Recovery Rocks: Recent Episodes
Recovery Rocks
Co-hosted by recovery advocates Lisa Smith and Tawny Lara. A rock and roll-loving Gen X lawyer in 12-step recovery from addiction to alcohol and drugs. An equally rock-obsessed Millennial writer who found addiction recovery through blogging. Give them a couple microphones and you get the Recovery Rocks podcast, a new kind of discussion about the issues impacting those who struggle and recover, reflecting different perspectives, but finding much in common.
Tawny has recently experienced the loss of several friends from drugs, alcohol and by suicide, mainly in Waco, Texas, where she grew up. It’s a mental health desert where many are encouraged to “pray away” addiction or depression. She and Lisa talk about coping with grief in sobriety, which means feeling your feelings and leaning into resources.
Music Minute features KISS and King’s X.
Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - https://988lifeline.org/
Pre-order Gina Moffa’s book, MOVING ON DOESN'T MEAN LETTING GO
Find Gina on Instagram
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid.
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s sober dating advice column, "Beyond Liquid Courage" Click here to submit a question.
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Tawny and Lisa talk to (and fangirl!) Ann Dowsett Johnston, the bestselling author of DRINK: THE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WOMEN AND ALCOHOL, the book that broke the story on the pinking of the alcohol market and the closing of the risky drinking gender gap. Now a psychotherapist, Ann also runs her popular memoir-writing course called Writing Your Recovery, open to women. They talk about the changes in the recovery community over the last 10 years and the power of writing our truth.
To sign up for Ann’s October workshop, click here or here.
Music Minute features Van Morrison.
This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s sober dating advice column, "Beyond Liquid Courage" Click here to submit a question.
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Tawny is full-steam ahead on huge projects (you can pre-order her book!), including a new sober dating and relationships newsletter. She and Lisa talk about ways to manage busy – and not so busy – times. They look at their energy budgets (available time and resources) like money in a bank account. It means not saying yes to everything. It also means building in time to rest and take a break. They use meditation and mindfulness tools to avoid distraction. And they ask for help when they need it.
Music Minute features Drake and Guns ‘n Roses.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid.
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s sober dating advice column, "Beyond Liquid Courage" Click here to submit a question.
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Tawny and Lisa talk about FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) and FOMA (Fear of Missing Alcohol). Feelings of missing out are common, particularly when social media is full of friends and family on seemingly perfect summer vacations. And for those in early sobriety these feelings can be particularly tough. But there are lots of ways to combat it. And you can even find the JOMO that Tawny and Lisa truly love!
Music Minute features The Who, The Stones, Lana Del Rey, Sublime, and Hanson.
This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s sober dating advice column, "Beyond Liquid Courage"Click here to submit a question.
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Tawny and Lisa talk about Ozempic, a diabetes medication that can have the side effect of weight loss. Word of that side effect caused a run on the drug that led to a supply shortage for people with diabetes. Normalizing off-label use of a prescription drug (as opposed to taking a weight-management drug while under a doctor’s care) as a route to losing weight undermines the progress society has made on body positivity. It perpetuates stigma around body size and shape. And for Tawny and Lisa, even if they had a had a pill to remove their cravings, they still would have needed community, therapy and support for to be mentally healthy.
Music Minute features Megan Trainor, Lizzo and Eminem
Read What Ozempic Reveals About Desire
Check out Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today atsourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid.
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s sober dating, sex, and relationships advice column, Beyond Liquid Courage.
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Tawny and Lisa talk about the challenges – and big rewards – of sober travel. Particularly when everyone is in “vacation mode,” more booze will be flowing, and we can feel left out. It also takes us out of our routines and comfort zones. Their trick is to bring their sobriety toolkits along with us for support. Connecting with supportive friends and family while away, appreciating being fully present in the unique moment, and carving out time for themselves help keep Tawny and Lisa sober on vacay.
Music Minute features Red Hot Chili Peppers, The GoGos and Madonna
This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks
Check out Il Meneghello Tarot
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s sober dating, sex, and relationships advice column, Beyond Liquid Courage.
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Tawny and Lisa talk about the excitement leading up to Tawny’s book launch on September 19! She also recently launched a weekly advice column called “Beyond Liquid Courage,” diving into all of the tricky questions and issues around sober sex and dating. It also features interviews, resources, and recommendations. She and Lisa also discuss the importance of building a community of support and connection on an ongoing basis both online and IRL.
Music Minute features the Beatles and Depeche Mode.
Sign up for "Beyond Liquid Courage"
Tawny has an article in Tracy Anderson's Mindy, Body & Soul Magazine.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today atsourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid.
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s sober dating, sex, and relationships advice column, Beyond Liquid Courage.
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Tawny and Lisa talk about the 988 Lifeline, a new national service modeled after the 911 emergency hotline. 988 is focused on suicide and mental health crisis support. Not only can those in need call 988, but they can also text, an important feature for many who are more comfortable communicating with a counselor that way. The Lifeline also provides targeted support for LGBTQ+, Veterans, Blacks, Native Americans, mothers, and more at-risk populations. It meets people where they are.
Music Minute features Blondie, Logic, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce.
Check out To Write Love on Her Heart
This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s sober dating, sex, and relationships advice column, Beyond Liquid Courage.
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Tawny and Lisa talk about the Netflix series, “Wellmania,” starring Celeste Barber. The show knocks down the idea that a fad diet or a stay at a spa will get us “well.” It’s also a realistic portrayal of the panic attacks and blacking out from anxiety that many of us have experienced. They also talk about John Mulaney’s stand-up comedy special, “Baby J.” Stories that make them think, “that used to be me,” are cathartic and a good reminder of why they stay sober.
Music Minute features the Wellmania soundtrack, Bo Burnham's Inside, and Matchbox 20.
Check out Wellmania
Follow Celeste Barber on Instagram.
Watch Jon Mulaney’s Baby J.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid.
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s sober dating, sex, and relationships advice column, Beyond Liquid Courage.
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Recently recognized by Axios Charlotte on its list of “25 women helping to shape Charlotte in 2023," Molly Ruggere is a writer, Certified Lumia Life Coach, Certified This Naked Mind Coach and Founder of Counterculture Club, a global alcohol-free community, based in Charlotte, NC, challenging the mainstream belief that alcohol is a necessity for connection and a fulfilling, fun life, using social proof and science. They talk about how Molly left New York City for Charlotte to get sober and the vibrant online and IRL community for folks choosing not to drink, even for an evening.
Music Minute features Incubus, Flaming Lips and going to live music shows sober.
Click here to check out all things Counterculture Club.
Click here to learn about Molly’s coaching practice.
Find Molly and Counterculture Club on Instagram.
This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Tawny and Lisa talk to acclaimed author and friend, Ruby Warrington, about her new book, WOMEN WITHOUT KIDS: THE REVOLUTIONARY RISE OF AN UNSUNG SISTERHOOD. Many listeners will know Ruby from her groundbreaking book, SOBER CURIOUS, which coined the term. With 20+ years’ experience as a lifestyle journalist and editor, Ruby is known as an astute cultural commentator and true thought leader. They talk about society’s view on women without kids, generational caretaking, and how we value what we do with our lives.
Music Minute features Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan.
Click here for all things Ruby.
Buy WOMEN WITHOUT KIDS.
Click here to listen to our 2019 episode with Ruby and Tawny’s Dad.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid.
Pre-Order Tawny’s book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar
This episode is sponsored by Soberlink's commitment to accountability for folks in recovery. Request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks
Tawny and Lisa talk to Sarah Levy, the author of the fantastic new book, “Drinking Games.” The book is part memoir and part social critique, telling the story of how Sarah drank and lived― and how, for her, the last drink was just the beginning. They talk about keeping friends in sobriety, the power of community, social media, and the importance of avoiding the “compare and despair” mentality.
Music Minute features the Hamilton soundtrack.
Buy Drinking Games.
Check Sarah out on Instagram.
Find all things Sarah here.
Pre-Order Tawny’s book,Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s Sober Dating & Relationships Column, Beyond Liquid Courage
Purchase Lisa’s memoir,Girl Walks Out of a Bar
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid
Laura is an alcohol-free advocate and longtime friend of Tawny and Lisa. She’s the founder of Zero Proof Nation and Booze Free in DC, two platforms focused on highlighting non-alcoholic beverages and the culture driving their growth. Laura was recently in London to be a judge at the inaugural World Alcohol Free Awards! They talk all things NA drinks and about how working to normalize NA consumption helps Laura’s own sobriety.
Music Minute features Dispatch and Regina Spector
Check out Zero Proof Nation
And Booze Free in DC
Find Laura on Instagram: @wearsober and @zeroproofnation
Contribute to Laura’s crowdsourcing campaign!
Pre-Order Tawny’s book,Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze
Subscribe to Tawny’s Sober Dating & Relationships Column, Beyond Liquid Courage
Purchase Lisa’s memoir,Girl Walks Out of a Bar
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is type of “situational” depression. It happens during certain
seasons of the year—most often fall or winter. Shorter days and less daylight may trigger a
chemical change in the brain leading to symptoms of depression. Light therapy and
antidepressants can help treat SAD. Tawny and Lisa talk about their experiences with SAD and
what helps them.
Music Minute features Annie Lennox, Garbage, Soundgarden, and Gary Allen. They also laugh at Ilana Glazer brilliant portrayal of SAD on an episode of Broad City.
Info on Seasonal Affective Disorder
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies.
Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid
Tawny and Lisa talk about coming through challenging periods and how they’re taking care of
themselves. Tawny has turned in her book, “DRY HUMPING,” out next fall! And Lisa has been
helping her mom transition into the next phase of life. When they experience overwhelming and
stressful situations, they both reach into their sobriety tool kit. And they find what brings them
Joy.
Music Minute features Tawny’s recent concert and show experiences: Melissa Etheridge, Funny
Girl, and Lizzo. They also discuss Leigh Stein’s brilliant satirical novel, Self Care
Learn more about our sponsor, Soberlink, and request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks
Tawny and Lisa are back together, and they’re talking about the holidays. Sometimes called the Bermuda Triangle of sober life, they can be a lot happier when we set and maintain boundaries, check in with how we’re feeling throughout, and celebrate in ways that are meaningful to us. They also talk about great zero-proof options for holiday events. Go to Tawny’s website for discount codes! https://www.tawnylara.com/affiliates
Music Minute features Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, and Melissa Etheridge.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies.
Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid
Tawny and special guest co-host Irina chat with actor, radio personality, and sober badass, Carlos Navarro. You might have seen him on TV in "Bloodline," "The Walking Dead," and most recently, Marvel's "Hawkeye." Carlos wasn't always on top. His story will connect with anyone who has ever experienced life's highs and lows and struggled with addiction. He has been broke, jobless, and self-destructive, drank too much, partied too hard, earned three mugshots, and landed in jail after an infamous on-stage fight in 2006 with a former radio colleague. But Carlos turned it around in 2007 by self-motivating, doing the work on himself to be a better human, digging deeper spiritually, and yes, giving up drinking. When he changed his thinking and gave up alcohol, it became a pivotal moment in his life and career taking off. Seven years sober, he’s now sharing his “mugshot to Marvel” journey to recovery.
The Music Minute highlights Eminem and Billy Joel.
Guest Co-Host: Irina Gonzalez
Learn more about our sponsor, Soberlink, and request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks
Learn more about Carlos: www.itstartswithatap.com
Tawny is Mexican, Jewish, and 100% Heavy Metal. Special guest co-host Irina is a Cuban and Russian immigrant. But are they Latina? Spoiler alert: YES! In this intimate episode about identity and culture, Irina talks about growing up in Florida around only fellow Cubans while Tawny discusses not feeling “Mexican enough” despite growing up in Texas, teaching Zumba, and learning Spanish. How have these feelings impacted their recovery? What is machismo culture, and how does it relate to drinking? They discuss the lack of Latinx resources for sober folks and the problematic role that religion often plays in Latinx folks seeking help for mental health. Irina shares her advice for Latinas in recovery who want to stay sober while embracing their culture.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies.
Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid
Guest Co-Host: Irina Gonzalez
Tawny's Past Life as a Zumba Instructor
Sober Latinx Celebrities
Irina's Sobriety and Latinx Articles:
Why It’s Difficult to Talk About Recovery As a Latina
How to Navigate Latinx Family Gatherings When You're Sober
5 Ways To Set Boundaries With Familia When Staying Sober
The “B” in LGBTQIA+ is often seen as flaky, a phase, or promiscuous. Although we’re the largest subsect of the queer population, many bisexuals feel like they are not enough — which can impact our recovery. Tawny and special guest co-host Irina discuss how their bisexuality impacts their recovery, how they realized they were queer, and some of the bisexual characters on TV that impacted public views of bisexuality. They discuss the biggest bisexual myth: No, it’s not synonymous with polyamory. And they share how drinking impacted their views of themselves as bisexuals and how being sober has opened up their queer hearts. Finally, they share a few resources for those who think they may be bi or want to get more comfortable with their sexuality.
The Music Minute celebrates Crazy Ex Girlfriend's "Gettin' Bi" and "Heavy Boobs"
Guest Co-Host: Irina Gonzalez
Learn more about our sponsor, Soberlink, and request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rocks
Tawny's Playboy Essay
Tawny's Sobriety & Bisexuality Essay
Irina's Sobriety & Bisexuality Essay
Bisexual Icons to follow: Zachary Zane and Yours Truly
Writing and journaling can often be a big part of our recovery — some of us feel the need to share our stories with the world (or a close few), to heal through our words, and help others through shared experiences. Tawny and special guest co-host Irina talk about how they first met (writing!), how they connected and became writing besties through working on Tawny’s book, and what that process has been like. They give an inside baseball look at the publishing industry and how long it can take between that spark of an idea and seeing your book in bookstores. And of course, they discuss the music that gets them writing. The Music Minute highlights Macklemore's "10,000 Hours" and Tawny's writing playlist on Spotify.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies.
Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid
Guest Co-Host: Irina Gonzalez
What does recovery from alcohol use disorder look like if you have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Special guest co-host Irina and Tawny talk about getting a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis and how it impacts Irina’s sobriety today. They talk about the three different sub-types of ADHD, how those sub-types present differently in men vs women, and some of the most common (and uncommon!) symptoms. And Irina gives some tips for neurotypicals in love with someone who is neurodivergent. They also discuss what dopamine has to do with drinking, recovery, and ADHD.
Learn more about our sponsor, Soberlink, and request an exclusive $50 off promo code by visiting: www.soberlink.com/recovery-rock
Guest Co-Host: Irina Gonzalez
Irina's talk on ADHD in Recovery
And now for something completely different…Lisa chats with Eric Miranda, one of her very first and closest friends in recovery. They talk about the amazing things that can happen in sobriety, making sober friends, the importance of humor, and, of course, rock music! They also talk about food, other substances, and finding balance in recovery.
Music Minute features live music with the Rolling Stones and U2.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
Lisa interviews Karolina Rzadkowolska, author of “Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You,” and a recovery coach. Like many of us, Karolina found herself in an unfulfilling career, not feeling good about herself, and drinking to mask the issues. But a break from alcohol led her to a whole new life that she now shares with others who could benefit from taking a break. She and Lisa chat about it all.
You can find all things Karolina here: https://euphoricaf.com/
Karolina’s book:
Music Minute features Portugal the Man and No Doubt.
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
Lisa interviews Karolina Rzadkowolska, author of “Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You,” and a recovery coach. Like many of us, Karolina found herself in an unfulfilling career, not feeling good about herself, and drinking to mask the issues. But a break from alcohol led her to a whole new life that she now shares with others who could benefit from taking a break. She and Lisa chat about it all.
You can find all things Karolina here: https://euphoricaf.com/
Karolina’s book:
Music Minute features Portugal the Man and No Doubt.
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
With Tawny on a book hiatus, Lisa interviews Shelby John, a therapist, recovery coach, and host of the Confident Sober Women podcast. She is also the author, of “Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Recovery.” Shelby focuses on issues such as facing the wreckage of the past, building confidence, and parenting in sobriety.
Music Minute features classic rock, worship music, and women rappers.
You can find Shelby here:
https://shelbyjohncoaching.com/
Confident Sober Women podcast: https://confidentsoberwomen.buzzsprout.com/
Shelby's book:
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
With Tawny on a book hiatus, Lisa interviews Shelby John, a therapist, recovery coach, and host of the Confident Sober Women podcast. She is also the author, of “Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Recovery.” Shelby focuses on issues such as facing the wreckage of the past, building confidence, and parenting in sobriety.
Music Minute features classic rock, worship music, and women rappers.
You can find Shelby here:
https://shelbyjohncoaching.com/
Confident Sober Women podcast: https://confidentsoberwomen.buzzsprout.com/
Shelby's book:
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
What does it mean to “practice” gratitude beyond the idea of just feeling #grateful? It’s about actually
taking an action. It can be looking up at the ceiling and saying “thank you” to the sky for waking
up sober, making a quick gratitude list in the morning, or countering negative thoughts with
reasons to be grateful. Over time, practicing gratitude can become another sober reflex. Having a
baseline level of gratitude helps us find it when we need it most.
Music Minute features Natalie Merchant, Alanis Morrisette, and Dido/Eminem.
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
What does it mean to “practice” gratitude beyond the idea of just feeling #grateful? It’s about actually
taking an action. It can be looking up at the ceiling and saying “thank you” to the sky for waking
up sober, making a quick gratitude list in the morning, or countering negative thoughts with
reasons to be grateful. Over time, practicing gratitude can become another sober reflex. Having a
baseline level of gratitude helps us find it when we need it most.
Music Minute features Natalie Merchant, Alanis Morrisette, and Dido/Eminem.
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
There are all kinds of ways to find support in recovery. From just following hashtags to meeting
new friends to getting more involved, opportunities are all over. Tawny and Lisa talk about several free support groups that exist that maybe you haven't heard of. They also support modes of harm reduction for anyone who can help.
Below are links to some of their favorite groups.
Music Minute/Pop Culture Minute features Hulu’s “The Bear,” which includes Al-Alon.
Check out the links below:
Al-Anon: https://al-anon.org/
Codependents Anonymous: https://coda.org/
Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA): https://adultchildren.org/
She Recovers: https://sherecovers.org/
Ruby Warrington (Sober Curious): http://www.rubywarrington.com/
SMART Recovery: https://www.smartrecovery.org/
Seltzer Squad: https://www.seltzersquad.com/
Big Vision: https://www.bigvision.nyc/
Road Recovery: https://roadrecovery.org/
Green Recovery and Support (GRASS): https://greenrecoverysupport.com/
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
There are all kinds of ways to find support in recovery. From just following hashtags to meeting
new friends to getting more involved, opportunities are all over. Tawny and Lisa talk about several free support groups that exist that maybe you haven't heard of. They also support modes of harm reduction for anyone who can help.
