Recovery Corner

This week on Recovery Corner, our host Jessica has a conversation with David Whitesock, the creator of the Recovery Capital Index (RCI). Together, the two dig into David's personal story of recovery, what RCI is, how the tool can be used, and more! Tune in now to learn about how RCI can help measure your recovery process and inform how you maintain your recovery. For more information, visit yo...

In this week's episode, Saraiha dives into the long, uncomfortable truth about systemic racism in the United States and the profound effects it can have on financial wellbeing, mental health, and more. These symptoms of systemic racism also have a strong effect on substance use and recovery in communities of color. However, there are things we can do to rectify the situation. Tune in to hear m...

In this week's episode, our host Brian has a conversation with Young People in Recovery's Kentucky Program Manager, Billy, about the purpose and impact of all-recovery meetings. In addition to discussing the impact that YPR can have at the local level, they talk about the incredible connections people can make with people in recovery from around the country at our National All-Recovery Mee...

In this episode, hosts Karly and Kelvin dive into one of the most critical aspects of the recovery journey: wellness. They discuss the three primary pillars of wellness and how these can look different for individuals with different needs, lifestyles, and goals. They emphasize that wellness is work, but the payoff is unbeatable. For more wellness resources, visit youngpeopleinrecovery.org/resource...

In our special Women's History Month episode, YPR would like to celebrate the Chapter Lead of our Arapahoe County, CO chapter, Coreen Braden. In honor of Coreen's outstanding dedication to her work in harm reduction advocacy, YPR recently awarded her the first ever Coreen Braden Distinguished Service Award, which was named in her honor. In this episode, Coreen and our host Emily discuss Co...

In this episode, hosts Brian and Karly speak with Matt Ward about his powerful recovery story. Matt gives listeners an intimate look into his substance use, his difficult journey to recovery, the joys of his life in recovery. He discusses the things that helped motivate him to move forward in his recovery journey, including creating connections with other people, being honest with himself, and giv...

In this episode, Young People in Recovery's Director of Strategic Equity and Inclusion, Saraiha Sampson, interviews Evelyn Neal, the artist behind the beautiful drawing featured on YPR's special edition Black History Month t-shirt. As a person in recovery, Evelyn has used her art to process trauma, express her emotions, and find a positive creative outlet. Together, Saraiha and Evelyn discuss the...

In this episode, YPR’s Director of Strategic Equity, Saraiha Sampson, interviews poet, entrepreneur, and activist, Joseph Green. Green, a longtime recovery advocate and artist, discusses the powerful connection between art and the modern recovery movement. Through spoken word and creative writing workshops, Green focuses on uplifting youth in recovery by empowering them to channel their experience...

In episode 24, Mike Largent shares his story of finding recovery by accident. While on a path towards self-improvement and bringing more optimism into his life, Mike discovered a TedTalk titled, "The Happy Secret to Better Work" which encouraged making subtle shifts in one's life based on positive psychology. These small shifts resulted in a lifestyle change for Mike which now includes an alcohol-...

The LatinX community is at high risk for substance use disorder (SUD) due to the lack of mental health resources available. In the United States, LatinX folks will use substances to numb some of the trauma associated with the process of immigration, family separation, their legal status, and the process of assimilating to a new country and language. Accessing mental health services and SUD treatme...

Episode 25 brings us to the season finale of Recovery Corner and the transition of our host, Candice Rose, towards another growth opportunity. We wish Candice the best on her new journey and go on summer break to reinvent the Recovery Corner experience moving forward. We close out Season 2, with Amanda Lambert and Kathryn Sherman, co-facilitators of Rainbow Recovery, our monthly LGBTQ+ recovery me...

Guest: Alex Vick, Creative Director; The Hive Collective Show Notes: Navigating adolescence and early adulthood is a difficult time. We are trying to learn who we are and how we want to show up in the world while being influenced by our peers as well as the adults in our life. We are learning about individual identity and exploring our own creativity. But where do young people go to be themselves...

