You and I 4 the Kenai: Recent Episodes
You and I 4 The Kenai
Change 4 the Kenai is a local Central Peninsula coalition that aims to address substance misuse by providing resources, information, and hope to the people of the Kenai Peninsula. Our website is connectkenai.org. Our project coordinator is Shari Conner, and her number is 907-714-4521.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron sits down with the Program Coordinator for SAFR (South Central Alliance For Resilient Families) Abby Struffert to discuss the SOAR Into Parenting Program! This program is designed for new and expecting parents to get connected not only to myriad resources, such as baby boxes full of relevant items and educational opportunities, but also to other new parents in the community. To get involved, simply follow this link, watch the welcome video, fill out a short 10 question survey, and you're enrolled! To learn more, listen here, or follow the link!
peninsulaprevention.org/pointers-4-parents
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Ben as he discusses his path to recovery. Ben's story is one of exemplary personal growth, passion, and the will to change.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Koebryn and Aaron sit down with Heidi as she tell us about her experience in recovery over the past two years! The last time we spoke to Heidi she was a college student determined to get her degree and help others in our community. Two years later Heidi is graduated and working on some great developments for our community as well as continuing to grow and learn in her own recovery.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with our friend Tuba as he tells us his recovery story. We chose this title because Tuba's story illustrates, in a beautiful and impactful manner, the way unresolved trauma can negatively impact people with even the most pure hearts. If you were to meet Tuba today, you'd meet loving and compassionate person who would go to earth's ends to help another. This wasn't the case years ago. Tuba is a prime example of why keeping people in their active addiction alive, and giving people a chance to recover, and being patient and compassionate towards those individuals is so important. We could say that recovery has changed Tuba, but we could also argue that it has returned him back to his natural state, as a loving, compassionate, and good natured friend.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai Koebryn and Aaron sit down with local community member, youth mental health advocate, and musician Justin Pendergrass as he opens up to up about his challenges with mental health and addiction. Justin talks about how his relationship with God, in-laws, music, mentors and more helped to spur him forward and onto a healthy and vibrant future.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Koebryn and Aaron sit down with Emily Alvey, the Recidivism Prevention Liaison for Kenai Peninsula Schools! If you have kids in the school system, you are not going to want to miss this!
In this episode, Aaron and Koebryn talk with Ty about his personal journey to recovery. Ty's story highlights that finding a path to recovery that works for you is one of the most important steps to making lasting change. His recovery was ultimately fueled by the respect for the people who genuinely wanted him to succeed.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with TJ to talk continued recovery. In this episode TJ talks about how the tools he has learned in recovery have propelled his life forward, and how the support system he has developed through recovery has made this new life possible. Enjoy!
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Robi as she shares with us the blessings that she has found through recovery! Enjoy!
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with our friend Kaitie as she tells us about her recovery, and the route she took to getting into recovery. Enjoy!
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Courtney and talk about recovery, self-esteem, and everything in between!
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn are in Kenai talking to Veronika Kline about the services the Kenai ASAP/AKEELA office offers our community! Enjoy!
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Alex, to talk recovery! We talk about everything from the pitfalls of early recovery, to the challenges of being in recovery in a world affected by Covid-19, and how we can learn from the mistakes of others.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Thomas tells Eric and Aaron about how Henu Community Wellness Court – a joint-jurisdictional therapeutic court – helped him find recovery.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Eric and Aaron sit down with Sherra Pritchard, B.S.N., to discuss the services Kenai Public Health provides – and how to access these services.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Britney shares how experiencing trauma left her feeling uncomfortable in her own skin. She found substances made living in her own skin less uncomfortable – but substance use could not be a long-term solution. Recovery is.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Billy updates Aaron and Koebryn on his life and what has changed since he first shared his recovery story about 18 months prior to recording this episode. He shares how he navigated relapsing, did not give up, and once again created a life that does not include alcohol consumption.
Billy’s first recovery story can be found on the You and I 4 the Kenai channel, and it is titled “From the Ashes, He Rose: Billy’s Story of Heartbreak and Healing.” He also is featured on another podcast on the You and I 4 the Kenai channel where he participates in a group conversation about gratitude – this episode is titled “Gratitude: A Recovery Perspective.”