Below are links to some of their favorite groups.
Music Minute/Pop Culture Minute features Hulu’s “The Bear,” which includes Al-Alon.
Check out the links below:
Al-Anon: https://al-anon.org/
Codependents Anonymous: https://coda.org/
Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA): https://adultchildren.org/
She Recovers: https://sherecovers.org/
Ruby Warrington (Sober Curious): http://www.rubywarrington.com/
SMART Recovery: https://www.smartrecovery.org/
Seltzer Squad: https://www.seltzersquad.com/
Big Vision: https://www.bigvision.nyc/
Road Recovery: https://roadrecovery.org/
Green Recovery and Support (GRASS): https://greenrecoverysupport.com/
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
What is it like to tell people who that you don’t drink? And when is the right time? It’s a complicated issue because there are so many layers. Everyone’s story is their own and no one else is entitled to your story. You get to choose who knows what and when. Tawny and Lisa talk about their different experiences telling family, friends, and the world about their decisions to stop drinking.
Check out Tawny’s great article on sharing your sobriety with someone you’re dating:
https://www.workithealth.com/blog/when-to-come-out-as-sober-on-a-date/
Music Minute features the Diana Ross, The Pretenders, and ‘Til Tuesday.
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
What is your “why” for not drinking and why do we have to keep it in mind? For Tawny and
Lisa, remembering their “why” when things get hard or a drink looks good, has been a lifesaver.
At the start, their reasons focused on not wanting to die and not wanting to go back to old
misery. But over time their “whys” also became about wanting to be present for the lives they
built and looking forward to the future with hope. Your reason "why" is an important tool in the Sobriety Toolbox.
Check out Tawny’s great article on the subject: https://www.workithealth.com/blog/why-quit-drinking
Music Minute features Annie Lennox, 4 Non Blondes, and No Doubt.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
Tawny and Lisa talk to Ashley Allen, founder of the clothing brand Ex-Party Girl. Ashley is a
reformed party girl who started her company to negate shame from past mistakes when drinking.
Once she got sober, she realized that she was having more fun without booze than being a hot
mess, and embraced recovery. They talk about how far we can come when we put down the
bottle and how essential it is to keep a sense of humor. Ashley is living proof that there is always
hope, no matter how many times someone has relapsed in the past.
Music Minute features Katy Perry’s music and De Soi, her zero-proof aperitif.
Check out Ex-Party Girl: https://expartygirlla.com/
Giant shout out to our friend Chris Marshall of Sans Bar! Check out all the goings on here:
https://www.thesansbar.com/
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
Tawny and Lisa talk about how they deal with all the discomforts, big and small, that come with
traveling. Being in transit somewhere is the epitome of a situation in which we have no control
over what happens, but we do have control over how we react. They incorporate HALT (don’t
get Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired into every step). And when it comes to navigating events
like parties or weddings, they have found that in sobriety they have a lot more choices about
where they want to show up and how.
Music Minute features Billy Idol, Stone Temple Pilots, and the J. Lo and Lady Gaga
documentaries.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
Tawny and Lisa go off script and interview each other. It’s a lightning round, hitting on topics
from their favorite concerts and music, to the meanings of Tawny’s tattoos, to Lisa’s former
legal practice, and everything in between. They even learn a thing or two about each other. As
always, they express their gratitude for being able to find sober and meaningful lives.
Music Minute is throughout and features Buck Cherry, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Who,
and many more.
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
Tawny and Lisa talk to Claire Comai, founder of Rehab Barbie designs. Her clothing and jewelry
are created to smash the stigma around recovery and to celebrate sobriety. They talk about
Claire’s story of getting sober young, taking it all one day at a time, and combining her career in
the fashion industry with her passion for connecting with others.
Music Minute features Eminem, as both an artist and sober icon.
https://rehabbarbie.com/ and @rehabbarbiestudio
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
Tawny and Lisa talk about a recent Hinge (yes, the dating app) survey showing that 75% of
Hinge daters say grabbing a drink is not their first date choice. Singles were more interested in
making a real connection and were also more focused on their physical and mental health.
Tawny and Lisa also talk about fun zero-proof date ideas. Think coffee on a walk, or hitting a
museum, botanical garden. Maybe even consider a booze-free night cap!
Music Minute features Taylor Swift. And a bonus Lit Minute features Tawny’s essay in the new
“Sex and the Single Woman” anthology updating Helen Gurley Brown’s 1962 “Sex and the
Single Girl.”
Read about the Hinge study
Sober date ideas from Tawny
Buy “Sex and the Single Woman”
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
Tawny and Lisa chat with sobriety and self-esteem coach Arlina Allen, host of the One Day at a Time podcast. They talk about Arlina’s recovery story, how she started her podcast in 2016, and how she works with her coaching clients. Arlina’s approach includes making people feel seen, heard, and understood so that they can view challenges in context and move past what’s holding them back. They talk about hypnotherapy and how it can help different aspects of our lives. They also talk about addictions to achievement and self-help, which can be hard to recognize and address.
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
Music Minute features Enigma, Alicia Keys, Meghan Trainor, and more.
Find Arlina at @arlinaallen at https://www.soberlifeschool.com/
Tawny and Lisa talk about what spirituality means to them. Tawny is a “spiritual skeptic” whose spirituality is about feeling connected to herself. Lisa found a higher power in AA. Both of them love incorporating tools like astrology, Tarot, and self-care rituals to reinforce their spirituality. Tawny talks about “syncretism,” pulling different aspects of religions and spiritual practices to create your own spiritual system. As with so many things, spirituality can cover anything that is meaningful to someone.
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
Music Minute features REM, Kate Bush, and the comedy of George Carlin.
Tawny and Lisa talk about the triggers of summer – vacations, BBQs, day drinking, and the extra push to “celebrate.” For themselves, they focus on the specifics of the event or activity. Will there be an actual activity or are people inviting us to just watch them drink? If the latter, Hard pass! They also talk about zero-proof drinks, a choice they love for anyone who is comfortable with them. Tawny goes through some fantastic new discounts on certain beverages for listeners (listed below).
This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com
Music Minute features Katy Perry, Talking Heads, Stone Temple Pilots, and “mondegreen” (the mishearing of song lyrics).
Tawny got a book deal!! She and Lisa are excited AF. DRY HUMPING, out September 2023, is a booze-free guide to sex, dating, and relationships. She and Lisa dig in about Tawny’s process, what emotions have come up, and how she’s handling them. They also talk about the challenge to balance writing (or other things they love) with the rest of their lives, the drive to help the next person, and the importance of celebrating themselves in sobriety.
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
Music Minute includes finding inspiration in music, including Jim Morrison, Talking Heads, Ke$ha, Miley Cyrus, and Harry Styles.
A listener wrote to ask Tawny, “Is sobriety a skill?” Tawny and Lisa say yes. It’s a skill they develop, practice daily, keep fresh, and try to grow from. But it’s also a skill that, like strength and endurance at the gym, disappears if we stop working it. That’s why they use the tools in their sobriety toolkits, like exercise, connecting with others in recovery, meditation, and, for Lisa, the 12 Steps. It’s also why they both say that they are “in recovery” and not “recovered.”
Music Minute includes Metallica, Pitbull, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Sour Humanoid Vinegar - https://www.sourhumanoid.com/
The last time Tawny and Lisa talked about technology and social media addiction was pre-pandemic. The problem has gotten worse since but the core problems remain the same. Many of us are constantly drawn to our phones, whether checking for social media updates, new texts and emails, or to stream. They talk about their own struggles in this area, including attempts to . reduce, moderate, or abstain from technology apps. These habits are hard to break. But there’s help! Internet Addicts Anonymous (ITAA) has a lot of great information that can be engaged with on many different levels.
Music Minute features Bo Burnham.
Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous: internetaddictsanonymous.org
How to Break Up with Your Phone: https://phonebreakup.com/
24/6 Giving Up Screens One Day a Week: https://www.tiffanyshlain.com/24-6book
It started when Tawny sent Lisa a Facebook memory of Tawny getting kicked out of a Blue Oyster Cult concert. They decided they had much to discuss on this topic! The conversation includes acknowledging the past but not dwelling on it, not beating themselves up about things they’ve done, and not being driven by shame or regret. Lisa talks about resentments and making amends in 12-Step. And they both agree that they wouldn’t be where they are today without those low moments that lead to growth.
Music Minute features Rod Stewart, Def Leppard.
Tawny and Lisa chat with Irina Gonzales, an editor and a freelance writer covering parenting, recovery, and Latinx culture. She also hosts the podcast, Pandemic Mama. The conversation includes the impact of the pandemic on women and caretakers in general, with more anxiety and uncertainty leading to more self-medicating with substances and behaviors. They talk about stigma, mental health diagnoses, and implications of the terminology we use.
Music Minute features Hamilton, Demi Lovato, and Meghan Trainor.
All about Irina: http://irinagonzalez.com/
Pandemic Mama podcast: http://irinagonzalez.com/pandemicmamapod/
On IG @msirinagonzalez
Tawny and Lisa talk with Casey Davidson, of Hello Someday Coaching and the Hello Someday podcast. She’s a certified life coach and a Master Practitioner in Core Energy Leadership, who helps other successful women reevaluate their relationship with alcohol, get out of overwhelm, and create lives they love. They talk about the anxiety, imposter syndrome, secrets, and hiding that come along with the spiral downward into problematic drinking. And how that cycle can be broken with honesty and community to build a life you feel good about.
Music Minute features Gym Class Heroes.
