I’m Justin McPadden. My recovery date is 3-16-18. I was trapped for 23 years in a vicious cycle of my addiction. I thought I was just made like this and there wasn’t any change that would fix me. All my past experiences was the way I was and everyone was to blame. Only when I surrendered and started taking a hard look at the real problem did things change. Thank God for that change. I started a group and non profit called The Hope Shot in Florida where do do exactly like Recovery Revolution and do podcasts weekly. It has gave me even more purpose and the ability to give back. I’m grateful for this life today.
Randy is a person living in long term recovery and what that means to him is, he hasn’t used drugs, alcohol, or any mood-altering substance since January 9, 2005. After receiving the life-saving gift of recovery, Randy completed his A.S. degree in addiction counseling and a B.A. in human services and worked as a full-time addiction counselor for two years at Eden House Recovery Services – the very same treatment facility where he was once a patient. A formerly incarcerated person sentenced to 87 months in prison as a first non-violent drug user, Randy is a nationally recognized advocate for recovery and justice reform. He served on the board of directors for the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition. There he was given the opportunity to testify during the 2015/2016 legislative session in front of several legislative committees during the drug sentencing reform hearings. Because of his testimony – and that of others – MN had the most significant change in drug sentencing in nearly three decades. He is grateful to know because of those sentencing guideline changes, approximately 700 less people will be incarcerated yearly because they have a treatable disease. He lives with his wife and cat in Golden Valley, MN. In March 2019 Randy decided to follow his passion and venture out on his own and started Bold North Recovery and Consulting.
Johnny Crowder is a suicide/abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, Billboard-charting heavy metal musician, and the Founder & CEO of Cope Notes, a text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to users in nearly 100 countries around the world.
But in the years leading up to these incredible leaps in advocacy, every day was a battle against schizophrenic hallucinations and suicidal ideation. After a lifetime of resisting professional care and shying away from sharing his story, Johnny’s curiosity flowered, and the healing slowly began.
Armed with 10 years of clinical treatment, a psychology degree from the University of Central Florida, and a decade of peer support and public advocacy through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Johnny’s youthful vigor for mental health has impacted millions of lives across the globe.
Since his first keynote in 2011, Johnny’s refreshingly vulnerable and candid perspective has attracted praise from hundreds of outlets, including Upworthy, CNN, and Forbes.
Even when commanding a virtual stage or touring with his metal band, Prison, his infectious positivity and firsthand experience with multiple mental illnesses (ranging from bipolar disorder and PTSD to OCD and beyond) uniquely equip him to provide realistic, yet hopeful insight into the pains of hardship with authenticity, levity, and unconventional wit.
Francesca Reicherter is the Founder and President of Inspiring My Generation, a 501(c)3 in support of mental health awareness and suicide prevention. She holds an MS in Information Systems and Operations Management from the University of Florida and is a current MA in Psychology student at Pepperdine University. Inspired by her mental health journey, Francesca works to make resources and information accessible. In 2021, Francesca published, “You Are Not Alone: The Workbook,” as a guide to help the reader build a coping toolbox. In 2022, Francesca published “I AM,” an interactive workbook to help the reader build the tools needed to advocate for their mental health. Dedicated to ending the stigma, Francesca hosts Normalize The Conversation, a podcast series amplifying the voices of mental health professionals, advocates, and any individual interested in sharing their story. In addition to developing resources, Fran is a speaker spreading hope, most known for her keynote speech at NAMI CA 2022 Annual Youth Conference. Her work has been widely recognized in national publications, including New York Weekly, LA Wire, US Reporter, Chicago Journal, and more!
My name is Brittany and I am an advocate,volunteer and a Family Recovery Coach for families who have loved ones with a substance use disorder. I live with my partner who is a person who is actively seeking treatment for an alcohol use disorder. I am a trained facilitator for a family support group called Invitation to change based on the book Beyond Addiction how science and kindness help people change. It’s a program that uses science and evidence based research to help family members help their loved ones who may have an addiction, it is an alternative approach to the traditional al anon program. This program allows families to help a person with an addiction and supports both families and their loved ones. It steers clear of using such labels as a codependent and an enabler. This is a great stigma that families face who have a loved one with an addiction. My goal is to educate our communities in this new approach and help break that stigma that families and their loved ones face. People do recover and families can help.
