Through The Glass Recovery Podcast

E105: Stuck in a Rut? Let's Rev Up Your Recovery!

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 

E104: Sober and Bored: How to Fill All That Free Time You Just Found

When alcohol filled all of your free time, it's hard to find ways to fill that time up, once you remove alcohol from the equation. The result can be some loooong nights, watching the clock and waiting for time to pass, while that little voice in your head pipes up, "I know exactly what you can do to entertain yourself!" Ugh.
For our first episode of Season 3, we've invited some folks we've met in Facebook groups to join us to talk about how they filled their time, once they quit drinking alcohol. Meet Peggi, Ian, and Ben, and listen as they share what it was like for them in their early days and how they dealt with the inevitable boredom of early sobriety.
"Fill your time with your evolution."
In this episode:
Activities to help fill time, including books, podcasts, meetings, and journaling
The value of time spent with family
Permission to go to bed early!
Helping and supporting others in their recovery
Finding new hobbies
What to do when you don't feel like doing anything
Changing mindset and thinking patterns
Finding purpose and finding yourself
The feeling of chasing something
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Peggi Cooney is an author, speaker and sobriety advocate. She holds a MSW and has 26 years of experience in Child Welfare and Adult Protective Services. She is currently a social work instructor/coach for UC Davis: Professional and Continuing Education. In 2018, Peggi received an Outstanding instructor Award. Peggi published her first book, This Side of Alcohol: Random Thoughts and Candid Words of Pain, Hope, Humor and Love – and All that is Possible in Sobriety. She is also the Chief Connections Officer for award-winning Zero Proof Experiences/Sober in the City where she partners with founder Susie Streelman to provide alcohol free social experiences all over the world. Peggi is currently working on her next book about work-related stress in the helping and caregiving fields. She resides with her husband Paul in West Sacramento and Lake Almanor, California.
peggicooney@gmail.com
thissideofalcohol@gmail.com
thissideofalcohol.com
IG: @thissideofalcohol
Facebook: Facebook.com/groups/thissideofalcohol
zeroproofexperiences.com
This Side of Alcohol is available wherever books are sold.
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Ben is just a average dude trying to stay sober and help others along the way. 
He is starting the process of writing his first book, trying to relaunch and grow FlipSockz with a mission to help support vets and first responders, and starting a sober hiking group. In addition, Ben created a Facebook group called Sober and Loving Life.
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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 

E103: Do You Really Need To Quit Drinking?

Our final re-release for our summer break is here! This will forever be one of our favorite episodes. It's meaningful, poignant, and you'll never forget these stories. 
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Do I really need to stop drinking? Do I really have a problem?
So many people google these questions that there are dozens of quizzes to help you decide whether your drinking is really bad enough that you need to stop. So our conversation today is about exactly that – how did you know that you really needed to stop drinking? And how do you deal with the idea of quitting forever, once you make the decision?
Listen to this gripping and poignant conversation we have with Melissa (aka The Sober New Yorker) and author and motivational speaker Martin Lockett, about how their journeys got them to the point of choosing to stop drinking, and what they wish they had known before they got to that point. Each of them shares their journey to recovery, and while their stories could not be more different, commonality is found beneath the surface, when we realize how important connection and compassion are when it comes to sharing our stories.
This episode is unlike any other we’ve ever recorded. As we end Season 2, we want to thank each of our listeners for sharing this adventure with us. Be sure to follow along on social media as we explore new ways to deepen the sense of community that Through the Glass is fostering, and we’ll be back in September for Season 3, with all new episodes and guests so that we can all continue to grow and learn on this path we call recovery.
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Martin Lockett is a writer and speaker whose words have impacted thousands of people, even before leaving prison. He served almost 18 years for manslaughter, caused by an accident one New Year’s eve where he drank excessively and drove through a stop light, colliding with a car carrying three people. Upon learning that the two people who died that night were volunteers in the drug and alcohol recovery community, Martin chose to honor them by dedicating his life to helping others through addiction counseling and drinking and driving prevention.Now released, Lockett continues his mission and message by helping those in need of counseling for mental health and substance use disorders and sharing his powerful story at DUI victim impact panels, high schools, conferences, and highway safety classes across the country. 
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E102: Navigating Grief Without Using Alcohol

