Hey Friend, thank you for downloading the episode, my name is Arlina and Ill be your host. On April 23 I will be celebrating 31 years of continuous sobriety. Its always a time for reflection and as I look back, I want to share the top 3 things that have been key in maintaining my sobriety. The first is that I have made sobriety my number 1 priority. It comes before my husband, my job, and even my kids. I know that if I dont take care of my mental and emotional well being, that my sobriety could ...
Apr 17, 2025•55 min•Season 9Ep. 371
Today I am speaking with Author and Yoga Teacher Bryan Hyman. He will be sharing his experience with addiction, the catalyst to his recovery, and his book, Recovery With Yoga Supportive Practices For Transcending Addiction. Before we jump in, Id like to introduce a new segment - Sobriety Shorts A bite sized bit of wisdom and an action step to move you deeper into your recovery journey. Today Id like to talk about The Sobriety Drift. Its what happens when the motivation from emotional pain starts...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr•Season 9Ep. 370
Hey Friend, in case youre new here, my name is Arlina and Ill be your host. Today youll hear from my friends Lane Kennedy andamp; Tamar Medford, as we discuss their new book Sobriety for Dummies. And in case you had the same reaction to the book title as I did, dont worry, I totally asked them about it. But before we jump in& I just wanted to share something that comes up for a lot of us in recovery, which is seeking external validation andamp; people pleasing. These are actually very common cop...
Apr 03, 2025•44 min•Season 9Ep. 369
Okay friends, buckle up because this is going to be a wild ride! Frank Parisi is going to share his story about growing up around organized crime, violence, and drug addiction. He has such an interesting story, but I gotta tell you, he has amazing energy and really such incredible passion for life! Hes going to tell the story of how he got a heart transplant, and all Im going to say, is get out the tissues cuz its a tear jerker. Before we jump in, I want to share an idea that has really helped m...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 9Ep. 368
Today I am joined by Alexis, a former coaching client who came to me for support as she was struggling to stay sober. She was dealing with a ton of stress as a business owner, and loads of guilt as a mother. We also talked about the root causes of being an overachiever, struggling with perfectionism, alcoholism, and workaholism. And as always, we talk a lot about the insights, tools and practices that have helped her to stay sober and heal her relationships. Ill just warn you up front that towar...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Season 9Ep. 367
Financial Insecurity is something that plagues all of us. And it doesnt seem to matter how much money you actually have. Its the fear of not having enough or losing what you have that shows up in a myriad of ways. So today Ive invited my friend Gary Menkes back to have the conversation around financial insecurity. Hes a Wall Street guy who also happens to be in long term sobriety. We are going to talk about some of the root causes, and more importantly, some of the solutions that will result in ...
Mar 13, 2025•45 min•Season 9Ep. 366
Sobriety is not about becoming someone different, it about becoming your authentic self This is a quote from my conversation with Michaela, the co-host of 2 Sober Girls Podcast and Coach, focusing on wellness and sobriety. We discuss sobriety, manifestation, and lots of tools that will support you on your recovery journey. I absolutely adore Michaela and I know you will too! And speaking of tools for recovery, if you are thinking of taking a break from drinking, I would like to invite you to dow...
Mar 06, 2025•59 min•Season 9Ep. 365
A lot of people with addiction have underlying childhood trauma, but thats not always the case. Today Im speaking with Nick Padlo. He is a military veteran who spent 27 months in combat between Afghanistan and Iraq. He went on to attend Stanford University and is now the CEO of Sophros Recovery. In his recent TedTalk, he made the case that we shouldnt have to become an alcoholic in order to learn valuable coping skills, but thats exactly what happened. I really appreciated Nicks vulnerability in...
Feb 27, 2025•55 min•Season 9Ep. 364
Every once in a while I get off an interview and think wow, its a miracle how some people can survive their childhoods. This was one of those conversations. Please note that this may be triggering to those with childhood trauma, and Michael does not shy away from the F-bomb. Michael shares his story of growing up with a mother who was not only an addict, but extremely abusive in many ways. His step father was violent and regularly traumatized him and his siblings as well. All throughout his chil...
