Join host Heather Venegas on King County Recovery Conversations as she sits down with Ty Reed, founder of Recovery Career Services and Washington State’s reentry manager with the Employment Security Department. Ty opens up about his journey from addiction, homelessness, and incarceration to becoming a passionate advocate for second chance hiring and recovery career services. His story sheds light on the struggles faced by people re-entering society, the vital role employment plays in recovery, and how employers can help break stigma and support thriving careers.

In this episode, Ty dispels myths around hiring people with lived experience and explores the power of purpose, peer support, and workplace mentorship in sustainable recovery. Heather and Ty discuss real success stories—and the practical tools and resources available for organizations and individuals. Listen to discover what gives Ty hope for the future of recovery and reentry work in King County, and how each of us can be part of a more inclusive, resilient workforce.

Resources from the episode:

• Visit Ty Reed’s website: https://recoveryandwork.org/

• Find Ty Reed’s book “Second Chance Hiring” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/awtrLQW

• Connect with Ty Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyreedmba/

• Learn more about Behavioral Health Apprenticeships: https://behavioralhealthapprenticeship.org/

• Learn more about King County Recovery Coalition and the work they do ⁠here⁠: https://www.kcrecovery.org/

• The King County Recovery Coalition is a regional coalition of the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA). Learn more about the WRA and the work they do ⁠here⁠: https://www.washingtonrecoveryalliance.org/

• 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: https://www.warecoveryhelpline.org/

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 experts, program professionals, and those 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 available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you're someone seeking recovery, someone in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you.

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

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

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/king-county-recovery/message