Find Casey here: hellosomedaycoaching.com
Tawny and Lisa chat with Pam Gaslow, whose new memoir, Don’t Bring Your Vibrator to Rehab, chronicles her relapse after nearly a decade of sobriety, as well as her recovery from that experience. They talk about saying goodbye to alcohol and drugs, the money we save, sober dating, and coming back to recovery after relapse. The bottom line is that recovery is a journey and there can be relapse along the way. What matters is that we come back to ourselves and our recovery.
Music Minute features Afroman, Glass Animals, and the wonders of the Shazam app.
Check the book: https://www.discoverbooks.com/Dont-Bring-Your-Vibrator-to-Rehab-A-Somewhat-Com-p/0578950049.htm?cond=0005
More about Pam: pamgaslow.com @pamgaslow
Tawny and Lisa talk with Beth Lapides, the creator and host of Los Angeles' groundbreaking alternative comedy show, UnCabaret, where marginalized performers and their allies have told personal, unscripted stories for more than 25 years. She’s now out with an audiobook, So You Need to Decide, speaking with celebrities about difficult decisions they've made in the areas of family, work, love, moving, and spirituality. They talk about recovery, yoga, and the fact that “you can only know what you know when you know it.”
Music Minute features Natasha Beddingfield and Cyndi Lauper.
For more about Beth and her new audiobook, So You Need to Decide: https://www.bethlapides.com/
Check out the recent profile of Beth in Vulture: https://www.vulture.com/article/beth-lapides-uncabaret-good-one-podcast.html
Tawny and Lisa talk with Deni Carise, Ph.D., a founder and the Chief Science Officer of Recovery Centers of America (RCA). Tawny recently met Deni at RCA’s Break Free sober fashion event (yes, a sober fashion event!). At 18, Deni left home to pursue modeling and fell into cocaine addiction. Once she got sober, Deni went back to community college and chased her studies the way she had chased her addiction. Throughout her career, she has helped people all over the world find treatment and recovery. And to cap it off, she finally got to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week!
Music Minute features Freddy Mercury and Queen. The girls also share controversial music takes.
More about Deni: https://recoverycentersofamerica.com/leadership/team/#DeniCarise,Ph.D
Check out RCA: https://recoverycentersofamerica.com/
Katie Mack is a groundbreaking sober creative and the Creator/Producer of Fcking Sober: the first 90 days podcast, which won the 2021 Webby Award for Best Writing and was nominated for Best Limited Series. Tawny and Lisa talked with her about Season 2 of Fcking Sober as well as future seasons. Mack’s mission is to spotlight sober voices that break stereotypes and defy our expectations of “sober people.” They talk community, connection, and the power of our stories to help each other.
Music Minute features the incredible sober musicians who create the soundtrack to F*cking Sober podcast.
Check out F*cking Sober: www.fckingsoberpodcast.com
Learn all about Mack here: www.mackstage.com
Tawny and Lisa tackle a question from a listener: “How do you get a sponsor if you’re not in AA?” For those in recovery outside AA, and for sober-curious people doing dry months and otherwise cutting back or quitting alcohol, having an accountability partner and/or sober community is essential. Lisa talks through what an AA sponsor is and isn’t, as well as what a recovery coach does. Tawny notes the importance of therapy for those who have access, but peer support for anyone and everyone regardless. Resources are listed below.
Music Minute features Bono and Gwen Stefani.
Check out some of Recovery Rocks’ favorite sober and sober-curious communities:
Tempest: https://jointempest.com/
Ruby Warrington’s Sober Curious: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sobercuriousbook
Sober Black Girls Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SBGirlsC
Seltzer Squad Support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/320391232214297/?ref=pages_group_cta
She Recovers Together: https://www.facebook.com/groups/394380537687492
She Recovers Support for Black, Indigenous, & Women of Color: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SHERECOVERSSupportBIWOC
The Luckiest Club: https://www.facebook.com/theluckiestclub
Robin McIntosh is the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Workit Health, which offers clinically-proven virtual care for substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders. Tawny and Lisa talked all about it with her. WorkIt is simply premised on one person helping another person. They have worked hard to make their services as accessible as possible, including rolling out programs covered by private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and MediCal. Workit Health is groundbreaking in providing access to these services to underserved populations. Tawny and Lisa also love that Workit Health is truly oriented around each member. They incorporate real-world solutions including harm reduction.
Music Minute features Doja Cat, Led Zeppelin, Velvet Underground, and Tom Petty
https://www.workithealth.com/
Tawny and Lisa talk about the recent op-ed piece in The New York Times, “We Can’t Work It Out: Why I Finally Broke Up with The Beatles,” by Josh Max. In the column, Josh compares his attachment to The Beatles to the attachments many of us have with the substances we abused. In fact, Tawny analogized it to her past obsession with Jim Morrison. We can lose part of our identities when we become addicted to others, but once we step back, we not only can see our “idols” as human but also better appreciate ourselves for the people we are, imperfections and all.
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
Music Minute features Jim Morrison, Mick Jagger, and Anthony Kiedis.
Read the article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/24/opinion/the-beatles-music.html
Simone Finch is the creator and executive producer of the Freeform/Hulu semi-autobiographical dramedy SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE. The show happens to be Tawny’s and Lisa’s current obsession. They were thrilled to chat with Simone about how the show came about and how its stories and characters hit home. With honesty and humor, the show lays bare the challenges and triumphs of sobriety, including friendships and the people we meet along the way, the ability to actually do the things we only talked about when we were drinking, and the joy of not being the hot mess in the room anymore.
Music Minute features Miley Cyrus and The Doors.
Check out SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE: https://www.freeform.com/shows/single-drunk-female
David Odyssey is a writer, editor, performer, diviner, and cosmic being, who also happens to be sober. And he’s an incredible new friend of the podcast! Tawny and Lisa are taking a Tarot class with him and he has read their birth and sober birth (yes, “sober birth!”) charts. Coming from a non-prescriptive place, David explains how astrology and Tarot can be used as more information or another tool to consider and potentially guide us. Tawny and Lisa love how these practices are also reminders that we are not the center of the universe or always in control.
Music Minute features Annie Lennox (a major Capricorn- Bowie, Sade, FKA Twigs)!
Book a Reading with David Odyssey
This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks
Tawny hosted her first in-person event since the pandemic started in collaboration with the folks at Minus Moonshine, Her Highness, Crisp & Crude! Both she and Lisa have missed being in rooms with people and the energy and good feeling that comes with them. Tawny’s event was an honest, interactive discussion about sober sex, including how to go on a date without drinking, ask for what you want sexually, and find confidence by acknowledging your own bravery in not drinking.
Music Minute features Talking Heads, Paul Simon, and Crisp and Crude’s Spotify playlist
Check out Minus Moonshine, the zero-proof bottle shop in Brooklyn
Check out Crisp&Crude beverages and save 20% with the discount code SOBERSEX
Check out Her Highness NYC
Check out therapist Mike Rosen
Tawny and Lisa both deal with anxiety disorder and, like so many of us, sometimes experience panic attacks. In this episode, they talk about how they handle them in the moment, including through mindfulness, breathwork, and, where appropriate, medication. To proactively lessen their day-to-day anxiety they incorporate yoga, intentionality, and scaling back on news and social media. Especially in those 3 a.m. wide-awake moments, tools are critical to changing the channel in their heads.
Music Minute features Bo Burnham and Eminem.
Check out “In Praise of Slowness” by Carl Honore
The “Sex and the City” reboot, “And Just Like That…,” examines Miranda’s struggle with drinking. Tawny and Lisa have thoughts on a portrayal that hits home in many ways. They were both excited to see their friend Holly Whitaker’s empowering book, “Quit Like a Woman,” featured for those considering putting down the booze. In a show about women’s friendships, depicting what they do to support Miranda is so important. Tawny and Lisa also discuss last season’s Christmas Eve episode of “Euphoria” as one of the most powerful portrayals of addiction and sobriety they’ve seen.
Music Minute features 1998 classics, including Madonna, Lauryn Hill, and Hole.
Tawny and Lisa discuss Tawny’s article in Tempest, “Do I Need to Hit ‘Rock Bottom’ Before Quitting Alcohol?” The answer is no! You don’t have lose everything – or anything – to decide that alcohol isn’t working. For Tawny, it was getting in the way of being the version of herself she wanted to be. It was more like an “AHA” moment. For Lisa, it took actually thinking she was going die in the moment if she didn’t do something. For either of them, though, alcohol use could have led to an accidental or early death. It’s important not to compare ourselves with others when considering “how bad” it has to be to quit. The question is whether life could be better without it.
Music Minute features the Rolling Stones, the B-52s; and Jackson Browne.
https://jointempest.com/resources/rock-bottom-quitting-alcohol/
What happens when you take a sip of your club soda with lime and realize it’s got vodka in it? Or you bite into a chocolate and realize your mouth is full of the liquor it’s filled with? Tawny and Lisa talk about these accidents, which are distinctly different from a slip or a relapse. It’s all about intent. An accidental sip or bite isn’t a relapse but they pay attention to whether it triggers them or takes them back to the bad old days. Which is why it’s always good to be vigilant and acknowledge how it feels. As the article below points out, even everyday foods, herbs, and juices can have some trace alcohol.
Music Minute features The Banana Splits and No Doubt.
