No Alcohol Needed: The Podcast

You know you need help. You've tried everything, and you're still struggling to quit drinking. Rehab is the obvious next step, but the idea of going to inpatient treatment is overwhelming. In this ground breaking episode, you'll hear from four different guests who share what their experience in rehab was like. And not just their experiences, but you'll also hear how they handled telling their employer they were going to treatment; how they got the most out of the experience; what fears they had, and how they faced them.
Rehab has the potential to be a life changing experience. If you or someone you love is considering going to inpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder, we're here to make sure you're equipped with all the knowledge and advice you need to make this less intimidating, and also to make sure you find lasting freedom from alcohol.
In this episode:
What will you tell your employer? Your family?
The danger of comparing yourself to others in rehab
What to expect from medically supervised detox
The value of connection
Giving yourself permission to put yourself first
Facing - and reconciling - your past
What does "doing the work" actually mean?
Going back to your normal life after rehab
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Billie hails from the great state of Oregon in the greater Pacific Northwest. After a career in law enforcement, she now works as a professional elder justice subject matter expert, as well as an instructor in Oregon’s law enforcement academy. She is also a domestic violence advocate for her local police department and meets with survivors of intimate partner violence to provide resources and safety planning options. Billie continues her advocacy by being involved in her states suicide prevention and awareness programs and facilitates her local chapter of a suicide bereavement group for families who have lost their loved ones to suicide. She is wife, mom to two wonderful kids and an avid dog lover.
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My name is David and I am 20 months into my recovery journey. I had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol for 20 plus years. I started in rehab and began putting in the work. I believe everyone can choose their own path in recovery. Through support from family, friends, community, sharing, and counseling, I have been able to begin healing from childhood traumas. It is an honor to be a part of such a beautiful community of people. I didn’t know how lost I was until I found myself. One love!
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Scott: I am a proud father of twin boys. I host The Sober Heathen podcast withwhich I document my recovery journey. Although it is sometimes painfuland deeply raw it helps me tremendously to recover honestly and openly!I have 4 OWI’s, thousands in fines due, no license until the 30’s (2030:P), I am living back home, and I still have never felt better and inmore control! Recovery is worth it because with it there is always HOPE!
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Chris McGuinn served as Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Labor on opioid issues. He created the “Make Them Describe, Before They Prescribe” campaign, encouraging claimants to ask important questions when receiving new prescriptions. He has also worked in the addiction treatment field, managing single-site and multi-state operations for various Intensive Outpatient providers in the Washington, DC area. He founded More Than 28 to advocate for longer stays and better insurance coverage for treatment. 
www.morethan28.com
Twitter: @morethan28
Instagram: @more_than28
Facebook: www.facebook.com/morethan28
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Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. We also have a Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!
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No matter how long you've been sober, staying sober during the holidays can be tough. So much of our lives revolved around alcohol for so long, and that seems to come on full force when the holiday season hits. Whether it's because you're socializing and celebrating, or because the holidays bring a deep sense of loneliness and grief, we want you to know you're not alone, and you CAN do this - and not just survive the holidays, but thrive through them. Listen as we chat with Austin, Billie, and Jennifer about their experiences with staying sober during the holidays, and what they've learned to make it easier.
In this episode:
Grief during Christmas
Facing hard memories without alcohol
How you can start preparing for the holidays NOW
How to handle the unknown of your first sober holiday season
Learning how to allow it to just be hard
Building new traditions to replace the old, alcohol-infused ones
Start experimenting with new things
Know your limits, and stay home if that's what you need to do.
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Billie hails from the great state of Oregon in the greater Pacific Northwest. After a career in law enforcement, she now works as a professional elder justice subject matter expert, as well as an instructor in Oregon’s law enforcement academy. She is also a domestic violence advocate for her local police department and meets with survivors of intimate partner violence to provide resources and safety planning options. Billie continues her advocacy by being involved in her states suicide prevention and awareness programs and facilitates her local chapter of a suicide bereavement group for families who have lost their loved ones to suicide. She is wife, mom to two wonderful kids and an avid dog lover.
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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:
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Facebook 
Tiktok

