Need immediate help? Call the Oregon Recovery Crisis Line: (503) 223-8569  •  24/7  •  Click Here to view Recovery Resources

Tags

  • Published on

    RRP Episode 89 – Billy B: From Binge Drinking to a Lifetime of Sobriety

    How a Father’s Realization Became the Turning Point Toward Long-Term Sobriety

    ​In this episode of the Real Recovery Podcast, Julie and Peter sit down with Billy B for a candid conversation about the final years of his drinking and the moment he finally chose to stop. Billy describes how his drinking escalated into binge episodes and two-day hangovers, how alcohol began consuming his time, and how recognizing the family disease of addiction made him realize he didn’t want to repeat the same patterns with his young son, Joey. His reflections provide an honest look at where addiction can take someone—and how clarity can emerge even in the most difficult moments.
    Share with your Friends & Family
    ​Binge Drinking and the Reality of Losing Time
    Billy explains that in the last stretch of his drinking, he had become a binge drinker—getting drunk simply to get drunk and paying for it with severe hangovers that lasted two days. At one point, he woke up after drinking so much beer that he joked he “no longer had blood,” a moment that highlighted how far things had gone. Along with the physical toll, he began recognizing how much valuable time he was losing.
  • Published on

    RRP Episode 88 – Phoenix G: From Childhood Pain to Purpose in Recovery

    Turning early trauma into service, strength, and lasting sobriety.

    ​In episode eighty-eight of the Real Recovery Podcast, Peter and Colette sit down with Phoenix G., whose life and recovery journey reflect what it means to persevere through pain and rebuild with purpose. From his earliest memory of drinking at age three to finding community through AA and the Lunch Bunch / Extended Family AA Online, Phoenix shares a story of resilience, humility, and grace that will inspire anyone on their path to recovery.
    Share with your Friends & Family
    Growing Up in Chaos
    Phoenix’s earliest memories reveal the challenges he faced long before adulthood. “It doesn’t take much to get a three-year-old drunk,” he recalls, describing how alcohol was introduced into his life at an age when most children are learning their ABCs. His story continues with raw honesty as he recounts the physical punishment he endured at home, saying, “She used to whip me as hard as she could. Once I stopped crying enough, he just hit me with his hand.”
  • Published on

    RRP Episode 87 – Max K: Breaking the Cycle - Relapse, resilience, and the daily work of staying sober

    In Episode 87 of the Real Recovery Podcast, Julie and Peter sit down with Max K to talk about the reality of relapse and the courage it takes to begin again. Max’s story is raw, honest, and deeply relatable to anyone who has struggled to maintain recovery after setbacks. His experience sheds light on what it means to face yourself fully—to stop hiding behind excuses and start living with intention.
    Share with your Friends & Family
    ​Confronting Relapse and Facing the Truth
    Max shares openly about the repeated relapses that marked his early recovery. Each time he tried to start over, the same patterns resurfaced—until he made the decision to stop running from himself. “You can’t fix what you won’t face,” he explains, describing how taking responsibility became the turning point that led to real progress.
  • Published on

    RRP Episode 86 – Jonah’s Journey Continues

    From Hopelessness to Healing — Jonah’s Inspiring Path of Growth, Faith, and Recovery

    ​In RRP Episode 86 – Jonah’s Journey Continues, Peter reconnects with a familiar and beloved guest — Jonah W, whose story first touched listeners in RRP Episode 16: Jonah W’s Journey of Resilience, Courage, and the Transformative Power of Recovery. Joined this time by guest host and Real Recovery Podcast board member Colette, the conversation picks up more than a year later to see just how far Jonah’s recovery journey has carried him.
    From once struggling to hold a shelter bed to now living independently, maintaining a full-time job, nurturing a loving relationship, and even raising his first pet — a kitten named Gizmo — Jonah’s life has become a testament to transformation through consistency, community, and courage.
    Share with your Friends & Family
    A Life Transformed
    When Jonah first shared his story, he was ten months sober and beginning to find his footing. Today, he has surpassed two years in recovery — and what was once survival has become a full, purposeful life. Jonah reflected on the early fear that he might “never get better,” only to discover that showing up, doing the work, and trusting the process could build a life worth living.
  • Published on

    RRP Episode 85 – Jonah Revisited: A Journey of Resilience, Courage, and Renewal

    Revisiting RRP Episode 16 – Jonah W’s Journey of Resilience, Courage, and the Transformative Power of Recovery as We Prepare to Catch Up with Jonah Almost a Year and a Half Later

    ​In RRP Episode 85 – Jonah Revisited, Julie and Peter return to one of the most memorable and heartfelt stories ever shared on the Real Recovery Podcast. Originally aired in June 2024 as RRP Episode 16 – Jonah W’s Journey of Resilience, Courage, and the Transformative Power of Recovery, this episode captured the raw honesty of a man navigating the early stages of transformation. Jonah’s courage to face his pain and rebuild his life in recovery moved listeners across our community and continues to inspire new audiences today.
    Share with your Friends & Family
    As we revisit Jonah’s story, we prepare to reconnect with him in next week’s all-new episode to hear how his journey has unfolded a year and a half later. His reflections on life, purpose, and recovery remind us that healing is not a destination—it’s an ongoing act of courage and faith.
  • Published on

    RRP Episode 84 – A Legacy of Hope: Pete Kerns and Serenity Lane

    ​How compassion, science, and spirituality come together to transform recovery.

    In this powerful episode of the Real Recovery Podcast, Julie and Peter sit down with Pete Kerns, President and CEO of Serenity Lane—Oregon’s respected nonprofit treatment center founded by his father, Dr. Tom Kerns, in 1973.
    From his three decades in law enforcement, including nine years as Eugene’s Police Chief, to his leadership at Serenity Lane, Pete’s journey reflects a lifelong dedication to service and healing. Together, the hosts and Pete explore the science of recovery, the importance of family and community, and the hope that drives every step of the recovery journey.
    Share with your Friends & Family
    A Father’s Vision and a Family Legacy
    Pete shares the deeply personal story behind Serenity Lane’s beginnings. His father, Dr. Tom Kerns, lost his own father to alcoholism when he was just fifteen. That experience inspired him to dedicate his medical career to helping others recover from addiction. Working alongside counselor Sam Graves, Dr. Kerns opened Serenity Lane in May 1973 in a converted fraternity house near the University of Oregon.