Recovery Talks

In this episode of Recovery Talks, Jim Hajny sits down with long-time friend and guest Todd Tecca to discuss how they manage their mental health and stay well during tough times. They reflect on personal experiences with mental health diagnoses, share daily wellness practices, talk about the power of supportive relationships, and highlight the importance of education, routine, and community support. As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, this honest and heartfelt conversation offers valuable insights for anyone on a recovery journey.

Jim and April discuss the federal funding freeze executive order from January 2025 and its impact on grantees and contractors.

Jim and April discuss the skills necessary to be a peer supporter.

Lawrence Rhone, Project Manager with Farmer Veteran Coalition National, talks about his unique project in north eastern Montana. This project strives to help veterans access agricultural resources through resiliency training, classroom and field instruction, and connection to regional resources and funding. Farmer Veteran Coalition https://farmvetco.org/ Program Article https://farmvetco.org/2024/07/30/program-to-provide-holistic-approach-skills-to-farming/ Application Form https://qr.mtpeernetwork.org/g/2fFLMEc5uJR

Nikki and Jim provide an update on community organizing which leads to an in depth conversation about recovery language.

Jim and special guest Sami share their experiences with mental health crisis, the aftermath, what helped and how others can support.

Beth, Kayla, and Jim share their takeaways from our trip to Chicago for the Federation of Families Conference.

Lea talks to Ryan Jackson who offers Wellbriety from the 8th Judicial Veterans Court Program. Ryan has been involved in the criminal justice system and found purpose through offering a support group at Rocky Mountain Treatment Center.

Lea and Jim share their experiences as advocates and the challenges we often do not talk about. Everyone wants to be an advocate but very few are willing to work towards solutions.

Jim and Kayla talk about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in honor of ADHD Awareness month. Kayla shares her experiences with ADHD including how she copes what it looks and feels like.

Jim, Andi, and Beth share their experienced with depression diagnoses, how they affected their lives, and how they manage their symptoms.

Jim talks to Kayla and Beth about their experiences navigating the systems in Montana for children and youth with special health care needs.

Jim introduces our new podcast format. We will be increasing our podcast episodes and discussing current events to keep you informed of what is happening in the world of recovery and peer support!

MPN plays an important role in the state funded Drop in Centers. Lea and Jim discuss the history and development of DICs along with a vision of the future.

Mandy is joined by April Jackson to discuss the challenge of living with BPD, how April's symptoms manifest, and how she maintains her recovery. Trigger warning: this includes discussion of self-harm.

Mandy is joined by guests Stacey Schumer and Chas Buchanan as they dive into Stacey's journey with breast cancer. They discuss how her diagnosis and treatment impacted her recovery, their marriage, and how they have chosen to heal from both addiction and cancer, finding purpose in their journeys to help and support others.

Kayla and Jim talk about how radical acceptance can help people in recovery as well as parents of children with special health care needs.

Lea talks about a training she was invited to attend form the SAMHSA GAINS Center on the topics of trauma and involvement in the criminal justice system. Learn more at https://www.samhsa.gov/gains-center.

Jim talks with Kayla about here journey through the mental health system and how it has impacted her life as well as how she is raising her children.

Mandy talks to Jim about her experiences receiving a new mental health diagnosis that has helped her understand her struggles and her recovery.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Beth shares her experiences as a parent of a child with a behavioral health issue and becoming a family peer supporter. Check out the resources at https://www.samhsa.gov/programs/mental-health-awareness-month and https://www.ffcmh.org/acceptanceweek.

Mandy talks to the MPN Family Peer Supporters, Beth, Jana, Erin, and Kayla, about their experiences as parents of children with special health care needs and how peer support can help families navigate systems of care.

Joanna Intara, LMFT, talks about trauma and how we react to it. Trauma responses can lead to behavioral health issues and Joanna tells us her perspective on addressing trauma.

Jana and Lucy Galarus share their story of navigating the systems necessary for Lucy to thrive and how Family Peer Support could have been beneficial.

Erin, a Family Peer Supporter with Montana's Peer Network, shares her story of a Stickler Syndrome diagnosis, treatment, and raising a child with the same condition.

Sami shares her story about recovery from co-occurring disorders. Her journey has included institutionalization, medication, difficult times but she now has hope in her recovery and recently because a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist.

Mandy is joined by Stephanie Fitch and Valerie Lofgren of Montana Obstetrics Maternal Support (MOMS) program. The Montana Obstetrics & Maternal Support (MOMS) program was created to connect rural providers to obstetrical/gynecological, perinatal, mental health and substance abuse specialists to build competency and consistency across perinatal providers. Learn more at https://www.mtmoms.org/.

Jim talks with Mandy and her fiance, Alisha, about their past relationships and how they found each other in recovery.