What causes a relapse? And what are you supposed to do after a relapse, if that's where you find yourself? In this week's episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, we're joined by Patti Clark and Dave Davis, who share their experiences. Patti relapsed after 10 years of sobriety, and shares what she sees now, looking back on that. Dave went through several relapses before finally reaching lasting sobriety, and the lessons he learned from each relapse are what got him to where he is now. Whether you're currently in a relapse cycle, or just want to avoid relapsing in the future, this episode is chock full of everything you need to hear.
In this episode:
The loss of connection as a cause of relapse
Finding people you really feel a connection with - not just any support group, but the right one
Understanding society's influence
Learn about yourself and your challenges so you can move through them
Dealing with the shame after relapse
Sobriety vs. Recovery
Finding the lesson in a relapse
Learning to love yourself enough that you can stay sober
When you're limping along in sobriety, you're likely to relapse
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Patti Clark is the award-winning author of This Way Up: Seven Tools for Unleashing Your Creative Self and Transforming Your Life. Her own experience as a middle-aged woman in recovery is deeply reflected in her new book, Recovery Road Trip: Finding Purpose and Connection on the Journey Home.
Patti was born and raised in Northern California, lived in New Zealand for many years, and is now living in Portugal. 
Online
https://www.patticlark.org
https://www.facebook.com/PattiClarkAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/patticlarkauthor
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Senior Database Architect by day. Husband, Father, Musician, Photographer, Artist, Internet DJ, Astrologer, Designer and Writer by night.Born and raised in Ottumwa, Iowa and later in Cedar Rapids, moved to Illinois in the 80s to go to DeVry. And never left. With many attempts at quitting drinking through the pandemic, it finally worked for me on the 20th of March 2023 and I have not looked back since.
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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

Facing fear in recovery can feel overwhelming. When you're still using alcohol, it's easy to drink your way through what would be a scary situation. But in sobriety, facing fear means developing resiliency, building confidence and courage, and knowing how to face fear head on.
In this episode, we explore how fear has affected us now that we're in recovery. We talk about what things make us feel afraid or anxious and why. We also share everything we've learned about moving through fear in ways that don't make us want to turn back to alcohol. Join us as we chat with Kenny (Recovery Hill); Corina, and Amber, and share our insights and advice on dealing with fear in recovery.
In this episode:
Getting sober gives you the confidence to face anything
Social anxiety and the fear of public speaking
"Suck it up and just do it."
Healthy fears vs. unhealthy fears - how to tell the difference
Fear is about assumption and uncertainty
The foundation of dysregulation is fear
Fear can either lead you to worse version of yourself or a better version of yourself - it's up to you.
Dealing with the fear of major change
How others influence our fear
Authenticity decreases the effect that fear has on us
The more fears you face, the more confident you become
Fear and excitement are physiologically the same experience
How to make friends with fear
Talking about fears helps to release their hold on you
The process of building resiliency
Fear has value - and we would be wise to stop avoiding it.