Article on ethanol exposure in food: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5421578/
The Banana Splits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMl6HnhFFIA
Tawny and Lisa talk about #skincare, the giant online conversation about skincare routines. Tawny’s article for Mic, “The Best Skincare Routine is Sobriety,” lays out the truth about the damage alcohol does to our skin (not to mention the rest of our bodies). Having better skin is just one of the unanticipated benefits of sobriety. And having a skincare routine that doesn’t include waking up in last night’s makeup is one more way Tawny and Lisa take care of themselves in ways that never happened in their drinking days. They also talk about keeping their routines affordable.
Tawny’s choice is WLDKAT skincare, a vegan line incorporating CBD - https://wldkat.com/
Read Tawny’s article here: https://www.mic.com/life/what-does-alcohol-do-to-your-skin-77026937
Swan Huntley is the author of the new book GETTING CLEAN WITH STEVIE GREEN, a novel about one woman’s messy (and very funny) journey from self-delusion to self-acceptance. Lisa couldn’t put the book down and talked to Swan, who’s been sober for 11 years, all about it. They covered the humor we find in our stories, letting go of trying to control all we encounter, and learning to be kind to ourselves, as well as how there is no right or wrong way to recover.
Music Minute features classic Counting Crows.
You can find Swan’s writing and more here: https://www.swanhuntley.com/
New Year, same pandemic. Tawny and Lisa talk about the keeping sane in a continuing crazy time. One key is not putting pressure on themselves with New Year’s resolutions or other vows to “fix” things. Even something like meditating can become a stressor if the pressure to do it is amped up. It’s all about progress, not perfection, and staying in the day. They also talk about the fun they’re having taking an online Tarot class together. There’s joy to be found in sharing hobbies that don’t feel like “work.”
Music Minute features Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, and Season of the Witch.
Sponsor: soberlink.com
Shahjehan Khan is the creator and host of KING OF THE WORLD, a riveting, bingeable podcast about his experience as a Pakistani American Muslim teenager who comes of age post 9/11. He also happens to be 11 years sober and a member of an internationally renowned punk rock band! Shahjehan talks with Lisa about all of this and more, including stigma, relationships with family and friends, and all the possibilities a sober life can offer.
You can find Shahjehan here: https://www.shahjehankhan.com/
KING OF THE WORLD podcast: https://www.rifelion.com/shows/kingoftheworld
Amanda’s book, Not Drinking Tonight launched this week, and Tawny and Lisa were thrilled to talk all about it with her. Amanda is a therapist behind the insanely popular Instagram account, @therapyforwomen. The book goes far beyond how to stop drinking. It addresses the history of stress, addiction switching, recovery strategies, drinking culture, how our biology fits in, and much more. Not just for sober folks, the book will help anyone weighing the risks and benefits of drinking.
Buy Not Drinking Tonight here: https://www.hachettego.com/titles/amanda-e-white-lpc/not-drinking-tonight/9781549136344/
Music Minute featured Taylor Swift and Amanda’s Tik Tok!
Tawny and Lisa celebrate 100 episodes of Recovery Rocks! They talk about how the show
started, how it’s evolved, and how much joy it brings them. What began on a big, red couch in
New York City has gone bi-coastal and virtual. They extend a special thanks and appreciation to
all the listeners who have made continuing this podcast possible.
Music Minute features that that time Tawny and Lisa went to a Rolling Stones show, Red Hot
Chili Peppers, and Bo Burnham.
In sobriety, life can get big. Tawny and Lisa talk about using their newfound time to do things
both fun and cathartic. Hobbies can be tools in working out energy, anger, and difficult
emotions in recovery. But they should also be activities you enjoy without necessarily having a
goal. Whether it’s crafty, cerebral, outdoorsy, or experimental, hobbies are a great way to enjoy
new ideas and adventures that weren’t possible when so much of their time was spent drinking
or hungover.
Music Minute features getting out there to see live music, as well as listening to and learning
about old favorites and new artists.
https://www.thediscoveryhouse.com/new-diversions-9-unique-hobbies-for-recovering-addicts/
Destination addiction is the addiction to the idea that if a certain future event or circumstance
occurs, life’s problems will be solved. Tawny and Lisa talk about these thoughts (for example, “if
I just lose 10 pounds, all will be right in the world”) and addiction to self-improvement. At
times, they have both aspired to some idealized, unrealistic version of themselves. But they
now try to live in the present so that life doesn’t pass them by.
Music Minute features Bleachers and John Lennon.
http://recoverycampus.com/destination-addiction/
Money is often a taboo topic but it’s a significant issue in recovery. The good news is that the
money we used to spend on alcohol and all that goes with it (hello, late night tacos) can be
spent productively and in fun ways. Tawny and Lisa discuss Tawny’s article in The Temper
(linked below) outlining how we can invest in ourselves in recovery. Whether it’s for paying
down debt, paying for luxuries small and large, or investing for the future, not wasting money
on drinks is a gift of recovery.
Music Minute features Janis Joplin, Dire Straits, and Pink Floyd
https://www.thetemper.com/new-ways-to-save-or-spend-the-money-not-used-on-booze/
Tawny and Lisa talk about why and how to stop focusing so much on other people’s opinions, real and imagined. An article in The Atlantic entitle, “No One Cares” (linked below), provides a great framework for this. People aren’t thinking about us nearly as much as we think they are. Internalizing this fact can be liberating in all kinds of way, including breaking imposter syndrome and handling panic attacks.
Music Minute features Demi Lovato/Cher Lloyd, Courtney Barnett, Nirvana, and Talking Heads.
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/11/how-stop-caring-what-other-people-think-you/620670/
With Sober October over and Dry January around the corner, Tawny and Lisa talk about these annual challenges. Perfect for the sober curious (and the sober-curious curious!), Tawny reads from her article about “sober tourism,” a phrase she contributed to the vernacular! A month off can provide the opportunity someone needs to look at why they drink and why they decided to take the challenge. Tawny’s tips help folks navigate dry months while still being respectful of folks who commit to a lifestyle of sobriety…one day at a time.
Tawny’s Sober Tourism Article: https://www.thetemper.com/try-recovery-without-sober-tourist/
Tawny’s How To Instagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUm6Tb5gXSs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Music Minute goes old-school with Madonna and The Go-Gos.
Are they really here already? Tawny and Lisa talk about gearing up emotionally for the holiday season. With everyone coming from a different pandemic experience, it’s going to be challenge. Tawny and Lisa plan to manage their energy budgets and not say “yes” to everything.
Lisa is gifting people Zero Proof beverages this year. Also please consider supporting some of Recovery Rock’s favorite sober entrepreneurs this holiday season: (I think you said you had a link that compiled these? Also do you want to link to the NA wine you have a coupon code for?)
Music Minute features Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Adam Sandler, Lindsey Buckingham, and Lady Gaga.
Lisa and Tawny talk about their experiences trying to help and support others who don’t want help. Groups like Ala-non, ACOA, and CODA, support people impacted by someone in their life who is struggling with any kind of disorder. No one can want recovery for someone more than that person wants it. Humility, boundaries, self-care, and meeting the person where they are all required.
Helpful links:
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Al-anon
Codependents Anonymous
Music Minute features the Rolling Stones, The Cure, and The Cult.
Big shout out to our listener Andy who floated the topic of dealing with the ubiquity of alcohol in
the workplace! Tawny and Lisa talk about how the “let’s grab drinks after work,” or “work
hard/play hard” culture is problematic with respect to physical and mental health. They share tips on how to be inclusive, by offering booze-free bonding opportunities for colleagues. Change is certainly possible but the message must come from the top.
Music Minute features Rihanna, Fifth Harmony, Izzy Azalea, and yes, Guns ‘n Roses.
Sober celebrities can be a source of inspiration, providing an example to relate to in similar
struggles, not to mention de-stigmatizing and normalizing substance use disorders, which saves
lives. Those in 12-step have a different perspective on going public. Tawny and Lisa discuss
sober celebrities from their individual perspectives and dig in on the ones they love – many of
whom aren’t sober or in recovery but have simply chosen an alcohol-free lifestyle!
Tawny and Lisa talk about how whether you’re choosing sobriety or sober curious, it’s never
too soon to connect with a community and peer support (even as a lurker). Tawny shares the
story of her first sober year, which she did on her own. Instead of sober buddies she leaned on
family and friends who were not the best qualified to help. No matter where you’re at on this
journey there are bound to be others navigating their way, too. You never have to go it alone!
Music Minute features The Beatles, Grateful Dead, and Soul Asylum.
Lisa has been fan-girling Anna David for many years and now she and Tawny call her their friend.
Anna joined the show to talk about the relaunch of her book, Party Girl, which was at the
forefront of the #quitlit genre. It’s the book that taught Lisa that the cool kids get sober! The
discussion covers the changes in recovery over the years, breaking ground, and putting yourself
out there. Come for the recovery tips, stay for the rock star hook-up stories!
Music Minute features Third-Eye Blind, Hinder, and Taylor Swift.
After emotionally intense times, such as traveling, spending time with family, holidays, or big events, Tawny and Lisa can feel exhausted and maybe a little cranky – almost like they used to feel after drinking. These are “emotional hangovers,” when our emotional juice has been depleted. Tawny expresses it as having an “emotional budget,” the amount of feeling and thought we have to expend. Life keeps happening so it’s important to budget your emotional juice to the extent you can. Self-care is critical
Music Minutes features Jackson Browne, the BeeGees, Destiny’s Child, and the Rolling Stones (RIP Charlie Watts)
Tawny and Lisa break down what a sobriety toolbox actually is to them, both a maintenance kit and something to grab onto in break-glass moments. Tawny’s kit includes therapy, medication, self-care, and “silliness.” Lisa does the same and also talked about her higher power and doing service. As always, connection and communication with sober friends and community is key. Tawny notes Johann Hari, who said “the opposite of addiction is…human connection.”
