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In this episode, Laura McKowen explores why community and courage matter more than ever in making change in your life. She dives into the “messy midle” – theu ncertain space between giving up what umbs us and becoming someone new. She shares the story of the Luckiest Club, a global sobriety community. Key Takeaways: Understanding that real transformation is messy Learning how sobriety isn’t the finish line, but the starting point for deeper healing Understanding why community is so important and powerful Discover fawning as a trauma response and how it shows up in life Learning to balance honesty with fear How discernment and clarity often come in conversation with others If you enjoyed this conversation with Laura McKowen, check out these other episodes: How to Tap Into the Longings of the Heart with Sue Monk Kidd A Journey to Self-Discovery and Sobriety with Matthew Quick Special Episode: Finding Hope on the Path to Sobriety For full show notes, click here! Connect with the show: Follow us on YouTube: @TheOneYouFeedPod Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Follow us on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this powerful episode of the Confident Sober Women podcast, host Shelby John welcomes Louise Atthey, sobriety coach and team member at The Luckiest Club. With nearly 16 years of sobriety, Louise shares her journey from rock bottom to spiritual awakening and how surrendering to a higher power transformed her recovery.What You'll Learn:Louise's pivotal moment driving into a ditch in 2009 that led her to AAHow accepting spirituality despite initial resistance became her salvationThe three pillars that saved Louise's life: sobriety, female connection, and prayerWhy intellectual approaches to recovery often fail without spiritual surrenderPractical ways to develop your own spiritual practice, even as a former atheistKey Takeaways:The "spectrum" approach to addiction problems versus black-and-white thinkingWhy community support is essential for successful sobrietyFinding hope through others' stories and experiencesHow spirituality provides relief from the burden of self-relianceWays to overcome spiritual trauma or resistance to higher power conceptsLouise candidly discusses her transformation from "devout atheist" to someone who found peace through prayer, describing the moment she got on her knees and reluctantly asked for help. She explains how creating a concept of a loving, compassionate higher power allowed her to surrender control and find true freedom in recovery.Both Shelby and Louise reflect on why they consider themselves "the luckiest" - gaining personal responsibility, humility, and spiritual connection that many others never experience.Connect with Louise Atthey:Instagram: @louise_attheyWebsite: https://www.louiseatthey.com/Check out her newsletter and upcoming courseResources Mentioned:The Luckiest ClubFree Neurofeedback Guide: www.shelbyjohn.comSupport the showSupport the showOh, and by the way, if you didn't know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here! If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.
In this episode, Talia interviews Madeleine Shaw, a social entrepreneur and writer, to discuss the nuances of gray area drinking and its impact. They explore Madeleine's journey from entrepreneurship to writing, her personal struggle with gray area addiction, and how it redefined her life and relationships. Madeleine shares insights on societal pressures, the health risks associated with alcohol, the importance of self-regulation and how menopause played a role in her recovery. They discuss breaking the stigma around addiction and creating meaningful conversations about sobriety and mental health. Madeleine's story is one of liberation, resilience, and the pursuit of authenticity. 01:23 Guest Introduction and Background 04:31 Understanding Gray Area Addiction 08:49 Health Impacts of Alcohol 14:14 Personal Journey and Sobriety 22:20 Support and Societal Perspectives 24:24 Personal Reflections on Sobriety 25:14 Understanding and Meeting Our Needs 26:24 The Importance of Setting Boundaries 27:12 Facing Shame and Seeking Help 27:55 Entrepreneurship and Sobriety 30:19 Impact of Sobriety on Relationships 31:34 The Science Behind Alcohol's Effects 38:17 Support Systems and Resources 40:34 Daily Victories and Personal Triumphs 48:03 Final Thoughts and Gratitude The Greater Good Book: https://madeleineshaw.ca/the-greater-good/ Madeleine's Blog: https://medium.com/@madeleineshawgreatergood The Luckiest Club: https://www.theluckiestclub.com/ Recovery Elevator: https://www.recoveryelevator.com/ Love Medals Website: https://www.lovemedals.com/ Love Medals Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovemedals Tales of Triumph Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesoftriumphpodcast Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/the-lakes/bluebird License code: ZOSNVIA5JV1Y6ZWN
This episode originally aired on Aug. 7, 2024. In the summer of 2013, Laura McKowen hit rock bottom when she drank too much at her brother’s wedding, leaving her four-year-old daughter alone in a hotel overnight. This year, she celebrated a huge milestone: 10 years sober. Laura McKowen is author of “We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life” and “Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Life (and Everything Else)” and the founder of The Luckiest Club, an online sobriety support community. On this week’s Wellness Wednesday, Laura takes us on her decade-long journey to self-discovery through sobriety.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the summer of 2013, Laura McKowen hit rock bottom when she drank too much at her brother's wedding, leaving her four-year-old daughter alone in a hotel overnight. This year, she's celebrating a huge milestone: 10 years sober. Laura McKowen is author of “We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life” and “Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Life (and Everything Else)” and the founder of The Luckiest Club, an online sobriety support community. On this week's Wellness Wednesday, Laura takes us on her decade-long journey to self-discovery through sobriety.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sarah shares some of her favorite nightly rituals. Plus, she helps a man who feels like his brother's keeper, recommends the best places to pee near Central Park, and learns about The Luckiest Club. You can leave a voice memo for Sarah at speakpipe.com/TheSarahSilvermanPodcast. Follow Sarah Silverman @sarahkatesilverman on Instagram and @sarahksilverman on TikTok. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Author Laura McKowen is back to share the nine essential lessons she learned in recovery, from accepting that it's not your fault to the importance of seeking community and reaching out for help. What it means to take responsibility and why accountability leads to freedom; How we're all capable of everything – and how to get unstuck when you're feeling bad about yourself; and The importance of being seen in your pain – and the transformative potential of helping others do the same. About Laura: Laura is the author of the bestselling memoir, We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life and Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Life (and Everything Else). She has written for The New York Times and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Atlantic, the TODAY show, and more. In 2020, she founded The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support community. Laura lives with her daughter and partner on the North Shore of Boston. IG: @laura_mckowen To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Author Laura McKowen shares her incredible hard-earned wisdom about how to get sober and how to live with dignity, power, and peace. Laura shares: Her gut-wrenching rock bottom moment that eventually led her to sobriety. How healing often begins when we are forced to confront our deepest traumas. The "Bigger Yes" – and why it's not about achieving grand aspirations, but discovering the beauty in simply being who you are. Simple acts of self-care and the importance of stillness for self-discovery. The two fundamental questions everyone needs to ask themselves: "How do I feel?" and "What do I want?" The special vitriol for mothers who struggle with addiction in a culture that tells mothers to drink in countless ways. About Laura: Laura is the author of the bestselling memoir, We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life and Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Life (and Everything Else). She has written for The New York Times and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Atlantic, the TODAY show, and more. In 2020, she founded The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support community. Laura lives with her daughter and partner on the North Shore of Boston. IG: @laura_mckowen To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
