Recovery Rocks

Big shout out to our listener Andy who floated the topic of dealing with the ubiquity of alcohol in the workplace! Tawny and Lisa talk about how the “let’s grab drinks after work,” or “work hard/play hard” culture is problematic with respect to physical and mental health. They share tips on how to be inclusive, by offering booze-free bonding opportunities for colleagues. Change is certainly possib...

Sober celebrities can be a source of inspiration, providing an example to relate to in similar struggles, not to mention de-stigmatizing and normalizing substance use disorders, which saves lives. Those in 12-step have a different perspective on going public. Tawny and Lisa discuss sober celebrities from their individual perspectives and dig in on the ones they love – many of whom aren’t sober or...

Tawny and Lisa talk about how whether you’re choosing sobriety or sober curious, it’s never too soon to connect with a community and peer support (even as a lurker). Tawny shares the story of her first sober year, which she did on her own. Instead of sober buddies she leaned on family and friends who were not the best qualified to help. No matter where you’re at on this journey there are bound to...

Lisa has been fan-girling Anna David for many years and now she and Tawny call her their friend. Anna joined the show to talk about the relaunch of her book, Party Girl, which was at the forefront of the #quitlit genre. It’s the book that taught Lisa that the cool kids get sober! The discussion covers the changes in recovery over the years, breaking ground, and putting yourself out there. Come for...

After emotionally intense times, such as traveling, spending time with family, holidays, or big events, Tawny and Lisa can feel exhausted and maybe a little cranky – almost like they used to feel after drinking. These are “emotional hangovers,” when our emotional juice has been depleted. Tawny expresses it as having an “emotional budget,” the amount of feeling and thought we have to expend. Life k...

Tawny and Lisa break down what a sobriety toolbox actually is to them, both a maintenance kit and something to grab onto in break-glass moments. Tawny’s kit includes therapy, medication,  self-care, and “silliness.” Lisa does the same and also talked about her higher power and doing service. As always, connection and communication with sober friends and community is key. Tawny notes Johann Hari, w...

Like so many people, Tawny and Lisa worried about how they’d fit in with their friends after getting sober. (Tawny’s recent article on the topic for Tempest is linked below.) They have seen true friends vs. drinking buddies for what they are, and learned to let go of toxic friendships. They also have found new friendships, including their own, that wouldn’t exist without sobriety. They also share...

Tawny’s partner Nick joins the conversation to talk sober dating, the importance of dating yourself, and their meet-cute moment. They also dig into how sobriety lets us discover and pursue interests old and new, which can even lead to a new career. Nick has taken his experience as a sommelier to launch his own line of artisanal vinegar, Sour Humanoid! Come for the cooking tips, stay for the Music...

Like so many people, Tawny and Lisa have struggled with meditation. The idea of sitting with your breath without sitting in your thoughts sounds great but is tough to do. Taking the pressure off meditation helps. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. You can just show up for it the same way you show up for other things like exercise or a hobby. Music Minute includes Biet Simkin ( www.bietsimkin....

Tawny and Lisa talk about the importance of giving themselves credit for the good things they do, big and small, in sobriety – not always focusing on what they could have done better. Achievements look different for everyone on different days. Sometimes just getting a sober head to the pillow that night is cause for celebration. While Tawny has celebrated with a sequin bodysuit, Lisa opted for a p...

Kathy and Morgan are the mother/daughter team behind podcast sponsor Sober Dating. They talk about how they turned this genius idea into a new app with features designed for the best matches and fewest awkward moments. Tawny and Lisa ask, “Where was this when we were single?” They also talk about Morgan’s mommy blog ( www.liliesandlambs.com/ ) that started with her struggles around infertility but...

Tawny and Lisa go back to basics to talk about how they deal with triggers in sobriety, including those that pop up coming out of the pandemic. Spoiler alert: tools include connecting, avoiding isolation, and talking to ourselves with the compassion we would show a friend. Put down the bat (unless you’re in a rage room) and be gentle with yourself. Music Minute features Limp Bizkit, the Halston so...

