Through The Glass Recovery Podcast

E75: Redefining Love: Build Thriving Relationships in Recovery

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.
To learn more about our guests visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com
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

E74: Courageous Conversations: How Vulnerability Fuels Recovery

Vulnerability is one of the hardest pieces of a strong recovery foundation, but it's also one of the most important. Without embracing the discomfort, you'll never find the connection that is truly the key to thriving once you quit drinking. In this podcast episode, we are joined by Justin from The Hope Shot, Casey from F-around and Recover, and our friend Matt to talk about the challenges they have faced when it comes to showing up vulnerably. We talk not only about the wins, but also the struggles, especially when it comes to men and facing society's beliefs surrounding vulnerability. 
Connection is the opposite of addiction. Vulnerability is how we find connection.
In this episode:
Showing and receiving love feels vulnerable
It takes time to break down walls and let people in
Drinking numbs our emotions; vulnerability is allowing ourselves to feel them
Calculated risk: knowing when you're ready to face something vulnerable
Despite society's beliefs, vulnerability is strength and courage
Being vulnerable with strangers is sometimes easier
Ownership of our mistakes and flaws is vulnerability
How honesty pertains to vulnerability
Why the people close to us are the hardest to be vulnerable with
Facing fear and standing up for yourself
Misplaced vulnerability - finding the right person with whom to share your truth
Today February 5th, Matt celebrates one year of Sobriety.  This is something he always believed would happen but at the same time feared 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 helping 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, 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.
Casey Jordan is a recovery advocate and father of 2 from Hillsboro, Ohio. When Casey made the choice to get sober in May of 2022, he quickly became passionate about spreading hope to others in active addiction. He started the online recovery community “F Around & Recover” shortly after finishing an inpatient rehab program as a way to connect with other sober individuals and inspire anyone struggling to take the first step toward recovery. Since founding F Around & Recover, Casey has increasingly focused his energy on spreading the message that recovery is NOT “one size fits all”, feeling strongly that people shouldn’t be shamed for using different paths to sobriety. His dream is to play a role in recovery and sober living programs being implemented in rural communities. When Casey isn’t running “F Around & Recover”, he can usually be found spending time with his young kids.
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

E73: The Next Chapter: Maintaining Sobriety After the Early Days

For many of our listeners, Dry January is coming to a close, and you're starting to think about maintaining sobriety going forward. If you've decided you want to keep going, but you're not sure what that needs to look like, this episode is just for you. We've invited Chuck LaFlange, host of the Ashes to Awesome podcast, Jason Williams of Sober Gangster, and sober influencer Hayley Delashmit to dig into what it looks like after you've gotten used to not drinking, and are ready to start moving forward into really building an alcohol free life. We ask them the question, "What Now?" and they all share their very different, very valuable experience.
"When it gets easy, I get complacent. And complacency is almost scarer than turmoil."
In this episode:
 
Periods of growth come and go, ebb and flow. That's normal.
How to avoid complacency - tips and tools for maintaining sobriety long term
Finding your purpose, understanding that it will shift as time goes on
Keep doing the things that work
Start uncovering the reasons why you drank
Learning to stay in the moment - the power of mindfulness
Creating intention in day to day actions
Bonus topics:
Dealing with the shame of relapse
The power of social media in maintaining sobriety
"When I get stagnant, I get slippery."
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
Chuck's 25-year struggle with addiction, marked by relapses and PTSD, took a turn following his father's death and his mother's constant reminder, "You are loved." This led to his recovery and the creation of the Ashes to Awesome Podcast. Alongside co-hosts Ryan Bathgate, and Dr. Lisa, the podcast addresses addiction and mental health, promoting hope, love, and acceptance. It's a platform for sharing stories and support, not only for those in recovery but also for their families, embodying a message of transformation and understanding.
Hi ya’ll I am Hayley Delashmit or “Giggles”. I was raised in Nashville, TN. I did take a random adventure and moved to Buffalo, NY in 2010 for 2 and a half years.(GO BILLS) . I currently live in a small farming and trucking town in Munford, TN. 
My sober birthday is January 11,2023. I recover out loud just so people know that they are seen and they matter. God gave me the strength and the voice to speak with kindness, grace and understanding just so I can let people know there is HOPE and that they are not ALONE.  This next chapter of my sober journey will be by Gods grace I get placed on the Liver Transplant list and in the meantime I will spread hope and smiles because smiles and laughter are contagious!  I am mostly found on  Facebook but I also have a tik tok & both are under my name, Hayley Delashmit!
Get involved in the Through The Glass Recovery community!
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 new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!
You can also find us on:
 Instagram 
Facebook 
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E72: Sobriety vs Recovery - What's the Difference, and Why Should You Care?

