Rise Recover Live

Send us Fan Mail #74: When we asked Shane Berber to define recovery he responded: “It’s this, it’s Phoenix, family, new friends, a community, being part of something bigger… and having something bigger.” As the Community Engagement Coordinator for The Phoenix in Austin, Texas, recovery for Shane is his professional and personal life, and it’s a blessing everyday. After falling in love with gamblin...

Send us Fan Mail #73: This week we have the privilege to hear from Eugene Barnes (he/him). A Baltimore city native, Eugene is a person in long-term recovery and the Volunteer Coordinator for The Phoenix-DFW. Eugene started dancing at 11 years old and immediately fell in love with ballet. At 17, he accepted his first contract with a ballet company and spent 18 years dancing professionally. From his...

Send us Fan Mail #72: This week on the podcast we welcome Mickey Bakst, the Co-Founder of Ben's Friends and a 48-year veteran of the restaurant world. When Mickey bought his first restaurant in 1973, people told him he would never be able to get sober in the food & beverage industry. Fast-forward to today, Mickey has 40 years of sobriety and continues to work in the industry he loves whil...

Send us Fan Mail #71: When Molly McGee (she/her) founded Awaken, she wanted to share the transformative power of a healthy and consistent morning routine with her community and beyond. Through the tools of affirmation, intention, yoga, group discussions & more, she teaches folks how to change behavior patterns and build the life they strive to live. With this community and accountability, not...

Send us Fan Mail #70: For our 70th episode, we had the privilege to sit down and chat with Peer Support Expert and Wellness Coach, Kiola Raines (she/her). When asked about her personal recovery, Kiola says that for her, it's all about living her journey out loud. And although it can be daunting, she has made it her journey's foundation to put herself out there and get into recovery space...

Send us Fan Mail #69: One day in January 2021, two years into his sobriety, Rory Joseph Vannais (he/him) decided to pick 'running' as his personal fitness challenge for the upcoming year. Although he didn't particularly like running, he knew it would be an arduous task that he could put his best effort towards. Only a few months into 2021, he decided to take it up a notch and train...

Send us Fan Mail #68: When Alex Esqueda's wife dragged him to a CrossFit class one morning during the early months of his recovery, he had no concept of what CrossFit was, nor a desire to step into any gym space. Now, Alex attributes a large part of his continuous sobriety to CrossFit, especially the community and connection. After just 2 years into sobriety, Alex opened his first CrossFit af...

Send us Fan Mail #67: This week we chat with Vivian Ulrich (she/her), Founder and Executive Director of Sober iThrive, and Internationally Certified Professional Recovery Coach specializing in Holistic Wellness for Women. Additionally, Vivian is the host of the Sobertown Podcast and serves as Sobertown's Public Relations Director. Tap into our conversation to learn more about Vivian and hear...

Send us Fan Mail #66: This week we welcome Phil Valentine, a person in recovery, cancer survivor, Appalachian trail thru hiker, author, fisherman, and the Executive Director of the Connecticut Community of Addiction Recovery (CCAR). Now 35 years into his recovery, Phil tells us that the best is yet to come, and each day is beyond anything he could imagine in his wildest dreams. Listen to hear our...

Send us Fan Mail #65: This week we welcome Phoenix volunteer and person in recovery, Stewart Powell to the podcast. After 20 years of active addiction, Stewart knew he was in a desperate situation and done feeling isolated and ashamed. One night in April of 2022 he opened his computer and searched for treatment centers. The next morning, he decided he would follow through with this plan and he pic...

Send us Fan Mail #64: Todd Jones (he/him) found The Phoenix through an unlikely source: the Colorado Springs Drug Court. Like most, Todd had no idea what The Phoenix was at first. He also had little desire to be sober. He DID however  want to stay out of jail. In recalling rock climbing at his first Phoenix event, Todd remembers realizing "wow, that's the first time I've had a win i...

Send us Fan Mail #63: This week we welcome Dr. Michael Fiori, MD (he/him) from online mental health care provider Talkiatry to discuss the substance use disorder treatment space and his experience helping folks start and sustain recovery. Although he began practicing in 1981, it wasn't until the year 2000 while shadowing a dual diagnosis practitioner that Dr. Fiori found his calling.  Thus ig...

