Speaker Videos

Stories and Ideas From Recovery Worth Sharing

One of the highlights of the Many Paths One Destination events are our wonderful educational and inspirational speakers. Check out the audio and video from some of our past speakers below.

2022

Kelly Taafe

Kelly Taaffe is a world-traveling word nerd and artist. She thrives on the fact that life outside of addiction is not only possible — it’s beautiful. A graduate of the University of Illinois (M.S., Advertising), she is the lead copywriter on the brand team at Box. At the 2022 Many Paths One Destination annual conference in San Jose, CA, Kelly discusses how creativity powers recovery.

Watch Video
2022

Thomas Tran – Recovery Dharma

Thomas Tran gives an inspirational talk at Many Paths One Destination 2022. A board member for Recovery Dharma, he gives an introduction to its core principles and shares his experience with the program.

Watch Video
2022

Salvador Gaeta

Artist, musician, and teacher Salvador Gaeta speaks at the 2022 Many Paths One Destination annual conference in San Jose, CA. Salvador recounts how art and music were instrumental in his recovery.

Watch Video
2022

Mustafa Kahn – Daybreaker

Mustafa Khan speaks an Many Paths One Destination 2022 about Daybreaker, a global sober dance party and movement reinventing the concept of getting together and dancing.

Watch Video
2014

Danny Trejo

Danny has had a prolific career in the entertainment industry, yet his success was hard-earned. Upon his release from Soledad Prison, Danny become involved in helping those, like him, who battled drug and alcohol addictions. Danny later starred in dozens of films, including Machete. Danny is the father of three and an intervention counselor.

Watch Video
2012

Kristina Wandzilak

Kristina Wandzilak is a nationally recognized presenter, author of the critically acclaimed addition memoir, The Lost Years, and has sold the rights to the book for a major motion picture. Kristina is the expert on TLC’s award winning show, Addicted, and travels the country speaking on a limited basis.

Watch Video
2011

Paul Williams

Paul Williams is an Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe-winning Hall of Fame songwriter. Paul is also very active on the recovery speakers’ circuit. Sober for over 20 years, his humorous observations of life, love and creativity are augmented by the knowledge he gained through his studies. Paul has become a very credible advocate of recovery.

Watch Video
2017

Father Tom Weston

Father Tom Weston was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1978. Currently based in Oakland, CA, he has devoted most of his life to counseling, retreats, and workshops with alcoholics and other addicts. He was a Director of the Jesuit Volunteers Corps and a high school teacher. Father Weston sees the power of God working in people’s lives, but perhaps most acutely in his recovery work.

Watch Video
2010

Glenda Jackson

Glenda Jackson was a substance abuse clinician who served at a number of treatment facilities. She was passionately active in Alcoholics Anonymous, where her sincerity and passion were an inspiration to those in recovery as well as the entire community. Glenda was a popular speaker at various AA conferences and conventions.

Watch Video
2012

Steve Brugge

Steve Brugge has worked in the field of chemical dependency for over 25 years. He is a Board-Certified Interventionist, Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Nationally Certified Addiction Counselor and Certified Employee Assistance Professional. He was a consultant for the Other Bar and past President of the San Francisco EAPA Chapter.

Watch Video
2011

Lou Pollack

In 2011, Lou was celebrating over 40 years of recovery. He avidly read recovery literature and passionately shared his knowledge and experience with others. Lou has distributed hundreds of books to those in recovery who crossed his path.

Watch Video
2011

Jerry Williams

In 2011, Jerry Williams had over 35 years of experience in the recovery field, and was a Certified Clinical Supervisor through CADAC. He has worked for CRC and started the clinical program at The Camp in Scotts Valley. Jerry was a published author and contributor to recovery newsletters, and a popular and effective interventionist.

Watch Video
2017

Rosemary O’Connor

Rosemary O’Connor is the Outreach Manager for Hazelden Betty Ford in the Bay Area. In 2015, Hazelden published her book, A Sober Mom’s Guide to Recovery. Rosemary holds a BA in Psychology, is a Certified Professional Life Coach, and a Certified Addiction Coach.

Watch Video
2017

David Mineta

David Mineta was appointed in 2015 as President and CEO of Momentum for Mental Health in San Jose. From 2010-2015, under President Obama, Mr. Mineta was the Presidential appointee to the position of Deputy Director of Demand Reduction for the Office of National Drug Control Policy for the White House Drug Policy Office. Previously, David worked with Asian American Recovery Services and was named Deputy Director in 2007.

Watch Video
2017

Marian Ross

Marian Ross has been active in the addiction community for over 27 years, and brings enthusiasm, passion, and a wealth of knowledge to the addiction treatment world. Marian started working with families in need, helping them find residential and outpatient resources in the Bay Area. Marian now works with youths aged 12-17 who suffer from mental health and addiction issues. Marian is a member of the ‘Keeping Youth Safe” coalition in Santa Clara County.

Watch Video
2017

Kalpulli Izkalli Aztec Dancers

Kalpulli Izkalli is an Aztek dance group practicing since 1994. Izkalli is a community-based group of Danza Mexika, focused on preserving cultural roots and practices through dance, music, art and history. The group strives to empower and educate youths within the community by providing cultural awareness, a safe, alcohol-free and drug-free space, and an alternative lifestyle.

Watch Video