Sobriety vs. Recovery. You hear the words "sobriety" and "recovery" used interchangeably all the time, but there's a distinct difference, and if you're wanting to live a fulfilling life without alcohol, it's important that you understand what these words mean. In this episode, Steve is joined by Robbie, (host of Golden Hour Adventures podcast), Jon (author of Parables: Musings from an Addict on the Journey Toward Wholeness), Johnny Joy (creator of Sobritree app), and sober influencer Hayley to discuss what recovery has looked like in their lives, and how it differs from being "sober".
"There are a whole lot of sober people that are still very far from recovery."
Creating a recovery maintenance plan that suits your needs
The value of connection in recovery
Getting to know your authentic self
What does, "dry drunk" mean?
Growth as the foundation for recovery
The benefits of the social media recovery community
Learn to leave space for mistakes; recovery is trial and error
It's about what works for you - this is YOUR journey
Taking ownership of your recovery instead of placing blame
Recovery doesn't mean giving up everything you enjoy
Want more insight on sobriety vs. recovery? Check out Episode 32: Are Sobriety And Recovery The Same?
"Recovery is clearing up the mess that caused everything to go haywire in the first place."
This week's guests:
Johnny Joy. Yes that’s my real name. I am the founder of SobriTree, a resource guide for sobriety your way. I am a 4th generation Colorado Springs native, father of 2 amazing girls and husband to one incredible woman. I am a recovered drunk and pill addict, 10 years in March. My goal for the second half of my life is to help as many people save their own as possible, whenever I can, wherever possible. I am the luckiest guy I know and sobriety is the single most powerful thing that I have ever done. I want to share that message with the world.
Robbie started his sobriety journey due to being sick of the same old story he would put himself though. He found his cannabis and alcohol use getting worse as the years went on. He used them to cope with everything and anything. Robbie is now over a year sober, and couldn’t be happier with his decision to take on this new journey. Robbie co-hosts Golden Hour Adventures podcast and can be found on Instagram @runshills605.
Hi ya'll I am Hayley Delashmit or "Giggles". I was raised in Nashville, TN. I did take a random adventure and moved to Buffalo, NY in 2010 for 2 and a half years. (GO BILLS) . I currently live in a small farming and trucking town in Munford, TN. 
My sober birthday is January 11,2023. I recover out loud just so people know that they are seen and they matter. God gave me the strength and the voice to speak with kindness, grace and understanding just so I can let people know there is HOPE and that they are not ALONE.  This next chapter of my sober journey will be by Gods grace I get placed on the Liver Transplant list and in the meantime I will spread hope and smiles because smiles and laughter are contagious!  I am mostly found on  Facebook but I also have a tik tok & both are under my name, Hayley Delashmit!
 
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. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!
You can also find Julie and Steve on:
 Instagram 
Facebook 
Tiktok

E71: Shame In Recovery - Escaping the Shame Cycle

Nearly everyone experiences shame in recovery… and it seems many of us drank to try to avoid feeling shame in the first place. "I drank to avoid feeling the shame of drinking," is a familiar concept to many of us. The shame cycle perpetuates, keeping us going round and round and never quite knowing how to stop. In this episode, we address dealing with shame in recovery. We're joined by social media sober influencers Benjamin Lerner and Sonya Johnson, and CEO of Camelback Recovery Tim Westbrook as we talk about how shame held us trapped in our addictions, and how overcoming that was key to staying successfully sober.
"I drank to avoid feeling the shame from drinking."
In this episode:
Using honesty to combat shame
Avoiding the feeling of shame by drinking, lying, and other unhealthy habits
Talking about what you're ashamed of is ultimately how you'll set yourself free
Finding the right people to share your truth with is imperative
Allowing someone to walk alongside you in the hardest of times
Trying to avoid feeling shame with perfectionism
How perfectionism can lead to relapse
Learning to live in the "gray" area of life, as opposed to black and white thinking
Understanding that lifting shame makes us stronger in our recovery
"I thought I was a bad person because I couldn't stop. That just continued the shame cycle."
To learn more about our guests, visit out website at throughtheglassrecovery.com
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. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!
You can also find Julie and Steve on:
 Instagram 
Facebook 
Tiktok

