Rigorous Honesty –

April 17, 2020 – This show is a place to regularly showcase courage and what it takes to come back, he says. The journey for Vela to get to “Back From Broken” has been full of the highest of highs and some rock-bottom lows.

“Six years ago, I was hiding behind dumpsters smoking crack,” Vela says. “Now, I’m sober and I’m helping people. It’s very strange hearing from people that I helped. I’m not too far removed from remembering the places I’ve been.”

“Back From Broken’s” first three episodes have featured Vela hosting with guests such as musician Anders Osborne, Major League Baseball’s David Mellor and Women’s National Basketball Association alumna Chamique Holdsclaw. The first season will consist of 10 episodes.

“I knew that we could get something interesting out of these interviews,” Vela says. “It helps to have empathy in having these conversations. I think once they realize that I’ve been through the same thing, they open up. That makes for a better conversation and the journey in finding out how to recover. It’s a process.”

Vela has long been a storyteller.

During his tenure at Albuquerque Journal North in Santa Fe from 2007 to 2012, Vela covered crime in northern New Mexico.

@NWAOnline