Music Minute changes it up with bedtime stories from Rege-Jean Paul, Harry Styles, and Matthew McConaughey to relax. Tawny discusses her love for her record player and vintage magazines.
Like so many people, Tawny and Lisa worried about how they’d fit in with their friends after getting sober. (Tawny’s recent article on the topic for Tempest is linked below.) They have seen true friends vs. drinking buddies for what they are, and learned to let go of toxic friendships. They also have found new friendships, including their own, that wouldn’t exist without sobriety. They also share tips for how to make friends in sobriety while following personal interests and trying new things.
Music Minutes features Spice Girls, Jack Johnson, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
https://www.jointempest.com/resource/will-i-lose-friends-if-I-quit-drinking
Tawny’s partner Nick joins the conversation to talk sober dating, the importance of dating yourself, and their meet-cute moment. They also dig into how sobriety lets us discover and pursue interests old and new, which can even lead to a new career. Nick has taken his experience as a sommelier to launch his own line of artisanal vinegar, Sour Humanoid! Come for the cooking tips, stay for the Music Minute featuring Apex Twin, Bach, and learning how to appreciate all types of music genres.
Sour Humanoid Vinegar
TikTok
Like so many people, Tawny and Lisa have struggled with meditation. The idea of sitting with your breath without sitting in your thoughts sounds great but is tough to do. Taking the pressure off meditation helps. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. You can just show up for it the same way you show up for other things like exercise or a hobby. Music Minute includes Biet Simkin (www.bietsimkin.com) and Steely Dan.
This episode is sponsored by our favorite new app, Sober Dating.
Preorder here (The first 1,000 pre-orders get six months FREE!)
Follow them on IG: @sober_dating
Tawny and Lisa talk about the importance of giving themselves credit for the good things they do, big and small, in sobriety – not always focusing on what they could have done better. Achievements look different for everyone on different days. Sometimes just getting a sober head to the pillow that night is cause for celebration. While Tawny has celebrated with a sequin bodysuit, Lisa opted for a peace sign necklace. Music Minute features T-Pain and Prince.
This episode is sponsored by our favorite new app, Sober Dating.
Preorder here (The first 1,000 pre-orders get six months FREE!)
Follow them on IG: @sober_dating
Kathy and Morgan are the mother/daughter team behind podcast sponsor Sober Dating. They talk about how they turned this genius idea into a new app with features designed for the best matches and fewest awkward moments. Tawny and Lisa ask, “Where was this when we were single?” They also talk about Morgan’s mommy blog (www.liliesandlambs.com/) that started with her struggles around infertility but also covers “mommy wine” culture. Music Minute includes Matoma, Dolly Parton, and “Body” by Maggie Rogers.
This episode is sponsored by our favorite new app, Sober Dating.
Preorder here (The first 1,000 pre-orders get six months FREE!)
Follow them on IG: @sober_dating
Tawny and Lisa go back to basics to talk about how they deal with triggers in sobriety, including those that pop up coming out of the pandemic. Spoiler alert: tools include connecting, avoiding isolation, and talking to ourselves with the compassion we would show a friend. Put down the bat (unless you’re in a rage room) and be gentle with yourself. Music Minute features Limp Bizkit, the Halston soundtrack, Bo Burnham, and Tom Petty.
This episode is sponsored by our favorite new app, Sober Dating.
Preorder here (The first 1,000 pre-orders get six months FREE!)
Follow them on IG: @sober_dating
The U.S. CDC defines binge drinking as four drinks for a woman or five drinks for a man over a two-hour period. That sounds like a pre-party to a lot of big drinkers. But after a while, it stops looking “cute” and starts looking like a problem. Tawny and Lisa talk about how our culture has normalized, glorified, and encouraged binge drinking despite its dangers. Music Minute features George Thorogood and Donna Summer.
This episode is sponsored by our favorite new app, Sober Dating.
Preorder here (The first 1,000 pre-orders get six months FREE!)
Follow them on IG: @sober_dating
Brianne Davis, author of the novel “Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex and Love Addict,” joins Tawny and Lisa to talk about this often-misunderstood addiction. It’s not the stereotype of compulsive sex with strangers. It’s like any other addiction, impacting women and non-binary folks as well as men. Brianne talks about recovery and how it can lead to healthy romantic relationships. Tawny talks about “limerence,” unrequited, obsessive thoughts and fantasies about an idealized partner. Music Minute features Noah Cyrus and Avett Brothers.
Follow Brianne on IG: @thebriannedavis
This episode is sponsored by our favorite new app, Sober Dating.
Preorder here (The first 1,000 pre-orders get six months FREE!)
Follow them on IG at @sober_dating
With the explosion of conversation around sobriety and recovery, the words we use to describe elements of it can get confusing. Self-confessed “word nerd” Tawny raises some specific terms that she and Lisa dig into, including sober curious, gray-area drinking, AF, zero proof, harm reduction, alt-sober, Cali sober, one day at a time, and life on life’s terms. Like so much, these words mean different things to people. Whatever works for someone is all good! Music Minute features deep cuts from Berlin, Extreme, and Missing Persons.
This episode is sponsored by our favorite new app, Sober Dating.
Preorder here (The first 1,000 pre-orders get six months FREE!)
Follow them on IG at @sober_dating
Tawny and Lisa talk with Alysse, founder of The Sober Curator, SOBER POP, and all kinds of sober lifestyle and community connections. Alysse coined #sobrietyisthenewglutenfree and the ladies are all in! It’s a healthy lifestyle full of options for anyone who wants it, no questions asked. She’s got all the social media networks covered! Music Minute features a can’t-miss Tupac concert story and the great Coldplay/U2/Radiohead debate.
Follow Alysse on IG at @thesobercurator.
This episode is sponsored by our favorite new app, Sober Dating.
Preorder here (The first 1,000 pre-orders get six months FREE!)
Follow them on IG: @sober_dating
Tawny and Lisa talk further on forgiveness, particularly owning their own mistakes. They try to avoid ruminating and choose to “look back, but not stare.” They also talk about imposter syndrome and understanding that they’re not unique. Music Minute includes “Let It Go” from “Frozen” and all the fantastic takes on “The Weight.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1GU1qQ1zQ
In what became a two-part conversation, Tawny and Lisa take on this big topic. Forgiveness can bring peace when and if the time is right. And there is support because they never do any of this alone. They talk Al-Anon and the movie “6 Balloons.” Elton John makes his first Music Minute appearance.
https://al-anon.org/
https://www.netflix.com/title/80130625
Tawny and Lisa talk about investing time, energy, and sometimes resources in things that bring them joy. For Tawny, it led to a Webby Award for the “F*cking Sober” podcast! All by being open to new ideas and projects. Lisa learns how to pronounce “Tarot” correctly. Music Minute ranges from Pink Floyd to Donna Summer on time and money.
https://fckingsoberpodcast.com/
Tawny and Lisa talk about summer excitement but there are still big pandemic issues affecting all of us. An article in The Atlantic captured the new depression/anxiety many people feel. And Tawny’s got a perfect book recommendation. Music Minute features a throwback disco from Ryan Murphy’s latest masterpiece, “Halston” on Netflix.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/05/pandemic-trauma-summer/618934/
https://www.amazon.com/Set-Boundaries-Find-Peace-Reclaiming/dp/0593192095/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1622071026&sr=8-1
Tawny talks about her recent interview with WebMD.com about these often-tricky conversations. This discussion has gone mainstream! Music Minute features a Gin Blossoms favorite and Counting Crows.
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/features/talking-family-friends
As the sober world continues to evolve, so does the drink market. This episode celebrates Tawny's favorite NA beers, wines, liquors, and other fun booze-free drink options while Lisa shares her apprehension with certain NA drinks. Together, they have a great convo about the vastly expanding NA drink market and how that impacts the recovery community. The Music Minute goes to "Alcohol" by The Barenaked Ladies, a warning that it’s easy to go too far with booze.
Tawny and Lisa discuss how they have drifted away from their regular music listening during the pandemic. A big reason for that has been content overload and the feeling that they should always be listening to a podcast or an audiobook to be learning something new. But now they realize finding joy in music, whether it’s old favorites or some new tunes, is essential to their recovery. They cover everything from Dua Lipa to Kate Bush to Guns ‘n Roses.
Lisa talks about how she’s been struggling with her eating through COVID and Tawny talks about her relationship with food. As with any other substance, they agree that it’s important to look at why their eating can feel disordered at times. And to give themselves grace and compassion when those struggles come up. Music Minute includes Halsey’s “Nightmare” and Silverchair’s “Ana’s Song.”
Recovery advocate, survivor, writer, and overall rock star Jen Elizabeth (@resurrektion_of_me on social) talks with Tawny and Lisa about harm reduction: what it is and why it’s saving lives. They delve into the stigma that needs to be broken around harm reduction, including in the recovery community. They also talk about the work of Dr. Carl Hart and community organizations like The Sidewalk Project.
Tawny and Lisa talk about getting their COVID vaccines and revisit their earlier concerns about agoraphobia as we start to return to something like normal. The good news is neither of them are experiencing significant fears going back out into the world. Tawny talks about reading, "How to Talk to a Science Denier" and the concern around living in different realities. Music Minute features Dolly Parton’s “Vaccine (from “Jolene”) and Dashboard Confessional’s “Vaccinated” (from “Vindicated”). And live music will be the order of the day this summer!
