Odyssey House Journals

HOW THIS PROFESSIONAL OPERA SINGER BECAME ADDICTED TO AL-ANON There are obviously worse addictions, but Julia Gershkoff found peace in Al-Anon as she coped with the death of her brother, the volatility of her mom struggling with prescription pills addiction and an abusive dad. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she pieces together this puzzle of life, how she now gets paid to keep a large w...

$300,000 LATER, THIS ENABLING MOM FINALLY HAS ENOUGH! Dianne Beverly says her addicted daughter raided her bank account even while Dianne paid for her rent and car. “I’m the chief enabler.” 18 years of enabling finally came to an end when Dianne told her daughter to get out or seek treatment. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals the surprising happy ending as her daughter became a recovery st...

A COP WHO LOVES DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL ILLNESS When a mental health crisis erupts in suburban Millcreek, who do they call? UPD Mental Health Detective Tracey Creno who was named officer of the year. It can be a barricaded gunman suffering from meth psychosis or someone threatening suicide. In this episode of Odyssey House Journals this amazing officer talks about how watching a TV s...

YOU CAN’T HELP BUT SMILE WHEN YOU MEET THIS MAN IN RECOVERY Michael Minutella brings light to the world after suffering from extreme darkness for years. He hid his sexual identity. He was crushed when he found out his mom died in hospice while he was out using. He’s been in and out of prison and battled addiction for years. His life story will help you understand addiction in this edition of Odyss...

SHE’S GONE FROM ADDICTION TO BEING AN ANGEL OF MERCY Ellyn Murray is the beloved program manager of one of the most successful mental health facilities in Utah, but it’s been a bumpy road to get there. She was severely addicted to crank, meth, opioids and booze starting at age 15. She was out of options when her mom threatened to keep her young children if she didn’t get help. What she did after t...

SHE’S FINALLY LEARNED THE MEANING OF LOVE Joan Robertson has one of the most inspirational stories you’ll ever hear. From Scotland to Ogden, Utah, losing a husband to suicide, losing her 3 children, homeless, assaulted, forcibly injected with heroin and meth, jailed, losing all sense of worth, but look at her now!!! In this edition of Odyssey House Journals meet the brand new Joan and follow her i...

IF THIS MAN CAN DO IT, SO CAN ANYONE DEALING WITH ADDICTION AJ Collette was a gang banger in LA. was a hard core meth addict, went to prison at 18, but is now a hard working, successful dad, with a new home and a happy family including 5 daughters. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals he describes his incredible journey. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast...

“THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN CHASING DOPE EVERY DAY” Bruce Lee made that decision after 42 years of using that started at the age of 7. He says he did every drug under the sun with his mom and dad. He spent 12 years in prison after being charged with 32 felonies. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals he talks about how life has changed with sobriety and how giving back is so important. Watch or...

7 YEARS AGO A BOY CAME SEARCHING FOR HIM Turns out it’s the son Ernie Sanchez never knew he fathered! That’s just one of the amazing stories Ernie has to tell as he looks back on years of drug addiction, plus an incredible 21 years of recovery. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals find out how he lost a stepdaughter and gained a son. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 mi...

REVEALING HIS “DIRTY LITTLE SECRET” CHANGED HIS LIFE After years of manipulation and lying, Al Richards finally admitted that an 8 year long cocaine and alcohol addiction got him fired from a job he held for 24 years. Now he’s devoting his life to the recovery community through podcasts and speaking at major events. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals find out how his daughter helped him com...

MEET THE MASTER OF “RECOVERY RAP” In the old days Manny Lopez would have been rapping about gangsters, violence, crime and drugs, but today he’s rapping about recovery, accountability and love. He bounced around in foster care when he was little and actually ended up in adult prison when he was 17. How do you go from that to recovery rap? Find out in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch o...

MYSTI LOPEZ WAS BORN INTO ADDICTION She says she first used meth at 15 to feel connected to her dysfunctional family. She later turned to alcohol, heroin and fentanyl. Now she’s an ambassador for recovery, even running an IOP program. Her amazing turnaround and how she did it in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the f...

