Through The Glass Recovery Podcast
Welcome to Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, where we believe that connection is the opposite of addiction, vulnerability is the antidote to shame, and that recovery isn’t just rewarding, but also a lot of fun. Listen as we get together with friends to shed light on the hard things, talk about the other side of addiction, and how we create a life so full there’s no space left for alcohol. Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com
Episodes
13 hours ago
13 hours ago
Grief and alcohol don't mix. We all know this... and yet, when grief strikes, it's hard not to want to numb the pain. We get it.
In this sober podcast episode, we gathered some very special people with poignant stories together to share what they've learned about navigating grief sober. Polly has lost not one, but two husbands. Dave's step daughter passed away suddenly last year when he was 8 months sober. And Corina shares about the grief of divorce, along with the grief of losing loved ones.
Listen as they share their stories in this very honest, open conversation about why grief and alcohol don't belong together, and how to move through grief in healthier ways instead.
"The tools we use for sobriety aren't just for sobriety - they're tools for life."
In this episode:
The fear of facing grief, and how it leads to even more alcohol use
Everyone experiences grief differently, and that's okay
Drinking only postpones the feelings that eventually must be felt
Allow space for things that make you smile amidst the grief
Grieving relationships - friendships, divorce
Dealing with the anger and bitterness that come with grief
Facing the fear of the unknown after experiencing a loss
Learning to surf the waves of grief, similar to surfing the waves of cravings
Using the tools of sobriety to cope with grief in healthy ways
If you're facing tough emotions and could use some more guidance in doing it sober check out these other podcast episodes:
Cope With Emotions (Without Alcohol)
Managing Negative Emotions in Recovery
---
Corina is currently living her best sober life with her partner Greg and their rescue animals (2 former street cats from Egypt and a wild puppy monster from Edmonton’s SPCA). She works locally as a special education teacher and spends her free time enjoying nature walks or bike rides along the ocean or on the many trail systems nearby. Her healing journey in sobriety has come with beautiful gifts including authenticity, acceptance, compassion, and peace with others as well as herself. As the adventure continues, she gratefully looks forward with to more opportunities for discovery believing that “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
— Brené Brown, Rising Strong
---
Hello world!I am Dave. After an over 20 year drinking career it was time to retire. I am growing and learning about myself everyday. Presence with family is my favorite gift recovery has given me. I didn’t know it also came with a community of beautiful people and connection. My hope is to inspire and support others with sharing my story through Instagram and fb. Follow my journey, @djsobershorts.
---
Let’s connect!
Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.
You can also find Julie and Steve on:
Instagram
Facebook
Tiktok
Sunday May 05, 2024
E87: Talking to Your Kids About Your Addiction
Sunday May 05, 2024
Sunday May 05, 2024
Talking to your kids about your addiction is hard and it's scary, but it's also necessary. When you're a parent and you're working through addiction and recovery, it's a challenge to know how much to share, and how to share it, with your children. In this groundbreaking episode, we have a conversation with Matt and Rachael about how we've approached talking to our own kids - of all ages - about our recovery. This is also a very personal episode, because Julie's teenage daughter Cora joins us, to share with our listeners what it's like from her perspective.
If you've got kids, this episode is a MUST listen.
In this episode:
Preparing for the hard questions your kids WILL eventually ask you
Allowing our kids to share what they experienced, without getting defensive or upset
The value of letting your kids see your flaws
Making your kids feel safe enough to ask for help
Creating a space where families can talk about addiction and recovery without shame or fear
How sharing our experiences with alcohol can affect the decisions they make when they're confronted with it
Co-parenting with different viewpoints
Resources are available to support your kids, if you don't feel capable right now
---
Matt, a 39 year old father of two from Burnt Hills, New York is14 and a half months sober. He always believed he would get sober but at the same time feared it may never come. The past five and half years have been a battle with alcohol that he wishes upon no one. Along the way he has had the constant support of his family, friends and so many he has met along the way to help him achieve sobriety. He wants to thank you all for sticking with him through all this.