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Ken Miller shares how he went from the Ivy League – he graduated from Dartmouth College – to the streets because of his addiction, and how he found his way to recovery.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Danielle sits down and talks with Eric, Aaron, and Koebryn for the first time since originally sharing her recovery story with the You and I 4 the Kenai team.
Her original recovery story is titled “The Art of Reflection: Danielle’s Keys to Recovery” – it is one of the most popular You and I 4 the Kenai episodes ever recorded, and it is available on the You and I 4 the Kenai channel.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Danielle tells Eric and Aaron about how she gets to be a cool woman without alcohol – she gets to run hard, meet her responsibilities, and be a loving wife and parent.
Danielle grew up in a religious upbringing where rules around alcohol were strict and bent toward prohibition. This made it hard for Danielle to tell as an adult how much alcohol was too much – in the religious context, any alcohol was too much alcohol, but in the secular context, how much alcohol was too much wasn’t so straightforward.
Finally, Danielle grew up in Alaska. This story will especially appeal to those who grew up in Alaska in a religious home.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Shree and Aaron sit down to discuss what Shree’s life has been like since she last sat down one year prior with the podcast team. Shree tells Aaron how she managed to stay away from using substances even after the father of her children died.
You can find her original recovery story on the You and I 4 the Kenai page – the episode is titled “It’s the Little Things: Shree’s Joyous Recovery.”
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Vanessa Perry, L.P.C., discusses her private practice – Hope Mends – the services she offers to the members of the Central Kenai Peninsula, and subjects related to motherhood.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team sits down with Kaitlynn as her she tells us about how her experience with an alcoholic father, and how she was a central support for her fathers recovery. Kaitlynn and her father, because of recovery, are closer than ever before!
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn share a discussion with Kayla and Billy about gratitude – they discuss what it means to them and what they are grateful for. Kayla and Billy share how they used to be grateful for substances and their availability, but now they are grateful for so much more.
Billy has been featured on two other podcasts: 1) “From the Ashes, He Rose: Billy’s Story of Heartbreak and Healing”; 2) “One Year Later: Billy’s Continued Recovery” – both of these can be found on the You and I 4 the Kenai channel.
Kayla has been featured on one other podcast: “From Asking for Death to Loving Life: Kayla’s Recovery Story” – this can also be found on the You and I 4 the Kenai channel.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Paul from Freedom House, and Paul tells them what Freedom House’s men’s program is all about and what help the program offers to those who need it.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Zack updates Aaron, Eric, and Koebryn on his life. Zack shares how he navigates his recovery while working on the North Slope – Zack has a tone that is friendly, yet he is very straightforward; this makes for a podcast episode that you don’t want to stop listening to once you start.
Zack shared his first recovery story about one year before being featured on this episode. His original recovery story is on the You and I 4 the Kenai channel, and it is titled “It’s Not All Sunshine and Rainbows: Zack’s Perspective on Recovery.”
This Saturday, join us the Women and Babies fair from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm going on Central Peninsula Hospital, located at 250 Hospital Place in Soldotna. On the 20th, Ken Miller will be presenting his story of how he turned his life around. This event will be taking place at 6:30 pm at the McLane Commons at KPC to hear his incredible story. See you there!
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Terri as she tells us how she balanced supporting recovery and not enabling her son's addiction.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Clay shares his recovery story with Aaron and Koebryn. Clay struggled to feel and cope with his feelings starting at a young age. For a period of time, he used substances to try and avoid these feelings altogether. However, substance use didn’t fulfill him and meet his needs – whereas recovery and being open to his emotions does.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Shera Burg – the project coordinator for Henu Community Wellness Court at the time of recording this episode – tells Aaron and Koebryn about Henu Community Wellness Court. This court is a therapeutic joint-jurisdictional wellness court operated by the Kenaitze Indian Tribe and the Alaska Court System. Henu Community Wellness Court operates from a cooperative-justice perspective, and its vision is to transform lives for a healthier community.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Sandi. Sandi's son battled addiction for many years. That being said, this episode is all about Sandi's experience watching her child suffer and how she helped end the suffering.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Nathan as he tells us his recovery story.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai the team sits down with Kayla as she tells us her recovery story!
