Recovery Rocks

Tawny and Lisa talk with Shirah Benarde, CEO and Co-Founder of NightCap, a line of multi-purpose drink spiking prevention products. When she was just 16-years old, the idea for NightCap came to Shirah in a dream after hearing about the horrors of drink spiking from friends who experienced it. By 2021, NightCap was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank series, striking one of the fastest deals in the histor...

Watch the special video convo here ! Our card deck is available for pre-order! We’re so excited! The deck comprises 50 cards, with a glossary and additional resources, that offers guidance and inspiration for anyone rethinking their relationship with alcohol. We’ve loaded it with practical tools and inspirational prompts to help you conquer the challenges and embrace the joys of a booze-free life....

Tawny and Lisa talk with Anna Goldfarb a journalist, author and speaker. Called “ The New York Times ’ friendship correspondent”, Anna’s work explores the nuances of friendships, relationships, and pop psychology. They talk about making friends, keeping friends, and approaching friendship with empathy.  Her new book, Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections , is available ever...

Tawny and Lisa talk about how the 24/7 news cycle, algorithmically designed to spark extreme reactions, can make us feel overwhelmed and sometimes hopeless. They go back to their sobriety tool kits to not only keep them sober, but to reset their thinking. This includes remembering where they are in the moment, reminding themselves of what they can and can’t control, connecting locally, doing servi...

Tawny and Lisa talk about addiction as a family disease. Whether it’s with your birth family or your chosen family (or both!), healing individually and as unit can break cycles of addiction and unhealthy behaviors. They both talk about their experiences with their families and how it’s an imperfect journey that never really ends.   Music Minute features Sister Sledge, Everclear, The Killers and Bi...

A recent article in The New York Times discussed two recent studies that cast doubt on whether large-scale mental health interventions are making young people better. But most specialists in adolescent mental health still agree that lack of access to treatment is the biggest problem young people face, along with the damage social media can do. Tawny and Lisa discuss all this with therapist Amanda...

Tawny and Lisa talk with composer Melissa Dunphy, an award-winning composer who specializes in vocal, political, and theatric music. Her work includes, LISTEN (2019) , two choral movements set to testimony by Anita Hill in 1991 and Christine Blasey Ford in 2018. They talk about creating art as a tool for healing trauma and understanding ourselves. Creating art is for everyone, whether you consider...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Emmy Jo, an indie-soul pop musician based in New York City. Emmy Jo's first viral moment came with her Spotify single "yellow year" . Her music, self-dubbed "sad girl bangers," creates a space where melancholy meets infectious beats, inviting listeners to share in the collective human experience. They get into mental health, her influences, and going viral on Tik Tok.   Musi...

Tawny and Lisa catch up on what’s been going on lately. Tawny has been settling into post-book tour and post-(parentheses) launch life and taking time to go to cultural events and see live music. Lisa spent time in Nashville to speak at a benefit for the Women’s Center at Cumberland Heights , a nonprofit addiction treatment center. They also talk about the importance of taking time to rest, play,...

Tawny and Lisa talk about a recent article in The Washington Post ,  "Why Loneliness is Associated with Food Cravings in Some Women." It reports on a new study that suggests that alterations in the lonely brain may be why some women are more susceptible to unhealthy food choices. And why they often crave sweet, calorie-rich foods, in particular. They also talk about the article’s note that it’s th...

Tawny gives Lisa an update on her changing relationship with substances, which she wrote about in her recent newsletter . They talk about her discovery of plant medicine and its benefits for her. They also talk harm reduction and stigma. For both Tawny and Lisa, it all comes down to the fact that one day at a time is the only approach that actually works – how we show up today and how we react to...

Tawny and Lisa talk about Tawny’s recent Beyond Liquid Courage newsletter, "People Pleasing is Over."   She learned through years of recovery and therapy that her people-pleasing is tied to her codependency. Lisa learned in early recovery that if she didn’t stop always trying to please others, she wasn’t going to be able to stay sober. People pleasing is more nuanced than just doing something for...

