soberwivfr: Recent Episodes
SOBER
In this episode, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Director Cindy Burzinski talks with Tom Farley and Amanda Uphoff from Recovery.com. Recovery.com was created in 2017 to help people discover a path to recovery that’s right for them, starting with landing on websites they can trust. They aim to provide unbiased, educational, helpful information about treatment options for addiction and mental health to help families and individuals find the right fit for their current needs.Tom's bio:Tom Farley grew up in Madison, WI, and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Marketing. He began his career in banking and finance, living and working in the New York City area. From 1999 to 2012, he ran The Chris Farley Foundation, a nationally recognized non-profit dedicated to substance abuse prevention. Like his brother, Tom was successful in opening the “eyes and ears” of youth audiences through the powerful and effective use of humor. In 2008 he wrote The Chris Farley Show, a New York Time bestselling biography of his late brother, the actor and comedian Chris Farley. He has been interviewed on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Fox News and The View. He has also been featured in People Magazine, USA Today and several national and regional newspapers and publications. Tom is a community leader: he currently serves on the board of the National Rural Alcohol and Drug Abuse Network and has previously served on several non-profit boards and government committees. Tom is currently the Community Outreach Director for Recovery.com as well as a motivational speaker, delivering messages on prevention and recovery. Amanda's bio: Amanda Uphoff is in long-term recovery from alcohol use disorder and is passionate about helping others find their path toward recovery. She gets great satisfaction from creating order out of chaos, identifying areas for improved efficiency, and building authentic connection. Amanda is a certified yoga instructor and a lifelong bibliophile (with two degrees in English Literature to prove it). Her proudest accomplishment and biggest joy is watching her son and daughter grow into kind, capable, curious humans as they forge their ways in the world. Amanda is currently the Chief of Staff at Recovery.com.
In this episode, Cindy Burzinski, Director of Wisconsin Voices for Recovery, speaks with Tarah Stangler, Director of Harm Reduction Services at OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center in Madison, WI. Tarah describes the components, history, vision, and challenges of the OutReach program as well as their approach of liberatory and grassroots harm reduction work, especially within the context of queer and BIPOC communities. Tarah describes the challenges the harm reduction program faces and how they would like to expand this work and concludes with messages for those who haven't bought into harm reduction efforts in their communities or for themselves. OutReach website: https://www.outreachmadisonlgbt.org/ Tarah’s email: tarahs@lgbtoutreach.org OutReach main number on website 608-255-8582, ask for Tarah
This episode takes a deep dive into the stigma people with, or in recovery from, substance use disorders encounter in the healthcare system. Our panel includes three people in recovery: Ryan Gorman, a counselor and client rights advocate at Community Medical Services; Luke Fuszard, a patient ambassador and a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison; and Hillary Kreutz, a recovery coach. They are joined by Ritu Bhatnagar, an addiction psychologist at University of Wisconsin–Madison and Cindy Burzinski, Director of Wisconsin Voices for Recovery.
In this episode, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Director Cindy Burzinski hosts a second panel on harm reduction related to substance use. Members of the panel for part 2 include three representatives of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa: Philomena Kebec, Economic Development Coordinator; Lisa Whitebird, Harm Reduction Leadership and Administrative Coordinator; and Eli Corbine, Harm Reduction Coordinator. Also joining the panel is Tahira Malik, the founder and Chief Operations Officer of Samad’s House located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Megan Morshead, Peer Support Specialist at Tellurian and House Manager for Chandra's House of Hope in Madison, WI. You can find more information and resources through the links below: https://www.badriverharmreduction.org/ https://nextdistro.org/ https://samadshouse.org/ https://www.tellurian.org/chandra https://211wisconsin.communityos.org/
In this episode, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Director Cindy Burzinski hosts a panel on harm reduction. Members of the panel for part 1 are Dr. Elizabeth Salibury-Afshar, a board-certified doctor in family medicine, addiction medicine, and preventive medicine/general public health; Ryan Gorman, a substance use disorder counselor for Community Medical Services (CMS), Amanda DeLeon, a community impact manager for CMS; and Chief Brian Chaney, chief of the city of Monona police department.
