Colchester, Vt., February 25, 2019 — Vermont Public Radio and Writers for Recovery have launched My Heart Still Beats, a six-part podcast featuring conversation about addiction and original writing from the recovery community around Vermont.
Writers for Recovery runs writing workshops for people recovering from substance use disorder. In My Heart Still Beats, we hear some of their stories, meet people helping those in recovery rebuild their lives. As deaths related to opioid use continue to rise across the country, My Heart Still Beats offers stories of hope, and lessons learned.
"Writers for Recovery does important work empowering people affected by substance use disorder to tell their stories,” said Angela Evancie, VPR’s managing editor for podcasts. “With this project, we're able to further elevate those voices — and we know that these powerful and intimate interviews will resonate in Vermont and beyond."
The full series is available now at VPR.org. iPhone users can use the Apple Podcasts app to subscribe to the podcast feed, and Android users can subscribe via the Google Play Music app. The podcast is also available on non-native apps including Spotify, and NPR One.
The series will also air on Vermont Public Radio Monday, February 25 - Friday, March 1 during Vermont Edition at noon and 7 p.m. The final episode will air Saturday, March 2 during Weekend Edition between 8-9 a.m. The broadcast is available on VPR News stations statewide and streaming at VPR.org and by asking a smart speaker to play Vermont Public Radio.
“The inspiration for producing My Heart Still Beats with VPR is to continue the much needed conversation about substance abuse disorders and to raise the voices of those struggling every day with the impact of this epidemic,” said filmmaker and Writers for Recovery Director Bess O'Brien, who produced the project with co-director Gary Miller. “We still need to raise awareness and break the stigma that still lingers around this issue.”
Erica Heilman, the host of Rumble Strip, edited the series.
Support for My Heart Still Beats comes from the VPR Innovation Fund and SB Signs.
