Sobriety.Matters

In this episode I was able to sit down with Sarah and discuss her journey into recovery during the pandemic. Sarah's sobriety started just before the world was rocked with the pandemic in early March of 2020.Sarah had flirted with the idea of sobriety in the past, but had never truly taken the hard step into a recovery process. After a strong night of drinking and waking up tired of her own shit, it was time. After telling her then fiancé that she was going to get sober, she launched herself into the social media sober community and into the journey of getting sober and has been sober ever since.We had the opportunity to discuss what it was like getting sober during a pandemic, growing up in a small town, the madness of alcohol and the effects that is has on not only our anxiety and depression but the effects that is has on prescription medication, and how broadly it numbs our creative outlets.Be sure to follow Sarah and her recovery journey on IG: shestayssober

For my 10th episode I got to sit down with Sarah and on the day of publishing she is celebrating her 365th day of sobriety! That 1 year mark is so big, and so important and I couldn't have been more excited to hear her story of getting here. Sarah's story is full of so many things that many of us have felt and endured in our journey to sobriety. She has been in-and-out of the rooms of AA, she's been to treatment facilities a couple of times. Trauma. Bad relationships. DUIs. It's a packed episode.My favorite parts of this conversation include our similar relationship with AA. The occurrences of the Pink Cloud and what we can do to be sure we set ourselves up for success. And ultimately, I just love how authentic Sarah is with her story. There is no more "faking it till you make it" in her life and she tells it how it is and how grateful she has become. This is a strong woman with a desire to stay sober and I think that many, many folks will take a lot from this episodeBe sure to check Sarah out on the web:IG: The Sassy Sober LifeWebsite: https://www.thesassysoberlife.com/

In this episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Sarah Alaimo, the author of the "quit-lit" memoir Pearls and Probation: Adventures of an Alcoholic Good Girl. This was a unique opportunity for me because it was the first time for me to interview an author who's book I had actually read. It's always interesting going into situations when you think you have a good feel for who someone is and then they totally surprise you and you get to see so much more!Sarah and I cover a lot of sobriety and recovery topics in this episode, but I found myself walking away from this one with so much joy in how much we laughed together. I can get caught-up in the interviews of these episodes and not realize the enjoyment that comes with each one of them. This one was no different and Sarah does not disappoint with her deeply rooted recovery methods, her power of voice, and her wonderful sense of humor.Be sure to check Sarah out on the web:IG: @sarahdianealaimohttps://sarahalaimo.com/Books:Pearls and Probation on AmazonThe X-Factor: The Spiritual Secrets Behind Successful Executives & Entrepreneurs on Amazon

In this episode we take a little trip across the pond to the UK and I have the privilege of interviewing my first Brit. We get to meet Nat and hear her story of sobriety. We explore the normalcy of both alcohol use and abuse in the corporate world as well as talk about her relationship with her mum who is also in her own recovery journey and what that has done for their relationship as a whole. Nat doesn't necessarily classify herself as an addict with a hard rock bottom, but the negative impact that alcohol was having on her mental health is why she is now 20+ months sober.Be sure to follow along with Nat in her sobriety journey on Instagram: sunshinesober_nat

In this episode I'm joined by Blair who some of you may know in the social media sober world as @sobrietyactivist and I have to admit I had a bit of a moment in this episode where I felt myself fanboying with Blair. As I was reviewing the pre-show notes I started to see a lot of similarities between us, but once we started talking there was a whole lot more than expected. I hope that you all enjoy this episode as much as we did recording it.Throughout the episode we touch on being a person that is all or nothing and something that isn't always talked about and definitely not for every person looking at or living in sobriety, and that is knowing that sobriety is going to be a forever thing from the start. This is one of those things that Blair and I share and we chat a bit about how this is often times viewed and our feelings on it.We also get into who many of us find ourselves to be and that is an "all or nothing" individual who is an extreme extrovert when in reality we are definitely "all or nothing" people, but that flamboyant behavior may have been a little more of that alcohol than we expected.Follow Blair:Website:  www.blairsharp.comIG: @sobrietyactivistFB: Blair Sharp - Writer

