Podcasts about emotional sobriety

In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, I get into the coaching side of sobriety and grief: what to do when loss becomes a drinking trigger, and your brain starts looking for a way to escape the pain.Grief can bring intense emotions, and when alcohol has been your go-to coping mechanism, those feelings can create powerful alcohol cravings and urges to drink. This episode breaks down how to recognize what's happening and begin building new ways to cope without alcohol.In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why grief can become a powerful drinking triggerWhy alcohol may feel tempting when you're overwhelmed or hurtingHow to identify what you're actually needing underneath the urge to drinkHow to ride out an alcohol urge without acting on itWhy building your tolerance for discomfort is an important part of emotional sobrietyHow to stay sober when life gets hard instead of automatically reaching for alcoholYou don't have to eliminate grief, stress, or painful emotions to stay sober. You can learn to experience those feelings without immediately escaping them and build the self-trust to know you can handle hard moments without alcohol.Grab Your Free Gift:30 Day Calendar Day & Night RoutineReady for Support? Here Are 4 Ways to Work With Me:Stop Starting Over ProgramPerfect for the self-guided woman who wants a step-by-step roadmap to quit drinking, break the moderation cycle, and build a strong sober foundation at her own pace.Sobriety CircleFor the community girlie who thrives with accountability, connection, monthly coaching, and ongoing support from women who truly understand the journey. Use code "soberjuly" at checkout to save $10 off your first month.1:1 Sober CoachingFor the woman who wants personalized support, deeper transformation, and a customized plan to stop drinking, manage cravings, and build a sustainable alcohol-free life.The After (Emotional Sobriety Program) The next chapter after quitting drinking. Once you've built your sober foundation, it's time to do the deeper work—healing emotional patterns, rebuilding your identity, strengthening self-trust, regulating your nervous system, and creating a life where you no longer need alcohol to cope.Grab My Masterclass:Free access to my $47 masterclass when you leave an Apple review.Gain access to my Masterclass by submitting a review on iTunes. Email me at sobervibes@gmail.com with a screenshot of the review, and I will send you the code to unlock my Masterclass for free!Thank you for tuning in! Thank you for listening! Help the show by Rating, reviewing, and/or subscribing to the Sober Vibes Podcast.Connect w/ Courtney:InstagramJoin the Sobriety CircleApply for 1:1 CoachingOrder the Sober Vibes Book Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

National Sober Day is September 14th, and it's the perfect opportunity to celebrate your sobriety and the life you're creating without alcohol.Whether you're newly sober or have been staying sober for years, this episode is a reminder that an alcohol-free life isn't something you have to constantly feel deprived of. Your sober living journey deserves celebration, and there are plenty of ways to make sobriety fun, meaningful, and personal.In this episode, I share 3 simple ways to celebrate National Sober Day and recognize what your decision to quit drinking has given you.In This Episode, You'll Learn:How to celebrate how far you've come in your sobrietyFun ways to celebrate your alcohol-free life without alcoholHow celebrating with your sober community can make the journey more meaningfulWhy you don't need a specific number of sober days or a perfect recovery story to celebrateHow helping someone else can be one of the most powerful ways to honor your sobrietyWhether you're thinking about quitting drinking, newly sober, or years into your alcohol-free life, take National Sober Day as a reminder to celebrate the freedom, self-trust, and life you're building without alcohol.30 Day Calendar Day & Night RoutineReady for Support? Here Are 4 Ways to Work With Me:Stop Starting Over ProgramPerfect for the self-guided woman who wants a step-by-step roadmap to quit drinking, break the moderation cycle, and build a strong sober foundation at her own pace.Sobriety CircleFor the community girlie who thrives with accountability, connection, monthly coaching, and ongoing support from women who truly understand the journey. Use code "soberjuly" at checkout to save $10 off your first month.1:1 Sober CoachingFor the woman who wants personalized support, deeper transformation, and a customized plan to stop drinking, manage cravings, and build a sustainable alcohol-free life.The After (Emotional Sobriety Program) The next chapter after quitting drinking. Once you've built your sober foundation, it's time to do the deeper work—healing emotional patterns, rebuilding your identity, strengthening self-trust, regulating your nervous system, and creating a life where you no longer need alcohol to cope.Grab My Masterclass:Free access to my $47 masterclass when you leave an Apple review-Gain access to my Masterclass by submitting a review on iTunes. Email me at sobervibes@gmail.com with a screenshot of the review, and I will send you the code to unlock my Masterclass for free!Thank you for tuning in! Thank you for listening! Help the show by Rating, reviewing, and/or subscribing to the Sober Vibes Podcast.Connect w/ Courtney:InstagramJoin the Sobriety CircleApply for 1:1 CoachingOrder the Sober Vibes Book Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is deeply personal. I share my experience of losing my dad and the emotional fallout that followed, including what it has been like to navigate grief while staying sober.Grief can change everything. It can bring sadness, anger, exhaustion, loneliness, and emotions you weren't prepared for. And when you're sober, you experience those feelings without alcohol as an escape or a way to numb the pain.In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, I share my story of loss and what grief has taught me about sobriety, emotional drinking, and staying present through painful seasons of life.In This Episode, You'll Learn:What losing my dad has been like and the emotional fallout that followedHow grief can affect your emotions, routines, and everyday lifeWhat it means to experience grief without using alcohol to numb the painWhy sobriety doesn't make painful experiences easier but allows you to be present for themHow grief has deepened my understanding of emotional sobriety and self-trustIf you're grieving a loss while navigating sobriety, you don't have to have it all figured out. Sometimes the first step is simply allowing yourself to feel what you're feeling without judging it or trying to make it disappear.Grab Your Free Gift:30 Day Calendar Day & Night RoutineReady for Support? Here Are 4 Ways to Work With Me:Stop Starting Over ProgramPerfect for the self-guided woman who wants a step-by-step roadmap to quit drinking, break the moderation cycle, and build a strong sober foundation at her own pace.Sobriety CircleFor the community girlie who thrives with accountability, connection, monthly coaching, and ongoing support from women who truly understand the journey. Use code "soberjuly" at checkout to save $10 off your first month.1:1 Sober CoachingFor the woman who wants personalized support, deeper transformation, and a customized plan to stop drinking, manage cravings, and build a sustainable alcohol-free life.The After (Emotional Sobriety Program) The next chapter after quitting drinking. Once you've built your sober foundation, it's time to do the deeper work—healing emotional patterns, rebuilding your identity, strengthening self-trust, regulating your nervous system, and creating a life where you no longer need alcohol to cope.Grab My Masterclass:Free access to my $47 masterclass when you leave an Apple review.Gain access to my Masterclass by submitting a review on iTunes. Email me at sobervibes@gmail.com with a screenshot of the review, and I will send you the code to unlock my Masterclass for free!Thank you for tuning in! Thank you for listening! Help the show by Rating, reviewing, and/or subscribing to the Sober Vibes Podcast.Connect w/ Courtney:InstagramJoin the Sobriety CircleApply for 1:1 CoachingOrder the Sober Vibes Book Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thom's Nutshell: "Self-denial results in dependence. Self-acceptance creates independence." Waking up is a process, not an event. A road back to our true lost selves. Daniel Fulop-Furlano joins Allen to talk about his journey towards emotional sobriety, which began with the “Divided Sky” rehab retreat in Ludlow, Vermont. Dan's book, “Sincerely, Delusional,” is a testament to both the sincerity of his delusion (which we also call “sleepwalking”), and the capacity, beginning with an earnest asking for help, that he's built brick by brick as a person courageously exposing and addressing his deep set dependencies. Learn more about Dan and purchase his remarkable book: https://www.sincerelydelusional.com Learn more about Divided Sky: https://dividedsky.org Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com Visit our website: www.emotionalsobriety.info Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com  Follow us on social media: Instagram: thomrutledge2 Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs   Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events   Allen's book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/   Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below):  https://zoom.us/j/330149513 Password: 375986   For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g   Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519 We'd love to stay in touch in between meetings.   We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at pndirective4@gmail.com for any questions or comments. Chapters (00:00:07) - Introduction and Grateful Dead Sphere Chat(00:01:02) - Setting Up the Conversation on Waking Up(00:02:39) - The Flight to Rehab and Sincere Delusion(00:04:21) - Hitting the Bottom and Limitation(00:06:42) - Arriving at Treatment and Losing Freedom(00:08:49) - Returning a Year Later and Writing the Book(00:12:22) - Discovering Emotional Sobriety Language(00:14:51) - Compassion, Honesty, and Safe Spaces in Treatment(00:18:46) - Deciding to Go to Treatment Despite Resistance(00:21:11) - Sacrifice and Choosing Recovery Over Life Events(00:23:11) - Living Fully After Recovery(00:23:54) - Public Speaking, Nerves, and Practice(00:28:10) - Emotional Sobriety as Maturity and Practice(00:29:37) - Waking Up Back Into the World(00:31:41) - Book's Impact and Reactions from Readers(00:32:50) - Life as an Adventure and Closing Thoughts

