Recovery Matters! Podcast

Chelsea grew up in a religious part of the South United States. After graduating from high school, she moved out of her parents' house and began partying, smoking weed and eventually trying drugs like ecstasy and crystal meth. She thought she was just having a good time with everyone else, but quickly realized that her substance use had become an addiction. Chelsea began to experience sleep depriv...

Ryan Sims, a Department of Corrections Recovery Coach, discusses his difficult childhood experience, including his mother's drug addiction and molestation, and his early experiences with drinking and smoking, which eventually led to his first time in prison. He also reflects on finding acceptance and identity while incarcerated, his journey of recovery and self-acceptance, and how his life changed...

"Visions" is a moving play that tackles substance use and recovery through depicting the journey of addiction and the awakening of individuals to their problem, leading them to seek help and join Twelve Step programs. The play has reached tens of thousands of people, with the troupe performing in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, shelters, youth houses, and correction centers, where they use the...

Rex ShadesEagle returns to our podcast, discussing the unexpected success of his TikTok video which gained 3.6 million views. Despite the popularity, Rex opens up about the online hate he received, challenging his statements about staying awake for 31 days. He also talks to us about his upcoming Ride 4 Life USA bike tour for suicide prevention. Visit www.knowlovefoundation.org to donate and for mo...

In this episode of the Recovery Matters podcast, Rob Decker of Rise as Lions shares his personal experience with trauma and addiction, emphasizing the importance of bringing traumas to light without judgment or shame. He recalls his own journey of recovery and the moment of clarity that led him to turn his life around. Rob discusses the reality of sobriety and how it involves ongoing work and mind...

Recovery Matters Podcast host Phil Valentine is interviewed as shares his personal experiences with addiction and recovery. From growing up in Manchester, Connecticut to the impact of alcohol and drug use on academic performance, he discusses the challenges and regrets of struggling with addiction in college. He also delves into cocaine addiction and recovery, including the impact on relationships...

TJ, a recovery advocate and Young People And Family Services program manager at CCAR, shares his journey of overcoming addiction and finding a new career path. Topics discussed include growing up in a divorced household, experiencing drugs and alcohol for the first time, early adoption of opiates, medication-assisted treatment, Narcan accessibility, creating a supportive space for parents in recov...

Jack reflects on his experience with alcohol addiction, beginning with a seemingly innocent encounter with alcohol at a party with friends during high school. He recalls getting caught drinking for the first time by his parents, and then using alcohol to cope with the pandemic-induced lack of social connection and activities. As Jack’s addiction progressed, he began to drink heavily and got into e...

This conversation centers around the challenges Tom, his wife Sheila, and their family faced in trying to help their son, Jack, recover from addiction. They talk about how they tried various unsuccessful methods to get him to stop, and the challenges of looking for a college that could provide a supportive recovery environment . Eventually, they were lucky enough to find one with a collegiate reco...

Nanette Ginse, a licensed massage therapist and board-certified reflexologist, has a passion for teaching and bodywork. She has traveled to China to experience Chinese medicine and worked as an instructor of Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory and Acupressure for 18 years. Nanette's interest in helping others led her to found a non-profit organization, Self Care For Recovery, in February 2022. Her...

Calliese Conner shares her journey to becoming a recovery coach and building a recovery community in the UK. She reflects on her experience with the Recovery Coach Academy and her passion for bringing more recovery resources to her community. Also discussed is the importance of treating people as resources and the impact of language and relationships in the recovery process. ----Across the Web----...

In this podcast, guest Mukta shares her personal journey of discovering the therapeutic benefits of yoga and how it has transformed her life. She emphasizes the importance of practicing what you preach and living the lifestyle you share with others. Mukta discusses the concept of the embroidery of hours, a peaceful time of the day that begins two and a half hours before sunrise, where many spiritu...

