Back from Broken

Colorado Public Radio

Back From Broken is an interview series about what it takes to recover from the biggest challenge of your life -- and what others can learn from your adversity. Colorado Public Radio’s Vic Vela, an award-winning journalist who’s also a recovering drug addict, hosts the podcast.

Vic talks with guests about challenges like substance abuse, mental illness, gambling addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. Each story describes the highest highs, the darkest moments and what it takes to make a comeback. It’s a raw, empathetic show that’s ultimately about hope -- and how recovery is possible.

Colorado Public Radio

21hr 16min

She was a devout Mormon who fell in love with another woman and found herself traumatized by conversion therapy. This is her recovery story.

April 2, 202135min 15sec50.84 MB

The season ends with Vic Vela coming to terms with one of the biggest health scares of his life.

August 25, 202335min 47sec51.87 MB

Thumbnail for "Matthew & Steven Fisher".

This is the story of how a father and son found recovery and healed their rocky relationship.

August 18, 202335min 36sec51.46 MB

Khadi Oluwatoyin created her own recovery group for Black women and nonbinary folks to help others — and herself — through recovery.

August 11, 202330min 36sec44.32 MB

After a successful NFL career, Aaron Taylor had to come to terms with his alcohol addiction and heal the childhood trauma he had never addressed.

August 4, 202343min 49sec63.41 MB

How singer-songwriter Pebe Sebert found recovery and helped her daughter, Kesha, find success.

July 28, 202331min 43sec45.83 MB

When Natalie Hodges started down the path of becoming a professional violinist, debilitating performance anxiety put a wrench in her dreams. But it helped her discover the root of her problems -- and put her on the road to recovery.

July 21, 202334min 59sec50.51 MB

In the darkest moment of professional baseball player Drew Robinson's life, he realized he was here for good reasons, and he committed to living.

July 14, 202330min 33sec44.15 MB

Like her father, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, Carnie Wilson found solace and joy in music, but also issues with addiction. With the help of her community, she rose from her darkest place.

July 7, 202332min 3sec46.47 MB

Thumbnail for "Trailer: Get Ready For Season 4!".

We’re back with more stories about the highest highs, the darkest moments and what it takes to make a comeback.

June 23, 20232min 9sec3.12 MB

Thumbnail for "Jackie Wallace & Ted Jackson".

The powerful story of the friendship between a former NFL player facing the long journey of recovery and the photojournalist who refused to let him slip away.

April 29, 202237min 50sec54.63 MB

Morgan Sinclair wrestled with his identity as a trans man growing up. He turned to drugs to numb his feelings, and struggled with addiction. As a teen, he found a way to recover and heal.

April 22, 202231min 1sec44.79 MB

Thumbnail for "Lissa Yellow Bird-Chase".

Lissa Yellow Bird-Chase's spiritual path to recovery is memorable and moving.

April 15, 202233min 24sec48.27 MB

Leah V was in a relationship that was tumultuous and, at times, abusive. But therapy changed her life and allowed her to heal.

April 8, 202235min 47sec51.67 MB

Actor Jim Belushi on coping with grief and finding a way to move forward.

March 25, 202227min 41sec39.88 MB

"Grey's Anatomy" star Lynn Chen struggled with an eating disorder, but found an unusual way to get help and heal.

March 18, 202240min 58sec59.15 MB

At an early age, Shane Price realized he could pour on the charm with women, and at 16 years old he started his career as a pimp. After a violent incident left him shaken, Shane made changes to his life.

March 11, 202233min 40sec48.59 MB

Tierre Caldwell spent time in a violent gang and developed addictions to drugs and alcohol as a teen. When he wound up in prison, he had to face his demons and find a way to stop using.

March 4, 202232min 2sec46.25 MB

Thumbnail for "Trailer: Season 3 Is On The Way!".

When we can meet each other with empathy and compassion, we can find hope. That is exactly what Back from Broken is all about -- and why we’re coming back for a third season.

February 18, 20223min 12sec4.62 MB

Hunter Biden’s struggle with addiction has been intense — and very public. But with the support of his family, including President Joe Biden, Hunter found the help he needed.

April 30, 202141min 9sec59.58 MB

Kevin Griffin found his own way to embrace recovery using ideas he borrowed from Buddhism, and he wrote a book about it that helped others -- including Vic Vela -- overcome their own challenges.

April 23, 202136min 16sec52.48 MB

A decision Tracie Lechman made when she was 16 would haunt her for the rest of her life. This is how she overcame trauma and addiction in her journey to recover.

April 16, 202131min44.89 MB

Matthew Jarvis grew up with parents who fought violently at times. It set the stage for years of bad relationships and addiction -- until he found a way forward.

