In this opening episode of Calling in the Healers, host Nick Pineda sits down with Cris—great-grandmother, sponsor, and longtime member of the Lawrence recovery community—for a conversation that is equal parts laughter and tears. It's about being honest and showing up for yourself so that others can do the same.

Together, they reflect on what it means to say yes to change, the role of truth-telling in recovery, and why healing is a lifelong, relational practice—not something we earn or perform. Cris shares how a pivotal boundary from her therapist led her to her first recovery meeting, how she grew into the role of sponsor for others, and how she brings an "attitude of gratitude" wherever she goes.

This episode is a reminder that we don’t need to be perfect to be powerful—and that some of the most transformative work in a community happens quietly, through honest friendship and steady presence.

In this conversation, we explore:

• What it means to begin a healing journey later at any stage of life

• How the recovery community models a different kind of leadership

• The difference between saving others and walking alongside them

• Why “taking the cape off” might be the most powerful thing we can do

🎧 Listen now and explore what recovery, honesty, and healing mean in your own life.

🔗 Resources and local support info are in the show notes.
📍 Recorded at the Lawrence Public Library, on ancestral Kaw, Osage, and Shawnee land.