SOS: Sharing our Stories

We’re honored to welcome Devon Middleton, whose story speaks to both the weight of loss and the hope found on the other side of healing.

Devon opens up about walking through seasons marked by grief, pain, and unhealthy relationships, places many of us know all too well. Those experiences shaped him, but they didn’t have the final word. Through recovery, Devon began to find clarity, strength, and a new direction for his life. By leaning into faith and trusting a Power greater than himself, Devon discovered healing and a way forward that felt honest, grounded, and real.

His journey reminds us that even after deep loss, there is still purpose, growth, and beauty waiting to be found. 🙏❤️ This is a story of resilience, recovery, and hope, and we’re grateful to share it with you on Sharing Our Stories.

We’re honored to welcome Justin Melton, an Army veteran whose journey is a powerful testament to resilience, redemption, and the strength it takes to start again.

Justin’s story is marked by battles both seen and unseen. Serving his country, he found himself facing addiction, incarceration, and the weight of choices that pulled him further from the life he wanted.

Through hope, discipline, and the support of people who refused to give up on him, Justin has rebuilt his life from the inside out. Thank you, Justin for your honesty, and for showing others that a new life is always within reach. Your story inspires us all.

Honoring Colorado women making history!  Sharing Our Stories is celebrating Tonya Wheeler, CPFS, and a powerful leader in Colorado’s recovery movement.


   Tonya is a founding board member of Advocates for Recovery Colorado and became the organization’s first Executive Director in 2009. With over 30 years in the substance use disorder field, she has worked as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Certified Addictions Counselor, and is now a Colorado Peer & Family Specialist. She also served on the Faces & Voices of Recovery Board from 2008–2015.


   In active recovery since 1990, Tonya is a passionate advocate who shows every day that recovery is real and attainable. She’s a sought-after trainer and speaker nationwide, sharing her story to inspire hope and change.

(This Program Was Previously Aired in Jan 2024)

We’re honored to welcome Nikki Pelletier, whose story is one of survival, surrender, and transformation.

Back on November 17th, 2022, Nikki was in a car accident that should have taken her life. She was dope sick, chasing her next fix, and completely caught in the grip of addiction. But by the grace of God, she walked away with cracked ribs, a concussion, and bruises.  Injuries that could’ve been so much worse.

What followed was a turning point she never expected and here’s the powerful part.  Nikki willl tell you today that this moments led to saving her life. The accident saved her. Jail saved her. And God, once again, saved her life when she couldn’t save herself.

Nikki is now living proof that recovery is possible, that we do come back from our lowest lows, and that the people who never stop loving us play a huge role in that redemption. Her story is a message to anyone struggling that there is a way out, and yes, we do recover!!! 

This is hope.
This is Nikki’s story.

Today on Sharing Our Stories, we’re sitting with a woman whose life reads like a battle between darkness and light… and somehow, light kept finding its way in.

Rhiannon grew up in a home filled with chaos, violence, and fear. A childhood shaped by control, manipulation, and trauma. A young mom who never had an example to follow. A daughter who was taught pain instead of love. And when life pushed her deeper into the streets, addiction, jail, and survival… she believed the lies spoken over her: that she wasn’t enough… that she was too far gone. 

But God had something different to say.

In the middle of brokenness, He planted a seed. And through every relapse, every mistake, every moment she thought she was done, He kept whispering, “You are mine.” Today, Rhiannon is sober, rebuilding her life with strength, peace, and a new identity. Not who the world said she was… but who God says she is. 

This is not just a comeback story.
This is what redemption looks like.
This is healing in real time.

And this… is Rhiannon’s story."

This week on Sharing Our Stories, we sit down with Gio Chavez, a man whose life is a powerful testimony of change, perseverance, and redemption. After years of substance use and incarceration, Gio made the life-altering decision to start over, and he hasn’t looked back since. With the help of Avenues and Transitions Sober Living, Gio began rebuilding his life from the ground up. Starting out in roofing, he showed up every day with grit, discipline, and faith. Today, he’s come full circle, serving as a staff member at a treatment center, helping others find the same hope and healing that changed his life. Gio’s story is living proof that recovery is possible, and transformation happens one step, one day, and one choice at a time.

With 19 years sober, Rachel Menchaca is the example of resilience and service. As Vice President of Operations at Empower Recovery Homes, she’s dedicated to helping people find hope and healing through recovery.


    A proud 12-step member of Narcotics Anonymous and advocate for women, Rachel proves that recovery isn’t just about staying sober, it’s about empowering others to rise!

In this inspiring episode of Sharing Our Stories, Ben Cameron opens up about his powerful journey from addiction and drug dealing to finding freedom and purpose.

   After serving time in prison, Ben has emerged as a living example that transformation is possible for anyone, no matter how far they’ve fallen. Through faith, perseverance, and a desire to help others, Ben has turned his pain into purpose. His story is a reminder that our past doesn’t define us, it prepares us to bring light to others walking through their own darkness.

   Tune in as SLiM and Noh’nie Al-Jail sit down with Ben to talk about redemption, recovery, and the incredible power of second chances.

In this powerful episode of Sharing Our Stories, Paul Gonzales opens up about his journey from brokenness to breakthrough. Once caught in a life of pain and prison, Paul shares how God completely transformed his life, restoring hope. 

  Through the work of his Open Gate Prison Ministry family and a renewed faith, Paul shows that freedom isn’t just about walking out of a cell, it’s about walking into purpose. His testimony is raw, real, and filled with gratitude for the grace that changed everything.

We’re honored to welcome Daniel Okodo to the podcast. 🙌 Daniel’s story is one of transformation, perseverance, and faith in action. He’s walked through some challenging seasons, but through grace, community, and determination, he found the strength to rise above what once held him back. Today, Daniel uses his story to inspire others, to remind us that healing is possible, that purpose can come from pain, and that no matter how far you’ve fallen, you can always start again. 💙