I was chatting on Zoom with Marcus Fair, Founder of Eternal Media, recently and the topic of their Recovery Hub Podcast came up. I’ve since realised that I haven’t plugged this excellent resource on my blog, although information about it can be found on the Eternal Media community page we have created on Recovery Voices.
So here is information about and links to the various episodes that Eternal Media have created. A huge congratulations to Caitlin, in particular, and her support team.
Eternal Media’s Recovery Hub Podcast (RHP) is designed to give a voice to those in recovery. RHP features conversations between people in recovery, intimate recounting of stories of addiction, finding recovery, and how they live their lives in recovery. It also cover the topics of crime, rehabilitation, politics and the science of addiction and recovery.
RHP is hosted by Caitlin and was launched during Recovery Month (September) 2022. You can listen to the podcasts on Spotify, podtail, and Apple Podcasts (see podtail for link). NB. These descriptions are written by Eternal Media.
Trailer: The Recovery Hub Podcast – Life After Addiction
There is a lot to listen to, learn from, and be inspired by. Enjoy!
1. Marcus Fair, Founder of Eternal Media
In the first episode of The Recovery Hub Podcast, host Caitlin sits down to talk with Marcus Fair about his 25-year long battle with crack and heroin addiction—to how he went from writing himself off in his early 20’s, to years of spells in prison and homelessness, to then how he found long-term recovery and founded Eternal Media, a charity and social enterprise with the goal of supporting others in their recovery journeys.
2. Jill Whittingham – Addictions Counsellor
Caitlin speaks with the wonderful Jill Whittingham. Jill is an addiction counsellor with many years of experience. She’s supported countless people and continues to do so with her counselling service and runs projects like Recovery in Focus with and as a trustee for Eternal Community Media. Jill is a professional, but also has a recovery story of her own which she shares today.
3. Tony Ormond – The Kaleidoscope Project
Tony Ormond (or Tony O as he’s regularly referred to as) is someone who has dedicated his life to not just his own recovery, but to the recovery of many others. From self-described ‘hopeless addict’ to award-winning drug support worker, from working county lines to working at the Kaleidoscope Project, Tony O continues to go the extra-mile to support others in their recovery.
4. Professor Wulf Livingston – Drug Expert & Researcher
Professor Wulf Livingston is a self-proclaimed ‘Friend of Recovery’. He has been working in community social work for the last 30 years, achieving the highest position as a professor and is currently a professor at Glyndwr University. Wulf is one of the most passionate professionals working in the field and also voluntarily dedicates himself to supporting recovery communities, in particular North Wales Recovery Community.
5. Diaries of North Wales Recovery Communities
In this episode of The Recovery Hub Podcast, we bring together a collection of recovery recordings from a few of our friends at North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC), Penrhyn House, Bangor.
6. North Wales Recovery Communities Walks with Lucke
Lucke walks and talks recovery with Brad and Lucinda from North Wales Recovery Communities’ Penrhyn House. A range of topics are covered in this episode, from what recovery gives you back in life, to what recovery communities look like in other countries.
7. North Wales Recovery Communities Walks with Sam
Today, we welcome Sam as he brings to you conversations while walking with Alex, Andy, Lowri and Dewi from North Wales Recovery Communities. They speak about why and how scenic walks helps them in recovery, how life is like a year on from Trails of Recovery, a film we made about NWRC’s Recovery Month expedition in 2021, and how to bounce back from a relapse.
8. North Wales Recovery Communities Walks with Ben & Caitlin
Ben & Caitlin join Tamara, Gary & Mike from North Wales Recovery Communities as they walk through idyllic areas of North Wales and talk about their recovery journeys.
9. Nicky
For this episode of The Recovery Hub Podcast, Caitlin is joined by Nicky. Nicky has years of experience in addiction and was brought up through the judicial system, spending many formative years of his life in prison. Where Nicky finds himself today is with years of recovery, working to help others in rehab and being a source of joy for those around him. Nicky has been involved in contributing towards films made by Eternal Media since the beginning with our documentary film ‘Flipped It!!’.
10. Emma Jane Roberts
Joining Caitlin today is our dear friend Emma. It was the first time Caitlin had met Emma, but both of them immediately hit it off as they share stories from their addiction and how recovery has been for them so far.
11. Peter at Open Minds Rehab
We welcome back Marcus today as he hosts today’s episode where he speaks with Peter who was in Open Minds rehab in Wrexham during this conversation with him. Peter shares his story of his addiction and how he’s struggled to find a solid recovery with his skill of being able to talk the talk, yet difficult struggle to walk the walk. With Marcus also sharing the experience of going through Open Minds rehab, it makes for a fascinating insight into how to stay clean and sober going forward in one’s recovery journey beyond rehab.
12. Zoe at Hafen Wen Detox Unit
In this episode, Caitlin meets Zoe who is a Recovery Worker at Hafan Wen Detox Unit in Wrexham. Zoe talks about what drugs did for her, pregnancy while entrenched in heroin addiction, losing her kids, being involved in domestic violence, doing time in prison, how she got clean while in prison and how her criminal history affects her career ambitions due to societal stigma. Zoe refers to the power of planting seeds and how others planting seeds of recovery have helped her become the woman she is today, planting seeds for others.
13. Ade ‘The Blade’
Caitlin speaks to Ade today. Ade talks about his life in addiction, what works for him in his recovery and shares his views on how those who share the same experiences are the best people for supporting those in recovery. He also gives advice to how those in fellowship meetings with more clean/sober time can avoid discouraging people early in their recovery journeys.
14. Rachel
In the final episode of Season 1 of The Recovery Hub Podcast, Caitlin speaks with Rachel about her life growing up in an abusive family, how drugs helped her escape, to then how it led to addiction that put her through even more suffering for years. She also shares her experience of struggling with developing relationships with people in active addiction and how it affects her recovery.’