Feb 20, 2025•54 min•Season 9Ep. 363
Hey Friend, Im so glad to hang out with you today! This is going to be a fun one. And if you havent been watching the YouTube interviews, you want to watch this one. My guest Erinn is absolutely stunning! But thats not even the best part of her because I found her to be so kind, full of faith, and simply inspiring. She is the co-host of 2 Sober Girls podcast along with the fabulous Michaela Horvathova, as well as a coach, and community facilitator. I love the work she and Michaela are doing and ...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 9Ep. 362
Hey Friend, Thank you for downloading this episode! Its going to be a little bit different that what I normally do, but I think youll get a lot out of it. Like so many of us in recovery, I have felt really frustrated at times with my own negative repeating patterns. Procrastinating on self-care, spending too much time consuming information instead of acting on it, and at times, feeling really disappointed in myself. Its a really frustrating experience to recognize when Im feeling stuck and power...
Feb 06, 2025•2 hr 30 min•Season 9Ep. 361
When is it okay to move away from 12 step programs? Is it okay? Or are we destined to drink or use again? For some people, that’s a dangerous prospect to consider, especially in early recovery. For others, it might be a way of honoring the need for something more. My guest Eric Zimmer, host of the wildly popular podcast “The One You Feed” and I are going to get into the nuances of recovery, how we evolve over the long term and so much more. Before we jump in, a quick announcement. If you find yo...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 9Ep. 360
Thank you for downloading the episode, my name is Arlina, and Ill be your host. Today I have the honor of sharing a listeners story! Reagan is joining me today to talk about her experience with alcoholism, relapses, and how shes maintaining her sobriety today. I was reminded that so many of us had painful childhood experiences, and the lasting effect that can have on us in adulthood. Reagan bravely shares her story so that maybe someone else who is suffering, can find some hope for themselves to...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 9Ep. 359
Hey Friend, Thank you for downloading the podcast! In case we havent met yet, my name is Arlina and Ill be your host! Im thrilled to introduce you to Dr Sarah Michaud. She is a clinical psychologist who has worked in the field of addiction, recovery, and codependency for over thirty years. Today were talking about her new book CoCrazy One Psychologists Recovery from Codependency and Addiction Memoir and Manual to Freedom. With an alcoholic mother, a father in denial, and a whole lot of guilt and...
Jan 16, 2025•57 min•Season 9Ep. 358
You might be thinking, fentanyl overdose? This cant happen to me, but youd be wrong. The scary truth about Fentanyl is that it is being included in a lot of counterfeit street drugs. My nephew who is 30, college educated, and in a professional tech job, has lost 4 friends to fentanyl overdose. They thought they were taking molly or something else, but they died because it was laced with fentanyl. These were young men who did not fit the typical demographic of someone youd expect to see in the ne...
Jan 09, 2025•31 min•Season 9Ep. 357
We all know someone who is in denial, right? So can you break them out of denial? Today, my guest Amber Hollingsworth and I talk about what to do if someone you love is in denial, and the role you might be playing thats keeping them stuck. Amber is an addictions counselor with over 20 years of experience. She is also the host of Put the Shovel Down a YouTube channel with nearly 750K subscribers! Youll see in this conversation that she has a gift for putting herself in other peoples shoes and rea...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr•Season 9Ep. 356
Hi Friend, Thank you for downloading the podcast, my name is Arlina and Ill be your host. Its not very often that a story brings me to tears, but the story youll hear today was incredibly moving. Today, I have the honor of sharing Jeannies story of growing up in a dysfunctional family, falling into addiction, spending time incarcerated, and losing her children. But due to the kindness of a very special woman, Susan Binkley, the founder of Blue Monarch, she found hope, healing for herself and her...
Dec 26, 2024•42 min•Season 9Ep. 355
Hi Friend, thank you for joining me today! In case we havent met yet, my name is Arlina and Ill be your host. Today I am speaking with Randy Hall, the former President of Recovery Dharma. He shares his insight and wisdom on addiction recovery. I have to say, I enjoyed this conversation SO MUCH! Randy is a guy who really gets it. I love his open mindedness and appreciation for all paths of recovery. Some things we cover are The add on approach The importance of rituals Replacing habits Healing pr...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Season 9Ep. 354
We have a returning guest today, Andrea Ashley, the host of the very popular Adult Child Podcast. She gives us an update to what life is like today after going through a heartbreak and dealing with parents who are deep into their alcoholism. Andrea really demonstrates what its like to be strong enough to be vulnerable, and stay emotionally sober through very stressful situations. So without further delay, please enjoy this episode with Ashley =J Here are 3 ways to get started Grab your copy here...