DON'T MISS THIS EPISODE! Internationally bestselling author Barbara O'Neal talks with Rachael about what quitting drinking has done for not only her writing but her life. It's rare to pull back these kinds of curtains as artists. Pull up a chair and your drink of choice (we won't judge, ever). And if you're looking for resources on quitting drinking, there's an AA meeting near you: https://www.aa.org/aa-around-the-world or check out The Luckiest Club here: https://www.theluckiestclub.com/Barbara O'Neal is the author of more than a dozen award-winning, bestselling novels, including the runaway bestseller, When We Believed in Mermaids, which has been published in 21 countries and spent many months on both the most sold and most read Amazon Charts, as well as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Washington Post bestseller lists. Barbara is an avid traveler and passionate cook, and discovered the Oregon coast on a pandemic-era trip with her husband. She now lives on that rocky, moody coast in a quirky beach house and writes her books from a room overlooking the sea. She lives with her British husband, who has promised to never lose his accent, and their cats and dogs.How Do You Write Podcast: Explore the processes of How Do You Write Podcast: Explore the processes of working writers with bestselling author Rachael Herron. Want tips on how to write the book you long to finish? Here you'll gain insight from other writers on how to get in the chair, tricks to stay in it, and inspiration to get your own words flowing.✏️ Can I email you some writing help? http://rachaelherron.com/write
Episode 455 – How Do You Feel About Ayahuasca and Other Plant Medicines? Today we have Chris. He is 40 years old and lives in Austin, TX. He took his last drink on February 16th, 2007. Check out our events page for our lineup of upcoming retreats and courses. Beginning January 1st, RESTORE, our intense Dry January course is back! In February we have another 5-week Ukelele Course. Then in March, we have two events in Costa Rica, and we'll see you in Bozeman, Montana in August for our 6th annual retreat in Big Sky Country. Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20 [02:16] Highlights from Paul: Today is episode 9 out of 10 in the Q&A series. Today's question comes from Krista B, in our Café RE group. She says: “How Paul is feeling about ayahuasca and other plant medicines. Are you still as passionate about its benefits today as a few years ago? Has the treatment worked in a sustained way, in your opinion?” Paul shared his initial experience with ayahuasca in episode 170. He believes that plant medicines have a place in the world of addiction and mental health. Do not buy it on the internet and try it solo; set and setting is everything. There is so much preparation that needs to go into an ayahuasca ceremony and under the right circumstances, it will answer many questions. A big one being why you drink. Paul shares how ayahuasca still impacts his everyday life. While Paul found plant medicine helpful on his journey, he recognizes it's not for everyone, nor does he think everyone should try plant medicine. If you are interested, please do your own research before trying it. Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [11:59] Paul introduces Chris: Chris lives in Austin Texas; he is married with two children aged 8 and 9. He is an entrepreneur and enjoys being creative through many avenues. Chris always felt like an outsider that didn't belong while he was growing up. His parents divorced when he was young, and he blamed himself and ended up distancing himself from people. He craved connections and ended up starting drinking with a group of friends. Chris felt like alcohol was the solution to his feelings of not belonging. His drinking increased and over time he lost all those connections that he used alcohol to find and was drinking alone. At age 23 he went to treatment where they helped him recognize that he had some mental health issues, the main ones being social anxiety and depression. Some alumni from the group accepted Chris, helped him go to meetings and then they would all socialize afterwards. He finally felt he was making connections that he had craved all his life. Seeing people that were staying sober and succeeding was a big boost to Chris' confidence, and he felt like it was possible for him to do the same. His life in sobriety was becoming so great that he never had a desire to go back to drinking. Chris started going to school to become a counselor and immediately started working in the recovery field. He knew it was important to maintain and strengthen his recovery to do the job successfully. Chris started Sans Bar in 2018 as a pop-up bar when there were very few options in the alcohol-free arena. The pop-ups grew, and more and more people were interested in what Chris was doing, mostly through word of mouth. He feels it came along at the right time as the sober curious movement was beginning. Chris says doing this gave him the same feelings that his first sip of booze did – he was forming connections. He feels Sans Bar is for everyone, not just people in recovery. Chris's favorite resources in recovery: The Luckiest Club, 12 step programs, podcasts. Chris's parting piece of guidance: you can't fail. The point of sobriety is not abstinence, it's growth. Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator Go big, because eventually we all go home. I love you guys.
Do you long for the freedom of a sober lifestyle in a world that constantly celebrates alcohol? Laura McKowen joins us in this conversation to share her own experience and journey to sobriety. By unraveling the complexities of societal pressures, Laura will guide you towards a life of clarity, strength, and sobriety. Get ready to discover the solution that will empower you to thrive in a society that may not fully understand the beauty of living alcohol-free. "Leaving that mental door open just gave me a lot of freedom until eventually I knew I would never drink again." - Laura McKowen About Laura McKowen Laura McKowen is a powerful voice in the world of sobriety, providing guidance and support to individuals navigating the challenges of living in a society that normalizes alcohol consumption. With almost a decade of sobriety, Laura's journey has been marked by honesty, vulnerability, and a deep understanding of the complexities of addiction. Through her writing and speaking engagements, Laura explores the connection between trauma and addiction, shedding light on the underlying reasons that drive individuals to seek solace in alcohol. Supportive Community Her relatable and compassionate approach offers a beacon of hope to those struggling with their own relationship with alcohol. With her platform, Laura has created a safe and supportive space for individuals to share their stories and find the strength to embark on their own path to sobriety. Her insights and experiences serve as a reminder that recovery is possible and that there is a vibrant and fulfilling life waiting beyond addiction. Sobriety in a Society That Normalizes Alcohol: Laura McKowen's journey to sobriety began with a flood of questions. How did she end up in this place? Why was she the one with the problem while everyone else seemed to be able to drink without issue? And why was society so protective of alcohol, making it taboo to talk about the truth? These questions consumed her, and in her search for answers, she turned to writing. Laura had always been a writer, using journals to navigate her emotions since she was nine years old. Writing helped her uncover the underlying reasons behind her drinking and provided a much-needed outlet for her struggles. She started sharing her writings, initially with a lack of clarity about what she was going through, but as she continued on her path to sobriety, she became more open and transparent. It was through writing that Laura found her voice and began to speak her truth, no matter the consequences. Writing became her tool for self-discovery and healing, allowing her to shed the lies and embrace the power of honesty. And now, as an author, she uses her words to inspire and connect with others on their own journeys to sobriety. You can read more about Laura's writings at lauramckowen.com. Overcoming Social Expectations and Pressures with Alcohol The societal expectations and pressure to consume alcohol can quickly turn a casual drink into a perceived need. It becomes, distressingly, often easier to conform than question or challenge these deep-seated norms. Breaking this cycle requires a radical, conscious rethink of our personal choices and their alignment with societal expectations. Laura shares about the gripping social pressure to drink and the subsequent feeling of alienation for those choosing sobriety. Laura's account provided a real-life illustration of social expectations and their impacts. Her story is a testament to the strength of will it takes to question and alter these deeply entrenched patterns. The conversation amplifies the urgent need for societal change and individual resolve in choosing sobriety. If you're struggling with alcohol, find support at aa.com or The Luckiest Club. Laura's Bio Laura McKowen is the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life and Push Off From Here: 9 Essential Truths to Get You Through S...
