No Alcohol Needed: The Podcast

One "transfer addiction" that gets overlooked all too often is social media. And while social media has many benefits, it certainly also poses many dangers, especially when it comes to addiction recovery and mental health. In this week's episode, we're chatting with our friends Robbie, Britt, and Vanessa about how social media shows up in our lives, in our recoveries, and its impact on our emotional and mental wellbeing.
Key topics in this episode:
Taking a break from social media
The dopamine hits that come with posting and getting interactions
How to curate your feed to create a positive experience
Using social media to find true connection
Recognizing the different between real connection and surface connection online
The hidden dangers of external validation
Using social media to create drama and chaos when sobriety feels boring
Tools for managing social media use
Setting your intention when using social media
How comparing yourself to others on social media can damage mental health
AI and its detrimental effects on creativity, emotional intelligence, and relationships
To learn more about our guests and for the full show notes, click here. 
Come check out our FREE weekly sober support group on Zoom!
Schedule a free discovery call with Julie or Steve to talk about our one-on-one sober coaching programs.

Research suggests that up to 50% of patients with an eating disorder will abuse alcohol or an illicit substance, compared with 9% of the population. We really don't talk about this enough... until today.
We've got three courageous women joining us today for a conversation about how their disordered eating habits have tied into their addiction - and recovery - from alcohol. The two are closely intertwined, and if you're struggling with both, it helps so much to understand how one affects the other. Each of these women has fought her unique battle courageously, and has gained wisdom and compassion to share with the rest of the world.
Join us for this honest, very real conversation about navigating an eating disorder alongside alcohol use disorder.
"It's honestly harder to talk about the eating disorder than it is to talk about the alcohol."
Key Topics in This Episode:
How food keeps you silent
Eating disorders and alcohol abuse are both related to trauma and stress
Overcoming shame as a key component in the recovery of each
Eating disorders as a way to deal with difficult emotions, when you don't have the right tools
Fitting in, trying to be attractive, and it's impact on your relationship with food
Alcohol urges and cravings are similar to the binge/purge urges
When you body is off balance - learning to recognize hunger cues and feeling full
Overexercise as a symtpom of addictive behavior
Learning how to feel
Body scanning and body mapping as tools for recovery
Learning to catch emotions before they become unhealthy
How dopamine fits into the picture
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Meet our guests: https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/podcast/eating-disorders-and-alcoholism/
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Join the conversation:
The online recovery community is an amazing space to make new friends. Come check out our Monday night Sober Happy Hour on Zoom, or join our Facebook group Recovery Your Way, and let’s continue the conversation!
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Free Sober Support Meetings on Zoom: 
https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/meeting-faqs/
Learn more about one on one sober coaching:
https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/recovery-coaching/

Without systems in place to fill your new time, and a plan to create a supportive sober tribe, recovery from alcohol addiction can feel really boring and lonely. The good news is - it doesn't have to be that way. All you need to do is some creative planning and a bit of mustering up some courage, and you'll find that recovery is actually intensely rewarding. But without any direction, it can be hard to know where to start.
In this week's episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, we're chatting with Brenton (@officerecovery), Charles (@charlessharrisonjr) and Josh (@josh.quits.forever) about how they've filled up the free time that sobriety gave them, and how they've built up a support system that keeps them accountable and provides them with the connection we all need when we decide to create a life that is free from alcohol.
Key topics in this episode:
Nurturing relationships that are created in rehab or treatment programs
The comforting realization that the recovery community is incredibly accepting
The value of social media in creating a sober tribe
The importance of finding people who will challenge you instead of pull you down to their level
The value of creating new habits and routines, and how to get started
Hobbies to fill your time - and find friends with similar interests
Using platforms like Craigslist, MeetUp, and Facebook to find people with common interests
Finding the courage to get out of your comfort zone
The value of finding your authentic self, and choosing to stop trying to be what others want you to be in favor of being your true self.
The eternal quest of the individual human being is to shatter his loneliness. - Norman Cousins
For further listening about filling free time and finding new friends, be sure to check out these other episodes:
E104: Sober and Bored: How to Fill All That Free Time You Just Found
E68: When You're Sober and Lonely
E39: How Loneliness Affects Recovery
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To learn more about our guests, visit https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/podcast/make-new-friends-sober/
For information about our free support group on Zoom, visit https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/meeting-faqs/
 

