BTC EP #018: Self-Governance is Better than the Government (The Commissioners)

What actually changes a community? In this episode, Commissioners Mike Forte and Marty Cooke sit down to talk about the power of citizen‑led solutions and why government works best as a guardrail, not the driver. Both commissioners share openly about addiction, recovery, personal responsibility, and second chances, including Forte’s 40 years of sobriety and Cooke's decades of public service. Together, they trace the grassroots origins of Christian Recovery Centers, the volunteers who built it from fourteen beds in the cornfields, and the network of community‑driven efforts that followed: drug court, the Anchor Initiative, Narcan access, and nearly 200 sheriff’s office volunteers. The heart of the conversation: Brunswick County thrives because its people lead — and government comes alongside, not above. If you care about recovery, community leadership, or the future of Brunswick County, this episode hits deep. #BehindTheCitgo #BrunswickCounty #RecoveryCommunity #CitizenLedChange #AddictionRecovery #ChristianRecoveryCenters #PublicServants #CommunityLeadership #HopeInAction #GrassrootsImpact #NorthCarolinaStories #CultureShift #SecondChances #PersonalResponsibility #RecoveryJourney