In this episode, Matt and Steve welcome Madeline Forest, the host of The Happiest Sober Podcast. Madeline is a sober woman from Canada who shares her story of growing up with a sober mom. Madeline's mother at 21 and never looked back, she also had a dad who relapsed and was absent from her life. Madeline explains how alcohol became a source of anxiety and shame for her, even though she never hit a rock bottom or faced external consequences. She also reveals how she faced her fears of telling people about her decision to quit drinking and how she found support and inspiration from sober Instagram accounts, books, her mom, and a virtual support group called The Luckiest Club.Madeline is an inspiring guest who has a lot of wisdom and insights to offer. Tune in to hear her tips on how to stay sober, how to deal with cravings, and how to have fun without alcohol. You don't want to miss this episode!Happiestsober.comMadeline on IG - @happiestsoberThe Mystic CaveAn exploration of the spiritual terrain on the far side of conventional religion.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show
Laura McKowen is the author of the bestselling memoir, "We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life". In 2020, she founded The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support community. She lives with her daughter and partner in Boston. Follow Bob: @bobgoff Follow Kim: @kimberly.stuart.writes Follow Laura: @laura_mckowen Learn more about Laura and purchase her latest book "Push Off From Here" at lauramckowen.com
Laura McKowen is the author of the bestselling memoir, "We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life". In 2020, she founded The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support community. She lives with her daughter and partner in Boston. Follow Bob: @bobgoff Follow Kim: @kimberly.stuart.writes Follow Laura: @laura_mckowen Learn more about Laura and purchase her latest book "Push Off From Here" at lauramckowen.com
Laura McKowen is the author of the bestselling memoir, "We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life". In 2020, she founded The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support community. She lives with her daughter and partner in Boston. Follow Bob: @bobgoff Follow Kim: @kimberly.stuart.writes Follow Laura: @laura_mckowen Learn more about Laura and purchase her latest book "Push Off From Here" at lauramckowen.com
A Fresh Story, season 2, episode 15 Laura McKowen is the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life and Founder of The Luckiest Club, an international sobriety support community. Laura has been published in The New York Times, and her work has been featured in The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, the TODAY show, and more. Her second book, Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety (and Everything Else), was released in March 2023 from Penguin Random House. She lives outside Boston. We chatted with Laura about her journey to sobriety, how even the darkest of Fresh Starts can lead to beautiful journeys, the foundation of The Luckiest Club during the early days of the pandemic, and of course, her gorgeous book Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety (and Everything Else). Her wise words about starting fresh, as well as her brilliant advice and beautiful storytelling are incredibly powerful, and we were honored to have such an important discussion with Laura about sobriety – and choosing yourself. You can follow Laura on Instagram, and read We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life, as well as Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety (and Everything Else). For more information on The Luckiest Club, check out the website here. Keep up with Laura's events on her website, as well.
This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks Tawny and Lisa discuss the New York Times article linked below, advocating for offering paths to recovery other than Alcoholics Anonymous, in which a Higher Power is a central concept. Lisa talked about her experience with being directed toward AA and the “take what you need, leave the rest,” mentality. They are grateful that alternative programs like SMART Recovery, She Recovers, Monument, and The Luckiest Club, and others, giving people choices to find what's right for them. They also discuss the concept of “powerlessness.” And the fact that Bill W., the founder of AA, was a fan of LSD!Music Minute features REM, Ariana Grande, Lil Nas X, and “Spirit in the Sky.”Find the NYT article hereYou're Wrong About podcastPre-Order Tawny's book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the BoozePurchase Lisa's memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Laura McKowen was saddened when her local AA chapter shut down. Inspired by her own journey of recovering from alcohol addiction, she has decided to start her own set of meetings. Joining Timothy J. Hayes, Psy.D, Laura shares how this simple idea grew into a proper community dedicated to achieving freedom from alcohol, which she has named The Luckiest Club. She explains why recovering people must surround themselves with individuals who can validate their challenging path towards sobriety. Laura also delves into the dangers of a judgmental and comparative mindset, as well as the importance of not seeing oneself as damaged goods.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here's How »Join the On Your Mind Community today:journeysdream.orgTwitterInstagramFacebookYouTube
When Laura McKowen landed at her first AA meeting, she sobbed as she told strangers how she'd placed her daughter in danger one night. Afterward, a woman in the audience approached her. “I'm a mother too, and I want you to know, you can push off from here.”Push Off From Here became the title of Laura's second book, following her much-beloved 2020 memoir, We Are the Luckiest. Laura is a friend as well as an inspiration. In addition to her Substack LoveStory, she also runs an online community for folks who want to get ahold of their drinking, called The Luckiest Club.Laura and I talk about the false binary of “alcoholism,” why 12-step programs might be the biggest pain in the ass to ever save you, whether “love addiction” is a thing, and if substance abuse problems are better understood as a disease or a disorder, or neither But we talk about more than booze: Chasing boys and attention, body-image issues, quieting inner demons. Laura's book is fundamentally about change — how hard it is, but how worth the struggle. Her story is testimony to the quiet and profound choice of owning your own life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit smokeempodcast.substack.com/subscribe
This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks Tawny and Lisa talk to Laura McKowen, author of the bestselling memoir We Are the Luckiest:The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life. In 2020, Laura founded The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support community. Her new book, Push Off from Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety (and Everything Else), is available now. The book is a modern exploration of addiction that offers nine foundational building blocks every person at any stage of sobriety can use.Music Minute features Taylor Swift and her brilliant lyricismFind Laura herePurchase Laura's second book, Push Off from Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety (and Everything Else)Follow her: @laura_mckowen @theluckiestclubFind Laura's Spotify PlaylistsPre-Order Tawny's book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the BoozePurchase Lisa's memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Episode 423 – Some Phoneless Fool Today we have Laura. She is 45, from Boston, MA, and took her last drink on September 27, 2014. Join Recovery Elevator in Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend for a fun conference style event at the Marriott in Alpharetta on Sunday. This event is all about getting your connect on and it will be a fun time. Spouses or loved ones are encouraged to attend. Registration is open please click the link for more information. We also have registration for the annual Bozeman Retreat opening on April 3rd. The retreat is scheduled for August 9th – 13th. Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20 [02:07] Highlights from Paul: Paul feels that addictions are adaptations to unhealthy environments. Rates of addiction, disease, inflammations, and cancers are all on the rise. In recovery we are tasked with creating a world for ourselves and others where we feel connected, worthy, and part of the community. Recovery is not about new world exploration but restoring the circuitry we were born with. Addiction could be what forces us to come together, put our differences aside and start loving each other. Paul thinks that it is our job in recovery to create a life for ourselves and others that doesn't require alcohol for wholeness. He's up for the task, how about you? Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [6:36] Paul introduces Laura: Laura is 45 years old, lives in Boston, has one daughter and is recently engaged. She is a writer and the founder of The Luckiest Club, an international sobriety support community. For fun she loves to read, play beach volleyball and travelling. She first started drinking when she was 15 but didn't drink a lot. She played sports in high school which kept her from partying and her dad got sober when she was a teenager so she had a healthy fear of alcohol. Her drinking really started when she went to college. She had a fake ID and was all in. After graduating she found herself surrounded by drinking in the workforce. Throughout her 20's she surrounded herself with people who drank like her. There was a sense that she drank differently than others but she decided it was just something she needed to watch but not quit. She never had any serious consequences at this time in her life. Laura feels that her drinking really increased after she became a mom. She had more anxiety, her body processed it differently, she was drinking more and it was working less. While she was pregnant, she realized how much she had relied on alcohol because she couldn't have it. She started worrying more about her drinking at this point because she was chasing relief from the anxiety and only finding it helping for 20 minutes or less. The year before her last drink Laura found herself suffering some consequences. She got a DUI which she brushed off as just getting a ticket when asked about it. After an event that caused her to almost lose custody of her daughter, she spent the next year actively trying to quit drinking. Her family was acutely aware of her drinking issue and were holding her accountable. She was very angry and wasn't at the point that she accepted that the alcohol needed to go. She tried to go to AA but didn't enjoy it at first. She continued to drink but also kept going to meetings. She was starting to have more sober time than drinking time and was reaping the benefits. It wasn't until she stopped making the promise to not drink and instead focused on one day at a time. Laura started closing all her escape hatches after getting a little bit of sobriety time. She feels the most important thing about sobriety is that you cannot do it alone. And these days, there are more and more resources out there where we don't have to do it alone. Laura McKowen The Luckiest Club We are the Luckiest Push Off From Here Cafe RE Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY to waive the set-up fee. Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator Rule 22 – Lighten Up I love you guys
In this episode I talk to bestselling author of We Are the Luckiest and founder of the international recovery community The Luckiest Club Laura McKowen about her new book Push off From Here. The stories and advice McKowen shares are specific to alcohol addiction, but the tenets are universal in their application and useful no matter what challenge you face. With profound honesty and boundless compassion, Push Off from Here provides an actionable framework for healing what pains us and proves that a life of sobriety can be synonymous with a life of magic, peace, and freedom. When Laura McKowen was two years sober, she received an email from a woman whose sister was struggling with alcohol addiction. McKowen had barely climbed out from the dark place the woman's sister was in, but she made a list of the things she most needed to hear when she was deep in her own battle. No matter how far astray you've gone or how many times you've tried and failed before, as long as you're still sitting here, breathing, and reading these words, freedom and joy are still possible. In this episode we explore her Nine Truths. 1. It is not your fault. 2. It is your responsibility. 3. It is unfair that this is your thing. 4. This is your thing. 5. This will never stop being your thing until you face it. 6. You cannot do it alone. 7. Only you can do it. 8. You are loved. 9. We will never stop reminding you of these things. In Push Off from Here, McKowen delves deeply into each of her nine points: what they mean, how they work, and how every person can live them. She addresses topics such as the correlation between trauma and addiction, the importance of radical honesty, letting go of the illusion of control, the value of community, a reminder that healing is a continual process, and that the process is a gift. Whether you're just starting out or have been sober for decades, McKowen instructs us to be kind to ourselves: Change is messy and progress is rarely linear, but we can always push off from here. It's a gem so grab a cuppa and let's chat. Love Kate x Buy the book: Connect with Laura at The Luckiest Club
Daniel and Jenna welcome their first guest, Laura McKowen. Laura is the author of a bestselling memoir and founder of “The Luckiest Club”, a global sobriety support community. Laura tells her sober story, talks about what inspired her to start writing about recovery and start an online sober community, and discusses the main theme of her upcoming book “Push Off From Here” being released on March 7th.
You can't shame yourself sober, and you can't punish yourself into change, but similarly, we need to recognize our patterns and be willing to tell the truth. I am so excited to welcome Laura McKowen, author of the new book Push Off From Here, to the podcast. Laura and I get into this idea of a blame story and what personal responsibility really means. In this episode we discuss the chaos we live in on a daily basis, what personal responsibility means, how to identify your blame story, and how to cope with intense shame in sobriety. Laura McKowen is the founder of The Luckiest Club, an international sobriety support community and best-selling author of We Are The Luckiest. In her new book, Push Off From Here - The 9 Essential Truths To Get You Through Sobriety she shares how to get through sobriety in a modern exploration of addiction, sharing practical advice for achieving sobriety and living a fulfilling life in recovery. In this episode you'll learn: What it means to live with rollerskates on How to let go of self-stigma How Laura started taking responsibility for her drinking How to identify the blame stories that you're telling yourself Laura's favorite part of her new book Her favorite part of being sober For the extended episode about Laura's advice if you are going back and forth because you believe you aren't “that bad”, please check out my Living a Sober Powered Life community. https://www.soberpowered.com/membership Connect with Laura: https://www.lauramckowen.com/books https://www.theluckiestclub.com/ https://www.instagram.com/laura_mckowen/ Resources I offer: Community: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership 30 Day Quit Drinking Course with daily audios to help you work on your mindset about letting drinking go https://quitdrinkingcourse.supercast.com/ Monthly office hours: ask me anything you'd like live. My audio will be recorded for anyone who can't join live. I will not be recording the meeting participants. https://officehours.supercast.com/ Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5 A free 3 day quit drinking challenge https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62f2cb3de5ea6b3d8aea4ab2 You are not alone eBook with data from almost 700 sober people https://www.soberpowered.com/you-are-not-alone-ebook Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more: https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered Sources are posted on my website Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Getting through sobriety can be one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences of your life and Laura McKowen, founder of The Luckiest Club, an international sobriety support community and best-selling author of We Are The Luckiest, The Surprising Magic Of A Sober Life is here to help us through the process. In Laura's new book, Push Off From Here - The 9 Essential Truths To Get You Through Sobriety she shares how to get through sobriety in a modern exploration of addiction, sharing practical advice for achieving sobriety and living a fulfilling life in recovery. Laura will help you see the drinking culture we live in, and why so many of us struggle with drinking “responsibly”, in a new light. For full show notes and to access resources mentioned in the episode, head over to www.hellosomedaycoaching.com/151 Ready to drink less + live more? If you're ready to change your relationship with alcohol join The Sobriety Starter Kit. It's my signature sober coaching course for busy women to help you drink less + live more. To enroll go to www.sobrietystarterkit.com. Grab the Free 30-Day Guide To Quitting Drinking, 30 Tips For Your First Month Alcohol-Free Connect with Casey McGuire Davidson To find out more about Casey and her coaching programs, head over to her website, www.hellosomedaycoaching.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It can be tempting to lean solely on ourselves when we're struggling and to hide what we're going through from the world. But what if that's the opposite of what we need? And connection is the medicine necessary for healing?Today, I'm joined by best-selling author Laura McKowen. Together we discuss how being honest about her needs helped her embrace sobriety and re-build her life.Laura is the founder of The Luckiest Club, an international sobriety support community. She has been published in the New York Times and her work has been featured in The Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, and more. Her second book, Push Off from Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety and Everything Else releases on March 7.Join us as we discuss...How connection can help us work through addictionHow neediness can reflect back to us the truth of what we areBeing the piece of shit at the center of the universeThe strength in saying “I need you”Laura's upcoming book and how it felt to write it with her needs in mindHang out with Laura...Visit Laura's WebsiteFollow Laura on Instagram Pre-order Push Off from Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety and Everything ElseLove Needy? Pretty please subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a rating & review.Really love Needy? Join the Needy Podcast Inner Circle! Courses, discounts, quarterly Q&As and more for a one-time or monthly donation of any amount. Exclusively for folks who love the Needy podcast. THANK YOU.Your needs matter.