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Makayla, as she tells us about the freedom brought on by honesty, and growth through recovery!
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai Aaron and Koebryn sitdown with TJ as he tells us about the strength he found in surrender, and how that strength-and a new baby-keep him strong in recovery!
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team sits down with Richard as he tells us his story of recovery. Richard talks about a toxic cycle he had been stuck in for years, use, guilt, shame, and use again. Richard is a great example of how recovery can change lives!
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Caitie as she tells us her recovery story!
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the Aaron and Koebryn sit down with Andrew as he tells us his story of recovery. This story exemplifies the key role support plays in recovery!
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In 2018, according to the CDC, there have been over 18,000 overdose deaths relating to Fentanyl. In this podcast we sit down with P.A. Dale to discuss the history, Medical purposes, and dangers of the worlds most lethal drug.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai the team catches up with the incomparable SJ! We recorded with SJ just over a year ago, and now she's back to tell us what life and recovery is like one year later. A lot has changed, but SJ's infectious energy and positivity remains unchanged!
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai The team sits down with Jaclyn as she tells us her recovery story.
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In this recovery story, Eric and Koebryn talk with Jessica about her struggle with the synthetic marijuana-like drug known as spice. Her story is an intense reminder that even legal drugs can lead down the road of addiction. In this episode, she not only turns her life around, but she also fights to get Spice off of the Kenai Peninsula and out of local stores.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, The team sits down with Amber as she talks about how she gradually fell to rock bottom before regaining her life through recovery.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Aaron and Koebryn sit down with P.A. Dale, the Medical Director of Behavioral Health at Central Peninsula General Hospital, to discuss Serenity House and the multiple programs Serenity House offers.
The team sits down to talk about the Drug Take-Back Event this Saturday, April 27, 2019, from 10 am-2 pm. We talk about why it's important to properly dispose of your old or unused prescriptions and how doing so can earn you a 5$ coffee card!
Drug Take-Back Event
April 27, 2019, at the Soldotna Police Department
Join us Saturday May 4th at the Kenai Central High School Auditorium, from 5-8 pm for Why Addiction Makes Sense. Why Addiction Makes Sense is an educational and audience interactive presentation by Dr. Brandon Hall, a local expert who currently practices at Central Peninsula Hospital Kenai Family Practice. Dr. Hall answers some key questions in regards to addiction and other compulsive behaviors such as what addiction really is, why we develop addictions and other compulsive behaviors, and other crucial questions we as a community have to ask In order to better understand and ultimately overcome our own opioid epidemic. CNE credit, as well as, ACBHU CEU will also be available. This information is vital to all of those touched by addiction on the Kenai Peninsula.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team sits down with Jon as he tells us about how his addiction nearly killed him and how he is learning to live again through recovery.
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In this Episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team sits down with Aaron as he shares his personal recovery story. He goes into detail on how it sparked his passion for both recovery and the recovery community.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai the team is back with Renee and Ashlea to talk about a community coalition called the Peninsula Points on Prevention Coalition and the great work the coalition does in the community!
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai we sit back down with Renee and Ashlea from The LeeShore Cener. They tell us about all the amazing long term supports The Lee Shore center offers.
In this Episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, we sit down and talk with Lloyd as he tells about his battle with addiction as well as how recovery has given him a new lease on life.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team is back at the LeeShore Center talking about a revolutionary community and state-wide program, Green Dot. The Green Dot program is a bystander intervention program aimed to address the violence that is ever to present in our community. Listen and learn all about how you can make a difference in your community by simply doing what you can, when you can. Together with Green Dot, we can make our community a safer place.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team sits down with Heidi as she tells about her journey into and through recovery.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team talks with Sean, a former alcoholic. Sean talks about the downfalls of working hard and playing harder as well as the joy that comes through recovery. His story shows that it is never to late to go down the road to recovery.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team is back with Renee Lipps and Ashley Blantchford from The LeeShore Center to discuss the crisis intervention and victim support services the LeeShore Center offers.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team sits down with Renee Lipps and Ashley Blatchford from the LeeShore Center. Renee and Ashley give us an in depth look into the amazing history of the LeeShore Center as well as all of the crucial services the LeeShore center provides the community on the Kenai Peninsula.
