Just Talkin' - w/ Amanda and HadleyJust Talkin' - w/ Amanda and Hadley
Crosstalk by Turning Point is a recovery focused podcast. We discuss addiction, recovery, harm reduction and everything in-between.
Nathan, Amanda and Hadley chat about recent changes at Turning Point, focusing on staff wellbeing, busy meetings and lively community events. The conversation highlights how fun, family-friendly activities and peer support help make recovery feel welcoming and sustainable.
29:15•11 May 2026
Just Talkin’ with Amanda and Hadley: Life, Laughter and Community at Turning Point
Episode Overview
- Protecting staff wellbeing with new Monday–Friday hours helps them be more present and effective for participants.
- Key meetings such as jam nights and the Women of Worth group are growing, offering safe and welcoming spaces.
- Family- and dog-friendly policies help people feel included and able to attend recovery activities together.
- Large community events like taco nights, the Recovery Walk and cookouts show that recovery can be fun and social.
- Volunteers and a strong sense of team unity are crucial to making Turning Point’s recovery events successful.
“"You can't pour from an empty cup."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This laid-back chat from Crosstalk keeps things real as Nathan Brockett sits down with Turning Point team members Amanda Wiersma and Hadley Pinner to talk about what’s happening on the ground at their recovery community centre.
Instead of focusing on one person’s story, the trio shine a light on day-to-day recovery support: shorter opening hours that protect staff mental health, the importance of having two proper days off, and why "you can't pour from an empty cup" has become a bit of a team mantra. Amanda and Hadley share how the new schedule means they’re more present in one‑to‑ones and better able to respond when participants are in crisis during the week.
You’ll also hear plenty about Turning Point’s buzzing community vibe. From jam nights and a packed taco evening that fed over 90 people, to the growing Women of Worth meeting drawing around 40 women, there’s a strong focus on connection, safety and feeling wanted. Hadley talks about candlelit meetings where women open up more easily, while Nathan laughs about dogs, babies and people all sharing the same space – exactly what he wants recovery to look like.
Events like rock painting for the recovery rock garden, the big annual Recovery Walk at Noble Park, and the "Suns Out, Buns Out" cookout show how much fun can be had alcohol-free. The team keep circling back to one theme: recovery doesn’t have to be boring, and community really can feel like family.
If you’ve ever wondered what a welcoming, peer-led recovery hub looks like in real life, this conversation might make you ask yourself: where could you find (or help build) something similar in your own area?
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