From Darkness to Life Podcast: Stories of Recovery & Resilience

Part three of this special podcast series introduces the remaining team members. Todd is a Red Seal chef who has traveled the world creating culinary art until coming to Medicine Hat where he began his recovery journey. Todd is the father of five daughters who has created the life of his dreams in the last ten years in recovery and decided to join the OCJ team where he can use his life experience to support our community. Kimberly joins the team with a plethora of recovery experience. Over coming substance use disorder at the again of 16, Kimberly is an example of what is possible during a youth’s formative years. During her journey she has worked with youth in the mental heath and addiction realm, where her experience is an asset to the youth she will be supporting in our Southern Alberta Region.

If there are any questions with regards to what Our Collective Journey is, what Recovery Coaching looks like or any other concerns please reach out to Our Collective Journey at www.ourcollectivejourney.ca, 403-800-1191 or Facebook Messenger. 

This three-part special podcast series introduces an exciting collaboration between Our Collective Journey and Medicine Hat School Division.  Associate Superintendent Tracey Hensel and Director of Psychology Services Claire Petersen discuss how they came to see OCJ as a unique partner to collaborate with within Medicine Hat and surrounding area.  Tracey and Claire outline their vision of bringing Recovery Coaches into the schools, by having real life coaches available who can share their life experiences in an open, honest and vulnerable way in hopes of reaching students on their level thus allowing students, teachers and parents to see what recovery looks like through the lens of those who have recovered.  This pilot program is an exciting opportunity for an entire community to collectively come together in support the amazing students and to develop a new narrative around what is possible with recovery. 

If there are any questions with regards to what Our Collective Journey is, what Recovery Coaching looks like or any other concerns please reach out to Tracey or Claire at Medicine Hat Public School Division 403-528-6700 or Our Collective Journey at www.ourcollectivejourney.ca, 403-800-1191 or Facebook Messenger. 

This episode was recorded live on-location.

Who says recovery isn’t fun!? Sure isn’t Grant Denton! This week’s guest takes the usual FDTL conversations to another level and we are so thankful to have him in our lives.

Come along for a wild ride as Grant shares his story from the streets of Las Vegas, NV to eventual incarceration. The concrete cell is where Grant decided it was time to start really living. Fast forward to recovery in Reno, NV where Grant runs a very successful non-profit helping hundreds of people struggling with addiction and living on the streets.

Grant provides a combination of laughs, seriousness, knowledge, and inspiration that makes this episode as unique as he is!

Learn more about Karma Box at https://www.karmaboxproject.org.

🎧 Listen now on our website:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast

or wherever you get your favourite podcasts!

If you or someone you know needs support with their recovery, contact OCJ today.

#ourcollectivejourney #ocj #fromdarknesstolife #fdtl #addictionrecovery #recoverycommunity

#recoveryadvocates #recoveryispossible #recoveroutloud #rosc #community #karmabox #connection #wellness #cleanandsober #healing

In the this episode, Colin Campbell shares his parts of his walk with addiction.

Colin talks with Rick and Ryan as to what his life looked like prior to teaching his darkest days and what turned his life towards recovery through the Last Door.

First a client and now an employee at the Door, Colin discusses what he believes makes the New Westminster recovery community different than the other facilities he had stops at.

Learn more about The Last Door at https://lastdoor.org.

🎧 Listen now on our website:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast

or wherever you get your favourite podcasts!

If you or someone you know needs support with their recovery, contact OCJ today.

#ourcollectivejourney #ocj #fromdarknesstolife#fdtl #addictionrecovery #recoverycommunity

#recovreryadvocates #recoveryispossible #recoveroutloud #rosc #community #connection #wellness #cleanandsober #healing

In the second part of Dustin’s story he walks the listener through how dark his life had gotten before he hit bottom.  He highlights how even in his darkest moments he did not give up and deep down knew that there was something worth fighting for.  By the grace of a higher power Dustin was able to move to Medicine Hat, Alberta where the journey of recovery began and how at approximately 100 days sober he has completely transformed his life and found purpose in being of service to other suffering addicts and alcoholics.  A truly inspiring story.

🎧 Listen now on our website:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast

or wherever you get your favourite podcasts!

If you or someone you know needs support with their recovery, contact OCJ today.

