Podcast
Real Recovery Podcast
Hosted by Julie and Peter · EN
Real Recovery Podcast Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 99-1347297) that empowers, enlightens, and inspires those on their recovery journey by sharing authentic stories, practical advice, and community insights. We create a safe and engaging platform for individuals to find solace, strength, and solidarity. Our podcast demystifies the recovery process, celebrates progress, and fosters belonging among listeners. By amplifying diverse voices within the recovery community, Real Recovery aims to be a beacon of hope.
32episodes
Episodes
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RRP 115 — Jeremiah N.: I Didn't Put Recovery in My Life — I Put My Life Into Recovery
1w ago01:34:59Tap to summarizeRRP 115 — Jeremiah N. / I Didn’t Put Recovery in My Life — I Put My Life Into Recovery body { font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; background-color: #f9f6f0; color: #1a1a1a; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 2rem 1.5rem; line-height: 1.75; } h1 { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4rem; color: #0F1123; border-bottom: 4px solid #F45331; padding-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 0.25rem; } .meta { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85rem; color: #555; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; } h2 { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.05rem; color: #771719; margin-top: 2rem; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.04em; } p { margin-bottom: 1rem; } ul { padding-left: 1.25rem; } li { margin-bottom: 0.85rem; } .timecode { display: inline-block; background-color: #0F1123; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.72rem; font-weight: bold; padding: 0.15rem 0.5rem; border-radius: 3px; margin-right: 0.4rem; vertical-align: middle; letter-spacing: 0.03em; } blockquote { border-left: 5px solid #F45331; margin: 1.5rem 0; padding: 1rem 1.25rem; background-color: #fff8f0; font-style: italic; color: #333; font-size: 1.05rem; } blockquote .attribution { display: block; margin-top: 0.5rem; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85rem; color: #771719; font-weight: bold; } .cta-row { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 0.75rem; margin: 1.5rem 0; } .cta-btn { display: inline-block; padding: 0.55rem 1.25rem; border-radius: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; color: #ffffff; } .cta-listen { background-color: #F45331; } .cta-blog { background-color: #3C82C1; } .cta-news { background-color: #771719; } .websites a { color: #3C82C1; text-decoration: none; } .websites a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .hashtags { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.82rem; color: #3C82C1; margin-top: 0.5rem; line-height: 1.9; } footer { margin-top: 3rem; padding-top: 1rem; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.78rem; color: #888; text-align: center; }RRP 115 — Jeremiah N. / I Didn’t Put Recovery in My Life — I Put My Life Into Recovery Presenters: Julie P. Lewis and Peter B. Dowell | Episode Length: 1 hour 35 minutes | Release Date: May 22, 2026SummaryJeremiah N. spent years convinced addiction wasn’t shaping him — until his mom died and he lost everything with her: his job, his shop, his house. Nearly a decade of heroin, fentanyl, meth, a tent in Seaside, and county jail followed. A frog necklace at a methadone clinic — tied to his late mother’s FROG acronym, Fully Rely On God — changed his direction. He said “send me to treatment” in a courtroom, got into outpatient at Another Chance, and built a recovery life so full he eventually had to step back to protect his mental health. More than two years later, he’s an Oxford House chapter officer and still moving forward.Key Points 00:07:00 Jeremiah’s childhood: his mom’s approach was “do it at home, so I know you’re safe” — but addiction didn’t take hold until adulthood. It ran in the family: his mom had done time for drugs; his biological father was absent. 00:10:00 His mom’s death was the turning point. She was his best friend. When she passed from cancer, he lost his job, his custom truck shop, his tow truck, and every vehicle he owned — and let himself fall fully into addiction. 00:13:00 Five-year downward spiral: heroin to fentanyl to meth; tent at a Seaside homeless camp alternating with county jail. Every cop in the county knew him by face and name. 00:16:00 Overdosed at a friend’s house. They almost couldn’t bring him back — and told him he had to leave. 00:21:00 Walked into the Seaside methadone clinic and found a frog necklace on the counter. Nobody knew where it came from — and his mom loved frogs. Her acronym: FROG, Fully Rely On God. He kept it. He knew he was in the right place. 00:24:00 January 19, 2024: walking back to his tent, he prayed for a way out. He was arrested that night for something he didn’t do. The case was dropped in court, but his probation officer hit him with six revokes. Jeremiah said: “Send me to treatment.” 00:38:00 Connected with Sober Housing of Oregon; moved into sober housing; started outpatient at Another Chance. First meeting: Rule 62 on a Saturday night — Don’t take yourself so seriously. 00:43:00 Found sponsor Kerry Poorman at Plinky’s and the Men’s SIS meeting. Sponsor’s strategy: agree to one suggestion — “Don’t say no to any unreasonable request.” Jeremiah didn’t realize he’d just agreed to everything at once. 00:53:00 PTSD since age 14 from childhood abuse by his father — it drove deep social anxiety. He pushed through it by volunteering H&I meetings at City Team nearly every week for almost two years. 00:57:00 Started his own meeting at 4D Recovery in Clackamas — Unwasted on the Weekends — and ran it for about six months before passing it to a sponsee. 