Talk It Out Radio – Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:00 pm, on KPFA Radio (94.1 FM Berkeley and beyond, or livestream at kpfa.org):
A Nonviolent Approach to Addiction and Recovery- A Two-Part Series
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. Substance use addiction impacts an individual’s life and their families. Host Nancy Kahn interviews expert guest, Kelvin Luster, Associate Director of Baker Places, to hear his personal story, professional perspective on addiction and recovery and strategies for identifying the signs of addiction along with tips for supporting someone in recovery. We address the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on addiction and recovery. Nancy and Kelvin examine how compassion and empathy are integral to healing and recovery, and the ways to own clear boundaries. This is the second segment of our two-part series; the first part airs on July 26, 2020 and can be found in our archives.
Call 1-800 -958 -9008 to join the conversation about the role of compassion and empathy in recovery, and your challenges and celebrations with addiction and recovery.
About Kelvin Luster 
Kelvin Luster is a Bay Area native tried and true. Born in San Francisco on day one, day two, raised in the trifecta of the East Bay, namely Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond by a hard working single mother and his sister. Kelvin grew up in the budding “heyday” of all three cities. In his teens, and referring to himself as a “back of the bus kid”, that’s where all the action was, Kelvin was exposed to things he may have not needed to see so early on. That is where he learned first rate street action; It was all educational. But Kelvin was fortunate. He had interests. He liked to write. Landing a major label recording deal, doing voice over work on a Grammy winning album, and production work for various up and coming Bay Area artists, Kelvin was on FIRE!!! Then tragedy struck in his family and Kelvin turned to street drugs for relief. And just like that, it all disappeared! Now with 13 years sobriety under his belt, Kelvin gives back to others as it was given to him. He says, “It was not easy, but nothing worth having ever is”.