WORKING ON F-22’S WHILE BATTLING ADDICTION Leonard Weaver, better known as LT, says he had secret clearance at Hill Air Force Base as he worked on fighter jets as an alcoholic. He also just tried riding his bicycle from Salt Lake to St. George to bring awareness to addiction. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals you will be inspired by his incredible journey to recovery and how he now has a f...

TRYING AGAIN. THIS TIME SHE WILL MAKE IT! Claudia has battled an opioid addiction for 8 years, most recently fentanyl. She relapsed after treatment last time, but she came back, and this time she’s ready. Her courage and will to live are evident when you watch or listen to this edition of Odyssey House Journals. The 30 minute podcast is available free on the following platforms. https://youtu.be/B...

“I HAD LOST HOPE” Abusing alcohol and meth had become just a way of life for Sal who went through a lot of trauma growing up including the death of his mom when he was 10. He spent 10 of his 36 years behind bars. Now, for the first time in his life, he wants to live without depending on substances. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals he talks about the amazing transformation. Watch or listen...

HE DRANK ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR 23 YEARS 4 detoxes, several treatment centers and numerous DUI’S and this time Daniel Wright is vowing to get it right. The plumber by trade loves the fact that his brain is clearing up now and he’s determined to live in recovery. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals he looks back on all that he lost because of alcohol. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (fr...

“I WANT THEM TO SURVIVE” Joanna Castillo is not in recovery and doesn’t have an addiction issue, but she wants to be the source of love and compassion for those who do. For a good part of her life she’s been surrounded by abusive people addicted to alcohol. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she explains why she switched careers to provide hope for those who are suffering. Watch or listen a...

SHE COMPARES HER RECOVERY TO A TODDLER LEARNING TO WALK When they fall we show them love and we tell them to try again until they get it right. Andrea Kennedy honestly talks about her years of addiction, abuse, PTSD and working so hard on self care and self love. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she describes a recent relapse and what she learned. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (...

HE WROTE HIS BEST POETRY WHILE HE WAS IN JAIL Anthony Padilla developed a love for writing in 8th grade, but a long, hard journey into addiction derailed his dreams. He lost everything in adulthood and a jail treatment program called CATS finally turned things around. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals he talks about his new book of poetry and how he’s turning around a traumatic past. Watch...

“I WAS A MASTER MANIPULATOR” Which is true for most people in addiction. Tim Reynolds says he had fun with meth for a while, but after several years in prison and a stint in jail, he decided it was time for a change. He’s putting in the hard work in a treatment program and now says he’s changed his perception of life. He talks about the emotional meetings with his therapist in this edition of Odys...

“IF I CAN DO IT ANYONE CAN” Christina Lucero has been in and out of rehab and jail since she was 14. She says she always wanted to rebel against everything. Now, after 20 years of using, she has been in recovery for 3 years. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she talks about losing her children, making bad choices with men and how she finally found sobriety. Watch or listen and hopefully su...

“I REMEMBER EVERYTHING, MY MOM DOESN’T” Nina Belka was 11 when she says her heroin addicted mom went to Odyssey House and then came back to treatment when Nina was 16. Nina remembers abuse and being homeless and she had her own battle with alcohol. Now they are both in recovery and they bought a house together. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she talks about why she wants to work at Odys...

“I CAN’T REMEMBER LIFE WITHOUT DRUGS” That’s because Bethany Griggs started using meth when she was 9 and then became addicted to opioids in her 20’s. She chose drugs over her kids and has been through treatment several times, but this time is different. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she says little things like a caterpillar on a leaf or even laughing are making a difference. Watch or...

BUSTED AT THE BORDER WITH 4+ KILOS OF METH Cherice Gull was facing a 10 years to life sentence, but she says that’s one of the best things to ever happen to her, because she found sobriety and God. Her story reads like a Narcos episode on Netflix. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she talks about how happy she is now and how she’s helping others to find recovery. Watch or listen and hopefu...

CAN TWO PEOPLE BATTLING ADDICTION FIND LOVE? In the case of Alex Fredrickson and his wife the answer is yes. He was addicted to pain pills. She was an alcoholic and he turned her on to opioids, but somehow they both battled back and are now spreading the word of recovery. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals Alex says some simple word changes can mean the difference of success or failure. Wat...