No Alcohol Needed: The Podcast

After over three years and 172 episodes, Through the Glass Recovery is officially entering a new chapter. In this episode, Julie Miller and Steve Knapp share the story behind the podcast rebrand and what’s coming next. Starting in January, the podcast will be known as No Alcohol Needed, with a new tagline that reflects the heart of the work they’ve been doing all along: How to Be Happy - No Alcoho...

You know the thought. That thought that sneaks in... Maybe I can drink again. Maybe I can keep it under control now. Maybe just one. In this episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, Julie Miller and co-host Steve Knapp are joined by Lucy, Brenton, and Bry for an honest conversation about what happens when you try to moderate drinking. Not just in theory, but their actual, lived experience. T...

People talk about “doing the work” in sobriety, but most of us start out not even knowing what that means. In this episode, Julie and Steve sit down with Dave Rushing and licensed therapist Sean Rollinson for an honest conversation about emotional sobriety, early misconceptions, and the deeper work that begins after the alcohol is gone. Inside this episode you’ll hear: Why quitting drinking is onl...

For a lot of people, AA is the only recovery path they’ve ever heard of. But what happens when you walk into a meeting and it just doesn’t feel right? What if you tried it, didn’t connect with it, or couldn’t see yourself adopting the identity or structure it requires? On this episode, Julie and Steve sit down with returning guests Alexandra McRobert and Barclay Mullins to talk honestly about how...

The holidays can feel overwhelming when you are sober. Family dynamics, financial pressure, busy schedules, and old memories all collide. For many people in early sobriety, this season brings up fear, loneliness, and the anxiety of navigating everything without a drink. In this episode, Julie and Steve sit down with guests Janice Johnson Dowd and Kristian Nylund to talk honestly about what sober h...

Socializing without alcohol is possible - and full of connection, fun, and real confidence. In this episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, we dig into how to rebuild your sober social life, stop relying on “liquid courage,” and rediscover joy in gatherings, friendships, and parties - without the booze. We’ll cover how to handle those awkward first outings, what to say when people ask why y...

When we quit drinking, emotions we’ve spent years numbing suddenly come bubbling (or roaring) to the surface - and few feel as uncomfortable or overwhelming as anger. For many of us, it’s an emotion we were never taught to handle, let alone express in a healthy way. In this honest roundtable conversation, we explore what anger really is, why it shows up, and how to deal with anger without landing...

Dating after giving up alcohol is a whole new world - one that needs you to show up with honesty, self-awareness, and a little bit (or a lot!) of courage. How do you meet people without the bar scene? What if you feel awkward or anxious? And how do you navigate intimacy without dulling the nerves? In this week’s episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, Julie, Steve, Amber, and Matt open up a...

Are you feeling isolated after quitting drinking? This is one of the most common challenges expressed by people in early sobriety. In this episode, we explore the challenges of losing friends when you quit drinking and what you can do to rebuild meaningful connections. In this episode: Why friendships often change after getting sober How to invite people into your struggles without fear The import...

When anxiety sets in, it can feel like there’s no way to escape the spiral - especially if you used to rely on alcohol to take the edge off. In this honest, practical conversation, Julie Miller and Steve Knapp sit down with Nadine, Melissa, and Ryan to talk about what anxiety really feels like in recovery, why it shows up, and how to navigate it without falling back into old coping patterns. This...

Conflict is one of those things most of us try to avoid - especially when we’re sober and trying to protect our peace. But avoiding conflict doesn’t make it go away; it just creates more problems and pain that we have to deal with later. In this episode, Julie, Steve, Rachel, and Azure sit down to talk about what healthy conflict looks like in sobriety - and how learning to face it with healthy sk...

Planning your first trip without alcohol can feel intimidating. Imagining the airport, the activities, the culture might leave you wondering, "Can I even enjoy this?" In this episode, Julie and Steve sit down with Darci, Sarah, and Corina to share their experiences, sprinkled with honest, practical advice for traveling alcohol-free while still having fun, feeling connected, and enjoying every mome...