01:02:00 Seven months sober: after consulting his sponsor, counselor, and house manager, Rob Blackhouse asked Jeremiah to manage two sober houses. He said yes without hesitation. 01:28:00 Words of wisdom: no matter what, just keep going forward. Take suggestions one at a time. Sobriety date: January 20, 2024. Currently a chapter officer for Oxford House.Guest Quote “I didn’t just put recovery in my life, I put my life into recovery.” — Jeremiah N.Listen & Connect ▶ Listen Now 📖 Read the Blog ✉ NewsletterWebsites Discussed Another Chance 4D Recovery City Team Sober Housing of Oregon Alano Club of Portland Oxford House Real Recovery Podcast Hashtags & Mentions #RealRecoveryPodcast #Recovery #AddictionRecovery #OregonRecovery #KeepMovingForward #SoberLiving #ServiceWork #AA @realrecoverypodcast @4drecovery @anotherchancerehab @oxfordhouse Real Recovery Podcast Inc. — 501(c)(3) Nonprofit — EIN: 99-1347297 — www.realrecoverypodcast.com
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RRP 114 — Deena Feldes: Trudging the Road with Purpose — From Prison to 30 Locations of Hope
2w ago01:44:09Tap to summarizeReal Recovery Podcast — Episode 114RRP 114 — Deena Feldes: Trudging the Road with Purpose — From Prison to 30 Locations of HopePresenters: Julie P. Lewis and Peter B. DowellEpisode Length: Approximately 1 hour 42 minutesRelease Date: May 8, 2026 Deena Feldes grew up in a Pasco, Washington trailer park with easy access to substances and no one watching the door. Today she is Executive Director of , a Portland-area recovery housing nonprofit with 30 locations, 80% fully funded stays, and a 39-unit building under construction in Hillsboro. What happened in between is one of the most honest accounts of addiction, survival, and purpose we’ve heard on this show. Key Points00:06:00Deena grew up in a single-parent alcoholic household in Pasco, Washington — stealing marijuana from her older sister and wine from the corner convenience store by elementary school.00:14:00Pregnant at 15, she gave birth two weeks before her 16th birthday, got her first welfare apartment at 16, and began blacking out regularly.00:18:00A move to Ogden, Utah introduced her to crack cocaine. She later lived with her son in a 10-by-12 room in Oakland with no kitchen and a shared bathroom.00:22:00Back in the Tri-Cities, Deena was arrested with nine ounces of cocaine. Her daughter was born at 4 pounds 12 ounces with pneumonia. Deena went to prison, planted trees for 36 cents an hour, and saw her daughter take her first steps during a visit.00:30:00Released and attending meetings, she accepted one beer from coworkers — the start of what she calls 10 more years of misery. She moved to Portland in 1996, the year of the floods.00:37:00After losing four children to DHS, Deena stood on an overpass near the Lloyd Center and wanted to jump. A stranger on a TriMet bus challenged her: “When am I gonna see you in a meeting?” She found the West Side Service Center in Beaverton.00:44:00A nine-and-a-half-year DHS custody battle followed — seven lawyers, CASA, and DHS — all while she stayed sober. A foster parent joined the case and fought her for two of her boys for years after she won at trial.00:51:00Outside In removed 11 of her tattoos — including a teardrop from her face — through their gang-affiliated tattoo removal program.01:07:00At a Jan Pro job interview, the hiring manager turned out to be a friend of Bill’s. He hired Deena despite her record. She worked there 11 years and rose to operations director.01:21:00In 2018 she was called in to save a failing recovery housing nonprofit called Fairhaven. On Christmas Day 2019, one of the houses burned down. The board dissolved. She was handed a checkbook in the negative and voted in as executive director.01:22:00At the same time, her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, became addicted to meth laced with fentanyl, and dropped to 86 pounds in the ICU at Providence. Deena obtained medical guardianship and authorized a forced feeding tube to keep him alive.01:23:00Today Transcending Hope operates 30 locations with 80% fully funded stays, serves people with SUD and co-occurring conditions, and has over 50 employees. A 39-unit building is under construction in Hillsboro.01:39:00Deena’s closing words: “I’ve been to hell many times. If I wanna go back, I know how to get there. And if I wanna stay out, I know how to do that, too.” “I’ve been to hell many times. If I wanna go back, I know how to get there. And if I wanna stay out, I know how to do that, too.” — Deena FeldesWebsites DiscussedTranscending HopeOutside InReal Recovery Podcast #RealRecoveryPodcast #RecoveryIsPossible #TranscendingHope #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryHousing #SubstanceUseDisorder #RecoveryCommunity #DontStopBeforeTheMiracle, @TranscendingHope Real Recovery Podcast Inc. — 501(c)(3) Nonprofit — EIN: 99-1347297 —
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RRP 113 — Kathryn L. / Is It Odd or Is It God?: Recovery, Spirituality, and the Long Road to Portland
