The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast

I recently sat down with my dear friend and author, John Loxley to discuss the fundamentals of sobriety. John is 15 years sober and works in mental health services in the UK. We weren't talking about shiny breakthroughs or dramatic transformations. We were talking about the basics — the things that quietly keep sobriety intact, year after year. Because here's the truth: most people don't relapse b...

Hi friend, thank you for downloading the episode, my name is Arlina and I'll be your host.   In case you haven't seen it, the new show notes include all the action steps and links to resources mentioned in the podcast, along with a link to the YouTube interview. You can access them by visiting the website at odaatchat.com   I keep hearing from listeners that they are missing some of the episodes a...

Anxiety Isn't the Problem — It's the Habit Loop Behind It I recently had a conversation with psychiatrist and neuroscientist Jud Brewer that stopped me in my tracks — not because it was abstract or inspirational, but because it finally explained something I've lived with for decades. Even in long-term sobriety. Even with years of self-work, therapy, meetings, journaling, and personal development....

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation with Emma is that anxiety, depression, and burnout aren't character flaws—they're nervous system responses to feeling unsafe. We talked about how depression often mirrors the nervous system's shutdown response, and how anxiety shows up as fight-or-flight. When your body feels overwhelmed for too long, it doesn't motivate you—it protects you. Why...

Choosing Yourself Isn't Selfish — It's Necessary In this episode of The One Day at a Time Recovery Podcast, I sit down with Hakeem to talk about what happens when performance, substances, and distractions can no longer protect us from unresolved pain. Hakeem shares how the death of his younger brother, years of buried grief, elite athletics, addiction, and eventually incarceration led him to a mom...

How Journaling, Community & Self-Compassion Can Transform Recovery: A Conversation with Sonia In this episode, Sonia from Sisters in Sobriety joins us for a deeply honest conversation about recovery, journaling, trauma, and rebuilding life after addiction. Sonia shares how her drinking escalated from teenage experimentation to daily wine-drinking as a high-functioning professional. While she never...

Today I am joined by Brett Eaton, who is a motivational speaker, high performance coach, and the best selling author of "Uncomfortable Either Way: The Blueprint For Building Confidence Through Discomfort". You might think that he doesn't fit the typical guest profile, but Brett's expertise on building confidence, behavior change, identity shifts, and building momentum - are the foundational buildi...

In today's episode, I sit down with my dear friend Julie Bloom - She's a coach, mental health trainer, multilingual communicator, and survivor of childhood abuse, and severe workplace trauma.  Julie shares her remarkable story of navigating PTSD, burnout, trauma, addiction, and a complete midlife unraveling… and how she rebuilt her identity through emotional regulation, nonviolent communication, a...

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with David Shamszad, author of I Am Someone You Know: The Fight for Recovery and Mental Health, to talk about the hidden pain behind high-functioning addiction, growing up in an alcoholic home, and the courage it takes to heal. David shares his journey through childhood trauma, undiagnosed bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation, and eventual...

When Ashley Jo's world fell apart—the death of her young son, the collapse of her marriage, and the depths of addiction—she turned her pain into purpose. In this raw and emotional conversation, Ashley shares how she survived unimaginable grief, overcame suicidal thoughts, and found healing through sobriety, grace, and faith. We talk about: The devastating diagnosis and loss of her son What it's re...

At sixteen, Sean typed "how to end my life" into Google. What he found that night set him on a path of healing, spirituality, and eventually — the creation of Rosebud , an AI-powered journaling app that helps people process pain and grow. In this raw and honest conversation, Sean and Arlina explore depression, men's mental health, and how AI can actually become a compassionate mirror for self-awar...

Today I am joined by my dear friend Michelle Ferriss, a licensed marriage family therapist. She's been on the podcast two other times because she's awesome! Her area of expertise is on dealing with codependency, how to escape narcissistic relationships and overcoming anger issues.  In this episode, we're going to talk about toxic friendships, how to know if you're in one, ways to improve them, and...

