King County Recovery Conversations

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations as he welcomes the inspiring Ashlyn Delap. From overcoming her own addiction struggles to being an advocate for others as a screening and outreach coordinator, Ashlyn's journey is one of resilience and compassion. Her deep commitment to helping others shines as she shares her experiences and perspectives. In this episode, A...

In this episode of King County Recovery Conversations , host Brad Finegood sits down with Esther Lucero, CEO of the Seattle Indian Health Board. Esther, a fervent advocate for community-centric healthcare solutions, delves into the transformative work at the Health Board, emphasizing the intersection of traditional Indigenous practices and modern medicine in promoting recovery and holistic healing...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations as he welcomes Marshall Reinsch, an inspiring voice in the recovery community. Formerly incarcerated due to self-medication stemming from an undiagnosed mental health condition, Marshall's journey reflects transformation through empathy and community support. His path from incarceration to becoming a peer support counselor...

We're bringing back one of our most powerful and widely listened-to episodes—because the message is just as important today as it was then. In this episode, we highlight the voices of young people in recovery, sharing their personal stories of resilience, struggle, and transformation. By revisiting this conversation, we hope to continue breaking the stigma around youth and addiction while shar...

Join host Heather Venegas on King County Recovery Conversations as she engages with Thomas Jackson, a passionate advocate for personal growth and mental well-being. As the Program Director for Washington Peer Network, Thomas brings a wealth of lived experience to his work, transforming adversity into a powerful force for change. Born in Oakland, Thomas navigated foster care, group homes, juvenile...

Join host Heather Venegas on King County Recovery Conversations as she welcomes Brett Lovins, an advocate for recovery-friendly workplaces. Brett shares his personal journey to sobriety and his experiences at Cisco Systems, emphasizing the importance of creating supportive environments for employees in recovery. He discusses the impactful documentary "The Anonymous People" and how it ins...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations as he welcomes George Spellman, a beacon of resilience and insight in the recovery community. George’s journey spans from early sobriety in 1984 to overcoming relapse, providing a raw and inspiring narrative of determination and hope. This episode delves into how George found strength in community, the importance of volunteerin...

We’re resharing this episode as Recovery Advocacy Day 2025 approaches on February 6th ! 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 https://www.classy.org/event/recovery-advocacy-day/e600040  Let’s come together to make a difference! ---...

In Episode 39 of King County Recovery Conversations, host Carolyn Presnell sits down with Scott Rehaume and Loni Long to delve into their inspiring journeys through addiction and recovery. Scott discusses the challenges of creating a safe and sober home environment while supporting family members still battling addiction. Carolyn relates to the struggle of breaking familial cycles of substance abu...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations as he welcomes grief coach Robin Held. In this enlightening episode, Robin recounts her path to becoming a Certified Grief Coach, a beacon of hope for those navigating grief. She also explores how her sobriety journey intertwined with her life changes, offering profound insights into the healing process and the myths surroundin...

Join host Heather Venegas on King County Recovery Conversations as she welcomes special guest E.V. Velez, who bravely shares their journey from childhood instability and substance use to recovery and new beginnings. Originally from the Chicago area, Velez navigated a decade-long cycle of addiction and legal issues before finding a fresh start in Seattle. In this candid conversation, Velez opens up...

Join host Carolyn Presnell on King County Recovery Conversations as she explores the depth of Native American experiences in honor of Native American Heritage Month. Get to know the powerful stories of guests Loni Long, Israel Rehaume, and Jason Vickers - listen in as they delve into the generational trauma and violence that have impacted their community, sharing journeys from substance abuse and...

Join host Carolyn Presnell on King County Recovery Conversations as she sits down with Deaunte Damper, an inspiring community activist and advocate. Damper shares his experiences with addiction, incarceration, and his journey to recovery. He opens up about the transformative moments in prison that led to his personal growth and the critical need for community support in policy-making for marginali...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli and his dynamic guest Holly Mayer as they tackle parenting, addiction, and social issues head-on. x In this episode, Holly shares her perspective on addiction, challenging the traditional, one-size-fits-all approaches to treatment. She elaborates on the Harriet Tubman Center's mission to provide culturally sensitive healthcare for people of color and criticizes soc...