If you're thinking of writing a deeply personal memoir about some tough stuff, but you're not sure how much to share, and you're worried about how going public with your story might affect the people closest to you, this episode is for you. Today's guest has written two books focusing on her journey from alcohol dependence to sobriety, and her stories very much deal with how her drinking affected her family. Laura McKowen is the author of the bestselling memoir, We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life, and Push Off from Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety (and Everything Else), releasing March 2023. Laura has written for the New York Times and has been featured in many national media outlets, including the TODAY Show and more. In 2020, she founded The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support group, and she writes a Substack newsletter called Love Story. In this episode, you'll learn:How writing your story can be a powerful tool for emotional processing and connection with others.How sharing your story, even when it feels vulnerable, can inspire and help others who may be going through similar experiences.The importance of self-care and self-compassion in the writing process—not just to avoid burnout, but also to ensure that you're writing from a place of authenticity and honesty.How writing prompts and exercises can help you to overcome writer's block and spark your creativity.How sharing your unique and valuable story can help you feel seen, heard, and understood.For more, check out:lauramckowen.commaggielangrick.comwonderwell.pressAnd follow:instagram.com/laura_mckoweninstagram.com/maggielangrickinstagram.com/wonderwellpressinstagram.com/selfishgiftpodcast
Laura McKowen returns to the show! Laura opens up about the turning point that led her to sobriety and the underlying issues she had to confront. She also shares some insights and teachings from her latest book, Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety (and Everything Else). She is also the Founder of The Luckiest Club, an international sobriety support community. We also discuss how drinking is often just one symptom of deeper issues and the importance of honesty and vulnerability in the healing journey. Whether you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, this episode offers insight and hope for anyone seeking a life in recovery and offers a compassionate perspective for understanding and overcoming these challenges. Some of the topics we discussed include: Laura's sobriety and the turning point that made her realize she had to get sober (5:24) How alcohol can be a red flag for underlying issues (7:03) Substance addictions are only a tiny part of a more significant issue of addiction that is almost always rooted in trauma (21:16) Honesty is the foundation for developing healthier coping mechanisms and relationships (23:51) http://andreaowen.com/509
Laura McKowen returns to the show! Laura opens up about the turning point that led her to sobriety and the underlying issues she had to confront. She also shares some insights and teachings from her latest book, Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety (and Everything Else). She is also the Founder of The Luckiest Club, an international sobriety support community. We also discuss how drinking is often just one symptom of deeper issues and the importance of honesty and vulnerability in the healing journey. Whether you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, this episode offers insight and hope for anyone seeking a life in recovery and offers a compassionate perspective for understanding and overcoming these challenges. Some of the topics we discussed include: Laura's sobriety and the turning point that made her realize she had to get sober (5:24) How alcohol can be a red flag for underlying issues (7:03) Substance addictions are only a small part of a bigger issue of addiction that is almost always rooted in trauma (21:16) Honesty as the foundation for developing healthier coping mechanisms and relationships (23:51) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of @The Connected Caroline Show , I interview Peggi Cooney, motivational speaker, social worker, and author of the quit-lit book "This Side of Alcohol: Random thoughts and candid words of pain, hope, humor, love." LINKS: ThisSideOfAlcohol.com Facebook: thissideofalcohol Linkedin: Peggi-Cooney Email: thissideofalcohol@gmail.com Peggi Cooney entered the motivational speaking world through her journey to sobriety and her recently published book, This Side of Alcohol: Random thoughts and candid words of pain, hope, humor, love — and all that is possible in sobriety. This Side of Alcohol is borne out of the cathartic journaling she did during the first two years following her break-up with alcohol. It tells the story of what she did to get and stay sober, allowing her to transform her shame, guilt, and anger into self-compassion, self-discovery, and forgiveness – of herself and others. From self-loathing isolation to a joyous community of support and rediscovered intimacy with her family. From living her life engulfed in cognitive dissonance (teaching about the connection between trauma and addiction while she was drinking every evening) to the pride she feels today in being present and authentic in every aspect of her work and life. This Side of Alcohol is her story of living her sobriety out loud, telling the truth, and being at peace... Peggi is a social work instructor/coach for a local California University. She has a Master's degree from California State University at Chico and spent 16 years as a Child Welfare and Adult Protective Services social worker. Peggi has become a sobriety advocate all over the world. She facilitates a weekly recovery support group and is currently working on the development of a sobriety tool to be released in 2022. Peggi has been married to Paul for 35 years. Together they have five children and 12 grandchildren. They make their homes in West Sacramento and Lake Almanor, California.
Laura McKowen is the bestselling author of We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life, the founder and CEO of The Luckiest Club, and the host of Tell Me Something True Podcast. Laura started drinking in her teens and continued through college, her marriage, and early motherhood. She shares that she was forced to get sober after hitting her rock bottom following her separation from her husband. Laura also shares her reasons for not identifying as an "alcoholic"--which she believes has very negative connotations--but rather as "sober" or "in recovery." We discuss the challenges of motherhood in sobriety and in general, as well as the catharsis of having to be honest in recovery. We also talk about jealousy and envy--especially in the age of social media--and how we can shift our mindsets to overcome it. Laura's new book, Push Off From Here, comes out March 7, 2023 and is available for pre-order now. You can find her on her website or Instagram. Are you a member of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group? It's a free and private space for sober women who want to build confidence, improve their relationships, and love their lives beyond recovery. Join now! You can join the Sober Freedom Inner Circle any time for a group coaching experience that will move your life from good to AMAZING! Grab a copy of my memoir, Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety, wherever you buy your books!
Today's conversation is with your sobriety hype girl, Madeline Forrest. We talk about the importance of starting again and again, and how setbacks can often lead you and fuel you into a stronger follow-through if you pick sobriety back up after setting it down. Madeline also shares her multiple experiences that led to her moment of clarity, the tools she used to help lay her foundation to ditch the booze, and how she navigated the relationships in her life going through sobriety. We also dive deep into her Instagram, Happiest Sober, which has over 20,000 followers, and discuss if having social media held her accountable through her journey. Resources Mentioned: Connect with Madeline on Instagram! Check out The Luckiest Club by Lauren McKowen here. Listen to my episode with Cole Garret, 2 1/2 Years Sober || from drinking buddies in 2014 to sober friends now I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me on Instagram! For more tips, tricks, and tools, head to our website, www.clearheaded.co.
Don't you love the feeling of your world expanding through a good book? Feeling your life being transformed through the written word is priceless. But how far can that go?Friends - meet Branden Collinsworth, someone who has taken those ideas, and turned them up to eleven. Branden Collinsworth is a Nike Master Trainer, Yoga Teacher, Human Performance Coach and Humanitarian. He describes his life as a journey “from the streets to the skies.” He comes from a seriously tough upbringing, and also emanates a thrilling love of life and service for others.One of the major things he credits as shaping his life is his love of reading. So much so he took on a challenge to read 1,000 books because he knew it would help him unlock a world beyond the streets and generational trauma. Branden's journey of curiosity has shaped him into a man of extraordinary empathy and joy for life and it comes through in our conversation. There is something in the way he talks about his mother - the clarity of his presence that makes us so excited to welcome him to Tell Me Something True.If you care about these kinds of conversations, we hope you'll become a TMST Plus member. Episode link: Spotify playlist for this episode: Here's the transcript: Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Become a TMST member today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free.====TMST is hosted by Laura McKowen, the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club. Follow the show and Laura on Instagram.
People tell Mary Laura Philpott that her writing is like having a conversation with her. We can say that is 100% true. She's an utterly captivating writer AND conversationalist.You may have first heard about Mary Laura Philpott through her first book, “I Miss You When I Blink.” Her new memoir in essays is “Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives.” It was named an Editor's Choice by the New York Times Book Review and one of the Best Books of 2022 by NPR. “Bomb Shelter” had Laura laughing and crying and nodding her head as another woman (and mother) who is solidly in mid-life.There are almost no places left where contemporary authors can sit down and discuss their work. It's really important to me, and everyone, at TMST that we hold this space. If you care about these kinds of conversations, we hope you'll become a TMST Plus member. Episode link: https://www.tmstpod.com/episodes/58-mary-laura-philpott-on-the-joy-and-dread-of-being-humanSpotify playlist for this episode: Here's the transcript: https://tell-me-something-true.simplecast.com/episodes/mary-laura-philpott-on-the-joy-dread-of-being-human/transcriptTell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Become a TMST member today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free.====TMST is hosted by Laura McKowen, the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club. Follow the show and Laura on Instagram.
