Pathways To Spirit is hosted by Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez of Journey to Recovery, offering an inside look at the people, practices, and purpose behind a culturally grounded approach to healing from addiction. Through conversations with the Journey to Recovery team, the podcast explores the program’s history, its new facility, and the clinical and cultural principles that guide their work. Pathways To Spirit provides a welcoming space to learn how Community, culture, and connection support the recovery journey, and how this program is shaping a path toward wellness and a deeper sense of spirit.
In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, host Dr. Troy Melendez sits down with Cameron Francisco, a peer support specialist whose recovery journey reflects profound transformation, resilience, and a deepening connection to spirit and community. Cameron shares how repeated cycles of incarceration, addiction, loss, and broken promises eventually gave way to accountability, surrender, and a new way of living
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
4 Sept 2026
Anosognosia: Understanding Psychosis & Recovery
In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, host Dr. Troy Melendez runs solo and explores the complex relationship between psychosis, substance use disorders, and a condition known as anosognosia, a neurological lack of insight in which a person cannot recognize that they are ill or in need of help.
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
LEAP Institute (https://leapinstitute.org/)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
14 Aug 2026
Stickiness: The Heart of Healing at Journey to Recovery
In this special episode of Pathways to Spirit, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nathan Velez take a deep dive into Stickiness, a guiding philosophy at Journey to Recovery that has become central to the way healing happens in the Salt River Pima‑Maricopa Indian Community.
Stickiness is more than a concept, it’s a way of being. It’s the feeling of connection that keeps people engaged, the sense of belonging that brings them back when they stumble, and the unconditional support that makes recovery possible.
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
24 Jul 2026
From Recovery to Leadership: Patrick & Jordan’s Journey
In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nathan Velez welcome Patrick James and Jordan Manuel — two graduates of the Peer Support Academy whose recovery journeys have led them into essential roles within Journey to Recovery. Through heartfelt stories, grounded insights, and honest reflection, this episode highlights the transformative role of peer support within the community.
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
3 Jul 2026
Cultural Counselors: Revitalizing Tradition in Recovery
In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, host Dr. Troy Melendez and cohost Jessica Hunter sit down with cultural counselors Bowie Leonard and Jared Lewis, two people who are helping shape a new era of healing within Salt River. Together, they discuss how cultural knowledge, traditional teachings, and lived experience are being integrated into behavioral health and recovery services across the Community.
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
19 Jun 2026
Early Recovery Strategies
In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez explore some of the most important strategies for navigating early recovery, the vulnerable, courageous stage when individuals first step toward healing. They discuss the emotional, spiritual, and practical tools that help people stay engaged, build momentum, and create lasting change.
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
29 May 2026
Resilience in Practice: A Conversation with Jessica Hunter
In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez welcome Jessica Hunter, Behavioral Health Clinical Administrator, for a conversation about trauma, resilience, traditional healing, and the evolution of behavioral health services within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Jessica shares her journey into counseling and her deep passion for trauma recovery and EMDR therapy. With more than seven years serving the community, she reflects on the path that brought her into leadership roles and her dedication to building a trauma-informed, resilience-focused system of care.
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
8 May 2026
Culture, and Healing at Salt River: Insights with Joe Remitera
In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez welcome Joe Remitera, Director of Health and Human Services, for a deep and inspiring conversation on the vision shaping Journey to Recovery and the entire Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s health system.
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
17 Apr 2026
Changes in Journey To Recovery with Frank Saverino
In this episode, host Dr. Troy Melendez sits down with Journey to Recovery Administrator Frank Saverino to explore the major changes, growth, and future direction of the JTR program. Together, they reflect on the evolution from a small, cramped facility to a state‑of‑the‑art treatment center, and discuss how expansion, cultural grounding, and community-driven care are shaping recovery in powerful new ways.
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
27 Mar 2026
Origins of a New Path
In the debut episode, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez sit down to share the story behind Journey to Recovery (residential treatment facility in SRPMIC), how it began, how it has grown, and the personal and professional paths that brought them both to this work. Through open conversation, they reflect on their early careers, the mentors and experiences that shaped them, and the powerful impact of serving a sovereign Indigenous community. Together, they explore the philosophy of care that guides Journey to Recovery, rooted in love, connection, hope, and cultural grounding. They also discuss how the JTR team has built a unique model of healing shaped by community voices, lived experience, and innovative approaches. This first episode sets the stage for the stories, insights, and conversations to come as Pathways to Spirit opens the door to understanding how meaningful, culturally connected recovery work is created and sustained.
Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov (mailto:podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov)
************
Salt River Summer Speaker Series (https://srpmic-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SR-Summer-Speaker-Series-flyer.pdf)
Last Tuesday of every month (June-Sept)
Salt River Council Chambers
Dinner: 5-6p
Presentation: 6-7p
45min presentation, 15 min Q&A
Open to the public
Contact Pathways to Spirit
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Pathways to Spirit?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
