A is for Alcoholic

Today we discuss calm. We talk about finding contentment and losing it and finding it again. It is not an ever present state of mind but we can find it in our routines and habits. We can slowly but sure create places and spaces of calm that are sustainable if not permanent in our daily lives. Thanks for listening. Our sponsors: Green Camel Press: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an ol...

Today's conversation is with Khadi Olagoke, founder of Sober Black Girls Club. What started out as a blog about wanting to get sober while she was still drinking is now a community and resource for Black women everywhere who have questions about getting sober and alcoholism. It was great to get her perspective. "Sobriety takes work. Self-esteem takes work. Figuring out who you are takes work." It...

Humor is an important part of recovery for some of us. It helps bring lightness and relief to a sometimes painful and dark situation but it is through this humor we look for connection. This connection helps bring some much needed relief and hope that things can get better. We are also joined by comedian Jeneta St. Clair. She talks about her comedy pre sobriety and finding humor in the heavy parts...

The simple act of listening to others goes a long way to help us all recover and build a better sense of our place in our community. This goes for both recovery and in life. Thanks for listening. Our sponsors: Green Camel Press: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digital age. Go check em out! Really!!! Gluten is NOT your problem podcast: https://soundcloud.c...

Recovery and sobriety does not happen in a vacuum. We live in unprecedented times. The largest civil rights movement in the history of the world is happening and we must navigate it as much as we must navigate our recovery. That requires looking at our own biases and old ways of thinking and admitting they they do not serve us and humanity as a whole. We once again have to get comfortable with bei...

Today we discuss our brief foray into sponsorship and also about asking for help. It can be hard but no one does this thing alone. No one should have to and with so many services and folks so willingly we need only to reach out and learn to accept it. Thanks for listening. Our sponsors: Green Camel Press: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digital age. Go ch...

Today we talk about what we used to drink and also the many justifications and negotiations in changing that up in an attempt to "drink better". We all know where that led. These are better lives we lead without alcohol and navigating the hard times is made easier in sobriety. Thanks for listening! Our sponsors: Green Camel Press: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthet...

Today we discuss the toxic people in our lives and our best attempts to navigate them and move on from them. We also discuss the importance of trust, helping people you don't agree with and developing relationships that support rather than sabotage us. Thanks for listening!!! Our sponsors: Green Camel Press: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digital age. Go...

When I met Colin S in Joshua Tree I told him I was there to run a half marathon. His response was, "Why? They got cars here!" I laughed and liked him immediately. He speaks his truth and pulls no punches. Cut the bullshit and do the work is the message I got. It was a great talk. Thanks for listening. Our sponsors: Better Help: betterhelp.com/AIFA Green Camel Press: http://greencamelpress.com A de...

We meet all sorts of people in recovery. People from all different walks of life and ways of thinking but we find a common thread in our sobriety even if we approach it differently. That much is true for our special guest Mishka Shubaly. He is the author of seven bestselling Kindle singles on Amazon, singer, songwriter, Ivy League collegiate educator and self-professed glorified T-shirt salesman....

One of the quickest ways to unhappiness is the comparison of ourselves to our perception of someone else's curated version of themselves. The grass is greenest where we are standing. It doesn't mean the lawn doesn't require watering and edge trimming but still we must care for our own yards instead of looking at our neighbors. Enough with the lawn care metaphors! Thanks for listening! Our sponsors...

Doctor Sleep is the 2019 "sequel" to Stephen King's & Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. It follows Danny Torrance, Jack Torrance's son, through his alcoholic adulthood and subsequent recovery. It pays beautiful homage to both King's and Kubrick's version of the story as well as the book 'Doctor Sleep'. We both highly recommend it. Thanks for listening. Thanks for your patronage. Our sponsors: http://...

No one can force you to get sober. It is true that some circumstances (e.g. jail or hospitalization) can cause you to take the decision more seriously but in our opinion it has to be a personal choice. The best sober people in our lives have always laid it out as a suggestion. The old joke goes, "You can tell an alcoholic but you can't tell him much." and that was very true of your two hosts in th...

Today we discuss the themes of isolation, alcoholism, trauma and abuse in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of the Stephen King novel The Shining. It is wrought with all of these. It was interesting to watch it through the lens of addiction and see it as more than just a horror movie. Happy Halloween!!! Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cb3ik6zP2I Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A...

Today we discuss our powerlessness over alcohol and how we have found freedom in it and see it now more as an asset than a liability. Thanks for listening. Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digital age. Go check em out! Really!!! Gluten is NOT your problem podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-904951665 Rashida and John Podcast: https://open.sp...

Chade Turner joins us on the show today. A patron of our patreon for some time it was great to hear his story. Being raised in the house of a recovered alcoholic doe not make us immune to alcoholism but change is possible. A great talk with a true gentleman. Thanks Chade! Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digital age. Go check em out! Really!!...

Today we discuss our time in Quarantine and its effect on our lives and our sobriety. In many ways there is a grieving process for our old lives going on not unlike that which we experience in early sobriety. There is uncertainty, fear but also if we are fortunate enough we have a chance to pause and reflect. We do our best and look for the next right thing. We also talk about T-shirts and Jerry's...

The first in our series on "Alcoholism in Film" movie reviews in which we discuss the portrayal of alcohol and alcoholism in popular movies. Some of it accurate some it wildly mischaracterized. Today's pick is the 2010 Will Ferrel flick 'Everything Must Go'. We both saw some real beauty in this one albeit sad but agreed it really missed the mark in other ways. 2.5/5 stars on this one. Enjoy! Trail...

It is a choice on how we see the world. Plain and simple but not always easy. Jerry describes himself as an optimistic pessimist. We can hunker down and prepare for the storm but we can also leave a bucket out to catch a little rain Thanks for listening! Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digital age. Go check em out! Really!!! Gluten is NOT yo...

Had a great talk with my cousin Danny about our fathers, their addictions and breaking the cycle of troubled paternal relationships. Thanks again Cuz and thanks for listening!!! Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digital age. Go check em out! Really!!! Gluten is NOT your problem podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-904951665 Rashida and John Po...

Today we discuss nicotine in sobriety. Of all the other vices that come along with alcoholism this one seems to be the hardest to kick. We have a few differing opinions on this but we both agree that whatever you do it is what keeps you sober today that is the most important. Thanks for listening! Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digital age....

I really enjoyed talking with Kyle. Still in early sobriety Kyle was kind enough to share his story. What strikes me most is his self awareness and quick-to-action attitude to solving problems. We are glad we could be a part of his sobriety and I am so grateful to have him be a part of ours. Thanks for listening. Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic i...

What a time. Today we discuss a lot of things. Being sober is hard without all the extra added stress going on right now but it is not impossible. Keeping routines and keeping connected can still be done. It can be a time for introspection and a break. Breathe deep and relax. It is gonna be ok. Thanks for listening. Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aestheti...

Today we discuss the importance of being present and listening to what others have to say. It is isn't always easy as our alcoholic brains can lead us into sometimes selfish and narcissistic thinking but the experience of others can truly help. Thanks for listening. Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digital age. Go check em out! Really!!! Glut...

Today's conversation is with an old friend, Nabil Scherief. Another sober bartender with an alcoholic history Nabil had to go through some deep personal pain to learn a better way of living and create his own definition of sobriety. He is also the other half of Green Camel Press. Thanks for listening!!! Our sponsors: http://greencamelpress.com A design firm with an old school aesthetic in a digita...