In this episode of The Leader Assistant Podcast, Colleen Freeland, a master certified life coach and emotional sobriety pioneer, shares her transformative journey from a high-functioning perfectionist grappling with a 20-year alcohol use disorder to becoming a founder of a thriving multi-seven figure business – all while managing the demands of parenting seven children.This conversation offers executive assistants critical lessons on managing stress, prioritizing self-care, and resisting burnout in high-pressure roles.Show notes -> leaderassistant.com/392--It's the last day of the offsite and it was exactly what the team needed. The CEO pulls you aside to say, “Thank you. This was next level.”Your secret? You used Offsite. They handled the venues, negotiations, and logistics – so you could focus on shaping the experience.Sound too good to be true? It's actually within reach. (And it can even save you money.)See how at leaderassistant.com/offsite. --Are you ready to level up? Enroll in The Leader Assistant Academy at leaderassistant.com/academy to embrace the Leader Assistant frameworks used by thousands of assistants.More from The Leader Assistant...Free Community -> leaderassistant.com/communityBook, Audiobook, and Workbook -> leaderassistantbook.comAssistant Habits App and Weekly Planner -> assistanthabits.comEvents -> leaderassistantlive.comThe Leader Assistant Academy -> leaderassistantbook.com/academy Premium Membership -> leaderassistant.com/membership

Fourteen years ago, I made the decision to quit drinking, and while that decision changed everything, sobriety has continued to teach me lessons I never could have learned while alcohol was still running the show.In this episode of the Sober Vibes Podcast, I'm sharing five of the biggest lessons I've learned from 14 years of sobriety. From rebuilding self-trust to learning how to navigate life without alcohol, this is an honest conversation about what it really means to stay sober long-term.In This Episode, You'll Learnwhy sobriety is about so much more than simply quitting drinkinghow rebuilding self-trust happens one decision at a timewhy difficult days and thoughts about alcohol don't mean you're failingthe unexpected gifts that come with long-term sobrietywhy protecting your sobriety still matters, no matter how much time you haveAfter 14 years sober, one thing I know for sure is this: you don't need to have your entire alcohol-free future figured out today. You just need to keep taking the next right step.And every alcohol-free decision you make is helping you build a life you no longer want to escape from.Grab Your Free Gift:30 Day Calendar Day & Night RoutineReady for Support? Here Are 4 Ways to Work With Me:Stop Starting Over ProgramPerfect for the self-guided woman who wants a step-by-step roadmap to quit drinking, break the moderation cycle, and build a strong sober foundation at her own pace.Sobriety CircleFor the community girlie who thrives with accountability, connection, monthly coaching, and ongoing support from women who truly understand the journey. Use code "soberjuly" at checkout to save $10 off your first month.1:1 Sober CoachingFor the woman who wants personalized support, deeper transformation, and a customized plan to stop drinking, manage cravings, and build a sustainable alcohol-free life.The After (Emotional Sobriety Program) The next chapter after quitting drinking. Once you've built your sober foundation, it's time to do the deeper work—healing emotional patterns, rebuilding your identity, strengthening self-trust, regulating your nervous system, and creating a life where you no longer need alcohol to cope.Grab My Masterclass:Free access to my $47 masterclass when you leave an Apple review.Gain access to my Masterclass by submitting a review on iTunes. Email me at sobervibes@gmail.com with a screenshot of the review, and I will send you the code to unlock my Masterclass for free!Thank you for tuning in! Thank you for listening! Help the show by Rating, reviewing, and/or subscribing to the Sober Vibes Podcast.Connect w/ Courtney:InstagramJoin the Sobriety CircleApply for 1:1 CoachingOrder the Sober Vibes Book Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thom's Nutshell: "Are you solving the problems you want to solve, or the problems you think you are supposed to solve?" With emotional sobriety comes a commitment to being honest and authentic with each other and especially ourselves in order to live “congruently.” In line with our values, not oppositional to our natures. This necessitates becoming aware of the unreasonable expectations and unenforceable rules so we can disentangle from them. Acceptance of those is the key part of living and loving differently. This doesn't mean “giving up.” Acceptance is seeing reality clearly enough to respond wisely. Owning our resistance, the paradox of change, is another important key we encounter. Patrick's living and loving demarcation point was his sobriety date, and returning guest Carol Carter's was in 1987. In recovery from various forms of addiction (alcohol, codependency), they're both practicing acceptance and moving towards wholeness. Next week we interview the author Daniel Fulop-Furlano about his new book, “Sincerely, Delusional.” Rest in peace to the Queen of Country Music, Dolly Parton. Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com Visit our website: www.emotionalsobriety.info Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com  Follow us on social media: Instagram: thomrutledge2 Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs   Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events   Allen's book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/   Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below):  https://zoom.us/j/330149513 Password: 375986   For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g   Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519 We'd love to stay in touch in between meetings.   We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at pndirective4@gmail.com for any questions or comments. Chapters (00:00:07) - Emotional Sobriety(00:03:53) - Approval in Recovery: Living and Loving Differently(00:10:03) - Exploring the Role of Acceptance in Recovery(00:13:11) - A Client's Smelling Her Own Sobriety(00:15:21) - Dan Furlough on Dolly Parton's Death(00:20:01) - Alan on Love and Alcohol(00:22:02) - The Importance of Self-Love(00:27:37) - Living With Stuff That Was Lost in the Flood(00:33:04) - How to Clean Your Home After a Trauma(00:36:58) - Adam Levine on Growing Up With Alcohol(00:43:45) - Living and Loving