Long term sobriety requires establishing healthy habits that become a part of your daily routine. Figuring out what your habits need to be is an important part of the recovery exploration process - what works for one person may not work for another. But what we do know is that routines and habits are key for maintaining recovery for the long term.
In this podcast episode, we invite Matt, Ian, and Meghan to join us in a conversation about how they've found a set of habits that fit their lifestyle and their sobriety. Listen, and you'll walk away with a whole stack of ideas for things to try, and ways to incorporate them into your life. And maybe most importantly, how to stay motivated to keep the habits no matter what's going on in your life.
"You can do hard things and make life easier, or you can do easy things and make life harder."
Key topics in this episode:
Incorporating fitness into your life, in ways that are sustainable (even if you hate exercise!)
How books about personal development - not just quit lit - support long term sobriety
The power of prioritizing - choosing one thing to focus on at a time instead of trying to do it all
Baby goals - tiny steps in the right direction are better than giant steps that overwhelm you
How to find YOUR thing
The value of routines in recovery
Trying new things isn't a lifelong committment. You're allowed to stop doing the things that don't work.
Start the day with some wins - little accomplishments that make you feel great.
Resources:
To dowload Julie's e-book about authenticity and self discovery, click here.
For a list of great personal development books that will support your long term sobriety, check out this blog post.
Meet Our Guests:
Matt Shambo (shamman780), is a 40 year old father of two from Burnt Hills, New York.  He celebrated two years sober on February 5, the day after this podcast was recorded.  Matt 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. 
Matthew would 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. 
Be kind to those who are still struggling.  Sobriety is hard, but it’s worth it.
#soberdaddoingsoberdadthings
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After losing everything due to overdrinking from a very young age, Ian reached a breaking point and began his journey to reclaim his life. Today, Ian is a successful author, entrepreneur, and the creator of Make It Great (MIG).
Proudly sober since 2017, he has dedicated himself to personal growth, family, and living a life of purpose and clarity. His journey from addiction to empowerment has become his mission: to help others trapped in the same cycle of self-destruction break free and embark on their own transformative path to health, passion, and a renewed mindset.
Through his book, Wild Ride To Sobriety, Ian aims to inspire others to overcome their struggles and embrace a life of balance, success, and fulfillment.  
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Hey, I’m Meghan Melin—wife, mom of two (8 & 6), former personal trainer who used to preach health while secretly binge drinking, and now a sober coach changing lives. I know firsthand what it’s like to feel stuck in a cycle that no longer serves you. I quit drinking, rebuilt my mindset, and now I help others do the same. Through Sober Strong, my coaching, and my YouTube channel, I’m here to show you that sobriety isn’t boring—it’s powerful. 
https://beacons.ai/soberstrong
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Join the conversation:
What habits have helped you the most in your recovery? Come join us on instagram @throughtheglassrecovery or in our Facebook group Recovery Your Way, and let's continue the conversation!

In a world where drinking alcohol is glorified as a coping tool for difficult parenting moments, staying sober and raising kids is definitely a challenge. Each age group comes with it's own conflicts and struggles, but many parents find the teen years in particularly to be emotionally exhausting. If you're in recovery, chances are you already have a hard time managing emotions sometimes. Adding the stress of teenagers to the mix can really throw you for a loop.
On the other hand though, your recovery gives you an incredible opportunity to really show up for your kids. In today's episode, we chat with Amos, Seija, and Robbie about how their sobriety has affected their parenting, and what they've learned since showing up sober for their teens.
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Robbie Pike 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. He is now over two years sober, and couldn’t be happier with his decision to take on this new journey.
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My name is Seija, I am a grateful recovering alcoholic. I have been sober since April 10, 2015. I grew up in the Chicagoland area and we moved to the Denver suburbs in 2014. I am the proud Mom to three sweet young adults; Jackson (23), Maya (19) and Lincoln (14). I am also thankful to be walking this recovery journey with my partner, Greg, and grateful to do life with him. 
I am fortunate to be able to be of service in many ways in my life - my career in an assisted living community, volunteer work as a victim advocate with a local police department and a proud Board member at our recovery club. 
I am thankful to be able to work with many women in sobriety, honored to be trusted with their story and watch them grow & glow. 
If I could share one bit of advice, I’d remind people in early sobriety that nothing will change if nothing changes. I can’t expect the results to come from the work I don’t do - in every area of my life. Just keep going, I promise life only gets better in sobriety! 
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Amos Dupuis has been sober for 29 months, embracing a new life filled with opportunities beyond imagination. He attributes his journey to the guidance of his higher power, giving gratitude for the doors that have opened—and the ones that have closed with purpose. With a renewed sense of love and possibility, he is experiencing a life that feels truly limitless.
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"That's the goal: to help our kids exceed us."
Episode Highlights:
How to show up when our kids are going through hard times
The added pressure of single parenting
Learning to balance being the friend with being the parent
Helping our kids cope with their own trauma
Supporting them without absorbing their emotions
How to work through all of the regrets we have about our drinking days
Taking to teens about your recovery
How your recovery community will also benefit your teens
Setting the example
Keeping conversations open - even when they're difficult conversations
If you need more support and advice for parenting, make sure you check out Episode 87: Talking to Your Kids About Your Addiction.
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We'd love to hear about your experiences with raising teenagers now that you're sober. Come join the conversation on Instagram or Facebook!

