It all started while mowing the lawn. That’s when our President and CEO, John-Mark Hack, conceived the idea for “Let’s Be for Real.” This vision grew into a radio show hosted by The Healing Place, designed to share valuable resources with our community. Centered on stories of restoration, the show features those leading the way in the recovery community. Its mission is to highlight recovery efforts and connect with those still struggling—a space where we can all, simply, be for real.
The radio show debuted on Monday, July 8th, featuring one of our beloved hosts, Reggie Ezell, and his personal journey. With over 20 years in recovery, Reggie’s passion for this work is unparalleled. Reggie shared his vision for the show, stating:
“There are many people who have witnessed addiction, and hopefully, they’re hearing something that opens them up to the reality of getting involved and seeing addiction from a new perspective. When you see a practicing addict, you see the coal. When you hear the recovering addict, you see how the pressure turns that coal into a diamond. People need to understand that addicts don’t stay the same—they do change, and they do recover.”
This vision is also brought to life through our second host, April Emerson. As the Director of Women’s Programming at The Healing Place, April is passionate about making an impact by engaging the community and sharing available resources. She talks about this goal and states, “The more we engage with the community and show them what’s happening at The Healing Place, the greater the chance that someone in need will hear the message they need to hear.”
“Let’s Be For Real” has already seen great success, featuring 12 guests from The Healing Place and Louisville community, generating strong engagement on social media, and capturing the interest of radio listeners. Be sure to tune in every Monday from 2:30-3:30 PM on WLOU/WLLV or watch live on our Facebook page! You can also catch all past episodes on our website at thehealingplace.org. We’re excited to watch this program grow and see the impact it continues to make!
-Hannah Adams, Communications Specialist