Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books.

Today, I’m talking with Danny O’Connor—a former U.S. Olympic boxing team member and world title contender. But his biggest fight wasn’t in the ring. Danny battled anxiety, substance use, and personal struggles that nearly took everything from him.

Now, he’s using his experience to help others through DO Boxing Academy, a program that combines boxing, fitness, and mindfulness to support young people.

You can follow Danny on Instagram @therealdannyoconnor and learn more about his program at doboxingacademy.com.

This is a story about resilience, recovery, and finding purpose.

Please note: this episode contains explicit content.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

In this episode of Recovery Stories Have Power, Oliver Books sits down with Morgan Godvin—a writer, public health advocate, and researcher focused on drug policy and overdose prevention. Morgan shares her journey from opioid use and four years in federal prison to working on policy reform, touring with Minnesota hip-hop group Atmosphere to distribute naloxone, and traveling internationally—even with a felony record—to support community health efforts.

They discuss her experience in the legal system, the challenges of rebuilding life after incarceration, and the barriers that persist long after a sentence is served.

Content warning: This episode includes discussions about substance use, overdose, and incarceration.

Follow Morgan on social media at @MorganGodvin and learn more about her work at beatsoverdose.com.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Kicking off Season 3! In this powerful premiere episode of Recovery Stories Have Power, host Oliver Books sits down with Joseph Green, CEO of LMSvoice—a spoken word artist, educator, and advocate for recovery. Joseph shares his deeply personal journey, from his early days in theater and poetry to his struggles with substance use disorder and ultimate path to long-term recovery. Through his art and advocacy, he illuminates the power of storytelling in healing and social change. Together, they discuss the intersection of creativity and recovery, the importance of self-reflection, and the impact of fostering hope in difficult times.

Start the season with this inspiring conversation about resilience, purpose, and the transformative nature of speaking your truth.

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power! This is the year-end clipshow extravaganza! Thanks so much for listening to our show all year, we really appreciate you. We have great things lined up for 2025, so stay tuned! Visit us online at https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast

This is also available as a video episode, so check it out our YouTube channel! https://youtu.be/SRihzhBzYmc

You can stream recovery Stories Have Power on any podcasting platform, or right here on YouTube.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power! In this episode, host Tyler Brandon interviews Shannon Egan, who shares her inspiring journey from substance use recovery to becoming a trailblazer in the recovery movement. 

Sober since 2011 and a breast cancer survivor, Shannon is the founder of Recovery Movement Consulting (RMC), where she has helped secure nearly $15 million in funding to expand addiction recovery services nationwide. With a background as a journalist covering global crises like the Darfur genocide and a former UN press officer advocating for women’s health, Shannon’s unique experiences fuel her mission to empower recovery organizations and reduce stigma surrounding addiction. Balancing her impactful career with a love for her rescue pets in Utah, Shannon’s story is a testament to resilience, purpose, and the power of recovery

Be sure to check out Shanon's website https://www.recoverymovementconsult.com and give her a follow on instagram @shannonmaeegan

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power! In this episode, host Oliver Books speaks with Mark Rosman, a film and TV industry veteran with a career spanning three decades. From directing for Disney, Lifetime, and Hallmark to teaching at UCLA, Mark opens up about the intersection of his personal life and professional work. He shares insights into his latest project, Keep Coming Back, a deeply personal film inspired by his journey to becoming a supportive ally for a family member with Substance Use Disorder.

This inspiring conversation highlights the healing power of storytelling and the importance of compassion in recovery. Learn more about Mark’s upcoming film at keepcomingbackfilm.com, and don’t miss this heartfelt episode!

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to another episode of Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. On today's episode our host, Tyler Brandon, interviews Tim Snyder and Mike Oxley of the "Talkin' Trash" Recovery podcast. "Talkin' Trash" is self-described as an "honest" and "raw" podcast that's pretty off-the-cuff. Tyler joined them on their show recently as well. 

Content warning for this episode: Some of the language our guests use to self-identify is not language that Faces & Voices of Recovery recommends using around Substance Use Disorder. 

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. On today's episode I had the privilege of speaking with former US Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams.

Dr. Jerome Adams is a Presidential Fellow and the Executive Director of Purdue’s Health Equity Initiatives as of October 1, 2021.  He is also a Distinguished Professor of Practice in the departments of Pharmacy Practice and Public Health.

As the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and a prior member of the President’s Coronavirus task force, Dr. Adams has been at the forefront of America’s most pressing health challenges. A regular communicator via tv, radio, and in print, Dr. Adams is an expert not just in the science, but also in communicating the science to the lay public, and making it relevant to various audiences.

Dr. Adams is a licensed anesthesiologist with a master’s degree in public health, and ran the Indiana State Department of Health prior to becoming Surgeon General. In the State Health Commissioner role he managed a $350 million dollar budget and over 1000 employees, and led Indiana’s response to Ebola, Zika, and HIV crises. Notably, Dr. Adams helped convince the Governor and State Legislature to legalize syringe service programs in the state, and to prioritize $13 million in funding to combat infant mortality. As Surgeon General, Dr. Adams was the operational head of the 6000 person Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and oversaw responses to 3 back to back category 5 hurricanes, and to a once in a century pandemic.

