Podcasts about sober friends

Send us a textOn this episode of the Sober Friends podcast, we dive deep into the idea that kindness isn't some fluffy, feel-good concept—it's a legit recovery tool. We talk about how hard it can be to receive kindness when we first come in, why it's often toughest to be kind to the people closest to us, and how practicing kindness—especially when it's not our default—can transform our relationships and our sobriety. There's honesty, laughter, and a few tough-love truths in here, plus stories about caring for loved ones, being of service, and learning to meet people where they are without losing ourselves in the process. This isn't about perfection—it's about progress, grace, and finding strength in being gentle.Support the show

Send us a textIn this heartfelt episode of Sober Friends, hosts Matt and Steve explore how kindness can be our secret weapon in recovery. In a world where social media algorithms reward outrage and division, they share personal stories about their journeys from being "reformed trolls" to discovering the lasting joy that comes from acts of kindness. Steve opens up about caring for his wife during health challenges, while Matt reflects on putting family needs before his own desires. Whether you're new to sobriety or years into recovery, this episode offers practical wisdom on how kindness to others helps quiet the noise in our own heads—and might just be the key to staying sober in divisive times. Listen for authentic conversation about finding purpose through serving others and the surprising ways recovery teaches us to be kinder, even when things aren't going our way.Support the show

Send us a textIn this thought-provoking episode of Sober Friends, hosts Matt, and Steve tackle a common challenge in recovery: maintaining sobriety while living with partners who still drink. Steve shares his personal journey of negotiating alcohol in the home with his non-alcoholic wife, offering practical insights on establishing boundaries through honest communication. They discuss various scenarios, from living with moderate drinkers to active alcoholics, emphasizing that recovery is possible in any circumstance with the right support system. Whether you're newly sober or years into recovery, this episode provides valuable strategies for navigating these delicate relationships without compromising your sobriety or creating unnecessary strain on your partnerships.Support the show

Send us a textIn this thought-provoking episode of Sober Friends, Matt and Steve engage in a candid conversation about spirituality in recovery following their experience at a Joe and Charlie Big Book study. They thoughtfully examine the suggestion that atheists cannot truly work the AA program, offering nuanced perspectives on what constitutes a "higher power."The discussion explores several important dimensions of recovery:Alternatives to traditional religious concepts of God in sobrietyThe role of nature and energy as potential higher powersHow fellowship can serve as a power greater than oneselfPersonal experiences finding peace at the beach and during solo hikesThe value of questioning beliefs while maintaining sobrietyBalancing individual spiritual journeys with program fundamentalsThis episode provides valuable insights for anyone in recovery who is working to define their own spiritual path, whether they identify as religious, spiritual-but-not-religious, agnostic, or atheist. Matt and Steve demonstrate through their own experiences that recovery is accessible through various spiritual frameworks, emphasizing that what matters most is finding what works for you.Support the show

Send us a textIn this insightful episode of the Sober Friends podcast, hosts Steve and Matt explore the critical role of change in sustained sobriety and personal growth. Through candid discussion, they examine how resistance to change can impact recovery and why staying static often means sliding backward. The hosts share personal experiences about overcoming the fear of change, from career transitions to daily habits, while offering practical wisdom about taking manageable steps forward. This episode provides valuable perspectives on how the willingness to change—even when uncomfortable—becomes a cornerstone of lasting sobriety.Support the show

Send us a textIn this intimate conversation, the Sober Friends hosts dive deep into one of recovery's most challenging aspects: dealing with things beyond our control. Through personal stories about workplace anxiety, childhood trauma, and finding unexpected joy, they explore how fellowship, therapy, and individual solutions help navigate life's uncertainties. Whether you're wrestling with imposter syndrome, anxiety about the future, or searching for peace in sobriety, this episode offers practical insights and reminds listeners they're not alone in their journey.Support the show

Send us a textIn this powerful episode of Sober Friends, hosts Matt and Steve dive deep into the critical connection between isolation and addiction. Through personal stories of drinking alone and social anxiety, they explore how isolation can both trigger addiction and become a destructive pattern in recovery. The hosts share their journeys from basement drinking to building meaningful connections through hiking groups and recovery meetings. This episode offers hope and practical strategies for those struggling to break free from isolation, especially in today's world of remote work and digital disconnection. Whether you're in recovery or supporting someone who is, this conversation provides valuable insights into the healing power of human connection.Support the show

Send us a textIn this thought-provoking episode of the Sober Friends podcast, Steve and Matt dive deep into the changing landscape of recovery programs and what makes an effective support group. The conversation stems from their recent experience with a "Joe and Charlie" study session, leading to an authentic discussion about the evolution of recovery programs over the decades.The hosts explore several compelling topics, including the contrast between historical and modern recovery success rates, the emergence of alternative programs like SMART Recovery, and what defines a truly effective support meeting. They share personal experiences about finding the right meeting environment, including an enlightening story about a Christmas shopping adventure that highlighted the importance of program-focused discussions.A particularly insightful segment covers how recovery tools become second nature over time, with the hosts discussing how they naturally implement these strategies in their daily lives - from managing social anxiety at a school concert to handling holiday stress. The episode also touches on the unique characters that make recovery meetings special, and how unlikely partnerships often lead to successful recovery journeys.Whether you're in recovery, curious about different sobriety programs, or interested in understanding how recovery meetings actually work, this episode offers valuable insights into the real-world application of recovery principles and the importance of finding the right support system.Support the show

Send us a textIn this candid and heartfelt episode of the Sober Friends Podcast, Steve and Matt dive deep into the challenges of maintaining long-term sobriety. They explore the subtle dangers of complacency, the importance of keeping recovery fresh, and how finding new perspectives can reinvigorate your journey. From Joe and Charlie workshops to unexpected sources of inspiration like TikTok, they share personal strategies for staying motivated, engaged, and committed to a sober lifestyle. Whether you're new to recovery or have years of sobriety under your belt, this episode offers valuable insights into keeping your recovery program dynamic and meaningful.There's more to the Sober Friends experience than just the podcast! Our companion newsletter takes that conversation to another level, where you get an in-depth article that explores our podcast topic from a completely different angle. Head over to soberfriendspod.com, scroll to the bottom to subscribe.Support the show

Send us a textIn this powerful episode of Sober Friends, Matt and Steve dive deep into the transformative role of social media in addiction recovery. Discover how platforms like TikTok and Blue Sky are revolutionizing the way people approach sobriety, offering unprecedented support, community, and hope for those struggling with alcohol addiction. Learn about the importance of compassion, meeting people where they are, and the potential for connection in the digital age of recovery.There's more to the Sober Friends experience than just the podcast! Our companion newsletter takes that conversation to another level, where you get an in-depth article that explores our podcast topic from a completely different angle. Head over to soberfriendspod.com, scroll to the bottom to subscribe.Support the show

Send us a textHow much recovery work is 'enough'? In this candid episode, we dive deep into a common struggle many face in sobriety - the pressure to do more. From navigating the end of the 'pink cloud' phase to finding balance in service work, we explore why feeling like you're not doing enough might actually be a sign you're on the right path. Whether you're 209 days sober or 10 years in, this conversation about recovery perfectionism, guilt, and finding your own pace offers valuable insights for anyone on their sobriety journey. Plus, we discuss how social media is reshaping recovery communities and making sobriety more accessible to younger generations.There's more to the Sober Friends experience than just the podcast! Our companion newsletter takes that conversation to another level, where you get an in-depth article that explores our podcast topic from a completely different angle. Head over to soberfriendspod.com, scroll to the bottom to subscribe.Support the show

Send us a textJoin Matt, and Steve as they dive deep into one of recovery's most crucial warning signs - HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired). Through personal stories and real experiences, they explore how these seemingly simple states can create dangerous unguarded moments in sobriety. From dealing with family dynamics and feeling unappreciated to finding healthy coping strategies, this episode offers practical solutions for maintaining recovery during vulnerable times. Learn why breaking a shoelace might be just as challenging as life's bigger hurdles, and discover effective tools like exercise, meditation, and the power of reaching out to others.There's more to the Sober Friends experience than just the podcast! Our companion newsletter takes that conversation to another level, where you get an in-depth article that explores our podcast topic from a completely different angle. Head over to soberfriendspod.com, scroll to the bottom to subscribe.ClairvoyagingLauren & Frank explore esotericism, intuition, psychic growth, healing, and bad jokes.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textIn this powerful episode of the Sober Friends podcast, host Matt shares his deeply personal experience with Step 2 of Alcoholics Anonymous, tackling one of recovery's most challenging hurdles: connecting with a higher power. Whether you're new to sobriety, curious about AA, or a seasoned veteran in recovery, Matt's candid storytelling breaks down the misconceptions about spirituality in recovery and offers fresh perspectives on finding your own path.Key highlights include:Confronting the "God thing" in AA without religious pressureCreative alternatives to traditional concepts of a higher powerReal talk about the challenges of early sobriety and meeting attendancePractical advice for working through Step 2 at your own paceHow humility and openness become stepping stones to recoveryPerfect for the sober curious, newcomers to AA, or anyone seeking understanding about the role of spirituality in addiction recovery. Matt's authentic approach and vulnerable sharing make this complex topic accessible and relatable for everyone, regardless of their religious or spiritual background.Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the show

In Episode 28 of The Unsoberly Sober Show, I sit down with my second guest, Rob, as we dive deep into the lessons we've learned in sobriety.

