This is an archived page from 2022. Find out more
“Back From Broken,” the podcast about recovery from Colorado Public Radio, returns for its third season starting Friday. Led by CPR News Host Vic Vela, “Back From Broken” features stories of people overcoming the greatest challenges of their lives.
“I know what it’s like to suffer. But we can recover, every one of us,” says Vela, who is in recovery from crack cocaine addiction and has been sober for more than seven years. “This show exists because I wanted to give people who are struggling some hope. Every one of us knows someone who Is suffering from addiction or mental health issues – perhaps it’s you. Through these conversations, we shine a light on the things that cause us pain and provide a recovery roadmap for folks who could use it.”
This season, listeners will hear more stories about recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. The podcast will also delve into new territory, sharing the story of an actress who battled an eating disorder, a man experiencing homelessness after playing in the Super Bowl three times, and a former pimp who now advocates for prison reform.
Vela is a Colorado native and a four-time Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist. He’s been recognized for his work in advocating for mental health and addiction awareness and often tells his recovery story at health and wellness conferences and treatment centers across the country. Vic was named the 2020 Colorado Media Person of the Year by the Public Relations Society of America and was the 2019 recipient of the Resilience Award from Mental Health Colorado.
For 15 years, Vela suffered from a crippling addiction to powder and crack cocaine. He’s been in recovery since 2015. After testing positive for HIV in 2006, Vela rigorously followed antiretroviral therapy until the virus became undetectable. He frequently appears on national and local news programs to talk about “Back From Broken” and current events around addiction and recovery, including the ongoing illicit fentanyl crisis.
The third season of “Back From Broken” launches March 4 with eight new episodes released weekly. Catch up on previous episodes and find the new ones on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, Spotify and cpr.org.