Send us Fan MailSometimes something can hurt deeply even when nothing is wrong.After dropping his son Owen off at college, Matt expected the hard part to be worrying about whether he would be okay. Instead, the emotion hit when he realized the opposite: Owen was ready. He had found his people. He was going to be fine. And a chapter of Matt's life as a parent had changed anyway.Matt and Steve talk about grief that comes without tragedy, what it means to be present for moments you can't fix, and how sobriety changes the way we experience painful feelings. Not every uncomfortable emotion is a problem to solve. Sometimes it just hurts—and learning not to run from that can be part of recovery.Just Be True ~ A Soul-Led PodcastJust Be True is a podcast about spiritual awakening, self-discovery, and real...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

What obstacles can arise when sharing your vulnerable story with the world? Amy Liz Harrison opens up about the emotional challenges and unexpected hurdles of writing her memoir during a challenging time in her life. She discusses the difficulties faced with her publisher, the impact of ADHD and rejection sensitivity, and how these experiences have shaped her writing journey. KEY TAKEAWAYSNavigating publisher expectations and the impacts of poor communication.The unique challenges of writing with late-diagnosed ADHD and rejection sensitivity.The importance of embracing your vulnerabilities and using them to grow as a writer. If this conversation reminded you to slow down and breathe, share it with a friend who needs that same permission. Then subscribe to Eternally Amy for more truth-telling, laughter, and light.Eternally Amy is hosted by Amy Liz Harrison, author, memoir coach, sober mom of eight, and spiritual storyteller. Join her bi-weekly for honest conversations about recovery, motherhood, and meaning.Visit amylizharrison.com for books, coaching, and resources.About Eternally AmyHosted by Amy Liz Harrison, the Eternally Amy Podcast dives into the messy, meaningful, and often unspoken parts of life. From addiction and recovery to anxiety, ADHD, motherhood, and identity shifts, Amy brings honesty, humor, and lived experience to every episode. Whether you're sober, sober curious, or just trying to figure things out, you'll find something here that resonates.About the HostAmy Liz Harrison, MA, CPC, CLC is a bestselling author, publishing consultant, podcast host, and sober mom of eight. She is the author of the Eternally series, including Eternally Expecting and Eternally Awkward, and the Kiss Your Brain children's book series. Amy is the Founder and CEO of A-Team Press and a contributing writer for The Sober Curator. Sober since 2011-era chaos gave way to clarity, she writes and speaks at the intersection of sobriety, mental health, and identity. Connect with AmyWebsite: https://www.amylizharrison.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amylizharrison/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amylizharrison LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amylizharrison/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyLizHarrison TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amylizharrisonListen + SubscribeApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eternally-amy/id1620477794 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Hjp3uFDmCb36XxDj6deo5 Eternally Amy is also featured in Recovery Podcastland on The Sober Curator: https://thesobercurator.com/recovery-podcastland-network/eternally-amy/CreditsProduction by Podcast Impact Studios https://podcastimpactstudio.com/ Branding + Marketing managed by Magnetic Media Labs https://magneticmedialabs.com/

Dr. Vitz talks about the five breakthroughs you experience in Emotional Sobriety training, starting with no longer needing to react to emotional overwhelm. (Originally aired 11-17-2025)

Send us Fan MailSometimes you solve the thing you were worried about and feel relieved for about five minutes. Then your brain finds something else that could go wrong.Matt and Steve talk about what uncertainty does to them, from travel and job changes to money, family responsibilities, and situations where you've prepared as well as you can but still can't control the outcome. They also look back at the role alcohol used to play as a reliable way to shut down that discomfort, at least temporarily.Matt isn't trying to become fearless or convince himself everything will work out. He's trying to notice when fear of an uncertain outcome is keeping him from taking the next reasonable action—and learning that sometimes doing what you can has to be enough.Support the show

You do not need more charisma to lead well.You need emotional sobriety.In this episode of the Introverted Entrepreneur Podcast, Denise explores what happens when your nervous system stops running your leadership. This is not about acting calm, suppressing emotions, or becoming some polished version of “professional.” It is about learning how to feel what is real without letting it hijack your decisions, boundaries, relationships, or presence.If you've ever overexplained feedback, second-guessed decisions, taken on everyone else's emotional weight, or looked composed while quietly flooding inside, this episode gets to the deeper issue.Denise breaks down:the difference between emotional sobriety and emotional intoxicationwhy high-functioning leaders often miss their own reactivityhow regulation changes decision-making, trust, and team safetywhat becomes possible when you stop leading from survival modeBecause sometimes the real shift isn't more discipline, more confidence, or more effort.Sometimes it's finally becoming steady enough to lead clearly.Read the original article here:If You Lead, You Need Emotional Sobriety—Here's Why⸻If This Episode Hit Something Deeper…If you're tired of insight without real change, this is where we take it further.

