Real Recovery Podcast

Title: RRP Episode 97. Quentin — From Anger and Isolation to a Safe Space in Recovery Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1:25:57 Summary: In this episode, Quentin shares a raw, honest look at how anger, isolation, and untreated mental health fueled his drinking—and what it took to finally reach for help. Julie and Peter walk with him through the turning points: asking for culturally specific supp...

RRP Episode 96 – Community, Commitment, and Carrying Recovery Into the New Year Presenters: Julie and Peter Release Date: 1/9/26 Length: 1 hour, 27 minutes Episode Overview This New Year’s special episode features a reflective conversation with Julie, Peter, and Collette, followed by inspirational short interview clips recorded live at the GTD – Go the Distance fundraiser at City Liquidators . The...

Title: RRP Episode 94 – Holiday Message: Rest, Reflection, and Recovery During the Holidays Presenters: Peter and Julie Length: 10 minutes Summary: In this heartfelt holiday message, Peter and Julie share an important update with listeners as the Real Recovery Podcast takes a short break for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. They talk openly about the challenges and emotions that often come...

Title: RRP Episode 95 – Holiday Message: Rest, Reflection, and Recovery During the Holidays Presenters: Peter and Julie Length: 10 minutes Summary: In this heartfelt holiday message, Peter and Julie share an important update with listeners as the Real Recovery Podcast takes a short break for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. They talk openly about the challenges and emotions that often come...

RRP Episode 93 – The Heart of Recovery: Gregg on Community, Compassion, and Connection Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1 hour and 2 minutes Summary In this episode, Gregg talks about the instability he experienced growing up and how events from his childhood influenced the way he saw himself and responded to the world. He explains what he began to understand later in life about those early exp...

RRP Episode 92 – Gary’s Story of Long-Term Sobriety, Service, and Recovery Community Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1 hour and 11 minutes Summary In Episode 92, Julie and Peter reconnect with longtime friend Gary H. , whose recovery spans many years of meetings, sponsorship, and deep community roots. Together, they revisit memories from MCC and the Lunch Bunch, explore Gary’s experiences with...

RRP Episode 91 – Returning to the Foundation: Julie’s Look Back and What Got Her Through Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 49 minutes, 07 seconds Summary In Episode 91, Julie shares a deeply honest check-in, reflecting on a year marked by emotional exhaustion, resurfaced trauma, work-related burnout, and a ruptured eardrum that led to unexpected emotional unraveling. She talks about being forced...

Title: RRP Episode 90 – Holiday Message: Rest, Reflection, and Recovery During the Holidays Presenters: Peter and Julie Length: 10 minutes Summary: In this heartfelt holiday message, Peter and Julie share an important update with listeners as the Real Recovery Podcast takes a short break for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. They talk openly about the challenges and emotions that often come...

RRP Episode 89 – Billy B: From Binge Drinking to a Lifetime of Sobriety Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1:11:00 Summary Billy B joins Julie and Peter for an honest conversation about the final years of his drinking and the turning points that led him toward long-term sobriety. He describes how binge drinking evolved into overpowering two-day hangovers, how losing precious time forced a reckoni...

RRP Episode 88 – Phoenix G: From Childhood Pain to Purpose in Recovery Presenters: Peter and Colette Length: 1 hour, 1 minute Summary: In this deeply honest conversation, Peter and Colette sit down with Phoenix G. , whose recovery story spans six decades of struggle, reflection, and redemption. Phoenix shares his earliest memories of alcohol use at just three years old, the physical punishment he...

RRP Episode 87 – Max K: Breaking the Cycle - Relapse, resilience, and the daily work of staying sober Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1 hour, 7 minutes Summary In this episode of the Real Recovery Podcast, Max K returns to share his deeply personal story of relapse, renewal, and resilience. His honesty shines through as he talks about what it takes to rebuild a life that has been torn apart by...

RRP Episode 86 – Jonah’s Journey Continues Presenters: Peter and Colette Length: 53 minutes 54 seconds Summary In RRP Episode 86 – Jonah’s Journey Continues , Peter reunites with Jonah W , whose story first inspired listeners in RRP Episode 16: Jonah W’s Journey of Resilience, Courage, and the Transformative Power of Recovery. Joined by guest host and board member Colette , Peter checks in more th...

RRP Episode 85 – Jonah Revisited: A Journey of Resilience, Courage, and Renewal Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1 hour, 2 minutes Summary: In RRP Episode 85 – Jonah Revisited , Julie and Peter revisit one of the most powerful and heartfelt episodes from the early days of the Real Recovery Podcast : RRP Episode 16 – Jonah W’s Journey of Resilience, Courage, and the Transformative Power of Recov...