A large number of people who have an alcohol use disorder are using alcohol, at least in part, to self medicate symptoms of anxiety. For many, they don't realize that the alcohol is actually fueling and perpetuating their anxiety, because in the short term, it feels like alcohol is the quickest way to settle racing thoughts and a pounding heart. Removing alcohol from your life will immediately decrease your anxiety levels, but for some people, they're still left with some of the rumination and worry that kept them in a drinking cycle for so long. Learning tools that you can use in place of alcohol is fundamental in sobriety - without these tools, you'll be at risk of relapse.
In this episode, Taylor and Sarah join Julie and Steve to talk about coping with anxiety after quitting alcohol. They offer tips and tools that you can use right now, in addition to some mindset shifts that will be helpful for you to adopt. If you've ever suffered from anxiety - even in small doses - this is an episode you won't want to miss.
For more conversations about anxiety after quitting drinking, check out these previous epsiodes:
How to Cope With Anxiety In Recovery
Social Anxiety and Alcohol
In this episode:
Panic attacks
Supplements that help with anxiety after quitting alcohol
Understanding that drinking actually causes anxiety
Developing good habits that bring peace (and realizing alcohol counters those habits)
Mindfulness as an anxiety tool
Why imagining the worst isn't always a bad thing
Therapy to increase coping skills
The subconscious' effect on anxiety
Why authenticity is at the core of overcoming anxiety
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My name is Taylor! I embarked on my sober journey in January of 2024 after being sober curious for about a year. After years of using alcohol to cope with trauma from abuse, anxiety, OCD & panic attacks, I took the final leap into healing and gave it up. 
  I am from small town Wisconsin and spend most of my days on the farm with my fiance taking care of our crops, chickens and cows. I am passionate about helping others, traveling, writing, and growing in my faith by participating in Bible study and spending time at our local church. I share my alcohol free journey with others to inspire and build community on TikTok through Tay’s Sober Journey. 
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Sarah Siegel-Kolodziejski, originally from a small townin England, relocated to theUnited States around 30 yearsago. With a background infashion, real estate, and clean beauty,she started her passion project,Pure Clarity,  under the motto “mindfuldrinking, mindful living.”Drawing from her personaljourney with an unhealthy relationship with alcohol to an alcohol-free lifestyle 3 years ago, her goal was tocreate a platform for inspiring leaders, wellness andconsumers in the zero-proofmovement to come together. Through retreats,classes, and collaboration withalcohol-free brands, she hostsevents in southern Californiafor a community dedicatedto celebrating an alcohol-freelifestyle fueled by mindful living. Whether for a lifetime, a day, a month or......
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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 Julie and Steve on:
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In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that so many of us face on our sobriety journey: the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Julie and Steve sit down with Gina (Modern Day Monk), art therapist Heather, and their long time friend Raul, for a great conversation, sharing personal experiences and insights on navigating social events, friendships, and lifestyle changes while staying alcohol-free. Together, they unpack the emotional challenges, offer practical tips, and explore how to create a fulfilling life without the need to "keep up" with the drinking culture. Whether you’re new to sobriety or years into your journey, this conversation is sure to resonate and inspire. Tune in, and let’s tackle FOMO together!
"You can do anything, but not everything."
In this episode:
You'll have to grieve your past life - and that's okay
We tend to romanticize drinking... but romanticizing is not reality
Learning to socialize without alcohol
Fear of missing out on real life instead of fear of missing out on drinking
Learn how to have fun without alcohol
Create a recovery where fomo doesn't exist
Find new ways to celebrate
True joy only happens without alcohol
Addressing the parts of you that make you want to avoid being present
Finding "JOMO"
Find people who make you want to do better
"Create a life so full there's no space left for alcohol."
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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
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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 Julie and Steve on:
 Instagram 
Facebook 

In this episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, we take a look into the ripple effects sobriety can have on personal relationships. Often, the road to recovery isn't just about changing your habits—it's about transforming the way you interact with the people closest to you. Whether it's mending broken trust, fostering deeper connections, or navigating difficult conversations, sobriety will profoundly impact your connections. In this episode, you'll hear real-life stories from author Patti Clark and Kerryann, finance professional and student of psychology, who have experienced these shifts firsthand, sharing their insights, struggles, and successes in rebuilding bonds and fostering healthier relationships in their journey to sobriety.
"I get to show up now."
In this episode:
The painful reality of letting certain relationships go
Choosing relationships carefully
How your spouse can support you
Different people will react to your sobriety in different ways
How to respond when people think you're boring
Dealing with the friction when you stand up for yourself
Removing expectations from relationships
Relationships with teen children
Codependency, and how to disconnect with love
Connected relationships shine a light on the empty ones
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Patti Clark is the award-winning author of This Way Up: Seven Tools for Unleashing Your Creative Self and Transforming Your Life. Her own experience as a middle-aged woman in recovery is deeply reflected in her new book, Recovery Road Trip: Finding Purpose and Connection on the Journey Home.
Patti was born and raised in Northern California, lived in New Zealand for many years, and is now living in Portugal. 
https://www.patticlark.org
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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 Julie and Steve on:
 Instagram 
Facebook 

In this episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, we focus on one of the most crucial phases of recovery: your first 30 days sober. Five people share what they experienced during this transformative period, offering an honest look at the challenges, triumphs, and lessons they’ve learned. If you're in the early stages of your own sober journey and are wondering what to expect, these stories provide powerful insights, encouragement, and practical advice. Tune in for raw, real-life reflections on navigating sobriety’s beginning steps and learn how to thrive, not just survive these first 30 days.
"I went from, 'I don't want to die' to 'I want to really live.'"
In this episode:
Setting small goals
Finding support in a community
How your partner can support you
Overcoming the shame that comes with addiction
The benefits of therapy
Doing it for you - instead of for someone else
Making it your only job - no matter what, all that matters is that you don't drink
Dealing with emotions in early sobriety
Withdrawals
Giving yourself grace and patience
Permission to be selfish for awhile
If you're making your way through early sobriety, or are ready to quit drinking, make sure you check out these episodes also:
What to Expect In Early Sobriety
What We Wish We Knew About the First 30 Days of Sobriety
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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:
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Facebook 