Have you ever felt like an argument with your spouse turned into a high-stakes court case where both of you were fighting to win rather than connect? When communication breaks down, it's rarely a lack of love—it's usually the ego taking the driver's seat.In this episode of Married and Connected, host Kameran Alareqi takes a deep dive into the psychological and evolutionary purpose of the ego. Drawing from psychoanalytic theory, Dr. Andrea Vitz's work on Emotional Sobriety, Ryan Holiday's Ego Is the Enemy, and Dr. John Gottman's marriage research, Kameran breaks down why the ego acts as a survival mechanism that actively sabotages relational intimacy.Discover what ego looks like, sounds like, and feels like in real-time—both for the person defending themselves and the partner receiving it. Learn how ego induces negative sentiment override, tricks you into thinking you've "fallen out of love," and leaves you holding the trophy of being "right" in an empty room. Plus, get 4 practical, research-backed tools to dismantle your ego defense system and restore emotional safety in your home.Key Timestamps & Topics:**** Introduction: Why the ego is the subtle architect of marital breakdown**** What the Ego Really Is: Freud, Dr. Andrea Vitz, and Ryan Holiday on survival vs. intimacy**** Somatic & Behavioral Markers: What ego feels, sounds, and looks like in real-time**** The Receiver's Experience: Eggshells, loneliness, and checked-out partners**** The 4 Ego Defense Mechanisms: Gottman's research on defensiveness, splitting, superiority, and stonewalling**** How Ego Tricks You Into Believing You "Fell Out of Love" (Negative Sentiment Override & Ego-Induced Anhedonia)**** Ego in Everyday Scripting: What it sounds like in marriage and parenting**** Ego-Led vs. Self-Led Responses: How to tell who is driving (Body cues, flexibility, & boundaries)**** The Drone Perspective: A visualization tool from Dr. Andrea Vitz**** 4 Steps to Shift from Ego to Emotional Sobriety: Radical Humility, Beginner's Mind, Inner Scorecard, and Separating Worth from FeedbackResources & Books Mentioned in This Episode:Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan HolidayDr. Andrea Vitz & The Emotional Sobriety MovementDr. John Gottman's Research on Marital Stability & The Four HorsemenConnect with Kam: Email: coaching@recognizingpotential.comWebsiteJoin the Skool Community for resources, coaching videos, etc! Support the show

HOW TO HANDLE BEING GHOSTED In this episode, Monty & Roger welcome our new cohost, his wife Marsh and a longtime friend and colleague, Pastor Rob Gerig. They explore the challenging topic of being ghosted, its impact on recovery, and how to navigate the pain and rejection that can come with it. Featuring insights on building healthy relationships, managing expectations, and finding peace through faith. Closing Song: One Friend by Dan Seals. Key Topics ·         What is ghosting and how to recognize it·         The emotional impact of being ghosted·         Signs of soft ghosting and how to respond·         The importance of boundaries and self-worth·         The role of faith and spiritual growth in recovery·         Building a core support group·         The difference between being ghosted and walking away·         How unresolved trauma influences reactions to ghosting·         The importance of community and fellowship·         Practical steps to heal and move forward #recovery #alcoholic #twelvesteps #wedorecover #addiction 

Thom's Nutshell: Challenge your low self esteem and surprise yourself (I did). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which was developed in the 60's by Aaron Beck, dovetails nicely with some of Bill W.'s ideas. Rooted in observing, not denying, but recognizing “I'm becoming defensive “, “I'm taking this personally,” etc. Thom, Patrick, and Joe C. talk cognition before reaction and living in the pause. Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com Visit our website: www.emotionalsobriety.info Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com  Follow us on social media: Instagram: thomrutledge2 Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs   Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events   Allen's book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/   Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below):  https://zoom.us/j/330149513 Password: 375986   For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g   Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519 We'd love to stay in touch in between meetings.   We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at pndirective4@gmail.com for any questions or comments. Chapters (00:00:07) - The Next Step in Recovery: Challenge Your Low Self-Este(00:07:02) - The Problem With Talking To Clients(00:10:42) - Can You Read People's Minds?(00:16:12) - Physical and Emotional Sobriety(00:20:59) - On Relationships and Getting Out Of Them(00:21:59) - Don't Have to Be Understanded

Topic: Beth B. on Transformation, Emotional Sobriety, and Relationships. Help Sober Cast carry the message: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3400+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com

Have you ever felt like alcohol was always there for you? After a stressful day, during celebrations, through heartbreak, or whenever you needed to unwind?If so, you're not alone.In this episode of the Sober Vibes Podcast, I explore why alcohol can feel like a trusted friend, why letting go can feel like a loss, and how emotional drinking keeps us believing alcohol is meeting our needs when it's actually keeping us stuck.In This Episode, You'll Learn why alcohol can feel like your best friend during difficult seasons  how emotional drinking becomes your go-to coping strategy  what you're really grieving when you decide to quit drinking  why alcohol creates the illusion of comfort, confidence, and connection  practical ways to meet your emotional needs without alcohol  how sobriety helps you build real peace, confidence, and self-trust Quitting drinking isn't just about giving up alcohol; it's about discovering healthier ways to find comfort, connection, and relief. When you begin meeting those needs without alcohol, you'll realize you were never losing your best friend; you were finding yourself.Mentioned in episode:My Reading List Podcast SurveyGrab Your Free Gift:30 Day Calendar Day & Night RoutineReady for Support? Here Are 4 Ways to Work With Me:Stop Starting Over ProgramPerfect for the self-guided woman who wants a step-by-step roadmap to quit drinking, break the moderation cycle, and build a strong sober foundation at her own pace.Sobriety CircleFor the community girlie who thrives with accountability, connection, monthly coaching, and ongoing support from women who truly understand the journey. Use code "soberjuly" at checkout to save $10 off your first month.1:1 Sober CoachingFor the woman who wants personalized support, deeper transformation, and a customized plan to stop drinking, manage cravings, and build a sustainable alcohol-free life.The After (Emotional Sobriety Program) The next chapter after quitting drinking. Once you've built your sober foundation, it's time to do the deeper work—healing emotional patterns, rebuilding your identity, strengthening self-trust, regulating your nervous system, and creating a life where you no longer need alcohol to cope.Grab My Masterclass:Free access to my $47 masterclass when you leave an Apple review-Gain access to my Masterclass by submitting a review on iTunes. Email me at sobervibes@gmail.com with a screenshot of the review, and I will send you the code to unlock my Masterclass for free!Thank you for tuning in!Thank you for listening! Help the show by Rating, Reviewing, and/or Subscribing to the Sober Vibes Podcast.Connect w/ Courtney:InstagramJoin the Sobriety CircleApply for 1:1 CoachingOrder the Sober Vibes Book

