Voices In Recovery Podcast

This week, Aline stops by and shares their incredible journey through early trauma, continued trauma, into addiction, and today where she's living a life in recovery. Her openness and vulnerability are a sign of her courage moving forward through recovery. She tries to utilize her journey to inspire and encourage others. Thank you Aline, we appreciate you.

This week, I sit down with my close friends Michelle and Darcy Robinson. We talk about twenty years of sobriety, anti racism work, racism, literature, and the huge concept of cancelling people. I have said this before and I am sure that I will say it again at some point; it always comes back to how many people did not cancel me when I was living like a man with no relations and the result has been...

This week, Pulkit and Dhaniket stop by and literally blow our collective minds. The world feels so ugly these days - it made sense to bring them on the podcast because these fellows are trying to inject hope wherever they can. I am going to let them speak for themselves, as throughout the episode I find myself in awe of what they're doing and are trying to do. We talked about some of the harsh thi...

This week, we share part two of Karrie-Lynn's story. This week we dive deeper into the process of their transition. I open up about my own queerness and we have a wonderful conversation. You are a gift to our world - thank you for coming back on.

This week's guest, Daphne stops by and shares all about Black Pride YYC and their own personal journey. They came to Canada from Nigeria where it is still illegal to be Queer. Once here, they set out intent on being their truest self. I won't give spoilers; however, we talk about the beginnings and the why's Black Pride YYC was necessary and formed they have grown incredibly in a year and throw in...

This week's guests, Comrade Yulia Borscht and Dani Phantom stopped by to share their stories and we talk everything under the beautifully queer sun! I'm not going to lie, most people will just fall in love with them so beware. I was able to attend their show, Housing Crisis, before sitting down with them and chatting away so I already fell in love with the humans they are. Thank you both!!!

This week's guest, Karrie-Lynn, stops by and opens up about their journey. We talk about very adult subject matter, please consider this a content warning. Our conversation is one of those that I think about long after we are done talking. Thank you for your inspiration, bravery, and for your service!

This week's guest, Mohamed stops by to talk about Palestine. He is from there and a lot of his family and many friends still live there under constant threat of annihilation. We talk about the ongoing genocide in Palestine  and we talk a about the Congo and the Sudan as well. Knowing colonialism and it's resulting genocide can continue under any guise in any country is awful. Thank you for sharing...

This week, Michelle and I sit down, helping each other sort through and essentially process our shifts in perspective on the Calgary Police. We are angry and we are among many, who feel just as we do. I'm sure even angrier considering having been victimized by the police on May 9th, 2024 at the University of Calgary and May 11, 2024 at the University of Alberta. We all have a right to our anger an...

Our guest this week, James, survived 9 conversion therapy counsellors from the ages of 6 - 13. It is no wonder that they found themselves working towards queer liberation for most of their life. They have been involved in the drag show troupe, "Fake Mustache" for twenty years! Thank you for coming on and for opening up your vault of our queer history. My heart and brain are filled.

This week's guest, Mahmoud Abi Samaan comes to us from Rafah after his entire family was displaced by the IDF and their home was destroyed in Gaza by Israeli bomb/rocket strikes. All this after he lost his  best friend to an Israeli bombing at 17 years old. Mahmoud was in hospital for months having his body put back together. As much brutality as they have suffered and survived to have such a gent...

This week Darcy and I try and understand all that's been happening in our vast, hurting world. We both came out confused, somewhat sleepy and laughing so the episode is probably ok. One thing I try and keep in mind, as we discuss topics from the universe around us and across the planet is my very privileged position. Not only am I a middle aged, white male living in North America - I was also born...

This week's guest, Wendy, is a wonderful musician and long time indigenous activist. They share their often difficult journey through life - emphasizing both their gritty, protest-folk-rock music (I made that up) and their continued activism for human rights.

This week's guest, Kat, stops by and shares their story. Kat comes to Calgary via California and the beautiful San Jose area.   Although they also grew up in  twelve step rooms from the time they can remember. Through the years, they began to experience and witness the violence and shame based approaches within the justice and recovery communities in both the United States and in Canada. They came...

This week's guest, Dawn, stopped by and shared her journey from a life where alcohol became medicine to cope with deep pain, anxiety, and depression. She is now trying her best to face, cope with and heal from the deep pain she carries. Like all of us, the process of healing is beautiful and messy. Painful and joyous. Like life.. Thank you Dawn!

This week's guest comes from a police department in Canada. I will give a pre-warning, warning that this episode might be incredibly triggering for anyone. We talk openly and frankly about the experiences we have had in our different capacities. I had no idea the depths of sexism/misogyny, Islamophobia, and homophobia in law enforcement culture until I was clear of it for a few months. Able to pro...

This week's guest, Danielle, drops in to talk about accessing mental health and addiction services in Calgary, Alberta. She is incredibly open and honest about her recent journey within the system. We talk openly about our mental illnesses and share some soothing strategies/ideas for when mental health is pushed to the limits. This is one of those episodes that may be deeply triggering for people....

This week's guest, Wesam, an activist with Justice For Palestine stops by to talk about organizating and running weekly protests in an attempt to end genocide and find peace I Palestine. We talk about how deeply islamaphobia runs within western style culture. We talk about how islamaphobia is another means for western culture to continue its war on Indigenous, Black People and People of Colour. We...

This week our guests are none other than my brothers, Greg and Nathan. The three of us sat down to talk about losing our pops and how life has changed for each of us in some ways as we approach the one year anniversary of his passing. I love my brothers and honestly, what resonates the most from this is how Darcy heard our conversation. He heard different parts of pop's personality coming out in t...

This week's guest, Bill, shares some of his experiences working in Palestine, Gaza, Israel, and more. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come on to share some first hand experiences.

This week's guest, Saima Jamal, is an amazing human being. She's one of those strong activists out here despite the often harsh consequences they face from the authorities. Regardless of the opposition she faces every day, she stands up for what is right. For what is human. You may not understand her point of view and you may not agree with it. Try and remember that who she is standing up for is y...

This week's guest, Kimberly, comes to us from the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Not only is she a person in recovery, but she is a recovery coach and support human. Her story is a journey through alcoholism in a career where drinking was not only encouraged but supported in some respects. Thank you so much Kimberly, we appreciate you.  If you're interested check her out on all the socials: ...

This week Michael and Nazia stop by and we talk about an end to genocide and war. We talk about love, humanity, and a need for us to love one another regardless of whatever we may believe in. The answer remains to be love. Thank you Nazia and Michael for joining us and engaging in a talk about recognizing our humanity and making decisions from a place of love.

This week's guest, Juan Castro, stops by and I get to do something I really enjoy - listening to artists talk about art is heart and mind  opening. Juan is going to be performing at Freedom’s Path Recovery Society's open house fund raiser in March. Details to follow! Thank you Juan, we appreciate you.

This week, Michelle and Darcy sit down with me and we take a look back over 2023. We talk about how difficult it can be to keep pushing forward when the world appears like it's imploding. When our fellow humans commit genocide on women, children, whole families, and bloodlines across the ocean and call it war. 2023 saw the whole world grieving.