Recovery Rocks

This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks   Tawny and Lisa talk to Laura McKowen, author of the bestselling memoir We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life . In 2020, Laura founded The Luckiest Club , a global sobriety support community. Her new...

This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid Emily Lynn Paulson is the author of Highlight Real: Finding Honesty and Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life , and the forthcoming, Hey, Hu...

This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks   Welcome to Spring! Tawny and Lisa caught up on what they’re reading and watching. Television includes some old-school TV, from The Office and The IT Crowd to the BBC Mystery series. They’re also looking forward to seaso...

This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid Tawny and Lisa interviewed actor, writer, and director Zach Braff! A Good Person, his latest film, is a gripping story of addiction, gri...

Tawny and Lisa talk about a recent piece in The New York Times entitled, “How to Stop Ruminating.” Rumination is described as that feeling when your thoughts about an event, conversation, or something else are so excessive and overwhelming that you can’t stop them, or they are impacting other aspects of your life. Ways to avoid the rumination cycle are 1) divert your attention, 2) set a worry time...

Tawny and Lisa talk with Ken Middleton, a wellness advocate and author of the upcoming book, “Bamboozled: How Alcohol Makes Fools of Us All.” He is also the editor of the Medium publication, “AINYF: Alcohol is Not Your Friend.” Ken helps people build the best versions of themselves by demonstrating that alcohol holds us back from living life to the fullest. His sobriety started as an experiment th...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Laura Crossett of Soberlink, which provides a hand-held, remote alcohol breathalyzer, a great tool for accountability and rebuilding the trust of others. Laura is also in long-term recovery and shares her recovery story out loud. She notes the challenges she had trying to earn the trust of family members she alienated when she was using. They talk about how alcohol/drug test...

Tawny and Lisa finally got their IRL reunion in New York City and are still buzzing about it. Thanks again to everyone who voted for the podcast in the inaugural Signal Awards ! They talk about hanging out at the awards party, Tawny’s new fab apartment, and Lisa speaking at Columbia Law School. And now you can pre-order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A GUIDE TO DATING, RELATING, & HOOKING UP WITHO...

Tawny and Lisa catch up with their friend Shari Hampton, a certified life and recovery coach, consultant, and founder of the non-profit Served Up Sober . They talk about what coaching is (self-discovery, accountability, and support) and what it is not (therapy or 12-step sponsorship). Coaching provides tools and ideas to help people reach goals that may feel out of reach. The coach can’t do recove...

Season 2 of F*cking Sober Podcast is out! Tawny and Lisa talk with its creator, Katie Mack, and Kim Kearns, whose story of motherhood and sobriety is the basis of this season. Each season of F*cking Sober Podcast is a stand-alone eight-episode arc that unpacks the first 90 days of sobriety. It’s unique in the world of recovery podcasts. They talk about mommy wine culture from its origins to where...

Tawny and Lisa talk big self-care and how to set yourself up to make it easier. Tawny calls it “pampering the f*** out of yourself.” She buys herself flowers every week and even created a meditation closet! Setting a designated area at home or somewhere else that’s a go-to place to decompress and recenter can be a big help in recovery. It’s also necessary to set boundaries to actually use the spac...

Tawny and Lisa talk about advocating for your mental health in the workplace. While programs like those under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other sabbaticals may be available, red tape and stigma can keep us from taking the time we need. They also discuss the need for employers to recognize that a “sick day” can apply to physical health or mental health. The brain is an organ in the body...

Tawny and Lisa talk Dry January and how it’s evolved over the years. “Damp January” and other approaches might be the right road for many people who just want to take a break or are sober curious. It’s not about “sober tourism.” It’s about seeing what it feels like to wake up without hangovers and be more present in our lives. Dry January is a great time to level up how we deal with our difficult...