Join us on the Sober Friends podcast for an insightful discussion about the challenges of maintaining health and wellness on the journey to recovery. In this episode, we dive into the frustrations of dealing with sleep apnea, the temptation of instant relief, and the importance of patience in finding solutions. From struggling with impatience to navigating relationships with food, our hosts share personal experiences and valuable insights on overcoming obstacles. Discover how taking proactive steps towards health can be a transformative journey, and learn practical strategies for managing frustrations along the way. Tune in for a candid conversation about embracing the process of self-care and finding comfort in one's own skin amidst life's challenges.Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the show

Episode 160: Understanding High Bottom Sobriety with Matt JerrIn episode 160 of the Sober Vibes podcast, host Courtney Andersen welcomes Matt Jerr to the show to discuss high-bottom sobriety. Matt shares his story of addiction and recovery and unravels the concept of high-bottom sobriety – a crucial aspect of the recovery journey. Matt and Courtney advise those who've stumbled on the path to recovery to document their experiences, practice self-forgiveness, and, most importantly, be honest with yourself. It's time to explore new coping mechanisms that don't involve alcohol and embrace the challenges and rewards that come with a sober lifestyle. What you will learn in this episode:Matt Jerr's Story of Addiction and Sobriety High-Bottom Sobriety Tips to get back on the wagon Matt Jerr is the host of the Sober Friends podcast.Thank you for listening, and we hope this episode helps.Reviews help the show. Please rate, Review, and Subscribe to the Sober Vibes Podcast.Thank you to our Sponsor.You receive 20% off your order with EXACT NATURE as a show listener. Make sure to check them out and support the show. EXACT NATURE: click here to shop and save 20% off with code "SV20." Free shipping on all orders! Please listen to episode 129 with Thomas White to learn more about CBD.To Connect with Matt:Podcast Instagram To Connect with Courtney:Grab my BOOKFollow Sober Vibes on InstagramApply for 1:1 Coaching with CourtneyJoin the Sobriety Circle CommunityEnroll in Next Level Sober Support Self-Guided ProgramJoin the women-only Sober Vibes Facebook groupGrab your Free 30-Day Sober Not Boring CalendarGrab your Free Sober Routine ChecklistFree Mocktail MenuSHOP ALL MERCHANDISESOBER VIBES JOURNALClick here to Join the Sobriety Circle and get $10 off your first month with code "HOLIDAY" which you will use at checkout. Sobriety Circle is formally known as the Fix and is for anyone from day one to two years sober. Weekly meetings, sober check-ins, personal development, and holistic tools to help you in your sobriety journey. Support the show

Matt Jerr, host of the Sober Friends Podcast is here to talk about his experience and strength on his sober journey. We dive into when he realized he was an alcoholic, why he decided to get sober, and what makes him an expert on sobriety and recovery. We also talk about why he considers himself a “high bottom drunk”.  The Sober Friends Podcast is a weekly show where you can listen to inspiring and honest conversations about sobriety, recovery, and wellness. This podcast is for anyone who wants to learn more about living a sober and fulfilling life. I was on this podcast a few weeks ago, and now it's time to learn more about Matt.  [03:12] Matt had a lot of trauma in his upbringing. His parents divorced when he was three or four years old. Matt lived with his mom, and he grew up poor.  [04:32] A lot of people in his family had drinking problems. Matt began drinking when he was sixteen years old. It was hard to get alcohol, and he craved it all the time.  [05:05] He was an addict from early on. [07:50] The moves he made with his mother created a trauma response in Matt. [08:57] He went to college and almost got kicked out, until he turned his life around. He could focus on doing well.  [10:12] He began drinking like an alcoholic when he was 17 or 18, but he was in college and everyone drank. [11:14] He drank a lot, and would get sick most nights. He questioned his drinking up until age 38. [12:50] Matt realized that if he really wanted to stop drinking, everything in his life needed to change. [13:29] Not drinking was one of the worst feelings in his life. [14:45] His therapist asked him to go to a meeting, he reluctantly went, and finally felt at home. AA was much more fun than he thought it would be. [16:27] He felt committed to do it forever. He's never relapsed. [19:51] Recovery became his new addiction, and he didn't want to disappoint anyone else in the meetings. [22:40] Matt doesn't feel like he's an expert on sobriety and recovery, but he does feel like he can bring a story. He can share what has helped him stay sober. He's also very vulnerable on his podcast. [25:26] AA is a program to help people start living. [28:29] We talk about vulnerability, intimacy, and learning how to connect. [30:02] The "high bottom drunk" is different from a "low bottom drunk" that has to stop drinking or they'll die or lose their family or something really bad.  [31:25] Matt was "high bottom drunk". Being called an alcoholic was unacceptable and the worst thing that you could say to him. Knowing he was an alcoholic was the bottom that he knew he had to do something about. [33:07] If you're a "high bottom drunk", go ahead and stop drinking. You don't have to wait until you hit rock bottom. [35:52] The Sober Friends podcast. Matt had a previous podcast, and he listened to a podcast called Recovery. He thought he could bring something to the table. It wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. It helps him, and it helps other people.  [37:32] If you want to start your own podcast, do it! [39:55] Starting a podcast can also be another layer of accountability.   Links mentioned in this episode: Camelback Recovery I Love Being Sober YouTube Sober Friends Podcast Sober Friends Podcast Instagram Matt@SoberFriendsPod.com E144: Unmasking the Power of Sobriety: Tim Westbrook's Inspiring Journey

This week I'm having coffee with Matt Jerr, host of the Sober Friends podcast! Matt is coming up on a decade sober and in this episode he shares his story, we chat about why you don't need to hit a rock bottom to get sober, the power of community in sobriety, being a sober dad, and so much more! Connect with Matt: Follow Matt on Instagram: @soberfriendspod Listen to Matt's podcast: Sober Friends Pod Visit Matt's website: soberfriendspod.com Connect with me: Follow me on Instagram: @happiestsober Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: happiestsober.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On our 40th podcast episode we are joined by Matt Jerr from Sober Friends Podcast. Matt and Meg talk all about sobriety, about the different ways you can get to sobriety, we talk about being all or nothing people, rollercoasters (!!), stepping out of our comfort zones, FEAR,  being sensitive people and how it's been doing the hard work on ourselves. Grab your cuppa for todays episode and please enjoy!  website: https://www.soberfriendspod.com/Insta: https://www.instagram.com/soberfriendspod/Megan Webb: https://glassfulfilled.com.auInstagram: @glassfulfilledIsabella Ferguson: https://isabellaferguson.com.auInstagram: @alcoholandstresswithisabellaInstagram: @kidsandalcohol

What does it take to create a successful podcast about sobriety? How do you overcome the challenges of job hopping, guilt, and perfectionism? How do you deal with trolls and mispronunciations of your name? Find out in this episode of the Sober Friends podcast, where Matt and Steve chat with Gillian Tietz, the founder of A Sober Powered Life. Gillian was our guest on Episode 60.  Click here to hear her story.Gillian shares her story of recovery and how she created a program to help others find their own way to sobriety. She also talks about her career journey, from being a fifth grade teacher to a biochemistry professor, and how she landed a prestigious teaching role without a PhD. She also reveals how she started the Sober Powered podcast, which is one of the top podcasts on the mental health charts on Apple. Along the way, you'll hear some hilarious anecdotes about how people mispronounce her name and how she handles it. You'll also hear some heartfelt stories about how teachers can make a difference in kids' lives, and how Matt's son and daughter benefited from having the right fifth grade teacher. You'll also hear a shout out to Laura from Your Sober Pal, who just got a job offer after a long search. This episode is a great mix of humor, honesty, and hope for anyone who wants to live a sober powered life. Tune in and enjoy!Click here to check out Sober PoweredYou can find Gill on Instagram @sober.poweredSupport the show