TW: Heavy content. Tawny and Lisa talk about Lisa’s search for whether trauma underlies her substance use disorder. They talk about nightmares, looking back at the past, and looking forward.
Music Minute: Tawny recommends “Beautiful Trauma” by Pink and Lisa discusses “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac.
Relapse is a common conversation in the recovery community. Tawny and Lisa discuss how relapse isn’t black and white, especially for folks in recovery from eating disorders, sex addiction, or other behaviors. When it comes to Netflix binges or online shopping, it can be a fine line between self-care and unhealthy escapism, but Tawny and Lisa share tips on how to distinguish between the two.
Music Minute: The girls share their favorite Bruce Springsteen songs
Tawny and Lisa open up about their journeys to getting on medication for depression and anxiety. This conversation is a classic example of how everyone’s recovery journey is unique and always evolving. The two also stress the value of taking mental health days at work.
Music Minute: Alanis Morrisette’s “Smiling” and their eternal crush on Pete Davidson.
Kate from Seltzer Squad podcast joins Tawny and Lisa as they discuss what it’s like to have a partner who still drinks alcohol. Kate and Lisa talk about having partners who are “normies” with alcohol. They also discuss protecting their own recoveries and finding their voices in conversations with their partners.
In sobriety, it’s common to feel like we’re constantly making up for the time we wasted while we were getting wasted. Lisa and Tawny bond over the feeling of constantly feeling like they’re behind, which leads to feeling exhausted from trying to play catch up.
Lisa and Tawny revisit their reasons for getting sober and how they channeled creativity in their recovery. Lisa wrote a book, Tawny became a freelance writer/blogger, and they started this podcast! The two also discuss the role that “liquid courage” played in their drinking lives and how they found confidence in sobriety.
The Music Minute features “Snow” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and “Doesn’t Remind Me” by Audioslave
Lisa and Tawny talk about the value of asking for help. Whether it’s for something urgent like needing help getting sober or something mundane like asking for assistance with luggage on an airplane, we can often feel like our problem isn’t worth wasting peoples’ time. In fact, asking for help can make life easier for other people, too! Tawny shares how finding a therapist and support group relieved her friends and family from having to bear all of the weight. The Music Minute features Sheryl Crow and Eric Clapton.
Lisa and Tawny reflect on 2020 while preparing for another sober New Year’s Eve. They talk about what it’s like to be sober during a global pandemic and how their recovery is impacted. They also discuss the importance of making your goals and resolutions as realistic as possible. The Music Minute is all about our current vinyl favorites: The Flaming Lips B-Sides and The Rollings Stones Exile on Main Street.
Khadi is a sober lawyer in NYC who launched the non-profit, Sober Black Girls Club, as a way to provide resources to people of color. She and Lisa discuss the normalization of alcohol culture in law firms then she and Tawny discuss creating their own online sober platforms. SBGC hosts support groups, leads online workshops, provides mentorship, and so much more! Find them at www.soberblackgirlsclub.com and follow them at @soberblackgirlsclub. The Music Minute honors the sexiness of Aubrey Graham...AKA Drake.
Tawny opens up about how having her wisdom teeth pulled triggered extreme relapse anxiety. Lisa shares a story about having wrist surgery and the drama that ensued from potentially being prescribed pain killers. She and Lisa discuss how they sometimes take sobriety for granted—especially during humbling reminders like this. This conversation aims to destigmatize relapse, honoring the fact that it’s a common part of some peoples’ recovery stories. The Music Minute celebrates Queen Stevie Nicks and the greatness of Fleetwood Mac.
Tawny and Lisa talk about chasing that elusive, dangling carrot. Lisa shares stories about how she used her job as an NYC lawyer as a way to seek validation. Tawny talks about her insecurities around being a writer, wondering if she’ll ever “arrive”. They both come together to discuss body image and how to stop comparing ourselves to others. The Music Minute features a discussion on Lenny Kravitz’s memoir and how Lisa is dancing to 80’s club music.
Bethany Stevens does it all, y’all! She’s a queer, femme lawyer who’s working on her Ph.D. in sociology. She also leads support groups for the sober disability community. She joins Lisa and Tawny to discuss her personal journey and how able-bodied folks can be allies when they witness ableism. The Music Minute is all about pop! Bethany talks all things Cardi B and Rihanna.
Follow Bethany at @disabethany. Check out her YouTube channel about sex and disability. Join her Disabled and Sober support group on Facebook.
Fcking Sober is a new serialized podcast about the first 90 days of sobriety. The creator of this new show, Mack, joins Tawny and Lisa this week. Mack opens up about recovering from heroin addiction, experiencing relapses, and how she fictionalized her story to create Anita, the protagonist of Fcking Sober. The Music Minute is all about sober musicians that Mack has collaborated with on each episode of the show! P.S. Tawny is the developmental editor for F*cking Sober and she’s excited for y’all to check it out :)
Follow the show at @fckingsober_podcast. Listen to the show on Spotify and iTunes. Check out the website to learn about F*cking Sober and the creative team behind it.
Tawny and Lisa catch up as election season transitions into the holiday season. They discuss how their socially distanced holiday plans affect them and their families. They also read from a Vice article, giving listeners tips and talking points before having the “I’m not going home for the holidays” discussion with family. They also discuss not glamorizing past holidays. Remember that maintaining boundaries this holiday season will pay off. The Music Minute focuses on holiday tunes.
How to Tell Your Family You’re Not Coming Home For The Holidays written by Rachel Miller for Vice
As Lisa and Tawny get more comfortable adapting to Work From Home life, but have a lot of mixed feelings. There’s grief for our old ways of life, but glimmers of the positive that the future might bring. A lot of acceptance and gratitude in store!
Chris Marshall, writer and Founder of Sans Bar, joins the girls this week to discuss writing, the intersection of Blackness and Recovery, and of course...Hamilton! He also shares insight on why he created a booze-free bar in Austin, Texas and why he’s obsessed with Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Tawny and Lisa take turns discussing the importance of celebrating SoBerthdays...AKA Sober Anniversaries. They talk about fun ways to reflect on and celebrate the big day as well as the challenges that often come in the days and weeks before. Music minute: Every day is like “another brick in the wall!”
Rejection is something we all deal with throughout our lives. Lisa and Tawny discuss some of the times they’ve been rejected and how they dealt with it. Hint: Rejection is not personal—it usually just means something isn’t a good fit. They also share tips on how to be on the other end of rejection. They both bond over the fact that they met because they rejected alcohol! Shout out to Tempest for making Season 3 possible! You can find them at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Telling people you quit drinking can be awkward. Tawny and Lisa share tips on how to navigate this conversation. They emphasize the difference between knowing who deserves the full version of the story and knowing when to remember “No” is a full sentence. They also discuss the trend of Sober Curiosity vs Sober Tourism. Shout out to our Tempest for making season 3 possible! You can find them at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Some can be highs and some can be lows, but there’s a first time for everything in sobriety! Tawny and Lisa discuss “explaining” why you’re not drinking, finding sober-friendly events and new sober friends, and, yes, first sober dates. They also discuss breaking the cycle of bummer holidays, celebrating successes, and being kind to our sober, growing selves. Shout out to our Tempest for making season 3 possible! You can find them at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Dealing with death and grief are a real challenge for everyone and can test our recoveries. Tawny and Lisa discuss different kinds of grief, the danger of prolonged isolation, and how-to connect and stay sober through it. No surprise, the ladies turn to music, too, at these times. If you’re looking for help with substance use issues, check our friends and sponsor at Tempest. You can find them at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Lisa shares a big takeaway from studying to become a SheRecovers coach: boundaries are the space you hold around yourself to protect your recovery. Tawny takes it a spicy step further to describe her boundaries as a full-body condom that protects her from the outside world.
Tawny and Lisa chat about how it’s totally OK to have a low sex drive during this very unsexy global pandemic. Tawny offers alternative ways to connect with your partner if you’re not in the mood. Then she fills Lisa in on how Zoom dating has changed and how she thinks the future of dating will evolve. Finally, she teaches Lisa about online orgies and how the porn industry has adapted social distancing. Somewhere in there, the girls talk about their love for David Byrne and the Talking Heads.
Tawny and Lisa interview Amanda and Jardine, whose new book, The Sober Lush, comes out Tuesday, June 2. A Sober Lush life is lived in the present and full of abundance, whether it’s a fancy bath bomb and self-care, doing a small kindness for someone else, or enjoying a live music show sober. And they teach us that we all need an Adult Snow Day from time to time!
Tawny’s stuck in the 90’s with binging Melrose Place and streaming Billboard’s top hits of 1995 on Spotify. Lisa’s digging Homeland and Say Yes to the Dress. They’re both low key obsessed with Too Hot to Handle and 90 Day Fiance, but it’s OK because they read, too! Books like The Herd, Little Fires Everywhere, Uncanny Valley, and My Friend Anna (Delvey) are keeping them sober and sane(ish) during the quarantine.
Lisa and Tawny chat with Eve Goldberg, the founder of BIGVISION NYC. Eve started this non-profit after her son’s heartbreaking overdose, She didn’t want another young person in recovery to suffer from isolation. BIGVISION NYC began as a place for weekly sober social events in New York City and has quickly adapted to these unprecedented times. They now offer these free events several times a week on Instagram Live and Zoom to folks all over the world. P.S. Eve works out while listening to disco and we’re super into it.
Lisa and Tawny discuss the anxiety they both feel while grocery shopping during the quarantine. Their sobriety tool belts keep them calm during these and other high-stress moments. It’s all about taking life one day at a time -- or one grocery store trip at a time. Of course, the Rolling Stones and Red Hot Chili Peppers get shout outs.