3w ago02:03:11Tap to summarizeRRP 113 — Kathryn L. / Is It Odd or Is It God?: Recovery, Spirituality, and the Long Road to PortlandRRP 113 — Kathryn L. / Is It Odd or Is It God?: Recovery, Spirituality, and the Long Road to Portland Presenters: Julie P. Lewis and Peter B. Dowell | Episode Length: Approximately 1 hour 47 minutes | Release Date: May 8, 2026Kathryn L. grew up south of Boston in a home where alcohol was always present — a stocked liquor cabinet, homemade sambuca, and big parties that normalized drinking from an early age. By the time she hit her corporate career, she was a blackout drinker trying and failing to control something that was already controlling her. The death of her mother at 25, a tumultuous marriage, and a string of relationships driven more by loneliness than love — none of it stopped the drinking. What finally did was waking up on the bathroom floor on July 29, 2011, physically sick, emotionally sick, and spiritually sick.What followed was a decade-long journey through AA in Boston — the AWOL women’s group, a home group of 200 people in Braintree, and a sponsor named Rita whose son had just died from the disease. Then a career pivot from six-figure sales work to cutting fruit at a deli. Then, in March 2022, an 11-day cross-country drive from Boston to Portland. Halfway across the country, she realized she had everything.Now coming up on 15 years sober, Kathryn lives by one question: is it odd, or is it God?Key Points “I never want to forget what it was like waking up on the bathroom floor, physically sick, emotionally sick, and spiritually sick.” — Kathryn L. Websites Discussed Sweet and Salty PDX Cookies 4D Recovery Real Recovery Podcast #RealRecovery #RecoveryPodcast #SoberLife #AARecovery #TwelveSteps #RecoveryIsPossible #Sobriety #IsItOddOrIsItGod #Portland #RecoveryCommunity @realrecoverypodcast Real Recovery Podcast Inc. — A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization — EIN: 99-1347297
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RRP 112 — Paul O. / One Burgundy Sock at a Time: Recovery, Service, and the Art of Staying
4w ago01:32:50Tap to summarizeRRP 112 — Paul O. / One Burgundy Sock at a Time: Recovery, Service, and the Art of StayingPresented by Julie P. Lewis & Peter B. Dowell • Release Date: May 1, 2026 • Runtime: 1 hr 33 minPaul O. showed up at his first AA meeting on October 7, 1991—a lesbian stag meeting in Reno where they welcomed him only as “Pauline.” More than three decades later, he carries a story you won’t forget: how a gentle inner voice once talked him into getting sober one burgundy sock at a time. Paul traces his journey through multiple addictions, a relapse after 13 years, a completed First Step, and the daily practice of mending his net—meeting by meeting, sock by sock.Key Points00:04:00Paul’s sobriety date—October 7, 1991, Reno, NV—and his full picture of addiction: alcohol, compulsive sex, overeating, and casino gambling00:05:00Standing near a bridge with no money and no hope—and the one thought of his mother that pulled him back00:06:30His first meeting: welcomed as “Pauline,” and the Brooklyn woman named Kathy who hugged him and said “you keep coming back”00:13:30The Burgundy Sock Story—how one voice negotiated him from “all the clothes” down to just one sock, and the lesson he’s carried for 35 years00:17:30Walking near Mount Tabor with suicidal ideation—asking God for 15 seconds of quiet, then 30 minutes, then four days, then gone00:38:00Becoming “Coffee Pot Guy”—how service gave him his identity in the rooms and why he calls it magic01:11:00New Zealand: 13 years sober, a checklist, and the relapse that finally completed his First Step01:22:00The fisherman’s net—Paul’s metaphor for daily meeting attendance and what happens when you stop mending01:28:00How Paul learned to love the people who annoyed him most—and the strategy his mother gave him that still works01:37:00Noticing resistance, finding a shred of willingness, and the pause between impulse and action “Sometimes when a task feels so overwhelming that you just gotta keep breaking it down to whatever you actually can do.” — Paul O.Websites DiscussedAlcoholics Anonymous — The Big Book — https://www.aa.org/the-big-bookTwelve Steps and Twelve Traditions — https://www.aa.org/twelve-steps-twelve-traditionsLiving Sober — https://www.aa.org/living-sober-bookDrop the Rock / Drop the Rock — The Ripple Effect — https://www.hazelden.org/store/item/488137Daily Reflections — https://www.aa.org/daily-reflectionsJust for Today (pamphlet) — https://onlineliterature.aa.orgLunch Bunch / Extended Family AA Online — https://sites.google.com/view/lbefaaReal Recovery Podcast — https://www.realrecoverypodcast.com #RealRecoveryPodcast #Recovery #Sobriety #AA #AlcoholicsAnonymous #RecoveryIsPossible #OneDayAtATime #SoberLife #MentalHealth #Podcast Real Recovery Podcast Inc. • 501(c)(3) Nonprofit • EIN: 99-1347297 •
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RRP 111 — Tiffany D.; Rejection Is Redirection: One Year Sober and Just Getting Started
Apr 2401:11:13Tap to summarizeRRP 111 — Tiffany D. | Real Recovery Podcast :root { --navy:#0F1123; --red:#F45331; --blue:#3C82C1; --cream:#F2EAD5; --burg:#771719; --white:#ffffff; --muted:#555566; } * { box-sizing:border-box; margin:0; padding:0; } body { font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:15px; line-height:1.7; color:#1a1a2e; background:var(--white); max-width:780px; margin:0 auto; padding:32px 24px 48px; } .ep-header { border-top:6px solid var(--red); padding-top:20px; margin-bottom:6px; } .ep-header h1 { font-size:24px; font-weight:700; color:var(--navy); } .ep-subtitle { font-size:15px; font-style:italic; color:var(--blue); margin-top:5px; margin-bottom:18px; } .meta-table { width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-bottom:20px; font-size:14px; } .meta-table td { padding:5px 10px; border-bottom:1px solid #e0e0ec; } .meta-table td:first-child { font-weight:700; color:var(--navy); width:155px; } h2 { font-size:16px; font-weight:700; color:var(--navy); margin:24px 0 10px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid var(--red); } .summary { font-size:14px; margin-bottom:4px; } .key-points { list-style:none; padding:0; } .key-points li { display:flex; gap:12px; margin-bottom:11px; align-items:flex-start; } .timecode { display:inline-block; background:var(--navy); color:var(--white); font-size:11px; font-weight:700; padding:2px 8px; border-radius:20px; white-space:nowrap; flex-shrink:0; margin-top:3px; } .kp-text { font-size:13.5px; line-height:1.6; } .guest-quote { border-left:5px