He’d like people to know that substance abuse and mental health issues do not discriminate and that if you are struggling there are people out there who want to and who will help you. Matthew Perry always said to people who are struggling “It’s not your fault”, but this Matthew believes it’s your responsibility. It’s your responsibility to acknowledge, accept and treat it every day, just like you would any other disease.
Be kind to those who are still struggling. Sobriety is hard, but it’s worth it.
shamman780 – instagram
Ben Meyer Recovery Foundation Youtube Video
---
My name is Rachael and I’m a proud to say I’m in long term recovery from both drugs and alcohol. My recovery date is 7/30/2017. I have chosen not to be anonymous and to use my voice and passion to help others like me find a solution. I am a harm reductionist and a certified peer support specialist in 2 states as well as recovery advocate. I am passionate about helping and inspiring others to better themselves which is why I created my page Addict with Purpose. https://www.facebook.com/addictwithpurpose/
---
Connect with Julie & Steve:
Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.
You can also find us on:
Instagram
Facebook
Tiktok
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
E86: Losing Friends When You Quit Drinking: Here's How to Deal
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
I would love to waltz in here and tell you all your friendships are going to be even better when you get sober. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Losing friends when you quit drinking is one of those challenges that nearly everyone has to learn to cope with, and it can be a very real struggle. It's painful to lose friendships, or even to watch them change as we move into this new, alcohol free phase of our lives.
We've gathered three fantastic guests to join us on this episode, to share what they've experienced and also what they've learned. Jason (Sober Gangster); Lisa (Hart2Heart Coaching); and our good friend Monica get real about how they're navigating a whole new social experience, sans alcohol. Have a listen - you'll walk away knowing you're not alone, and with some new ideas and perspectives to help you on your own journey of sobriety.
In this episode:
How your circle shrinks as you get older, and especially in recovery - and how that's a natural process
Exploring how your standards change as you begin the work of emotional sobriety
Dealing with surface level, superficial friendships
Being intentional with where you put your energy
How to be a real friend
Navigating friendships with people who aren't sober
How to find people that are on a similar path
Surprising fact: losing friends who ARE in your recovery circles is quite common
Grieving lost friendships
How to build a core community - no matter how long you've been at this
Understanding that recovery changes us - and our friends have to learn to work through that, too
How to use the internet to find people to build connections with
Want to hear more about friendships? Check out this episode from last season!
---
At 18, I entered prison. At 19, facing a potential 10+ years for parole violation, a pivotal decision changed my life. In a jail cell on October 12, 1996, at 3 a.m., I swore off mind-altering substances. The 21st encounter with handcuffs pushed me to break free. Living clean and sober for 27 years, I’ve found genuine freedom—earned through work, willingness, and honesty. Sobriety, my most gangster feat, opens doors to a life beyond imagination. – Jason Williams aka Sober Gangster
https://www.instagram.com/sober.gangster
https://www.facebook.com/Sobergangster
---
Hi, I’m Monica! I’m 54, reside in southern New Jersey, USA, and I am over 3.5 years sober. On Dec. 31, 2019, I woke up with my last hangover. I was finally done making life harder on myself, hurting my relationships, and slowly killing myself. I’ve learned that sobriety is a never-endingjourney to becoming the person you were meant to be. It’s been incredibly hard, at times, but the gifts that sobriety have given me are much bigger than any hurdles I’ve overcome. I’ve worked to heal from my past, strengthened my relationships with my kids and husband, built a thriving massage practice, and made forever friends in recovery. I wouldn’t trade my sober life for anything.
---
My name is Lisa Hart Anderson. I am a sober woman in her 5th decade reinventing her life in this beautiful world of recovery. I am a Certified Recovery Coach where my passion is to help others stay on the sober path and find joy and fun again in this new life of sobriety.I have been married 33 years, have 3 grown sons, and embracing the empty nester world as I continue to help and encourage others. Throughout my life, I have been an educator, mentor,instructor and coach. It has always been in my heart to teach, guide and inspire with compassion and empathy.Insta and TikTok- hart2heartcoachingWebsite -harttoheart.coach.
