Recovery Rocks

Tawny and Lisa talk about the power of being with people in person, including on their recent travels. What’s different when we’re off the screens? How do we motivate ourselves when it feels easier to just stay home? Can we find the flexibility to pick up the phone when it’s not on the calendar? And how do we manage our energy budgets when sometimes the juice just isn’t there? Hint: Phone a friend...

Chris Marshall, founder of Sans Bar, the first non-alcoholic bar in North America, wrote a book! Faster Than Light covers Chris’ journey, shaped by early childhood trauma, from being a young Black man in an affluent Texas suburb to rising as a leader in the recovery community. He talks with Tawny and Lisa about the writing process and entrepreneurism. Then they dig into Sans Bar, Sans Bar Academy,...

Tiffany Jenkins, the bestselling author of High Achiever, is here! She’s out with a new can’t-put-it-down memoir, A Clean Mess. It chronicles her life after addiction—the raw, the dark, and the hilarious—from setting out with nothing but a backpack to discovering her marriage was built on a shakier foundation than she’d ever imagined to staying sober when life fell apart. She talks with Tawny and...

Tawny spent a week teaching a writing course in Dublin, followed by a long weekend pursuing Parisian pleasure. She talks about the impact of her trip, both on her recovery and her art. With the pressure off, she immersed herself in being present on the trip, and new ideas emerged. Tawny’s carrying the vibe of the trip into her everyday now, including redesigning her office to reflect how she feels...

Tawny and Lisa talk with Carl Erik Fisher, an addiction physician, bioethicist, person in recovery, and author of The Urge: Our History of Addiction . Carl recently wrote a powerful essay, The Price We Pay Betting on Sports , for The New York Times . They talk about sports betting, how it’s changed with 24/7 online availability and cultural normalization, as well as the associated risks and ways t...

What a dangerous time we live in when the President personally attacks artists for speaking against America’s current fascist regime. The Boss (Bruce Springsteen) spoke truth to power at a recent London show while Taylor Swift weathered another round of the President’s weird obsession with her. Tawny and Lisa talk about why they love both artists and how their music has impacted their recoveries....

Tawny and Lisa talk about all things sober summer. Going on vacation or to parties where there will be booze and maybe pressure to drink? They’ve got you covered. Staying home without plans? They’ve got you covered, too. They share tips, tools, and options to make the most of the sunny season. Music Minute features Sublime, Lana Del Ray, Dirty Head. Bananarama and Talking Heads Sign up for Tawny’s...

Tawny and Lisa are both experiencing new challenges in their work due to the fascist administration. It’s gotten much harder for Tawny to do her many jobs (working with a non-profit, academic public speaking, writing) under MAGA 2.0. Lisa shares some recent changes in the legal field and how she’s choosing to be on the right side of history. They also discuss how this new list of “banned words” im...

Back by popular demand, Tawny and Lisa discuss the importance of finding Glimmers (small things in daily life that spark a little joy) during stressful times. They share some recent glimmers in their lives, how to be open to finding your own glimmers, and even how to be a glimmer for someone else. Music Minute features Maneskin and The Spice Girls Order The Sobriety Deck Listen to The Sobriety Dec...

Showing Up as an Activist While Prioritizing Sobriety and Mental Health What does it mean to “show up” as a sober person in this time of political unrest? Tawny and Lisa share how they stay politically engaged with firm boundaries. If you can join the resistance for protests and/or other activities, do it! But if it’s more than you can put on your plate, that’s all good. First things first, and ta...

We’re all experiencing information overload, with truth and lies mixed across all kinds of media we consume. As a journalist, Tawny has guidance on how to make sure you’re reading credible, real news. To keep ourselves mentally healthy, we need to consume news in a way that works for us. Look for objectivity and coverage that doesn’t pick sides. Also, most importantly, engage in critical thinking....

Lisa celebrated 21 years sober and Tawny is coming up on 10 years of sobriety and life in New York City. Neither of them say they’ll never drink again – they still take it one day at a time. They also talk about keeping things fresh in long-term sobriety. Let yourself try new things just for yourself. As Tawny tells her students, “feel free to write badly!” That goes for other things you enjoy or...

