Survivors of Addiction

Get ready to be inspired! Our guest, Jeff White shares about the darkest time in his life which led him to prison. He made the decision to work on himself, and what he learned in prison helped him hit the ground running when he was released. This episode shines light on a pathway to recovery you might not have considered. Join us as we talk with Jeff about his determination to create the life he'd always dreamt of and the steps he took to make it all happen.

Our guest, Rico Gutierrez shares what it was like growing up in a small town in Oregon as a child of migrant farm workers. As a teen, Rico dealt with racism with his fists. This led to alcoholism, incarceration, and deep anger. In his search for a place to fit in, he began serving others. Today, Rico heads up a non-profit organization called Familia Unida Bike Builders. He has a shop where he and a group of volunteers meet with at-risk youth to build bicycles and custom cars. Familia Unida provides a place for young people to fit in and mentor other kids. Listen in as we talk about how Rico is impacting the younger generation. The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org.

You guys are going to love this episode! Have you ever met someone and immediately thought, this is the coolest person EVER! Well, this girl, she's one of those. Join us as we chop it up with Lacey Spence about her childhood, addiction, time in prison and how she uses Tik Tok to work through deep pain and grief while helping others. Prepare yourself for the rollercoaster of emotions you're about to experience. You will cry, you will laugh and for sure, you will be inspired! Resources: Home Coming, Reclaiming and Healing Your Inner Child John Bradshaw www.johnbradshaw.com/ The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

You have the power to change the world. It starts inside your head with your thoughts about others. Stigma is a negative and often unfair social attitude attached to a person or group, often placing blame on them for a perceived deficiency or difference. Are your attitudes and beliefs labeling someone to the point they are no longer seen as an individual? Have your beliefs led to negative actions? These actions can cause others to feel shame, hopelessness and may stand in the way of them finding help. Your words matter! You can come against negative comments and beliefs. You can share your story and remind people of who you are. You can stop the stigma! Listen as Brandon and Kristy share how they experienced labeling and felt shame and how they now share their story to help change the negative beliefs to end stigma.

Oh boy. . . it's finally happened, Brandon speaks up about his inner child and talks about what he would say to his younger self. Kristy, who has done inner child work, shares how embracing the child within helps us heal. Brandon and Kristy discuss their past and the things from their childhood that were not their fault. In these discoveries they uncover unhealed wounds and unmet needs from childhood. We challenge you, as you listen, to think about what you now know, to have compassion for yourself, and seek out professional help to begin inner child work. You are the only one who can comfort your inner child. “The cry we hear from deep in our hearts comes from the wounded child within. Healing this inner child's pain is key to transforming anger, sadness and fear.” Thich Nhat Hanh Resources: Home Coming, Reclaiming and Healing Your Inner Child John Bradshaw https://www.johnbradshaw.com/ The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

Prepare yourself . . . you're about to hear the most amazing story. It's heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Join Kristy and Brandon as they interview Will Miskell about his childhood, gang life, and prison. If you've wondered how gang members recruit and engage people in criminality this is an eye-opener. Will's crimes sent him to prison with no release date, yet today he has freedom by way of a commutation of sentence granted by the Governor of Oregon. Because of his past, Will is who he is now. Big hearted, full of compassion and willing to do just about anything for people in need. The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

Do you feel like you're in limbo in your recovery? If you're not using or drinking, isn't that enough? Join Brandon and Kristy as they talk about the difference between recovery and abstinence. Listen as they discuss how recovery is an active change in ideas, thoughts, and actions, whereas abstinence only requires you to stay clean and not have to change. There are steps you can take to overcome fear and move from abstinence into recovery that will change your life for the better. This episode will give you something to think about. The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

What is forgiveness anyway? It's defined as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness. Forgiveness is a big part of recovery. Unforgiveness builds up animosity and robs your joy. Holding resentments messes with your head and keeps you stuck. Asking for forgiveness and forgiving others takes courage, it takes deep inner work to release the hurts we hold close. Brandon and Kristy share how they humbled themselves and asked for forgiveness and forgave family members and others in their life. In seeking forgiveness, they went out of their comfort zone, released guilt and shame, and in some cases, amends were made, and relationships were rekindled. Book Referenced: The Shack, by Paul Young The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

How do you know you're in recovery? If you don't know what recovery looks like, how will you know when you're moving away from it? There is a foundation that sustains long-term recovery, but it doesn't build itself, you have to actively pursue it. Brandon and Kristy welcome guest, John Bohem, a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with ten years' experience back to the studio to continue the discussion about how people move past relapse and find what works. Join in as they go to the “deep end of the pool” on self-love and what success looks like. The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

How do you know you're in recovery? If you don't know what recovery looks like, how will you know when you're moving away from it? There is a foundation that sustains long-term recovery, but it doesn't build itself, you have to actively pursue it. Brandon and Kristy welcome guest, John Boehm, a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with ten years' experience to share what he's learned about what works. Get your notepad ready, as they move through six active recovery components in Part 1 of this episode. This is the stuff that changes lives! The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

Have you ever thought about what you are recovering from? Whether you struggle with substance use disorder or not, this is a question worth exploring. Brandon and Kristy share some very personal insights into what they are recovering from and how when they identified those things, they were able to recognize opportunities for growth and change. Do you know what your “Super Power” is? This episode is a reminder that life transformation takes work but it's worth it. You are worth it, and you are not alone. Love wins! The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

Have you ever thought about who's watching you? Do you know why it's important to lead by example? Brandon and Kristy talk about how early in their recovery, leaders mentored them. Because of these relationships, they became leaders themselves. Listen in as they share how this has impacted their recovery and the lives of others. If you are struggling, find someone who has what you want; build a relationship with them. As you grow, pass along what you've learned and become a leader for someone else. The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

Brandon and Kristy interview the podcast producer Stephanie Mendenhall about Reclaiming Lives, a community recovery organization her family started in Medford, Oregon. Also featured on this episode is peer support mentor, Eronn Ortega who volunteers at Reclaiming Lives and has a career in the recovery field. Hear about how in a moment of deep soul searching; he realized he needed to be honest. This revelation led him to write a letter to his family, telling them everything. What happened next is remarkable! Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of BRAVERY! The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

This episode reveals what it takes to work in the recovery field as a peer mentor. Including skills to improve active listening, motivational interviewing, resources, and referrals to organizations that help build recovery capital. Brandon and Kristy interview Eronn Ortega as he shares his transformation from living in an Arizona prison cell to becoming a certified peer support mentor in Oregon. Kristy and Brandon have used their childhood experiences, their addiction struggle, and their tools for success to help others move forward in their recovery. Love wins! The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org

Meet Brandon Orr and Kristy Laschober, hosts of the Survivors of Addiction podcast. Brandon and Kristy spent most of their lives addicted to drugs and alcohol. Their stories are very different, but they ended up in the same place, prison. Join them as they talk about how they changed the trajectory of their lives when they found recovery. WARNING: Prepare to be inspired! The Survivors of Addiction podcast is a production of Reclaiming Lives and is produced by Stephanie Mendenhall and Oregon Sound Recording. The hosts and guests' views and opinions are their own and are not necessarily those of the staff or board members at Reclaiming Lives. Music produced by Reaktor productions and is titled; We are the Champs. Thanks for joining us. Please subscribe to our podcast, comment, like, and share; your support means the world to us. For more information, please visit www.reclaiming-lives.org