Are you tired of getting in your own way on the path to sobriety? It’s often said that we’re our own worst enemy, and that rings especially true when it comes to problematic alcohol use. If you’ve ever found yourself making progress, only to suddenly stumble and fall back into old patterns, self-sabotage could be the culprit. Understanding how self sabotage and addiction recovery are related is the key to overcoming these self destructive behaviors.
In this episode, we’re diving deep into the many faces of self-sabotage—because it comes in more forms than you might think. We’re joined by Sean, Rick, and Leah, who open up about their own struggles with self-sabotage during recovery. Together, we’ll not only share our personal stories but also offer insights and strategies to help you recognize your own self-destructive tendencies and break free from them.
Ready to stop tripping yourself up? Tune in and take the first step toward reclaiming your recovery journey.
In this episode:
Admitting and accepting that you have a problem with alcohol
Learning to be honest with yourself
Uncovering and processing childhood trauma
Masking, self abandonment, people pleasing and perfectionism
How to find a community so you can stop trying to overcome addiction alone
Understanding why we self sabotage
Lack of vulnerability as self sabotage
Calling out procrastination and seeing it for what it really is
The myth of the "high functioning alcoholic"
Avoiding discomfort as a symptom of self sabotage
Allowing space for grace and patience in the process of recovery
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Leah lives in Corona Del Mar, CA with her husband “Cheese” and mini labradoodle Coral. She has been alcohol free since 1/1/24 and independent of cannabis since 4/4/24.  Leah retired from teaching elementary music and has stepped into the healing world to discover yoga, reiki, meditation and breathwork. Sobriety is her superpower and she is grateful for communities like Through the Glass and I am Sober to provide support in recovery.
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Rick - M.A. and Ph.D. in History and History Education, college and staff advisor for Alcohol Use Disorder. He leads sobriety support meetings for the Luckiest Club, an online group. He has been active in the I am Sober app community for almost five years. Sober date 27 July 2019.
Rick teaches History at Wabash, a small college in Indiana and writes mostly about food in history. His first career was in the kitchen as a professional chef in Vermont and California, and he continues to cook for special events and teaches cooking in his history classes. Hence, he is often seen on The Luckiest Club sobriety meetings meets as "Chef Prof Rick" and his handle on the I Am Sober app is Chef56.
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Sean has been in sustained recovery since the day he blew zeroes in detox on 12-3-21. He has been living in an Oxford House since 12-16-21, began his recovery service work in Chapter and State level officer roles with them, and was hired as an Outreach Worker for Oxford House, Inc. in July of 2023. He currently lives at Oxford House Ashrise in Rifle, CO. He enjoys gaming (both digital and analog), being outdoors in the Colorado mountains, exploring new cities by scooter when he travels, zen Buddhist studies, lounging at home with his murder muffins, and especially cherishes spending time with his daughters.
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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:
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You know it's important to keep moving forward in your recovery, keep doing the work. So what do you do when you start to feel stuck? What do you do when it feels like you're just treading water and you really don't know which direction to go next? Lasting sobriety depends on continuous forward momentum.
We've invited TTG regular Matt, sober instagram influencer Katie, and recovery community organizer Johanna to join us in a conversation about how we deal with feeling stuck. No matter where you're at in your sober journey, we know you're going to relate to what you hear.
In this episode:
Authenticity, and letting life guide personal development instead of trying to force it.
Self sabotage and how to overcome it
The need for continuous self-reflection to prevent relapse
The internet pressure for growth, even when external circumstances remain the same
Uncertainty about the future, especially during and after big changes in life
Feeling stuck due to emotional suppression
Feeling stuck due to unresolved trauma, personal issues, and dissatisfaction with life
The three reasons for feeling "stuck"
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Hi! I’m Katie and I’m an alcohol free advocate. My goal is to create an alcohol free community locally, as well as building connections online. I want to show people who are struggling with their drinking that living without alcohol can be even more fun and exciting than with it. We’re sober, NOT boring.
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Matt (shamman780), a 39 year old father of two from Burnt Hills, New York is 19 months sober.  He always believed he would get sober but at the same time feared it may never come.  He spent five and half years stuck in the up and down battle with alcoholism before finding a better way.  He wants to thank you everyone 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, to accept and to 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.
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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