Odyssey House Journals

WHY THOUSANDS OF UTAHNS CAN’T GET HELP FOR MENTAL ILLNESS

A simple answer: there aren’t enough mental health professionals, especially in rural areas. Now, during Mental Health Awareness Month, we do a deep dive into the problem and a real solution that is now available. Our guests on this edition of Odyssey House Journals are Dr. Rene Valles who got help from this special program, and Rachel Devine who works for DHHS and explains how you can get financial help to become a professional. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms:

https://youtu.be/G0lt9G_q9cg

You can also listen and subscribe to the audio version on iTunes at

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/odyssey-house-journals/id1462333385

or Spotify at

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Basx2YsjYcRmmrSufLX3z?si=Wni9usSiQbun-W0WsjNC-g

or iHeart podcasts at

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-odyssey-house-journals-59417265/

SHE WENT FROM 130 POUNDS TO 80 IN JUST MONTHS

Mandi Durocher had a severe eating disorder and had to be hospitalized. When she got out she turned to booze, then drugs to quiet that voice in her head. 3 children later and years of fighting addiction to opioids and meth she is celebrating 7 years of sobriety and is married to the man who runs The Other Side Academy. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she vividly describes her long journey.

SHE HID UNDER A BED ALL DAY FOR MONTHS WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT

Tiffany Naccarato publicly revealed that for the first time in this podcast. This after abandoning her other children and a home with a white picket fence to be with her dealer. Her emotional story of addiction does have a happy ending. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she explains how she went from a “perfect” life to sleeping behind a bush at a 7-11 and is once again living in a home with a white picket fence. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms:

https://youtu.be/2yJ322Ptnkc

You can also listen and subscribe to the audio version on iTunes at

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/odyssey-house-journals/id1462333385

or Spotify at

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Basx2YsjYcRmmrSufLX3z?si=Wni9usSiQbun-W0WsjNC-g

or iHeart podcasts at

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-odyssey-house-journals-59417265/

SHE FIRST TRIED HEROIN IN A NOSE SPRAY CONTAINER

But Michelle Wiggins didn’t know it at the time. Her opioid addiction helped numb her memories of being molested as a little girl. She got booted out of 2 treatment centers, finally succeeded at a 3rd and is now sober, happily working at First Step. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she says, before sobriety, the guards at the Salt Lake County jail knew her by name every time she was arrested. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms:

https://youtu.be/ZH_Zv8jGiE8

You can also listen and subscribe to the audio version on iTunes at

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/odyssey-house-journals/id1462333385

or Spotify at

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Basx2YsjYcRmmrSufLX3z?si=Wni9usSiQbun-W0WsjNC-g

or iHeart podcasts at

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-odyssey-house-journals-59417265/

“I WANTED TO SCORCH THE EARTH”

That’s how Morghan Farrer went through life for years, heavily addicted to meth. “Anything to get through the day,” says Morghan who was dealing with some serious childhood trauma. It all came to a positive end after he entered the CATS program at the Salt Lake County jail. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals he talks about how the program helped him find his own path. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms:

https://youtu.be/33OSrtupQtE

You can also listen and subscribe to the audio version on iTunes at

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/odyssey-house-journals/id1462333385

or Spotify at

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Basx2YsjYcRmmrSufLX3z?si=Wni9usSiQbun-W0WsjNC-g

or iHeart podcasts at

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-odyssey-house-journals-59417265/

AT THE AGE OF 5 HE WAS TAKING CARE OF 4 SIBLINGS

Life started out bleak for Cantrell. As he grew older drugs made him feel better, but he says they were hiding the goodness he had deep down inside. What a story he has to tell about finally finding recovery. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals he proudly says “I am empowered now, I’m in control.” Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms:

https://youtu.be/u7_4VuWkWic

You can also listen and subscribe to the audio version on iTunes at

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/odyssey-house-journals/id1462333385

or Spotify at

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Basx2YsjYcRmmrSufLX3z?si=Wni9usSiQbun-W0WsjNC-g

or iHeart podcasts at

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-odyssey-house-journals-59417265/

HOW THIS HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN DEALS WITH HER SONS ADDICTION

Shantel McBride is known as the ‘cheerful chaplain’. She’s a beloved person in local hospitals helping over 500 people as they face death. “It’s a sacred space for me,” she says. She’s strong but she still breaks down when she talks about trying to understand her son’s addiction. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she talks about the role spirituality can play in recovery. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms:

https://youtu.be/G1i4RBCouys

You can also listen and subscribe to the audio version on iTunes at

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/odyssey-house-journals/id1462333385

or Spotify at

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Basx2YsjYcRmmrSufLX3z?si=Wni9usSiQbun-W0WsjNC-g

or iHeart podcasts at

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-odyssey-house-journals-59417265/

SHE HELPS TROUBLED TEENS LEARN TO LOVE THEMSELVES AND OTHERS

For 20 years Heidi Aulaumea has worked with young people who are struggling with substance use and behavior issues and she tries to create a feeling of love and family at the residential house where she is program manager. She says her Polynesian heritage taught her that kids should always be taken care of. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she becomes very emotional as she talks about why these young people need a feeling of love and compassion. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms:

https://youtu.be/O9wJy8MT09Y

You can also listen and subscribe to the audio version on iTunes at

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/odyssey-house-journals/id1462333385

or Spotify at

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Basx2YsjYcRmmrSufLX3z?si=Wni9usSiQbun-W0WsjNC-g

or iHeart podcasts at

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-odyssey-house-journals-59417265/

SHE’S AN AMAZING WOMAN NOW, BUT IT IT’S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY

Nycholle had her death by suicide all planned out, but thank goodness she failed because she has so much to give. She was a good mom with a dark secret. She couldn’t stop drinking and it got worse when her marriage was falling apart. Now she’s helping others on their path to recovery. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she tells the almost humorous story of not even realizing what Odyssey House is until 2 weeks after she checked in.

HE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HIS NAME WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED IN A DUMPSTER

John Branham was high on meth and was dumpster diving the last time he was arrested and that’s when he made the decision to turn his life around. He admits making a ton of mistakes during his addiction, even turning his parents home into a trap house. He found recovery at The Other Side Academy, a program focusing on hard work and accountability. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals he talks about how the threat of a long prison term led him to his new life.