In this episode, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Director Cindy Burzinski talks with Julie Smith, founder of Onyx, peer-supportive housing for people in early recovery in Western Wisconsin. The goals of Onyx are to provide safe, sober housing and connect people with resources in the community, including outpatient treatment, Alano clubs, food shelves, churches, therapy, and good medical care. Residents are counseled to complete a minimum 4-month stay because everyone's recovery path is unique and takes time. In the podcast, Julie discusses some of the Onyx expectations, including maintaining 100% sobriety, as well as the challenges residents and Onyx face, including ongoing stigma and the shortage of sober and transition housing in Wisconsin. Nevertheless, she emphasizes the importance of approaching recovery with compassion and considering each member a part of the Onyx family. Onyx is continuing to build and expand across the Western Region of Wisconsin while maintaining the integrity of safe, supportive recovery residences. You can find the Onyx website at www.letsrecovertogether.org.
In this episode, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Director Cindy Burzinski is joined by Brian Bainbridge, Chief Executive Officer of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC) and Jacob Riemer, Public Health Specialist; and Christina Denslinger, Program Director of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC). GLITC was formed over 60 years ago to create a collective voice for the 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. Its mission is “to enhance the quality of life for all Native people.” Among the host of departments in GLITC is the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC), one of the 12 tribal epidemiology centers in the United States. GLITEC strives to improve the health of American Indian/Alaska Native people by developing solutions for disease prevention and control and strengthening public health capacity through funding and technical assistance for tribes working on health projects. Bryan, Jacob, and Christina highlight several GLITC and GLITEC projects related to substance use, including the annual Great Lakes Area Opioid Conference and the building of an adolescent recovery and wellness center grounded in Native values for culture and nature.
Byron is Regional Partnerships Manager for the Phoenix. The Phoenix is a national non-profit that brings people in recovery from substance use disorder together through physical and social activities. He is also owner of the Rebound Recovery House, a ten-bed sober living home in Milwaukee. Prior to his work with the Phoenix, Byron worked in affordable housing for 8 years in Milwaukee. His duties included locating and housing homeless veterans. In 2008 he started Rebound Basketball, a sober men’s basketball program, which later led to his current position with the Phoenix. He also had a ten-year career at JP Morgan Chase. Byron has served on the board of Milwaukee Alano Club and Historic Milwaukee. He loves travel, food, his dog, and participation in local recreational team sports.
On this episode, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery director Cindy Burzinski talks with Heather Rose from Badger Recovery. Badger Recovery is a program for University of Wisconsin students in or considering recovery from substance use. Badger Recovery helps create a community where students can access resources and support through a variety of meetings, events, and services. Their mission is to provide a welcoming and inclusive collegiate recovery community that offers resources, connection opportunities, and support for students, and they envision cultivating a campus environment where students in recovery can thrive.
You can learn more about Badger Recovery through their website at https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/prevention/substance-misuse-prevention/badger-recovery/ or Instagram at badgerrecovery. The can be contacted via email at recovery@uhs.wisc.edu.