solid var(--red); background:var(--cream); padding:14px 18px; margin:6px 0 18px; font-style:italic; font-size:14px; line-height:1.65; color:var(--navy); } .guest-quote .attribution { font-style:normal; font-weight:700; color:var(--burg); margin-top:6px; display:block; } .websites { list-style:none; padding:0; } .websites li { margin-bottom:7px; font-size:14px; } a { color:var(--blue); text-decoration:none; } a:hover { text-decoration:underline; } .cta-row { display:flex; flex-wrap:wrap; gap:10px; margin:14px 0 20px; } .cta-btn { display:inline-block; padding:9px 20px; border-radius:4px; font-weight:700; font-size:13px; text-decoration:none; } .cta-listen { background:var(--red); color:var(--white); } .cta-blog { background:var(--navy); color:var(--white); } .cta-news { background:var(--blue); color:var(--white); } .hashtags { font-size:12.5px; color:var(--muted); line-height:1.9; } .footer { margin-top:36px; padding-top:14px; border-top:3px solid var(--navy); text-align:center; font-size:12px; color:var(--muted); } RRP 111 — Tiffany D. Rejection Is Redirection: One Year Sober and Just Getting Started PresentersJulie P. Lewis & Peter B. Dowell Release DateApril 24, 2026 Episode Length1 hour 11 minutesEpisode SummaryJulie and Peter welcome Tiffany D., one year sober, whose story moves from hidden wine bottles and blackout DUIs to a spiritual awakening in a jail cell and a job in recovery services. After 46 days awaiting sentencing, a judge released her to treatment at NARA in Portland. Today she has her kids, her own home, and a clear-eyed philosophy: rejection is redirection, and investing in yourself is the only way forward.Key Points 00:02Julie introduces Tiffany, met through the nighttime Extended Family AA group, and celebrates her one-year sobriety milestone. 00:07Drinking started as partying and became a vice over years, with the last five going full throttle — hiding bottles, skipping her kids’ activities, drinking from the moment she woke. 00:14Root causes: depression, a divorce at 25, and taking guardianship of her younger brother (seventh grade) and sister (a freshman) from her father’s side while he was in prison — all while being a single mom. Capable outwardly; deteriorating inside. 00:26Multiple DUIs, reckless driving, driving while suspended. Her most serious DUI was on a highway in Klamath County driving back from Arizona. She does not remember passing Las Vegas. 00:31Sat in jail 46 days before sentencing, facing two simultaneous convictions with a detainer from Klamath Falls. Attended church services, requested pastor visits, and began learning about surrender and faith. That cell became her foundation. 00:35Sentenced to six months; judge released her to treatment at NARA in Portland — something she had never considered. She had never known anyone who went to rehab. Waited 48 more days for a bed and for the Klamath detainer to clear. 00:41Picked up from jail by a peer mentor she now works alongside, and driven from the Oregon coast to NARA in Portland. Her coworker recently told her she was already “ready to conquer recovery” on that drive, fresh out of jail. 00:56Tiffany is sober for herself — not her kids or anyone else. When she is alone, she has to stay accountable to herself. Recovery is her first job. 01:02Chaired her one-year anniversary meeting on “trusting the process.” After treatment: no home, no job, kids not yet with her. Within about a month: housing secured, kids reunited right after, hired two weeks later at the same outpatient program where she received treatment. 01:06“Rejection is redirection” — shared in the Extended Family meeting — defines this episode. A rejection at a front-office desk job Tiffany believes was tied to disclosing her recovery redirected her into working in recovery services. 01:10Closing wisdom: take your time healing. Invest in yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually. Feed your soul and your mind. You are not defined by where you’ve been.Guest Quote “People can’t say anything about me that I don’t already know, already heard — because I know my story and I am not ashamed of it. I own up to it. I take accountability because of the fact that that’s not me anymore.” — Tiffany D.Websites Discussed NARA — Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest Wellbriety Meetings Real Recovery PodcastListen & Connect Listen to Episode 111 Read the Blog Post Subscribe to NewsletterHashtags & Mentions#RealRecoveryPodcast #Recovery #SobrietyJourney #OneYearSober #AddictionRecovery #RejectionIsRedirection #TrustTheProcess #RecoveryIsPossible #SoberLife #MentalHealthMatters #NARA #Wellbriety #RecoveryPodcast #HopeInRecovery #JustForToday@RealRecoveryPodcast Real Recovery Podcast Inc. — 501(c)(3) Nonprofit — EIN: 99-1347297 www.realrecoverypodcast.com
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RRP 110 — Host Check-In: 108 Miracles and Counting
Apr 1700:51:23Tap to summarizeRRP 110 — Host Check-In | 108 Miracles and Counting *, *::before, *::after { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7; color: #222; background: #f5f7fa; padding: 24px 16px; } .wrapper { max-width: 780px; margin: 0 auto; background: #fff; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08); } .header-band { background: #1F3864; color: #fff; padding: 28px 32px 20px; } .episode-label { font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: .12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #9bb8e0; margin-bottom: 6px; } .header-band h1 { font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; color: #fff; margin-bottom: 4px; } .subtitle { font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; color: #60C0EA; margin-bottom: 14px; } .meta-row { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 8px 20px; font-size: 12px; color: #c8d8ee; } .meta-row