EMOTIONALLY DRUNK ON YOU A Deeper Investigation Into Whether Insecure Attachment and Codependence Turn Love Into an Emotional Substance We Use to Escape Ourselves With Special Guest Dr. Allen Berger SYNOPSIS A lover can enter your bloodstream without ever touching your body. One text settles the panic. One unanswered call restarts it. A warm tone restores your worth. A distant look sends your identity into free fall. No chemical entered the system, yet the entire internal climate changed. What, then, have you been consuming? Human beings rarely describe romantic attachment as intoxication. Culture gives it prettier names. Passion. Loyalty. Devotion. Chemistry. Ride-or-die love. Yet beneath some of these celebrated experiences lives a dangerous emotional arrangement: another person has become responsible for producing the inner condition you cannot yet produce, tolerate, or sustain for yourself. Their attention becomes medicine. Their approval becomes evidence that you matter. Their availability becomes protection against abandonment. Their need for you becomes proof that you deserve to exist. Their obedience becomes peace. Once love carries this burden, relationship stops functioning as an encounter between two free human beings. It becomes a private emotional economy in which one person must keep paying so the other person does not collapse. Attachment theory helps explain how early bonds can shape the adult nervous system's expectations of closeness, separation, safety, and loss. Codependence adds another layer. A person may manage, rescue, fix, please, monitor, sacrifice, or overfunction in order to maintain access to emotional security. The behavior can look loving from the outside while fear quietly writes the contract. The anxious partner may call control “connection.” The avoidant partner may call emotional disappearance “freedom.” The rescuer may call indispensability “service.” The self-erasing partner may call surrender “commitment.” Every strategy attempts to solve the same unbearable problem: how can I keep another person from awakening feelings I do not know how to live with? Dr. Allen Berger's concept of emotional sobriety attacks this arrangement at its foundation. His work challenges the hidden belief that personal peace depends upon people, places, and circumstances behaving according to our private rules. “I am okay if you call.” “I am okay if you stay.” “I am okay if you understand.” “I am okay if you choose me.” These conditions turn another person's freedom into a threat. Could emotional sobriety begin when “I am okay if” finally loses authority? This does not require emotional coldness, radical isolation, or the fantasy that mature adults need nobody. Human beings require connection. The deeper question concerns governance. Who governs your inner life when someone disappoints you? Who controls your identity when affection gets withdrawn? Who becomes responsible for calming the fear that existed before the relationship began? Clinical maturity may involve learning to experience jealousy without surveillance, loneliness without self-erasure, uncertainty without interrogation, disappointment without retaliation, and grief without turning loss into proof of personal worthlessness. Philosophically, emotional sobriety confronts our understanding of love itself. Can love remain love when it demands psychological captivity? Can intimacy survive without control? Can commitment retain meaning when fear serves as the lock? A partner who cannot leave has not necessarily chosen you. A partner who must constantly regulate you has little room left to meet you. Culturally, many communities teach people to endure emotional dependence as evidence of loyalty. Men may learn to hide dependency behind authority, possession, silence, or rage. Women may receive praise for transforming self-neglect into service. Family systems can reward the person who carries everyone while quietly punishing the same person for developing a self. Under these conditions, codependence can wear the clothing of morality. Metaphysically, the topic reaches even further. What happens when consciousness seeks completion through possession? Can another person ever provide permanent shelter from an interior world you refuse to inhabit? Perhaps every attempt to make someone else the source of your emotional stability places sacred responsibility in human hands that cannot carry it. Tonight's investigation enters the space between love and dependency, support and self-abandonment, care and control, attachment and intoxication. Are you loving your partner? Or are you drinking them? And when the emotional supply runs low, who do you become?