The U.S. CDC defines binge drinking as four drinks for a woman or five drinks for a man over a two-hour period. That sounds like a pre-party to a lot of big drinkers. But after a while, it stops looking “cute” and starts looking like a problem. Tawny and Lisa talk about how our culture has normalized, glorified, and encouraged binge drinking despite its dangers. Music Minute features George Thorog...

Brianne Davis, author of the novel “Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex and Love Addict,” joins Tawny and Lisa to talk about this often-misunderstood addiction. It’s not the stereotype of compulsive sex with strangers. It’s like any other addiction, impacting women and non-binary folks as well as men. Brianne talks about recovery and how it can lead to healthy romantic relationships. Tawny talks about...

With the explosion of conversation around sobriety and recovery, the words we use to describe elements of it can get confusing. Self-confessed “word nerd” Tawny raises some specific terms that she and Lisa dig into, including sober curious, gray-area drinking, AF, zero proof, harm reduction, alt-sober, Cali sober, one day at a time, and life on life’s terms. Like so much, these words mean differen...

Tawny and Lisa talk with Alysse, founder of The Sober Curator , SOBER POP, and all kinds of sober lifestyle and community connections. Alysse coined #sobrietyisthenewglutenfree and the ladies are all in! It’s a healthy lifestyle full of options for anyone who wants it, no questions asked. She’s got all the social media networks covered! Music Minute features a can’t-miss Tupac concert story and th...

Tawny and Lisa talk further on forgiveness, particularly owning their own mistakes. They try to avoid ruminating and choose to “look back, but not stare.” They also talk about imposter syndrome and understanding that they’re not unique. Music Minute includes “Let It Go” from “Frozen” and all the fantastic takes on “The Weight.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1GU1qQ1zQ

In what became a two-part conversation, Tawny and Lisa take on this big topic. Forgiveness can bring peace when and if the time is right. And there is support because they never do any of this alone. They talk Al-Anon and the movie “6 Balloons.” Elton John makes his first Music Minute appearance. https://al-anon.org/ https://www.netflix.com/title/80130625

Tawny and Lisa talk about investing time, energy, and sometimes resources in things that bring them joy. For Tawny, it led to a Webby Award for the “F*cking Sober” podcast! All by being open to new ideas and projects. Lisa learns how to pronounce “Tarot” correctly. Music Minute ranges from Pink Floyd to Donna Summer on time and money. https://fckingsoberpodcast.com/

Tawny and Lisa talk about summer excitement but there are still big pandemic issues affecting all of us. An article in The Atlantic captured the new depression/anxiety many people feel. And Tawny’s got a perfect book recommendation. Music Minute features a throwback disco from Ryan Murphy’s latest masterpiece, “Halston” on Netflix. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/05/pandemic-trauma...

Tawny talks about her recent interview with WebMD.com about these often-tricky conversations. This discussion has gone mainstream! Music Minute features a Gin Blossoms favorite and Counting Crows. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/features/talking-family-friends

As the sober world continues to evolve, so does the drink market. This episode celebrates Tawny's favorite NA beers, wines, liquors, and other fun booze-free drink options while Lisa shares her apprehension with certain NA drinks. Together, they have a great convo about the vastly expanding NA drink market and how that impacts the recovery community. The Music Minute goes to "Alcohol" by The Baren...

Tawny and Lisa discuss how they have drifted away from their regular music listening during the pandemic. A big reason for that has been content overload and the feeling that they should always be listening to a podcast or an audiobook to be learning something new. But now they realize finding joy in music, whether it’s old favorites or some new tunes, is essential to their recovery. They cover ev...

Lisa talks about how she’s been struggling with her eating through COVID and Tawny talks about her relationship with food. As with any other substance, they agree that it’s important to look at why their eating can feel disordered at times. And to give themselves grace and compassion when those struggles come up. Music Minute includes Halsey’s “Nightmare” and Silverchair’s “Ana’s Song.”

Recovery advocate, survivor, writer, and overall rock star Jen Elizabeth (@resurrektion_of_me on social) talks with Tawny and Lisa about harm reduction: what it is and why it’s saving lives. They delve into the stigma that needs to be broken around harm reduction, including in the recovery community. They also talk about the work of Dr. Carl Hart and community organizations like The Sidewalk Proje...