From Darkness to Life Podcast: Stories of Recovery & Resilience

Friend of OCJ, Pastor Dave Maneschyn joins Ryan to welcome this week’s guest Claire Rae.

Claire is a Lifestyle Coach, Health and Wellness Coach, Entrepreneur, Author, and Recovery Advocate living in Invermere, BC.

Claire shares parts of her early experiences in life and how addiction has stolen three very close people from her. She discloses how that impacted her and the changes she made along the way due to those life altering events.

Since finding her purpose, she has been on a journey of helping others heal and better their lives in one way or another! Claire’s excitement and passion is very evident as she speaks about how crazy faith has driven her to continue helping so many.

Topics include:

🔹 the many forms of addiction

🔹 the importance of faith

🔹 addiction’s impact on the family

🔹 holistic healing for everyone impacted

🔹 purpose, connection, community

Among many others!

Check out Claire’s website:

https://clairerae.com

Instagram: @clairemrae

#recoveryispossible #recoveryworks #addictionrecovery #mentalhealthmatters

By the time our guest Tom Wolf first encountered San Francisco Police Officer Rob Gilson, his addiction was spinning out of control. He was sitting in his car in the midst of a 10-day bender in the city's drug-ridden Tenderloin district. Wolf believes that without Gilson's compassion, he would most likely be dead by now.

Tom takes us through his journey from blue collar, family man into addiction, homelessness, and incarceration. Tom shares openly about his experiences along the way and what saved his life.

Now in recovery, Tom uses his voice as a recovery advocate not only in San Fransisco but across the country.

Check out Tom’s website at

https://www.tomwolf.org.

A strong recovery advocate from New Westminster, BC joins the show today. Giuseppe is the Director of Community Development for Last Door Recovery Society and a passionate voice for recovery.

This is a powerful, informative hour with someone who has been on both sides of the addiction/recovery journey.

Very important topics explored include:

🔹 Stigma being faced in regard to Recovery

🔹 Recovery-Focused Harm Reduction

🔹 Alberta’s Recovery Orientated System of Care

🔹 BC’s Provincial Health Officer’s recent misinformed comments around Recovery

🔹 Recovery Day in New Westminster that is attended by 10s of 1000s of people

 🎧 Listen now on our website:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast

Last Door Recovery Society

https://lastdoor.org

Look for Our Collective Journey on FB and IG as well!

This week we welcome a brilliant Doctor to the show. Dr. Nathanial Day is a Medical Director with Alberta Health Services who is a driving force inside the Alberta’s Recovery Orientated System of Care (ROSC).

Dr. Day was one of the minds behind the development and implementation of Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program. If someone is ready to get medical support with their opioid addiction, waiting days for an appointment is too long.

Tune in and listen to the many other topics dicussed.

Download Digital Overdose Response System (DORS): https://www.dorsapp.ca or any App Store.

VODP: Technology Delivered Same Day Medication Starts, Opioid Treatment Transition Service, and Ongoing Opioid Dependency Care. 7 Days Per Week.

1-844-383-7688

This week Jessica sits down to share her journey through addiction and into recovery. Like so many others, Jessica started experimenting with alcohol at a young age and didn’t think anything of it. It was normalized in her circles and everyone was doing it. Eventually she found herself in over her head and dependant on substances.

Jessica openly shares about her darkest days and the moment a handful of change literally changed her life. Her willingness and desire to take the required actions to get into (and maintain recovery) is what’s led to HER success.

We are honoured to have this week guest join the show. With credentials and a resume too long to list, Dr. David Best undoubtedly brings a wealth of Recovery knowledge to our listeners.

Dr. Best shares findings from years of studies, trials, and outcome-based research in regards to the Recovery from addiction.

Other topics touched on include:

🔹 Personal, Social, and Community Recovery Capital

🔹 Efficacy of Recovery Support groups

🔹 Recovery happens in community

🔹 the importance of building Recovery Communities

Rick and Ryan continue this week’s

Recovery-Focused conversation after Dr. Best is finished.

To read more about Dr. Best, please follow the link below.

https://recoverycapitalconference.com/ink-spots-and-ice-cream-a-framework-and-method-for-building-recovery-capital/

This week Amber and Ryan welcome Rhonda Hayward to the show. Rhonda is a clinical social worker who’s been in the field for close to 30 years. Throughout the episode, Rhonda shares her therapeutic experience working in the areas of DBT, Borderline Personality Disorder, Trauma Therapy, and Substance Use Disorder.

After over 2 decades of hanging her hat with Alberta Health Services, she now has her own private practice… Crosswater Counselling.

Ryan had the privilege of working alongside and learning from Rhonda while part of the Addiction Crisis Team (ACT) / Police and Crisis Team (PACT) through the Medicine Hat Police Service.

🎧 Listen now on our website:

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast

or wherever you get your favourite podcasts!

Links:

📧 [email protected]

A lot of recovery in the room today! Rick and Ryan welcome Cal and Chris to the studio as they share some of their recovery stories. One has 42 years in recovery, the other is fairly new to the journey. Huge difference… but please tune in and listen for the similarities within the studio today.

Please Follow and Share this podcast. We may never know who really needs to hear the messages of hope. You are not alone!

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca

This week Amber and Ryan welcome Karolina Rzadkowolska to the show. Karolina is a certified alcohol-free life coach who helps intuitive women make alcohol insignificant in their lives.

She’s worked with thousands of clients through her online courses and coaching to change their drinking habit and unleash a new level of health, happiness, and potential to go after their biggest dreams.

Her book Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You (HarperCollins) came out on bookshelves on January 4th. She’s the host of Euphoric the Podcast, founder of Euphoric AF, and her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, The Sunday Post, Popsugar, Real Simple, Elite Daily and multiple TV shows. Karolina’s passionate about helping you discover what really makes you happy outside of a beverage and design a life you love. She would love to hear from you at www.euphoricaf.com.

Links:

Book and Free Gift For Listeners

Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You

www.euphoricbook.com/gift

Website:

www.euphoricaf.com

Instagram:

www.instagram.com/euphoric.af

Rick, Ryan, and Amber join Poncho to discuss their recent funding announcement along with the direction of OCJ.

Areas explored:

• Gratitude for the grant and what that opens doors to
• The Recovery Coach program
• Their partnership in the RiseUp Hot Air Balloon Festival slated for May 26-29, 2022
• A wedding?

OCJ wants to thank the GOA, Coulee Balloon, and the community for their ongoing support and belief in what OCJ does.

Please Follow and Share this podcast. We may never know who really needs to hear the messages of hope. You are not alone!