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most widely known path to recovery from addiction, and often it's the only option people are aware of when they decide they're ready to stop drinking. While AA works well for many people, it doesn't always provide what someone needs to achieve lasting sobriety. Our goal is to bring to light how many different options there are for recovering from alcohol use disorder.
Our guests share what their experience in AA was like, how it shaped their recovery, and what they did when they realized they needed something different.
"AA does not have a monopoly on changing your life for the better."
Episode Highlights:
AA offers a "cookie cutter" recovery plan, but humans are not suffering from "cookie cutter" addictions.
Validating reasons that AA isn't always possible, such as difficulty getting to meetings
Using "quitlit" books to support your recovery
Finding a sense of community outside of Alcoholics Anonymous
AA offers an instruction manual that can be a good foundation for recovery, but some people find they need more
Health and wellness as a foundation for recovery
The people of AA is the core - it's what makes it so valuable.
Some groups lean heavily on a higher power, others don't. Sometimes it takes trying a few groups to find one that does fit.
Our recovery needs change based on the seasons of our lives
Scientific, contemplative, and reflective practices as a basis for a recovery plan
"Take what you need and leave the rest."
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Rich Sullivan and his wife run a local sober and sober curious community on Facebook called Clear + Present Strangers. You can find the group by searching. Also check out their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearandpresentstrangers/
They also offer a self guided coaching course and 1:1 coaching, as well as promote local alcohol-free events, feature restaurants that offer great NA options.
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Rachel Collins is a licensed clinical professional counselor and founder of Stride Forward Counseling. She is LGBTQIA+ affirming and her mission is to empower you to lead a more meaningful life. Rachel is trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-basedcognitive therapy (MBCT). She has a special interest in working with individuals who are struggling with substance abuse, addiction, and that are highly sensitive. 
Visit her website at https://strideforwardcounseling.com
Check out Rachel's podcast: 
Self-improvement Book Club by Rachel
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-improvement-book-club-by-rachel/id1647601481
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Dr. Joanne Ketch LPC: I’ve walked through most of the major seasons of adult life sober. My own journey inspired me to dedicate my career to transforming the treatment of substance use disorder. Through my master’s and doctoral work, I developed a passion for empowering people to own their recovery and breaking down misinformation and stigma around addiction. I believe recovery is about building a full, rewarding life, and I’m honored to share a bit of my story today. You can find more of my work at www.drjorecoverycoaching.com.  
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Resources:
Rewired by Erica Spiegelman - a recovery program based on self reflection and journaling.
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We would love to hear about your experience with AA! We know it works for a lot of people, and it doesn't work for others, and we're always open to hearing stories from both sides of the fence. Come share your thoughts on Instagram: @throughtheglassrecovery or on Facebook
Find full show notes and other resources on our website: throughtheglassrecovery.com
 