In this episode of the Sober Friends podcast, Matt and Steve chat with Courtney Anderson, an author, a podcaster, and a mom who has been sober for almost 11 years.  Courtney is the host of the Sober Vibes podcast.  Her book, Sober Vibes is out August 15th.   Courtney talks about her experience with 12-step groups and how she found her comfort zone in women's meetings. She explains how she overcame her anxiety and her resistance to the word God, and how she learned to live one day at a time, one moment at a time. She also shares how she encourages her clients to try different avenues of recovery and find what works for them. She gives some examples of online zoom meetings, podcasts, books, and other resources that can help people stay sober and connected. Courtney also discusses how technology has opened up new possibilities for connecting with other sober people online, and how she uses social media to spread her sober vibes. Listen to this episode to hear more about Courtney's perspective, her book, and her advice on how to be open-minded and curious about different levels of recovery. This is a valuable episode for anyone who wants to find their sober vibe and live a more authentic and joyful life!Check out Sober Vibes.  Pre-order Sober Vibes on Amazon.  Courtney Anderson on Social Media:Sober Vibes on InstagramCourtney on InstagramSober Vibes on Tik TokSober Vibes on FacebookCantina Blues - Take the Lead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100407Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the show

Mike Loughman has suffered in addiction, been a drug dealer, on the run to Ireland, and much more. These days he is a pillar in his community, and is heading up a fundraiser walking 350kms with an actual ball and chain on his ankle. Learn more about his endeavors by clicking HERE Remember if you are listening on Spotify, you can watch the video version there as well. If you are listening on any other platform, you can watch the video version on YouTube by clicking ⁠HERE⁠, or searching "ashestoawesomepodcast" in YouTube. Click ⁠HERE⁠ for links to Chucks new daily 5 min podcast , "Morning Cup of Kindness", all of our socials where we have posted some great short form content to help inspire, and ⁠THE NEW ASHES TO AWESOME APP⁠. Thank you so much for listening. If you are listening on the ⁠⁠⁠Spotify platform⁠⁠⁠, you are able to share your thoughts about an individual episode in the interactive element that Spotify offers. Doing this tickles the fancy of the algorithm and really helps us to spread the message. Also please visit our Facebook page ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠, and like, share, or comment on any of the posts. Your feedback there is sincerely appreciated, and taken quite seriously. Lastly, most of our alumni guests from the podcast are members of our Facebook group. If you would like to get to know any of them, or have questions, or perhaps would like to invite them onto another show, this is a great place to interact. You can join that group ⁠⁠⁠⁠here .⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ours sponsors, that make spreading the message possible: Dent Kits - ⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠ Together We Can Recovery Society ⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠⁠ Revolution Recovery -⁠⁠ ⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠⁠ Yatra Trauma Therapy Center -⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠⁠ Nate D Foundation = ⁠⁠WEBSITE

In this special crossover episode, Maz Compton from Last Drinks interviews Matt from Sober Friends Podcast about his unique and unexpected journey to sobriety. Matt shares how he had his last drink without even realizing it, how a TV show made him confront his alcohol problem, and how he felt like his body was on fire for weeks after quitting. Matt also opens up about his family history of alcoholism, his rules for drinking, and his challenges and rewards of living sober. Maz and Matt discuss the importance of asking yourself why you drink, how to deal with your feelings instead of numbing them, and how the universe speaks to us in whispers to guide us to our purpose. They also offer some practical advice and encouragement for anyone who is thinking of quitting drinking or struggling with sobriety. They also share how sobriety is not a magic bullet that will stop life from happening, but rather a key that will unlock your true potential and help you cope with whatever comes your way. In addition, Maz shares her own story of how she landed her dream job at MTV, but struggled with imposter syndrome, insecurity, and social anxiety. She reveals how alcohol became her coping tool for dealing with the pressures and expectations of being in the spotlight, and how she realized that she had a me problem, not a TV problem. She also talks about how she resigned from her dream job, went through a divorce, and faced other big life challenges that tested her relationship with alcohol. She also talks about how she discovered that she is an extroverted introvert, and how she learned to recharge her batteries in the right way without alcohol. She also shares how her job in breakfast radio gives her a sense of escapism and fun, but also can be exhausting and challenging. Tune in to hear this inspiring and honest conversation between two sober friends who have found the keys to the kingdom.Check out Last Drinks with Maz ComptonFollow Maz Compton on social mediaInstagram @mazcompton and @lastdrinkspodFacebook @mrsmazcomptonLinked In @mazcomptonYou can find Maz at mazcompton.comSupport the show

In this episode, we discuss:Matt's sober storyRethinking “rock-bottom”A modern take on traditional recoveryThe wisdom of the 12-StepsPracticing emotional sobrietyBeing of serviceMultiple pathways to recoveryMatt Jerr is the host of the Sober Friends Podcast. Matt came from a long line of alcoholics. Knowing his dad was an alcoholic and abusive, he swore never to be like him and control his drinking, never knowing this mindset was already problematic. Matt quit drinking on March 21, 2014 and comes from a 12 step tradition. Podcasting is a full circle turn, having done radio right after college. He's a dad of three and tries to be the best husband he can.Instagram: @soberfriendspodPodcast: Sober Friends Podcast__To join the Sun & Moon Community Membership: https://sunandmoonsoberliving.com/membership/Follow on IG @sunandmoon.soberliving__Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 

You ever hear a wise oldtimer talk about how the relapse happens before the first drink?  For many, it's what happens in the mind well before that drink is taken.  Steve and I talk about our behaviors that either lead us to drink, prevent us from stopping or lead to a relapse.  We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter. Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

My relationship with alcohol was to the only unhealthy relationship I had.  I likely drink too much coffee.  Fortunately, it does not ruin my life.  I loved pain pills.  I smoked for a short time.  I used all those substances like how I used alcohol to change how I felt.  Food is another thing that I handled “alcoholically.”  I've struggled with my weight from childhood and Steve has too.  There are some types of food that make my body react the way alcohol does.  Sugar is definitely one of them.I've lost weight when I've controlled my food.  My weight goes up when I enjoy my food.I'm sure there are many of you like this, who don't just struggle with booze, you struggle with other things like food.Victoria Yates is a registered nurse and nutritional coach.  Victoria addresses healthy food habits differently than others.  She is not into fad diets, calorie counting and fasting.  Victoria practices a principal called Intuitive Eating, which is about listening to your body and feelings when eating.  After all, gaining or losing weight is not all about the amount we eat, it's about the feeling food gives us.I know for this alcoholic, food is another solution to my feelings, just like alcohol.In this episode:Victoria tells us about how she had a poor relationship with food and her own body, leading to an eating disorder for 8 years of her lifeHow the book, Intuitive Eating changed her lifeWhat she preaches to her clientsHow you have to be willing to fail in trying to lose weightAnd how you have to throw out everything you've learned about the “right way” to eatYou can connect with Victoria Yates at her website, victoria-yates.com and on Instagram at  @nondiet_RNCheck out Victoria's show The Redefining Health Podcast wherever you get your shows.  We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter. Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

One of the biggest turn offs for people considering a 12 step group or even those already in, is the topic of God, religion and spirituality.  But what exactly is spirituality and why does it go hand in hand with self knowledge of alcoholism?Both Matt and Steve have some challenges with the view of the religious higher power.  This topic was brought up by a friend in the rooms, who came into recovery as an atheist and now finds himself agnostic with a view that his higher power is not himself.How does self knowledge work for you in recovery?  Do you need a higher power?  What does spirituality look like for you?  Where do you struggle and where do you have strength?We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter. Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

What is the end goal of recovery?  Is it to die sober?Our friend Scott L recently passed after a fight with lung cancer.  Scott died sober with 5 years of recovery.  It did not come easy for Scott but when he got it, he got it.Steve and I talk about what dying sober means, is it the end goal and how recovery folks feel when we see an obit that says, "They died sober."I know I want that to be in my obit.What do you think?  Is passing with a sober life your goal?  Or is it still One Day at a Time?We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter. Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

