Recovery Rocks

Writing and journaling can often be a big part of our recovery — some of us feel the need to share our stories with the world (or a close few), to heal through our words, and help others through shared experiences. Tawny and special guest co-host Irina talk about how they first met (writing!), how they connected and became writing besties through working on Tawny’s book, and what that process has...

What does recovery from alcohol use disorder look like if you have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Special guest co-host Irina and Tawny talk about getting a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis and how it impacts Irina’s sobriety today. They talk about the three different sub-types of ADHD, how those sub-types present differently in men vs women, and some of the most common (and uncommon!...

And now for something completely different…Lisa chats with Eric Miranda, one of her very first and closest friends in recovery. They talk about the amazing things that can happen in sobriety, making sober friends, the importance of humor, and, of course, rock music! They also talk about food, other substances, and finding balance in recovery.     Music Minute features live music with the Rolling S...

Lisa interviews Karolina Rzadkowolska, author of “Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You,” and a recovery coach. Like many of us, Karolina found herself in an unfulfilling career, not feeling good about herself, and drinking to mask the issues. But a break from alcohol led her to a whole new life that she now shares with others who could benefit from taking a break. She and...

With Tawny on a book hiatus, Lisa interviews Shelby John, a therapist, recovery coach, and host of the Confident Sober Women podcast. She is also the author, of “Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Recovery.” Shelby focuses on issues such as facing the wreckage of the past, building confidence, and parenting in sobriety.    Music Minute features classic rock, worship music, and women...

What does it mean to “practice” gratitude beyond the idea of just feeling #grateful? It’s about actually taking an action. It can be looking up at the ceiling and saying “thank you” to the sky for waking up sober, making a quick gratitude list in the morning, or countering negative thoughts with reasons to be grateful. Over time, practicing gratitude can become another sober reflex. Having a basel...

There are all kinds of ways to find support in recovery. From just following hashtags to meeting new friends to getting more involved, opportunities are all over. Tawny and Lisa talk about several free support groups that exist that maybe you haven't heard of. They also support modes of harm reduction for anyone who can help. Below are links to some of their favorite groups. Music Minute/Pop Cultu...

What is it like to tell people who that you don’t drink? And when is the right time? It’s a complicated issue because there are so many layers. Everyone’s story is their own and no one else is entitled to your story. You get to choose who knows what and when. Tawny and Lisa talk about their different experiences telling family, friends, and the world about their decisions to stop drinking. Check o...

What is your “why” for not drinking and why do we have to keep it in mind? For Tawny and Lisa, remembering their “why” when things get hard or a drink looks good, has been a lifesaver. At the start, their reasons focused on not wanting to die and not wanting to go back to old misery. But over time their “whys” also became about wanting to be present for the lives they built and looking forward to...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Ashley Allen, founder of the clothing brand Ex-Party Girl. Ashley is a reformed party girl who started her company to negate shame from past mistakes when drinking. Once she got sober, she realized that she was having more fun without booze than being a hot mess, and embraced recovery. They talk about how far we can come when we put down the bottle and how essential it is to...

Tawny and Lisa talk about how they deal with all the discomforts, big and small, that come with traveling. Being in transit somewhere is the epitome of a situation in which we have no control over what happens, but we do have control over how we react. They incorporate HALT (don’t get Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired into every step). And when it comes to navigating events like parties or weddings,...

Tawny and Lisa go off script and interview each other. It’s a lightning round, hitting on topics from their favorite concerts and music, to the meanings of Tawny’s tattoos, to Lisa’s former legal practice, and everything in between. They even learn a thing or two about each other. As always, they express their gratitude for being able to find sober and meaningful lives. Music Minute is throughout...

Tawny and Lisa talk to Claire Comai, founder of Rehab Barbie designs. Her clothing and jewelry are created to smash the stigma around recovery and to celebrate sobriety. They talk about Claire’s story of getting sober young, taking it all one day at a time, and combining her career in the fashion industry with her passion for connecting with others. Music Minute features Eminem, as both an artist...