Dec 12, 2024•55 min•Season 9Ep. 353
Can AI tools really help you get sober? Today Ill be speaking with Zachary Gidwitz, the CEO of OpenRecovery, an app that leverages AI to make 12 step recovery content more accessible to those struggling with addiction. We talked about his story of addiction and recovery, but really got into practical ways to change your thinking so that you can better manage your feelings, how to let go of stress, feel more peace, and live your purpose. Zachary had so much wisdom and powerful insights to share. ...
Dec 05, 2024•50 min•Season 9Ep. 352
Is it possible to recover from addiction if you have a lifetime of trauma? The honest answer is, it depends. It depends on each individuals willingness to get help, practice self-reflect, be open minded and do the work of self-care. Today I sit down with Jami, who is a beautiful example of willingness, resilience, and someone brave enough to live with an open heart despite years of abandonment and tragic loss. Stay to the end because we talk about redefining some triggering words, so that they d...
Nov 28, 2024•46 min•Season 9Ep. 351
If you are newly sober and you're feeling anxious about spending time with your family during the holidays, I have a few tips to get you through safely. 👊🏼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 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent & Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogra...
Nov 26, 2024•7 min•Season 9Ep. 350
Hey friend, welcome to the podcast! I have a special guest today, Paul Churchill from the mega-popular Recovery Elevator, with more than 10M downloads! He is also an author and since I spoke with him last, a new husband and father! We had a wide-ranging conversation, including pushing past fear, new challenges in long-term sobriety, and how the recovery landscape has changed over the years. So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think! Subscribe So You Dont...
Nov 21, 2024•49 min•Season 9Ep. 349
Hey Friend! Im so glad youre here for this special episode. Today my dear friend Charlie LeVoir, the host of The Way Out Podcast, is interviewing me to talk about my new book The 12 Step Guide For Skeptics Clearing Up Common Misconceptions of a Path to Sobriety. And stay to the end because we talk about the dark side of social media sobriety! When I announced that the book was published, I had several people suggest that I talk about why I wrote the book, and Im not great at doing solo episodes,...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 9Ep. 348
Imagine being so obsessed with alcohol at 12 years old that you land in rehab at 13! My guest today is Christoper, and thats exactly what happened to him. He went on to struggle with alcohol and severe drug addiction for decades, which led him to the darkest side of humanity. But thats just the beginning of Christophers story. In this episode he will share how he was finally able to break out of addiction and adopt a lifestyle where he is absolutely thriving! So without further delay, please enj...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 9Ep. 347
Can We End The Shame and Stigma of Addiction? Can we turn survival skills into healthy coping skills? Is it even really possible to heal from childhood trauma? Today my guest Heather Zuchowski and I addressed all these questions, and it might sound weird, but we actually had a great time! Heather is smart, shes funny, and very talented in her work. I so appreciated her vulnerability and transparency as we talked about the hardest parts of her story as well. She really delivers on the solutions t...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 9Ep. 346
Welcome to the podcast! If you’re listening in from the US, UK, Australia, Ireland, Germany & China - I’m so glad you’re here! You’re a part of a community that is listening from 69 countries. How cool is that?! I mention the different countries because I’m very aware that a lot of people don’t have access to large recovery communities in their local towns. But we’re living in a digital age, where people in recovery can connect, and stay sober through online groups. Today, my guest Paul will sha...
Oct 22, 2024•59 min•Season 9Ep. 345
Are you a sober parent? Because if you are, you need to know youre not alone in navigating this sober lifestyle. We have different challenges which require a specific skill set. In her new book Parents in Recovery Navigating a Sober Family Lifestyle my guest Sarah Benton provides the solutions we need to create the peaceful loving families homes we all want for our kids. Shes going to share some stories, and some practical tools that you can use right away. Before we jump in, I have to share tha...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 9Ep. 344
This is a little bonus episode. I’ll be experimenting with some different formats, so if you find this valuable, please let me know and I’ll do more of them! This is actually a very important topic about relationships. If you are in the process of getting sober, you’re probably in the process of repairing relationships too. Today I’m having a chat with Paul who answered my call for volunteers who are dealing with challenges in sobriety. We’re going to be discussing his marriage of 37 years and t...
Oct 14, 2024•47 min•Season 9Ep. 343
Is this election season making you feel crazy? I know Im feeling frustrated and sad with where we are as a nation. There is a lot of tension in the air, I see long time friendships that are ending, and with the holiday season just around the corner, we need to find a better way to relate to our families that have different perspectives. And I just have to admit, I have plenty of my own biased thinking. I want to be open to allowing new ideas that will help me be the kind of loving person I want ...
Oct 10, 2024•57 min•Season 9Ep. 342