"Anger is what stood in front of me to protect me."
In this roundtable discussion, we dig into the topic of anger. We know that anger can be a driving force behind alcohol use, which means we need to not only understand why we get so angry, but also have the tools to deal with our anger in productive ways. Listen as five people share what they've learned about managing anger in recovery.
Key topics in this episode:
Facing the shame and guilt surrounding anger
Specific tools to release anger
Learning to see anger as a signal, and listen to it
Projecting anger toward others, when we are really angry with ourselves
Taking responsibility for your part of the anger you experience
The practice of forgiveness and how it impacts the way we experience anger
Using anger as an excuse for drinking or other unhealthy behaviors
"I can have a healthy relationship with anger."
Tools for coping with anger:
Write a goodbye letter to anger
Practice taking time outs - sooner rather than later
Learn to name anger when it arises
Validate your anger so that you aren't fighting it
Do you struggle with managing anger in recovery? Share your story with us on Instagram @throughtheglassrecovery
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Meet our guests:
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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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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My name is Amy and I am a recovering alcoholic that currently resides in Texas. I have dealt with varying degrees of my alcoholism in the 33 years that I was active in my addiction. I took my first drink with the intent to “get drunk” at 13. In January 2024, I started my healing and sobriety journey. 
 I am grateful to be in recovery and hope to help others along in their journey by sharing my story authentically. You are welcome to reach out to me through social media or email. 
Email: aamymay24@gmail.com
Tiktok: The Sober Amy May @kittykitty_no-no

In this Valentine's Day episode, we've asked our guests how love shows up differently now that they're sober. Not just in romantic relationships, but also in relationships with family and friends, and - perhaps most importantly - how love shows up in their relationships with themselves.
"I always equated love with approval."
When we stop drinking alcohol and we start showing up differently in our lives, we start seeing that how we showed and accepted love wasn't healthy, and it often wasn't realistic. Learning how to love ourselves, so we can share that love with others, is one of the most fulfilling aspects of living a sober life.
Listen as we chat with Sarah Jane and Will about love and relationships in recovery.
In this episode:
Self hatred vs. self love
Understanding who you are
Mirror Talk - what it is, and how it's done
Making personal ammends and practicing self-forgiveness
That moment when you realize that drinking isn't self love at all
Relationships must constantly evolve together - even moreso in recovery
The childhood messages we received from parents defines the way we see love today
People pleasing to gain approval is, in fact, not the same thing as being loved
We must love our whole selves - including our flaws and shortcomings
Love leaves space for genuine connections.
You can't shame yourself into lasting change; you can only love yourself there.
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Will Gordon – a Boston native and middle school teacher whose hard-fought battle with alcohol addiction led to total organ failure and a life-saving double transplant in 2023. Through the gift of organ donation and unwavering support from my wife and family, I found my way back from the edge. Today, I share my journey from rock bottom to recovery with raw honesty and hard-earned hope hosting TheWillpowerPodcast, reminding others that even our darkest chapters can lead to meaningful change.
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Sarah-Jane is the founder of Content Healers, a business dedicated to helping individuals restore balance and well-being through sound healing and energy healing practices. With 4 years of personal sobriety, Sarah-Jane brings a deep sense of resilience and commitment to healing into her work. A proud mother of four boys, she understands the importance of nurturing both oneself and others.
She uses her expertise to guide others on their journey to physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness, offering transformative healing experiences for those ready to make lasting changes in their lives.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dtbvq1KhG
https://www.instagram.com/content_healers?igsh=aXJ3NWh5OXhwajYx
Contenthealers.co.uk

