Local recovery podcast makes waves

The stories recollect pain and trauma — and at the same time hope, frequently with a lot of laughter mixed in. Speakers share coming-of-age stories, as well as stories of life-changing moments. They talk of building — or rebuilding — relationships with others; of learning how to parent amid mental health challenges; of finding a sense of purpose in new employment, or healing through artistic pursuits. Every other week, community members with experience in mental health, substance use or trauma recovery share their stories on the "i am somebody" podcast, produced in Findlay as a collaboration of Focus Recovery and Wellness Community, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hancock County, and LGBTQ+ Spectrum of Findlay. The idea developed out of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Focus executive director Cayla Fortman. Leaders wanted to get the message of recovery out there but were unable to do so in person, so the podcast was created to allow people to listen on their own time. The first podcast was shared in late July 2021. Since then, over a dozen have followed. Co-hosts are Larry Betts, technology lead at Focus, and Bailey Kerr, former director of programs for NAMI Hancock County. Focus received a grant from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation to purchase recording equipment. Associated Charities also provided support. Betts, who is also responsible for editing and uploading each episode, has worked for almost three years at the nonprofit center for people in recovery from mental health, substance use or trauma issues. But despite his familiarity with that world, "every single one" of the podcast episodes changes and deepens his knowledge of recovery. "Recovery's like a constant thing," Betts said. "You never stop." 'People you see every day' Indeed, Ellyn, who tells her story in the podcast, says healing is "not a box you check." She likened the process to climbing up Mount Everest, where you start at base camp before making your way further up. At first, she said, she was walking around and around the base of the mountain digging a hole because "I didn't know that I could look up." Today, Ellyn said, she gets to "be a whole person," much younger than she might at, say, retirement, because she has gone through this recovery journey. Fortman said at first, organizers weren't sure how many people wished to tell their stories on the podcast. But they have received about 40 applications so far, and more keep coming in. (As of early February. "i am somebody" had released 14 episodes, and had about 1,300 listens.) The very first story featured was that of a prominent local business owner. Fortman said shared experiences like that may help people realize there are many such people in our community who they might not realize are in recovery. "These are community members," Fortman said. "These are people you see every day." The project emphasizes that there are multiple pathways to recovery. Organizers aren't soliciting any one type of story, but have received diverse comments about how people seek and maintain recovery. And Betts noted that while each episode and each story is different, "there are connecting threads." Betts said one of the most exciting things for him has been witnessing "that glimmer of hope that we find within each person we talk to." And, he said, this may help listeners to "get that little piece of hope themselves. ... That's probably what I'm most excited about." Listeners will also gain some education on mental health and substance use terminology, as well as treatment. For example, listeners can learn a little about eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, a technique used to treat trauma; as well as emotional support animals. At the end of every episode, a variety of resources are listed including Focus and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Transforming into its own entity Artist Amber Kear of Hysteria Company was brought on to build a brand for the project and create a plan for strategic marketing. (The social media and posters also include the work of Alana Sundermann, now a Focus employee who Kear mentored as a student at the University of Findlay.) Since Focus is peer-led, Kear sought feedback on what it feels like to be on this journey of recovery, and the organization's "vision of the image." "I can relate to being in that recovery process myself," Kear added. The butterfly logo the team came up with is simple, "but also a little messy. … Because recovery is a little bit messy sometimes," Kear said. She noted that the butterfly represents "transformation." "We have purposefully made all the content made for our project in all lowercase, to make the statement with a bit of kindness and softness in the delivery of each message," she added. As for the name, Kear said when people are using substances, doubting themselves or feeling anxious, "we kind of forget that we are human and that we are somebody." Kear painted a butterfly on the exterior wall of Focus' Trenton Avenue office, through an Awakening Minds Art project funded through a Marianna Hofer Endowment grant. Visitors are encouraged to take a photo in front of the mural, sharing it with the hashtags #iamsomebody and #artmakesmeconnected This spring, the team will launch the Butterfly Effect Campaign, a stencil project allowing local businesses, organizations and residents to "visually and actively show their support to de-stigmatize trauma, mental health, and substance use within the work place, public spaces and places, and in within our homes." In April, Kear will guide Focus participants to create the art using chalk spray paint, so as not to be permanent. A semipermanent stencil will be offered as well. Donations are encouraged but not required. To sign up to get a stencil, contact Focus at 419-423-5071. The "i am somebody team" is selling items with the logo, such as T-shirts and beanies, aiming to create a sustained funding stream. They are also seeking grants, and hope to receive donations. Kear said the goal is that "i am somebody" becomes its own entity, a true community platform and not just a project of Focus, NAMI and Spectrum. There is no planned end point. Fortman said the goal is to keep producing "i am somebody" as long as possible. "i am somebody" is available at https://focusrwc.org/iamsomebody/ and on Spotify, Amazon Music, Anchor, Apple podcasts, Breaker, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Pocket Casts and RadioPublic. Arthurs: 419-427-8494