Sober Spill

In this Recovery Month and 9/11 special, Isabel sits down with Pat McCarthy to talk about Pat’s emotional, and unforgettable story of addiction and recovery. Pat opens up about how alcoholism nearly destroyed his life and how his turning point—September 11, 2001—set him on a path to lasting sobriety. From his days chasing Grateful Dead shows to becoming a leader in recovery support, Pat shares the...

Addiction doesn’t just affect one person—it’s a family disease. In this powerful episode of  Sober Spill , Isabel sits down with her mom, Lori, to talk about the reality and struggles of navigating parenting through addiction, relapse, and recovery. Together, this mother–daughter conversation shows how addiction affects everyone—and how family recovery is possible through honesty, setting boundari...

In this episode of Sober Spill, Isabel sits down with Serena Saunders, a woman in long-term recovery and the manager of the SPCA International’s Positive Recovery Program. Serena shares her powerful story of growing up in a family shaped by addiction, getting sober during Covid, surviving cancer and how animals — especially dogs — became a lifeline in her healing. She opens up about her first dog,...

In this inspiring episode of Sober Spill , Jana sits down with journalist and podcast host Cat Greenleaf, best known for creating Talk Stop and Soberness podcast. Cat opens up about her unconventional career path, from interviewing celebrities on her Brooklyn stoop to navigating personal struggles with addiction, grief, and reinvention. She shares candid reflections on sobriety, motherhood, spirit...

This episode offers a raw and moving conversation about resilience, healing, and rediscovery. Leah reflects on the influences that shaped her early experiences and how her path in recovery was both strengthened and tested over time. She shares how love, loss, and unexpected challenges impacted her journey, and how she found the strength to seek help again in the face of deep grief. Through therapy...

In this episode of Sober Spill, we explore the power of somatic healing and how reconnecting with the body can support emotional regulation, trauma processing, and long-term recovery. Nicole breaks down what somatic work really is, how it helps people feel safe in their bodies again, and simple practices anyone can try to begin their own healing journey. Whether you're new to the concept or alread...

In this episode of Sober Spill, Isabel sits down with a group of moms in recovery to explore how their experiences with sobriety shape the way they parent. They open up about the unique challenges of raising teens in a culture where drinking and drugs are often normalized, the genetic risks their kids may face, and how they use their recovery to guide tough conversations about substance use. This...

In this episode, Lauren shares her honest, unfiltered story of getting sober and navigating the messy, complicated reality of early recovery. From confronting an eating disorder two years into sobriety to finding safety in internet spaces and music, she opens up about the parts of recovery that often go unspoken. We explore the challenges of hiding behind service work, facing underlying mental hea...

Kassidy’s story reveals how teenage experimentation and college drinking can quietly escalate into a crisis marked by isolation, shame, and addiction. In this episode, she shares the emotional challenges of active addiction and the turning point that led her toward recovery. This honest conversation offers insight into the progression of alcoholism in young adults and hope for those facing similar...

What happens when you put two generations at the mic to talk about growing up, getting clean, and all the cultural baggage that comes with both? In this episode, Isabel sits down with Jana to unpack the realities of drug use in the 90s vs. today—and how things have both changed and stayed the same. From D.A.R.E. programs to social media pressure, they cover the evolving landscape of teen experimen...

What happens when you mix recovery, the outdoors, and a little healthy rebellion? You get Tim Walsh’s story. At 22, Tim found recovery, and quickly realized if he was going to stay sober, he needed an environment that truly grounded him. He needed the outdoors. That spark turned into Adventure Recovery, a program helping people reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other. In this episode, Ti...

How do you build a new life on top of a huge loss? Jane knows firsthand. After the loss of her son in 2020, Jane Silfen found her calling as a grief counselor and educator at Mountainside. Jane challenges the common misconceptions about grief and shares what she did to help soften the impact of grief. She also addresses society's tendency to shy away from, or try to "fix," grief. &qu...

Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. spills about his early apprenticeship with his father, Don Miguel Sr., and shares his journey through substance use. Learn why his father chose not to intervene when life got tough, and how it lead DMR Jr. to forging his own path to authenticity—a journey deeply informed by the wisdom of The Four Agreements. Don't miss his insights on achieving optimal physical and spiritua...

If you're feeling out of sync with your body, experiencing mood swings, or constant tiredness, your body might be trying to tell you something important. We explore how building a stronger mind-body connection – something that can become strained due to trauma, grief, or overwhelming emotions – can empower you to make life choices that boost your well-being. Jahara Sara Seitz, a somatic occupa...

Our host Isabel Donnelly sits down with Meghan Bresnahan, Regional Director of Clinical Partnerships Lifeskills South Florida, to talk about her early recovery days to becoming a leading professional in the behavioral health field. Most importantly, Isabel is convinced they are both still in the midst of their Pokémon evolutions, continuing to level up and become stronger in recovery. Lifeskills S...

"Frank Madeloni, better known as “Earl Slick,” spills it all during this week’s episode. Earl dives into his Staten Island roots where he first learned guitar and rose to fame from collaborations with rock icons like David Bowie and John Lennon. Beyond the music scene, Slick discusses his journey through addiction recovery, his experience with kratom use, and the lifestyle changes he embraced...

"I felt 20 years of lying fall off me." Alison opens up about her sobriety journey towards becoming the mother her two daughters needed. She explores the courage it takes to break free from generational struggles and the daily dedication to making choices rooted in love and intention. “You have to do the work – I couldn’t lie my way out of this one. Thank God. I felt relief. I felt 20 ye...

Can your daily habits be impacting your mental health more than you think? Jana Wu LCSW, Mountainside's Director of Cultural Integration, chats with Dr. Christina Amicone, a Naturopathic Physician with expertise in gastrointestinal problems, women’s health, autoimmune diseases, food sensitivities and cancer care. Uncover the surprising ways on how diet, lifestyle, and emotional well-being may...

Connecticut State Representative Robin Comey , a Mountainside alum, authentically shares the significant turning point when she first sought support at Mountainside, marking the beginning of her journey to sobriety. In this episode, Representative Comey discusses her personal evolution towards acceptance and her return to public service with renewed strength and purpose. Join the conversation and...

Four friends bonded by recovery and some (a lot of) inside jokes. Join Pat, Ricky, Isabel, and Thuan as they sit down for a raw, unfiltered roundtable on addiction recovery— reflecting on how far they have come on their sober journeys, how they rebuilt the trust in their families and the wisdom that keeps them going each day. #RebuildingTrust #FamilyRecovery #AddictionRecovery #TrustAfterAddiction...

Welcome to Sober Spill, a podcast by Mountainside where real stories meet real support. Whether you're on your own recovery journey, supporting a loved one, or looking to better your mental health—this space has it all. Each episode, we dive into honest conversations with people in recovery, mental health experts, and advocates, covering everything from personal transformation to self-growth t...