The inaugural podcast of Recovery Warriors Talk was held January 19 at the Lighthouse Church in Wagner and was hosted by Leon Flying Hawk and Rosezena (Zena) Zephier. The first podcast gave an introduction to what to expect on the weekly talk and just a taste of the background of each host. The podcast covers all addictions, but methamphetamine is one of the addictions that both of the hosts have battled with. They both feel extremely lucky and proud to be a part of the 2%; the 2% being the percentage of people that actually recover from methamphetamine addiction.

Rosezena Zephier and Leon Flying Hawk met while attending local Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings. Both are in recovery but at different stages in the process, which offers different viewpoints and experiences. Leon has been in recovery for the past 14 years, while Zena has been clean and sober for the past two and a half years. After going to meetings and seeing how low the number in attendance were, the pair sought a different way to bring recovery to people with the emphasis being on the ability to reach people in their homes. Leon and Zena wanted to eliminate the doors, shame and anonymity that can act as roadblocks for many people when starting their recovery journey.

Thus, the Recovery Warriors Talk podcast was created. It is a space where not only Leon and Zena can recover out loud, but they can provide a forum to others in the community that are on their own recovery journeys or have been affected by addiction. Both of their journeys and experiences will be shared and not looked at like a secret that cannot be talked about which will hopefully help others open up about their experiences. The trauma and experiences that led to each of their addictions will be discussed. The podcast is a very raw discussion about addiction that everyone who has been touched by any addiction will be able to relate to.

The podcast will have different outside speakers from all different viewpoints of recovery including hopefully family members or loved ones of addicts that wish to share their story or experiences. The creators are also open to different ideas that people would like to share with them for the podcast topics and guests.

The target audience of the podcast is everyone: addicts, those in recovery, families and spouses of addicts, teenagers, and anyone that has been affected by any form of addiction.

This is not the first time that Leon and Zena have been working on their recovering out loud. Leon and Zena have been speaking and sharing their stories with others for a while now. They have been speaking at banquets, functions, treatment centers, etc. This is all done in Leon and Zena’s free time. This has become a passion project for the pair not only for their own recovery, but for the betterment of local communities because everyone deserves to experience the beauty of sobriety. Leon feels that when he was using, he was taking from the community and now that he is clean and sober, he wants to do what he can to give back. Since Zena has been in recovery, which for her has been such a blessing being a productive member of the community.

Even though there has only been one podcast, the feedback that the pair has already received has been overwhelmingly positive. The podcast has been viewed by over 2,800 viewers. The community feedback has included calling the podcast inspiring, courageous and people are hoping that the talk will continue. The pair are proud to be using social media in a positive way and hoping to affect change through it.

The goal of the podcast is to reach and have an impact on as many people or even as little as one person. Zena’s mantra is 1 is too many; 1000 is not enough. The pair want people to realize that there is a good life out there and to give people hope. Being local, Leon from the Wagner/Marty area and Zena from Lake Andes, anyone who knew or knows them would know how bad into addiction they both were. They hope to show people that addiction can be beat and that people are not alone on their path to recovery as long as they are wanting to take the first steps of wanting and getting help.

Derrick Marks and his company, Mark’s Media have been helping make the podcast a reality by helping get the Recovery Warriors Talk podcast off the ground. He has offered his companies time and services at no cost. Eventually the podcast would like to have sponsors for the program and the financial support of the community.

Anyone wanting to hear the podcast can tune in every Friday at 8:00 p.m. to Recovery Warrior Talk on Facebook. If you cannot catch the live feed, you can watch past episodes anytime on Facebook. If you are looking for help or resources, please contact either Leon or Zena and they will get you into contact with the right people and places for help.

Thank you, Leon and Zena, for sharing your experiences with the local communities and being willing to be vulnerable in order to show those who are struggling with addiction or are on their own journeys to recovery that there is hope. Congratulations on your new podcast and may you have great success in spreading your message as you both recover out loud.