Intrinsically Motivated: Faith, Addiction & Recovery in Appalachia

Uplift Appalachia
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Christianity
  • Biweekly

Conversations about addiction, recovery, mental health and the church in Appalachia. Intrinsically Motivated is a podcast from Uplift Appalachia, a Christian nonprofit in Johnson City, Tennessee. We sit down with doctors, pastors, counselors, researchers, public health leaders and people in recovery to talk about what actually helps: recovery housing, foster care, trauma and adverse childhood experiences, prenatal substance exposure, incarceration and reentry, prayer and spiritual care, and how a local church can walk with people who are struggling. Our mission is to mobilize the church to replace addiction and mental health challenges with flourishing. Many conversations stay close to home in East Tennessee; others take us to Scotland and beyond, to learn from communities facing the same questions. Learn more and support the work at upliftappalachia.org If an episode has helped you, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find us. This podcast is partially funded under a grant program with the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council.

  1. 5d ago

    Recovery Housing in East Tennessee: Tabitha Edwards

    What does recovery housing look like, and what happens when church volunteers start driving the people who live there? Tabitha Edwards of Recovery Resources talks about house culture, trust and what the rides have meant. Tabitha Edwards is the co-founder and executive director of Recovery Resources, a nonprofit providing recovery housing and mentoring across Northeast Tennessee. She is also in recovery herself, more than nine years sober. In this episode: • How rides with church drivers softened men's views of faith and church • How eight men in one house built the culture Recovery Resources still uses • Why finishing a forklift class or a certificate builds confidence • Why she says people in recovery help rebuild trust, with grace on both sides • A new seven-bedroom house, fatherhood groups and a car repair program Chapters: 0:00 Intro and the rides partnership 4:07 Guys connecting with churches 11:13 How Recovery Resources started 16:15 Building a house culture 28:26 Stigma and earning trust 35:37 The new house and growth 42:45 Fatherhood and car programs Links: https://www.recoveryresourcestn.org/ Learn more about Uplift Appalachia and support the work: https://upliftappalachia.org If this conversation helped you, please rate and review Intrinsically Motivated on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find the show.

    Recovery Housing in East Tennessee: Tabitha Edwards

  2. Oct 26

    Addiction, Suffering and the Church's Role: Pastor Rick Keller

    How does a church serve people stuck in a pit? Pastor Rick Keller of Hope Church in Gray, Tennessee talks about addiction, mess, small first steps, and why ministry belongs to the whole congregation. Rick Keller is one of the lead pastors at Hope Church in Gray, Tennessee. He has been in ministry since age 24 and helped organize the Holy Friendship Summit while working in marketing at Summit Companies. In this episode: • How the Holy Friendship Summit put clinics, congregations and clergy in one room • Turning talk into action with small asks, like four hours a month • Joseph in the pit: every congregation has people in a pit • A Parents of Prodigals group and why people-based help beats one-two-three steps • Equipping the saints: ministry is everyone's job, not just the pastor's Chapters: 0:00 Meet Pastor Rick Keller 1:02 The Holy Friendship Summit 12:19 From talking to doing 18:26 Small asks and the ride ministry 30:36 Joseph and the pit 40:41 Parents of Prodigals group 54:00 Equipping the saints Links: https://www.hopejc.org/ Learn more about Uplift Appalachia and support the work: https://upliftappalachia.org If this conversation helped you, please rate and review Intrinsically Motivated on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find the show.