E70: Dealing With Boredom In Sobriety

When you've been sober for a bit, boredom seems to be one of the first challenges that shows up. How to fill all that free time? This is especially true if you don't have any hobbies, or if your social life revolved around drinking. In this episode, we're joined by Adriana from Dear Recovery, Jason from Sober Gangster, and sober rapper Gina (Modern Day Monk) to talk about how we dealt with boredom in early sobriety, and how we deal with it now that we've been doing this for awhile. If you struggle to fill your time and find yourself wishing away the hours in the day, this episode is for you!
"Boredom creates a willingness to try new things."
In this episode:
Loneliness and boredom sometimes go hand in hand
Connecting with others is an almost instant cure to boredom
Rediscovering hobbies that alcohol had pushed aside
Learning not to overwhelm yourself with activities and to-do lists
Exploring the link between creativity and drinking
New hobbies and activities help build recovery skills
Boredom is not a bad thing!
Boredom is the door to creativity and trying new things
Learning to appreciate the stillness and quiet
Boredom encourages self reflection and "doing the work" of recovery
Asking yourself, "Where's the void in my life?" and having the courage to address it
Discovering "biohacks" to make life - and sobriety - easier and more comfortable
Want to learn more about the EFT tapping that Adriana mentions? Check out this link.
The group also discusses the benefits of cold plunging.
If you're still struggling with boredom in sobriety, check out this past episode, where a different group of people share their experiences.
"The things I learned when I got sober 27 years ago are still the things I apply to my life today."
 
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
 
Jason Williams:
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
 
Adriana is a person in long-term recovery that was born and raised in Europe, but lives in NY. For the last half a decade, Adriana has been working in the Mental Health and Addiction field. She has a few different certifications as a Sr Peer Specialist, and is also licensed as a Counselor. Adriana is the Founder & Creator of Dear Recovery, a Clothing Brand & Social Media platform that starts conversations and helps ends the stigma surrounding Mental Health and Addiction.
Facebook.com/DearRecovery
@DearRecovery on Facebook, instagram and TikTok.
DearRecovery.com

E69: What To Expect In Early Sobriety

"You never have to feel this way again."
Early sobriety is filled with challenges. It means getting through cravings, making huge changes in your life and in your mindset, and sticking with the promise you made to yourself to stop drinking alcohol. When you have no idea what to expect, so many different things can throw you off course in those first 30 days. So we've gathered some people to talk about what the first 30 days looked like for them, to give you some insight, so you can go into this prepared for the challenges. 
"The way you build self worth is by keeping promises to yourself."
In this episode:
Freedom from the hiding and the lies that create so much anxiety
Practicing gratitude
Making healthy choices to support your sobriety
Finding a mentor to support you
Building self respect and self worth
Why you shouldn't wait to make changes
Focusing on one thing at a time
Understanding that there's no one size fits all recovery method
Junk food is 100% acceptable
Admitting you have a problem is where you'll find freedom
Asking for (and accepting) help is key
If you've decided 2024 is your year to take back your life from alcohol, check out the following:
Episode 52: How To Beat Alcohol Cravings
Episode 18: Dealing With Cravings and Triggers
The Through the Glass Recovery blog
Meet our guests:
Meet Brandon Kaitschuck, a 29-year-old who decided to make a drastic change in his life one year ago. Since getting sober, he's lost 50 pounds and conquered an Ironman triathlon! When he's not helping others on their path to recovery, he's either studying Mandarin, performing with “Toed”, or crushing workouts. Professionally, Brandon works as a software salesman & enjoys meeting new people. Keep an eye out for Brandon's new music with “Toed” & upcoming podcasts on Viral Downtown !
https://instagram.com/alignyourminds?igshid=M2RkZGJiMzhjOQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
https://instagram.com/toed_jamz?igshid=M2RkZGJiMzhjOQ==
https://instagram.com/viraldowntown?igshid=M2RkZGJiMzhjOQ==
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-kaitschuck-65477815b
 
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. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!
You can also find Julie and Steve on:
 Instagram 
Facebook 
Tiktok

E68: Loneliness

In this episode:
Authenticity and vulnerability are risks, but they allow for real connection
Learning to have healthy relationships
Presenting a false front, "masking", prevents connection
Learn to let yourself be truly seen
Putting on a social mask creates loneliness
Emotionally unavailable people have a damaging effect
Seek out people who are emotionally available
We are capable of rewiring our thought patterns
Urgency pushes us to do the work of emotional sobriety and healing
We become addicted to our thoughts, which leads to substance use disorder
Having the power to affect positive change in our children, in future generations

