Why Getting Sober Isn’t Enough: Trauma, Culture & Recovery | J. Carlos Rivera

About this episode

Getting sober can remove the drugs and alcohol. But what happens when the trauma underneath is still there? J. Carlos Rivera, founder of Generation Red Road, joins host Richard Taite for a powerful conversation about addiction and recovery in Native and Indigenous communities. Rivera shares his own journey to more than two decades in recovery and explains how historical trauma, cultural identity, spirituality and belonging can shape both addiction and healing. They discuss why traditional recovery models may not work for everyone, what the Red Road approach brings to treatment, the importance of community after someone leaves treatment, and why helping young people also means working with their families. Rivera also shares the moment that changed the course of his own life and why, no matter how many times someone has tried before, you never run out of chances.