We are so fortunate to have Ash Butterss, host of the podcast, Behind the Smile.   Ash has been sober since February 2020 and has a family history of alcoholism.  For Ash, recovering out loud is a core value.  She doesn't want those in recovery living in the shadows, she wants those who are considering putting down the bottle to see that not only is recovery possible, but that your life will be so much better than you could ever imagine.   In this episode Ash talks about:How her father's alcoholism and recovery impacted her own sobriety journeyThe time she stole her dealer's cokeHow drinking changed everything, how consuming alcohol was the elixir that stopped her from hating on herselfNever feeling safe as a childDeveloping perfectionism and people pleasingAbandonment issues with her parents Ash explains perfectionism in a way that was so relatable to me.  I know you will love this episode. Please follow Ash on Instagram at AshbutterssCheck out the excellent Behind the Smile PodcastCantina Blues - Take the Lead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100407Artist: http://incompetech.com/We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter. Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

We talk about loss and emotions in this week's episode of the Sober Friends Podcast.  Each week, my two girls go to a farm where they clean stables, wash and care for horses and then learn the different aspects of riding.Their favorite horse was Holden, a 29 year old horse was very gentle and the logo for the farm.  My daughter Annelyse has significant anxiety and Holden made her feel safe.  Holden had Equine Cushing's Disease and early stages of dementia.  There is medicine for Cushing's, but Holden refused to take it.  The decision was made to put Holden to sleep.  We had a good-bye celebration last week, where everyone Holden touched came to share cupcakes, cake and a last spoiling of this special horse.  The next day, Holden crossed the rainbow.This caused a well up in my emotions.  It especially started when Annelyse broke into tears asking why things she loved had to die.  For a parent, this is very difficult to experience.  It also reminded me of the emotions I felt when I first got sober.  How great sadness could overcome me without notice.Steve and I also talked about the impact spirituality and God play.  Both of us have a challenging relationship with belief and are on our own spiritual journeys.  We talk about our personal beliefs in God, the afterlife and it's role in recovery.Thank you for giving me an outlet for these emotions for this podcast and I hope you can connect with your own thoughts on difficult emotions and the vision of your own Higher Power.     We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter. Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

It feels like we are weak when we ask for help but it's the opposite.  When you ask someone else for help, it's a sign of strength.  In sobriety, it's so important to have a network of people you can lean on.   That phone you have to call out on?  10,000 points and 8 foot buttons. We talk through on this podcast about how asking for help is so important in sobriety and how when you ask for help, you are making someone else feel better. How do you feel when you ask for help?  What does it feel like when someone else asks you for help?We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter. Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

Answering your questions about sobriety! Participating in holidays that are surrounded by alcohol? Sober friends?Tips for a sober friend attending a bachelor/bachelorette party?Is it appropriate to ask someone if they will ever drink again?What to say if your friend says "I miss when you used to drink"? It's Hard Resources: https://www.itshardpodcast.comFollow It's Hard on Instagram if you don't already! I share updates on the episodes, chats about mental health and other parts of my life--go check out https://www.instagram.com/itshardpodcast/Follow It's Hard on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itshardpodcast?_t=8U6RZblQ79X&_r=1Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-hard/id1487375933Join me in It's Hard. You'll love it as much as I do. https://it-s-hard.mn.co/feed?autojoin=Get 10% Off your first month at BetterHelp:  https://betterhelp.com/itshardEmail us at: hello@itshardpodcast.comSubmit your hard thing -- be on the show! https://www.itshardpodcast.com/contactHearts 4 Henry: https://www.instagram.com/hearts_4_henry/Get 15% off BIZZY Coffee: https://www.bizzycoffee.com/collections/shop-all?dt_id=110082Get 10% off Kindlips Chapstick with code ITSHARD: https://kindlips.comGet 15% off your first Gruvi purchase with code ITSHARD: https://www.getgruvi.comGet 15% off your entire purchase of Three Spirits with code ITSHARD:https://threespiritdrinks.com

“Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.” This is one of the most important traditions guiding Alcoholics Anonymous.  So important, it's the other “A” in “AA.”  The idea of anonymity is that the member and fellowship is protected.  There has been stigma for decades with alcoholism, that it's not a medical condition, but a moral failing.  Anonymity gives the person looking for recovery the protection and comfort to get sober without accusation.   Everyone has seen the celebrity announcing their sobriety, only to be caught publiclly drunk. It can cause AA headaches. Looking online, there are more and more people who don't want to be anonymous.  They want to be out there and want to be a example that others thinking of dropping the bottle. Is the idea of anonymity past its time?  Or is this critical to a successful recovery journey.  It's a very controversial topic and we think you'll love this discussion.We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter. Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

Those of us with alcohol use disorder can shift from one addiction to another.  We are very obsessive.GardeningEatingSexWorkSo many other things to ease our emotions.  It becomes a problem when it takes you away from your family, impacts finances and health.Steven and Matt talk a bit of their experience with those addictions that pop up that replace the drink.We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter. Do you find value in what the Sober Friends Podcast does? Consider buying us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod. Your donation helps us with hosting and website fees and allows up to maintain our equipment. You keep us on the air for the new guy or gal.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

I was not prepared for how my family would react to the work I had to do to stay sober.  Specifically, going to meetings.  Going to a lot of meetings.  At one point, my wife asked me, "When do you stop going to those meetings?"  How do I tell my wife I don't ever stop, just like I don't ever stop being an alcoholic.Steve and I talk about our challenges with getting sober and how it affected the family.  It took about two years before my wife was really supportive of being out of the home.   Many of us have had this experience.If you are new and are having these issue, we hope this episode gives you experience strength and hope.We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

Matt and Steve have done a lot of learning about the construction of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous from reaching "Writing the Big Book," by Bill Schaberg.  In today's language, the chapter, "To Wives," is troublesome.  In the context of 1938, it reflected the times.Men were alcoholicsAlcoholics were white, Christian menWomen supported the man in the homeThe chapter states it's "written," by the women of AA.  In reality, Bill Wilson wrote it himself.  In today's times, it can be viewed as sexist and submissive to the alcoholic in the family.Steve and Matt talk about the chapter in today's society and the best way to digest it to make it relevant in modern times.We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

At three months sober, Matt's wife asked, "So how long are you going to keep going to these meetings?""Uh-Oh."There is no cure for alcoholism.  There is only a daily reprieve.  We need to find ways to continually treat our illness.  For people like Steve and Matt, that's 12 step meetings.  For you, it might be something else as no one has a monopoly on sobriety.So why do we keep going?  In this podcast, we talk about the need to stay connected to the fellowship and others with the same affliction and the need to teach the newcomer how we did it, so they can stay sober too.Congratulations to John I who has 33 years sober! We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

Bill Schaberg has arguably written the definitive history of how the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous was written.  Bill produced “Writing The Big Book,”  and his wife calls it, “the other big book,” because it's 650 pages, before the appendixes. Bill completed the book after 7 years of research from the source material.  Bill is a rare book collector and seller and it all started with his purchase of Jim Burwell's copy of the multilith copy of the original Big Book.    In Part 2 of the interview with Bill Schaberg, we discuss:What really happened when Ebby Thatcher visited Bill Wilson (The Kitchen Table Story)The problem with most AA historyThe many stories Bill told on how the steps were writtenWho really wrote, “To Wives,” and the urban legends about this chapterHank Parkhurt's role in writing the Big Book and his later resentment of Bill WilsonCheck out Bill Schaberg's site writingthebigbook.com where you can pick up his book, Writing the Big Book.Learn more about Hank Parkhurst at hankparkhurst.comWe have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

Bill Schaberg has arguably written the definitive history of how the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous was written.  Bill produced “Writing The Big Book,”  and his wife calls it, “the other big book,” because it's 650 pages, before the appendixes. Bill completed the book after 7 years of research from the source material.  Bill is a rare book collector and seller and it all started with his purchase of Jim Burwell's copy of the multilith copy of the original Big Book.    In Part 1 of the interview with Bill Schaberg, we discuss:The genesis of the why he wrote the bookBill W's realization of why a book was writtenBill W's original plan to help alcoholics recoverHank Pankhurst - the founder that drank and how there would be no Big Book without himThe Oxford Group - how the originals got soberBill Schaberg's controversial take on who should be on the AA Mount RushmoreCheck out Bill Schaberg's site writingthebigbook.com where you can pick up his book, Writing the Big Book.Learn more about Hank Parkhurst at hankparkhurst.comWe have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