span strong { color: #fff; } .content { padding: 26px 32px; } h2 { font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; color: #1F3864; border-bottom: 2px solid #2E75B6; padding-bottom: 4px; margin: 22px 0 10px; } p { margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 14px; } a { color: #2E75B6; text-decoration: none; } a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .tc { display: inline-block; background: #1F3864; color: #fff; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 700; padding: 1px 7px; border-radius: 10px; margin-right: 6px; white-space: nowrap; vertical-align: middle; } .key-points { list-style: none; padding: 0; } .key-points li { padding: 7px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #eef0f3; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; } .key-points li:last-child { border-bottom: none; } blockquote { border-left: 5px solid #2E75B6; margin: 16px 0; padding: 12px 18px; background: #f0f5fb; border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0; font-style: italic; font-size: 14px; color: #333; line-height: 1.75; } blockquote cite { display: block; margin-top: 8px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; color: #1F3864; font-size: 13px; } .site-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; } .site-list li { padding: 4px 0; font-size: 13px; } .site-list li::before { content: "2 "; color: #2E75B6; font-weight: bold; } .cta-row { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px; margin: 16px 0; } .btn { display: inline-block; padding: 9px 18px; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; color: #fff; } .btn-primary { background: #2E75B6; } .btn-secondary { background: #1F3864; } .btn-tertiary { background: #F45331; } .btn:hover { opacity: .88; } .hashtags { font-size: 12px; color: #2E75B6; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 6px; } hr { border: none; border-top: 1px solid #e3e8f0; margin: 18px 0; } .footer { background: #1F3864; color: #9bb8e0; text-align: center; font-size: 11px; padding: 16px; line-height: 1.8; } .footer a { color: #60C0EA; } Real Recovery Podcast — Episode 110 RRP 110 — Host Check-In 108 Miracles and Counting Hosts: Julie P. Lewis & Peter B. Dowell Released: April 17, 2026 Runtime: Approx. 55 min. Episode Summary Co-hosts Julie and Peter step away from the guest format to mark two years of the Real Recovery Podcast. Peter reflects on his cancer diagnosis, 80-pound weight loss, and clear scans. Julie shares her parallel journey through job loss and a new beginning. Together they celebrate 104 episodes without missing a Friday, global listener reach, and the guests — 108 of them — who have shaped the show. They cast a vision for year three: round tables, community events, new guests, and a Fred Meyer-funded grant that could change everything. Key Points 00:02:00 Julie and Peter open from Studio H — no guest tonight, just the hosts (and Boots the cat). 00:05:00 Two full years: 104 episodes, every Friday, without missing one. 00:06:00 Peter’s cancer journey: sublingual carcinoma diagnosed March 2025, 80 lbs. lost during treatment, latest scans clear. 00:09:00 Post-diagnosis planning mode — wills, finances, zero camping trips (vs. 12 the year before). 00:11:00 Up to five recordings a week to bank episodes before treatment. Julie draws a parallel to guest Doyle Smith (EP 56), who fought a nearly identical cancer. 00:12:00 Julie’s parallel hardship: laid off, severance gone, interviewing as Peter started treatment. 00:13:00 Julie prayed for a sign — GTD – Go the Distance sponsor Izzy Alvarado walked into her building that same day. 00:16:00 Despite everything, the podcast flourished. A listener told Julie the show saved their life. 00:19:00 Global reach: #32 in Australia, listeners in Portugal and Italy. Childhood friend Felicia binged 70+ episodes. 00:21:00 Julie: “I’ve had 108 miracles in my life.” The show features only real, known stories — no pay-to-play. 00:26:00 Both hosts work full-time jobs. GTD became the podcast’s first-ever sponsor. 00:30:00 On overcoming shame: Julie hid her addiction; Peter once thought recovery was for “bums under the Burnside Bridge.” 00:32:00 Julie credits two male guests for helping her heal from trauma she held until age 55. Former guest Ebony is now on a full scholarship to Portland State University. 00:41:00 Year three preview: peer services round table, cancer recovery episode with Doyle Smith, new guests including Mordecai from True Colors Recovery. 00:43:00 Julie’s sponsor told her she’s his favorite person — the first time in her life she’d heard it unconditionally. 00:47:00 The mission: be “one voice for all recovery” — amplifying every resource, every organization, every path. 00:49:00 Oregon Humanities Grant (Fred Meyer-funded) submitted; decision expected June. Third year at Oregon Recovers Walk and GTD 5K coming in September. 00:51:00 Gratitude to guests, home groups, Lunch Bunch / Extended Family AA, and number one fan Leanne. Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Featured Quote “I don’t know how many people can say they know a miracle or have had a miracle in their life. I know 108 of them. I’ve had 108 miracles in my life. These people probably shouldn’t have made it, didn’t know they could have — and they did.” — Julie P. Lewis Websites Discussed GTD – Go the Distance Skyler Ray 4D Recovery True Colors Recovery Another Chance Recovery Oregon Recovers Painted Horse Recovery Lunch Bunch / Extended Family AA Online Portland State University Real Recovery Podcast Listen & Connect ▶ Listen to Episode 110 📝 Read the Blog Post 💌 Subscribe to Newsletter Hashtags & Mentions #RealRecoveryPodcast #Recovery #Sobriety #RecoveryPodcast #AddictionRecovery #SoberLife #RecoveryCommunity #MentalHealth #Hope #Podcast #PeerSupport #WeDoRecover #Orego...