    Addiction, Suffering and the Church's Role: Pastor Rick Keller

  3. Aug 25

    Season 4 Recap: Scotland Trip and Faith Groups in Federal Policy

    A look back at Season 4: why so many episodes came from Scotland, a team trip with Appalachian church members, an HHS meeting on faith and addiction, and how rides for people in recovery are growing. Tanner and Andi Clements of Uplift Appalachia look back on the season. In this episode: • Why every other episode this season came from the October Scotland recordings • A walking tour of Edinburgh with a non-faith group and where people sleep • Shared meals with Scottish churches and the gap between recovery groups and churches • An HHS meeting in Washington and how grant rules can shut out small faith groups • Rides expanding to women's sober living houses, and requests for drivers and prayer Chapters: 0:00 Looking back on the season 1:03 Why so much Scotland 4:06 Team trip to Scotland 6:10 Edinburgh walking tour 21:32 HHS meeting in Washington 33:43 Rides expand to women's homes 40:52 Prayer requests Learn more about Uplift Appalachia and support the work: https://upliftappalachia.org If this conversation helped you, please rate and review Intrinsically Motivated on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find the show.

    Season 4 Recap: Scotland Trip and Faith Groups in Federal Policy

  4. Jul 15

    Church, Recovery and the 12 Steps: Jimmy Braddock

    How can the church and the 12-step rooms meet in the middle? Jimmy Braddock shares his recovery story and how Recovery Church Movement and Reboot Recovery's 12-week trauma course connect churches and people in recovery. Jimmy Braddock works with Recovery Church Movement, a network of about 120 churches for people in recovery, and with Reboot Recovery, which offers a 12-week trauma healing course. He is in long-term recovery himself. In this episode: • How childhood trauma and family alcoholism shaped his drinking and his view of God • Why his first attempt at sobriety failed and what changed the second time • Why Recovery Church pairs Jesus, discipleship and the 12 steps, and bridges both worlds • Different models: standalone churches, denominational partners and meetings in a coffee shop • Reboot Recovery: a peer-led trauma course built on help, hope and home Chapters: 0:00 His two organizations 1:02 Childhood trauma and drinking 7:13 Getting sober 13:18 Finding church and Celebrate Recovery 15:20 What Recovery Church is 26:32 Help, hope and home 30:41 Reboot Recovery trauma course Learn more about Uplift Appalachia and support the work: https://upliftappalachia.org If this conversation helped you, please rate and review Intrinsically Motivated on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find the show.

    Church, Recovery and the 12 Steps: Jimmy Braddock

  5. Jun 2

    Biblical Counseling for Trauma and Addiction: Jennifer Miller

    How does a Christian counselor help people with trauma and addiction without leaning on labels? Jennifer Miller shares what she has learned in Johnson City about listening, hope, and how churches can walk with people. Jennifer Miller is a biblically-based counselor and mental health professional in the Johnson City, Tennessee area. She runs a self-pay practice and describes her work today as part counseling, part coaching. In this episode: • How she went from early childhood education to counseling traumatized kids • Why she stopped giving clients diagnostic labels and asks what happened to them • Simple coping skills she teaches: morning sunlight, breathing, good food, and exercise • Why she weaves faith into conversation instead of assigning verses and homework • Learning 12-step language to start conversations with people in recovery Chapters: 0:00 Intro and path into counseling 3:04 Trauma language and children on medication 7:10 Why she dropped diagnostic labels 14:16 Moving past 'once an addict' 23:31 Faith, science, and church counseling 36:45 Addiction, idolatry, and ministry 42:52 Staying hopeful in hard work Links: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-jennifer-miller-ep-6/id1827590025?i=1000729425063 Learn more about Uplift Appalachia and support the work: https://upliftappalachia.org If this conversation helped you, please rate and review Intrinsically Motivated on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find the show.