In addition to his recent COVID19 work, Dr. Adams has partnered with and assisted organizations as they navigate the opioid epidemic, maternal health, rising rates of chronic disease, the impacts of rising suicide rates in our Nation, and how businesses can become better stewards and stakeholders in promoting community health.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and Welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books.

On today’s bonus episode we’ve got our host Tyler Brandon on the ground at last September’s event the National Rally for Recovery which took place in Chicago. Tyler interviewed some of the volunteers and attendees about the event. After that we’ll jump into some clips from my trip down to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where I talked with folks at the Mobilize Recovery bus tour stop.

Thanks for listening! 

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Throughout the month of September we’ll be releasing video podcast episodes every week to celebrate Recovery Month with you. We have several terrific guests from all around the recovery field who will share their journey into advocacy with us while sharing info from behind the scenes of some major change making organizations. These conversations cover several parts of the recovery advocacy and activism space, and all have one very important through-line. You can help. This work is not out of reach. This affects all of us and we need your help. 

On today’s episode I chat with Libby Jones, program director of the Global Health Advocacy Initiative’s Overdose Prevention Initiative. Libby leads their advocacy efforts with the goal of  reducing the overdose death rate in the US. We talk about what advocacy means on a federal level, some of the Overdose Prevention Initiative’s goals, and real steps people can take to get involved at every level.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Throughout the month of September we’ll be releasing video podcast episodes every week to celebrate Recovery Month with you. We have several terrific guests from all around the recovery field who will share their journey into advocacy with us while sharing info from behind the scenes of some major change making organizations. These conversations cover several parts of the recovery advocacy and activism space, and all have one very important through-line. You can help. This work is not out of reach. This affects all of us and we need your help. 

During this episode I had the opportunity to chat with Mobilize Recovery co-founder, Garrett Hade. Mobilize is a giant in the advocacy space, and we chatted about the history of the organization, and how he, and his other co-founder, “cold-called” themselves into the advocacy space, all the way to hosting some of the largest entertainment and advocacy events in the recovery field.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Throughout the month of September we’ll be releasing video podcast episodes every week to celebrate Recovery Month with you. We have several terrific guests from all around the recovery field who will share their journey into advocacy with us while sharing info from behind the scenes of some major change making organizations. These conversations cover several parts of the recovery advocacy and activism space, and all have one very important through-line. You can help. This work is not out of reach. This affects all of us and we need your help. 

In this episode I sit with Safe in Harlem and Pillars founder and CEO Dr. Felecia Pullen. Dr. Pullen is a recovery scientist, activist, advocate, and change maker. We chat about how her lineage has informed her perspective on change and what believing in a person-first approach to healing mean in the Substance Use Disorder field. We get deep. Stay tuned!

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Throughout the month of September we’ll be releasing video podcast episodes every week to celebrate Recovery Month with you. We have several terrific guests from all around the recovery field who will share their journey into advocacy with us while sharing info from behind the scenes of some major change making organizations. These conversations cover several parts of the recovery advocacy and activism space, and all have one very important through-line. You can help. This work is not out of reach. This affects all of us and we need your help. 

On the first episode of the series, I sit down with our advocacy and outreach manager here at F&V, Keegan Wicks. We chat about his work in national advocacy, what got him here, and what drives him to make change in this space.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. On today's episode I had the chance to interview Lionel Oglesby, Equity Officer for the Legal Action Center. Lionel has been in the advocacy field for quite some time, and we dive into how his work has evolved throughout his time at the Legal Action Center. We get into how equity practices can influence better recovery outcomes, no matter where you are, and how intersectionality can bridge sociocultural divides. We had a great talk! Enjoy.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. On today’s episode, our host, Psalm Bigham interviews Tara Moreno-Wallen, executive director of Serenity House in Flint, Michigan. If you’ve attended one of our Recovery Leadership Summits you might recognize Tara from a leadership breakout, or from the opening session meditations. Tara and Psalm dive into the story of serenity house, creating safe space and resources for women in recovery spaces, and a boundaries approach to communication. For more information, and to donate to Serenity House, visit flintserenityhouse.org

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, My name is Oliver Books. This is the final episode in our series of video podcasts filmed at Faces & Voices of Recovery’s annual Recovery Leadership Summit in Denver, CO.

On today's Episode I am joined by Patrick J. Kennedy. During his time in Congress, Patrick J. Kennedy was the lead author of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer. In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit that unites advocates, business leaders, and government agencies to advance evidence-based practices, policies, and programming in mental health and addiction. In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction,” which details a bold plan for the future of mental health care in America. In 2023, The Kennedy Forum launched the Alignment for Progress, a movement to align leaders from across industry and across the aisle to achieve 90/90/90 by 2033: 90% of all individuals will be screened for mental health and substance use disorders; 90% of those screened will be able to receive evidence-based treatment; 90% of those receiving treatment will be able to manage their symptoms in recovery. Kennedy’s second co-authored book “Profiles in Mental Health Courage” available April 2024 will delve into the compelling stories of a diverse group of Americans who have struggled with their mental health – many of whom are sharing their stories for the first time.    

