Craig Stevens may be a Landscape Architect with a thriving business but he also stands outside his story and unashamedly admits to a 20-plus-year struggle to overcome drugs and alcohol.  One of the secrets to his success is that he only hires formerly incarcerated or those in recovery.  Having like-minded employees allows him to not only give back for all those people who lifted him up when he was down but also to help those who are in need of a livelihood and not afraid to get their hands dirty, literally!

The Hustler Files Ep 19 - Only Surround Yourself With Those Who See Greatness Within You

The opinion of this week's guests, based on their daily hands-on experience, is that addiction in the United States is sadly becoming the norm.  The good news is that if you live in an area that is pro-recovery then you’re more likely to locate state or federally-funded programs like the Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Services that are inside the Hampshire County Jail in Northampton, Massachusetts, where incarcerated individuals are treated for their addiction by a team of certified medical professionals.  As Dr. Katie, the head of the MOUD in-jail program, in this week's episode states, ‘….if someone has Diabetes we don’t ask how long they will need to be on medication…we know it’s a forever treatment….the same should be the norm for those who are suffering from drug or alcohol addiction…’. As this week's topic relays, recovery is something that doesn’t get a day off, ever.

The Hustler Files Ep. 20 - Recovery Is Something That Doesn't Get A Day Off, Ever

The Franklin County, Massachusetts, Opioid Task Force has come a long way since its inception in 2011. Across a 30-town region in rural Western Mass, the Opioid Task Force is a 400-member entity working to address the impact of the Opioid epidemic.  While this Task Force is involved with social policy work around the Opioid crisis, it is their focus to support prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery efforts.  
Feel free to reach out with questions or comments to: lisa@whmp.com

The Hustler Files Ep. 21 - A Hands On Task Force That Fights The Opioid Crisis Everyday

Intro -ABC BackRoads program promoting defence exercises  with the US on aboriginal land at Bradshaw in the NT.

Andrew and Bevan from Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) argue for armed neutrality for Australia. 

Personally I am opposed to the United States government and its foreign policy.

Song
Franz Dowling - Drone Lament

Image
Joint exercises with US military at Bradshaw in the NT.

Neutrality and the peace movement

Mandala Mindset

Amanda Hall had it all. A flourishing restaurant career as a Regional Training Manager and even her own home. But for Amanda all of that was a facade. Inside she says, ‘I was a mess’.  The wrong choice in men, and late nights with friends at the restaurants she trained at, along with rheumatoid arthritis led her from alcohol to cannabis to hard core drugs.  As her life story played out, she eventually lost her job, her house and moved back in with her mother while finding financial support on the streets of Ohio, selling drugs.  It was a saving grace moment when Amanda sold drugs to an undercover cop, but it would take a couple more arrests, despite the legal support of her parents to finally land her a 2 1/2 year prison sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Listen in as Amanda shares her past and her miraculous journey, behind the wall, that led her to find a second chance at The JBM Packaging Company.

The Hustler Files Ep. 70 - From Career Track to Prison Track and Back

Will Soper was first arrested at the age of eleven, defending himself against the man who was his step-father. This was not the first time Will had been sexually abused, but it was the first time he fought back and sadly his mother took his stepfather's side.  Despite the toxicity of the family, he was never given any mental health or other counseling and was continually sent back to his mother and stepfather when the foster care system failed him. Will’s abusive upbringing led to a justice involved life, culminating in the sexual assault of a person he knew.  Now at 42, Will is finally out of prison and free of parole, but his time served and a personal apology to his victim cannot wipe away his sexual assault charge from his record. In Will’s own words, ‘…all I want to do is just work, even if it means washing dishes, I don’t care….I can’t go back to jail, I’d rather hold court in the street…’.

The Hustler Files Ep. 71 - The Sins of the Stepfather

Launching a social entrepreneurial venture is no easy task, and for Founder, President, and CEO of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute it was not an overnight success. Brandon conceived the EDWINS concept in 2004, with a three-fold mission: teach a skilled and in-demand trade in the culinary arts, empower willing minds through a passion for hospitality management, and prepare students for a successful transition home. The students who participate in this mission are all justice involved looking for a new life back in the community. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it took another three years for Brandon, a formally trained chef and sommelier, to build out the social enterprise model and then another four years before Brandon could launch the Culinary Club classes at the Grafton Correctional Institution. Brandon opened EDWINS restaurant in 2013 and here in 2024 EDWINS has a French Restaurant, Butcher Shop, Bakery, and a Second Chance Life Skills Center which itself is a campus with housing, childcare, library, fitness center, computer lab and more!  600+ have graduated from the EDWINS culinary programs and can boast that only 1% of students have recidivated. Like Brandon says, when asked, how he accomplished so much, his response, “just knock down one problem at a time”.

The Hustler Files Ep. 73 - Reimagining Reentry So It Feels Like a Warm Hug

Join us for a soulful music journey as our downtempo electronic chill tracks add beats, vocals, rap, violin, and saxophone to take your musical journey to  another destination. Drishti Beats music is highlighted for chill listening and yoga playlists offering ear candy vibes that transport listeners to a higher state of consciousness.  Drishti is a sanskrit term meaning "a focused and concentrated gaze" and Dristhi Beats does just that as you journey with their blissful tunes.

4PR - Voice of the People is a podcast about class, culture and country.
We believe that change can come only through revolution and participation by working class people.  Conditions in time and place must be understood and acted upon.  Workers of all countries unite! 
[Podcasting since 2011}

Podcasts from all of the local show on WHMP Radio in Northampton, MA. including Talk the Talk with Bill Newman and Buz Eisenberg, The Hustler Files, The Western Mass Business Show, and Panorama.

New tracks tagged #Involved,