As a child Michael James knew that life with his parents was not what it was supposed to be. Their drinking was taking its toll on his childhood and it led Michael to approach the police to take him away to a more stable environment. Instead he landed at MacLaren Hall in El Monte, California. This was just one of a series of centers which failed to provide support and eventually a plan for what he would do when he turned eighteen. This started his sad descent into homelessness, drug abuse, suicide and crime before he eventually took stock of what his life had become and reinvented himself. In this episode we’ll hear how Michael has found his calling and enjoys a happier life these days. We’re keen to share Michael’s inspiring story with you. Listen to the podcast and hear how he forged a path out of the darkness for himself.

Check out some of our Against Abuse clothing products here.

Host and producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy
Reporter and co-producer: Kris Mulliah
Editor: Cesar Del Castillo

Patricia Rodenbaugh was turned over to the L.A. foster care system at the tender age of 12. By her later teen years, she had given birth to two children and married just to escape the system. While Patricia had a rough start, she was determined to ensure a better life for her kids. In this episode, we hear about Patricia’s experience in the foster care system, including time at the notorious MacLaren Hall Children’s Center, and a troubling event that forced her into juvenile detention. Patricia shares how she gave her children a better life and went on to help other troubled youth. Although Patricia admits she still struggles with some vices, her kind and caring nature shines through, and we’re glad to be sharing this compelling story.

Check out some of our Against Abuse clothing products here. Read Patricia's blog post on our blog.

Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy
Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

This show contains some music used under a Creative Commons License.
Kai Engel - Moonlight Reprise

Reporter Drew Penner tracks down four very different but important perspectives on the evolving harm reduction movement. This episode will take you from east coast of the United States to London, Ontario, to Vancouver's downtown eastside. And we'll even wade into the thorny topic of an illegal, but promising therapy. Harm reduction isn't for the faint of heart, but the stories we bring you today are empowering tales.

Check out some of our Beyond Addiction clothing products here. Read Drew's blog post on our blog.

Producer and Host: Karla Stephens Tolstoy 

Co-producer, researcher, lead journalist, original sound design: Drew Penner

Music: soundcloud.com/frequencyhorizon (iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/frequency-horizon/id1127552995)

Song of the week: Jon Clever aka Be Clever Beats https://soundcloud.com/becleverbeats/harm-reduction

Cover image: Collage by Drew Penner of imagery from Kenneth Anderson, iamwilli.am, end_thewod, ann harkness (via Flickr).

In this episode you will hear from:

-Dr. Arnold Washton, a substance abuse consultant to professional sports teams, foreign governments, the American Food and Drug Administration, and even the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, discusses his “drink smartly” program for problem drinkers.

http://recoveryoptions.us/

-Randy Richmond, a London Free Press reporter covering that city’s efforts to bring forward a variety of harm-reduction measures to help sex workers, alcoholics and drug addicts.

www.lfpress.com/author/randy-richmond

-A woman working on the front lines of the opioid crisis in Vancouver’s downtown eastside.

-Tim, an ex-con and former substance abuser who has been taking plant-based hallucinogen ayahuasca as a way to improve his life.

While researching for our episodes on the foster care system, we came across Scott Inman and felt he deserved an episode all to himself. Scott's story begins as so many others forced into the foster system - his father passed away when Scott was only 10, leaving him and two sisters with a mother who suffered from mental illness and could not properly care for them.  Where Scott's story turns to remarkable is in how he was able to rise above the seemingly endless obstacles that faced him.  This episode investigates how Scott overcame the odds to become the happily married and successful man he is today.

Check out some of our Stop the Stigma clothing products here, or read more about Scott's journey on our blog.

Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy
Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

This show contains some music used under a Creative Commons License.
Broke For Free - Something Elated
Paper Navy - Swan Song

Reporter Drew Penner travels with Anita, the mother of a 16-year-old native girl named Delaine who went missing one year ago. We retrace her last known steps, in an effort to get a better understanding of the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada. You can read about Drew's journey investigating this episode on our blog.

Check out some of our advocacy-wear clothing products here. Be sure to leave a comment on any of our podcast platforms before March 31st and get a chance to win a tee shirt.

Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy

Researcher, Interviewer, Editor, and Co-producer: Drew Penner

Music:

Quinton Larry Roy Cameron “Don’t Play”

https://soundcloud.com/quinton-larry-roy-cameron

Michael + Emily Taylor “She Used to Be Mine”

We Are the City “Bottom of the Lake”

https://wearethecity.bandcamp.com/

www.wearethecity.ca/

Lullatone “Tiny Glaciers”

https://soundcloud.com/lullatone

Yuminale (Deane Holmes) “The Lacquered Bird”
https://yuminale.com/album/371701/prevailing-perception
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/prevailing-perception/id1111730031

psypad “You (Intro)”

https://www.facebook.com/iampsypad/

https://soundcloud.com/psypad/you-intro?in=psypad/sets/sonos

Rumourtone:

https://rumourtone.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.soundcloud.com/rumourtone

Sunshine Girl: 

http://www.kafsg.com/

https://soundcloud.com/sunshine-girl-8

Still Breathing Fire “She Rewards From Where She Stands”

https://soundcloud.com/still-breathing-fire/

https://www.facebook.com/stillbreathingfire/

https://xixistixasbf.bandcamp.com/

Frequency Horizon “Delaine’s Theme”

http://soundcloud.com/frequencyhorizon

http://frequencyhorizon.com

Ginger Slice + Frequency Horizon “Drew + Slice”

https://soundcloud.com/ginga-slice

Bernie de la Torre + Frequency Horizon “#MMIW”

https://soundcloud.com/bernieff

MD of The Boomsday Alliance “Chill”

https://soundcloud.com/intergalacticinterviews

Production:

A huge thank you goes out to the Wachiay Aboriginal Multi Media (W