Recovery Daily Podcast

Sometimes willingness feels like grabbing a hold of a moving train. I've got the momentum to move forward, but often it can get very messy along the way. I'm one of the lucky ones that found willingness in the depths of my active alcoholism. And it was from that willingness to pick up the phone and call INOVA CATS detox program that I am here today as the best version of myself that I'm able to gi...

Today's episode is about personal transformation, specifically how patience plays a role in that transformation. I talk about how others see us, how we see ourselves, and how we see the world. Every aspect of our perception shifts throughout sobriety. I thought that putting down the drink was simply having to live my life without the crutch that helped me face it. But as perceptions slowly cha...

To change old routines when I got sober, I needed to change how and where I did everything and fill any spaces that were left in my life by removing alcohol. I filled those spaces with new enjoyable activities and beverages. I head this morning: "You can carpet the world or just put sneakers on." In this respect, I changed the route that I took to work so that I wasn't passing the st...

I have proof in my experience being sober that the more I work the steps in all facets of my life, I awaken more. I didn't get what spiritual awakening meant until the past few years of my recovery journey. Its like the more adversity I face the more I can see what I'm capable of. My spiritual awakening feels like plastic cloak layers are being removed from my vision of the world and mysel...

Today's episode is about how sometimes we argue with life, with reality, and we think if we just think hard enough, we will somehow outsmart the chaos around us. I do have the struggle of over analyzing many situations. I think that I need to plan for every possible outcome or the whole world will somehow fall apart. Do you ever think that you are responsible for thinking everything into place...

In today’s episode I talk about awareness and surrender. We read a great story this morning from Spiritual Awakenings (AA literature) that talked about how we get to this point to traveling back and forth into pain, trying to control people, places, and things that were never ours to control. The story gave some great insights and a new perspective on stopping that fight, accepting things as they...

If somebody told you for the next month every time you're in the car you must right keep your eyes closed no matter what. Do you have that much trust and your driver? Would you trust them with each twist and turn? How ‘bout on the streets of D.C.? In today's episode, I talk about feelings of helplessness and how to shift our perspective from victim to passenger, letting go of control—closi...

Today, on my podcast published internationally (yeah, that’s right!), I talk about the serenity prayer and how when I first started repeating it in early sobriety I had a very shallow understanding of what it was saying. Over time, as I listened to other people in meetings share about how they apply the serenity prayer in their lives, I've learned to pause and make thoughtful decisions about w...

In today’s episode of Recovery Daily Podcast , I discuss how there is no difference between a "slip" and a relapse, and I feel that it’s important to not minimize a relapse by calling it something other than what it is. I share my experiences from early sobriety, when I mistakenly thought I had to endure my emotional pain one day at a time for the rest of my life. I had no clue that the...

In this episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I discuss handling fear before sobriety and now in recovery. I used to avoid whatever it was that I was fearful of—hiding and drinking. Today I lean into fear. Immediate action can shorten the duration of discomfort, to return to peace of mind. I discuss the role of prayer and acceptance in my life. By facing fear directly, we don’t allow it to take r...

In this episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I explore letting go and getting comfortable in joy, inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem we read this morning in my sobriety meeting. I discuss how holding on to grief, anger, and resentments is like trying to pull a plane on a tarmac by simply squeezing the rope—exhausting and futile. Drawing parallels between sobriety and stroke recovery, I share th...

In today's episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I discuss peace of mind and explore the promise of serenity that we find in recovery. Many of us have fought hard to surface joy and serenity in our lives after years of chaos. But once we've found that peace, the real challenge begins: How do we protect it? I share my experience navigating the chaos by facing my fears, sharing with my spon...

In this episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I explore our awareness, noticing the peace underneath the chaos in our lives and the chatter in our heads. I discuss the difference I experience between morning meditation and finding moments of calm during the day. I share how counting during simple activities, like stretching or boiling bagels, can help bring about a calmness, and how listening for...

In today’s episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I explore a fun and empowering way to support your recovery—dancing! Did you know that dancing, even if you don’t know the steps, can give you the same physical and mental benefits as traditional exercise? I discuss how moving your body to music can help ease cravings, relieve stress, boost self-esteem, and even help you think more clearly. No matt...

In today's episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I share my experience of a sleepless night and how it ties into our recovery. How do we face the day in recovery when we don't feel good from lack of sleep. We face even tougher days when we’re exhausted, stressed, or just not feeling ourselves. I explore how a lack of sleep and feeling drained can make things harder, but these are the mome...

In today’s episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I explore humility as described in the book "As Bill Sees It." Humility can be misunderstood as weakness or self-degradation, but I discuss how true humility can actually strengthen us in recovery and in life. Humility enables us to right size ourselves in the world and in our relationships so that we can start listening to others a more...

In today’s episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast , I discuss spirituality in recovery. Many of us believe that spiritual fitness means we are feeling good, but spirituality has nothing to do with how we feel. I’ll talk about the deeper meaning of spirituality—how it empowers us to do the next right thing, no matter what we’re feeling inside. Through honesty, tolerance, and patience, we discover th...

In today’s episode of Recovery Daily Podcast , I talk about standing up for ourselves and recognizing that we deserve better. Recovery is about more than just stopping destructive behaviors—it’s also about caring for our well-being. I talk about how it takes courage to put on our "oxygen mask first," and take care of ourselves before we can help others. I share about my inspiration this...

In this episode of Recovery Daily Podcast , I explore the concept of finding good even in difficult times. It's easy to overlook the blessings in life when everything seems to be falling apart. However, difficult times can act as a spiritual checkpoint, waking us up to the things we've not really been paying attention to and helping us sift through our toolbox for living. Inspired by the p...

In this episode of *Recovery Daily Podcast*, I explore a personal concept: serenity isn't something we have to chase or add to our lives—it's already there, waiting for us. I discuss how joy and serenity are ever-present, but they're often blocked by distractions, resentments, and expectations. Throughout the episode, I discuss the importance of letting go of the things that obscure ou...

In this episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I discuss the relationship between creativity and brain function, particularly in the context of stroke recovery. Mostly, creativity is associated with the right hemisphere of the brain, known for handling tasks related to imagination, spatial abilities, and artistic expression. However, "they" say that creativity is a product of both hemisp...

In today's episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I talk about how taking physical action can influence our inner world. I explore the idea that sometimes, we need to act first—whether it’s cultivating faith, joy, relaxation, or inspiration—and let our emotions follow. By taking deliberate physical steps, we can shift our mood and enhance our mental well-being. Throughout this episode, I share...

In today's episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I explore the mantra "I don’t drink no matter what" and its impact on any recovery journey, including stroke and vestibular conditions. This phrase isn't just a commitment to sobriety; it's a life-saving promise we make to ourselves every day. I talk about how this mindset applies in both good and bad times—whether it's th...

In this month's Reads and Recovery episode, I review Drunk Mom: A Memoir by Jowita Bydlowska. This memoir brings us into the chaotic, isolating world of a mother struggling with alcoholism. As I explore Jowita's journey, I can’t help but reflect on the parallels between her story and the experiences I faced in my own active addiction. I talk about repeated relapse, the brutal honesty that’...

In this episode of the Recovery Daily Podcast, I talk about embracing the vast mysteries of the universe as a way to cultivate acceptance and peace in our everyday lives. The infinite nature of space and our existence on this tiny planet can be overwhelming to think about, yet it offers us an opportunity to train our minds in acceptance. I explore how the acceptance of these cosmic mysteries can t...