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RRP 109 — Brian R.; Sober Enough to Say Yes: Recovery, Native Roots, and Finding Purpose Through Music
Apr 1001:35:16Tap to summarizeRRP 109 — Brian R. | Real Recovery Podcast /* ── Reset & Base ── */ *, *::before, *::after { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { font-family: 'Georgia', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7; color: #1a1a2e; background: #f7f5f0; } /* ── Layout ── */ .wrapper { max-width: 760px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 40px 24px 60px; } /* ── Header ── */ .ep-header { background: #0F1123; color: #F2EAD5; border-radius: 10px; padding: 36px 32px 28px; margin-bottom: 36px; } .ep-label { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #60C0EA; margin-bottom: 10px; } .ep-title { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 26px; font-weight: 800; color: #F2EAD5; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 6px; } .ep-subtitle { font-family: 'Georgia', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; color: #60C0EA; margin-bottom: 20px; line-height: 1.4; } .ep-meta { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px; margin-top: 18px; } .meta-tag { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background: rgba(255,255,255,0.1); color: #F2EAD5; padding: 4px 12px; border-radius: 20px; border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.15); } /* ── CTA Buttons ── */ .cta-row { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 12px; margin: 28px 0; } .btn { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.5px; text-decoration: none; padding: 11px 22px; border-radius: 6px; display: inline-block; transition: opacity 0.15s; } .btn:hover { opacity: 0.85; } .btn-primary { background: #F45331; color: #fff; } .btn-secondary { background: #3C82C1; color: #fff; } .btn-tertiary { background: #0F1123; color: #F2EAD5; } /* ── Section Headers ── */ .section-header { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #3C82C1; margin: 36px 0 14px; padding-bottom: 8px; border-bottom: 2px solid #3C82C1; } /* ── Summary ── */ .summary { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; color: #2a2a3e; } /* ── Key Points ── */ .key-points { list-style: none; } .key-points li { display: flex; align-items: flex-start; gap: 14px; padding: 12px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e4dc; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.6; color: #2a2a3e; } .key-points li:last-child { border-bottom: none; } .timecode { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; background: #0F1123; color: #fff; padding: 3px 9px; border-radius: 4px; white-space: nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; margin-top: 3px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; } /* ── Guest Quote ── */ .guest-quote { border-left: 5px solid #F45331; background: #fff; padding: 20px 24px; margin: 10px 0; border-radius: 0 8px 8px 0; } .guest-quote p { font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.7; color: #1a1a2e; } .guest-quote .attribution { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; color: #F45331; margin-top: 10px; font-style: normal; } /* ── Websites ── */ .site-list { list-style: none; } .site-list li { padding: 10px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e4dc; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; } .site-list li:last-child { border-bottom: none; } .site-list a { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; color: #3C82C1; text-decoration: none; } .site-list a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .site-desc { color: #555; font-size: 14px; } /* ── Hashtags ── */ .hashtags { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: #3C82C1; line-height: 2; } /* ── Footer ── */ .footer { margin-top: 48px; padding-top: 24px; border-top: 2px solid #0F1123; text-align: center; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #888; line-height: 1.8; } .footer a { color: #3C82C1; text-decoration: none; } .footer a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } /* ── Responsive ── */ @media (max-width: 520px) { .ep-title { font-size: 20px; } .cta-row { flex-direction: column; } .btn { text-align: center; } } Real Recovery Podcast — Episode 109 RRP 109 — Brian R. Sober Enough to Say Yes: Recovery, Native Roots, and Finding Purpose Through Music 👤 Peter & Julie ⏰ 1:36:43 📅 April 10, 2026 ▶ Listen Now 📖 Read the Blog ✉ Newsletter Episode Summary Brian R. is a Klamath tribal member, artist, and community radio DJ based in Portland, Oregon. In this episode, Brian shares a journey that spans decades of drinking — beginning in his teens, accelerating through his twenties and thirties, and quietly hollowing out his life through COVID-era isolation — until a second DUI, a court-ordered IOP program, and an AA community finally gave him the tools and accountability to build something new. That something new turned out to be Shady Pines Radio, where every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Brian hosts a show dedicated entirely to Native American artists and composers — voices he says are systematically overlooked by mainstream culture. Brian’s story is one of identity, generational patterns, the unexpected power of service work, and what becomes possible when sobriety makes room for a life you couldn’t say yes to before. Key Points 00:09:19 Court-ordered into AA — and the moment Brian realized it was working 00:13:03 Brian’s second DUI: the California stop in Beaverton at midnight, and the 14-years-364-days detail that still stings 00:16:34 First drink, first blackout, first note left for mom and dad — the origin story of a drinking career 00:24:11 Brian identifies as a Klamath tribal member — his biological parents were both alcoholics, and he reflects on generational patterns in his Native community 00:31:00 Teaching English in Korea at 23 — drinking soju laced with formaldehyde, losing dangerous amounts of weight, and boarding a plane home 00:52:34 The geographic cure: Seattle, Vermont, Atlanta, rural Georgia — and the moment he realized the same person got off every plane 01:09:45 COVID isolation, a bottle and a half of wine a night, and the second DUI that finally triggered IOP 01:18:07 The intake urine test: Brian told his IOP counselor he “barely drank.” His result came back at 33,000 parts — normal is up to 200 01:21:30 Sitting in a plastic chair at 52, telling his intake counselor he was actually looking forward to IOP this time — and meaning it for the first time 01:23:54 Losing his AA service commitment — and the relapse that followed almost immediately after 01:29:52 Brian’s founding of the Northwest Two-Spirit Society — raising visibility for Native American culture and identity 01:32:42 From AA to an open mic to Shady Pines Radio — how sobriety made room for Brian to say yes to the show he was born to host Guest Quote “My sobriety has prepared me to say yes to things that before I would’ve had to say no.” — Brian R. ▶ Listen to Episode 109 📖 Read the Blog Post Websites Discussed Shady Pines Radio — Community radio station; Brian hosts Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. featuring Native American artists ...
