What happens when a childhood dream meets lived experience? In this episode of As I, A Peer, Jeff Turner speaks with Priscilla Cherry, the force behind The Oratory.

Priscilla shares her story of growing up with big dreams, facing the realities of childhood PTSD and ADHD, and discovering the life-changing power of peer support. From helping shape Recovery College to creating a groundbreaking show that blends entertainment with mental health dialogue, Priscilla shows how personal struggle can spark collective healing.

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we meet Bruce, now a Peer Support Practice Lead, whose journey reflects loss, resilience, and the power of community.

Growing up in Calgary, Bruce experienced early loss, family challenges, and the weight of feeling different. As a teen, substances became a way to cope, leading to years of struggle that carried into adulthood. His turning point came in 2004, when he chose to change his lifestyle and began rebuilding his life one step at a time.

Through volunteering and later working in peer support, Bruce discovered how his lived experience could become a source of strength for others. Today, he leads with empathy and honesty, helping to build supportive systems that remind people they are not alone and that healing is possible.

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we sit down with Melanie Vernon, a chronic pain peer support worker, mental health advocate, and CMHA Calgary School of Peer Support alum.

Melanie shares her deeply personal story of growing up in a household where everything looked perfect from the outside, but inside was a world shaped by trauma, neglect, and survival. As the “good kid” in a family consumed by chaos, Melanie learned to shrink her needs, bury her pain in novels and food and seek validation in unsafe places, all while carrying more than her share of emotional weight.

From childhood bullying and disordered eating to navigating abuse and chronic illness, Melanie opens up about what it means to live with invisible pain, both emotional and physical. Her journey to healing wasn’t linear. But through therapy, medication, and eventually discovering the power of peer support, Melanie began reclaiming her story.

Now, as a peer supporting others with chronic pain across Alberta, Melanie brings empathy, honesty, and lived experience to every conversation, reminding us that being seen and believed can be life-changing. She reflects on what it meant to finally do something just for herself, how it felt to find community, and why she’s committed to showing her kids that it’s okay to feel, to grow, and to heal.

Join us as Melanie reminds us that resilience isn’t about never breaking down — it’s about discovering that you’re worthy of care, just as you are.