---
Let’s connect!
Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.
You can also find Julie and Steve on:
Instagram
Facebook
Tiktok
Sunday Apr 21, 2024
Sunday Apr 21, 2024
When your liquid courage goes away, how do you get past the social anxiety when you get sober? First, just know you're not alone. So many people struggle with this! Remember when you walk into a situation that a lot of other people there are feeling just as awkward as you are.
We gathered some folks together who have all struggled with social anxiety, and they share their experiences and their wisdom, so hopefully you walk away with some more confidence and a deeper understanding of what it takes to move through social anxiety without alcohol. Join us as we chat with Robbie (host of Golden Hour Adventures podcast); Gina (also known as rapper Modern Day Monk); and Through the Glass regular Matt, as we wade into all those feelings of awkwardness and insecurity.
"The only way to get comfortable doing things sober... is to do things sober."
In this episode:
Actionable tips to help you change your thought patterns in social situations
How some of our guests made social anxiety go away completely
Learning to make friends in sobriety
Recognizing (and learning) your lacking social skills
How to embrace the awkward
Insecurity about appearance
How Covid affected drinking, sobriety, and social interactions
Overcoming the cycle of anxious thoughts
Anxiety over how people are going to react to your decision to stay sober
Facing the fear by pushing through it
Letting people get to know the new, sober version of you
Connection and vulnerability are the key to social anxiety (I mean, aren't they basically the key to everything?)
Most people aren't hyper aware of others. I promise.
Getting comfortable with yourself will give you the confidence to be comfortable with others
"Alcohol worked for me... until it didn't."
---
Hello my people!
My name is Gina Murillo also known as Modern Day Monk. I'm a strong woman in long term sustained recovery and I live a wonderful life as a result of that. I consider myself a vibe influencer, a recovery rapper, and recovery speaker. I teach Muay Thai kickboxing and train Brazilian Jiu-jitsu at the best gym in Grand Junction called Grand Valley Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I'm also a full time student at Colorado State University and spend my free time helping others in all kinds of ways. My intention is to share my experience, strength, and hope with the world to help empower those around me. You can find some of the life lessons that I have learned on my social media, as I share them to inspire others. Thank you for taking the time to check out my journey. All love.
https://moderndaymonkmusic.com
---
Robbie: I started my sobriety journey due to being sick of the same old story I would put myself though. I found my cannabis and alcohol use getting worse as the years went on. I used them to cope with everything and anything. I'm now nine months sober, I couldn't be happier with my decision to take on this new journey
https://www.podbean.com/pa/pbblog-ua75n-e24517
---
Matt, a 39 year old father of two from Burnt Hills, New York is14 and a half months sober. He always believed he would get sober but at the same time feared it may never come. The past five and half years have been a battle with alcohol that he wishes upon no one. Along the way he has had the constant support of his family, friends and so many he has met along the way to help him achieve sobriety. He wants to thank you all for sticking with him through all this.
He'd like people to know that substance abuse and mental health issues do not discriminate and that if you are struggling there are people out there who want to and who will help you. Matthew Perry always said to people who are struggling “It’s not your fault”, but this Matthew believes it’s your responsibility. It’s your responsibility to acknowledge, accept and treat it every day, just like you would any other disease.
Be kind to those who are still struggling. Sobriety is hard, but it’s worth it.
shamman780 - instagram
Ben Meyer Recovery Foundation Youtube Video
---
Let’s connect!
Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.
You can also find Julie and Steve on:
Instagram
Facebook
Tiktok
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
E84: How To Stay Sober When Your Spouse Still Drinks
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Is it possible to stay sober, when your spouse still drinks? This is one of the most common challenges our listeners have shared with us, so we've rounded up some guests to share their experiences with it. Of course, the answer is very personal and unique to your situation. But we hope that with some added perspective, maybe you'll find some tips and tools to navigate this situation in your home, if it's one you are struggling with.
