Episode 42 of the Peer Perspective Podcast features a thoughtful and honest conversation with Bob Rohret, Director of St. Croix County Health and Human Services. Bob brings more than 30 years of experience in public health and human services and shares both his professional journey and his personal recovery story.

In this episode, Bob reflects on his path into the helping field, the values that shaped his leadership, and the systems level work required to support individuals, families, and communities. He speaks candidly about behavioral health, culturally responsive care, service delivery reform, and the importance of lived experience. Bob also shares that after multiple treatment stays, he has been in recovery for over 36 years, offering perspective, hope, and encouragement to others walking their own recovery journeys.

This is a grounded conversation about leadership, recovery, and building systems that truly support community well being.

Links and Resources:

St. Croix County Health and Human Services
https://www.sccwi.gov/261/Health-Human-Services

Peer Perspective Inc.
https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com

The Peer Perspective Podcast
https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com/podcast

In this episode, Kyle is joined by Jimmy White, a Navy veteran whose story is rooted in strength, perseverance, and personal transformation. Jimmy has faced challenges that shaped him in profound ways, and he brings a level of honesty and insight that makes this conversation unforgettable. From the realities of military service to the journey of rebuilding life in recovery, Jimmy shares what he has learned, what keeps him grounded, and what drives him forward.

His perspective is raw, real, and full of wisdom for anyone walking through adversity or supporting others on their path.

Learn more and stay connected:
Website: https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com
Ashley's House Recovery Housing Project: https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com/ashleys-house

Sheli Jo Metzger's story truly comes full circle in this conversation. At 38 she began using methamphetamine and within four months she picked up nine felony charges. Today she is a respected professional in the justice and recovery ecosystem, earned a gubernatorial pardon in Wisconsin, and helps lead therapeutic community and SUDS programming inside the same jail where she once appeared as a defendant. We talk about her early life and the rapid escalation of substance use, the consequences that followed, the moment she chose a different path, and how receiving a pardon changed the direction of her career and opened the door to meaningful service. She shares what it took to rebuild family relationships and self-worth, how her views around medications for addiction treatment shifted over time, and what accountability can look like in early recovery. If you or someone you care about is navigating addiction, this conversation is honest, real, and hopeful.

Connect with the show:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thepeerperspectivepodcast?si=0I4klowwBWXUCm_g
Podcast Page: https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553275560559
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepeerperspective

Learn about our housing project and mission:
https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com/

Support the work by donating:
https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com/general-1

In this episode of The Peer Perspective Podcast, host Kyle VanBlaircom sits down with Emerald Moore, a 37-year-old in long-term recovery from drugs, alcohol, gambling, prostitution, and street life. Emerald opens up about navigating loss, finding his footing in recovery, and how faith and service to others have become the foundation of his life. He now works at a treatment center, leads AA meetings, and is pursuing his license as an addiction counselor. This conversation is real, hopeful, and packed with encouragement for anyone walking a hard road.

Listen and watch

• Podcast page: https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com/podcast

• Website: https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePeerPerspectivePodcast

Connect with us

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553275560559

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepeerperspective?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, follow, and share. Your support helps us keep lifting up lived experience and building community.

Episode 38 – "From Trauma to Advocacy: Kelly Martin's Recovery Journey"

In this episode of The Peer Perspective Podcast, host Kyle VanBlaircom sits down with Kelly Martin, a Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist whose story is both powerful and inspiring. Kelly opens up about working through childhood trauma, navigating complicated systems, and the many times she felt alone in her recovery. She also shares how those struggles shaped her purpose, leading her to support others as a peer and future counselor.

Kelly's journey is a reminder that healing is possible, and that lived experience can drive real change in communities.

Listen to the full episode here:
🎧 Peer Perspective Podcast

Connect with The Peer Perspective:
🌐 Website: https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com
📘 Facebook: Peer Perspective Inc.
🎵 TikTok: @thepeerperspective
▶️ YouTube: The Peer Perspective Podcast

In this episode of The Peer Perspective Podcast, I sit down with Kayla MacLellan, co-founder of People for the People and a person in recovery from severe depression and alcohol misuse. Kayla opens up about her journey of healing, chasing her mission, and building spaces where others in her community can find support and belonging. She also shares how she's working to bridge critical gaps across the Northwood, bringing hope and resources to those who need them most.

What you'll hear:

• Kayla's story of recovery and resilience

• The inspiration behind co-founding People for the People

• How she's creating safe, inclusive spaces for those struggling with mental health and addiction

• Insights into community-driven change rooted in lived experience

Connect with Kayla & her work:
🌐 People for the People: https://www.peopleforthepeople.info

Connect with The Peer Perspective Podcast & Kyle:
🌐 Website: https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com
🎙 Podcast: https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com/podcast
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553275560559
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepeerperspective
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePeerPerspectivePodcast

If this episode resonates with you, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need to hear Kayla's story.

In this episode of The Peer Perspective Podcast, Isaac Rayfield shares a raw and powerful story of resilience. He opens up about his early experiences with drug use, the impact of being placed in group homes as a child, and how feelings of abandonment shaped much of his journey. Isaac also talks candidly about incarceration, the struggles of re-entry, and what it took to find stability.

A turning point in his life came through treatment court, which Isaac credits as a driving force behind his success in recovery. His story highlights both the challenges and the hope found along the path of healing, reminding us that recovery is possible and worth fighting for.

🎧 Listen now: Peer Perspective Website

Stay connected and help us spread the message of hope:

• Facebook

• Instagram

• YouTube

If Isaac's story inspires you, please follow, share, and leave us a review—your support helps amplify voices of recovery across our communities.

In this episode of The Peer Perspective Podcast, we sit down with Dr. David Frenz, Chief Medical Officer at Osceola Medical Center, to talk about the realities of substance use treatment in rural western Wisconsin. Dr. Frenz shares his insights on the stigma surrounding medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the shifting landscape of opioid and stimulant use, and how his team is meeting the community's needs with innovative, person-centered care.

We also discuss life-saving resources like Never Use Alone, a national hotline that provides safety support for individuals who use substances alone.

Whether you're a provider, peer, or community member, this conversation highlights the importance of access, empathy, and breaking down barriers to recovery.

Resources Mentioned:

• Osceola Medical Center: https://myomc.org

• Never Use Alone Hotline: https://neverusealone.com or call 1-800-484-3731

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe—and follow us for more stories that center lived experience, hope, and healing.

Make sure to visit our Podcast Page: https://www.peerperspectiveinc.com/podcast