"WHY DOES THAT PERSON ALWAYS DO THAT TO ME?  DON'T THEY KNOW IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY?"I heard a wise old-timer at a meeting recently say, "I brought out the defects of character in others."I never thought of that!  Maybe my rotten behavior brought out the worst in the other person, whose bad behavior now gave me a resentment.Steve and Matt talk about other people's behaviors, owning our own actions and making an amends to clean up our side of the street.We wish the normies had the tools we alcoholics have!We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

Ugh!  You need to stop drinking!  How do you handle going to meetings or whatever your sobriety method is and handle the responsibilities of being a parent and partner? This week, we got you covered!  Matt and Steve both had to deal with this issue when they got sober.  We tell our experiences and how to balance family and recovery.We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

Joe Kelley had everything going for him.  He was a high school football star.  Joe's family were all first responders - His father a firefighter an uncles in the police department.  Eventually, Joe followed in their footsteps to join law enforcement.  Joe described his job as a police officer as strenuous and as someone who had been physically fit all his life, loved it.  Joe Kelley would have no idea that the pain pills prescribed after knee surgury would not only take down his law enforcement career, but his family and his freedom.Joe is our guest on this week's podcast.  In this episode Joe shares:The depths of his opioid addiction and how he turned to more desperate methods to get drugsLying to his wife about spending money to get pain pillsHaving the community hear about his misdeeds in the paperDoing time and the challenges prison places on ex-law enforcementRecovery, starting a new business and new familyJoe and his wife run OM Center for Wellness.  You can check them out here.Joe is the author of "Badge, Bars to Beyond."  You can purchase Joe's book here.Cantina Blues - Take the Lead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

Peter L is one of the many people in recovery to get sober during the pandemic and have is first experience with a 12 step group be over Zoom.  Podcasts like Sober Friends and Recovered Cast helped enhance his sobriety, during a time when getting together in person was not happening.Peter L's sobriety date is December 3, 2020.  Peter was the kind of guy who thought he could drink responsibly but at the same time, wondered if he had a problem.  Peter got drunk for the first time at the age of eleven.  Being a high school partier was part of who he was and took this behavior into adulthood.Peter broke his ankle in a basketball game and led to an addiction to pain pills.  Peter was able to get off of pain pills with the help of Methadone.  With pain pills removed, Peter's drinking accelerated, affecting his healthAfter Peter had his second child, he was drinking 2 fifths a day for three or four years.  Peter was hemorrhaging in his eyes because his blood pressure was so high. His sleep apnea worsened and Peter's wife would watch him not breathe for minutes at a time.Needing a drink to get started each morning, Peter finally decided to check into rehab.  After only one day, Peter's withdrawal symptoms led to his doctor putting him in a medically induced coma.  When Peter work up, he tried to tell his wife he no longer needed rehab.Once in rehab, a speaker came to a meeting that shared a similar story to Peters and that's when he found his sponsor.  Peter's sponsor was stern and it was exactly what he needed to maintain sobriety.  Peter let go and felt it was like someone was now driving for him.  He threw himself into the steps and work with his sponsor and it not only kept Peter sober, but it helped with his mental health too.Getting sober on Zoom, you'll hear Peter's creative way to finding the best meetings.Peter's story is incredibly inspirational and we know you will love this episode.Cantina Blues - Take the Lead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/We have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

Joe and Charlie were actually three men who travelled the country providing Big Book Seminars.Joe McQCharlie PJoe McCJoe and Charlie were big book enthusiasts who studied the book Alcoholics Anonymous.  They were fascinated with how the book was constructed and went on to give seminars on the meaning behind the book.Though Joe, Charlie and Joe have all passed, their work lives on in tapes, CDs and digital media.  At the beginning of each year, many alcoholics meet in homes and go through the seminar on tape and do a deep dive into the text of the book Alcoholics Anonymous.  Matt, Steve and John have done this for years.In this podcast, Matt, Steve and John talk about why they go over these tapes year after year, how it's helped to learn more about the Big Book, how their small fellow ship at these meetings help them grow and how it's brought their sobriety to another level.Cantina Blues - Take the Lead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100407Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the showWe have a favor to ask. The new Sober Friends website is up. At the bottom of the front page is a sign up for our weekly newsletter. We are starting an email newsletter to open up a dialogue with you and to communicate all the great stuff we have planned in 2023. Please help us out by signing up for the newsletter.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. On Post.News @soberfriendspod. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

RMA-Episode 99 Show Notes:   RMA-Episode 99: The Third Annual RMA Holiday Extravaganza! We play listener voice-mails, tell holiday stories, and share our list of the top five things you can buy for your loved-one in recovery this season. Also, more tips and tricks for staying sober, and we welcome our new executive producer, ChatGPT!   Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your favorite platform to get the latest episode delivered right to your devices as soon as it's released. We are a listener-supported podcast. If you like what we're doing here at RMA and want to support the show, JOIN THE RECOVERY IN THE MIDDLE AGES PATREON    Our sole mission is to help other people achieve sobriety and become their best, most authentic selves. As little as $3 a month makes a big difference and helps us keep the lights on.    https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges   Support our sponsors: Learn more about Soberlink and request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/middle-ages  As always, we thank you for your support.   LINKS:    Recovery In the News   Dopey Podcast   ChatGPT   Moonraker Murders Recovery News You Can Use, Any Day of the Week:   www.soberliningsplaybook.com LISTEN TO RMA ON YOUTUBE PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you're enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.    You can reach us by email at: MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com Natx@middleagesrecovery.com   Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We'll talk to anyone!   Check out the website:   Www.middleagesrecovery.com    While you're there, buy a T-Shirt and support your favorite recovery podcast.   We all have a story. Tell us yours and we'll share it on the show!   E-Mail your story to miker@middleagesrecovery.com   FOLLOW US ON TWITTER  Join the Facebook Page! Exciting things are happening there!   We also have a Facebook Group! Request to join the group. It's a private space for continuing the discussion of what Nat and Mike talk about on the podcast. Hope to see you there.   If you're in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step (but maybe not the last step), on your road to recovery.     https://www.aa.org/ https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/   Marijuana Anonymous (just in case):   This Naked Mind

Pete B joins us again this week for more of his emotional journey from drug addiction.   Pete discusses how his friend George got him to come back again after some of the guys in the group said Pete would not last.  George became his sponsor and was able to guide him on a path of 40 years of sobriety.  In this episode, Pete discusses:Getting involved in NA serviceNA having to stop using the AA Literature, and getting involved in writing the first literatureSpending weekends in jail camps and reading Bill W's story, and feeling the same feelings of imposter syndrome Bill did.Turning your greatest shame into your greatest strengths through the work of the steps.A sponsor's job is to connect their sponsee to a higher power.You'll likely get emotional when Pete does.  We were so lucky to record a little bit of history of the start of NA literature.You Are Not Alone - A Recovery Podcast is now Sober Friends. We just wanted to share our content with as many ears as possible and also acknowledges, we have a team doing this. The name changes, the goal of helping as many people who are sober curious, alcohol free or alcoholic live the life of recovery they choose.Support the showIf you love our podcast, SMASH that follow button! Give us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram @soberfriendspod. Connect with the show at soberfriendspod.com. Your financial support at Buymeacoffee/Soberfriendspod, keeps the show in the ears of the new guy and gal.

A beautiful new chapter starts with a bittersweet end. Karolina sits down with her friend and longtime co-host Danielle Baldino to record their final episode together. Danielle and Karolina started this podcast together FOUR years ago (!!) and as their journeys have evolved and shifted, Karolina will continue as the host of Euphoric the Podcast, while Danielle ventures down her own path. Join in as they reminisce about the creation of the podcast, the gift of starting this project together, and hear what's happening in Danielle's life as she continues in her own inspiring endeavors. We're so glad you're here! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED If you're in the San Diego area, be sure to check out Danielle's Alcohol-Free Women's Meet-Up and follow them on Instagram!  You can also support her and yourself by ordering some bagels or English muffins from her Etsy shop Sour Dees!  Karolina's book is available in hardcover, Kindle, and as an audiobook. Be sure to get your copy of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You today and leave your review.  Follow @euphoric.af on Instagram And as always, rate, review, and subscribe so we can continue spreading our message far and wide.