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RRP 108 — Jerry B. Flammable: What It Really Means to Be Sober Without Being in Recovery
Apr 301:42:10Tap to summarizeEpisode 108RRP 108 — Jerry B.Flammable: What It Really Means to Be Sober Without Being in RecoveryPresenters: Peter and JulieRelease Date: April 3, 2026Episode: 108Runtime: 1:42:32Episode SummaryJerry B. grew up in a family shaped by recovery — his dad has 53 years in AA, his mom found sobriety when Jerry was young — yet still spent years addicted to crystal meth and alcohol. He earned a law degree at Lewis & Clark, lost a 17-year caregiving job to a drug test, completed two rounds of outpatient treatment, and then stayed completely sober for nearly a decade without ever being in recovery. He has a word for that: flammable. This episode covers isolation, atheism in AA, the difference between being dry and being free, and the night his mom died — the moment he had always been certain would make him drink.Key Points00:08:02Jerry’s dad has 53 years of sobriety; his mom got sober when Jerry was around 8 or 9.00:09:39After mom returned from rehab, the unpredictability of his childhood nights disappeared — and so did his insomnia.00:13:31Mom relapsed in high school, became addicted to cocaine, and disappeared for days. Jerry made excuses and couldn’t face it.00:14:43During the relapse, his mom said “I hate you.” He never believed it — she’d spent his whole life showing him otherwise.00:35:30First tried crystal meth during Christmas break of his first year at Lewis & Clark Law School. Immediately felt “things were right all of a sudden.”00:44:12Graduated law school in 2001 fully addicted to meth. Failed the bar exam and never took it again.01:05:14In 2007, without any dramatic bottom, decided enough was enough. Entered outpatient treatment and got clean from meth.01:09:29Night he graduated treatment: stopped on the way home for two six-packs. Alcohol wasn’t his problem.01:19:152011 DUI in Forest Grove — so impaired the officer thought he might have Lou Gehrig’s disease. Arrested; spent a day in jail.01:25:35His boss offered him a path back instead of firing him. “He kind of saved my life.”01:34:39Before his best friend’s wedding, chose to stop eating rather than stop drinking. Last drink: November 20, 2012.01:39:34Told his sponsor he’d drink when his mom died. She passed in December 2013. He went to a meeting that night and never thought about drinking.01:41:39Drifted from AA; spent 7–8 years sober but not in recovery — isolated, disengaged. He calls this being “flammable.”01:42:16His 16-year-old dog died at the end of 2023. The loneliness brought him back to his home group.01:48:39Completed 176 meetings in 90 days. “It was the best thing I’ve ever done.”01:53:34For the first time heard similarities instead of differences. Found a sponsor, started step work, understood recovery as more than not drinking.Guest Quote “I was so dry by then, I was like flammable. I was exactly the same person as I had been when I was drinking — just without the alcohol.” — Jerry B.Listen & ConnectWebsites DiscussedLewis & Clark Law SchoolSmart RecoveryFora Health Treatment & RecoveryReal Recovery PodcastHashtags & Mentions#RealRecoveryPodcast #RecoveryPodcast #SoberLife #AARecovery #AlcoholicsAnonymous #DryDrunk #FlammableSober #SoberWithoutRecovery #MethRecovery #AddictionRecovery #AtheistInAA #SecularRecovery #SoberCommunity #RecoveryIsReal #RealRecovery @RealRecoveryPodcast Real Recovery Podcast Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — EIN: 99-1347297
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RRP 107 — James S. Just Keep Showing Up: James S. on Running, Recovery, and Putting Sobriety First
Mar 2701:04:44Tap to summarizeRRP 107 — Just Keep Showing Up | Real Recovery Podcast body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; max-width: 760px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 24px; background: #ffffff; color: #222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.6; } .ep-title { font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold; color: #1B2A4A; margin-bottom: 4px; } .ep-subtitle { font-size: 17px; color: #F45331; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 20px; } .meta { font-size: 14px; color: #444; margin-bottom: 6px; } .meta strong { color: #1B2A4A; } h2 { font-size: 17px; font-weight: bold; color: #1B2A4A; border-bottom: 3px solid #F45331; padding-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 28px; margin-bottom: 12px; } p { margin: 8px 0; } ul { padding-left: 20px; margin: 8px 0; } li { margin-bottom: 7px; } .tc { display: inline-block; background: #1B2A4A; color: #fff; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 8px; border-radius: 4px; margin-right: 6px; white-space: nowrap; } blockquote { border-left: 5px solid #F45331; margin: 16px 0 16px 0; padding: 10px 16px; background: #F2EAD5; font-style: italic; color: #1B2A4A; font-size: 15px; } .cta-row { display: flex; gap: 10px; margin: 20px 0; flex-wrap: wrap; } .btn { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 20px; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; color: #fff; } .btn-listen { background: #F45331; } .btn-blog { background: #1B2A4A; } .btn-newsletter { background: #3C82C1; } a { color: #1B2A4A; } .disclaimer { font-size: 12px; color: #777; font-style: italic; margin-top: 32px; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; padding-top: 12px; } .hashtags { font-size: 13px; color: #444; margin-top: 8px; } .footer { font-size: 12px; color: #999; margin-top: 20px; text-align: center; }RRP 107 — Just Keep Showing UpJames S. on Running, Recovery, and Putting Sobriety FirstPresenters: Julie P. Lewis & Peter B. DowellEpisode Length: Approx. 1 hr 4 minRelease Date: March 27, 2026 🎧 Listen Now 📖 Read the Blog 💌 NewsletterEpisode SummaryJames S. couldn’t finish a single lap around the track when he first got sober. Today, he’s run the Portland Marathon twice. James opens up about years of using alcohol to get out of his own head and fit in, the downward spiral that followed his divorce, and the recovery journey that began at Fora Health. Through Go the Distance (GTD), he found not just a running community but a reason to keep showing up — especially on the hard days. He talks honestly about being an introvert in recovery, rebuilding relationships with his kids, and a dream he’s quietly building to bring sobriety support to the construction industry.Key Discussion Points 00:03:20 How James connected with GTD through Fora Health and why movement became central to his recovery 00:06:23 His story: functioning alcoholic, divorce, downward spiral, reaching out for help 00:08:43 The mental health roots of his drinking — wanting to fit in and get out of his own head 00:11:48 “I have to wake up every day and put my recovery before anything else — before my job, before anyone.” 