E67: Relaxing Without Alcohol

How often did you drink because you thought it helped you relax? We hear a lot of people say that's one of the things they miss about alcohol - the relaxing effect it seemed to have, or the way it temporarily quieted their mind. The thing about alcohol is that - while it works for a short time - in the end it only makes the anxiety and stress and racing mind even worse. If you have trouble relaxing and calming down your thoughts now that you're sober, this episode is for you!
Join us as we have a conversation with Kim (Sober Is The New Cool), Brad (Sober Motivation) and Brit (Sober Flatlander) about how we've learned to relax without alcohol, and quiet our minds when they just can't seem to stop.
"You are human. You don't always have to have it al figured out."
In this episode:
Quitting alcohol means less anxiety in general
CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools to quiet the mind
Coping with insecurities in healthy ways
A long list of coping skills and tools to help you relax
Finding the right people
Creating a routine and schedule to keep life flowing smoothly
Learning to forgive yourself
Understanding the concept of boundaries and how to use them
"It's about being willing to try all the things and see what works for you."
Meet our guests:
I'm Brit - a former grey area drinker who found sobriety in March of 2021. I live in small town Saskatchewan with my husband, two kids, and 4 dwarf bunnies. I’m the creator of a website and Instagram page called Sober Flatlander, which I use to share my journey in sobriety and advocate for those struggling with substance use disorders and mental health battles. It’s my hope that by being honest and authentic about the reality of alcohol culture, we can create a healthier future for our society and youth.  
Kim - My journey began in 2013, I decided to make the commitment to stop drinking for 3 months in order to support my son Matthew who had been diagnosed with epilepsy. Sober Is The New Cool was created as I quickly realized the social pressures surrounding not only myself, but what my son would encounter. 
Follow Kim on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soberisthenewcool.ca
-Extending love, compassion, and support.
-Collaborating with other support groups to foster a sense of community.
-Using our story to bring people together around the globe.
-Bringing awareness to end the stigma associated with mental health and addiction.
As well as devoting her time to making Sober Is The New Cool more present in the sober community, Kim enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, golfing, running, and meditating.
Kim has been referred to as the "matriarch" of the sober community and plans to continue this journey by empowering others. Kim's outreach is strongly felt locally through such initiatives as forming a local group of women called, "Les Femmes du Quebec" but also internationally through her strong following of social media messages. Kim donates a portion of SITNC merchandise to The Douglas Foundation. 
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. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!
You can also find Julie and Steve on:
 Instagram 
Facebook 
Tiktok

E66: Living With Regret: How to Cope in Healthy Ways

ng with regret can be exhausting, frustrating, disheartening, and even dangerous. But it can also be motivating and empowering, if you choose to look at it that way. How we learn to live with regret is a choice that we get to make. We can let it fuel our growth and our purpose, or we can let it hold us down forever. Which will you choose?
In this episode, we are joined by author and motivation speaker Martin Lockett, sober podcast host Scott (The Sober Heathen), and sober influencer Chris (IOHO2) to talk about the regrets we are living with, and ways we've found to cope so the regret can fuel us and not consume us.
"I made bad choices. I'm not a bad person."
In this episode:
The difference between guilt and shame
What it means to "investigate" your thouhts
Finding purpose and meaning through regret
Learning from our mistakes instead of drowning in them
Coping with the regret of lost time
Coming to terms with missing memories
Empowerment or victimhood? It's your choice.
Living with attention, living your ammends
"You get to decide if that's where your story ends, or if you're going to write a whole second book."
 
Martin Lockett is a substance abuse counselor, author, public speaker, and advocate for reducing DUI fatalities. He spent 17.5 years in prison for a DUI fatality that claimed two lives and severely injured another. Lockett devoted the rest of his life to honoring his victims’ legacies by helping others who struggle with substance abuse. While incarcerated, Martin earned a BS in sociology, MS in psychology, and acquired state certification as a substance abuse counselor, and published two books. 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 across the country.
 
Christian is responsible for the Facebook recovery page with the funny letters and numbers in it's name, IOHO2. His first go at this new way of living was in 2015-'17 when he also kept a Facebook journal known as #itonlyhurtsonce, (IOHO). Then, as he admittedly states, sobriety lost its priority. Christian has traded in his taxi-cabs to be your local delivery guy these days, and celebrates 15 months sober with us on November the 12th!!
 
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!
 
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. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!
You can also find Julie and Steve on:
 Instagram 
Facebook 
Tiktok