In honor of the end of Recovery Month, we are resharing a powerful recovery story from Episode 4 of King County Recovery Conversations. We hope you enjoy. ---- On the show this week: finding freedom from addiction. The Sober Curator founder Alysse Bryson joins host Heather Venegas for an inspiring conversation with Joe Conniff. Joe’s journey into and out of addiction is a powerful one. At his lowe...

Join host Deaunte Damper on this intriguing episode of King County Recovery Conversations as he interviews Malika Lamont. Known for her impactful advocacy in the fields of mental health and substance use, Malika shares her decades-long journey from working in therapeutic foster care to spearheading policy change and leading innovative programs like LEAD (Let Everyone Advance with Dignity) and VOCA...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations as he welcomes Johnny Bousquet, whose life journey from addiction-ravaged childhood to a triumphant recovery offers deep insights into systemic challenges and personal triumphs. Johnny shares compelling stories about using low-level crimes to survive, leading to repeated encounters with the criminal justice system. It is throug...

Join host Heather Venegas on King County Recovery Conversations as she welcomes Bill Goodgion, Executive Director of Recovery Beyond, and members Krissy and Olga. This inspiring episode delves into how Recovery Beyond uses outdoor activities to foster recovery and connection. Olga shares her heart-wrenching journey from battling substances to finding solace and growth through the program, while Kr...

In this episode of the King County Recovery Conversations podcast, host Heather Venegas sits down with Kimmy Reedy, a behavioral health frontline worker with a remarkable story of personal transformation and dedication to helping others in their recovery journey. One of the key topics discussed in the episode was the Recovery Navigator Program (RNP) in King County, WA, which was created in respons...

Join host Christopher Archiopoli on King County Recovery Conversations as he welcomes Jared Stern, an HIV researcher at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Jared recounts their personal journey, from a grim HIV diagnosis at 19 to finding hope and a sense of belonging in the HIV community. Together, they delve into the stark realities of living with HIV, emphasizing the critical role of community support and...

Join host Heather Venegas on King County Recovery Conversations as she welcomes Christopher Archiopoli, a dedicated advocate for those in recovery. Christopher shares his compelling journey of self-acceptance, overcoming addiction to methamphetamine and cocaine, and living with HIV. He opens up about the tremendous impact that a significant event had on his decision to embrace recovery and the inn...

Join host Heather Venegas as she welcomes Mikel Kowalcyk on King County Recovery Conversations. Mikel shares her experiences working in Seattle's Waterfront, Chinatown, Rainier Beach, and Beacon Hill districts, confronting the fentanyl crisis head-on. Heather and Mikel discuss the street-based outreach approach of Reach, highlighting the complexities of convincing clients to seek help beyond t...

Join host Deaunte Damper on King County Recovery Conversations as he welcomes Ronnie Rolax, a beacon of hope for those navigating the path of recovery. Ronnie opens up about his journey of repeated incarceration due to misguidance and misinformation, emphasizing the transformative power of community support and accurate information. He shares poignant insights on the burden of guilt and shame and...

Join host Alysse Bryson on King County Recovery Conversations as she welcomes Wil DeRouen, a certified peer counselor and impactful community advocate. Wil shares his transformative journey from incarceration and addiction to becoming a guiding force for single fathers and individuals in the BIPOC community. He recounts mentoring success stories, including helping a program graduate who became a f...

Join host Brad Finegood on King County Recovery Conversations as he engages with Apoorva Mallya, Executive Director of the Hepatitis Education Project. Delving into the world of hepatitis, Apoorva brings a wealth of knowledge, stressing the critical importance of testing for this often silent but deadly disease. With more deaths annually than HIV or malaria, hepatitis remains a hidden epidemic whi...