Voices In Recovery Podcast

After a loss in her family, Jessica set out to start an organization called Change the Face of Addiction. Jessica talks about her own learning and working towards a better understanding of addiction, harm reduction, the politics of non profit funding, and the best way in which to help. To Find out more about her organization click HERE

We are so happy to have Bronwyn join us to talk about how she started down the path of substance use. With an early intervention from a friend and family, as well as her realizations about who she wanted to be. She was able to begin her life of recovery and loving life. Today Bronwyn is a life coach, helping others come through their darkness, whatever that may look like. She enjoys her life today...

We are joined by Logan, an aspiring local, Calgarian musician and university student. We have a great conversation about his music, inspirations, university life during covid and the challenges it presents. I hope you all will look for his music and check him out. I think his music is awesome and his message is a damn good one.

Vanisha joins us to talk about youth addiction, the Terminator Foundation and how things went through the Covid lock down. How the organization is recovering from the pandemic. She also now hosts her own podcast called Ordinary Courage. Listen to the podcast here and to find the registration or for more information about the Terminator Run go here .

We are happy to have Nicque join us to talk about the joy she finds and the things she does to create joy in her life. Struggling early on with substances fed her depression, self harm, and disordered eating. She talks about how she built a life that she thought was expected of her and how it all looked wonderful from the outside, but on the inside it wasn't her and it wasn't the life she really w...

Taylor sits down with us and talks about her experiences and how she feels being in recovery. Taylor faced racism and bullying in school; she quickly found out she fit in with older kids where she had access to substances and people who understood her. After a very personal and painful loss, Taylor began to increase her substance use. Despite moving across the country her addiction got worse until...

We were honoured to sit down with Renee and hear her amazing story. Renee remembers her first abusers and from there we are taken to a life of masking pain at a very young age. She was in several abusive relationships sending her deeper into addiction. Today, in recovery, Renee is enjoying life as much as possible with her children and focuses daily on choosing to do the right next thing. Thank yo...

We are joined by the amazing and talented Amy Lee Owens. She joins us to talk about her journey into recovery, as well as her musical journey. She and friend, musician Marvin Kee honour us with a few of her beautiful songs.    To find out more about Amy or to listen to more of her music head to https://www.amyleeowens.com On guitar was Marvin Kee which you can find on instagram @theflymuse

We are happy to have Tony join us to talk about how he came to recovery and how he has changed in some ways dramatically through the process. Tony's story starts with divorced parents, bullying, and the discovery of substances to numb out feelings at an early age. Tony kept things together, as best as he could, but with the loss of custody of his child he went back to a life he didn't want. With s...

This week we are joined by Derek who talks in great detail about his frame of mind regarding recovery during his early attempts. From thinking he could simply will himself into sobriety and his belief that he can do it all on his own to understanding that he needs to be honest and seek peer support. He talks about how he has been able to build up his self esteem while also pushing himself to work...

Jon takes us through a quick body scan meditation and into a meditation with the focus being acceptance.  Acceptance dissolves our resistance and allows us to get honest with ourselves about what is working and what isn't.

This week we share Vee's story. He talks about being indigenous in Canada and how important it is to stand up and get our citizens and government to listen to the people. He is deeply passionate about his life and the course he's chosen. Despite challenges within and without the indigenous community, he remains steadfast in his purpose. It is amazing seeing the incredible passion at work in his li...

Maddy Joins us and tells her journey through addiction, violence in her family and early experiences with alcohol. Enduring a great deal of bullying during her school years led her to move on to other substances and eventually dropping out of school and becoming homeless by grade 8. During homelessness, she experienced exploitation, violence, a number of attempts to get sober with no support, and...

A soothing loving-kindness meditation with a focus on breath, centering, and sending loving-kindness to people in your life for your benefit.  Redirect yourself towards sending positive, loving kindness to everyone.  A wonderful meditation when you're feeling agitated

This week I met with Kemoh Mansaray. He is the Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership Coordinator, a board member and community engagement chair of the Africa Centre, past president of the Sierra Leone Association of Alberta and founding board chair of the Clareview Multicultural Centre. He is presently a member of the Black Coalition Against Racism Black-CAR recently formed due to the out cry...

We are joined by Tara, an active volunteer for Calgary Beyond the Blue.  Beyond the Blue is a peer-led, non-profit organization with Chapters across the country.  They are dedicated to strengthening and supporting families of law enforcement officers in Canada. We strive to promote an awareness of our officer's worth as well as an understanding of the joys and struggles that are uniquely experienc...

Long time friend, Nicole joins us to talk about her life in recovery, which has not been an easy path, but the healthiest for Nicole. She found herself in meetings at 24 where she discovered the people there were talking about things she was feeling, but could not articulate. Throughout all of the challenges, she now finds purpose in her life and devotes as much time as she can to helping others....

This special episode is with Dom Yellow Sun. We talk about his connection to Black Lives Matter and his deep, ever strengthening roots with the constant struggle in Canada for Indigenous rights. If we get lost in the mire, I may forget that in some cases the indigenous rights he and others fight for are the basic rights I take for granted each day. A deep seeded fear of the government, police etc...

We are fortunate to have Chelsea sit down with us and take us through her story.  Starting with her parents divorce when she was younger, Chelsea increased her partying and consumption.  Chelsea eventually found herself in training for the RCMP helped to escalated her drinking which continued until she moved, changed employers and found her life falling apart around her.  When she first sought hel...

I am joined by a current Canadian police officer, who provides us a unique and open perspective on the current climate of policing. She speaks openly about some of the areas that have room for improvement, the impacts of the changes being suggested and her thoughts on how recent events are affecting officers.

This was such a great conversation with John about workaholism and its effect on a person's life. Growing up with a constant reminder that he was never good enough managed helping John down a path of focus into complete obsession with work. Work became where he was able to feel that he had value. It was during his second marriage and recovery from an injury that he was given a copy of the book, Ch...

Amber nervously joins us to share her story. At a young age Amber felt like an oddball and that she didn't really belong anywhere. She began stealing and trying substances when she was young. She eventually found a social group based on partying and substance use. After a geographical change, she began a relationship with her dealer, which eventually led to her going into drug court. Amber has bee...

Nika joins us to talk about the Black Lives Matter movement in Calgary, what the next steps are, and why it is so important for people to support the fight for equality of all people and the end of systemic racism. She talks about getting educated, active, donating to the cause if possible, voting for new, fresh ideas and progressive leadership, and signing petitions that can lead to change. Obvio...

Kasey begins his story with feelings of being disconnected and alone, which led him to search for who he was. This question led him down the path of substance abuse, in which he found some sense of identity. A place where he could numb the pain of life and loss. Through a growing darkness surrounded him, he found this new path in life from the depths of his illness. He has reconnected with family,...

We had a great time sitting with my good friend Anita and her journey into recovery. She started off drinking at parties in junior and senior high school, moving on to even more drinking while attending college. Anita went on to a career where alcohol was part of the culture. Where sobriety was frowned upon if not overtly discouraged. During her career she moved around throughout Canada, witnessed...