EMOTIONALLY DRUNK ON YOU A Deeper Investigation Into Whether Insecure Attachment and Codependence Turn Love Into an Emotional Substance We Use to Escape Ourselves With Special Guest Dr. Allen Berger SYNOPSIS A lover can enter your bloodstream without ever touching your body. One text settles the panic. One unanswered call restarts it. A warm tone restores your worth. A distant look sends your identity into free fall. No chemical entered the system, yet the entire internal climate changed. What, then, have you been consuming? Human beings rarely describe romantic attachment as intoxication. Culture gives it prettier names. Passion. Loyalty. Devotion. Chemistry. Ride-or-die love. Yet beneath some of these celebrated experiences lives a dangerous emotional arrangement: another person has become responsible for producing the inner condition you cannot yet produce, tolerate, or sustain for yourself. Their attention becomes medicine. Their approval becomes evidence that you matter. Their availability becomes protection against abandonment. Their need for you becomes proof that you deserve to exist. Their obedience becomes peace. Once love carries this burden, relationship stops functioning as an encounter between two free human beings. It becomes a private emotional economy in which one person must keep paying so the other person does not collapse. Attachment theory helps explain how early bonds can shape the adult nervous system's expectations of closeness, separation, safety, and loss. Codependence adds another layer. A person may manage, rescue, fix, please, monitor, sacrifice, or overfunction in order to maintain access to emotional security. The behavior can look loving from the outside while fear quietly writes the contract. The anxious partner may call control “connection.” The avoidant partner may call emotional disappearance “freedom.” The rescuer may call indispensability “service.” The self-erasing partner may call surrender “commitment.” Every strategy attempts to solve the same unbearable problem: how can I keep another person from awakening feelings I do not know how to live with? Dr. Allen Berger's concept of emotional sobriety attacks this arrangement at its foundation. His work challenges the hidden belief that personal peace depends upon people, places, and circumstances behaving according to our private rules. “I am okay if you call.” “I am okay if you stay.” “I am okay if you understand.” “I am okay if you choose me.” These conditions turn another person's freedom into a threat. Could emotional sobriety begin when “I am okay if” finally loses authority? This does not require emotional coldness, radical isolation, or the fantasy that mature adults need nobody. Human beings require connection. The deeper question concerns governance. Who governs your inner life when someone disappoints you? Who controls your identity when affection gets withdrawn? Who becomes responsible for calming the fear that existed before the relationship began? Clinical maturity may involve learning to experience jealousy without surveillance, loneliness without self-erasure, uncertainty without interrogation, disappointment without retaliation, and grief without turning loss into proof of personal worthlessness. Philosophically, emotional sobriety confronts our understanding of love itself. Can love remain love when it demands psychological captivity? Can intimacy survive without control? Can commitment retain meaning when fear serves as the lock? A partner who cannot leave has not necessarily chosen you. A partner who must constantly regulate you has little room left to meet you. Culturally, many communities teach people to endure emotional dependence as evidence of loyalty. Men may learn to hide dependency behind authority, possession, silence, or rage. Women may receive praise for transforming self-neglect into service. Family systems can reward the person who carries everyone while quietly punishing the same person for developing a self. Under these conditions, codependence can wear the clothing of morality. Metaphysically, the topic reaches even further. What happens when consciousness seeks completion through possession? Can another person ever provide permanent shelter from an interior world you refuse to inhabit? Perhaps every attempt to make someone else the source of your emotional stability places sacred responsibility in human hands that cannot carry it. Tonight's investigation enters the space between love and dependency, support and self-abandonment, care and control, attachment and intoxication. Are you loving your partner? Or are you drinking them? And when the emotional supply runs low, who do you become?

Dr. Vitz talks about the five principles of Emotional Sobriety, concluding this week with our replacing ego with humility. (Originally aired 10-31-2025)

Dr. Vitz talks about the five principles of Emotional Sobriety, continuing this week with how we train our chemistry. (Originally aired 10-30-2025)

Dr. Vitz talks about the five principles of Emotional Sobriety, continuing this week with retraining our perceptions. (Originally aired 10-29-2025)

Dr. Vitz talks about the five principles of Emotional Sobriety, proceeding this week with basing our internal chemistry on integrity. (Originally aired 10-28-2025)

Dr. Vitz talks about the five principles of Emotional Sobriety, starting this week with how and why we must take ownership of our internal chemistry. (Originally aired 10-27-2025)

Thom's Nutshell: Don't make the mistake of thinking you have no impact in this world of ours. You do. Whether from a pebble or a giant rock, we're all leaving ripples in the pond. Allen, Thom, and Patrick discuss the illusion of separateness permeating our human bonds. Emotional sobriety can resolve the crises caused by looking towards other people to validate our existence when we don't think we matter. Being responsible to others is accepting responsibility to ourselves. Thom and Allen discuss amends and earning our own respect. Rest in peace Glen Hansard. Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com Visit our website: www.emotionalsobriety.info Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com  Follow us on social media: Instagram: thomrutledge2 Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs   Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events   Allen's book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/   Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below):  https://zoom.us/j/330149513 Password: 375986   For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g   Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519 We'd love to stay in touch in between meetings.   We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at pndirective4@gmail.com for any questions or comments. Chapters (00:00:00) - Emotional Sobriety: Next Step in Recovery(00:01:36) - You Deserve to Matter(00:07:52) - The Importance of Reality(00:10:02) - Codependents: The Joy of Living(00:17:35) - "I Made My Amends To My Mom"(00:18:29) - Tom Brady on Responsibility

Dr. Vitz talks about the five misconceptions about Emotional Sobriety, concluding this week with a dissecting of what emotional sobriety is all about. (Originally aired 10-24-2025)

Dr. Vitz talks about the five misconceptions about Emotional Sobriety, continuing with what it means to be emotionally available, open, and vulnerable. (Originally aired 10-23-2025)

Dr. Vitz talks about the five misconceptions about Emotional Sobriety, continuing with the difference between EMSO and your personal control, vs. psychological safety and its reliance on the behavior of others. (Originally aired 10-22-2025)

Dr. Vitz talks about the five misconceptions about Emotional Sobriety, starting with how EMSO can be confused with therapy. (Originally aired 10-20-2025)

Dr. Vitz talks about the five misconceptions about Emotional Sobriety, continuing with emotional intelligence (the identification of certain behaviors) and how to transcend it. (Originally aired 10-21-2025)

Thom's Nutshell: The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless. Seeking truth through withholding judgment. What makes it difficult to keep our mouths shut. The Odyssey, grades in school, “won't” drink versus “can't” drink. What is the suffering that breaks us open and makes us susceptible to change? Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com Visit our website: www.emotionalsobriety.info Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com  Follow us on social media: Instagram: thomrutledge2 Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs   Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events   Allen's book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/   Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below):  https://zoom.us/j/330149513 Password: 375986   For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g   Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519 We'd love to stay in touch in between meetings.   We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at pndirective4@gmail.com for any questions or comments. Chapters (00:00:07) - Coming to Alcoholics: The Next Step in Recovery(00:01:03) - Can We Ever Come Home?(00:02:11) - Alcoholics on the Recovery Process(00:06:04) - Tom Rutledge: The Key to Life(00:08:55) - The Value of Listening(00:14:38) - Tom and Alan on Their Most Toxic Relationship(00:17:36) - Non-Judgmental Musings for 12 Step Life(00:23:43) - Know the Meaning of Your Life(00:24:53) - Should We Suspend Our Judgment of Trump?(00:30:29) - Open Minds on the Divorce(00:34:43) - Can I Be Active Azealously?

