Real Talk Recovery

The Art of Holding Space: Creating Emotionally Safe and Inclusive Environments in Peer Support

Today on Real Talk Recovery, we are honored to welcome a truly powerful voice in the field of peer support and advocacy: Rena Williams.
Rena is a dedicated peer whose honorable lived experience fuels her mission to create safer, more inclusive spaces for healing. Carrying the bold and urgent message "End Human Trafficking," she stands at the frontlines as both a survivor and advocate, using her journey to bring hope and accountability to the work we do in recovery.
Your expertise and story would bring tremendous value to our listeners, especially around topics such as:
Creating emotionally safe environments in peer supportThe conversation was so good that we only touched on one topic! 
Part two is coming soon!
 

8 Dimensions of Healing: Real Self-Care for Real Recovery

In this episode of Real Talk Recovery, we’re diving deep into the 8 Dimensions of Wellness but we’re keeping it real. This ain’t the sugar-coated version. We’re talking about how to use each area of wellness to take your healing and confidence to the next level especially if you’re recovering from addiction, trauma, or both.
If you’re trying to get your life together, build back your self-worth, and stay grounded in your purpose this one’s for you.
💬 Tap in.🧠 Reflect.🛠 Apply the tools.You got this, stepper.
👇 Drop your wins and challenges in the comments.📌 Follow for more raw recovery truth.

Beyond the Badge: Certifications & What They Don’t Teach

Degrees, licenses, and certificates look good on paper, but recovery work is deeper than what's taught in training. In this episode, Miss Mo peels back the layers of what it really takes to do the work. From lived experience to street wisdom, we’re talking about the tools they don’t give you in class. Because in this field, healing happens in the real world not just the textbooks.
Miss Mo sits down with special guest Dorraiyah Miller a powerhouse in the recovery field with both professional credentials and deep lived experience. Together, they dive into the real-world lessons that don’t come in a training manual.
From emotional labor to street wisdom, from cultural humility to burnout, this episode is a wake-up call for anyone doing the work. Because the truth is, the most powerful tools in recovery aren’t always taught they’re earned through life, loss, and love for the people.
Whether you’re a Case Manager, peer, or just passionate about healing, this conversation is for the ones walking it like they talk it.
What training does give you and what it doesn’t
Lived experience as a qualification (and why it matters)
The emotional labor of being a peer or provider
Boundaries, burnout & being human in this work
How to hold space without holding the whole weight
Cultural humility vs. cultural competency
Why textbook language doesn’t always land in the trenches
Street smarts, intuition, and trauma-informed instincts
Lessons from the field: wins, wounds, and wake-up calls
What "professional" looks like through a real lens

Dual Diagnosis, Double Stigma: Real Talk on Recovery. Addressing the unique challenges of co-occurring mental health and substance use.

In this powerful episode of Real Talk Recovery, Miss Mo is joined by special guest Tori Smith to open up about the real-life struggles of living with a dual diagnosis — and the double stigma that too often comes with it. Together, they explore what true recovery looks like when you’re navigating both mental health and addiction challenges.
From the power of peer support to the need for integrated care, this episode brings heart, honesty, and hope for anyone walking the path of dual recovery.
🔍 Topics include:• What dual diagnosis really means• The shame of double stigma• Why both issues must be treated together• Lived experience as leadership• Tools and hope for healing
🎙️ Tap in for real talk, real stories, and real support.

"The Phoenix Rises: Owning Your Story" Honoring growth, rebirth, and resilience through storytelling.

In this powerful episode of Real Talk Recovery, we dive into the fire and rise from it with guest speaker Dee Venom—artist, truth-teller, and survivor. Together, we explore the raw, unapologetic power of reclaiming your story after trauma, addiction, identity struggle, or injustice.
The Phoenix Rises is more than a metaphor—it’s a movement. It’s about turning pain into purpose, surviving the fall, and building something beautiful from the ashes.
🎙️ Topics we cover in this episode:
Using trauma as fuel for transformation
Owning your truth in a world that silences it
Rebuilding identity through culture and creativity
The power of storytelling in recovery and resistance
Community healing and speaking scars into strength

