Recovery Rocks

Tawny and Lisa both deal with anxiety disorder and, like so many of us, sometimes experience panic attacks. In this episode, they talk about how they handle them in the moment, including through mindfulness, breathwork, and, where appropriate, medication. To proactively lessen their day-to-day anxiety they incorporate yoga, intentionality, and scaling back on news and social media. Especially in t...

The “Sex and the City” reboot, “And Just Like That…,” examines Miranda’s struggle with drinking. Tawny and Lisa have thoughts on a portrayal that hits home in many ways. They were both excited to see their friend Holly Whitaker’s empowering book, “Quit Like a Woman,” featured for those considering putting down the booze. In a show about women’s friendships, depicting what they do to support Mirand...

Tawny and Lisa discuss Tawny’s article in Tempest, “Do I Need to Hit ‘Rock Bottom’ Before Quitting Alcohol?” The answer is no! You don’t have lose everything – or anything – to decide that alcohol isn’t working. For Tawny, it was getting in the way of being the version of herself she wanted to be. It was more like an “AHA” moment. For Lisa, it took actually thinking she was going die in the moment...

What happens when you take a sip of your club soda with lime and realize it’s got vodka in it? Or you bite into a chocolate and realize your mouth is full of the liquor it’s filled with? Tawny and Lisa talk about these accidents, which are distinctly different from a slip or a relapse. It’s all about intent. An accidental sip or bite isn’t a relapse but they pay attention to whether it triggers th...

Tawny and Lisa talk about #skincare, the giant online conversation about skincare routines. Tawny’s article for Mic, “The Best Skincare Routine is Sobriety,” lays out the truth about the damage alcohol does to our skin (not to mention the rest of our bodies). Having better skin is just one of the unanticipated benefits of sobriety. And having a skincare routine that doesn’t include waking up in la...

Swan Huntley is the author of the new book GETTING CLEAN WITH STEVIE GREEN, a novel about one woman’s messy (and very funny) journey from self-delusion to self-acceptance. Lisa couldn’t put the book down and talked to Swan, who’s been sober for 11 years, all about it. They covered the humor we find in our stories, letting go of trying to control all we encounter, and learning to be kind to ourselv...

New Year, same pandemic. Tawny and Lisa talk about the keeping sane in a continuing crazy time. One key is not putting pressure on themselves with New Year’s resolutions or other vows to “fix” things. Even something like meditating can become a stressor if the pressure to do it is amped up.  It’s all about progress, not perfection, and staying in the day. They also talk about the fun they’re havin...

Shahjehan Khan is the creator and host of KING OF THE WORLD, a riveting, bingeable podcast about his experience as a Pakistani American Muslim teenager who comes of age post 9/11. He also happens to be 11 years sober and a member of an internationally renowned punk rock band! Shahjehan talks with Lisa about all of this and more, including stigma, relationships with family and friends, and all the...

Amanda’s book, Not Drinking Tonight launched this week, and Tawny and Lisa were thrilled to talk all about it with her. Amanda is a therapist behind the insanely popular Instagram account, @therapyforwomen. The book goes far beyond how to stop drinking. It addresses the history of stress, addiction switching, recovery strategies, drinking culture, how our biology fits in, and much more. Not just f...

Tawny and Lisa celebrate 100 episodes of Recovery Rocks! They talk about how the show started, how it’s evolved, and how much joy it brings them. What began on a big, red couch in New York City has gone bi-coastal and virtual. They extend a special thanks and appreciation to all the listeners who have made continuing this podcast possible. Music Minute features that that time Tawny and Lisa went t...

In sobriety, life can get big. Tawny and Lisa talk about using their newfound time to do things both fun and cathartic. Hobbies can be tools in working out energy, anger, and difficult emotions in recovery. But they should also be activities you enjoy without necessarily having a goal. Whether it’s crafty, cerebral, outdoorsy, or experimental, hobbies are a great way to enjoy new ideas and adventu...

Destination addiction is the addiction to the idea that if a certain future event or circumstance occurs, life’s problems will be solved. Tawny and Lisa talk about these thoughts (for example, “if I just lose 10 pounds, all will be right in the world”) and addiction to self-improvement. At times, they have both aspired to some idealized, unrealistic version of themselves. But they now try to live...

Money is often a taboo topic but it’s a significant issue in recovery. The good news is that the money we used to spend on alcohol and all that goes with it (hello, late night tacos) can be spent productively and in fun ways. Tawny and Lisa discuss Tawny’s article in The Temper (linked below) outlining how we can invest in ourselves in recovery. Whether it’s for paying down debt, paying for luxuri...

Tawny and Lisa talk about why and how to stop focusing so much on other people’s opinions, real and imagined. An article in The Atlantic entitle, “No One Cares” (linked below), provides a great framework for this. People aren’t thinking about us nearly as much as we think they are. Internalizing this fact can be liberating in all kinds of way, including breaking imposter syndrome and handling pani...

With Sober October over and Dry January around the corner, Tawny and Lisa talk about these annual challenges. Perfect for the sober curious (and the sober-curious curious!), Tawny reads from her article about “sober tourism,” a phrase she contributed to the vernacular!  A month off can provide the opportunity someone needs to look at why they drink and why they decided to take the challenge. Tawny...

Are they really here already? Tawny and Lisa talk about gearing up emotionally for the holiday season. With everyone coming from a different pandemic experience, it’s going to be challenge. Tawny and Lisa plan to manage their energy budgets and not say “yes” to everything.  Lisa is gifting people Zero Proof beverages this year. Also please consider supporting some of Recovery Rock’s favorite sober...

Lisa and Tawny talk about their experiences trying to help and support others who don’t want help. Groups like Ala-non, ACOA, and CODA, support people impacted by someone in their life who is struggling with any kind of disorder. No one can want recovery for someone more than that person wants it. Humility, boundaries, self-care, and meeting the person where they are all required. Helpful links: A...

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...