12S4E: The 12 Steps for Everyone

In this episode, Jackie and Denise share how Step 9 is where sh*t gets more real. The steps prior were about inner work and processing, but this step is about ownership and confronting your actions — communicating your accountability to those affected.    In the traditional 12 Step model, the 9th step is to “Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so w...

In this episode, Denise and Jackie are discussing the prickly feeling of apologizing for (and then changing) your behavior. In our toolkit for living — the 12 Steps Reimagined — this week’s focus is Step 8: “We list each of the harms we’ve caused that require amends.” It’s important not to let the fear of making the In the traditional 12 Step model, the 8th step is to “Made a list of all persons w...

In this episode, Denise and Jackie open by sharing laughs over social media and how Denise’s post was shared thousands of times. (What does that actually mean?) In our toolkit for living — the 12 Steps Reimagined — this week’s focus is Step 7: “Our actions are based in humility and in the service of our highest and best selves.”  In the traditional 12 Step model, the 7th step is to “Humbly as...

In this episode, Denise and Jackie celebrate a shared birthday (June 14) and reflect on the difference between having a birthday in your 30s vs. fifties. They discuss Step 6: “We trust that we will be guided to recognize thoughts and behaviors that no longer serve us, or the greater good,” which is about recognizing who you are in the world, in response — and sometimes in reaction — to the in...

In this episode, Denise and Jackie discuss Step 5: “With vulnerability and integrity, we share this inventory with someone safe and trustworthy.” They share how to prepare for opening up about the list of fears, shames, and resentments that come up during Step 4.  In the traditional 12 Step model, a sponsee typically starts the fifth step by sharing their stories with their sponsor. In the 12...

In this episode, Denise and Jackie expand on Step 4: “With courage, honesty, and curiosity, we write the stories of the fears, shame, and resentments we carry with us.” They reflect on what’s come up for them during the inventory process and how it’s revealed different root causes of behavior and thought patterns.  Most people would rather do anything else than an emotional archeological dig,...

On today’s episode Denise and Jackie share their fourth step reimagined, “With courage, honesty, and curiosity, we write the stories of the fears, shame and resentments we carry with us.”  Grab your pen and paper, because in this episode Denise and Jackie explain how to take an honest, wholesome, and courageous inventory of yourself. Notoriously known as one of the most difficult steps, the w...

On today’s episode Denise and Jackie share their second of the Twelve Steps reimagined, “We trust that Something Bigger is taking care of us.” The original wording of Step Three references a capital ‘G’ god, which Denise and Jackie never quite sat comfortably with. In this episode, Jackie unpacks her history of religious influence which stems from Jewish and Christian faiths and discusses what uni...

On today’s episode Denise and Jackie share their second of the Twelve Steps reimagined, “We believe we are worthy of getting better, and that things will get better.”  Sometimes life becomes so out of control that the only way we can fix it is by believing in something outside of ourselves. This week, Denise and Jackie talk about how to step out of autopilot, whether that be from addiction or...

On today’s episode Denise and Jackie share the first of their Twelve Steps reimagined, “We are not okay. We have not been okay. We are not getting better on our own.”  Admitting to ourselves that life has become unmanageable is no easy task, but is absolutely necessary to becoming a better version of ourselves. Denise and Jackie talk about how step one is really grounded in surrender and disc...

Welcome to Emergency Protocol! A podcast hosted by Denise and Jackie Freed, a mother daughter duo from LA, whose goal is simply to share wisdom and help others. Today’s episode focuses on what brought them to podcasting, unpacking family history, and Denise and Jackie’s individual stories of substance use and abuse. Denise battled substance abuse until she was 20 years old when she walked into a T...

Denise and Jackie believe that the Twelve Steps are tools for anyone, not just those battling addiction. On today’s episode, they re-word the Twelve Steps together and dive into how a more modern, inclusive take allows the Steps to guide people into an open, free, and happy life.  When Denise suggested to her daughter that she should try out the Twelve Steps in her own life, Jackie just could...

Welcome to Emergency Protocol! In this episode, mother and daughter Denise and Jackie Freed, share where they’re lives started, where they are now, and how they got here.   Ever since she was young, Denise struggled with fitting in, shame, and addiction which ultimately lead her to an unrecognizable version of herself. Now, with the help of the Twelve Step program and a lot of internal w...

Welcome to Emergency Protocol, a podcast for people who are stressy and depressy! Hosted by the one and only mother daughter duo, Denise and Jackie Freed. Denise and Jackie are on a mission to share their Twelve Steps reimagined for today’s society while also digging into their bumpy, pothole-ridden, spiritual pasts.  They are bringing you along for the ride and inviting you in to do the actu...