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Podathon For Recovery: Kayla G’s Road to Recovery
Manage episode 504132344 series 2968201
In this Podathon for Recovery episode, co-hosted with Wendy Beck, Kayla G shares how an emotional plea—“try harder”—and a brutal bottom pushed her to choose recovery, detox at home during COVID, and rebuild her life through Narcotics Anonymous. Now five years clean, a mom and a certified peer recovery specialist, Kayla advocates for mothers in Baltimore City navigating CPS and the courts, bringing empathy, accountability, and hope to families in crisis. It’s a raw, honest look at what it really takes to get clean and stay clean.
Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction
Guest Bio:
Kayla G is a parent advocate with the Office of the Public Defender in Baltimore City and a certified peer recovery specialist. In recovery since 2020, she sponsors women in NA, supports mothers working toward reunification in CPS cases, and speaks candidly about addiction, domestic violence, accountability, and faith. She’s a devoted mom, engaged to be married, and passionate about turning pain into purpose.
Main Topics:
· Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction
· The “try harder” moment: a friend’s grief-stricken plea that became Kayla’s mantra
· Early meetings, NA as a safe space, and choosing recovery daily
· Detoxing at home during COVID and why desperation mattered
· Leaving an abusive relationship; accountability for harming others
· Working a program: sponsor/sponsee relationships, home group, step work
· Parenting in recovery and rebuilding trust with family
· Advocacy: what parent advocates do in CPS cases; “Better Together” emphasis on mother-baby placement
· System realities: time, patience, setbacks, and discouragement in reunification
· Grief in the work: losing a client and not taking credit—or blame
· Hope and resilience: weekends in jail, long processes, and the life she has today
Resources mentioned:
· Donate to Rage Against Addiction
Rage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their famili
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Chapters
1. Podathon for Recovery intro; support Rage Against Addiction (00:00:00)
2. Meet Kayla G; why this recovery series matters (00:01:49)
3. Early story & program basics; aiming for 5 years clean (00:03:24)
4. “Try harder”: the plea that changed everything (00:08:03)
5. First NA meeting; safe space and surrender (00:10:49)
6. Slips, returning to the same chair, listening and learning (00:11:51)
7. Leaving an abusive relationship (00:13:36)
8. COVID hits; solo detox and choosing life (00:14:43)
9. Sponsors, sponsees, and a growing support system (00:16:24)
10. What it really takes: choice, will, and daily action (00:18:05)
11. Kayla’s advocacy work begins (00:22:46)
12. What parent advocates do; CPS, courts, and reunification (00:23:35)
13. Preference for mom-baby placement; treatment with baby (00:24:57)
14. Advocate teams: parent, forensic, juvenile; pre-petition help (00:28:29)
15. The hardest barrier: time—and staying the course (00:31:14)
16. What must change (and why band-aids don’t work) (00:34:50)
17. A heartbreaking client loss; purpose through pain (00:38:07)
18. Kayla’s bottom: violence, accountability, and consequences (00:46:09)
19. Two years of weekend jail; working steps behind bars (00:51:39)
20. What’s next: marriage, a home, and staying clean (00:57:06)
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