Voices In Recovery Podcast

Our guest this week is a friend of ours, Vicki! She shares her incredible life story from a total lack of security and safety as a child she weathered the storms of racism, bullying, and violence against some incredible odds. She now finds herself, due to hard work and constant effort, sober and building a life of serenity through service and step work. Thank you so much Vicki, you're story is ama...

This week, one of our favourite humans, Vanisha Breault drops by. She talks about her brand new book, "Ordinary Courage", The Terminator Foundation's second annual recovery summit in February 2022, and the excitement over the work on the second book! Vanisha talks about her family and the struggle for recovery her sons are experiencing. Our thoughts go out to her children, as we know the road is d...

This week's guest is Mary. She tells us her incredible story of sobriety and we follow her  twists and turns, as she makes her way through life. Gratefully she is able to articulate the effects of intergenerational trauma and racism in present day Canada. She talks about how much racism is faced by people of color and immigrants specifically coming to Canada. We learn about the racism and bigotry,...

Mitch stopped by and shared his incredible journey from near death, prison, sobriety, and his wonderful family that he credits to recovery. He spends a great deal of time sharing his experience, strength and hope to help others. I cannot believe his courage! Thank you Mitch!

This week we share Shea's story and what a journey he has been on. He started his pathway of sobriety over a year ago and he's continued to keep himself open to growth and whatever may be next in his evolution. As we discuss, more and more will be revealed. From one survivor to another, thank you my friend. We appreciate your vulnerability and courage in the face of it.

This week Darcy and I talk about the "justice system" as it pertains to sexual assault and rape. This was a difficult chat for he and I, it stands to reason it may be triggering for others. Please, if you find yourself struggling or in need of help, reach out. You are welcome to email us at  david@davidlewry.com or direct message on Instagram or our Facebook page Freedom's Path Recovery Society.

We talk about some of my own experiences with working through stressful situations, tools I use that help my recovery and healing.  We dig into what it means to get out of your own way to allow healing and growth.  

Based on our guests that have been on the show we have noticed that many of them talk about spirituality and religion in some way.  This made us want to discuss this in a bit more depth so today we did just that.

Our guest this week is Autumn and Wow, she is an incredible human. She's a mother, archaeologist, artist, world traveller, and seeker of justice for women... amongst other things. She is reclaiming her culture through every action she takes and is teaching her 15 month old son her Ojibway language and others! This practice helps her learns every day as well. Check out her story this week, you won'...

Darcy and I begin a new chapter for Voices in Recovery. We are bringing in video podcasts where we talk recovery topics amongst other things. We will occasionally have guests coming on and will keep bringing you stories from amazing people. Today we talk about relapse, negative stereotypes, what it means to relapse, and so much more. Thank you for listening and take good care.

Recently, I had another chance to sit down with my friend and activist, First Light. He talks about the found bodies of children at the residential schools across Canada, accountability, reconciliation, love, pain, family, friends, healing, and much more. He brings a clear, honest perspective to so many subjects and I just try to keep up with him. He is one of my favorite humans out there and his...

Darcy joins me to talk about change, how it makes us feel, our anxieties, and what we are learning from the recent big changes in our lives.

This week, our friend and a repeat guest, Anita brought her beautiful therapy dog, Bob in for this visit. We had a great chat about some positive potential growth within the ranks of the RCMP in her area if not one day overall. I am pulling for her and for the members to be given the space and ability to care for their individual and group mental health. Healthy and supported officers lead to posi...

This week our brand new friend, Dakshima, drops by and shares her journey. She comes from Sri Lanka where it is against the law to be yourself if you happen to be a lesbian and she proudly is. In Sri Lanka, the consequences of being found out as a lesbian can be ten years in prison. Not only could she not be herself, she was raised believing that who she was, was wrong and a crime. Her life was an...

Taylor stops by for her second visit on the show and we have another wonderfully complex conversation about her journey so far. There is no question she is a presence; full of spirit, strength, kindness, toughness, and the list goes on. It is always such a pleasure to to talk with and listen to. I feel better off for knowing her and knowing she is out there digging into life. We talk sobriety and...

Our guest this week is Shayne. His story begins in an alcoholic, abusive household where he found himself experimenting with both alcohol and cannabis at an extremely early age. His addiction took him in and out of prison until he came to Calgary for a fresh start. For a few months it seemed as though the geographical change was working. He found himself in and out of treatment centers living the...

This week we sit down with mister Chris B. I cannot say enough kind things about him although his kindness stands out. Not because he's perfect because he is not, but because he's genuine, compassionate and searching. He works hard to keep learning and share all that he's gained in life and his 9 year journey in recovery. He was a fire fighter until PTSD intervened, which was when drinking became...

Our friend, Chelsea stopped by to share her recovery journey. Early on in her life she experienced the loss of her father. She survived multiple life altering challenges to find herself fighting for her life in recovery, as an adult, from alcohol and drug use. As her illness progressed, she found herself not only fighting for her life, but for the lives of her children as well. Her continued desir...

We were fortunate to have Dusty and Katherine Miller on for a second time discussing PTSD and the ongoing journey of recovery. They talk about accumulated stress on the family when PTSD goes unidentified and untreated. They share about how different and beautiful life looks when acceptance and treatment become a part of day to day life. There is little doubt that a family healing together can thri...

Long time friend Kenny stops by and shares his challenging journey into and through recovery. We appreciate his honesty and openness with us and all of you! He continues to work with newcomers and those struggling, as a part of his and their recoveries. Kenny works diligently on his daily path including the other aspects of his life like his son and family. He is a restaurant owner and chef, who r...

This week we have a returning guest and one of my good friends Adam Trotsky. He talks about recovery and trying to live better each day and what that looks like for him. We talk about our experiences incorporating many sources of practice into our lives and recoveries. He talks about his budding new business and about his upcoming wedding to an amazing human. I won't ruin it for you, we hope enjoy...

This week's guest is James Bellamy. He shares his incredible story including surviving conversion therapy, Christianity, and a world that constantly projects negativity to anyone outside of the "norms" of society. Not only has he survived, but today he thrives! He is heavily involved in educating and changing systems of bigotry and exclusion. For what you have done and for your work everyday, we t...

Our friend Charli stopped by and shared her incredible journey before and into recovery. She survived multiple instances of abuse, neglect, as well as; suicidal ideations, attempts and an attempted kidnapping by one of Robert Pickton's associates. She survived a horrible car crash, which left her with Chronic difficulties. Her recovery is full speed ahead working on herself and working with other...

This week Sandra stops by and shares her incredible, ongoing journey in recovery. We hear the depths of pain and injury that being bullied can cause us humans over the course of days, months and a lifetime. Listening to her story, it became evident that in nearly every stage of her life, being bullied has been her reality. As heart breaking as parts of her story really are; her heart, courage, and...

Lauren stops by and shares her journey into art therapy and serving people as a pastor. She works tirelessly to help build the kind of church and practice that is inclusive and understanding for all people. Her many ideas work towards healing a fractured faith community; creating and cultivating a positive experience through her art therapy and pastoral care. On top of all of that, she works on he...