My guest today is Dr. Hector — a psychiatrist who specializes in helping people heal from addiction, PTSD, anxiety, and depression through a trauma-informed approach. He blends neuroscience, medication, and therapy with nutrition and lifestyle tools to support whole-person healing.    What I love about his work is that it's not just clinical — it's deeply compassionate. He helps people understand...

🎉 400 Episodes! In this special milestone conversation, I sit down with my friend for a warm, nostalgic, and inspiring reflection on the journey so far — and a vision for the future. In this episode, we celebrate the incredible guests who shaped the conversation around sobriety, share behind-the-scenes stories you've never heard, reflect on the evolution of the recovery movement, and highlight YO...

Have you ever felt like asking for help is just not an option —especially when it comes to quitting drinking? In this episode, we break down the real subconscious reasons why high-achievers struggle to reach out, how childhood conditioning shapes this pattern, and why asking for help is actually the key to lasting sobriety. You'll learn: Why relying on "figuring it out" alone keeps you stuck How s...

In this powerful conversation, investigative journalist Shoshana Walter exposes the dark underbelly of America's rehab industry. Drawing from her eight years of research for Rehab: An American Scandal, she reveals how court-ordered rehab programs have exploited vulnerable people by sending them to work unpaid in dangerous jobs — all under the guise of "treatment." We discuss: The shocking origins...

If you're navigating the early days of sobriety, one of the hardest parts can be figuring out what to say to friends, family, and coworkers about your decision not to drink. In this episode, Arlina breaks down simple, empowering language you can use in different social situations, so you can protect your boundaries without shame or awkwardness. You'll learn how to talk to "safe" vs. "unsafe" peopl...

In this raw and moving episode, Josh shares his unbelievable journey through addiction, violence, and grief — and how he found his way to sobriety. From being stabbed and shot, to losing his brother to fentanyl, to nearly ending his own life, Josh's story is both heartbreaking and inspiring.  Through therapy, music, gratitude, and the 12 steps, he's learned how to take life "one day at a time." Th...

👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life?   Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁 Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com ☎️ Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com   Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or Am...

Hey friend, Thanks for downloading this episode! My name is Arlina and I'll be your host. And if you haven't yet, check out our YouTube channel and subscribe! You'll find it by searching "The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast". Obviously.  Y'all I don't know what got into me when we recorded this episode. Maybe it was too much coffee, but I was having such a good day that I was a little loose sha...

The Three Phases of Sobriety: From Foundation to Lasting Change Sobriety isn't just about putting down the drink—it's about building a life that supports staying sober. In this episode of Sobriety Reset, I broke down the three phases of getting sober: building a foundation, uncovering and discarding old patterns, and creating lasting change. Phase 1: Building a Foundation The first step in sobriet...

In this powerful and thought-provoking conversation, meditation teacher and author Billy Winn shares his journey from heavy drinking to finding peace and fulfillment through Zen Buddhist practice. Billy talks about the pivotal moment that led him to stop drinking, the lessons he learned from opening (and later closing) an alcohol-free bar, and the transformative power of meditation in rewiring the...

Today I'm speaking with Edward Latimore—author of "Sober Letters to My Drunken Self". He's a former professional boxer, and in this episode, we explore his powerful journey from growing up in the projects, his life of addiction, and how he is now living a life of sobriety, self-mastery, and success.  Edward's story is about resilience, personal accountability, and the power of writing and communit...

✨ New Mini-Episode: Sobriety Reset ✨ If you're starting (or restarting) your first 30 days of sobriety, this episode is for you. I share three powerful shifts that make the early days less overwhelming and a lot more doable. Sobriety isn't about perfection—it's about simple strategies that keep you steady. 💛 🎧 Listen now on the One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast: https://www.odaatchat.com High...

Hi Friend, Thanks for downloading this episode, my name is Arlina and I'll be your host. To contribute to recovery awareness, I am going to be publishing a series of weekly mini episodes for those who are thinking about getting sober or those who need a little bit of a sobriety reset. In fact, that's what I'm going to call it: Sobriety Reset. They will be short episodes focusing on the basics of s...