RRP Episode 84 – A Legacy of Hope: Pete Kerns and Serenity Lane Presenters: Julie and Peter Guest: Pete Kerns, President & CEO of Serenity Lane Length: 1 hour 25 minutes Release Date: October 17, 2025 Summary: In this heartfelt conversation, Julie and Peter welcome Pete Kerns , President and CEO of Serenity Lane — Oregon’s long-standing nonprofit treatment center founded by his father, Dr. Tom...

Title: RRP Episode 83 – From Chaos to Clarity: Joe’s Path to Redemption Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1 hour, 3 minutes Summary: In this heartfelt episode, Joe shares his deeply personal journey from addiction and loss to recovery and renewal. His story reveals the painful realities of relapse, the emotional toll of broken relationships, and the healing power of self-honesty and faith. Throu...

Title: RRP Episode 82 – Oregon Recovers: Walk for Recovery Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 38 minutes (approx., based on transcript timing) Summary: In this special live episode, Julie and Peter take you to the Oregon Recovers Walk at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland. As sponsors and participants, they captured the energy of the day, visiting with recovery leaders, community members, and...

Title: RRP Episode 81 – “Live” at GTD 5K Run & Walk for Recovery Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1 hour, 9 minutes Summary: In this episode, Julie and Peter take listeners directly to the GTD Go the Distance 5K Run & Walk for Recovery. You’ll hear live voices from the heart of the event—runners, walkers, volunteers, and leaders who gathered to celebrate recovery through community and f...

Title: RRP Episode 80 – Lance Orton: A Journey of Faith, Recovery, and Service at City Team Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1 hour, 8 minutes Summary: In this episode, Lance Orton shares his powerful story of resilience, from addiction and time on the streets to finding redemption through faith and recovery. Today, as a leader with City Team, Lance dedicates his life to serving others who are...

Title: RRP Episode 79 – Amber & Bo Part Two: Building a Foundation Through Struggle and Hope Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 55 minutes Listening Link: https://mdcr1.com/79 Blog Link: https://mdcr1.com/79b Summary: In part two of her story, Amber returns with her husband Bo to share how their love and survival through chaos became a foundation for recovery. From meeting in the depths of ad...

Title: RRP Episode 78 – Amber’s Journey Part One: The Roots of Chaos and the Fight for Hope Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1 hour, 12 minutes Listening Link: https://mdcr1.com/78 Blog Link: https://mdcr1.com/78b Summary: In part one of her powerful two-part episode, Amber Brison brings listeners into the heart of her story. From a childhood marked by chaos and abuse to the choices that pulled...

RRP Episode 77 – Emily F.: Breaking Cycles, Building Hope Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1:07:43 Summary: In this powerful episode of the Real Recovery Podcast , Emily F. opens up about growing up in a family marked by addiction and the impact it had on her life. She courageously shares her own struggles with substances, the turning point that led her into recovery, and the role of community...

Title: RRP Episode 76 – Chris G.: From the Streets to Sobriety – A Journey of Resilience Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1:06:47 Quote: “One of the most beautiful things that I've experienced in recovery… is being able to use obstacles and turn them into opportunities. I often say that one of the huge benefits of recovery is learning how to alchemize obstacles into opportunities.” – Chris...

RRP Episode 75: Navigating Online and Real-World Recovery — Alex G’s Journey to Authentic Connection Presenters: Julie and Peter Length: 1 hour, 3 minutes Key Points with Timestamps: [00:00:18] Julie introduces Alex G. and shares how their paths crossed at the Lunch Bunch and Extended Family AA Online community. [00:04:10] Alex opens up about his early struggles with identity, substance use, and t...

Title: RRP 74 Andrea L.: Keep Coming Back – Recovery, Relapse, and the Power of Community Presenters: Julie L and Peter B Guest: Andrea L Length: ~1:14:30 Date: August 8, 2025 Summary: Julie and Peter welcome Andrea L., a social worker and longtime member of Extended Family AA. Andrea shares her honest recovery journey through functional alcoholism, denial, relapse, and reconnection. Her story und...

Title: RRP Episode 73 - Back from the Fight: How Recovery Tools Carried Us Through Cancer and Crisis Presenters: Peter and Julie Length: 54:45 Summary:After a four-month hiatus, Julie and Peter return to share their profound journeys through life-altering challenges. Peter opens up about his cancer diagnosis and treatment, revealing how recovery tools became his lifeline through 36 radiation treat...