Tawny opens up about incorporating cannabis in her recovery. Last year, when her anxiety seriously worsened, she was faced with either upping her antidepressant dose or adding Xanax. With neither of those being good options for her, she explored alternatives in plant medicine. She now microdoses cannabis under the guidance of professionals: her general physician, a cannabis doctor, and her therapi...

(CW: includes a discussion of violence and sexual assault) Mary Beth O’Connor is the author of the new memoir, “From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction.” The abuse and traumas she experienced as a child, including sexual assaults, led Mary Beth into substance use disorders. She started drinking at 12 years old and by 17 she was shooting up methamphetamine. When Mary Bet...

Tawny and Lisa take a different spin on the New Year. Instead of making New Year’s resolutions, which they quit years ago, they talk about what they want to leave behind from 2022. These are things that may have helped them in the past but no longer serve them. For those interested in Tarot, this coincides with the card for 2023 being The Chariot. Music Minute features Everclear, Guns n Roses; The...

Tawny and Lisa go over their favorite reads, listens, and watches of 2022. The year brought great books (including QuitLit!), TV, and music. There was a lot to love this year and book links are below. Some fave TV: Single Drunk Female (Hulu), Dopesick (Hulu), Euphoria (HBO), The Flight Attendant (HBO), and Loudermilk (Amazon). Some fave QuitLit: The Book of Boundaries (Melissa Urban) - https://www...

Vote Recovery Rocks for Best Buddy Podcast: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2022/shows/general/best-buddy-podcast Imposter syndrome is defined as, “a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a ‘fraud.’” So many of us experience this feeling and we’re not alone. Surveys have shown that between 30%...

Tawny has been taking Lexapro for her anxiety and it’s truly changed her life. Lisa also takes medication for her depression and anxiety. While it may not be an option for everyone, for many people medication is a lifesaver. They talk about how it works and how essential it is to break the stigma around it. They also break down some common myths that keep the medication stigma going. Check out Taw...

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is type of “situational” depression. It happens during certain seasons of the year—most often fall or winter. Shorter days and less daylight may trigger a chemical change in the brain leading to symptoms of depression. Light therapy and antidepressants can help treat SAD. Tawny and Lisa talk about their experiences with SAD and what helps them. Music Minute featur...

Tawny and Lisa talk about coming through challenging periods and how they’re taking care of themselves. Tawny has turned in her book, “DRY HUMPING,” out next fall! And Lisa has been helping her mom transition into the next phase of life. When they experience overwhelming and stressful situations, they both reach into their sobriety tool kit. And they find what brings them Joy. Music Minute feature...

Tawny and Lisa are back together, and they’re talking about the holidays. Sometimes called the Bermuda Triangle of sober life, they can be a lot happier when we set and maintain boundaries, check in with how we’re feeling throughout, and celebrate in ways that are meaningful to us. They also talk about great zero-proof options for holiday events. Go to Tawny’s website for discount codes! https://w...

Tawny and special guest co-host Irina chat with actor, radio personality, and sober badass, Carlos Navarro. You might have seen him on TV in "Bloodline," "The Walking Dead,"  and most recently, Marvel's "Hawkeye." Carlos wasn't always on top. His story will connect with anyone who has ever experienced life's highs and lows and struggled with addiction. He has been broke, jobless, and self-destruct...

Tawny is Mexican, Jewish, and 100% Heavy Metal. Special guest co-host Irina is a Cuban and Russian immigrant. But are they Latina? Spoiler alert: YES! In this intimate episode about identity and culture, Irina talks about growing up in Florida around only fellow Cubans while Tawny discusses not feeling “Mexican enough” despite growing up in Texas, teaching Zumba, and learning Spanish. How have the...

The “B” in LGBTQIA+ is often seen as flaky, a phase, or promiscuous. Although we’re the largest subsect of the queer population, many bisexuals feel like they are not enough — which can impact our recovery. Tawny and special guest co-host Irina discuss how their bisexuality impacts their recovery, how they realized they were queer, and some of the bisexual characters on TV that impacted public vie...