Tawny and Lisa talk about being discerning with what we add to our plates and what we say “no” to. Our tendency to be “people pleasers” means we end up saying yes to things we don’t want or need to do to avoid disappointing others. But oftentimes, that concern can be misplaced or exaggerated. We can also tweak the way we accept invitations if they would otherwise take too much out of us (hint, hin...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Steve Rose, an addiction counselor specializing in gambling addiction, with a Ph. D in sociology. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about how gambling addiction is on the rise. This trend is closely linked to broader addictive behaviors such as smartphone and social media usage, which draw on many of the same psychological mechanisms. They talk about what gambling addic...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Camille St Martin, an author and recovery advocate who recently released Spilled , her book of poetry inspired by her recovery journey. Like so many of us, she felt alone in her drinking spiral and found relief and catharsis in writing. Poetry was a passion she had as a teen and sobriety brought her the chance to reconnect with it.   Music Minute features Ani DiFranco.   Pur...

Tawny talks about what’s going on with Dry Humping six months out and how she’s promoting her new drink, (parentheses). She’s also teaching a class on writing a nonfiction book proposal on May 22nd . They also talk about Lisa’s 20th SoBerthday and how indie non-alcoholic bottle shops are the heartbeat of the burgeoning non-alcoholic drink industry.  Music Minute features Khruangbin and Beyonce.   ...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Art Alexakis, frontman for Everclear, one of the defining bands of the 1990s, still going strong. Art has almost 35 years of recovery, living very much one day at a time. They talk about recovery and Art’s writing process, including the iconic song, “Father of Mine.” They also discuss what it takes to know when you’re done with drugs and alcohol, to ask for help, and to live...

Tawny and Lisa talk about “glimmers,” mini-moments of calm and even joy. Glimmers are the opposite of triggers. They create a subtle, but meaningful mood shift. Think of how you feel when you pet a dog or hear a song you love. They also talk about “golden shadows,” which, similar to glimmers, are small bright spots that break through when doing difficult shadow work.    Music Minute features Bleac...

Tawny and Lisa talk about creating a home that supports your recovery. This can look different for everyone. It can range from clearing out anything you might find triggering, to setting up a space that makes you feel calm and content, to changing up your routine on arriving home. Like everything in recovery, it’s a process that doesn’t happen overnight, but is created and adjusted over time.    M...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Raam Roch Hai and Dr. Anthony Foster, Co-CEOs and Founders of AHA! Recovery, a new approach to treating substance use disorders. They discuss the effectiveness of therapists who are themselves in recovery working with others seeking recovery or supporting a loved one. AHA! Recovery blends three evidence-based therapeutics practices: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-...

Tawny and Lisa talk with Alex Kosinski, a 20-something sober friend, who’s building a new life in his adopted city of San Diego. They talk sober dating, healthy habits, and being open to new experiences. Alex finds connection through pursuing passions like fitness, chess and studying Spanish, as well as leaning into the local recovery community.    Music Minute features Chance the Rapper   Find Al...

Tawny and Lisa talk codependency, something many folks in recovery grapple with. Melody Beattie, author of Codependent No More , defines codependency as, “The concept of losing one’s self while taking care of another.” Anticipating other people’s needs all the time leads to anxiety, projection, and manipulation. The answer is to stop trying to control others, set firm boundaries, and figure out ho...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Jolene Park, founder of Healthy Discoveries. Jolene is a functional nutritionist and a pioneer in the area of “gray area drinking,” the kind where there’s no rock bottom, but where one drinks to manage anxiety and later regrets how often or how much they drink. They talk about Jolene’s recent Substack piece on the online sober community and how it’s changed over time, includ...

Tawny and Lisa catch up on what’s been going on so far this year. They also share some of their latest picks for reading and watching. Tawny has finally had some time to decompress from all of the book tour craziness. Lisa has been diving into all kinds of distractions to try to keep things light in a challenging year.   Music Minute features Taylor Swift and Beyonce   Read Tawny’s article on post...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Paulina Pinsky (she/they), a writer, writing coach, and figure skater living in Los Angeles. She writes the Substack newsletter "newly sober" and she is the co-author of the teen guide to consent IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AWKWARD. They talk about Paulina’s experience and recovery, including incorporating TCB (Trust, Compassion and Boundaries) as a way to help manage all the thin...