Send us Fan Mail #62: This week on the podcast, we welcome Don Fertman (he/him), Board Chair Emeritus of The Phoenix, current member of The Phoenix Impact Board and former Chief Development Officer of Subway. When Don first got sober, the last thing he wanted to do was allow people to know his story. Now decades into recovery, he proudly and candidly shares his story, and encourages others to spea...

Send us Fan Mail #61: On this week's 'snack-sized' episode, Bryce and Liz discuss how to open up your life to new hobbies and activities in recovery,  a phenomenon that is simultaneously amazing and daunting. It takes an enormous amount of  mental and physical capacity to have your world revolve around a substance. And once you remove that substance from your orbit, it becomes a who...

Send us Fan Mail #60: Seven years ago, a therapist challenged Donna Atkinson to "try one day:" Try to not drink for one day and don't worry too much about the rest. At the time, Donna couldn't imagine a life without alcohol, but she made it through that first day, and that first night, and every subsequent day after that. One of her tools to stay sober was registering for Cross...

Send us Fan Mail #59: On this week's episode, we heard from you, our community of listeners, via the Rise Recover Live Podcast group on The Phoenix mobile app, on what you would like discussed on this week's snack sized episode. Liz and Bryce dove right into a discussion on how to handle big feelings in sobriety. They shared some of the tools they have cultivated over the years in their...

Send us Fan Mail #58: Austin Marquez (he/him) stumbled upon a job listing at The Phoenix at a time when the community not only needed him, but he needed a sober community too. As Austin recalls, he decided to get sober on a Monday and got the call he was hired at Phoenix that Wednesday. Teaching at Phoenix gave him an opportunity and responsibility he wasn't fully ready for, but the timing wa...

Send us Fan Mail #57: Liz and Bryce are back with another bonus episode where they share how to navigate specific situations within the realm of the sober and recovery experience. This week, we talked all about celebrations amidst recovery. For Liz, voicing her needs and being open about sobriety was imperative when she entered spaces where alcohol was not only present, but the focus. As for Bryce...

Send us Fan Mail #56: Today we welcome Joie (she/her) to the show. Joie is a queer, sober, activist and advocate that works to normalize folks in the world that are often times "othered." She uses her own lived experiences to help give voice to those that sometimes don't know how, or aren't given the chance to speak up and speak out against the inequalities that permeate our cu...

Send us Fan Mail #55:  Today's bonus episode kicks off a special series of snack-sized episodes for the month of June! Throughout the month, Liz and Bryce will dive deeper and share their personal tools for navigating different scenarios in sobriety. On this episode, they discuss traveling while sober or in recovery. For Liz, traveling in recovery has made an enormous difference and she had t...

Send us Fan Mail #54: Live from New York City, it's Liz and Bryce with Dave Manheim from the Dopey Podcast! We sat down with Dave to talk about all things recovery and podcasting.  What started as weekly podcast by two close friends, Chris and Dave, about "drugs, addiction, and dumb sh**," has evolved into something bigger than they ever expected or intended. As recounted by Dave, t...

Send us Fan Mail #53:  Although Collin (he/him) always thought of himself as someone who 'shows up' even on  hard days, he realized he was running away from life with substance use.  Now a recovery coach and avid long distance runner, Collin has honed the skills of showing up for himself and his community. For him, one of the most precious gifts of recovery is a high level of integrity p...

Send us Fan Mail #52: Join us for Liz (she/her) and Bryce’s (he/him) conversation that expands on Tuesday’s episode for Mental Health Awareness Month! In this episode they touch on their personal mental health journeys in hopes of destigmatizing the conversation for others who have had similar experiences. Liz and Bryce share their perspectives on therapists and the importance of staying humble in...

Send us Fan Mail #51:  May is Mental Health Awareness Month! In this week’s special episode, Liz (she/her) and Bryce (he/him) discuss some of their personal experiences and tools for mental health, and how it intertwines with their recovery journeys. Although mental health awareness extends beyond this month, we’re taking the time in May to call attention to how mental health can affect and challe...

Send us Fan Mail #50:  Matt Shindeldecker defines himself as a CrossFit L2 Coach, the owner of 13 year affiliate CrossFit Crave, and most proudly as a trauma survivor.  When Matt and Debbie first opened their gym, CrossFit Crave, they had no way of knowing the transformative effect it would have on their community. But they decided if they could just change one life, the community would be a bette...