Join us as we chat with Kate (Walking The Straight Line), Jordana (Executive Director of a healthcare organization) and Through the Glass regular Sherralynn about how our partner's drinking has affected our sobriety, and how we've learned to handle it.
In this episode:
Understanding that you aren't the problem - it's not your fault
Codependency and enmeshment, and how they affect our marriages
You can't fix or save anyone, no matter how much you love them
Prioritize building a support community
You can't get sober for someone else - and that applies to your spouse as well
Shifting away from being "drinking buddies" and finding a new identity within the marriage
Making the decision to separate
Knowing and communicating boundaries
Understanding what is your responsibility, and not taking on more than that
Finding the courage to communicate your needs
Learning to prioritize yourself and your sobriety
Meet our guests:
My name is Jordana Blesa sober 11 years. Sobriety date 12.27.12. I was born in South America (Argentina) raised in sunny California. I was born into a family of Medical Professionals who were very successful in the medical field. I struggled with school growing up and was labeled with several mental health diagnoses so I believed for a long time “I was and am a problem”. Through my journey of recovery I see that mental health is a “super power” and with the appropriate tools, resources and authentic relationships
I am more than capable and competent.
As a young adult I was home schooled and placed in sports: Gymastics and Figure Skating. I excelled at sports and travelled the world as a professional figure skating representing the USA. After several traumatic events I walked away from the sport and went down a journey of self-sabotage, self-imposed crisis and overcame all obstacles and barriers by grace. Through anger and “proving a point” I was able to obtain my Bachelors degree in business and my MBA. All my experiences have led me to work in the behavioral health field. I currently work as an Executive Director for a healthcare organization and have been for the past 4 years helping family members, loved ones, dependent individuals and showing them with a team how recovery is beautiful, rewarding and life is meant to be lived. My mantra is “your past does not define you”. Personally I am an advocate for recovery, live my truth, help others in the recovery community and try my best plant the seed that recovery is possible. I am 39 years old, married and living in Baltimore, Maryland pursuing my dreams in healthcare with a robust team by building from the ground up a 300 bed substance abuse/ mental healthcare facility revolutionizing treatment for Marylanders.
My goal is to continue to disrupt the industry of healthcare, continue planting seeds that recovery is possible and being a living example that recovery is possible. “Together we can change the world”.
Social media-
Instagram- jordy_84-https://www.instagram.com/jordy_84?igsh=Nmp5bnp2Y2h1YnJ0&utm_source=qr
Facebook- Jordana Blesa-https://www.facebook.com/TiAmoMiAmore?mibextid=AEUHqQ
Linked In- Jordana Blesa-https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordana-blesa-a05b15b4?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Non-profit Director for f#ck the Stigma
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fukthestigma?igsh=MXNwMzM4b2Y2MHc3eA==
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FTStigma?mibextid=AEUHqQ
YouTube- https://youtube.com/@fthestigma?si=q5BY8ji_lax3J3Wy
---
Kate Taylor is a seasoned writer and editor, having worked in London, New York and Rome and with companies such as Disney and the United Nations. She is a big voice on Instagram where she talks about her sobriety and the journey from drinking wine on a nightly basis to where she is today. You can follow her at @walking_the_straight_line
---
Sherralynn is a bookish, Anglo-French mum of three who is currently between jobs, but a communicator by profession. She was raised in Norfolk, UK and lives near Paris, France with her French family and cat. Sherralynn’s sober journey began in 2016 after discovering This Naked Mind, and becoming “sober curious”. One baby and several other breaks from alcohol later, she found her sober tribe in August 2022, including Julie and Steve, and hasn’t looked back since. She can be found at @sober_af_for_today on Instagram, or on IAS under Motivated_AF.
---
Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com for more information about all of the sobriety resources we offer!