April 9, 202134min 4sec49.16 MB

As both a student and a teacher, Jessica Dueñas found a sanctuary in the classroom. But her alcoholism made her reevaluate her priorities -- and the career she loved.

March 26, 202133min 33sec48.38 MB

John Evans was a struggling veteran dealing with years of PTSD and addiction until he found help.

March 19, 202129min 9sec42.18 MB

One of the happiest moments of Catherine Cho's life turned ugly when she developed postpartum psychosis. This is how she made it through.

March 12, 202130min 11sec43.56 MB

Writer and comedian Sara Benincasa travels the world speaking about her struggle with agoraphobia -- as well as family, addiction and humor.

March 5, 202134min 10sec49.4 MB

Chef and TV host Andrew Zimmern struggled for years with alcoholism -- until he found a new way forward.

February 26, 202132min 30sec47.05 MB

Thumbnail for "Trailer: Season 2 Starts Soon!".

Last season we told stories of life's challenges. Of recovery and hope. And you listened! So we're coming back.

February 10, 20213min 4sec4.45 MB

Thumbnail for "Presenting: The Long Lonely Lake".

In this special episode, Colorado Public Radio reporter Dan Boyce uses interviews with friends and family, plus a fishing trip, to piece together lost memories from his own mental breakdown.

December 22, 202043min 6sec62.08 MB

Thumbnail for "Jake "The Snake" Roberts".

Jake "The Snake" Roberts was one of the most famous pro wrestlers of the 1980s. He had a massive following. But behind the scenes he was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and haunted by childhood abuse. This is the story of how Jake "The Snake" turned things around.

June 26, 202037min 13sec53.71 MB

Paul Scudo had a passion for the hospitality business, and a longtime drug addiction. What happened next led Paul to turn his life around -- and eventually use that wisdom to help some of the most desperate addicts in Colorado get their lives back on track.

June 12, 202033min 38sec48.8 MB

Hear Keri Blakinger's journey from the edge of athletic stardom, to the depths of her addiction, to a new career that puts her in the national spotlight for something entirely different.

May 29, 202025min 46sec37.55 MB

Andy Bellatti couldn't resist the lights and sounds of a slot machine. Then he hit bottom -- and that led him to confront the demons that fueled his gambling addiction, and finally get help.

May 15, 202032min 57sec47.55 MB

Dana Smith has a unusual job: She helps people in recovery reach their potential at a gym dedicated to sobriety and fitness. This is the story of how she overcame her own addiction, found new purpose in life after a horrific accident, and built a career she loves.

May 1, 202027min 51sec40.19 MB

The Lumineers' latest album deals with the pain of addiction and substance abuse. In this intimate live episode, the band members share three of those songs and the stories that inspired them.

April 17, 202039min 11sec56.68 MB

Vic gives a first-person account of cocaine addiction, and shows there's hope for everyone who longs to make a comeback.

April 3, 202038min 52sec56.38 MB

She's one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But behind the scenes, Chamique Holdsclaw struggled with mental health problems and bipolar disorder.

March 20, 202034min 27sec49.73 MB

A random car crash ended David Mellor's hopes of pitching in the major leagues, and led to years of sleepless nights. What happened next changed his life forever.

March 6, 202030min 51sec44.73 MB

Anders Osborne is a talented singer, blues guitarist and songwriter from New Orleans. He was dependent on alcohol for years, and it nearly destroyed his career and family. Anders opens up about his struggles with addiction, explains how he got sober and shares songs about those experiences.

February 21, 202035min 37sec51.68 MB

Thumbnail for "Trailer: Back from Broken".

A podcast about the highest highs, the darkest moments and what it takes to make a comeback.

February 7, 20203min 3sec4.5 MB

Elena Joy Thurston

April 2, 202135min 15sec

Elena Joy Thurston was a devout Mormon, and took her faith seriously. Then she fell in love with another woman, and found herself in punishing sessions of what's often called conversion therapy -- a process meant to turn gay people straight. Elena shares the story of how she handled that trauma, learned to accept herself and ultimately find love.

Back From Broken is a show about how we are all broken sometimes, and how we need help from time to time. If you’re struggling, you can find a list of resources at BackFromBroken.org.

Host: Vic Vela
Lead producer: Jo Erickson
Editor: Dennis Funk
Producers: Luis Antonio Perez, Rebekah Romberg
Music: Daniel Mescher, Brad Turner
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Rachel Estabrook

Thanks also to Hart van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Matt Herz, Martin Skavish, Kim Nguyen, Francie Swidler.

BackFromBroken.org
On Twitter: @VicVela1