#ourcollectivejourney #ocj #fromdarknesstolife#fdtl #addictionrecovery #recoverycommunity

#recovreryadvocates #recoveryispossible #recoveroutloud #rosc #community #connection #wellness #cleanandsober #healing

In this two part journey Dustin takes us on an unbelievable ride through his life growing up in small town Alberta where he felt like an intruder in his own body until he found relief from alcohol.  This temporary relief allowed him to push past his slight stature and shyness into the life of the party where everything and anything was acceptable.  Dustin experienced lose of loved ones that pushed him deeper in his dependence upon alcohol and eventually in to hard drugs where he rapidly feel into a cycle of violence with those he loved.  Episode one is an extremely open and honest testimonial to how a person can lose all of the values and morals they had prior to active addiction.

🎧 Listen now on our website:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast

or wherever you get your favourite podcasts!

If you or someone you know needs support with their recovery, contact OCJ today.

#ourcollectivejourney #ocj #fromdarknesstolife#fdtl #addictionrecovery #recoverycommunity

#recovreryadvocates #recoveryispossible #recoveroutloud #rosc #community #connection #wellness #cleanandsober #healing

This week Ryan chats with Dr. Victoria Burns about how she uses her lived experience to create a safe, inclusive space for students, faculty and staff in addictions recovery. One of only three currently in Canada.

Dr. Burns has founded the UCalgary Recovery Community (UCRC), a peer-driven, inclusive space supporting addiction recovery, building community, and reducing addiction stigma on campus.

Topics covered:

🔹 brief history of Collegiate Recovery Programs in North America

🔹some of her own recovery story

🔹a multiple pathways approach to recovery

🔹stigma around being in recovery

🔹recovering out loud

If you’re interested, read more about Dr. Burns and her team’s trailblazing initiative at the University of Calgary.

👉🏽 https://www.recoveryoncampusalberta.ca

👉🏽 https://www.recoveryoncampusalberta.ca/in-the-news

Visit us now at:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca

If you or someone you know needs support with their recovery, contact OCJ today.

#ourcollectivejourney #ocj #fromdarknesstolife#fdtl #addictionrecovery #recoverycampus #UofC #recoverycommunity #recovreryadvocates #recoveryispossible #recoveroutloud #rosc #community #connection #wellness #cleanandsober #healing

This week Ryan Gilfillan connects to share his hope-inspiring story of recovery.

He talks about coming from a “normal” home and what lead to his negative relationship with substances. Ryan shares how his unchecked addiction took him to places he never thought he’d end up.

Ryan then shares the moments and circumstances that changed his direction and helped him find his path to recovery. Since he started doing the work, doors have continued to open for him and he now has his own private practice and sober living home.

If you want to explore his service further, you can find it at https://www.maintainrecovery.com.

Visit us now at:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca

If you or someone you know needs support with their recovery, contact OCJ today.

#ourcollectivejourney #ocj #fromdarknesstolife#fdtl #addictionrecovery #recoverycommunity #recovreryadvocates #recoveryispossible #maintainrecovery #recoveroutloud #rosc #community #connection #wellness #cleanandsober #healing

Part two of this two part series is on deck!

If you missed episode one last week, we highly suggest taking a listen to that before continuing with this week’s episode.

Thanks for your time and the work you do in the province, Trevor!

Visit us now at:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca

If you or someone you know needs support with their recovery, contact OCJ today.

#ourcollectivejourney #ocj #fromdarknesstolife#fdtl #addictionrecovery #recoverycommunity

#recovreryadvocates #recoveryispossible #recoveroutloud #rosc #community #connection #wellness #cleanandsober #healing

Rick and Ryan welcome Trevor Pelletier from Siksika Nation to the studio for this 2 part series.

Trevor’s Blackfoot name is Siipis’tokoos and has been a member of the Horn Society for 15 years, currently taking care of two holy bundles. He is a key piece to the creation of the Iiniikokan Recovery Center. Trevor’s empathy and passion to help others are just two of his many amazing qualities.

In the two part series, Trevor takes us along his exploratory journey of his indigenous culture and recovery. Take a listen to Siipis’tokoos’s unabashed story of hope and desire to shine the light for not only his people, but anyone struggling with addiction and the complex issues that often come with it.

Visit us now at:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca

If you or someone you know needs support with their recovery, contact OCJ today.

#ourcollectivejourney #ocj #fromdarknesstolife#fdtl #addictionrecovery #recoverycommunity

#recovreryadvocates #recoveryispossible #recoveroutloud #rosc #community #connection #wellness #cleanandsober #healing