Being human means sometimes we feel deeply alone. Cut off from other people. For most people, it passes quickly.For others, especially those who also suffer from addiction, that feeling of isolation is persistent. It's a low hum that follows a person everywhere. Part of the reason why some drink is to numb that feeling and turn down the voices that whisper why we're alone.Chris Marshall knows these feelings well and he's here today to share how listening to those voices have almost killed him on several occasions. And how he's developed a support network to make them less loud. Chris learned how powerful the experience of connection can be and it, literally, helped to save his life. It led him to create Sans Bar, a community connection space that specializes in serving extravagantly amazing, zero alcohol cocktails.You may know Chris if you're a member of The Luckiest Club, the sobriety support community Laura founded where he's one of the meeting leaders.BONUS: Chris and Laura recorded some material just for TMST Plus members. Become a TMST Plus member to hear some of his top tips and secrets for creating an inclusive space, his favorite drink for the hottest summer day and the TWO WORD genius answer to “Do you want a drink?” and “Why aren't you drinking?”Episode link: https://www.tmstpod.com/episodes/57-chrismarshall-on-how-connection-can-save-your-lifeSpotify playlist for this episode: Here's the transcript: https://tell-me-something-true.simplecast.com/episodes/chris-marshall-on-how-connection-can-save-your-life/transcriptTell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Become a TMST member today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free.====TMST is hosted by Laura McKowen, the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club. Follow the show and Laura on Instagram.
HANDS UP if knowing what you want, and standing up for it, has not always been welcome.Imagine being hit with that - and you're America's top-selling female group of all time!Marissa Moss has a lot to say about powerful women, making their own rules, and finding solidarity when the world is pitting them against each other. This TMST is a conversation about how women are being true to themselves and reshaping culture, while building huge, diverse audiences. In the book, “Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Never Were Supposed to Be,” Moss weaves together The Chicks, Shania and Loretta, and the new generation like Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Mickey Guyton.The stories she shares in our conversation are gripping, and gut churning. And…. she's going to explain to us the veiled threat that still exists today - you don't want to get Chicked, do ya?Episode link: https://www.tmstpod.com/episodes/56-marissa-moss-on-not-getting-chickedSpotify playlist for this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0hJwhPHQzuqT9OgiAnpAhQHere's the transcript: https://tell-me-something-true.simplecast.com/episodes/marissa-moss-on-not-getting-chicked/transcriptTell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Become a TMST member today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free.====TMST is hosted by Laura McKowen, the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club. Follow the show and Laura on Instagram.
When was the last time you got real about jealousy or envy?In this episode, Laura brings the heat, digging into how jealousy and envy have shown up in her life. She explores the ways they're different and the ways we use them to blow ourselves up.This is no trail of tears, though! We'll take a look at what social psychologists and researchers have identified as the purpose of these emotions. And then we explore ways to help work through these feelings when they rise up and want to take charge of our lives.If you're a TMST Plus member, the members-only episode features a bonus conversation Laura had with her friend Christie Tate, the NY Times Bestselling author of Group, which was about her experience in group therapy. The two of them have spent a lot of time delving into these gross, uncomfortable feelings, and you can be a fly on the wall as they explore it.SUPPORT: Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Become a TMST member today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free.====TMST is hosted by Laura McKowen, the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club. Follow the show and Laura on Instagram.
We are never more than one connection away from a veteran or first responder. They are the ULTRA helping professions. During the pandemic, many were the first line of protection and care. Over 20 years of The Global War of Terror, many have experienced repeated deployments with an anodyne “thank you for your service” and a bad country music song as their only Thank You. But how many of us have asked how we can be part of THEIR solution network? Meet Dr. Kate Pate, a neurophysiologist who is looking at the ways our brains impact our bodies, and how we heal both in harmony. Kate is laser-focused on the health and healing needs of our veterans and first responders, which means she's focused on matters that impact our entire society. Her perspective is grounded in healing and is relevant to all of us because we're connected to these folks or need similar healing. She gets the role recovery plays in the equation and she brings true illumination to things like, “what's a trigger?” and “is this PTSD?” Dr. Kate Pate is one of the most impressive and insightful people we've ever met and you are going to love her. Dr Kate Pate's IG: https://www.instagram.com/doc.pate/ Episode link: Spotify playlist for this episode: Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Become a TMST member today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free. ==== TMST is hosted by Laura McKowen, the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club. Follow the show and Laura on Instagram.
Laura McKowen is the author of the bestselling We Are the Luckiest, host of Tell Me Something True podcast, and founder of The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support community. https://www.lauramckowen.com/blog
In this episode, Lorilee connects with her friend and former professor, Susan Bryant. The two met in Susan's class at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee where she taught analog photography for 37 years. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibits across the country, and she has been the recipient of several distinguished artistic fellowships throughout her career. Though she retired from full time teaching in 2019, Susan continues to instruct online and in-person photography workshops, while also maintaining a robust and active studio practice. She and Lorilee discuss the nature and value of creativity in different phases of their lives, as well as their intertwined paths to recovery. Highlights: On Susan's playlist: ‘I Am Light' by India.ArieSusan's early love for painting and photography Analog art versus digital art in the pursuit of play and discoveryHer Light Catchers workshopsTheir respective and overlapping journeys toward sobrietyUsing therapy to break down the walls that we buildSusan's ‘third act,' now that's she's sober One tool for our G&G toolboxMentioned in this episode:We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life by Laura McKowenTLC aka The Luckiest Club
An insatiable need for romantic attention and love. Periods of overeating or starving. Using alcohol, food, or over-working to numb out. A pattern of unstable and painful relationships. Does this sound painfully familiar? Kelly McDaniel is a trauma therapist who saw these traits over and over in clients who felt trapped in cycles of harmful behaviors and were unable to stop. In 2008, she coined the term Mother Hunger as a way to describe this pattern and has since helped countless women. In this conversation, Kelly and Laura talk about: – What Mother Hunger is – How Mother Hunger shows up in our relationship to food – The three critical elements of mothering and what happens when those needs aren't met – What Mother Hunger looks like in other relationships, like friendships and at work – The link between food and unstable relationship patterns – The concept of “frozen grief” – The double-bind women face when it comes to sexual expression – How to begin to heal Episode link: https://www.tmstpod.com/episodes/51-kelly-mcdaniel-on-mother-hunger Show notes: Ready to Heal book Mother Hunger book Kelly's website: https://kellymcdanieltherapy.com/ Kelly's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellymcdanieltherapy/ Spotify playlist for this episode: Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Become a TMST member today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free. ==== TMST is hosted by Laura McKowen, the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club. Follow the show and Laura on Instagram.
