Description

Welcome to King County Recovery Conversations - a podcast dedicated to sharing hope, resilience, and healing for people living with substance use disorder.

Host Heather Venegas is a rock star in this space. She is a servant leader in long-term recovery and has lived experience with both substance use and mental health. Heather joined the King County Recovery Coalition in 2018 as its first director. 

Every two weeks, Heather invites a new guest to share stories designed to bring awareness, strength, and hope to the recovery community in western Washington. 

Heather’s inaugural guest is Lauren Davis, founding director of the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA). Lauren describes why the WRA was founded, what its goals are, and how vital it is in putting a face on recovery, especially when it comes to funding crucial programs. Lauren also tells how a friend convinced her to run for and win a seat in the Washington State Legislature and how that has changed her role in bringing awareness to recovery and mental health support.

Listen to the full episode here: King County Recovery Conversations on Spotify

Resources from the episode: 

1. Learn more about the Washington Recovery Alliance and the work they do here. 
2. Want to get involved with the WRA? Click here to become a member, volunteer, or donate to help change hearts and minds around mental health and substance use disorder in Washington state. 
3. Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn. 
4. Connect with show host Heather Venegas on LinkedIn. 
5. If you are experiencing substance use disorder, problem gambling, and/or a mental health challenge, please visit the Washington Recovery Helpline for resources and a 24-hour helpline.

King County Recovery Conversations is a podcast on a mission to celebrate recovery and help break the stigma of addiction and mental health.  In each episode, policy and program experts with lived experience join host Heather Venegas to share stories of hope, resilience, and healing in our community. Together, we’ll learn about the various pathways to recovery – and the services and support systems that are available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you're someone in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you. 

Connect with King County Recovery Coalition on Facebook (@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition) or YouTube (@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition). 

If you have feedback or show ideas, contact host Heather Venegas at heather@kcrecovery.org.