Tawny and Lisa get back to basics and the Serenity Prayer. Whether your Higher Power is God, the universe, or a stick of incense, this episode is for you. Even if the whole "Higher Power thing" is not for you, knowing what we can and cannot control is a key tool in staying sober. It’s not acquiescing or giving up if what you need to do right now is take care of yourself physically and mentally, an...

Tawny and Lisa get a primer on ibogaine treatment for addiction from Dr. Eduardo Ramirez Juấrez, who has extensive emergency medicine experience at Cancun’s leading private hospitals and five years of specialized work with ibogaine treatment. They talk about what ibogaine is, how it is used for substance use disorder, the steps involved in treatment, and stigma. If you’re curious enough, magical t...

We’re all experiencing information overload, with truth and lies mixed across all kinds of media we consume. As a journalist, Tawny has guidance on how to make sure you’re reading credible, real news. To keep ourselves mentally healthy, we need to consume news in a way that works for us. Look for objectivity and coverage that doesn’t pick sides. Also, most importantly, engage in critical thinking....

Lisa and Tawny acknowledge their transfer addictions, sometimes spending money as a coping strategy similar to how they drank. Cutting down on purchasing and consumption has been a trend for years, but is even bigger this year. No-Buy or Less-Buy is having a moment in 2025.  Beyond saving money, it’s also a way to support your recovery and core values. No Buy is not a punishment – it should feel e...

In our current political environment, it’s more important than ever to lean on our sobriety toolkits. What are the core elements of staying sober? Asking for help when needed, knowing your triggers (including people, places, and things), making time for physical activity, taking it all one day at a time, leaning into community, and just breathing.    Remember the opposite of triggers is glimmers,...

Tawny and Lisa catch up on all they’ve been reading and watching in an attempt to stay distracted from the horrendous 24-hour news cycle. Allowing time to check out and get lost in stories is a critical element of their self-care and sobriety routines. It’s important to stay informed, but you have to make space for moments of joyful distraction, too.   Music Minute features The Substance soundtrac...

Calling all Swifties! Tawny and Lisa talk to Julianne Griffin, the founder of Swift Steps , a sober community for Taylor Swift fans, with music as a vital part of recovery. The inclusive group supports Swifties facing challenges from substance use disorder to codependency, heartbreak, toxic familial relationships, gambling, and other compulsive disorders. There are meetings and journaling workbook...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Ellen Scanlon, the host of “ How to Do the Pot ,” a podcast about cannabis for women. This podcast was a huge resource to Tawny when she began implementing cannabis into her recovery program. She fangirled a bit while interviewing Ellen! They discuss what to consider when incorporating cannabis as a medical alternative to prescription drugs. They also talk about the differen...

The new administration is cutting off financial support for nonprofit organizations that support diverse communities, including the LGBTQA+ population, who struggle with higher rates of addiction than the general population. Banning the language of gender and equality has put people’s lives and sobriety in danger. Tawny and Lisa discuss the need to support nonprofit organizations that serve at-ris...

Tawny and Lisa discuss a recent essay in The Guardian titled I tried ‘intermittent sobriety’. Here’s what I learned jumping on and off the wagon by Arwa Mahdawi. They appreciate the author’s candid approach to harm reduction for the sake of self-discovery. Intermittent sobriety is similar to sober curiosity in that they both encourage thoughtful consideration in reevaluating one’s relationship wit...

Tawny and Lisa share how they feel about the new presidential administration. They’re trying to balance the 24-hour news cycle, active resistance, and staying sober while continuing to find glimmers of joy. Feeling anger? Go for a run or hit a punching bag. Volunteer at a local organization or online. Exhausted? Nap. Play. Binge-watch your comfort show. As always, take care of yourself!   Music Mi...

Tawny and Lisa chat with best-selling author, Sari Botton. Sari’s memoir, "And You May Find Yourself: Confessions of a Gen-X Weirdo," is about finding yourself later in life. They discuss Sari’s recent newsletter about how bars and restaurants should embrace quality NA choices. Tawny and Sari also address the reality of pitches being rejected by traditional media outlets and why they bring those r...

Tawny and Lisa talk about crying – why humans do it, how it works physically, and what it can mean emotionally. As we grow older, our patterns and triggers for crying evolve. Tawny is just learning to cry and Lisa is not much of a crier. They talk about situations when feel like they “should” cry, but it just doesn’t happen. And Tawny talks about the relationship between sadness to anger and how t...