    Biblical Counseling for Trauma and Addiction: Jennifer Miller

  6. May 27

    Prison Chaplaincy and Recovery in Scotland: Graham Bell

    What is prison like in Scotland, and how can churches welcome people coming home? Graham Bell, chaplains' advisor to the Scottish Prison Service, talks about overcrowding, hopelessness, addiction and re-entry. Graham Bell is the chaplains' advisor to the Scottish Prison Service for the reformed faith, overseeing reformed chaplaincy across Scotland's prisons. He was a prison chaplain for nearly 20 years and is doing doctoral studies on how chaplains stay resilient. In this episode: • Why Scottish prisons are overcrowded, with longer sentences and another emergency release planned • How hopelessness affects people on remand, on long sentences or waiting for programs • Share of prisoners under the influence of drink or drugs at the time of offence • Why many churches are unprepared to welcome people after release, and what Junction 42 does • His doctoral research on how chaplains cope with daily stories of pain Chapters: 0:00 His role as chaplains' advisor 2:10 From law degree to prison chaplain 10:14 Overcrowding and longer sentences 16:18 Hopelessness inside prison 24:43 Churches and re-entry 30:47 Addiction and recovery in prisons 36:51 How churches can grow Learn more about Uplift Appalachia and support the work: https://upliftappalachia.org If this conversation helped you, please rate and review Intrinsically Motivated on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find the show.

    Prison Chaplaincy and Recovery in Scotland: Graham Bell

  7. May 5 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: Risk Assessment in Addiction Ministry

    Is it safe for a church to help people in addiction and recovery? This bonus episode looks at counting the cost, the mess that comes with ministry, and why risk should not stop a church that loves people. In this episode: • Why fear of risk keeps churches out of addiction ministry • Luke 14 and counting the cost before you start building • Everyday risk assessment, from crossing the road to riding in a car • How Uplift's ride program uses vetted men in monitored sober living • Proverbs 14:4 and why useful ministry is messy Chapters: 0:00 Why risk comes up in ministry 2:08 A news event and risk 9:20 Luke 14: counting the cost 11:21 Risk assessment in daily life 13:26 Safe? Not safe, but good 14:26 Ride ministry and safety 15:27 Mess and ministry Learn more about Uplift Appalachia and support the work: https://upliftappalachia.org If this conversation helped you, please rate and review Intrinsically Motivated on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find the show.

    Bonus: Risk Assessment in Addiction Ministry

  8. Apr 21

    Redemption and Recovery in Dundee, Scotland: Marc and Kirsty Nelson

    What does it take to walk with people in addiction in Dundee, Scotland? Marc and Kirsty Nelson share how a soup kitchen, patient friendship and a church that welcomed everyone changed Marc's life. Marc Nelson is a navigator with Navigator Scotland, a hospital-based program that helps people with complex psychosocial needs. His wife Kirsty is a parish nurse in Dundee, a Queen's Nurse since 2021, and a member of the Scottish Government Clinical Advisory Group on Drugs. In this episode: • How Marc and Kirsty met at a Dundee soup kitchen • Marc's years of addiction, prison and a relapse after release • Years of prayer, letters and patient friendship before Marc let his guard down • Why a church welcome should be the same for everyone at the door • Dundee's drug deaths and stigma, and why local policy fits better than national Chapters: 0:00 Who Marc and Kirsty are 2:13 Meeting at a soup kitchen 13:30 Prison and years of prayer 21:45 Relapse and a nudge back 27:54 Welcoming everyone at church 33:04 Dundee, drug deaths and stigma 43:21 Getting the church out of buildings Learn more about Uplift Appalachia and support the work: https://upliftappalachia.org If this conversation helped you, please rate and review Intrinsically Motivated on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find the show.

    Redemption and Recovery in Dundee, Scotland: Marc and Kirsty Nelson
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Conversations about addiction, recovery, mental health and the church in Appalachia. Intrinsically Motivated is a podcast from Uplift Appalachia, a Christian nonprofit in Johnson City, Tennessee. We sit down with doctors, pastors, counselors, researchers, public health leaders and people in recovery to talk about what actually helps: recovery housing, foster care, trauma and adverse childhood experiences, prenatal substance exposure, incarceration and reentry, prayer and spiritual care, and how a local church can walk with people who are struggling. Our mission is to mobilize the church to replace addiction and mental health challenges with flourishing. Many conversations stay close to home in East Tennessee; others take us to Scotland and beyond, to learn from communities facing the same questions. Learn more and support the work at upliftappalachia.org If an episode has helped you, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the main way new listeners find us. This podcast is partially funded under a grant program with the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council.

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