King County Recovery Conversations

Join host Christopher Archiopoli in conversation with Taylor Richards, a recovery coach and SUDP at Recovery Beyond, whose powerful story is rooted in resilience through loss, trauma, and transformation. Taylor Richards shares the impact addiction had on their family, the journey out of darkness, and the importance of finding trust and community along the path to healing. Listeners will hear how R...

Join host Heather Venegas as she sits down with shining lights from the Recovery Navigator Program—Cody, Valentina, Selena, and Mo—to explore their inspiring paths in recovery and how lived experience shapes their work. Each guest shares powerful stories of resilience: from overcoming trauma, addiction, and systemic obstacles to finding meaning in service to others. Hear how their journeys through...

Join host Heather Venegas as she welcomes Marjorie Drieu, whose journey from France to King County is a powerful testament to resilience and hope in recovery. Marjorie shares how childhood upheaval, the loss of her gymnastics career, and confronting past traumas led to substance use disorder—and ultimately to profound transformation through recovery, drug court, and peer support. In this episode,...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations as he sits down with Kristine Moreland, Executive Director of The More We Love. Kristine’s journey from a childhood shaped by homelessness, addiction, and trauma, to becoming a passionate advocate for women and children in crisis, is deeply moving and rooted in personal experience. In this candid episode, Kristine opens up abou...

Join host Brad Finegood as he welcomes Hussein Ugas , founder and executive director of Rahma Recovery Center, to King County Recovery Conversations . Hussein’s powerful journey—from personal struggles with addiction, to founding the first culturally responsive and faith-aligned sober living home for the Somali community—offers insight into breaking stigma and finding purpose through recovery. Hus...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations for an inspiring episode with Javan Jones, CEO and founder of Jones Community Solutions. For over 13 years, Javan has built the only Black-owned behavioral health agency in Washington State, dedicated to empowering underserved communities with peer-led support, education, and opportunity. He shares his personal journey from gro...

We’re resharing this episode as Recovery Advocacy Day 2026 approaches on February 5th ! This conversation, originally aired January 2024, dives deep into recovery advocacy and is just as impactful today. Join us in advocating for recovery by registering for this year’s Recovery Advocacy Day at give.classy.org/RAD2026 Let’s come together to make a difference! ------------- In this compelling conver...

Join host Heather Venegas for a raw and inspiring episode as she sits down with Juju Pearce and Johnny Ohta to share their powerful journeys through addiction, homelessness, and ultimately, recovery. Juju bravely recounts her experience growing up in foster care, facing early exposure to substance use, and the challenges of navigating relapse and recovery as an Indigenous young person in King Coun...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations as we sit down with Michelle McClendon , a powerful advocate for justice-involved individuals and reentry support. Michelle’s story takes listeners from her early struggles with incarceration and homelessness to her determination to overcome systemic barriers in employment, education, and housing. Through her leadership at Civi...

Join hosts Christopher Archiopoli and Elizabeth Dahl for a heartfelt episode of King County Recovery Conversations, where community, compassion, and intentionality take center stage. Elizabeth Dahl, outgoing executive director of Aurora Commons, reflects on 11 years of transforming North Seattle through radical hospitality and a deep dedication to belonging. Dive into her journey from coffee shops...

Join hosts Christopher Archiopoli, Heather Venegas and Carolyn Presnell for a heartfelt King County Recovery Conversations episode exploring gratitude as a powerful tool in recovery. This discussion highlights personal stories from each host, sharing how gratitude transformed their lives, allowing them to find joy, serve others, and cultivate meaningful relationships in recovery. Listeners will he...

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we’re revisiting Episode 39 of King County Recovery Conversations. Host Carolyn Presnell sits down with Scott and Loni Long to explore their inspiring journeys through addiction, recovery, and healing through cultural connection. Scott shares the challenges of creating a safe, sober home environment while supporting family members still facing addiction....

Join host Heather Venegas on King County Recovery Conversations as she sits down with Ty Reed, founder of Recovery Career Services and Washington State’s reentry manager with the Employment Security Department. Ty opens up about his journey from addiction, homelessness, and incarceration to becoming a passionate advocate for second chance hiring and recovery career services. His story sheds light...