In this episode of You and I for the Kenai, we sit down with Lauren as she shares a story that includes both significant pain and incredible resilience.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team sits down with Jodi as she discusses her own seven year recovery as well as gives us her keys to thriving in recovery.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team talks with Charlie Simmons about CICADA and medication-assisted treatment.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team sits down with Danielle. Danielle tells us about her battle with Substance Abuse Disorder. She talks about how she continues her recovery today and how the ability to reflect is a tool that can benefit everyone.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team sits down with Ninja as he tells us what it took to triumph over Substance Abuse Disorder.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Billy teaches us that heartbreak does not have to leave us broken.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, the team talks with SJ. SJ tells us how committing to recovery is of the upmost importance.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Brett teaches us that no matter how far we run, we never out run ourselves.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai we hear from Carrie. Carrie explains to us her battle with Substance Abuse Disorder, but most importantly she tells a story of triumph through recovery.
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In the first recovery story episode of You and I 4 the Kenai the team sits down with Sharee. Sharee's story is one that teaches us to appreciate life for the beautiful mess it is.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Zack tells a story of recovery that is blunt and upfront, and it provides all of us with good insights and reminders. He discusses many things, one of which is that recovery is hard. He says that many times he found people theorizing or romanticizing the recovery process, and claiming it was so healing and immensely freeing. And, while he wasn't denying that recovery can bring healing and freedom, he was saying that it cost something - that it can be hard. While recovery brought many good things into his life, it also required him to kick a dope habit, to start being honest, and to look at things that he didn't always like when he did look at them; and that only romanticizing or gleefully embracing the recovery process as pain-free growth was inaccurate. Was it worth it? Yes. Was it pain-free and easy? By no means. Another interesting point Zack makes is that his time using was like an Ostrich with his head in the sand. After getting his head out of the sand, he both needed and was able to start cleaning up both the internal and external messes. This provides good insight for everyone - pulling the head out of the sand is hard, painful, and scary, but seeing a mess and having to learn to live in the elements again can be equally as hard, painful, and scary. Getting sober is only the first part, and there are still things to work on. This is like what Zack says during the podcast when he says that when you sober up a horse thief, you simply have a sober horse thief. You have to learn to stop being a horse thief. Zack providing the perspective that recovery is difficult and that getting sober is only the first - and not always the easiest - part is very helpful for us as community members. We should understand that our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and friends in recovery are not in a problem-solved stage of life, and they still need our support more than ever.
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In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai, Eric and Aaron sit down with Leslie Rohr from Love INC to discuss what Love INC is, how it works, and why Love INC is so effective in connecting community and saving lives.
In this episode of You and I 4 the Kenai we formally introduce ourselves to our audience.
In the episode, we sit down with Shari Conner to discuss Serenity House and Change 4 the Kenai. We also talk about substance misuse, community connection, the goals of Serenity House and Change 4 the Kenai, and how these goals are being met. Shari Conner is the project coordinator for Change 4 the Kenai. She also is the Serenity House intake coordinator. To learn more about Change 4 the Kenai, Serenity House, or other resources you can reach Shari by phone: 907 - 714 - 4521, by e-mail: sconner@cpgh.org , and you can find more information on the Change 4 the Kenai website at change4thekenai.org. Shari tells us in this episode how their original research displayed people of the Central Kenai Peninsula were not very connected to each other and their community. They also understood that substance abuse was impacting individuals, families, and the entire community; they set out to connect community and save lives -- their slogan today. Some of the ways they connect community consists of hosting town halls where community connection and healthy activities are facilitated and then capped with an educational piece; having community runs where the main idea is to stomp out the stigma of addiction; and having backpack giveaways so families can have what they need and be assured their community is behind them. These podcasts are created for Change 4 the Kenai, and Change 4 the Kenai would like to prevent substance misuse and connect community. Please listen to this episode to hear more about the work Change 4 the Kenai is doing.