioid addiction,...

This week Jessica sits down to share her journey through addiction and into recovery. Like so many others, Jessica started experimenting with alcohol at a young age and didn’t think anything of it. It was normalized in her circles and everyone was doing it. Eventually she found herself in over her head and dependant on substances. Jessica openly shares about her darkest days and the moment a handf...

We are honoured to have this week guest join the show. With credentials and a resume too long to list, Dr. David Best undoubtedly brings a wealth of Recovery knowledge to our listeners. Dr. Best shares findings from years of studies, trials, and outcome-based research in regards to the Recovery from addiction. Other topics touched on include: 🔹 Personal, Social, and Community Recovery Capital 🔹...

This week Amber and Ryan welcome Rhonda Hayward to the show. Rhonda is a clinical social worker who’s been in the field for close to 30 years. Throughout the episode, Rhonda shares her therapeutic experience working in the areas of DBT, Borderline Personality Disorder, Trauma Therapy, and Substance Use Disorder. After over 2 decades of hanging her hat with Alberta Health Services, she now has her...

This week Amber and Ryan welcome Karolina Rzadkowolska to the show. Karolina is a certified alcohol-free life coach who helps intuitive women make alcohol insignificant in their lives. She’s worked with thousands of clients through her online courses and coaching to change their drinking habit and unleash a new level of health, happiness, and potential to go after their biggest dreams. Her book Eu...

Rick, Ryan, and Amber join Poncho to discuss their recent funding announcement along with the direction of OCJ. Areas explored: Gratitude for the grant and what that opens doors to The Recovery Coach program Their partnership in the RiseUp Hot Air Balloon Festival slated for May 26-29, 2022 A wedding? OCJ wants to thank the GOA, Coulee Balloon, and the community for their ongoing support and belie...

We are very grateful to have Alberta’s honourable Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Mike Ellis and MLA for Brooks/Medicine Hat Michaela Frey join us in studio. They join Rick and Ryan to discuss the Government of Alberta’s recent announcements for Medicine Hat and the province of Alberta. Topics discussed: Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) Alberta’s award winning Virtual Opioid Depende...

The studio is full of recovery today as Rick and Ryan welcome Jon to the show. Realizing his story might help someone else take the steps into recovery, Jon is very open to sharing his story of how he went From Darkness to Life. He speaks candidly about his time in the military and how his experiences there contributed to his alcoholism. Jon shifts gears from past to present and lays out the steps...

This week Amber takes the microphone to converse with Ryan and Stacey O. about the topic of surrendering. Surrender is one of the most important steps we can take to begin the process of change. Throughout the episode, they cover what surrender looked like for them and how they did it. How surrender does not mean that they gave up and it certainly doesn’t mean there is something wrong with any of...

Imagine being 17 years old, surviving a very traumatic accident where you lost four of your teammates to death and not knowing where to turn. Hearing statements like “What’s wrong with you? You better figure it out quickly!” from people who held the next key to your advancement. Negative self-talk and dark thoughts slowly creeping in as you plow your way forward, trying to continue living out your...

This is an important episode! Rick and Ryan gratefully welcome their Moms to the show this week. Yes, their Moms! If you are a mom to a child struggling with addiction—whether or not they are in recovery—you undoubtedly understand the pain that accompanies it. Addiction impacts the entire family and Paula and Lynda open up to share their personal experiences with the chaotic lives. Stop in… take a...

Ashley shares her brave story with Ryan and Amber about her sobriety as she reaches her one year milestone! She shares how being in the drug court program & 12 steps have been key to her success in recovery. --- Reaching out to Our Collective Journey could be an important step if you don't know where else to turn to help a loved one in crisis. Reach out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.co...

NOTE: Due to Covid and Scheduling challenges, this episode was recorded entirely over ZOOM. Audio quality may be slightly diminished. THIS WEEK: Rick and Ryan graciously welcome former NHL goaltender Kelly Hrudey to the show this week. After finishing his 15 year NHL career, Kelly has been a mainstay on Hockey Night in Canada. More importantly, Kelly is a very passionate advocate for mental health...

This week Ryan sits down with Canadian Country Music Artist, Greg Rider. Greg shares candidly about his journey into country music and how alcohol became a fixture along the way. From the Cayman Islands to Nashville, Ontario to Calgary, Greg openly talks about the challenges he has faced and the impact his relationship to alcohol has had throughout his life. Although their stories are vastly diffe...

Poncho, Tony Wozniak, and Amber sit down to discuss Tony’s journey to recovery. Tony openly talks about the loss of his son and how that changed his life, how he shows up everyday to stay sober to best support himself, his surviving son and his community. From Darkness to Life contains the real stories of courageous individuals who have found their way out of the darkness caused by mental health c...

An OCJ first today as Poncho holds down the studio while Ryan and Amber join guest Brian McGrath all via Zoom. Brian, who is in recovery, is one of the founders of Optimal Recovery Coaching Associates (ORCA) located in White Rock, BC. He brings a wealth of experience in the addiction recovery field along with his own personal experience to the show this week. Episode 17 explores what a recovery co...

Poncho sits down with OCJ’s Derrick and his fiancé Stephanie to talk about supporting each other through their mental health struggles. They discuss what brought them together and how they started off dealing with many challenges. Poncho dives into how Derrick and Stephanie’s relationship was built on a foundation of hard work and tough conversations. They discuss working together to find common g...

Keeley Milne joins OCJ member’s Amber, Derrick, and Ryan to share her From Darkness to Life journey. Keeley openly discusses her negative relationship with alcohol and the disastrous consequences that she endured due to loss of control with the substance. Eventually she managed to find the right supports and begin navigating her way back into the light. Today, surrounded by the support of her fami...

Happy New Year! Hot off the press, and recorded Jan 6th, 2022, the Gang gets together for the first podcast for 2022.  Damyan, Gen, Amber and Rob sit in to talk about unplugging over the holidays. With some much needed personal reflection and introspection, they discuss preparing for, and tackling head-on, all of the new adventures to come this year.

Dr. Ryan Comeau and Dr. James Skrenkowich join Ryan and Derrick to discuss concussions and the lasting effects on our mental health. The guys discuss brain injuries and how we can help ourselves heal through the neuroplasticity of the brain. Topics include CTE, what concussions are and how they are assessed. In 2015 Dr. Comeau co-founded Kinetisense. This technology is being used around the world...

Christmas holidays are upon us and ready or not, the season can bring some unique challenges to everyone! From the person newly in recovery to the seasoned veteran, the season’s challenges can impact us all. Jolly Saint Rick and other OCJ members take to the airwaves to share some tips and tricks they use to make it through the holidays with their recovery (and sanity) intact. Topics covered are h...