What is a hobby? How can it be a creative outlet? Tawny and Lisa talk about the surprising and fulfilling things they got interested in once they got sober. Only in recovery would Tawny be curious enough to teach herself piano. No shock it started with a Lady Gaga song! Season 3 of Recovery Rocks is sponsored by our friends at Tempest. Check them out at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Lisa talks through how a 12-step program led to her thinking on a Higher Power and Tawny addresses her spiritual skepticism. As always, even when their approaches to recovery are different, they find plenty of common ground. Even “Higher Ground” of the Stevie Wonder and Red Hot Chili Peppers variety! Our friends and sponsor Tempest support all kinds of recovery. Find them at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
The incredibly inspiring founder of Served Up Sober, Shari Hampton, joins the ladies to talk about the gifts of sobriety and how being of service to others is a way of being of service to ourselves. Shari discusses meeting people where they are, restorative eating, sound baths, meditation, music, and rediscovering ourselves in recovery. Don’t forget to check out our friends at Tempest, our Season 3 sponsor! Jointempest.com // @jointempest.
Tawny and Lisa talk about the difficulty separating from their devices and how that can affect their recovery. Mindless social media scrolling, comparing ourselves to others, and getting a high from being “liked.” Will they land us all in a Rehab of the Future or can we employ strategies to find a better balance? Our friends and sponsor Tempest support all kinds of recovery. Find them at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Lisa’s personal hero, Anna David, joins the conversation to talk about her journey and the unexpected career transitions recovery can offer. Coming through addiction is like, “surviving the Titanic,” and so much is possible once we reach land. Anna also shares fascinating tips on writing about recovery and the book publishing industry. As always, we’re thrilled to be sponsored this season by our friends at Tempest! Check it out at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Access to treatment for substance use and mental health disorders should be available to everyone, not just those who can afford it. Tawny and Lisa talk about access, preventative care, and the ability (or lack of ability) for people to take charge of their own wellbeing.
How to Get Mental Health Treatment if you Can't Afford it. Check out our friends and sponsor at Tempest for some great community to help your wellbeing: jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Tawny and Lisa talk about loneliness, what it means to them, and strategies for getting through it. Single or in a relationship, home alone or surrounded by other people, we can feel lonely at any time. What to do about it is the question. And don’t forget to check out our incredible season 3 sponsor, Tempest, at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
They’re back! After a year on hiatus, Tawny and Lisa talk about what they’ve been up to, including a cross-country move and a loved-up in-town move. New situations and protecting sobriety through decluttering, relocating, and traveling. But always remembering to celebrate sober milestones and achievements. And we’re thrilled that this season is sponsored by our kick-ass friends at Tempest! Go to jointempest.com to check it out! Follow them at @jointempest.
Mike is a cancer survivor, recovery advocate, and the founder of Monument, a platform designed to connect those struggling with alcohol to medical providers and community to support either sobriety or moderation. Mike’s cancer journey has informed Monument’s approach to access to treatment and how we think about success. Mike also shares his experience with some prescription medications that helped him get sober. Find out more about Monument at joinmonument.com. Follow them at @joinmonument. Recovery Rocks listeners get $100 off per month for your first three months with code RECOVERY. A monthly plan includes weekly therapy with a licensed therapist, access to a Monument physician, and more. Plans are currently available in New York and Florida with additional states coming soon. The Monument community is available everywhere for free.
See important safety information about the medication options at http://bit.ly/medoptions.
Lisa and Tawny wrap up Season 2 of the show with guests Ruby Warrington and Dave Starr talking about the importance of music in their lives and in their sobriety. This episode was filmed in front of a live audience in New York City!
Tawny and Lisa chat with Dave Starr (a.k.a. Tawny's dad!) about sobriety and being a heavy metal musician. This unique episode is full of laughter, tears, rock n roll chat, and father-daughter reflection all recorded in front of a live audience in New York City!
Tawny and Lisa chat with Ruby Warrington about all things "sober curious": what it means, the questions to ask, avenues to explore, and why there's no judgment in whatever works for any one person’s sobriety. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience in New York City!
Getting sober is an intensely personal decision and journey. Tawny and Lisa describe their experiences telling -- and not telling -- other people in their lives about their recovery. From family and friends to work colleagues and the rest of the world, it’s your story to tell, if and when you chose.
Sobriety is not a static thing. As we move through recovery and get healthier, our feelings about the past, present, and future evolve. We do it differently, but we've both become more accepting and less fearful. And we even hear music differently over time, from Jim Morrison to George Michael to Counting Crows!
To stay sober, Tawny and Lisa have certain "non-negotiables": things they have to do and make time for no matter how hectic life gets or how comfortable they feel in their recovery. These can include seeing a therapist, going to recovery meetings, meditating, doing yoga, or just taking a nap. They discuss what those non-negotiables are, why they're critical, and how they make time for them.
We're going there. Tawny and Lisa discuss how sex changes in recovery, including dealing with the mental and emotional challenges that come with being sober between the sheets. Intimacy, one-night stands, asking for what you want, vibrators, and much more -- it's all up for discussion this week!
Let's be honest. Sometimes sobriety sucks and we have bad days. Tawny and Lisa talk about their different approaches to getting through the tough spots without picking up a drink or a drug. Spoiler alert: there's no one "right" way to do it. With shout outs this week to Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Gin Blossoms!
Tawny and Lisa talk about how their relationships with friends and family changed when they got sober, in ways both expected and unexpected. Sure, there can be FOMO and challenges, but there are also new ways of engaging that are so much more rewarding than spending just another night in a bar.
Recovery is an extremely personal journey of self-work. No two people recover in exactly the same way. There are a variety of programs and methods to help people get and stay sober. Tawny and Lisa are happy to use this platform to discuss some of the lesser known options available, acknowledging that there's no "right" or "wrong" way to recover. Whatever works for someone is the perfect path for them.
Lisa and Tawny talk through their very different views of Lapses and Relapses in recovery. Tawny shares a nuanced perspective on her personal experience of acting out sexually due to heartbreak and having a nervous breakdown. Despite serious debate about “powerlessness” and other terms, they both agree that smashing the stigma around relapse is essential. There is no shame in anyone’s path to recovery and no two paths are the same.
Taking care of ourselves and taking time out to do it is critical to our recovery. Tawny and Lisa talk about what works for them and how they learned to make self-care part of their lives. From making your bed and opening your mail to watching TV on your couch and taking naps, it all matters. Sex and the CIty, anyone?
Lisa and Tawny discuss how their interpersonal relationships have changed in recovery. They share personal stories about family dynamics, co-workers, romantic partners, and most importantly...their relationships with themselves. Come for the recovery, stay for the Led Zeppelin music minute!
It's common to self-medicate mental health issues with substance abuse. Lisa and Tawny did this for years before embracing sobriety. This week they share what their depression and anxiety look like, now, and how they deal with these issues in healthy, productive ways.
When Tawny and Lisa got sober, these crazy things called "feelings" showed up and they couldn't drink them away. Some of those feelings included regret and shame about the past. Not to mention dealing with grief and "emotional hangovers" while sober. In this episode, they talk about how they deal with these feelings today.
Tawny and Lisa both struggled with what they could and could not control, including their drinking and drug use. In sobriety, they still face this challenge, but have developed tools, from yoga to practicing acceptance, so they can handle what they can't control without picking up a drink or drug.
Substance abuse and addiction aren't just bad for your health; they're also terrible for your bank account. Lisa and Tawny blew a lot of money while drinking and using drugs. They have accepted that fact, forgiven themselves, and talk about how they moved forward.
When we put down drugs and alcohol, we learned about the meanings of sobriety (abstaining from certain substances and behaviors) and recovery (working on ourselves to understand why we had the desire to pick up in the first place). But, as with everything on this journey, they mean different things to different people and they can be done in all kinds of ways.
Lisa and Tawny dish on their favorite recovery-related movies, TV shows, books, and blogs. From Mom to Love to Shame to Party Girl to Some Kind of Monster to My Fair Junkie to Slash and Anthony Kiedis's autobiographies, we could go on and on. These works give insight into recovery from all kinds of substances and behaviors from all kinds of perspectives.
When an addict stops drinking or using drugs, their addictive personality typically sticks around, often transferring to other substances or behaviors. Tawny and Lisa open up about other addictions they deal with in sobriety: personal development, self-help books, sugar, work, and more.
A big concept in 12-Step recovery is avoiding the "people, places, and things" that can trigger us or make us uncomfortable. Tawny and Lisa talk through what this concept means and how it can help anyone in recovery, whether or not they are in 12-Step programs.
It's that time of year. Alcohol and other substances seem to be everywhere. And many of us find ourselves in challenging social and family situations. This week, we talk out how we handle this tricky time in recovery.
Lisa and Tawny discuss the important role that allies play in the recovery community. They also discuss the parallels between sobriety and being in the LGBTQ+ community. The perpetual coming out, the stigma that keeps us from embracing our true selves, and how allies can help us feel safe.
Lisa and Tawny discuss how sobriety restored their self-esteem and taught them to enjoy being single before they embarked on sober dating. It also helped them figure out what they want and need in a partner and how to communicate honestly with someone new.
Not everyone's relationship to alcohol is the same. Tawny was a career bartender and social butterfly who rarely drank alone. Lisa was a so-called "high functioning" alcohol abuser who frequently drank alone to numb out. They discuss the similarities and differences of how they finally decided to quit drinking.