In this podcast, we speak with Kathleen Maher, Outreach Specialist and Dr. David Leinweber, Assistant Professor, both from the PROTEA group, which focuses on working with clinical providers to better prepare them to treat patients with substance use disorders, whether through harm reduction strategies or to help people seeking recovery. The PROTEA group is part of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Its mission is to "improve systems of prevention and treatment for substance-related issues and, thereby, improve health and well-being in patients and communities."For more information, please check out the PROTEA website: https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/protea/
Matthew Traver is the president of Never Give Up Inc. (NGULU, www.nguluinc.com), a non-profit organization based in Northeast Wisconsin. NGULU helps people in the community find resources not only for addiction but anything that hinders people from stepping into their power and becoming the best versions of themselves. Matt proudly says, “I now have over 5 years of absolute sobriety and spend my volunteer time driving the mission of David John Peters, founder of NGULU.” Matt is a success story and spends much of his time giving back to the community. Matt struggled with drug addiction for 25 years. After several arrests, he completed heroin treatment court in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Matt’s drive and dedication pushed him to complete the program in 18 months. After graduating from the program, Matt became the president of the Oxford Sober Living House for over a year and found his passion to be a voice in the field of recovery. Matt strongly advocates for the resources needed to help people get their lives back. Matt reports: “I try my best to make this world a little bit better than I found it. I wish to see everyone be the best versions of themselves as humanly possible. There is hope no matter how hopeless it may seem. Never give up on yourself and each other! ”
Aaron Clayborn is the Outreach Specialist for the Engagement to Recovery program for Wisconsin Voices for Recovery. Aaron has been involved with the recovery community since 2005. He began his formal education by attending the Recovery Coach Academy presented by WIRCO and CCAR in February of 2018. Aaron is a Recovery Coach trainer and a state Certified Naloxone Trainer. He began his recovery mission in order to improve his understanding about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol in all aspects of life and he loves to inspire others who are seeking a healthy lifestyle. Because of Aaron’s passion to help change the lives of those individuals who struggle with substance use disorder and mental health, Aaron continues to remain active in the recovery community by advocating for peers and helping to increase outreach with members of the recovery community and recovery-focused, agencies and organizations to foster health, wellness and addiction recovery.
Marisa Van Zile is a Peer Support Specialist and a Sokaogon Chippewa Tribal member. She is a qualified facilitator for (1) Mending Broken Hearts, programs that provide culturally based healing from grief, loss, and Intergenerational Trauma; (2) Linking Generations Strengthening Relationships, a program that promotes strong, healthy and positive relationships; and (3) Motherhood and Fatherhood Are Sacred, a program that assists fathers, mothers, and families to fully realize their potential.Marisa is based at the Sokaogon Chippewa Community (SSC) Clinic in Behavioral Health and, under clinical providers’ direction, assists with treatment plans; recovery support groups; community outreach; and transportation for recovery-focused appointments, meetings, and events. She offers a Wellbriety circle weekly and Mending Broken Hearts support groups.Marisa has enjoyed and embraced sobriety for over 10 years. “I’ve been in recovery myself, and I want to help other people in recovery to live healthy lives,” she shared. “I like to contribute and advocate for families like my own, and with things that I have been through."
Lashawnda Maulson is a member of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe and her spirit name is Skywoman. For the past 13 years Lashawnda’s passion has been been focused in the field of prevention. She has worked in tobacco prevention and the juvenile justice system. For the past few years Lashawnda has been more involved in working with suicide and substance use prevention in her community. Lashawnda founded Skywoman Consulting LLC a Wisconsin Domestic Limited Liability Company in January 2020 which is located in, Minocqua, Wisconsin.
In this episode, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Outreach Specialist Aaron Clayborn talks with Amanda Rodriguez about her experience with substance use disorders in her Latinx community.
Amanda Rodriguez has dedicated herself to helping people with substance use disorders for over 12 years. She was instrumental in developing and managing Wisconsin’s first 24/7 OTP in West Allis. Amanda serves as Community Impact Manager and has excelled at developing collaborative community projects such as the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative (MORI), implementation of the Hope Kits, the Opioid Fatality Review Team, providing MAT supportive services to Milwaukee County jails, corrections, and prisons, supporting therapeutic courts, and educating the community around medication-assisted treatment. Amanda continues to identify gaps in services and find solutions for individuals struggling to navigate recovery systems. Amanda graduated from Alverno College with a bachelors in Psychological Drug Counseling and graduated at Concordia University specializing in Master of Science in Education with an emphasis on counseling. Amanda currently holds a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor and Clinical Supervisor in Training licenses.
