Human Up Podcast Ep 7: Transformative Leadership in Recovery with Nyla Christian

For the Human Up Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with my dear friend and inspiring leader, Nyla Christian. Nyla is a powerhouse in the recovery advocacy world—a keynote speaker, a life empowerment coach, and the executive director of the Center for African-American Recovery Development. Beyond the titles, she’s someone who’s lived the experience and has made it her life’s mission to uplift others, particularly women and underserved communities, through recovery and advocacy work.

We began with Nyla sharing her personal recovery journey, which started in Las Vegas nearly 17 years ago. Through the 12-step mutual aid community, she not only found sobriety but discovered a passion for helping others. She spoke about her transition into recovery advocacy and how the grassroots movements in Las Vegas sparked her commitment to creating lasting change. Hearing her recount those early days reminded me of how transformative and powerful community-driven recovery can be.

One of the standout moments was learning more about the Living Well Project, which Nyla started in her living room. It was born out of her desire to address the gaps she saw in peer support—especially the lack of diverse representation. She brought together women from different walks of life to build a supportive network and work toward peer support certification. For Nyla, it’s not just about recovery; it’s about thriving, and she’s passionate about ensuring everyone, particularly Black women, feels included and empowered in the recovery space.

We also touched on the intersection of homelessness and substance use disorders, a topic close to both our hearts. At Vegas Stronger, we’ve seen firsthand how closely tied these issues are—95% of the people we’ve helped have had substance use disorders. Nyla and I agree that addressing these challenges requires looking both upstream and downstream. While Vegas Stronger focuses on treating those already in crisis, Nyla’s work also emphasizes prevention and tackling systemic inequities that push people toward these situations in the first place.

Nyla’s advocacy extends beyond direct recovery work. As an interventionist and national speaker, she’s on the road constantly, addressing topics like culturally responsive practices and equity in recovery spaces. She’s also deeply involved in training and cultivating the next generation of recovery leaders through her work with CARD (the Center for African-American Recovery Development). She shared her commitment to building a succession plan that ensures sustainable and inclusive recovery advocacy for years to come.

One of the most personal parts of our conversation was about the toll this work takes. Nyla opened up about the importance of self-care, admitting that even as a life coach, she’s had to learn to prioritize her health. Her journey—which included addressing serious heart health issues—was a reminder that as advocates, we must take care of ourselves to continue helping others. It’s a lesson I’m working on myself.

We wrapped up with a reflection on what it means to “Human Up,” the title of this podcast. For Nyla, it’s about leveling up as humans—stripping away differences and focusing on how we treat each other with compassion, connection, and integrity. Her words left me inspired and hopeful for the work ahead.

This conversation reaffirmed why I’m such a fan of Nyla—her passion, resilience, and dedication to making the world a better place are unparalleled. If you want to learn more about her work or the organizations she’s involved with, check out the Center for African-American Recovery Development and the impactful initiatives she’s leading.

Listen to the episode on Apple and Spotify or watch us on Youtube.