Continuing our re-releases for the summer months. This episode was one of our most listened to in Season 2 and for good reason - no one makes it through life without experiencing grief. It's a complicated set of emotions, and moving through grief sober is even more of a challenge. 
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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

E101: How Your Addiction (and Your Recovery) Affects Your Kids

We're continuing to re-release episodes throughout our summer break, choosing our most popular episodes from Season 2 to share with you throughout the months of July and August. If you've got kids, this episode will prove to be invaluable. Be sure to have a listen - or listen again!
 
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\
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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
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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/
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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
 

Celebrating 100 Epidodes! The Good, The Bad, and What's Next

100 episodes! When this journey started, we had no idea where it was going to lead. We just knew we wanted to start sharing these conversations with others, in hopes that they would feel less alone, and a bit inspired.
The result? We've now created an online recovery community with a weekly meeting on Zoom, a Facebook group, and a weekly newsletter. We've become certified as recovery coaches and now offer individualized one-on-one support to anyone seeking a fulfilling, alcohol-free life. And we still produce our Top 5% podcast every Monday - the foundation and core of everything we do.
In this episode, we talk about where we started, how we got to where we are, and where we see Through the Glass Recovery heading as we make our way into Season 3, and into our 4th years of sobriety. We share the wins, the challenges, and the dreams. Our hope is that you'll get a bit of an inside look into what it's like to do what we're doing. So many of you have been listening since we started this podcast in September of 2022, and we want to invite you in and let you know what it's like behind the scenes - what we're excited about, what we're nervous about, and what it's taken to get from where we started to where we are now.

E99: When Friendships Change Because You Quit Drinking Alcohol

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!
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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
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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.
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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.
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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

E98: Social Anxiety When You're Sober

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 you’ll walk away from this episode with 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."
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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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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
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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
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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

E97: Navigating Romantic Relationships Sober

We're continuing to re-release our favorite episodes from Season 2 while we enjoy our summer break.
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In this Valentine's Day episode, we invite our guests to share their thoughts on love. We share what we've learned about love and how it affects our relationships in recovery. You'll hear from sober influencer Amber, Jared Blaine - host of the Blaklist Podcast, and sober influencer Jennifer, about how their understanding of love has changed as they've worked on healing and understanding themselves. Each of us walked away with a new understanding of love, and we know you will, too.
"I had this idea that love was giving all of yourself, no matter what."
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Sobriety allows us to show up in loving relationships in the way that others deserve.
Understanding attachment theory and how it pertains to our relationships is helpful.
Our upbringing models love to us, and creates our definition of love.
Learning to embrace solitude when you're single
Discovering and understanding emotional needs, and how to meet them.
It is possible to be loved by someone, but not feel loved by them.
Love is an action, and it requires constant practice.
Loving someone from afar, or leaving in love, can both be healthy solutions.
How codependency and love are interrelated.
Conflict in love - what it looks like, and determining healthy vs. toxic relationships in recovery.
In this episode, we mention the following books and resources:
Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
Rewired by Erica Speigelman
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman (Click the link to take a quiz and discover your own love language!)
If you loved this conversation and want to learn more about how our understand of love changes in recovery, be sure to check out this episode.
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For 15 years, Jared Blaine battled the grip of addiction, a relentless struggle that eventually led him into a perilous world intertwined with the Mexican cartel.However, October of 2018 marked a turning point in Jared's life. Fueled by an unyielding determination to break free from the shackles of addiction, he embarked on a pathway to sobriety.
Jared's commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those battling addiction and mental health issues led him to launch The Blaklist Podcast.
Through this platform, he shares stories of triumph, insights into recovery, and invaluable resources the guide individuals toward treatment, interventions, and sober living homes. As a fervent advocate for recovery and mental health, Jared strives to spread hope and positivity, one episode at a time.
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My name is Jennifer Gerroir, and you can find me on Instagram @dropkicksober. My sober dateis August 27, 2021. As a base brat I grew up all over Canada. My hubby and I are in theCanadian Armed Forces and are currently stationed in Wainwright, AB. Our daughter graduateshigh school this year and will be off to college in the fall.I was well aware for years that my relationship with alcohol was problematic. After 32 years ofdrinking I found my way to the sober community on Instagram. More and more sober contentbegan showing up in my newsfeed. As I viewed, I started to pull at the thread that should havebeen ripped out years ago. I thank God each day for every person who has decided to recover outloud (seriously, you saved my life).For years I felt so much shame, self-hatred, and blame for not being able to manage to moderate.I’m so incredibly grateful that I found the sober community when I did. Now that I know thatrecovery is possible, I want to be sure to shine my own sober light for anyone who may bestruggling with their own relationship with alcohol. As a self proclaimed Bible nerd, I also sharea mix of Scripture along with my own recovery journey, other sober content, as well as anythingelse that inspires me. Not every day in sobriety is magical, but even my ‘worst’ day sober faroutshines what I would have considered my ‘best’ day while I was still drinking. ODAAT, onefoot in front of the other.
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Hello, my name is Amber and I just recently celebrated 2 years alcohol free on Christmas Eve. I live alone with my cats in Rhode Island and work a FT and PT job, saving money, rebuilding my credit and learning how to live an honest and full life.
Growing up as an only child in a toxic family dynamic with alcoholism and undiagnosed mental health disorders running the show, I developed complex trauma that I wouldn’t be aware of until the day I took my last drink and began to uncover the lies that alcohol had me believing for so long. I lacked self love and self worth and believed I was just not built for the kind of life that I desired. Come to find out I had the power to build that life all along, but alcohol robbed me of the ability to see it. Sobriety has allowed me to see an alternative path in life and recovery is providing the tools that enable me to walk that path. I am in the process of finding my voice and discovering where I can be of service to others who are still stuck in the lie. I hope to someday run a sober living community on a working farm where others can unplug from their toxic environments and truly heal.
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Get in touch with Steve and Julie:
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

