This is The Refuge: 20th Anniversary Limited Podcast Series

Community doesn’t just happen — it’s built through resilience, shared struggle, and the small, everyday acts of showing up for one another. In this final episode of This Is The Refuge, we look closely at the rising challenges facing our neighbors, from housing instability to food insecurity, and the people working tirelessly to respond with dignity and compassion. You’ll hear from leaders across B...

Celebration isn’t just parties or big moments — it’s the practice of noticing goodness, honoring resilience, and making space for joy in the middle of real life. In this episode, Dr. Decibel sits with Bo Barrington and Sherrey Neckers, two people who help carry the heartbeat of the Refuge every day. They talk about the small celebrations that keep us human, the behind‑the‑scenes work that makes co...

Transformation doesn’t always look dramatic — sometimes it’s slow, quiet, and shaped by the people who stay. In this episode, Dr. Decibel sits with Christina Price and Amber Lane, two longtime members of the Refuge whose lives have been marked by loss, rebuilding, and the steady work of becoming new. They talk about mental health, faith shifts, single parenthood, boundaries, community, and the cou...

What if creativity isn't just for "artists"? Join Dr. Decibel in conversation with Amy Jo Nova, the Refuge's creative art coordinator, and Katie Peterson, a longtime community member who helps shape reflective spaces like Beauty Night and Blue Christmas.  Discover how creativity becomes a doorway to healing: from a photographer documenting the faces of houseless neighbors, to sma...

What does true engagement look like? Join Dr. Decibel in conversation with Katie Hinshaw and Savannah Smith, coordinators of Refuge Reads—a free community tutoring program serving students ages 5 to 65. Discover the transformative power of showing up fully: from advocating for an abused student, to teaching a grandmother to read her Bible, to the profound connection between literacy and justice. K...

Dr. Decibel explores the power of simply showing up in real relationships over time with Nanette Bezjak and Andrea Gamboa. From Andrea's journey as an unhoused person finding community at The Refuge, to Nanette's daily work walking alongside people in crisis, this episode reveals how consistent presence transforms strangers into family. They discuss breaking down isolation, building trust, and the...

In this episode, we explore the first and foundational core value of The Refuge: Welcome. Dr. Decibel sits down with Kathy Escobar, one of The Refuge's founders, and Steve Palmer, a peer advocate at the Refuge, to unpack what it really means to create a table where everyone belongs.  Rooted in twelve-step recovery principles, The Refuge has built a community where diversity isn't just tole...

Welcome to This is The Refuge, our 20th Anniversary Limited Series podcast. Before diving into our 6 core values, meet the people who started it all. Join Dr. Decibel in conversation with co-founders Kathy Escobar and Mike Herzog as they share the raw, honest story of how The Refuge was born—not from a polished plan, but from pain, deconstruction, and a dream for something radically different.  Fr...