Are you carrying the weight of the world, feeling like you're constantly hustling just to survive? In this episode of Married and Connected, host Kameran Alareqi sits down with seasoned coach, former pastor, and author Kurt Bush (Live Fully, Lead Authentically) to break down the dangers of "hollow success" and hustle culture. Together, they explore how deep self-awareness, confronting fear, and discovering true alignment can transform not only how you lead in business, but how you show up as a partner and parent at home.

Lots of us are afraid of the very word: fear. We'd rather say anxiety, or worry, or panic.  Yet according to Thom Rutledge, fear underlies most difficult emotions, and is a close companion to shame. Fear plays into just about every decision we ever make in our lives. To defeat fear, according to Thom, is neither possible nor desirable. Instead we need to live beyond its control, and to understand it. Rather than squashing down the voices of panic and dread, we can face up to them, explore them and respond.  In this episode Andrew and Thom explore: ✅ The meaning of fear ✅ How we can understand fear in our own lives ✅ How our family background shapes our experience of fear ✅ Four ways we can start to “embrace fear”. Thom Rutledge has been a psychotherapist for more than 40 years and is the author of several books, including Embracing Fear, The Self-Forgiveness Handbook, Earning Your Own Respect, The Greater Possibilities and What Love Is. He draws on professional training and experience as well as his own personal experience in recovery and personal growth to work with his clients. Thom and his colleague, Dr. Allen Berger, co-host their own weekly podcast, Emotional Sobriety.   If You're Looking for More…. You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests  and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  This week supporters will hear: - Three things Thom Rutledge knows to be true. - AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees.   Follow Up Get Andrew's free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things  Take a look at Andrew's new online relationship course: My Best Relationship Tools   Visit Thom Rutledge's website Read Thom Rutledge's books, including Embracing Fear.  Listen to Emotional Sobriety, a podcast co-hosted by Thom Rutledge and Dr Allen Berger. Follow Thom Rutledge on Twitter @ThomRutledge Read Andrew's blog on how keeping a journal can help deal with difficult emotions: Top Twelve Benefits of Journaling  If anxiety is a topic of interest for you, you may also enjoy Andrew's conversation with Richard Paterson: No More Overthinking Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50. Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall 

Thom's Nutshell: If you measure your well being according to how others treat you, you are choosing a life over which you have no control. This is voluntary victimization. Allen brings in his study of a “reflective sense of self” as we discuss the ways our difficulties with emotional sobriety impact those we love. Thom and Joe re-explore stoicism through the lens of emotional dependency. Our fear of life is really a fear of emotions.  Patrick reads a passage from Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay Gibson. Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com Visit our website: www.emotionalsobriety.info Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com  Follow us on social media: Instagram: thomrutledge2 Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs   Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events   Allen's book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/   Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below):  https://zoom.us/j/330149513 Password: 375986   For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g   Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519 We'd love to stay in touch in between meetings.   We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at pndirective4@gmail.com for any questions or comments. Chapters (00:00:07) - Emotional Recovery: The Next Step in Recovery(00:02:33) - This Reflective Sense of Self(00:06:57) - Dr. Matt Ramon on(00:12:13) - The Stochics on Emotions(00:15:30) - How Emotional Inebriation Affects Their Adult Lives(00:21:31) - "Tell Me What You Need"(00:22:05) - How to Realize Your Potential in Emotional Sobriety

Joe & Charlie were well known for the many Big Book workshops they did all over the country for many years, but the Big Book is not the only thing they spoke about . This is a 90 min workshop they did on the topic of Emotional Sobriety in 1990. Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3300+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com

Send us Fan MailSobriety can take away the drinking, but it does not automatically fix the part of us that avoids uncomfortable things. In this episode, Matt and Steve talk about the everyday tasks that can become weirdly heavy in recovery: making the phone call, going back to the dentist, dealing with money, choosing a contractor, or finally handling the thing we've been putting off.This conversation is about the anxiety that builds when we avoid, and the relief that often comes from taking one small action. Matt and Steve get honest about how avoidance still shows up in sober life, why it can feel worse once you know better, and how breaking the task down can make the next right thing feel possible.Support the show

Thom's Nutshell: Look for the benefit in all situations - practice positive opportunism. In another passage from Joe C.'s Beyond Belief, Allen ties our daily reflection to Emotional Sobriety and the importance of dislodging our false self in pursuit of an emboldened authentic one. Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com Visit our website: www.emotionalsobriety.info Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com  Follow us on social media: Instagram: thomrutledge2 Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs   Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events   Allen's book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/   Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below):  https://zoom.us/j/330149513 Password: 375986   For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g   Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519 We'd love to stay in touch in between meetings.   We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at pndirective4@gmail.com for any questions or comments. Chapters (00:00:07) - Alan Berger on Getting Back to the Future(00:04:06) - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous(00:08:27) - Don't Say AA '(00:11:41) - Thomas Had Enough of the False Self(00:16:00) - Living With Your Value System(00:21:52) - In the Simpsons Episode 8,(00:24:57) - Happy Hour: Positive Opportunism and Emotional Sobriety(00:26:24) - How to Control Your Thoughts(00:30:34) - Positive Opportunism in Life(00:34:09) - Alan on Bad Mouth and AA

John C from Ontario Canada is the speaker today sharing on the topic of: Uncovering The Mystery Of Emotional Sobriety at The Broken Elevator zoom meeting held at the end of February 2023. Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3300+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com

Send us Fan MailThere's a way many of us postpone our lives without even realizing it. We tell ourselves we'll slow down later, appreciate it later, and be happy when things settle down. Then one day we look around and realize the years didn't slow down while we were waiting.In this episode, Matt and Steve talk about Father's Day, graduation season, and the surprising realization that the moments we miss most usually aren't the big milestones. They're the ordinary things: rides to school, family dinners, sitting around the house, and hearing your kids call from another room.Recovery doesn't make life perfect, and it doesn't stop time. But it does give us something many of us didn't have while drinking: the chance to be there while life is happening.Topics include:• Why so many of us keep postponing happiness • The trap of “I'll appreciate this later” thinking • Why ordinary moments become the memories we treasure most • What surprised us about how quickly life moved • Presence over perfection in recovery and parentingSupport the show