In this rendition of The Way Out I'm beyond excited to bring you my interview with fellow Recovery podcaster and person in long term recovery, Matt J. Matt shares his journey to and through recovery to this point with a remarkable forthrightness and with the unmistakable tenor of someone that takes his program of recovery and his sobriety seriously and at the same time of a man that doesn't take himself too seriously which in many respects is what we're all after in recovery. Matt and I had a fantastic time as he regaled his recovery story and we then launched into a lively discussion that traversed the proverbial sobriety waterfront, from 12-Step history to the value of multiple recovery pathways as well as the value of both in person and virtual recovery meetings and last but certainly not least the tremendous value of Recovery podcasts like The Way Out Podcast and the Sober Friends podcast so listen up. Check out the Sober Friends Podcast with Matt J: https://soberfriendspod.com/ Recovery literature (quit-lit) recommendations: Living Sober: https://www.aa.org/living-sober-book Writing The Big Book by William H. Schaberg: https://www.writingthebigbook.com/ Best piece of Recovery Advice: This too shall pass Song that symbolizes recovery to Matt: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4 Don't forget to check out “The Way Out Playlist” available only on Spotify. Curated by all our wonderful guests on the podcast! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6HNQyyjlFBrDbOUADgw1Sz (c) 2015 - 2022 The Way Out Podcast | All Rights Reserved Theme Music: “all clear” (https://ketsa.uk/browse-music/) by Ketsa (https://ketsa.uk) licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-way-out-podcast/message

Vacation is a dangerous time for those of us with problem drinking.  Vacation is a great time to suspend all the rules and drink as much as we want.  Hey, it's 5pm somewhere!  Am I right? Or am I right!  On this episode of the Sober Friends podcast, Matt, Steve and John talk about the trap that vacation can cause for us.  It's a risky time because we have time on our hands.  We talk about how to overcome the temptation on vacation and have a plan:Get a list of phone numbers from people you can call, when your backside is on fireIf out of the country, download apps that allow you to communicate over the internetTalk to family and friends and explain your situation and ask for supportIf you are involved in a 12 step program, go online or get booklets of meetings around your vacation spotWant to help our show?  Subscribe, review, rate and share.  Help us get the show into the ears of those who could use it the most.Clarity Cafe PodcastA little self-help & a lot of laughs in this sip-sized podcast full of good vibesListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Time & Other ThievesReflections and conversations on the nature of existence. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyWe wanted to alert you that you may hear some ads inserted into the show. We've carefully selected each ad to be sure it's recovery appropriate. We are not looking to make a profit, only looking to get enough help to make this expense neutral. We'd love your feedback. You can email at matt@soberfriendspod.comSupport the show

It's so easy to focus on the bad stuff in life and even easier to correlate them. Matt has had some issues with his house and financing the repairs. At every corner, he's run into roadblocks (see last week's episode). Matt's therapist posed a question:“Have you considered a gratitude list?”So instead of focusing on all the bad stuff, why not look at what good you still have?In this episode of the Sober Friends podcast we talk about staying grateful when life gives you lemons and how you can deal with life on life's terms.Want to help our show?  Subscribe, review, rate and share.  Help us get the show into the ears of those who could use it the most.Cantina Blues - Take the Lead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100407Artist: http://incompetech.com/The Enthusiasm ProjectDeep dives exploring the world of what it means to be an independent creator.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyWe wanted to alert you that you may hear some ads inserted into the show. We've carefully selected each ad to be sure it's recovery appropriate. We are not looking to make a profit, only looking to get enough help to make this expense neutral. We'd love your feedback. You can email at matt@soberfriendspod.comSupport the show

Today we're digging into the nuances of alcohol-free friendships. And specifically, what do you do when an alcohol-free friend makes the decision to drink again? When you're on the journey together and then suddenly your friend changes directions, it can feel deeply personal. This is exactly what Danielle and Karolina dig into today on Euphoric The Podcast. From maintaining amazing longtime friendships to setting personal boundaries, this episode explores a variety of perspectives and offers wisdom and insight to support you in your alcohol-free journey while preserving your friendships! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Karolina's book is available in hardcover, Kindle, and as an audiobook. Be sure to get your copy of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You today and leave your review.  Follow @euphoric.af on Instagram If you're local to San Diego, join Danielle's Recovering Womxn's Social Club. And as always, rate, review, and subscribe so we can continue spreading our message far and wide.

Matt J. describes his family tree as “littered with problem drinkers”, of which he became one all too quickly. As an only child, Matt grew up in a home where verbal and physical abuse reigned supreme. By the time his parents got divorced, his coping mechanisms included locking himself in his room with books and baseball cards upon which he could obsess. Such means of escape followed him into his teenage years when he found alcohol as a ready-made solution to his feelings of isolation, fear, and shame. Curiously, at a relatively young age, he reflected on his own drinking and wondered if he needed AA. But such introspection soon passed as he continued to drink more heavily throughout his college years and early business career. With drinking-related problems mounting, Matt's solitary drinking damaged his marriage and job to the extent that suicide appeared an attractive option. Subsequently, though diagnosed with clinical depression, the prescribed medications did little to help as he continued to drink. Financial ruin, in the form of personal bankruptcy finally backed him into a corner from which there was no escape and Matt entered the rooms of AA in 2014. Finding that some of his obsessive nature accompanied him into AA, Matt set about mastering the literature to the point of self-isolation in the Program. Fortunately, some old-timers convinced Matt to get involved in a balanced Program with service and fellowship as the core elements in his sobriety. Since then, Matt's involvement in AA has emanated from the center of the Program. In addition to regular meetings, Matt co-hosts the podcast, Sober Friends, on which I've had the opportunity to appear.   Considering his background, Matt's success in Alcoholics Anonymous is encouraging evidence of the healing and gifts AA holds for those who really want it and who are willing to do the work. Matt's personal level of contentment correlates beautifully with the level of service work he does within his Program and admirably reflects his desire to carry the message to other alcoholics. So please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my podcasting friend and AA brother, Matt J.

Today my guest is Matt Jerr, the Co-Host of The Sober Friends Podcast. He's been sober since 3/21/2014 and today he is going to share his story of alcoholism and recovery with us.    We talk about all kinds of things including book recommendations, alternate recovery paths, changing thinking around traditional programs, having fun in sobriety and how to handle heavy meetings so you can leave feeling uplifted.   Connect with Matt! Visit Website: https://soberfriendspod.com/ Follow on Instagram @soberfriendspod   Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg     Lightning Round Answers:  Book recommendation:  Favorite Quote:  Self Care Practice: What I wish I knew:  Just for fun: Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes!   Listen On:   https://apple.co/30g6ALF   https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify   https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ     Watch Full Episodes!   https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo

Think of who you were in 2014 . Cait was new to LA, a year out of high school and a mess! Cait and her guest met during that mess and have stayed friends since! Cole Garret is a comedian and Producer for Don't Tell Comedy events all over the US and a sober friend. It's really crazy the things they've individually been through since their party days …and it's beautiful where they both are now. They two discuss thought on labels, family support and tools for your sober toolkit. Follow Cole on Instagram HERE Want to join me for a better drink? drinkfreespirits.com use code CLEARHEADED20 for 20% off your first purchase *one time use per person *

Two of my sober friends were kind enough to answer 5 of the most prominent questions I could think of as a drinker to ask sober minds... Allison and Xana give their insights on things spanning from being around drunk people, to why they've chosen a sober lifestyle. Both women explain that we can be amazing without alcohol and how to be comfortable doing so. I am grateful to be able to share their insights with you, enjoy! #180withtay #thejourney #selfimprovement #podcast #drinkinghabits #drinking #alcohol #selfhelp #mentalhealth Episode 15: Words Of Wisdom February 11, 2022

Step 12 says, having had a spiritual awaking as a result of these steps, we carried the message to the alcoholic still suffering and practice these principles in all of our affairs.Wait, I thought this was about stopping drinking?  So I have to use these principles in my life outside of drinking?  I'm not sure I signed up for that.What we've learned through the steps is our daily living.  Drinking was the solution to the root cause.  Applying the principles we found in recovery is not a band aid, it's the solution to the root cause so we don't have to drink anymore.  It can be hard to give yourself over to a new way of living that will make the drink an unnecessary part of your life.  Join John, Steve and Matt as they talk about how they make the 12 steps the thing that improves their life, daily.Did you notice the new name?  We are now Sober Friends.  We just wanted to share this message to as many people as possible and the "right" name makes it more searchable.  It's the same great sober talk as before.Find at https://soberfriendspod.com.Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soberfriendspodSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod)