Becoming the Resource, You Once Needed

 Episode Description:
In this inspiring episode of Real Talk Recovery, Miss Mo reflects on the journey from being the one who needed support to becoming the one who now offers it — with skill, heart, and purpose.
She shares what it takes to become a peer recovery specialist, including the certifications, trainings, and lived experiences that shape the role. But beyond the credentials, Miss Mo dives into the emotional and spiritual transformation that comes with stepping into service — especially as someone who’s walked the path herself.
Whether you're considering peer support work, already in the field, or simply passionate about recovery, this episode is a tribute to those who turn their healing into help for others. It’s about becoming the person you once wished you had — and doing it with authenticity, courage, and compassion.
 Topics Covered:
What it means to become a peer recovery specialist
Key certifications, including CRM II, Forensic Peer, and more
The heart behind peer work: lived experience as leadership
Balancing professionalism with authenticity
The emotional rewards and challenges of showing up for others
Encouragement for those called to be a resource in recovery
Live video available, subscribe: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CJZkJYP7F/

We Heal Together: The Power of Shared Experience

Episode Description:
Healing isn’t meant to happen in isolation — it’s rooted in connection, trust, and community. In this heartfelt episode of Real Talk Recovery, Miss Mo dives into the power of shared experience in peer recovery spaces.
Drawing from her work as a Certified Recovery Mentor and Master Peer Leader, she shares how healing deepens when people feel seen, heard, and understood by someone who’s walked a similar path. This episode highlights the unique strength of peer support — not as a service for someone, but a journey with them.
Whether it’s in one-on-one peer work, group facilitation, or culturally specific circles, Miss Mo shows how community creates the conditions for true transformation.
 Topics Covered:
The role of shared experience in peer support
How connection fosters emotional safety and trust
Stories of healing through community and peer groups
Why “me too” moments matter in recovery
Moving from isolation to shared resilience

Culturally Rooted Recovery: Why It Matters

In this episode of Real Talk Recovery with Miss Mo, we dive deep into the power of culturally specific support in recovery — especially for individuals and families living with dual diagnoses.
Miss Mo shares her experience facilitating groups for culturally diverse peers and families, and explains why recovery that honors culture, identity, and community history isn’t just important — it’s essential. From language and traditions to trauma and trust, she explores the real-world impact of culturally responsive peer work and how it builds stronger, safer healing spaces.
We also talk about the harm of “one-size-fits-all” approaches, and how peer leaders can make recovery more inclusive, empowering, and effective for people of color, marginalized communities, and those with complex mental health and addiction histories.
Guest Speaker: Adonis Ursery 
 Topics Covered:
What culturally rooted recovery looks like
Supporting dual-diagnosis peers and families with cultural care
How generational trauma and healing intersect
Why representation matters in peer support
Creating safe, affirming spaces for underserved communities
The power of cultural identity in the recovery journey
 

What is a Peer, really?

Miss Mo breaks it all the way down — not just from a professional lens, but from the lived experience that makes peer support so powerful. She shares what defines a peer support specialist, how this role shows up in both mental health and addiction recovery spaces, and why it’s different from clinical or traditional care.
Through her own story and years of service, Miss Mo highlights how peers walk with people, not ahead of them — creating space for connection, empowerment, and healing rooted in trust. She also shares why cultural awareness and authenticity are non-negotiable in peer work, especially for those navigating dual diagnoses or generational trauma.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes peer support unique, or if you’re stepping into this work yourself, this episode is your foundation.
 Topics Covered:
The core values of peer support: empathy, equality, empowerment
The difference between peers and clinicians
Certification vs. lived experience — and why both matter
Cultural responsiveness in peer support roles
Why peer support is critical to recovery at every stage
Real-life examples of peer work in action

From Surviving to Leading: The Path of a Master Peer

In this powerful and personal kickoff episode, Miss Mo opens up about her own transformation — from surviving the storms of addiction, mental health struggles, and life’s traumas, to becoming a recognized leader in the peer recovery world.
With vulnerability and insight, she walks us through the lived experience that laid the foundation for her purpose, the certifications that sharpened her skills, and the calling that led her to become a Master Peer Leader, as recognized by MHACBO.
We explore what leadership looks like in recovery spaces, especially when it’s built not on titles, but on truth. Miss Mo breaks down the balance between being a peer and a professional, the emotional labor of walking with others in their healing, and how cultural relevance and community have shaped her entire path.
This episode is more than a story — it’s a call to rise. A reminder that healing is possible, leadership is earned through service, and our scars can become sacred spaces where others find hope.
Topics Covered:
The real-life journey of becoming a Master Peer
Lived experience as a leadership tool
Key certifications and what they’ve added
Walking the line: peer, leader, healer
Cultural identity in peer recovery work
Encouragement for anyone on the path from hurt to healing