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Honesty is one of those topics that seems pretty simple and clear cut at first, but starts getting a little squirmier the more you dig into it. There's layers there, too. Many of us tend to think we're pretty honest folks, but as we work more and more on our recovery, we start recognizing areas of our lives where we'd actually been quite dishonest... and that's especially true when it comes to being honest with ourselves. We've invited three inspiring people in long term recovery to come chat with us, and reflect on how honesty has played in a role in their recovery from alcoholism... and how that's evolved over the course of time. Listen as we talk with Kenny, Emily, and Adam and get real about honesty.
"Recovery meant getting honest with myself about my contentment and quality of life. I had to realize I was settling for less than my full potential."
In this episode:
Honesty with yourself - and how that evolves with greater self awareness
Excuses and lies of omission
Using lies to hide and cover up addictions, imperfections, mistakes and flaws
Dishonesty and perfectionism
Advocating for yourself as a part of honesty
Recognizing the physical reaction that happens when you are dishonest
How ego applies to honesty
Understanding - and getting honest about - underlying subconscious beliefs
The freedom that comes with living an open and honest life
"I always believed it was okay, as long as I didn't get caught."
---
About our guests:
Kenny Hill is a combat veteran who has been sober for 17 years. He now works as a therapist with addiction and trauma in his private practice, called Recovery Hill.
Beyond his professional life, Kenny has a podcast called Patina’d Podcast, where resilience is the underlying theme as guests discuss their origin stories. This podcast can be found on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/@PatinadPodcast/featured
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/patinad-podcast/id1728582206
He also put together a mini-documentary series specific to addiction called “Story Of.” Each guest has sustainable recovery, and shares their experience and personal tips for long-term sobriety. Here is the link for ‘Story Of’:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZhkvLzyf87EjpTsLguktlPllq_kJmM2m
Kenny's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenny_from_recoveryhill/
And Patina’d Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patinad_podcast/
---
Adam Head spent the majority of adulthood running from a life that he found unfulfilling by drowning it in vodka and peppermint schnapps. This eventually landed him in the hospital with a diagnosis of acute alcohol induced liver failure. Fast forward through five rehabs, hundreds of meetings and a divorce, and he still found himself drinking. Until he discovered CBT, Spirituality, and the power of identity. He now lives a life he describes as overflowing with joy and is "effortlessly sober."
X - @theadamhead
www.adamthead.com
---
As always, you can find more information about our guests, as well as all of the other resources Julie and Steve offer, at throughtheglassrecovery.com
Sunday Mar 31, 2024
E82: How Do You Regain Trust After Quitting Alcohol?
Sunday Mar 31, 2024
Sunday Mar 31, 2024
For many of us, our actions and behaviors have left our family and loved ones no longer trusting us, even after we've stopped drinking. So that begs the question - how do you regain trust after quitting alcohol? We've gathered Rachael, founder of Addict with Purpose; Michael, founder of SoberPress; and our adventurous friend Nadine to talk about what regaining trust from others - and in ourselves - has looked like in our lives.
You start getting trust back when you start telling the truth.
In this episode:
Learning to trust oneself
Consistency and time as the foundation of trust
Learning to do things that build trust
The value of authenticity in trust building
Honesty is a core component of trust
Living the apology
Understanding that we can't put a timeframe on someone else's trust
How to apologize with action
Learning to trust yourself through the hard times
Humility and its role in building trust
Also: learning to trust others
To learn more about Nadine, Rachael, and Mike, click here
Visit our website at Through the Glass Recovery for access to weekly zoom support meetings, our weekly newsletter, and other resources to support your sobriety.
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
E81: Self Esteem and Sobriety: Building Confidence After Quitting Drinking
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Let's chat about self esteem and sobriety - and why it's so important. Life doesn't automatically just get easy when you quit drinking. Uncomfortable emotions still crop up from time to time, and one of the best things we can do is develop the skills to move through those emotions in a healthy way. One of the emotions that throws people for a loop is insecurity, so that's what we're gonna tackle today.