E96: The Benefits of Quitting Alcohol

The question, "How has getting sober affected your life?" brought about an incredible conversation about the benefits of a sober life. Join us as we chat with a few of our good friends (and Through the Glass regulars) - John, Antje, and Derrick - about how our lives have changed in recovery. The benefits are incredible - from the small changes and little wins, to life changing growth.
"We fail, we get up, we learn from that failure. That's what recovery is."
Some of the benefits of a sober life that you'll hear us talk about include:
Learning emotional regulation, so our emotions don't run away this us anymore
Healthy coping skills for stress management
We're forced to learn new habits and new mindsets, and it's a gift
Stopping to look back and appreciate the wins
Letting go of self loathing and learning to love yourself
Recovery is about a lot more than just not drinking
Deeper, more meaningful relationships
Finally being able to tell the truth, and being free from a life of lies
Finding new, different friends that support our new lifestyle
Learning to own mistakes and learn from failure
Getting good at being bad at things; being okay with being a beginner
How "One Day At A Time" applies to more than just not drinking
Finally learning to be present in our lives
Truly experiencing joy and gratitude
Growing in courage and in confidence
Gaining clarity about why we are the way we are
Finding the strength to get through the hard times, from grief to depression, without drinking
"Whatever I'm going through, I know I'm not going out of my way to make it worse now."
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Antje first discovered drinking as a way to “fix” her eating disorder. She thought that drinking was more acceptable than binging and purging all of her meals. When drinking grew more and more out of control, she reluctantly considered sobriety in January of 2022. Soon after, she found connection and support in an online sober community. She is so glad to that she took that first, scary step and gave sobriety a chance.
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Derrick Deidel is 3 years sober. He has come from the depths of addiction, trauma, mental health , prison and homelessness to be a light in this world. He loves recovery and is a huge advocate for it and those seeking help. He works for Mile High Recovery Center managing the Residential treatment house, he is a peer recovery coach and personal trainer. He tries to be kind and gracious to everyone cause that same stuff changed his life.
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Get in touch:
Sign up for our newsletter at throughtheglassrecovery.com for sober tips, tools, and motivation, and get access to our free weekly sober support meetings.
Find us on:
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