Recovery Talks

Mandy is joined by April Jackson to discuss the challenge of living with BPD, how April's symptoms manifest, and how she maintains her recovery. Trigger warning: this includes discussion of self-harm.

Mandy is joined by guests Stacey Schumer and Chas Buchanan as they dive into Stacey’s journey with breast cancer. They discuss how her diagnosis and treatment impacted her recovery, their marriage, and how they have chosen to heal from both addiction and cancer, finding purpose in their journeys to help and support others.

Kayla and Jim talk about how radical acceptance can help people in recovery as well as parents of children with special health care needs.

Lea talks about a training she was invited to attend form the SAMHSA GAINS Center on the topics of trauma and involvement in the criminal justice system. Learn more at https://www.samhsa.gov/gains-center.

Jim talks with Kayla about here journey through the mental health system and how it has impacted her life as well as how she is raising her children.

Mandy talks to Jim about her experiences receiving a new mental health diagnosis that has helped her understand her struggles and her recovery.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Beth shares her experiences as a parent of a child with a behavioral health issue and becoming a family peer supporter. Check out the resources at https://www.samhsa.gov/programs/mental-health-awareness-month and https://www.ffcmh.org/acceptanceweek.

Mandy talks to the MPN Family Peer Supporters, Beth, Jana, Erin, and Kayla, about their experiences as parents of children with special health care needs and how peer support can help families navigate systems of care.

Joanna Intara, LMFT, talks about trauma and how we react to it. Trauma responses can lead to behavioral health issues and Joanna tells us her perspective on addressing trauma.

Jana and Lucy Galarus share their story of navigating the systems necessary for Lucy to thrive and how Family Peer Support could have been beneficial.

Erin, a Family Peer Supporter with Montana's Peer Network, shares her story of a Stickler Syndrome diagnosis, treatment, and raising a child with the same condition.

Sami shares her story about recovery from co-occurring disorders. Her journey has included institutionalization, medication, difficult times but she now has hope in her recovery and recently because a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist.

Mandy is joined by Stephanie Fitch and Valerie Lofgren of Montana Obstetrics Maternal Support (MOMS) program. The Montana Obstetrics & Maternal Support (MOMS) program was created to connect rural providers to obstetrical/gynecological, perinatal, mental health and substance abuse specialists to build competency and consistency across perinatal providers. Learn more at https://www.mtmoms.org/.

Jim talks with Mandy and her fiance, Alisha, about their past relationships and how they found each other in recovery.

Lea is joined by Criminal Justice Subcommittee members Roanna Gets Down Often and Jessica Colton for a discussion of what this committee is working on and how you can get involved.

Lea talks with Nikki about our recent Project in partnership with Community Coalition for Pregnant and Parenting Persons​. Nikki is a CBHPSS and works with pregnant and parenting people who have substance use issues.

Jim is joined by Zac Cannada and Erica Durham, CBHPSS and Peer Support Specialist Committee members. The committee is requesting changes to the statutes governing Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists. You can find the proposed bill at http://bit.ly/3BIDxQP. You can reach Zac at zcannada@pfcmt.org or Erica at Eerica@extradistances.com.

Jim, Lea, and Mandy talk about how the holidays can affect their recoveries and tips for maintaining your recovery during the season of parties and get-togethers.

Jim and Mandy look back at their recovery journeys and share insights that they have learned.

Les is joined by three indigenous people in recovery who share their stories about their personal recovery. These guests are members of the Warrior Down Talking Circle support group that meets on Saturday evenings.

Mandy and Lea talk about how they are affected by seasonal changes. Fall and winter can be difficult if we aren't aware of how the weather affects us.

Lea speaks with Calvin Gone about his recovery experience. Calvin has been sober for 11 years and credits his journey through a twelve step program as the pathway that worked for him.

Jim and Lea talk about how the change in seasons can affect your health and recovery. They offer ideas about things that work for them as we head into the colder months. The resource mentioned in the podcast is accessible at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder.

Lea, Mandy, and Jim talk about their experiences at the 2022 Recovery Conference held September 10, 2022 in Helena, MT.

Lea is joined by staff from the Hope Rescue Mission in Missoula. Hope Rescue Mission is a faith based organization that partners with Western Montana to serve, rescue, and transform those in need. Learn more about Hope Rescue Mission https://www.facebook.com/HopeRescueMissionMT/.