Kennedy is also the founder of DontDenyMe.org, an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources; co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-chair of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19 (National Response); and co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force. 

Social Media Handles
@PJK4brainhealth on Twitter
Patrick J. Kennedy on Facebook and LinkedIn
@KennedyForum on Twitter
The Kennedy Forum on Facebook and LinkedIn 

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories have Power, my name is Oliver Books.
We are so excited to bring you four very special podcast episodes throughout the months of June and July. The Recovery Leadership Summit hosted nearly 500 people from all across the recovery space. We had four amazing keynote speakers, and came together as a community to learn and grow from one another. 

On today’s episode I had a conversation with Dr. Corrie Vilsaint. Dr Vilsaint is a recovery scientist who serves as instructor at Harvard Medical School, Associate Director of Recovery Health Equity at the Recovery Research Institute, and research scientist at the Center for Addiction Medicine. During our chat we cover the science behind recovery community centers, disparities in outcomes in traditional treatment settings, and efficacy of community-based supports. 

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories have Power, my name is Oliver Books.
We are so excited to bring you four very special podcast episodes throughout the months of June and July. The Recovery Leadership Summit hosted nearly 500 people from all across the recovery space. We had four amazing keynote speakers, and came together as a community to learn and grow from one another. 

On today’s episode I sit down with Dr. Haner Hernandez. Haner is a veteran of the health and human services field, having worked in this space for over 36 years. In our conversation, we dive into the past, from coming to America during the civil rights movement, becoming incarcerated, then going on to higher education and working in the health field. We examine how those experiences, and the communities that have woven them together continue to inform the work Haner has been doing in the field.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books

We are so excited to bring you four very special podcast episodes throughout the months of June and July. The Recovery Leadership Summit hosted nearly 500 people from all across the recovery space. We had four amazing keynote speakers, and came together as a community to learn and grow from one another. 

On today’s episode, I am joined by our first keynote presenter, Sparkle Lindsay. Sparkle is an author, peer coach, and motivational speaker who has an incredible journey she was able to share with us. 

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. On today's episode I chat with Thomas McCarry, co-founder of Zero Overdose. Zero Overdose was founded by Tom McCarry, LMHC, and Virna Little, PsyD, LCSW, with a shared vision to reduce unintentional overdose deaths both locally and nationally through overdose safety planning. On this episode we chat about individualized  approaches to care, education, advocacy, and harm reduction. Thanks for listening! 

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. On today's episode, our host, Tyler Brandon chats with Ruby Takushi, Ph.D., the Director of Programs for Recovery Café and co-founded Recovery Café with Killian Noe. Recovery Café Network (RCN) is comprised of Recovery Cafés committed to serving people who have experienced trauma and the results of trauma like homelessness, substance use disorder, addiction, and other mental health challenges using the Recovery Café Model. This person and compassion centered conversation embodies the spirit of Recovery Cafe, and shines light on what their person-first approach looks like. 

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. On today's episode, our host, Tyler Brandon chats with Jonathan Westfall, the Executive Director of ROCovery Fitness. ROCovery Fitness in an RCO in Rochester, NY that provides free peer led fitness services for folks in recovery. Jonathan talks about the parallels of fitness and recovery as it has manifested in his life, and how working with ROCovery fitness has impacted his outlook. For more info on ROCovery Fitness and their upcoming event programming, visit rocoveryfitness.org 

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. On today's episode I had the privilege of chatting with Kevin Rumley of the Buncombe County, MC Veteran's Treatment Court. Kevin is a person in recovery and a combat wounded veteran who now works in a veteran specific treatment court in Asheville, NC. His journey is harrowing and inspirational, and has guided him into his work assisting and supporting veterans through a 5-phase, 16 month intensive treatment court program.

As well as being a recovery and veteran advocate, Kevin is a musician, and just released his first solo album, which can be found at https://open.spotify.com/album/3mFvcAP0HMZPfPUNDEIKyw?si=HdiBlGbqS6ee0qlG7Fu-4Q

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. On today's episode our host, Psalm Bingham, chats with Lori Mellinger and Amanda Cassidy-Trejo. Lori and Amanda are staff here at Faves & Voices of Recovery, but they are also part of the Texas-Based Advocacy Initiative, Lioness: Justice Impacted Women's Alliance. Lioness is an organization led by currently and formerly incarcerated girls and women in Texas with the purpose of ending the incarceration and systematic devaluing experienced within the Texas criminal legal system.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.

Hello and welcome to Recovery Stories Have Power, my name is Oliver Books. Today's episode features Bill Sweeney, founder of The Livability Initiative. Bill is a person in recovery, a T4 paraplegic, and a fierce advocate for accessibility. In our conversation, Bill and I chat about Bill's outlook on life and how that informs his work.

Visit The Livability initiative online at https://teamlivability.org

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at podcast@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Find more episodes of Recovery Stories Have Power at facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/podcast.