Kate Duffy is an Interventionist and Family Addiction Expert. She is a catalyst for change who has been inspiring recovery and healing since she got sober herself in 2013. After facing and overcoming her own battle with substance abuse, Kate saw and felt the missing pieces at the recovery initiative Tipping Point™. She has since made it her life’s mission to bring families into the recovery conver...

Tyrone, a longtime volunteer for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), joins us on this week’s Recovery Matters Podcast. ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO... 🗣Recov...

Connie Pacheco, born in Puerto Rico and migrated to New York City at the age of five, reflects on her experience growing up in the South Bronx and being adopted as a young child. She remembers being scared of the unfamiliar living conditions, feeling disconnected from her biological family, addiction, and almost losing her life being in the center of a dangerous altercation between rival drug deal...

With wit and unabashed honesty, Mary Beth O’Connor shares her remarkable three-phase journey: the abuse and trauma that drove her to teenage drug use, the chaos that ensued from her addiction; and how she developed a personalized secular recovery plan that led to twenty-nine years of sobriety. Her story proves any addict can recover and anyone can build a productive and happy life, no matter how l...

Our guest Juan spoke about his experience with addiction and recovery, and how he has been able to maintain sobriety. He talks about his difficult childhood growing up with a father who was addicted to drugs and often got kicked out of the house. Juan also describes growing up in a neighborhood filled with drugs and violence. At a young age, he began using drugs and selling them to make money. Thi...

***A QUICK WARNING***: This episode contains mention of a suicide attempt and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. In this podcast episode, Tina Perry shares her personal story of overcoming addiction and the traumatic event that led her to try and take her own life. She also discusses how her daughter struggled with substance use and how her passing inspired Tina to start a nonprofit o...

Tara Moreno-Wallen is a woman in long-term recovery who has worked with people struggling with addiction, codependency, and trauma. She is the founding director of Serenity House Communities and co-owner of Green Tara Holistics. Moreno-Wallen has also trained over 100 people in Usui Reiki and developed a whole-person approach to healing called Recovery Reiki, which includes energy medicine, inner...

Kelvin Young is a certified sound healer, recovery support specialist and owner of Kelvin Young, LLC. He is also a person in sustained recovery which means he hasn't used alcohol or any other drug to cope with his mental and emotional distress since March 6th, 2009. Kelvin received his recovery coaching training at CT Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) and his Recovery Support Specialist (RSS...

Mark Guckel, RCPF, is a recovery coach, paralegal, and educator with lived experience overcoming the root causes of his treatment-resistant addiction to harmful substances with the help of psychedelic medicines. He has several years of professional experience providing peer support services, helping people find meaning out of their psychedelic experiences, and consulting with entheogenic churches...

Welcoming all of our new TikTok listeners! For a long time Liz lost her smile due to her substance use... * Her father put her up for adoption * She endured a lot of abuse * At 17 she connected with a 40 year old drug supplier who introduced her to cocaine, and gave her access to endless amounts of it * Her cocaine use got so bad that her eyes, nose and ears doctor had to intervene with emergency...

A BIG welcome to all of our new listeners from TikTok! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We hope you enjoy one of our past episodes that you might have missed... ICYMI (Re-post from May 2022) Brooklyn native Mike Fiore has been a person in recovery from addiction, coming up on a year now. While in treatment, and living in a treatment facility, he started a non-profit organization ‘Inspire 2 Inspire’ to...

***A QUICK WARNING***: This episode contains raw depictions of traumatic events, which include sexual abuse/violence towards minors and mention of a suicide attempt. Listener discretion is heavily advised. Rex ShadesEagle overcame his addiction after 27 years by addressing his childhood pain. From the age of six to twelve, he was subjected to physical and sexual abuse until being expelled onto the...

Alison focuses on topics connected to harm reduction and addiction rehabilitation as a writer and advocate. Because she meets the most incredible and motivating people while interviewing them, she loves writing about recovery. Because keeping people safe in their daily lives, supporting wellness, and preventing additional harm are at the core of harm reduction, she enjoys writing about it. Since j...