Guest: Chris Marshall, Founder; Sans Bar Show Notes: We live in a social culture that has historically been dominated by and saturated in alcohol. Recently, more people are challenging the status quo and evaluating their relationships with alcohol. Whether curiosity is spiked as a result of alcohol use disorder, or folks starting to recognize the benefits associated with reducing or removing alcoh...

Guest: Maggie Seldeen. High Rockies Harm Reduction;  Executive Director People can not recover if they can not survive. So why is there such a debate about life saving harm reduction services? It is critical for our communities to recognize abstinence is not realistic for everyone and nobody should suffer or die as a result of their addictions. Harm reduction refers to policies, programs and...

Guest: Tonya Wheeler, Executive Director; Advocates For Recovery Colorado The words we use matter. How we speak about substance use disorder has the power to shape the perceptions our communities have about people experiencing addiction. Tonya has been working as an advocate of recovery in Colorado for over 20 years and has seen the difference it makes when we empower people to take ownership of t...

Guests Dnechelle Pascol & Christopher Raeford   It’s an unfortunate truth that BIPOC communities are at a disadvantage when it comes to substance use disorder and the recovery from it. People of color are disproportionately affected by drug policies and drug laws. Not only have strict drug laws from the War on Drugs targeted Black offenders, but it aided in creating harmful stereotyp...

Guest: Julia Pratt Finding recovery is challenging at any age. It can be especially difficult for young people. At a time in life where many of our peers are experimenting with substances, how does one recognize that it’s time to make a change? Julia Pratt is a young singer/songwriter who made the decision at 19 years old to find the courage and strength to say “enough is enough!” In her adolescen...

Everything changes the moment we decide to embrace a life of recovery. We finally have the ability to explore our authentic selves and decide how we want to shape our futures. For Thomas Guerra, his recovery helped him tap into a passion to help others get acquainted with themselves and build support within the community to encourage them to do so. Thomas opened The Miami Recovery Project (MRP) in...

Featuring - Tara Moseley Hyde, Reneisha Rudder, Danielle Durkin Show Notes How do we make our communities recovery ready? We advocate for the necessary resources individuals need in order to enter into sustainable paths of recovery. American University Graduates Tara, Renisha and Danielle joined us to highlight the importance of building up the 8 pillars of YPR’s Recovery Ready Blueprint in our co...

Featuring - Jesse Haner Show Notes Jesse opens up about having many attempts at recovery which always seemed to inevitably circle back to substance use and downfall. Always trying to fit in and searching for a place to belong, while living fast with drugs and criminal behavior it always seemed to be the route toward acceptance for Jesse. For many, that path often leads down a road of addiction, em...

Guest: Garett Dickinson Show Notes Recovery: A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery is not defined by any particular pathway. It is not up to anyone but the individual themself to determine how they get there . Garett has been free of substances for 7 years by taking a self-direc...

Guest: Nathan Smiddy AKA Narcan Nate Show Notes Meet them where they are, not where you want them to be. Former opioid user turned full throttle harm reduction activist Nathan Smiddy shares how he has become Narcan Nate and is now a household name in the recovery community of North County San Diego. Through recovery, he has found purpose in his passion and takes to the streets daily to ensure that...

Guest: Donald Davis Show Notes “I got into harm reduction to enable people who use drugs. I enable them to protect themselves and their communities, to feel like they have someone to talk to. I enable them to ask for help and help others in turn. I enable them to find treatment options, reconnect with their families and rebuild their lives. If that makes me an enabler, I am proud to claim that ter...

Guest: Julie Salter Show Notes: At the age of 23, Julie had racked up a string of felony charges and was facing 7 years in prison. After being presented with a restorative justice opportunity, she found strength in her hope to choose a different life for herself. Sometimes hope is all we have to hold onto and often that is more than enough. When hope is powered by action, we find the ability to ch...

Our mindsets are so important to directing us on our paths of recovery. As long as we can keep a positive mindset, we are destined for a comeback. Richard Mireles shares some details of his 21 year setback and how by developing a healthy mindset during his incarceration led him to become an integral member of a successful non-profit, advancing the mission of CROP to reimagine reentry through a hol...