Engaging a Community for Recovery

Engaging a Community for Recovery

What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? Beyond Substance answers that by shining a light on how one county in Indiana turns pain into connection and action. Hosted by Dean Babcock and Jodi Miller, this episode looks at storytelling as a practical tool for communities facing substance use, overdose, and stigma.

You’ll first hear from filmmaker Lisa Dotson Hall, who moved to Brown County and soon realised, as she puts it, that she was “one decision away from wearing green and white stripes.” Her time listening to women in jail led to The Addict’s Wake, a documentary built from honest, uncoached interviews.

As Lisa says, “We just let people be transparent in telling their journey and their stories,” and the result became a catalyst for town‑hall screenings, panel discussions, and local action. The conversation digs into how she raised funds from scratch, persuaded people in power to back the project, and used an “impact guide” so other towns could host meaningful community screenings.

There’s a clear message: you don’t have to be a policy expert to get people in a room and start talking. In the second half, Jodi shares the story of John Cunningham, who has 14 years in recovery and created Recover Out Loud after finding traditional meetings didn’t quite fit.

John explains how a 30‑year plea bargain forced him to ask who he was without substances, and how simple acts like reading, journalling and finding “pockets of community” became his lifeline.

Today, strangers stop him in shops to say they’ve seen the film, and he credits the documentary with giving him “a platform that has far surpassed any thought I could have had.” If you’ve ever wondered whether one person’s story can really move a whole community, this episode might have you rethinking what’s possible where you live.