For most people, the idea of recovering out loud fills them with anxiety and incites an instant cringe. All those stories, all that shame... why would you share it with others? But often, at some point in one's journey, they realize that their story has the potential to lead others to the same freedom they've found.
When you've found freedom from addiction, it's natural to want to help others find their way there, too.
In this episode, we're joined by John, Corey, Kristyna, and Jeff, who have all chosen to talk openly about their journey to sobriety. Some have gone fully public, talking about it in front of huge audiences. Others have quietly shared bits and pieces with people close to them. These are their stories - the fears they faced, the fulfillment they gained, and how their experiences with recovering out loud turned out.
In this episode:
The pros and cons of the anonymity factor of Alcoholics Anonymous
What it's like to "come out" as sober in a drinking culture
Knowing when you're ready to share
How our society is changing, and becoming more open and supportive of the choice to be alcohol free
Overcoming shame and embarrassment
The difference between sharing and oversharing
Sharing information about your recovery at work, with bosses or HR
Defining "stigma" and what it means to recovering out loud
The language we use surrounding addiction recovery goes a long way in making it more comfortable for others
"One day, you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will become someone else's survival guide." - Brene' Brown
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John began drinking to manage social anxiety and perfectionism present all his life.  As his drinking escalated, he appeared on the outside to be functioning - married, two kids, a practicing physician.  But on the inside he was struggling to hold it all together.  It took him years of trying to moderate before he realized he had to quit drinking, then many tries to actually stop drinking.  He’s now sober over 3 years and more at peace than ever.
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Kristyna is a 45-year-old fierce woman, wife, and mother of 2 boys, ages 8 & 9. She is a born and raised SOUTH Jersey girl – GO BIRDS! Kristyna grew up around alcohol and had her first drink at 12 or 13 years old. From then on it was pretty much drinking whenever possible. In her 20’s she began to really feel thenegative effects of her drinking. She was drinking till she blacked out every weekend and doing things she would never have done sober. But it was just a weekend thing – no big deal! It continued like that for years. She even tried to learn how to prevent blackouts; not by quitting drinking though! Then in 2014, she had enough; enough of the shame and the guilt, she quit. Kristyna had her sons in 2015 and 2016 and stayed sober. Then, slowly, she got sucked into the mommy wine culture which, eventually,spiraled out of control. Then in 2024, after 2 to 3 years of daily drinking till blackout and constant depression, anxiety, shame, and guilt, she was ready to try again. At the recommendation of her therapist, she decided to try 30 days alcohol free. That was on June 2, 2024 and she never thought she would make it to day 30 and today she is over 7 months alcohol free and never going back.
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Jeff Breedlove serves as strategic policy advisor for the Georgia Council for Recoveryand the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association as well as CEO for the AmericanAddiction Recovery Association.  Jeff serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia School of Addiction Studies, theGeorgia Faith & Recovery Collaboration, and the Regional Advisory Board for theRx Summit.Jeff was announced as a member of the 2023 Atlanta Business Chronicle Power 10:Health Care List as one of the 10 most powerful health care leaders in Georgia.Jeff was awarded a personal proclamation from Governor Brain Kemp in September2023 as an outstanding advocate for peer led recovery in Georgia.
Jeff is married to Kathryn Ballou; they reside in the Grant Park neighborhood in Atlanta.They have a son, Lawrence Foster “Jack” Breedlove, who was born in Gansu, ThePeople’s Republic of China.  He is a person in long-term recovery with a passion toshare his story so others know Recovery is real.
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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 
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We tend to use the words recovery and sobriety interchangeably. Reality is that they are two very different things.
Generally sobriety is defined as not using a mind altering substance. Recovery is doing the healing and processing necessary to remain free of the substance and live a happy and fulfilling life without it.
In this podcast episode, we have invited Steve, Mike, and Will to join us for a conversation about what recovery has looked like in their lives. Recovery looks different for every person, based on their life experiences and their needs. Listen as these three men - plus your hosts, Steve and Julie - share how they figured out what needed healing, and the steps they took to do the work of recovery.
"Alcohol allowed me to tolerate things I should never have tolerated. Recovery requires me to make changes so that I'm not tolerating anymore."
In this episode:
"Sober is a state of mind"
How to find your why
Using therapy, journaling, internet support systems to aid in self discovery
Letting go of the identity of "drinker"
The unseen dangers of the functioning alcoholic
Post Traumatic Stress vs. Post Traumatic Growth
How a 30 day committment could be your answer
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My name is Mike and I recently celebrated 6 years of sobriety, my sober date is 01/17/18. I publish a newsletter for men living a sober lifestyle called Own Sobriety. It can be found at ownsobriety.com and @ownsobriety on Instagram, Facebook & X (Twitter). I also post sober lifestyle content on my personal Instagram, @mikeunwasted.
I was an all-the-time drinker for 9 years, from age 25 to 34. Every aspect of my life revolved around alcohol and I suffered from several physical & mental health issues. It took several attempts to make sobriety stick, but my life is completely different today. I’ve been able to hold a job and advance my career, address health issues head-on, and create a stable, happy lifestyle. I have recovered out loud from the beginning of my sober journey and credit the decision to my long-term success.
Through Own Sobriety, I am able to connect with other men who are living a sober lifestyle which keeps me grounded to my own sobriety. Building a sober community and maintaining a support system has been critical to keeping me on track in sobriety. Even after 6 years of sobriety, I do my best not to take a single day for granted and constantly remind myself how bad it was. I worked my ass off in early sobriety to get to this point and build a life that no longer has room for or a need for alcohol.
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Will Gordon - a Boston native and middle school teacher whose hard-fought battle with alcohol addiction led to total organ failure and a life-saving double transplant in 2023. Through the gift of organ donation and unwavering support from my wife and family, I found my way back from the edge. Today, I share my journey from rock bottom to recovery with raw honesty and hard-earned hope hosting TheWillpowerPodcast, reminding others that even our darkest chapters can lead to meaningful change.
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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