00:26:07 What sobriety really looks like on the hard days — honest talk about not throwing in the towel 00:32:02 Being an introvert in recovery: overthinking, communication challenges, showing up anyway 00:41:10 From one lap on the track to completing the Portland Marathon twice 00:43:29 Why GTD gave James more than motivation — belonging, accountability, and purpose 00:55:01 His dream: a life skills program for people in construction where addiction goes unspoken 01:00:45 Parting words: “Just keep showing up.”Guest Quote“I have to wake up every day and put my recovery before anything else. Before my job, before anyone.” — James S.Websites Discussed Fora Health Treatment & Recovery Go the Distance (GTD) 4D Recovery True Colors Recovery Another Chance Recovery Real Recovery PodcastHashtags & Mentions#RealRecoveryPodcast #JustKeepShowingUp #RecoveryIsPossible #SobrietyFirst #AddictionRecovery #FitnessInRecovery #GoTheDistance #ForaHealth #PortlandRecovery @RealRecoveryPodcastThe perspectives shared in this episode are for informational purposes only and may not reflect the views of the Real Recovery Podcast or its partners. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are in crisis, call the Recovery Crisis Line: 503-223-8569 (24/7).Real Recovery Podcast Inc. — 501(c)(3) Nonprofit | EIN: 99-1347297 | www.realrecoverypodcast.com
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RRP 106 — Megan C.; Six Years Clean: Megan C.’s Journey from Homelessness and Heroin to Leading Others Home
Mar 2001:26:55Tap to summarizeRRP 106 — Megan C. | Real Recovery Podcast body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.6; color: #1a1a1a; background: #fff; max-width: 760px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 24px 20px; } h1 { font-size: 22px; color: #0F1123; margin: 0 0 4px; } h2 { font-size: 17px; color: #771719; margin: 22px 0 8px; border-bottom: 2px solid #F45331; padding-bottom: 4px; } .subtitle { font-size: 15px; color: #3C82C1; font-style: italic; margin: 0 0 6px; } .meta { font-size: 13px; color: #555; margin-bottom: 18px; } ul { margin: 0; padding-left: 18px; } ul li { margin-bottom: 6px; } .timecode { color: #771719; font-weight: bold; font-size: 13px; } blockquote { border-left: 4px solid #F45331; margin: 0; padding: 10px 16px; background: #fdf6f0; font-style: italic; color: #333; } blockquote cite { display: block; margin-top: 6px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 13px; color: #771719; } .links a { display: block; color: #3C82C1; text-decoration: none; margin-bottom: 4px; } .links a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .cta { background: #0F1123; color: #F2EAD5; padding: 14px 16px; border-radius: 4px; margin-top: 18px; } .cta a { color: #60C0EA; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; } .hashtags { font-size: 12px; color: #555; margin-top: 16px; line-height: 1.8; } .footer { font-size: 12px; color: #888; margin-top: 16px; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; padding-top: 10px; }RRP 106 — Megan C.Six Years Clean: Megan C.'s Journey from Homelessness and Heroin to Leading Others HomePresenters: Peter and Julie | Release Date: March 20, 2026 | Episode: 106Episode SummaryPeter and Julie welcome Megan C., a peer recovery mentor and program manager whose road to recovery wound through opiates, heroin, homelessness, domestic violence, and two near-death hospitalizations — including a nine-week ICU stay and coma after bacteria ate a hole through her lung the size of a baseball. Now with six years clean, Megan oversees nurses, caseworkers, and peer recovery mentors. She talks about Oxford House, medication-assisted treatment, breaking the cycle of trauma for her daughters, and why giving back keeps her sober.Key Points [00:01:23] Megan introduced via Lunch Bunch AA — connected through mutual friend Darrell (EP 53). [00:03:10] Episode records on the two-year anniversary of RRP — 104 episodes, every Friday. [00:18:08] Always feeling different; Adderall in middle school made her feel "normal" for the first time. [00:18:45] Cocaine in her early twenties — the first time something could grab hold of her. [00:19:42] Addiction escalated via a boyfriend: hydrocodone, then fentanyl patches and oxycodone. [00:20:44] Went through a sick woman's stockpile of 14 bottles of 480 oxycodone. First severe withdrawal. [00:25:11] Methadone for approximately six years — describes it as one of the biggest mistakes of her life. [00:26:37] Domestic violence: a man broke her jaw and eye. He went to prison for seven years. [00:27:25] Vowed never to touch heroin. Moved a heroin addict in. Within days, fully addicted. [00:28:00] Kicked off methadone after heroin showed in her system — which may have saved her life. [00:31:15] Homeless on Portland's streets in winter. Kicked heroin over 10 days on a stranger's floor. [00:33:30] Julie and Megan share candid parallel experiences in sex work — rarely discussed publicly. [00:45:10] Near-death: bacteria entered her lung, ate a hole the size of a baseball. Nine-week quarantine ICU. Went into a coma. [00:47:00] Woke on methadone, switched to Suboxone too soon — precipitated withdrawals. Also went septic in a separate stay. [00:48:20] Inpatient treatment, then Oxford House — a cornerstone of her recovery. [00:52:28] Clean date: checked into detox on her daughter's birthday. Six years clean as of last month. [00:53:00] Oxford House led to her career at Our House. Best friend from treatment called about the job. [01:08:45] Promoted to program manager last August — now oversees nurses, caseworkers, and peer recovery mentors. [01:13:33] Younger daughter now three. Asked father to leave so she would never witness what the older daughter saw. [01:14:07] Older daughter, now 18, rebuilding their relationship and talking about moving in. [01:21:07] At 40, Megan is entering the first chapter where she gets to choose everything.Guest Quote "Anything is possible. You get to a point where you could never even see going back. And anything is possible." — Megan C.Websites Discussed Oxford House Our House — Portland Recovery Housing Lunch Bunch / Extended Family AA Online Real Recovery Podcast Listen & Connect ▶ Listen to this episode 📄 Read the blog post ✉ Subscribe to our newsletter#RealRecoveryPodcast #RecoveryPodcast #SoberLife #HeroinRecovery #OpiateRecovery #MedicationAssistedTreatment #MAT #Suboxone #OxfordHouse #CleanAndSoberLiving #SixYearsClean #BreakingTheCycle #PeerRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible #RealRecovery #TraumaRecovery #PortlandRecoveryReal Recovery Podcast Inc. | 501(c)(3) Nonprofit | EIN: 99-1347297
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