Tawny and Lisa talk about a recent Hinge (yes, the dating app) survey showing that 75% of Hinge daters say grabbing a drink is not their first date choice. Singles were more interested in making a real connection and were also more focused on their physical and mental health. Tawny and Lisa also talk about fun zero-proof date ideas. Think coffee on a walk, or hitting a museum, botanical garden. Ma...

Tawny and Lisa chat with sobriety and self-esteem coach Arlina Allen, host of the One Day at a Time podcast. They talk about Arlina’s recovery story, how she started her podcast in 2016, and how she works with her coaching clients. Arlina’s approach includes making people feel seen, heard, and understood so that they can view challenges in context and move past what’s holding them back. They talk...

Tawny and Lisa talk about what spirituality means to them. Tawny is a “spiritual skeptic” whose spirituality is about feeling connected to herself. Lisa found a higher power in AA. Both of them love incorporating tools like astrology, Tarot, and self-care rituals to reinforce their spirituality. Tawny talks about “syncretism,” pulling different aspects of religions and spiritual practices to creat...

Tawny and Lisa talk about the triggers of summer – vacations, BBQs, day drinking, and the extra push to “celebrate.” For themselves, they focus on the specifics of the event or activity. Will there be an actual activity or are people inviting us to just watch them drink? If the latter, Hard pass!  They also talk about zero-proof drinks, a choice they love for anyone who is comfortable with them. T...

Tawny got a book deal!! She and Lisa are excited AF. DRY HUMPING, out September 2023, is a booze-free guide to sex, dating, and relationships. She and Lisa dig in about Tawny’s process, what emotions have come up, and how she’s handling them. They also talk about the challenge to balance writing (or other things they love) with the rest of their lives, the drive to help the next person, and the im...

A listener wrote to ask Tawny, “Is sobriety a skill?” Tawny and Lisa say yes. It’s a skill they develop, practice daily, keep fresh, and try to grow from. But it’s also a skill that, like strength and endurance at the gym, disappears if we stop working it. That’s why they use the tools in their sobriety toolkits, like exercise, connecting with others in recovery, meditation, and, for Lisa, the 12...

The last time Tawny and Lisa talked about technology and social media addiction was pre-pandemic. The problem has gotten worse since but the core problems remain the same. Many of us are constantly drawn to our phones, whether checking for social media updates, new texts and emails, or to stream. They talk about their own struggles in this area, including attempts to . reduce, moderate, or abstain...

It started when Tawny sent Lisa a Facebook memory of Tawny getting kicked out of a Blue Oyster Cult concert. They decided they had much to discuss on this topic! The conversation includes acknowledging the past but not dwelling on it, not beating themselves up about things they’ve done, and not being driven by shame or regret. Lisa talks about resentments and making amends in 12-Step. And they bot...

Tawny and Lisa chat with Irina Gonzalez, an editor and a freelance writer covering parenting, recovery, and Latinx culture. She also hosts the podcast, Pandemic Mama. The conversation includes the impact of the pandemic on women and caretakers in general, with more anxiety and uncertainty leading to more self-medicating with substances and behaviors. They talk about stigma, mental health diagnoses...

Tawny and Lisa talk with Casey Davidson, of Hello Someday Coaching and the Hello Someday podcast. She’s a certified life coach and a Master Practitioner in Core Energy Leadership, who helps other successful women reevaluate their relationship with alcohol, get out of overwhelm, and create lives they love. They talk about the anxiety, imposter syndrome, secrets, and hiding that come along with the...

Tawny and Lisa chat with Pam Gaslow, whose new memoir, Don’t Bring Your Vibrator to Rehab , chronicles her relapse after nearly a decade of sobriety, as well as her recovery from that experience. They talk about saying goodbye to alcohol and drugs, the money we save, sober dating, and coming back to recovery after relapse. The bottom line is that recovery is a journey and there can be relapse alon...

Tawny and Lisa talk with Beth Lapides, the creator and host of Los Angeles' groundbreaking alternative comedy show, UnCabaret , where marginalized performers and their allies have told personal, unscripted stories for more than 25 years. She’s now out with an audiobook, So You Need to Decide , speaking with celebrities about difficult decisions they've made in the areas of family, work, love, movi...