Laura McKowen Founder and CEO of The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support organization, and host of Tell Me Something True podcast. Laura has been published in The New York Times, and her work has been featured in The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, the TODAY show and more and is the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life,In this episode, Eric and Laura discuss her important work in building a sobriety support community.But wait – there's more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It's that simple and we'll give you good stuff as a thank you!Laura McKowen and I Discuss Community and Support in Sobriety and…Her tendency for people pleasingThe use of fawning as a coping mechanismRecognizing codependency in relationshipsWhy she loves reading fictionHer creation of “TLC” – The Luckiest Club as a sobriety support communityHow there's sanity and discernment in communityUnderstanding that it's not your fault, but it is your responsibilityLiving your own values versus someone else's values and choosing your actions accordinglyTaking on the mission of learning the role we are meant to play in lifeLaura McKowen links:Laura's WebsiteThe Luckiest Club Online Sobriety CommunityTell Me Something True PodcastInstagramExplore the science behind weight loss and partner with your healthcare provider for a healthy approach to your weight management, visit truthaboutweight.comWhen you purchase products and/or services from the sponsors of this episode, you help support The One You Feed. Your support is greatly appreciated, thank you!If you enjoyed this conversation with Laura McKowen, you might also enjoy these other episodes:The Magic of Being Sober with Laura McKowen (2020)The Freedom of Sobriety with Veronica ValliSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Themes: Sobriety, Addiction, Authenticity, Resentment, Belonging Summary: Laura McKowen is the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life and the forthcoming sobriety manifesto, Push Off From Here. Following a long, successful career in the Mad Men-esque drinking culture of advertising, Laura got sober and quickly became recognized as a fresh voice in recovery, beloved for her soulful and irreverent writing online and in print. She has been published in The New York Times and her work has appeared in The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, the Today show, and more. In 2020, Laura founded The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support organization. Discover: Our individual experiences of sobriety Our thoughts on the current state of affairs and why we're so divided as a collective The problem with “keeping the peace” and why speaking your truth is the ultimate invitation to expansion What's really behind feelings of resentment and how they often lead to addictive behaviours Links: We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life lauramckowen.com The Luckiest Club Instagram: @theluckiestclub Listen to my first episode with Laura here Sponsors: Organifi | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off all products at organifi.com/createthelove House of WiseCo. | Use code CREATETHELOVEBOGO to get one free box of gummies when you buy one box at houseofwise.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
My guest today is the author and founder of The Luckiest Club, Laura McKowen. Laura is the first person I've had on the show twice. The first time, we were talking about her book, We Are the Luckiest, and I invited her back to discuss an essay she published in the New York times last fall, titled: How I Knew I Needed to Quit Instagram. I could relate personally to so much of what she described in her piece, in which she compared her relationship with social media with her alcohol addiction. The essay also came out around the time that reports surfaced linking social media use to negative mental health outcomes, among young girls in particular, and it seemed to me like it was part of a much larger, and ongoing conversation about how we navigate our lives online in a healthy way.As I was researching my questions for this interview, the parallels between social media and a substance like alcohol became clearer and clearer – and we get into all of that, along with what happened when her agent and publisher gently suggested that she get back on Instagram for the sake of her career. In the episode we discuss: -The highs and lows of social media addiction.-Moderating social media the way we used to moderate alcohol. -Why both social media and alcohol capitalize on our need to be validated and fit in.-Why it hurts so much to be unfollowed – and why we feel ashamed for caring about this.-How the advent of the personal brand was enabled by social media – while simultaneously shaping how we use these platforms-The impact on our mental health of constantly micro-managing our online personas.-How social media create a climate of constant competition with one another.-Why there is no such thing as being 100% “authentic” on social media.-What makes some people more susceptible to social media having a negative impact on them.-Finding other spaces to have more complex, nuanced, and thought-provoking conversations.Read Laura's NYT essay HERE, learn more about her work HERE. Laura's podcast is Tell Me Something True.And big thank you to amazing folks at bonbuz for partnering on this episode. You can order directly at bonbuz.com - and get 10% off your order with the code RUBY10 when you click HERE
The first month of 2022 is almost up, and many people have committed to participate in Dry January, where they commit to starting being sober. As many people have experienced, going through their sobriety journey can be rough and challenging. Many people choose to return to their old ways and disregard their progress. In this episode of the Live Your Personal Best podcast, I spoke to Gill Tietz, MS, the host of Sober Powered Podcast. Gill has a master's degree in Biology and has dedicated herself to learning about alcohol's influence on the brain and its cause of addiction. She uses her platform to educate and empower others to assess their relationship with alcohol. Right now, she also works as a biochemist in the Boston area. Listen to learn more about Gill's different approaches to encourage you to try a 30-day sober challenge and start your sobriety journey. Episode Timeline [3:33] Gill shares her opinion on different sobriety challenges and if they are helpful. [5:33] Gill mentions the importance of having support when going through Dry January. [8:13] Gill brings up how long it takes to see the effects of not drinking. [10:41] Gill tells the effects of sobriety challenges after it's done. [13:18] Gill shares how she's coping with people surrounding her that are still drinking. [18:16] Gill recounts how she started her sobriety journey. [23:08] Gill reveals the mission of Sober Powered. [25:07] Gill leaves her one last piece of advice to the listeners. Key Takeaways Sobriety challenges are an excellent opportunity for those super curious to take a break from alcohol. These challenges eliminate a huge barrier, especially for those hesitant participants. Millions of people are now participating in Dry January, which started in the UK in 2013. If you're getting more than enough support when you participate in these sobriety challenges, there's a higher chance that you'll finish them successfully. Aside from attending AA meetings, you can also get support virtually from joining The Luckiest Club virtual meetings or NamaStay Sober's yoga sessions. The effects of sobriety can be seen immediately or longer, depending on your relationship with alcohol. It can be seen starting from two weeks to four weeks of sobriety for some people. The learnings you acquire after each sobriety challenge are valuable even though you chose not to continue being sober for quite a while. If you plan to stay sober, drinking mocktails and non-alcoholic beer could help if you're looking for ways to socialize with people during events. Realizing that nobody really cares if you're drinking or not could encourage you to proceed with your sobriety journey. They might ask because it seems odd at first, but it's not essential to them, so there's nothing to be worried about. You can miss alcohol and accept reality at the same time. Quotes “One of the scariest things about taking a break [from alcohol] is people are gonna ask why you're not drinking.” - Gill [3:46] “Part of the challenge is learning how to navigate real-life without drinking, so it's not just you hide out in your room, and you don't drink for 30 days, and then you resume life. You're doing life this whole time.” - Gill [10:51] “Addiction is giving up everything for one thing, and recovery is giving up one thing for everything.” - Gill [21:34] “Now that I'm sober, I have a whole life.” - Gill [21:54] “Addiction isn't searching through society to find the losers among us. It can get anybody. It doesn't matter how many degrees you have, how much money you have, what your race is, where you live, anything. It can get anybody at any time.” - Gill [24:32] Connect with Gill Email: gill@soberpowered.com Website: www.soberpowered.com Instagram: instagram.com/sober.powered Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/soberpowered Join the Live Your Personal Best Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/personalbesties Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, we're re-airing one of our favorite episodes of Heart of the Matter, featuring author and founder of The Luckiest Club, Laura McKowen. When Laura first stopped drinking, she thought of it as “the end of all the color” in her life. But after weathering one particularly challenging night, she realized the magic that comes with being in recovery and feeling fully present in her life. Together, Elizabeth and Laura discuss the pain that lies at the root of drinking, the glamorization of alcohol, the power of truth-telling and why Laura considers herself “lucky” to have faced addiction.Related reading:After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode: Alcohol: What Families Need to Know to Help Protect Young PeopleIs Alcohol Use Spiking in Your Home?Online Support Community for Parents & CaregiversEditor's Note: The views and opinions expressed on Heart of the Matter are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that's health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion.
