This time we talked with Tiffany Atkinson about the success she's had in her life and career. We were inspired by her story. Listen as the tells us about starting at the bottom and what she did to keep moving up in her career. 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. Ple ..read more

I’m sure most people would agree, relationships are one of the most challenging things we navigate in life. It turns out the key to a healthy relationship is the work you do on yourself. Join us as Brandon talks with Staci and Cameron about the challenges they’ve faced in both their relationship and their recovery. Cameron shares about changing the behaviors that led to toxic relationships and Staci speaks about leaving the past in the past and what it was like to have difficult conversations that built the foundation of trust in their relationship. I promise, after listening to this episode ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 Addi ..read more

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 sto ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 Reclaim ..read more

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 fam ..read more