In this episode, we've invited sober influencer Azure, sober podcaster Brianna, and sober influencer Ginelle to come share with us how they've dealt with insecurity, and what they've done to increase their self esteem since they stopped drinking. If we can learn healthy ways to step out of insecurity and into confidence, we'll be able to handle life that much better. Stay tuned for some great insight and some helpful tips that you'll be able to use the next time insecurity gets the best of you.
"This isn't a game I play alone."
In this episode, you'll hear about:
The difference between external and internal self esteem
The value of trusting and believing in your own intuition
Letting go of living to impress others, and finding the courage to stop being fake
How to define realistic expectations so you can reasonably lower your standards
Learn the importance of small, esteemable acts and how to incorporate them into your life
Understand how excessive apologizing minimizes our value and lowers self worth
How to cope when regret is the source of your insecurity
The value of therapy - not just in sobriety, but in building self esteem
The interconnectedness of shame, vulnerability, and healthy self esteem
To learn more about Ginelle, Azure, and Brianna, click here
Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com for access to weekly zoom support meetings, our weekly newsletter, and other resources to support your sobriety.
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
E80: The People Pleaser's Guide to Sobriety
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
The stereotypical "alcoholic" is seen as selfish. Always focused on their own gain, getting their needs met, and using other people to make that happen.
But... it's actually far more common for people struggling with alcohol misuse to be people pleasers. They bend over backward, taking care of everyone, keeping everyone happy, to the point where they find themselves exhausted, empty, and full of resentment. People pleasing can be a huge pitfall in maintaining lasting sobriety. Today we're joined by Robbie, co-host of Golden Hour Adventures podcast; Leah, sober yoga instructor; and Daph, recovery coach and sober companion, to chat about what people pleasing looks like in our lives, how it affects us, and how we've found the courage to say no more often.
"Sometimes I forget to check in with myself."
In this episode, you'll hear about:
People pleasing as the desire to be liked and to fit in
Understanding the pressure that people pleasing places on us in our daily lives
Saying yes when we really mean no, and how that leads to resentment, which leads to drinking
Boundaries and how to set them if you're a people pleaser
People pleasing to avoid conflict
Dealing with the guilt and resentment that we carry from decisions made from people pleasing
Learning - and remembering - to check in with yourself
Early sobriety requires a certain amount of being 'selfish'
Working through the fear of disappointing others
To learn more about Robbie, Leah, and Daph, click here
Visit our website at Through the Glass Recovery for access to weekly zoom support meetings, our weekly newsletter, and other resources to support your sobriety.
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
E79 Cultivate Hope: Finding Meaning and Purpose in Recovery
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
We hear from a lot of people who are struggling with finding purpose in recovery. That feeling of being lost, of just floating through life, can be frustrating and can even lead to thoughts of drinking again. We know that if you have found your purpose in life, and you've found the courage to live out that purpose, maintaining lasting sobriety becomes achievable. So we've gathered together a group of folks to share their experiences in finding their purpose, and how it's looked in their lives. You'll hear from sober podcast host Michal, sober influencer Gary, and John, who is a sober ultra runner. We hope you're inspired to dig a bit deeper, and take the steps necessary to live out your own purpose.
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose in life is to give it away." -Pablo Picasso
In this episode, we talk about...
Defining our values so that we can more clearly understand our purpose
Allowing your purpose to evolve with you
How sobriety provides the clarity necessary to discover your purpose
Everyone has a gift. To know your gift is to know your purpose - or at least get you pointed in the right direction.
Purpose is nearly always centered in helping others in some way
Don't overcomplicate it! Your purpose is likely something quite simple.
Finding purpose in recovery means you must first discover your true identity
Experiment with what works. Keep an open mind and be willing to change directions often.
What to do if you know your purpose, but you're too afraid to say it out loud
"I know what my purpose is today. I don't need to commit to that for eternity."