Lea is joined by Criminal Justice Subcommittee members Roanna Gets Down Often and Jessica Colton for a discussion of what this committee is working on and how you can get involved.

Lea talks with Nikki about our recent Project in partnership with Community Coalition for Pregnant and Parenting Persons​. Nikki is a CBHPSS and works with pregnant and parenting people who have substance use issues.

Jim is joined by Zac Cannada and Erica Durham, CBHPSS and Peer Support Specialist Committee members. The committee is requesting changes to the statutes governing Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists. You can find the proposed bill at http://bit.ly/3BIDxQP. You can reach Zac at zcannada@pfcmt.org or Erica at Eerica@extradistances.com.

Jim, Lea, and Mandy talk about how the holidays can affect their recoveries and tips for maintaining your recovery during the season of parties and get-togethers.

Jim and Mandy look back at their recovery journeys and share insights that they have learned.

Les is joined by three indigenous people in recovery who share their stories about their personal recovery. These guests are members of the Warrior Down Talking Circle support group that meets on Saturday evenings.

Mandy and Lea talk about how they are affected by seasonal changes. Fall and winter can be difficult if we aren't aware of how the weather affects us.

Lea speaks with Calvin Gone about his recovery experience. Calvin has been sober for 11 years and credits his journey through a twelve step program as the pathway that worked for him.

Jim and Lea talk about how the change in seasons can affect your health and recovery. They offer ideas about things that work for them as we head into the colder months. The resource mentioned in the podcast is accessible at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder.

Lea, Mandy, and Jim talk about their experiences at the 2022 Recovery Conference held September 10, 2022 in Helena, MT.

Lea is joined by staff from the Hope Rescue Mission in Missoula. Hope Rescue Mission is a faith based organization that partners with Western Montana to serve, rescue, and transform those in need. Learn more about Hope Rescue Mission https://www.facebook.com/HopeRescueMissionMT/.

Jim and Lea talk about what is on the schedule for our Recovery Conference September 10 at the Great Northern Hotel in Helena. Learn more at mtpeernetwork.org/rc2022

MPN's new Assistant Director, Mandy Nunes, shares her recovery story and talks to Lea about the excitement of joining the MPN team.

Lea, Bill, and Nikki talk about how gratitude helps them maintain their recoveries.

Lea Talks with Frank Richards of Building Lives by Building Structure. This 501c3 Non-profit organization is focused on building up the capability to create sustainable change and end poverty on the Hoopa Valley Tribal reservation.

Jim and Lea discuss how balance helps them maintain their recovery.

Lea and Jim talk to Stella Zine about how harm reduction principles can be a pathway to recovery for many, including those who are doing or have been involved with sex work. Stella and Lea are both part of the Group Peer Support Team (https://grouppeersupport.org/gps-team/). Stella has been a support group facilitator for survivors of domestic violence, is a former board member for Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition, and is a founding member of Solutions not Punishment Coalition. Find Stella on Twitter https://twitter.com/stella_zine.

Lea shares her experience at the Summer Solstice '22 event in Pe' Sla and on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Jim and Lea are joined again by Beth and Andi to continue the discussion around family peer support. In this podcast, Andi, Beth, and Lea talk about how their own self stigma affected their experiences with their children.

Jim and Lea are joined by MPN Board member Beth Ayers and Andi, MPN staff member, to discuss family peer support. Beth, Lea, and Andi all have lived experience in raising children with behavioral health challenges and MPN is working to create family peer support to assist other parents and caregivers as they navigate the behavioral health system with their children. We are also looking for parents and caregivers who are interested in joining our Family Support Committee and our Board of Directors. Learn more about the family committee at mtpeernetwork.org/committees or email Beth at beth@mtpeernetwork.org.

Lea is joined by G Little Eagle to talk about his recovery journey that has led him to be a Recovery Coach at One Health in Hardin. G offers many activities and support groups for people in recovery throughout the Billings and Hardin areas. He is also responsible for the "Carrying the Message Sobriety Conference scheduled in Billings May 27-30. You can learn more about G and his activities on his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thecheyguy. You can also find information about the conference on Lea's page at https://www.facebook.com/unitedlegacies/posts/321057266873450 .

Lea and Jim talk about the Healing Together Conference that Lea attended in April 2022. The Conference was sponsored by Native Dads Network, The Native Wellness Institute, White Bison, and Native American Fatherhood & Families Association. You can learn more about the conference at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healing-together-conference-tickets-174019094797

In honor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day, Jo Wagner shares her story as the widow of a murdered indigenous man from the Blackfeet Reservation. Jo's husband, Shane LaPlante, was murdered in 2017. Please note: This podcasts contains descriptions of violence and may be triggering to some listeners.