Thom's Nutshell: We all have opinions. We all prefer certain outcomes. But attaching expectations to them is a choice. Disappointed? Upset? Devastated? Check your expectations. Why do we avoid going towards our pain? Because we don't have faith in our ability to cope with it. In emotional sobriety we work on our self-esteem, which is part of that perpetual engine moving us towards wholeness. From James Redford. The Struggle: “If it were any easier, it would be meaningless. If it were any harder, it would be impossible.” More from James Redford: https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Redford/author/B0B6QG81CK?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=fc6b511e-c7e0-4483-9773-b2a68db7ade9 Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com Visit our website: www.emotionalsobriety.info Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com  Follow us on social media: Instagram: thomrutledge2 Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs   Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events   Allen's book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/   Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below):  https://zoom.us/j/330149513 Password: 375986   For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g   Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519 We'd love to stay in touch in between meetings.   We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at pndirective4@gmail.com for any questions or comments. Chapters (00:00:07) - Emotional Sobriety: The Hurt Locker(00:07:45) - In the Elevator With Real People(00:09:15) - It Doesn't Even Matter If It's Good(00:11:44) - Living With an Addiction: Step 12(00:16:18) - Alan on Emotional Sobriety(00:20:57) - Emotional Sobriety and Relationships(00:25:18) - Part 8: Cooperation and Integrity(00:27:40) - I Want to Be Seen(00:32:01) - Poem for the Soul: James Redfern

Send us Fan MailBrooke Taylor looked successful from the outside. But behind the polished image was alcohol, pressure, and the exhausting feeling that nothing ever felt like enough. In this conversation, she shares what it was like to get sober before she felt ready — and why early sobriety felt more like punishment than freedom.They also talk about the exhausting work of keeping up appearances, what it took to finally stop, and why getting sober doesn't always end the search for relief, approval, or feeling like enough.Brooke is the author of Healing the Success Wound (Hachette, May 2026), which explores what happens when we tie our worth to what we accomplish instead of who we are.Connect with Brooke:Website: Brooke Taylor CoachingInstagram: @brookevtaylorTikTok: @brooketaylorcareercoachLinkedIn: Brooke TaylorSupport the show

Dave F, Mark H and lead this 11 part workshop on Emotional Sobriety hosted at the Wilson House in 2002. Part 11 of 11. Here are the worksheets that are mentioned in the workshop https://scast.us/next-step Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3200+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com

Dave F, Mark H and lead this 11 part workshop on Emotional Sobriety hosted at the Wilson House in 2002. This one both starts and ends a bit abruptly. Part 10 of 11. Here are the worksheets that are mentioned in the workshop https://scast.us/next-step Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3200+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com

LISTEN WITHOUT ADS ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Summary: Dave opens the show talking about Susan's eighth birthday and the family trip to Music on the Mountain in Ludlow, Vermont for the Phoenix and Divided Sky festival featuring Karina Rykman, Eggy, Anders Osborne, Daniel Donato, Natalie Cressman, Jennifer Hartswick, and members of Dogs in a Pile. Dave talks about trying to get the entire crowd to sing Happy Birthday to Susan and gives updates about Patreon, Narcan and fentanyl test strip giveaways, YouTube support, and the upcoming Dopey Short Film Festival sponsored by Mountainside Treatment Center. Dave reads a heartbreaking email from a listener celebrating nearly 60 days sober after quitting freebase coke, Xanax, and Suboxone while grieving the loss of his beloved dog Hesh. Dave reflects on his own fears about losing Winnie and spirals into thoughts about mortality, dogs, and a brass Winnie lamp he bought Linda for her birthday. Ben Croxton calls in with a classic IV Dopey story involving Googling “where to buy heroin in Atlanta,” instant meth psychosis at a job site, a dude hiding in a closet all day, and a cocaine-induced hallucination involving a kangaroo and imaginary police cars. The main interview features Keta Lauren and quickly becomes one of the darkest and most powerful Dopey stories in recent memory. Keta talks about growing up in extreme poverty in Northern California with a schizophrenic addict father and alcoholic mother, bouncing through foster homes, fighting constantly, and eventually landing in California Youth Authority “gladiator school.” She recounts horrific trauma including her father accidentally causing a house fire that killed four of her siblings after leaving a candle burning while gambling. Keta describes getting kidnapped while hitchhiking at age 11, doing meth as a child, surviving brutal YA prison fights, a devastating ATV accident that nearly killed her, and eventually falling into LA drug culture, sex work, heroin addiction, and trafficking. She explains how manipulation, survival, and trauma blurred together while trying to escape dangerous situations and abusive relationships. The conversation shifts toward recovery as Keta talks about finally hitting an emotional and spiritual bottom after years of heroin and meth addiction. She describes seeing herself deteriorate physically and mentally, eventually surrendering and finding treatment after a religious TV preacher bizarrely spoke directly to her situation. She later discusses relapse, AA and NA, psychedelic healing with psilocybin and ayahuasca, bipolar disorder, trauma therapy, and her belief that recovery can take many different forms. The episode closes with Trinity from the Beach reflecting on the interview playing a vulnerable acoustic cover of “Good So Bad” while apologizing for missing Dopey Zoom to record it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dave F, Mark H and lead this 11 part workshop on Emotional Sobriety hosted at the Wilson House in 2002. This one both starts and ends a bit abruptly. Part 9 of 11. Here are the worksheets that are mentioned in the workshop https://scast.us/next-step Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3200+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com

Dave F, Mark H and lead this 11 part workshop on Emotional Sobriety hosted at the Wilson House in 2002. This one both starts and ends a bit abruptly. Part 8 of 11. Here are the worksheets that are mentioned in the workshop https://scast.us/next-step Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3200+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com

Dave F, Mark H and lead this 11 part workshop on Emotional Sobriety hosted at the Wilson House in 2002. This one both starts and ends a bit abruptly. Part 7 of 11. Here are the worksheets that are mentioned in the workshop https://scast.us/next-step Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3200+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com

Dave F, Mark H and lead this 11 part workshop on Emotional Sobriety hosted at the Wilson House in 2002. This one both starts and ends a bit abruptly. Part 6 of 11. Here are the worksheets that are mentioned in the workshop https://scast.us/next-step Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3200+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com

Dave F, Mark H and lead this 11 part workshop on Emotional Sobriety hosted at the Wilson House in 2002. This one both starts and ends a bit abruptly. Part 5 of 11. Here are the worksheets that are mentioned in the workshop https://scast.us/next-step Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3200+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com