In this episode I am joined by Amy C. Willis and we get right into how the unexpected death of her father impacted Amy deeply and over time drove her to her sobriety and recovery journey after realizing that she needed to create and hold boundaries, and to begin to question her own problematic relationship with alcohol.Fast forward to today and hear how Amy has taken these unfortunate events to not only drive her own self awareness and recovery, but is also working as a full-time sobriety and mindset coach for others.We discuss Amy's teaching techniques and practices that are rooted in meditation, mindfulness, and creating a space that allows her clients to empower themselves. We get into the VERY interesting, but effective world of Emotional Freedom Techniques or also know as tapping, and I will let Amy do the explaining of this being that she is an expert at this.Amy has been extremely gracious and offered a special gift to the listeners and is providing her 5 Step Guide to Kickstart Your Sobriety workbook as well as a 10% off discount on her 1:1 coaching. That offer can be redeemed with special code SobrietyMatters10 on Amy's website and I have provided all of Amy's website, coaching, and social media details below.Resources for Amy:InstagramFacebookWebsite - https://www.holandwell.com/The 5 Step Guide to Kick-Start Your Sobriety Workbook10% Discount Code: SobrietyMatters10

In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down and talking with online sober influencer, Gentry. We talk about Gentry's approach to building an online community that is one of her top tools in sobriety that keeps her accountable and self aware. With roots in mental health awareness as far back as 5th grade Gentry has a story that will touch all of us. She's a single mom of 4 boys who is out here proving that moms are badasses and when you do it sober you're a real-life superhero.  We have a few laughs and even go as far as saying "addiction is awesome"! Be sure to join Gentry's social communities on these platforms:Instagram: @lifewithgentryTikTok: @lifewithgentryFacebook: Life With Gentry

In this episode I get to spend some time with Krystina. She is a mother, wife, student, and bartender. This episode is also airing on Krystina's 365th day of sobriety! We talk through how she has used social media (Instagram + Facebook) as a tool for her recovery and the community that has lead to. We also chat about her experience with AA. She has a very strong grasp on her sobriety and while she will not admit it, she is one of the most positive sobriety influencers that you will find on social media channels.Be sure to follow along with Krystina in her sobriety journey on Instagram:findingmyselfsoberAlso, if you have interest in the Facebook Group mentioned in this episode join us here:Finding Ourselves Sober

In this episode I get to sit down with Andrew who I have grown close to over the past few months. Andrew and I met through social media and are now working together in an online community to help those in early sobriety work on long-term sobriety. In this episode we get a little uncut and raw with Andrew's path to addiction and recovery. We cover the deep-rooted trauma and unsettledness of Andrew's youth and how that led him into 1 year and 4 months of sobriety around 2014. In 2015 he found himself leaving that sobriety to viciously slip deep into alcoholism which actually lead to him dying (flat-lined and brought back) on an apartment floor. We discuss detox, rehab, sober living, community support, and the hard work it takes to make it stick. I'm proud to share in the episode that Andrew is now 365+ days sober, has his children back, and is building a career once again that leads to so much more!Be sure to follow along with Andrew in his sobriety journey on Instagram:Demske_78

In this episode I was blessed to spend some time with Seija. This is a woman with a voice and a passion deeply rooted in her sobriety and desire to bring her story to the masses to simply help others. We touch on the fact that everyone deserves so much more than the pain and suffering of addiction, the continuing spiritual awakenings that occur in the sober journey, and how you can find comfort and healing by using your voice and experience to recover out loud and taking your story to others!Be sure to follow along with Seija in her sobriety journey on Instagram:s.nelson42

In this first episode I am joined by Amanda. We discuss her path into sobriety and a non-fatal suicide attempt that correlates directly to her alcohol addiction at the time and some past experience with suicide in relationships. We also cover her success with sobriety coaching and how that was a critical piece that was in place for her to get sober the second time after deciding to test the waters and seeing if she could moderate.Be sure to follow along with Amanda in her sobriety journey on Instagram: @sober_musings_with_mandy

Sobriety.Matters host Dusty Koekenberg sits down to give the background of his own story and path of alcohol addiction into recovery. Deep rooted stress and anxiety caused by self-internalization led to a painful alcohol addiction both mentally and physically. With two and a half years of sobriety, Dusty gives us insight into his tools for sustained sobriety and the ultimate goal of the Sobriety.Matters podcast.