Laura McKowen returns to the show! Laura says, “Much of recovery is about accepting the good and the bad, as well as accepting the contradictions.” She joins me to talk about her sobriety story, how she processed the emotions of sobriety, and how she works with people now to inspire them to say yes to a bigger life. Laura is the author of the bestselling memoir, We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life, and the Founder and CEO of The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support program. In this episode you'll hear: Laura shares her sobriety story and how she went from working in advertising and drinking to sober, teacher, coach, and speaker. (3:58) What inspired Laura to write her book, We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life. (15:08)Sober Curiosity: We all have something that shatters the concept of self as we know it. (18:31) Some ways in which a newly sober person can learn to hear and speak their truth, and renew their sense of meaning and purpose. (36:38) http://andreaowen.com/414
This week, Mary and Corinne talked about...TV: Corinne watched Only Murders in the BuildingTV: Mary Ann watched UnorthodoxCommunity: Corinne went to her first TLC meetingHome: Corinne cooked & cleaned A LOTBooks: Corinne is trying to finish up Priest Daddy before the end of the month! Ways to connect:CCHQ online communityFind us on Instagram @corinne.consultingOur websiteYou can sign up for the Weekly Refill newsletter here
Join host Crystal with special guest Megan Lynn on this weeks episode. Megan is a single mom of 2 boys living in Boston, Ma. Megan shares her sobriety journey and how she was able to pull herself out of a dark depression, self medicating her anxiety with wine and finally ending the torturous cycle of trying to moderate her drinking. She can be found on Instagram @sobahsistahsFavorite Book: We are the Luckiest By Laura Mckowen We are the Luckiest Club for support meetings and coursesWATCH ON YOUTUBE https://youtu.be/zswVgqVXS9UAre you enjoying the Sober Onions Podcast? If so, your Donation or Sponsorship will help continue on the message of sobriety.All funds go to Podcast website, editing fees, hosting fees and media expenses.https://soberonions.com/sponsors-patrons/ Your donation can change the lives of those struggling with addiction or those trying to maintain Sobriety. We are a community that grows by sharing and supporting each other.Thank you for your Support~ CrystalFOLLOW on IG: sober.onionsFacebook: Sober OnionsTik Tok: Sober Onions
In this episode of Heart of the Matter, Elizabeth Vargas is joined by Laura McKowen, author and founder of The Luckiest Club. When Laura first stopped drinking, she thought of it as “the end of all the color” in her life. But after weathering one particularly challenging night, she realized the magic that comes with being in recovery and feeling fully present in her life. Together, Elizabeth and Laura discuss the pain that lies at the root of drinking, the glamorization of alcohol, the power of truth-telling and why Laura considers herself “lucky” to have faced addiction. Related reading: After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode: Alcohol: What Families Need to Know to Help Protect Young People Is Alcohol Use Spiking in Your Home? Online Support Community for Parents & Caregivers
Americans drank more — a lot more — last year. Alcohol sales were up by 54%, and women's “heavy drinking days” increased by 41%. With wine-fueled 5K races, after-work happy hours and boozy brunches, we are surrounded by alcohol. This week we're talking about it all with Laura McKowen, author of the bestselling memoir, We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life, and founder of The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support community. We discuss why we drink, how much we spend on drinking, the sober life, addiction, and so much more. In Mailbag, we talk about refinancing student loans and rebalancing your 401(k) In Thrive, could your hybrid workplace be toxic?
This week on the podcast, Tammi and Sondra welcome Anthony Eder. Anthony loves music, knitting and connecting with people in recovery, all from the beautiful mountains of Southern California. He also hosts one of the queer-focused meetings at The Luckiest Club, an online sobriety support community. You can find Anthony on Instagram @mwendo.soul. This week, Anthony shares three items from his Unruffled Toolbox: (1) Author, Adrian Michael; (2) “When in doubt, dance it out!”; and (3) Knitting.
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Laura McKowen is a writer, teacher, and speaker. She had a long, successful career in public relations and the Mad Men–esque drinking culture of advertising. After getting sober, Laura quickly became recognized as a fresh voice in recovery, beloved for her soulful and irreverent writing online and in print. She now leads sold-out retreats and courses, teaching people how to say yes to a bigger life. Laura's also the founder of The Luckiest Club, a sobriety support community. Her first book, We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life was released in January 2020 and was an instant bestseller. We chatted about.... Laura's 20-year struggle with drinking What life looks like since becoming sober Laura's predisposition to using alcohol to escape The myth that alcohol isn't that big of a deal Laura's thoughts on whether or not certain people can't drink alcohol Why the mommy wine culture is harmful Laura's physical and psychological dependency on alcohol The link between trauma and addiction Laura's rock bottom moment that led her to recognize she had a problem with alcohol The struggles with alcohol withdrawal and getting sober Laura's advice to you if you're struggling alone in silence with alcohol __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-courageously-u-podcast/id1506417679 ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/laura-mckowen/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/
This week I have this ray of sunshine on the pod, Robbie. We discuss early days in sobriety, discoveries we've made, and where we want to go on this journey. Books Mentioned: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace; We are the Luckiest by Laura McKowen; Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown; The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher Heuertz; Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker; Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. Podcasts mentioned: My Favorite Murder. App mentioned: I Am Sober App. Support groups mentioned: The Luckiest Club
When we talk about addictions, alcohol may be the most common due to the legality and acceptance of it in our society, but it is still a terrible addiction that can end up destroying lives. Today's guest is Laura McKowen, an ex alcohol addict, who after going through the bitter moment of losing her daughter due to alcohol excess on a wedding night, hit rock bottom and began a journey to sobriety, a journey full of ups and downs that has led her to be an amazing writer, teacher, and author. About Laura: Laura McKowen had a long, successful career in public relations and the Mad Men–Esque drinking culture of advertising. After getting sober, she quickly became recognized as a fresh voice in recovery, beloved for her soulful and irreverent writing online and in print. She now leads sold-out retreats and courses, teaching people how to say yes to a bigger life. She lives outside Boston, Massachusetts with her daughter. Laura writes an award-winning blog and hosted the iTunes Top 100 HOME podcast. She has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, WebMD, Psychology Today, the TODAY show, The Doctors, and more. Laura has an MBA from Babson College and spent 15 years in advertising managing million-dollar accounts for Fortune 100 companies before transitioning to writing and teaching. She's the founder of several online programs for sobriety and personal development, The Luckiest Club, a sobriety support community, and she teaches workshops and retreats all over the U.S. Her first book, We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life, released in January 2020 and was an instant bestseller. Laura is represented by Jamie Carr at The Book Group. Connect with Laura: Instagram: @Laura_McKowen Website: theluckiestclub.com What you'll hear: 1:42 Meditation time. 3:20 What is Laura creating and building in this world. 7:00 "If I can stay this way everything is gonna be okay". Laura talks about her addiction story. 14:38 Laura's realization moment. 18:38 Alcohol drowning Laura's inner writer. 24:03 The hardest and easiest part of sobriety. 29:41 The loneliness feeling behind Laura's addiction. 33:56 Join the UNcivilized nation. 34:48 Laura's thoughts about sobriety and pain. 41:02 The inspiration behind The Luckiest Club. 42:44 "To achieve something alcohol doesn't have a place in your life". Laura's advise. 46:30 Laura talks about leading addictions during covid. 51:52 Where to find Laura 52:08 Support Laura. If you look at the civilized world and think, “no thank you,” then you should subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Also, join the uncivilized community, and connect with me on my website, Facebook, or Instagram so you can join in on our live recordings, ask questions to guests, and more.