The Recovery First Podcast with Mike Todd "We In Recovery Have Been Given A Special Gift"The Recovery First Podcast with Mike Todd "We In Recovery Have Been Given A Special Gift"
The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast by Freedom Recovery Services of Greenville
Mike Todd reflects on recovery as a “special gift”, sharing stories of connection at a national conference and how lived experience can calm crises and save lives. He also explains the work of the South Carolina Recovery Housing Association in supporting recovery housing and expanding naloxone access.
15:04•29 Sept 2021
A Special Gift: Mike Todd on Recovery Voices, Connection and Housing
Episode Overview
- People in recovery carry a unique gift that can reach others who are struggling in ways few others can.
- Shared lived experiences, such as childhood trauma or family imprisonment, can create instant and powerful connections.
- Calm, compassionate support during crises often comes from having been through similar situations before.
- Living recovery out loud helps others recognise safe people and can provide comfort, hope and encouragement.
- The South Carolina Recovery Housing Association focuses on supporting operators and ensuring naloxone and training are standard in recovery homes.
“Remember, we are the light. We are the voice of recovery.”
What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? Mike Todd answers that with a mix of humour, honesty and some seriously moving moments in this episode of The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast. Fresh from the Mobilize Recovery conference, Mike chats about meeting advocates from across the United States who are, as he puts it, “boots on the ground doing this work” – from housing and harm reduction to peer support and family outreach.
He reflects on how people in recovery carry a “special gift” that helps them reach others who are struggling with substance use disorder or mental illness in a way few others can. A big part of the episode centres on connection. Mike recalls instantly relating to fellow attendee Carlia Summers when she shared that her father first went to prison when she was 11 – a detail that mirrored his own childhood.
That shared experience, he explains, is exactly how people in recovery often build trust and understanding. He then shares a powerful story about a woman having a seizure at the conference. Drawing on his own lived experience of his wife’s seizures, Mike calmly supported her until paramedics arrived. Later, at a concert, she recognised his voice and thanked him, telling him how safe she felt.
For Mike, this becomes proof that “when we have a recovery voice… they will see us as comfort.” The episode also touches on the South Carolina Recovery Housing Association, why recovery housing has shifted from informal shared living to a full-blown industry, and how that brings both opportunity and exploitation. Mike explains how the association works to support housing operators, secure naloxone for every house, and train residents in its use.
This one’s aimed at anyone in recovery, allies, or people working in support roles who want a reminder that their story, their voice and their presence really do matter. How are you using your gift of recovery today?
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