In this episode of King County Recovery Conversations, host Christopher Archiopoli sits down with Vitor Oliveira, a University of Washington research professor and exercise scientist originally from Brazil. Vitor shares his personal experience of living with HIV since 2008 and the impact of stigma and discrimination, both in Brazil and the U.S. Through vulnerability and insight, he discusses how e...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli for an inspiring conversation with Marc Shelffo , Program Director at Peer Seattle, Certified Peer Specialist (CPS), and Recovery Coach Professional (RCPS) with CCAR. Marc’s transformative recovery journey – from 11 years of meth use to thriving as a respected leader – showcases the power of non-traditional healing and deep community connection. He shares his perso...

Host Heather Venegas interviews two prominent figures in the local recovery community and learns how loss brought them to where they are today - and how their loss has empowered them.  Milli Militi-Jigamian lost her son Giancarlo to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. He had battled depression, anxiety, and addiction for years, but at 20 years old, it looked like he had turned the corner—clean for six mo...

In this week's episode of King County Recovery Conversations, we revisit "Inside King County’s Drug Court: A Pathway to Recovery and Transformation". Join host Brad Finegood on King County Recovery Conversations as he delves into the transformative impact of King County's Drug Court program with guests Joe Barsana and Lizzy DesChane. Joe shares his personal journey of recovery th...

Join host Carolyn Presnell on King County Recovery Conversations as she sits down with Joe Reineke, a musician whose journey from chaos to clarity highlights the power of community and self-discovery in recovery. Joe shares candid stories from his early days touring in bands and struggling with substance use, and how finding sobriety in Seattle changed everything. Their conversation explores the c...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli as he welcomes the inspiring Tasia Baldwin to King County Recovery Conversations. Tasia shares her powerful journey from growing up in Tacoma and navigating family trauma, to becoming a community leader, HIV research advocate, and future physician. Through a moving account of resilience and healing, Tasia opens up about the complexities of caring for loved ones, th...

On this episode of King County Recovery Conversations, host Carolyn Presnell sits down with Melissa McKee , whose powerful story sheds light on recovery, resilience, and renewal after incarceration. Melissa shares her journey from early struggles with addiction, through a challenging 11-year prison sentence, to finding healing and purpose working with animals in the Prison Pet Partnership program....

Join host Carolyn Presnell on King County Recovery Conversations as she sits down with Nichole Alexander , a community leader whose journey from incarceration to higher education and outreach is nothing short of inspiring. Nichole shares her powerful story of growing up amid family dualities, enduring multiple prison sentences, and ultimately transforming her life through recovery, education, and...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations as he welcomes Tony Radovich, a passionate harm reduction advocate and a person in long-term recovery. Tony shares their powerful journey from the depths of methamphetamine addiction, homelessness, and serious health challenges—including living with HIV for nearly 40 years—to building a life rooted in advocacy, community care,...

Join host Carolyn Presnell on King County Recovery Conversations as she sits down with Ashley McGirt, founder of the Washington Therapy Fund, psychotherapist, and acclaimed author and speaker. Ashley shares her powerful personal journey, from growing up amid the crack epidemic to founding a nonprofit focused on eliminating barriers to Black healing. She candidly discusses the lifelong impacts of t...

Join host Brad Finegood on King County Recovery Conversations as he welcomes Jennifer Winslow, Crisis Care Center Strategic Planning Manager and licensed mental health clinician. Jennifer shares the inside story of King County’s groundbreaking Crisis Care Centers initiative, a voter-approved effort designed to transform the region’s approach to behavioral health crises with compassion, community f...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli as he welcomes Ro Yoon, a Korean American trans woman, HIV activist, and community leader to King County Recovery Conversations. Ro’s journey—from overcoming heroin addiction in London to her years advocating for marginalized communities in Seattle—offers a profound look at resilience, service, and the strength of chosen family. In this episode, Ro shares how her i...