Veterans 4 Recovery

🎙️ In This Episode:

What happens when the battle ends, but the struggle continues? In this powerful episode, Major John Donovan sits down with veterans Greg and Lisa to explore the vital role of recovery in the military community. They open up about their personal journeys and the driving force behind Outdoor Warrior Nation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders through outdoor adventures.

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John sits down with his lifelong friend Jeff Meierhofer to explore the profound meaning of recovery and its impact on lives within the military community. Jeff shares his personal journey, from his early struggles with substance use to his transformative moments of clarity. Together, they discuss the importance of resilience, the power of relationships, and the joy of giving back through international missions that help those ...

John sits down with Tyler to explore the multifaceted journey of recovery within the veteran community. They chat about Tyler's personal story of overcoming addiction, the role of shame in recovery, and the importance of setting boundaries to avoid caregiver fatigue. The episode highlights the impactful work of Recovery Corps, a program under AmeriCorps, which provides resources and opportunities for veterans in recovery. Disc...

In this episode of Veterans 4 Recovery, host Major John Donovan is joined by Sean Partch to discuss the challenges and triumphs in the journey of recovery for veterans and service members. Sean shares his personal story of overcoming substance use disorder and justice involvement, highlighting the importance of employment and community support in the recovery process. The conversation explores into the paradigm shift in employ...

On this episode of Veterans 4 Recovery you’ll hear from John Magnuson. John is a person in long-term recovery who worked behind the scenes on the parity act. The mental health parity act is a federal law that requires health insurance plans to provide comparable coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as they do for medical and surgical care. 

John also works with a 12-Step immersion program.  12-Step immersion...

Randy Anderson joins John to discuss his journey from addiction and incarceration to becoming a leader in the recovery community. Learn about his experiences with the criminal justice system, his path to recovery, and his work with Bold North Recovery. Discover the challenges and triumphs of recovery, and gain insights into the legislative efforts to improve recovery services. Don't miss this inspiring conversation about resil...

In this episode, retired Major John Donovan sits down with Congressman Tom Emmer to discuss the pressing issue of recovery within the military and Veteran communities. They explore legislative efforts, including the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act and the Wounded Warrior Access Act, aimed at improving access to essential healthcare and recovery programs. The conversation als...

In this episode of Veterans 4 Recovery, Maj. Donovan and his guest, Wendy Jones, talk about the recovery landscape in the State of Minnesota. Wendy is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Alliance of Recovery Community Organizations (MARCO). Wendy provides guidance to over 20 individual Recovery Community Organizations throughout the State of Minnesota. Listen in while John and Wendy explore recovery options available to ve...

In this episode of Veterans for Recovery, host Major John Donovan welcomes Jeremy Drucker to discuss the multifaceted journey of recovery. Jeremy's talks about his background in English literature, his career in public service, and his personal recovery journey. The conversation touches on the complexities of substance use, the importance of a person-centered approach to treatment, and the upcoming Veterans listening session i...

This episode is a deep dive into the transformative journey of V4R guest Mike from the grips of alcoholism to the liberating path of recovery, particularly within the Veteran and service member communities.

This episode is not just a story of personal triumph but also a testament to the service mentality that underpins successful recovery. Mike's dedication to helping others through his unique approach to the recovery steps o...

This month, John’s guest is Chris Ellis. Chris holds an MBA from Duke University, spent a career as a business consultant and is a person in long term recovery.

Chris grew up with a military father and spent much of his career traveling around the country. He shares openly his experiences with recovery and shares insights on how others can benefit from recovery. 

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As a Marine, you quickly learn that the line between chaos and discipline is razor-thin. That's a truth for my friend and fellow Vietnam War Veteran, Samuel Verdeja. Samuel lays bare the road from civilian to combat Marine, revealing the raw transformation under the weight of military service and the trials of Vietnam. 

Our exchange takes you through the trenches of fear, through the baptism of combat, and into the quiet mome...

When Alan Swanson speaks about his battle with alcohol addiction, it's not just a story—it's a roadmap for transformation and hope. Alan joins us to recount his journey to sobriety through SMART Recovery. His candid sharing on how he moved from the grip of addiction to a place of empowerment is not just inspiring; it's a testament to the power of self-help and the strength of community support.

This episode isn't just informa...

What does it take to truly overcome addiction, to find a purpose, and create a meaningful life after military service? Join me, retired Major John Donovan, as I host a deep and enlightening conversation with Timothy Murray, a stalwart in long-term recovery advocacy. Timothy takes us through his personal journey, from the darkness of addiction to the newfound purpose that has transformed his life.

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Meet Peter Hubbard, the man who is using his personal journey of addiction and recovery to lead philanthropic initiatives for mental health and addiction at the University of Minnesota. His roller coaster ride from his teenage years of experimenting with substances, to his transformative work in the recovery community is an inspiring tale of resilience and triumph over adversity. We engage in a deep conversation about the real...

Transitioning from the personal to the professional, Jay Donavan recounts his life-altering move to Honolulu, Hawaii in 2000, and how it marked the beginning of his career in substance use counseling in the military. As a part of the Department of the Army Civilian in Addiction Medicine Intensive Outpatient Program, Jay speaks about how the army provides immediate access to treatment and resources for substance misuse and the ...

Recovery isn't a solitary journey but something that's deeply entwined with the power of connection and empathy. Join John and his guest, Navy Veteran Dave Wehlage, as he explores his military experience and the unique challenges he faced in his recovery journey. Listen closely as Dave bravely exposes the wound of his military sexual trauma (MST), and how it played a significant role in his substance use and affected his milit...

A heartwarming journey as John welcomes Katie Blue, an inspiring woman who has tirelessly battled substance use disorder, on Veterans 4 Recovery. Her unbelievable transformation to a recovery champion, coupled with fascinating tales from her Army career and an invigorating passion for skydiving, is sure to inspire every listener.

Katie unravels how her military career has acted as a strong backbone in her recovery journey an...

In this monthly podcast, Major John Donovan is chatting with SGM Andy Miller, U.S. Army, Ret. Andy is a person in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder. Andy shares freely and candidly his insights, thoughts and suggestions on how service-members can find recovery and bring others into the rooms of recovery. 

Website: recoverycommunitynetwork.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rcnveteransinrecovery

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