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why does sobriety feel so hard? Will it ever get easier?” - this is your episode. Julie and Steve sat down with three sober creators (Dave @djsobershorts , Ness @soberinlaketahoe , and Yliana @alcoholfreesoul ) who have walked through the hardest parts of early recovery and found what actually helps. Their honesty, humor, and hard-earned wisdom will remind you that sobrie...

We all compare ourselves to others sometimes - no matter how hard we try not to. And in recovery, comparison can feel unavoidable. Whether it’s scrolling through social media, sitting in a meeting, or just noticing how someone else’s life looks... better, comparison can sneak in and leave us feeling “less than.” In this episode, we're joined by Gina (Modern Day Monk) and Kristin (The Alcohol-Free...

Early sobriety can feel like a rush of relief and excitement - the infamous “pink cloud” we hear about. But what happens when that high fades and you find yourself feeling flat, restless, or stuck in sobriety? In this honest and powerful conversation, Julie, Steve, Rachael, and Chad dig into the reality of plateaus in recovery, how to recognize them, and what it takes to move through - so you don'...

Welcome back to Season Four of Through the Glass Recovery! We’re kicking off this season with a conversation that gets to the heart of what so many of us wrestle with: how do you actually create a life so full there’s no space left for alcohol? You’ve probably seen the quotes and memes: “Create a life you don’t want to escape from.” It sounds amazing, but what does that really look like in day-to-...

Welcome to Season 4 of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast! After taking a longer summer break than normal, we're back with some real conversation about burnout, rest, and why this podcast matters so much to us. In this episode, we catch up, reflect on a summer filled with grief, joy, persistence, and adventure, and share how recovery tools continue to carry us through real life. From moments of he...

We’re bringing back one of our most popular episodes this week while we get ready to launch brand new content. This conversation about perfectionism and recovery struck a chord with so many of you, and for good reason - it’s real, relatable, and packed with wisdom. Enjoy this re-release, and we’ll be back next week with fresh episodes you won’t want to miss. --- In this powerful episode, our group...

We’re nearing the end of our summer break, but we’re still sharing some of our favorite episodes with you through the end of August. This week’s replay is one that resonates with so many in recovery: rebuilding trust after you stop drinking. It’s a topic that hits close to home for nearly everyone on this journey - because even after we put down the drink, our relationships and our own self-trust...

We’re continuing our summer re-release series while we take a short break from new episodes until September. This week, we’re bringing back a powerful conversation about something almost every sober person wrestles with at some point: boredom. If you're sober but struggling to fill your time or feeling like life has lost its spark, this episode is for you. -- When you’ve been sober for a bit, bore...

We’re bringing back one of our all-time favorite episodes this week. If you’ve ever struggled with self doubt or felt uncertain about your purpose, this one’s going to stick with you. In this conversation, we’re joined by sober motivational speakers Jacob Brown and Martin Lockett, along with the always powerful voice of Through the Glass regular, Molly. Together, we explore how self doubt creeps i...

This week, we’re re-releasing one of our most downloaded and talked-about episodes: What if AA Doesn’t Work for You? Alcoholics Anonymous is often the first (and sometimes only) option people hear about when they decide to get sober. But while AA has helped many people build lasting recovery, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. And if it didn’t work for you - or didn’t feel like quite enough -...

We’re taking a summer break from recording new episodes, and while we recharge, we’re bringing back some of our most important conversations - like this one. This week’s episode explores something we don’t talk about enough: the connection between eating disorders and alcohol use disorder. Research shows that up to 50% of people with an eating disorder will also struggle with substance abuse, ofte...

Talking to your kids about your addiction is hard and it’s scary, but it’s also necessary. When you’re a parent and you’re working through addiction and recovery, it’s a challenge to know how much to share, and how to share it, with your children.   In this re-released groundbreaking episode, we have a conversation with Matt and Rachael  about how we’ve approached talking to our own kids – of all...

We're continuing our summer re-release series with one of our favorite conversations—this week, we're diving into the ever-relatable experience of FOMO after you stop drinking. Whether you're early in sobriety or years alcohol-free, the fear of missing out can sneak in and make you question everything. But there's more waiting for you on the other side than you might think. Tune in as we revisit t...