I'm not drinking anymore!  I'm sober!Well, not so fast.John, Steve and Matt tell their own tales of what sobriety means to them and how it differs from just being, "dry."For us, the feeling of being dry, is just the removal of alcohol with no treatment in place to become sober.  Dry means that our behaviors have not changed.  We continue to have the same character defects that caused drinking in the first place.  We become a drunk that's just dry.Being sober is something totally different and in many ways, the absence of alcohol is only plays a minor part.  Everything in your life changes and you work on your own personal issues.We go in detail on the difference and how to make a great sober life.Did you notice the new name?  We are now Sober Friends.  We just wanted to share this message to as many people as possible and the "right" name makes it more searchable.  It's the same great sober talk as before.Find at https://soberfriendspod.com.Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soberfriendspodSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod)

Gill Tietz picked up her first drink later than most.  Bullied in school, she avoided social gatherings and focused on academics.  But after starting Graduate School, she decided to live a little, experiencing love at first sight with alcohol.A Biologist by trade, Gill talks about getting bullied as a kid and isolating from others through the end of college.  Gill got into drinking in Graduate School and her affair with the bottle took off.  Though she mentioned that biologists and chemists have the reputation as heavy drinkers, she took it to an extreme, with thoughts of self harm being one of the reasons she quit.As a biologist, we asked Gill about The Doctor's Opinion by Dr. Silkworth in the Big Book of AA.  Dr.Silkworth discusses "the allergy" which causes the phenomenon of craving.  Gill had some unexpected opinions on the subject.Gill's story shows that alcohol abuse and the mechanics internally don't care about education, gender and status in life.  With this disease, we are all the same.Please support Gill's podcast, Sober Powered at https://www.soberpowered.com/ or where ever you get your podcasts.  You can find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sober.powered/ and on YouTube at by clicking Here.Did you notice the new name?  We are now Sober Friends.  We just wanted to share this message to as many people as possible and the "right" name makes it more searchable.  It's the same great sober talk as before.Find at https://soberfriendspod.com.Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soberfriendspodSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod)

How is Dry January going for you?  With us getting closer to the end of the month, it's time to take stock.  Have you made it this far?  Or did you have a drink.  If so, did you get back on the wagon?These three alcoholics are just really hearing about Dry January and we dug in to learn more.Matt downloaded the app and took the alcohol use quiz.  Based on his days drinking, how did he score?From our perspective, we talked about other tools to make Dry January a successHow technology, like apps and social media changed the gameWhere Dry January started and how it's a trademarked nameWe talk about how, when AA started, alcohol abuse treatment was focused on the "low bottom drunk."  With things like Dry January and the use of technology to track and motivate, there is now the chance to "catch" a problem before it gets too bad.Did you notice the new name?  We are now Sober Friends.  We just wanted to share this message to as many people as possible and the "right" name makes it more searchable.  It's the same great sober talk as before.Find at https://soberfriendspod.comInstagram https://www.instagram.com/soberfriendspodSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod)

Keeping up your physical health by exercising and eating right is difficult under the best of circumstances.  Just the act of stopping drinking or drugging and addressing root causes of substance abuse can be overwhelming, let alone starting the process of getting physically fit.Last week, we discussed how important maintaining your physical health was important.  This week, we show you how to do it, with the help of our guest.We went to an expert to help us make this task manageable and invited fitness blogger Lindsay Perisco of https://huntfiber.com/.  Lindsay is a mother of 3 young children, a wife and full time personal trainer.  With all that going on, she has found time to explore her passion, the outdoors and hunting.In this episode, Lindsay's key takeaways are:Find a reason to stay fit.  For her, if she wants to hunt, she needs to exercise the right way to keep upMake a plan and stick to it, even when you don't want to90% of being physically fit is not the exercise.  It's the right food.  That takes preparationDon't expect 100% adherence.  Plan for slip ups.All or nothing won't work!  Plan for treats.There are no good carbs/bad carbs or fats.  There is the right mix.With all those New Year's resolutions, we hope bringing in an expert on the subject will help you find the right motivation.You can also find Lindsay Persico on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/huntfiber/Did you notice the new name?  We are now Sober Friends.  We just wanted to share this message to as many people as possible and the "right" name makes it more searchable.  It's the same great sober talk as before.Find at https://soberfriendspod.com.Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soberfriendspodSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberfriendspod)

Your physical and mental health take a beating during active addiction.  Recovery is a three legged stool of mental, spiritual and physical recovery.  Eating healthy, exercising and seeing a physician on a regular basis is part of staying sober and can easily be neglected.Though we find recovery, we always have an alcoholic mind and that "obsession," can come out in other ways, like an addiction to working out and a compulsion to only eat the right foods.  Unchecked and without balance, this "addiction" can derail the reason we started this journey in the first place.Getting sober.Matt, Steve and John talk about their focus on physical recovery.  Matt talks about getting on his spin bike again and John and Steve talk about their obsessive hikes.  They also discuss those who took the physical too far, and ended up getting drunk.Text or leave a comment for the show at (860) 281-2303.Please help support the show by giving it a review and rating in Apple Podcasts.  Find Recovery Links, access to social media and email at https://notalonerecovery.com/Please share with friends and family.You Are Not Alone - A Recovery Podcast is now Sober Friends. New Year, New Name, Same Great Sober Content! We just wanted to share our content with as many ears as possible and also acknowledges, we have a team doing this. The name changes, the goal of helping as many people who are sober curious, alcohol free or alcoholic live the life of recovery they choose.

Casey SHARES his 31 years of sobriety with us and shows it is possible to get sober as a teenager and stay sober. He began to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes early in life by modeling the behavior of adults that were close to him. He was lonely as a child due to his parents working long hours. Left to his own devices he began to allow his drinking to take on a larger roll in his life. The Alcohol was working for him at this point until things began to get out of control during his high school days. Phone calls home from school to report bad behavior, sleeping in his car sometimes, automobile crashes, and a general disintegration of his morals and behavior all led to him having to go to an AA meeting to GET THE HEAT OFF. Caseys sobriety date is 2 weeks after his first AA meeting. He was super uncomfortable during his first few AA meetings and had a few beers before he would attend those first few recovery meetings. He was very disappointed to find out that God was involved in this recovery plan. One of my favorite moments of this episode is when Casey said “it was not possible for me to love God as much as I loved drugs and alcohol so I did not love God anymore.” That is hitting bottom for real. His journey from that thought to where he is today is a miracle. We also talked about his love for young people in recovery and the importance of recovery based conferences and making new sober friends. We talk about how young people may not stay sober long term at first but while they are here they can gain a base knowledge about the AA recovery program and come back later in life when they hit another bottom. We talk about sponsorship and address the idea that “boys should sponsor boys and girls should sponsor girls”. We talk about relocating to another city or stare during long term sobriety and how drifting away from the AA program can be dangerous. Humility is a focal point of Caseys program and his step work. He explains that one way to think about how to define Humility is to “come back to god.” He points out that Humility is the foundation of all 12 steps and something we must develop to become truly happy. The 10th and 11th steps are covered in great detail and we explore the massive importance of quiet time in the morning “upon awakening”. This is a huge 3+ hour episode. I would love for you to listen to all of it please. I know it is a huge time commitment and I value your time and attention. This episode is packed with solid information from beginning to end. It's all good, so please invest in yourself and digest this whole episode, even thought it may take you few sessions to hear it all. You will be enriched, I promises. Stay blessed my Sober Friends. Website: www.SoberShares.com Email: mike@SoberShares.com Click link to Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MD6DFY5RUYT5A

My guest today is the spiritual teacher and author Kate Johnson. Kate's new book is called Radical Friendship, and I knew I wanted to have her on the podcast as soon as I read it.I don't know about all of you, but closing out 2021 I have been feeling the impact of 18 months of social distancing. The past few months, I've found myself questioning who my real friends are; whether I've been a good enough friend to people; and what kinds of friendships I want to invest in going forward.This process has reminded me a lot of how it can feel navigating your new social landscape after you quit drinking. One of the biggest questions I hear people asking when they get Sober Curious is: am I going to lose all my friends? And, well, Kate also celebrated 10 years of sobriety this year – and so she is perfectly placed to speak to this. We also talk about why friendship is so important, why these relationships are often devalued compared to family and romantic ties, and how we can all be better friends to one another. In the episode we discuss:-The value and importance of friendship – and why these relationships are often not valued the same as family and romantic partners-Why strong friendships are a vital part of affecting social change-Reevaluating her friendships, and relearning how to make new friends, after she quit drinking-A Buddhist approach to relationships and the notion of “spiritual friendships”-How her meditation and yoga practice have helped access states of calm in sobriety-How removing alcohol helped her address underlying mental health issues -Why sobriety helps you get real with yourself – so you can be more real with others-Working with our “persistent visitors” (anxiety, repetitive thoughts and fears etc.) rather than trying to numb them out-Kate's definition of “freedom” and how we can begin to liberate ourselves and each other from suffering-Seeing friendship as a source of joy and turning towards this in times of suffering-Why friendship is an activity – and how we can be proactive about centering friendship in our livesKate Johnson is a spiritual teacher and author of Radical Friendship. Learn more about her work HERE and follow her on Instagram @hellokatejohnson.Big thanks to Grüvi for partnering on this episode. Order at Getgruvi.com and use the code “Sobercurious10” to get 10% off your first online order.