On this episode of SOBER, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Outreach Specialist Shelbey Hagen talks with Laura Fabick, Skye Boughman, and Mercedez Butts about the unique challenges and needs of women in recovery from substance use disorders. Laura Fabick, Program Manager, and Skye Boughman, Clinical Supervisor, work with ARC Community Services, a women-specific treatment agency based in Madison, WI. Mercedez Butts is a licensed substance abuse counselor and the owner and operator of Joyce’s House of Milwaukee, a safe and sober home for women recovering from addiction.
On this episode of SOBER, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Outreach Specialist Aaron Clayborn talks with Tahira Malik about prescription opioid addiction, stigma, and disparities to recovery supportive services in the African American community. Tahira is the is the founder and Chief Operations Officer of Samad’s House located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Tahira has dedicated her life to helping people who live in addiction to become sober and rebuild their lives.
On this episode of SOBER, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Outreach Specialist Aaron Clayborn, talks with Tamika Glenn about the availability of drugs in African American communities, generational substance use and breaking the cycle, and the disproportionately low amount of recovery-focused facilities in the African American community. Tamika is the 53206 Drug Free Community Coordinator at Community Advocates located in Milwaukee WI. Tamika is also the founder of Glow Up Milwaukee Inc. also located in Milwaukee WI.
On this episode of SOBER, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Outreach Specialist Aaron Clayborn, talks with Startina “Star” White about using substances as a coping mechanism, the effects of stigma and the availability of illicit drugs in her community. Startina is the Program Manager at Wisconsin Community Services (WCS) and is responsible for supervising staff and the day-to-day operations of their community-based Peer Specialist program.
On this episode of SOBER, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Outreach Specialist, Aaron Clayborn, talks with Desilynn Smith about mental health, addiction and a lack of culturally competent resources for the BIPOC community. Desilynn is the Clinical Director of Gateway to Change, the Co-executive Director for Uniting Garden Homes and a Supervisor with Mental Health of America Wisconsin.
The newest episode of the SOBER podcast features Shelby Kuhn, MSW, LCSW, SAC interviewed by Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Outreach Specialist, Aaron Clayborn. A proud UW Madison graduate, Shelby has a wide breadth of experience in the social work field, and discusses how she shifted her social work practice from working with children and families to working with folks struggling with substance use. Aaron and Shelby talk about the relationship between mental health and addiction, and the work that is being done to support the recovery community.
Megan Birginal, Jesse Luer, Karli Schmitz and Jeff Sickinger join us on the SOBER podcast to speak on the importance of Narcan and some potential responses if you encounter stigma doing similar work.
Traci Goll, Director of Horizon High School, joins us on the SOBER podcast to speak more about the inspiring work that HHS is doing in the Madison, WI community. Traci discusses what a typical week looks like at the high school, inspiring stories of student success and staff involvement, how the school supports student wellbeing at all levels, and her advice for young people in recovery.
Mike Sheridan joins us to share his recovery story and various roles he has held in the community. He gives suggestions and useful strategies for maintaining recovery and building relationships in the community.
Joining us this month is Peter Barbuto and Ross Bacon. They both share all of the great work they are doing at Recovery Centers of America and where it's located!
Aaron Gabriel Perry is the Founder and President of the nationally recognized Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association whose mission is ensuring that Black men and boys living in under-represented communities, who bear the heaviest burden of disease and poor health status, have the opportunities to live fuller, healthier lives. Our motto, “It is the broken system that needs fixing, not Black men” On September 11, 2005, Aaron became the world’s first African American diabetic to complete the Ironman Triathlon, which is considered the world’s most grueling endurance event. Today he is recognized as an expert presenter by the CDC Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Montee Ball & Jessica Geschke speak with Kurt Stapleton about his advocacy in Wisconsin! Please give it a listen!