It's episode 50 of the podcast!  This is a special episode featuring some friends from the sober community to tell you about what has had the biggest impact on their recovery.  I hope that you take away a few different tips and perspectives that you can apply to your own journey, plus that you discover new resources and people who inspire you.In this episode,Odette Cressler, host of Recovery Elevatorhttps://www.instagram.com/theharmonylane/https://www.instagram.com/recoveryelevator/Jeff Simone, PharmD, Sober Coachhttps://www.instagram.com/reactionrecovery/https://reactionrecovery.com/Jen Hirst, Sober Coachhttps://www.instagram.com/jenleehirst/https://livingzeroproof.com/Celeste Yvonne, Writer and Co-Founder of Sober Mom Squadhttps://www.instagram.com/theultimatemomchallenge/Katie McNicol, Sobriety Advocate and YouTuberhttps://www.instagram.com/thissobergirl/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhaxgecCl7a8-4QvvUoAggDavid Wilson (AKA Sober Dave), GAD Coach and Podcasterhttps://www.instagram.com/soberdave/https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-for-the-road/id1565341712Jenna Dillulio, Sober Content Creatorhttps://www.jennadillulio.com/https://www.instagram.com/jennadillulio/As a listener of Sober Powered, Exact Nature is giving you 20% off your first three orders with the code SP20.  Click here to learn more or visit www.exactnature.comSee all of my eBooks here.I’m launching a YouTube on Tuesday June, 15.  Please subscribe!Key takeaways and sources are posted here.Follow Sober Powered on Instagram for more education and inspirationJoin the Sober Powered Facebook Group for extra supportAnd if you're enjoying this podcast, please use this link to leave a review on iTunes.  This podcast takes so much effort and work to create, and each review increases the possibility that this podcast can be seen by people who may need it.  Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered)

Arlina A is sober since 4/23/97 from drugs and alcohol. Married since 97 to a sober spouse, two amazing boys and an english bulldog called Teddy. We are from San Jose, CA but now live in the Boise, ID area.  Arlina is also the host of the long-running recovery podcast called "One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast with Arlina Allen"  Link to it here:  https://odaatchat.com/Welcome to the Reco12 Speaker Meeting.  We are an organization whose addictions include alcohol, drugs, lust and sex, food and gambling, just to name a few.  We come together from all places, faiths and backgrounds to learn the similarities of addiction and to gain tools and hope from others who are walking a similar path.  We invite recovering addicts with at least 1 year sobriety and who are actively working their recovery in their respective fellowships to share their experience, strength and hope on a live Zoom webinar, each Friday at 12:00 pm central time, for 20-25 minutes.  Then, we, the live audience, get the opportunity to ask questions of the speaker for another 20-25 minutes.  If you are hearing this meeting in recorded podcast form and would like to participate as a live audience member in the future, please go to www.reco12.com to learn more and submit your email address there to receive weekly invitations.  Reco12 is a self-supporting service and we appreciate your help in keeping us working our Step 12 in this manner.  We gratefully accept contributions to help cover the costs of the Zoom platform, podcast platform, web hosting, and administrative costs.  To contribute, you can go to https://www.reco12.com/support  or you can click the link to PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/reco12)  in the chat of the live meeting.  When you contribute, please specify the meeting number.  This is meeting number 51.Resources mentioned during this conversation:ODAAT Podcast:  https://odaatchat.com/Alcoholics Anonymous:  https://www.aa.orgOutro music is “Standing Still” by Cory Ellsworth and Randy Kartchner, performed by Mike Eldred and Elizabeth Wolfe.  This song, and/or the entire soundtrack for the future Broadway musical, “Crosses:  A Musical of Hope”, can be purchased here:  https://music.apple.com/us/album/crosses-musical-hope-by-cory/528476262  This song is used with the  permission of Cory Ellsworth.Support the show (https://www.reco12.com/support)

This funny and casual conversation between host Lori Windfeldt and her pal Dara Meyer looks at two sober girls' lives in recovery this holiday season. Have you ever wondered why people say “Happy New Years” when “New Years” is not a thing? “New Year's Eve….” That's a thing. Happy New Year…. That's a thing. “New YEARS” not a thing. Dara chats about her husband Ray and his choice of hair salon vs. barber shop. (BTW - he is so unimpressed with us) Lori's car was recently burglarized and well… she is not over it. Her laptop was stolen, and she doesn't back up to the cloud… what say you on this subject of “the cloud”? Is the season that comes after summer called AUTUMN? Or FALL? As Lori talks about Holly Whitaker's recent blog about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) we wonder why some say autumn, others say fall. YEAR END BURN OUT. Its real people! #facts Dara is celebrating 10 years of sobriety in January 2021! What will she do to celebrate? Dealing with past selfishness of the season, with a newfound selflessness for all. SOBER FRIENDS… what in the f*!k do you drink when everyone around you is part-ay-ing? We will tell you in this episode! And tell your family too… we talk a bit about “normies” hosting dinners and how they can add some joy to their AF family members. What the shizzle is a “shrub” in the world of mocktails? Sans Bar founder Chris Marshall explains (thank goodness): At a very basic level (in this context at least), a shrub is a vinegar-based fruit syrup, not a bush. The history of shrubs is long and complicated dating back to the 15th century, but during the colonial era shrubs (using vinegar instead of citrus) were used to preserve fruit before refrigeration was invented. The vinegar helped to preserve the fruit while adding a unique flavor. The term “shrub” itself is derived from the Arabic word “sharāb” meaning “to drink”. Disordered eating during the holidays? YUP. This is a thing. And we discuss it. Finding the joy this (and every) holiday season in Recovery. And so much more! www.loriwindfeldt.com www.therecoveryhour.com IG: @the.recovery.hour.podcast FB: @therecoveryhourpodcast

This is an interview with my friend Jack. We met at ESPN in 2005; I started there that year, and I think he had been there about four years at that point. As such, we've been friends for 15 years now, and a chunk of it is definitely rooted in sports. This interview even begins with sports discussion -- Coach K, whether he's dirty, recruiting in basketball, and the 1992 Kentucky vs. Duke game. (The Laettner shot.) But Jack and I have also both struggled with drinking over the years, so eventually we get into that. What is a sober journey? What is the difference between sober friends and drunk friends, and the context of where you meet people? Then, near the end, I took out a little section where he educates me on how health insurance works (he worked within that space post-ESPN). I learned a bunch there, but not sure you wanted to hear it. Instead, we talk about rearview mirrors vs. windshields, staying on "the path," God, more about drinking, and just two guys being friends for all these many years. Eamonn, who was on Episode 44 of this show, is also a friend from that time period. That Eamonn discussion is more about the broader biz world of advertising and data, and this episode is more about the intensely personal world of friendships, faith, and addiction struggles. I hope you find something in here of value.

Cait Flanders shares the worst questions you could ask your sober friends.   Episode 506: The Worst Questions You Could Ask Your Sober Friends by Cait Flanders on Sobriety & Friendships   Cait Flanders started her site to document her debt repayment journey. After paying it off, she adopted a minimalist lifestyle, tossed 75% of her stuff, and is currently doing a two-year shopping ban. She shares stories and lessons learned every week.   The original post is located here: https://caitflanders.com/2015/04/03/the-worst-questions-you-could-ask-your-sober-friends/   Visit Me Online at OLDPodcast.com & in The O.L.D. Facebook Group and Join the Ol' Family to get your Free Gifts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices