Folgen
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In this episode, Sonia and Kathleen are joined by sisters Patti and Karin Clark for a conversation about breaking the cycle of intergenerational addiction and reclaiming personal identity. Patti is an award-winning author whose books blend emotional sobriety and self-reflection, and Karin is a counselor and educator with decades of experience in trauma and addiction recovery. Together, the sisters reflect on how their upbringing shaped themâand how recovery allowed them to rewrite their own stories.
We talk about the roles we unconsciously play in dysfunctional familiesâhero, rebel, mascotâand how these survival strategies can carry into adulthood, often laying the groundwork for addiction, codependency, and emotional suppression. And we tackle some big questions: How do family dynamics influence substance use? Can breaking generational trauma actually stop the cycle? What happens to sisterhood when sobriety enters the room?
Patti and Karin share personal stories of relapse and reconciliation, how their relationship as sisters evolved through recovery, and the beautiful ways their sobriety has rippled through their families. You'll hear about the grief and rage they had to walk through in order to reach forgivenessânot just for others, but for themselves. Their shared journey highlights what happens when we name the truth, do the work, and choose connection over silence.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.
Episode Highlights (Timestamps)
[00:02:00] Patti shares a tribute to Karinâs steady presence after their motherâs death
[00:03:45] Karin explains family roles and the origin of the âheroâ label
[00:05:00] Patti opens up about being the mascot and diffusing family tension with humor
[00:07:45] A painful memory of being compared at the dinner table
[00:08:30] Food as a first addiction and internalized shame
[00:10:15] Karin outlines the family role model (hero, scapegoat, lost child, mascot)
[00:11:00] Both sisters share how their roles shifted over time
[00:13:30] Roundtable discussion: Which family role is most prone to addiction?
[00:15:00] The hidden addiction behaviors that often go overlooked
[00:17:30] Patti and Karin reflect on their first experiences with substances
[00:20:00] Karin recalls when drinking shifted from fun to fear
[00:22:00] Patti describes the subtle but powerful interventions that helped her quit
[00:26:00] Tracing addiction and denial through both sides of the family tree
[00:29:00] The myth of the âpoor Patty and Karenâ narrative within the family
[00:30:15] How their sisterhood changed through recovery and ACOA work
[00:33:30] Relapsing, boundaries, codependency, and coming back together
[00:36:30] Karin and Patti explain the emotional dynamics of their old arguments
[00:39:00] The cultural addiction of capitalism and constant productivity
[00:41:30] When relapse happens: fear, enabling, and permission
[00:44:00] âSafe drinkingâ lies we tell ourselves in the gray area
[00:46:00] Did we break the cycle? Parenting, legacy, and sober modeling
[00:49:00] Creating a new lineage of openness, healing, and choice
[00:51:30] What does forgiveness really look like in recovery?
[00:53:00] Patti explains the danger of skipping grief and going straight to forgiveness
[00:54:30] Karin shares how compassion helped her process resentment
[00:56:00] Forgiveness doesnât always mean reconciliation
[00:57:30] Closing reflections on sisterhood, healing, and sharing the tools
Connect with Patti Clark
Website: www.patticlark.org
Substack: https://patticlarkwriter.substack.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfahpJhfHNNHUqtIjR39OdQ
Connect with Karin Clark
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarinClarkCommunications
Website: www.karineclark.com
Email: [email protected]
SIS Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
What if the wisdom youâre searching for has been with you all along? In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are joined by master transformational coach Julie Reisler to explore the quiet, powerful force of intuitionâand how it can guide your recovery, self-trust, and authentic living. Julie is a TEDx speaker, host of the You-est YouÂŽ Podcast, and founder of the Life DesignerÂŽ Coach Academy. Julie helps people around the world reconnect with their higher self.
What does it really means to become the You-est You? Why do so many of us feel disconnected from our intuitionâand how do we begin to rebuild that trust, especially after life changes like divorce, addiction recovery, or hitting emotional rock bottom?
Julie walks listeners through the difference between fear and intuitive guidance, how we can all access our unique âintuition language,â and the power of two-way prayer, evidence tracking, and journaling as tools for emotional healing. With practical tools and real-life examples, this conversation unpacks how to integrate mind-body-spirit wisdom, how intuition supports recovery from addictive patterns (like emotional eating), and how to make decisions that align with your true selfâespecially when logic tells you otherwise.
Julie opens up about her own storyâfrom childhood sensitivity and food addiction to spiritual awakening and leaving a stable corporate job to follow her inner voice.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tools, and resources to support your growth.
Time-Stamped Highlights
00:01 â Meet Julie Reisler and learn about the You-est YouÂŽ philosophy
00:02 â Julieâs childhood: sensitivity, imagination, and early intuition
00:04 â Growing up with a father in addiction and how that shaped her energy awareness
00:05 â The early signs of self-loathing and disconnect from intuition
00:06 â Her recovery journey begins with sugar and food addiction
00:08 â How food became a way to soothe emotions and hide shame
00:10 â The pivotal moment that changed everything (and the bag of M&Ms)
00:12 â Julieâs exposure to 12-step programs as a child
00:14 â How Overeaters Anonymous and spiritual reading reshaped her path
00:16 â Returning to school and integrating science and spirituality
00:18 â Leaving corporate life and entering Panera Bread: a surprising intuitive detour
00:21 â Following the nudges: voiceover classes and synchronicity
00:23 â The cost of disconnecting from your voice in marriage and dating
00:27 â Defining intuition: is it a voice, a knowing, or a feeling?
00:30 â How to tell the difference between fear, anxiety, and real intuition
00:33 â Building self-trust through two-way prayer and intuitive journaling
00:36 â Evidence tracking: gathering proof that your intuition has been guiding you
00:39 â When intuition contradicts logic (and why thatâs OK)
00:41 â Asking for signs and using muscle testing to check your inner YES
00:44 â A real-time example of intuition: how Julie ended up at a film festival
00:45 â What to do when your intuitive knowing disrupts your plans
00:46 â Julieâs heartfelt advice for women in transition
00:47 â The megaphone to your heartâwhy everything youâre looking for is already within
Links:
Website: juliereisler.com
Instagram: @juliereisler
More from Sisters in Sobriety:
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Fehlende Folgen?
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This week on Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are diving deep into the wild world of datingâminus the drinks. They're joined by Carleigh Ferrante, host of the Mostly Dating podcast. Carleigh talks about what it really means to date with intention, honesty, and clarityâespecially when you're sober. From starting over after a long-term relationship to swiping through the chaos of dating apps, they're talking about it.
Together, they explore how to spot emotional availability, navigate red flags, and decode whether your new connection is fueled by real chemistry. They ask big questions like: Can attraction grow? How can you tell if someoneâs emotionally mature or just really charming? How long should you âget to knowâ someone before deciding to be exclusive? And what does flirting even look like when youâre sober?
You'll walk away with tangible, empowering insights like how to start meaningful conversations on dating apps, how to plan sober-friendly first dates, and how to protect your peace when things donât go as planned. Carleigh shares practical tips for setting physical and emotional boundaries, flirting without alcohol, and recognizing when someone just isnât your personâeven if nothing seems âwrong.â You'll also learn how to gauge emotional maturity versus availability and the importance of aligned values in long-term compatibility.
On a personal note, Sonia and Kathleen open up about their own dating experiences and reflect on what it felt like to date sober for the first time, and how vulnerability, awkwardness, and self-awareness reshaped their views on intimacy and connection. Carleigh adds her own behind-the-scenes stories from dating app disasters to moments of surprising self-growth.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.
Time-stamped Highlights
[00:01:00] Carleigh Ferrante joins the show to talk all things dating
[00:02:00] Sonia and Kathleen share their contrasting Bumble experiences
[00:04:00] Carleighâs go-to formula for dating app openers that actually work
[00:05:00] First date ideas for sober daters that donât involve bars
[00:06:30] Where to meet people in the wild (yes, even at the Garden Center)
[00:08:00] Why small talk with strangers helps your dating life
[00:10:00] Soniaâs AA house callâand why she prefers womenâs recovery groups
[00:11:00] What to ask early on to gauge someoneâs dating mindset
[00:13:00] How to talk about your ex without trauma-dumping
[00:16:00] Should you discuss your values on a first date? Hereâs how
[00:18:00] Can attraction growâor does it have to be instant?
[00:21:00] Why âsecureâ might feel boring if youâre used to chaos
[00:23:30] Emotional availability: what it looks like and how to spot it
[00:25:00] The difference between emotional maturity and availability
[00:27:30] Soniaâs boyfriend used to sing through hard conversationsâliterally
[00:29:00] How to talk about the future without scaring someone off
[00:31:00] Why the âgetting to know youâ phase should never really end
[00:33:00] Dating rules vs. personal boundariesâwhat really matters
[00:36:30] Love bombing vs. real connection: how to tell the difference
[00:39:00] How dating changes when you're soberâand why that's a good thing
[00:41:00] Sober dating and physical boundaries: what becomes clearer
[00:43:00] Flirting without alcohol: presence, confidence, and compliments
[00:47:00] How Kathleen dated for funâand why that mindset worked
[00:48:00] How to protect your peace when someone ghosts you
[00:50:00] Your person wonât leave you on readâtrust that
[00:51:00] Signs itâs not right, even if itâs not âwrongâ
[00:53:00] Carleighâs new course and how to find her content
Links
Carleigh's Instagram
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Is it really just emotional eatingâor could it be addiction? In this weekâs episode of Sisters in Sobriety, we speak with renowned expert Dr. Vera Tarman to unravel the science, psychology, and stigma surrounding sugar and flour addiction, and how we can truly recover. As the Medical Director of Renascent, one of Canadaâs largest substance abuse treatment centres, Dr. Tarman brings a wealth of clinical insightâplus her own recovery from both alcohol and food addiction. She is the author of Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction and cohost of the Food Junkies Podcast.
Whatâs the real connection between alcohol and sugar? Why do so many people transfer their addictions to food when they get sober? And what do terms like âintuitive eating,â âemotional eating,â and âabstinenceâ actually mean in the context of recovery?
Dr. Tarman also breaks down the difference between emotional eating and food addiction, outlines what recovery from food addiction really requires, and offers practical insight into why abstinenceânot just moderationâis the key for many. Expect to learn about the dopamine pathways, the food-addiction spectrum, the role of ultra-processed foods, and the concept of âfood serenity.â
Finally, Dr. Tarman shares her deeply personal storyâ her own early experiences with alcohol and marijuana, and how she navigated her own recovery from binge eating and bulimia while practicing as a doctor. Her journey is vulnerable, relatable, and a reminder that healing is possibleâeven when itâs not linear.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.
Time-stamped Highlights
00:00 â Welcome and guest intro: Dr. Vera Tarman, addiction medicine expert and author
01:55 â Her first addiction: sugar or alcohol?
03:30 â Growing up with an alcoholic mother
04:45 â Alcohol and academic life: why she quit in med school
05:50 â Binge eating, bulimia, and how food replaced alcohol
07:00 â âYou should stop drinkingââsaying it to patients, but not herself
09:00 â Her âahaâ moment: reading the first studies on food addiction
10:20 â How food and alcohol affect the brainâs dopamine reward system
12:45 â Is sugar addiction common in people getting sober?
15:10 â Sugar and alcohol as âsistersââand the medical consequences
17:00 â Liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver: the sugar connection
19:10 â Emotional eating vs. food addictionâwhatâs the difference?
22:30 â Why intuitive eating may not work for everyone
27:00 â Recovery and abstinence: what does it look like?
31:45 â Is it about added sugar or natural sugar?
34:10 â Can moderation workâor do some people need full abstinence?
36:30 â What counts as a relapse with food?
39:00 â Social pressure, stigma, and birthday cake
41:00 â Why sugar is so powerful (and hard to quit)
43:00 â Recovery essentials: more than just stopping
45:10 â Individualized food plans: what worked for Dr. Tarman
47:00 â OA and the growing food addiction recovery landscape
50:00 â Finding support: why community matters
51:20 â Building food serenity and daily recovery habits
53:00 â Her message of hope: it gets easier after 10 days
55:00 â âDay 4 of my resetââKathleen shares her moment
Dr. Vera Tarmanâs Links
đ Website: https://www.addictionsunplugged.com
đ Facebook Group: Iâm Sweet Enough: Sugar-Free for Life
Sisters In Sobriety Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Read less
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Have you ever stared at your phone wondering where all the emotionally available adults are? In todayâs episode of Sisters in Sobriety, we have Daphney Poyser, the founder and CEO of Fern Connectionsâa values-driven, LGBTQIA+ and ally-inclusive matchmaking and dating coaching company. Daphneyâs mission is help people date with intention and build meaningful relationships rooted in authenticity. Today, sheâs here to help us navigate datingâespecially while soberâwith more clarity and confidence.
We dig into the real-life challenges of dating in recovery, touching on everything from emotional prep work to the myths we carry from childhood about what love should look like. What does compatibility really mean? Is it okay to have expectations? And what does it mean to âselfishly dateââand why is that a good thing?
You'll s will walk away with tools for building more conscious relationshipsâwhether youâre using a dating app, working with a matchmaker, or stepping out into the sober dating world for the first time.
Youâll also hear Daphneyâs personal storyâhow becoming a widow in 2019 led her to pivot out of corporate America and into founding Fern Connections, a service inspired in part by her queer daughter and family members. Daphney shares her own journey of finding love again later in life, learning to set boundaries, and building a business that centers care, consent, and clarity.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks and resources.
Episode Highlights
00:02 â Meet Daphney Poyser, and how losing her husband led her to start a matchmaking company
00:04 â Why Fern Connections was created to serve the LGBTQIA+ and ally community
00:07 â Discussing sober dating and what it means to show up without numbing
00:09 â Why you shouldnât have to dull yourself to go on a date
00:10 â The importance of emotional safety and matching clients with aligned values
00:12 â What to do when someone says theyâre fine with sobrietyâbut turns out theyâre not
00:14 â Why women should be âselfish datersâ and not worry about being the âgood guyâ
00:16 â How to emotionally prepare for dating after long-term relationships
00:18 â Pre- and post-date journaling as a mindfulness tool
00:20 â The myth of âno expectationsâ and why love should be conditional
00:22 â Relationship contracts and writing down what really matters
00:24 â How childhood messages shape what we believe about marriage
00:27 â Helping clients unpack their unrealistic dating checklists
00:30 â The problem with assuming no oneâs âgood enoughâ
00:33 â Chemistry vs. compatibilityâand why the spark might not mean what you think
00:35 â How unresolved trauma influences what feels familiar in dating
00:38 â Oversharing on first dates: why less is sometimes more
00:41 â Confidence rituals before dates and the power of listening
00:43 â What qualities Daphney looks for when matching clients
00:47 â Dating apps: their impact on mental health and connection
00:51 â Tips for transitioning from online to in-person dating
00:54 â Red flags to watch for, including love bombing and mirroring
00:57 â Why peaceful love may feel boringâand why itâs often the real deal
Guest Links
đ Daphneyâs Website: fernconnections.com
đ¸ Daphneyâs Instagram: @fernconnections
Sisters In Sobriety Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
What if your sugar cravings, chronic fatigue, or lack of clarity werenât just random symptomsâbut signs of deeper imbalances that could be blocking your recovery? On this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia is joined by strategist, speaker, and sober advocate Christie Dames. With over 38 years of sobriety and a career helping high-performers unlock their potential, Christie shares how her lived experience and research intersect to shed light on the brain-body connection.
Today, they talk about why what you eatâand what surrounds youâmatters deeply when it comes to emotional clarity, energy, and healing. How does what we eat impact our emotional sobriety? Whatâs the role of metabolic health in our ability to regulate mood and access clarity? And how do toxinsâwhether in food, electronics, or waterâquietly sabotage our healing efforts?
Listeners will learn about the connection between mitochondrial health and long-term sobriety, how refined sugars and processed foods derail emotional regulation, and the invisible toll environmental toxins like PFAS and EMFs take on our well-being. Christie also shares practical tools for lowering your toxic loadâthink organic swaps, safer tech habits, and why red light bulbs might become your new best friend.
And yes, as always, we go thereâinto the personal stories. Christie opens up about her own path to sobriety, including her recovery from misdiagnosis, withdrawal from neuroleptic medication, and the chronic pain that shaped her understanding of emotional vs. physical hunger. From healing trauma to navigating relapse triggers, she helps us see our cravings not as flaws but as clues.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks and resources.
Episode Highlights:
00:01:00 â Christie introduces the idea that sugar cravings can block emotional sobriety
00:02:30 â The physical trauma that set the stage for addiction
00:03:45 â Why alcohol felt like an elixir for Christieâs fractured sense of self
00:04:55 â Mold exposure and neurological misdiagnosis compound her health issues
00:06:45 â The impact of neuroleptic drugs and a 10-year brownout
00:07:50 â Getting soberâdespite still being medicated
00:08:30 â Sugar as her first addiction, and how it worked on her undernourished brain
00:10:15 â Giving up sugar: was it harder than alcohol?
00:12:45 â Why metabolic health is the key to ânext-levelâ sobriety
00:14:20 â Understanding insulin resistance and fasting insulin
00:16:00 â What to eat: whole foods, organic, and the truth about strawberries
00:18:45 â Toxins in baby cord blood and how they impact future health
00:21:15 â Dairy and gluten: are they just food, or emotional disrupters?
00:23:00 â Why A2 dairy and goatâs milk might be different
00:25:30 â How trauma and toxicity contribute to neuroinflammation
00:27:10 â The four-day delayed reaction to food and what to watch for
00:29:00 â Emotional vs. physical hunger: how to tell the difference
00:32:50 â Learning to pause before reacting or reaching for food
00:35:00 â How shame spirals can begin with food choices
00:37:20 â Working with high performers: unlocking their hidden blocks
00:40:00 â Using intuition, presence, and somatic tools with clients
00:42:00 â PFAS: the âforever chemicalsâ and why theyâre a major health threat
00:44:30 â EMFs and why cell phones and WiFi matter more than you think
00:46:00 â Sobriety makes you more sensitiveâembrace it
00:48:10 â Creating a low-tox lifestyle that supports brain health and longevity
00:50:00 â Hacks: red lights, blue blockers, and neuro-restorative sleep habits
00:51:30 â Christieâs favorite ways to lower your toxic burden
00:52:00 â Where to connect with Christie ([email protected])
Links
đ§ Christieâs Email
Sisters In Sobriety Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, weâre back with another installment of our no-filter mini-series where past guests answer 10 revealing questions about what itâs really like to date without alcohol in the picture.
This time, Sonia chats with Kaitlin Henry, wellness advocate and host of the Step Zero podcast. Kaitlin busts the myth that you have to hit rock bottom before you can changeâand now, sheâs opening up about love after divorce, how getting sober changed her approach to relationships, and why acts of service are her love language.
From awkward first sober dates to realizing that two-drink limits are non-negotiable, Kaitlin shares the red and green flags she looks for, the playlist track that sums up her love life, and her favorite sober date idea (hint: it involves a boat and no wine list).
Get ready for some serious honesty, relatable stories, and a few laugh-out-loud moments. Whether you're newly sober, sober curious, or just navigating dating without defaulting to âgrabbing drinks,â this one's for you.
Kaitlin's Links
Get In Touch With Kaitlin
Her go-to song by Gracie Abrams
Sisters In Sobriety Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Read less
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
This week on Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are taking on one of the trickiest parts of recovery: what happens at home. Their guest, Amber Hollingsworth, is a licensed professional counselor, family recovery expert, and the brain behind the YouTube channel Put the Shovel Down. With over 20 years of experience, she helps families deal with the chaos of addictionâwithout burning themselves out in the process.
If youâve ever tried to help a loved one and ended up feeling like the bad guy (or totally powerless), this conversation is going to hit close to home. Amber explains why the old-school intervention model often backfires, how shame and blame keep people stuck, and why the people closest to someone struggling with addiction often have more influence than they think.
Thereâs a better wayâand Amber walks us through it. From her âInvisible Interventionâ method to a strength-based approach that helps people reconnect with their values, she shares real tools that actually work. You'll hear how she encourages people to stop focusing on whatâs going wrong and start noticing whatâs still rightâand how families can become part of the solution without getting dragged down by the drama.
Sonia and Kathleen also open up about their own experiences trying (and failing) to stage an intervention, what theyâd do differently now, and why it's so hard to step out of the ârescuerâ role when someone you love is hurting. Itâs raw, itâs real, and honestlyâitâs the kind of conversation that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about helping someone get better.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.
Episode Highlights (Time-Stamped):
00:01:00 â How Amber got into addiction counseling (hint: not the usual story)
00:02:30 â Growing up surrounded by addiction, and not realizing it until much later
00:04:45 â Why she started Put the Shovel Down and how it became a mission
00:05:55 â Why families often have more power than they think
00:06:40 â Creating a team approach: everyone gets their own support
00:08:20 â Why one-sided therapy can sometimes make things worse
00:10:30 â Everyone has their version of the storyâand why that matters
00:12:00 â The most common way families accidentally slow down recovery
00:13:30 â When traditional interventions helpâand when they totally miss the mark
00:15:00 â The bargaining stage (and why no one gets to skip it)
00:17:00 â Words that trigger defensivenessâand what to say instead
00:19:00 â What went wrong in Sonia and Kathleenâs attempt to help a family member
00:21:30 â The Invisible Intervention method explained step by step
00:23:00 â Building credit and influence with your loved one
00:25:00 â Natural consequences vs. punishment: why the difference matters
00:27:30 â What really helps someone see the problem for themselves
00:30:00 â Strength-based coaching: how Amber helps people reconnect with who they are
00:32:45 â Why itâs not about calling people outâitâs about calling them back to themselves
00:34:20 â Common values people rediscover when they stop drinking
00:36:30 â How to acknowledge addiction without crushing someone with shame
00:38:10 â Why so many middle-aged women defend their nightly wine
00:41:00 â How alcohol becomes the stand-in for self-care
00:42:00 â What to say to someone who doesnât âseemâ like they have a problem
00:43:30 â Why trying moderation might actually help you quit
00:45:00 â Navigating early sobriety when everyone around you is still drinking
00:46:00 â Final takeaway: Youâre not powerlessâand you donât have to lose yourself trying to help someone else
Amber's Links
YouTube
Instagram
Sisters In Sobriety Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website â Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ˛ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this special mini-episode of our spicy new series: The Truth About Sober Dating, Sex, and Love, we have Whitney Combs. A nationally board-certified health and wellness coach, wife, and mom of three. Whitney opens up about rediscovering intimacy without alcohol, why honesty became her ultimate non-negotiable, and how she chooses restaurants based solely on dessert and mocktails (relatable). Ohâand sheâs got a concert horror story you wonât forget.
If youâve ever wondered how to navigate sober sex, sober dating apps, or what to say when someone asks, âWhy donât you drink?ââthis episode is for you.
Whitneyâs Links
⢠đ Whitneyâs Website
⢠đ˛ Whitney on Instagram
⢠đľ âIf We Were Vampiresâ â Jason Isbell
Sisters in Sobriety Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website â Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ˛ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
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Navigating family dynamics can be one of the hardest parts of recoveryâespecially when the relationships weâre told are âunbreakableâ feel anything but safe. In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are joined by Dr. Sharon Martin, psychotherapist and author of Cutting Ties with Your Parents and The Better Boundaries Workbook. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Martin helps us unpack what it really means to set boundaries with family, the complexities of estrangement, and how these issues often resurface in sobriety.
Together, we explore some big questions: How do you know when itâs time to go no-contact with a parent or family member? Whatâs the difference between estrangement and avoidance? How do you deal with the guilt, grief, and judgment that come up when you make that choice? And how do old family wounds start to resurface once we get sober? From emotional manipulation to the pressure to reconcile, we talk through the many layers that come with stepping away from dysfunction.
Dr. Martin offers practical tools and insights for healingâwhether youâve already gone no-contact or are just beginning to question whatâs healthy for you. We talk about building self-trust through small, everyday actions, reparenting yourself when you never got what you needed growing up, and what it looks like to maintain sobriety while navigating painful family dynamics. You'll also learn why grief can show up even when you never had the kind of relationship you're mourning.
This episode is also deeply personal. Sonia opens up about grieving the mother-daughter connection she never experienced, and Kathleen shares what it feels like to question whether estrangement is truly healing or just a form of self-protection. Itâs a thoughtful, honest, and empowering conversationâespecially for anyone trying to make peace with their past while protecting their present.
20 TIME-STAMPED HIGHLIGHTS
[00:01:00] Meet Dr. Sharon Martin and how she found this work
[00:03:00] Growing up with alcoholism and how it shaped her path
[00:05:00] Why trauma always finds its way into therapy
[00:06:30] When a family relationship stops feeling emotionally safe
[00:08:45] Estrangement isnât a rash decisionâitâs the last resort
[00:10:30] Facing guilt, judgment, and societal pressure
[00:12:00] Why other peopleâs opinions donât always reflect reality
[00:14:30] How emotional manipulation becomes normalized
[00:17:30] What healthy estrangement can actually look like
[00:20:00] When reconciliation is worth consideringâand when itâs not
[00:22:00] Why false hope and outside pressure often backfire
[00:23:30] Navigating milestone events like weddings and funerals
[00:25:30] Estrangement vs. avoidanceâhow to tell the difference
[00:29:00] Grieving the family fantasy you never had
[00:31:00] Why complicated grief around family is valid
[00:34:00] The importance of processing feelings through movement and expression
[00:35:30] Keeping your sobriety solid while navigating emotional landmines
[00:37:00] Emotional wounds adult children of dysfunction carry
[00:40:00] Rebuilding self-worth through small, doable commitments
[00:44:00] Why early sobriety can bring childhood trauma to the surface
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Head to our Substack for extra tools, reflections, and mocktail recipes to support your journey.
Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website â Kathleen does not endorse products mentioned
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Connect with Dr. Sharon Martin
đ Cutting Ties with Your Parents â Amazon
đ The Better Boundaries Guided Journal â Amazon
đ LiveWellWithSharonMartin.com
đ¸ Instagram
đ Facebook
đş YouTube
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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In this special mini-episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen invite you to slow down for a few minutes and take an honest look at how codependency may be showing up in your life. This isnât a diagnosis or a formal assessmentâjust a chance to reflect with a simple, 10-question quiz thatâs designed to spark insight and self-awareness.
âď¸ In this candid conversation, we ask:
Do you often feel responsible for othersâ emotions?Are you suppressing your needs to avoid conflict?Is it easier to give care than receive it?đŹ After the quiz, Sonia and Kathleen open up about how codependency has impacted their own relationshipsâfrom family dynamics to marriageâand how awareness has helped them move toward healthier boundaries and interdependence.
đ Youâll learn:
What codependent patterns can look like in everyday lifeWhy "fixing" others often leads to self-neglectHow childhood dynamics can shape adult relationshipsTools for recognizing when you're stepping into over-functioning modeđ If youâve ever found yourself walking on eggshells, ignoring your own needs, or feeling responsible for someone elseâs emotional state, this episode is for you.
đ Want to revisit the quiz later or share it with a friend? Itâs available on our Substackâalong with tons of supportive content, reflections, and resources to help you change your relationship with alcohol and deepen your self-awareness.
If youâve ever felt like youâre losing yourself in relationshipsâalways giving, fixing, or putting others first, Kathleen has created The Path Back to You is a free guide with a self-reflection quiz, five simple practices, and journaling prompts to help you reconnect with your voice, your needs, and your boundaries.â¨
Links
Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Today on Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are diving into a topic that often comes up after we quit drinking: codependency. With Kathleenâs clinical expertise as a couples therapist and Soniaâs real-life experiences, theyâre unpacking what codependency really meansâand how to spot it in yourself.
What exactly is codependencyâand how is it different from being loving, loyal, or just... a decent human? Is it mutual? Does it show up only in romantic relationships? Can you be codependent with your dog? In this episode, Sonia and Kathleen explore these questions and more, including the red flags, psychological roots, and surprising ways codependency might still be running the show in your sober life.
Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of the difference between support and self-sacrifice, healthy interdependence versus emotional enmeshment, and how sobriety can reveal codependent tendencies that were previously hidden behind a wine glass. The episode also explores hyper-independence as the flip side of codependencyâand why swinging between extremes isnât the goal either.
As always, the episode gets personal. Sonia opens up about how she once believed caretaking was the hallmark of a good marriage, how she walked on eggshells to avoid the "Kraken" (her exâs moods), and what changed after getting sober. Kathleen shares insights from her own marriage, her childhood patterns, and how even therapists have to work on their stuff. Itâs honest, raw, and full of lightbulb moments.
If youâve ever felt like youâre losing yourself in relationshipsâalways giving, fixing, or putting others first, Kathleen has created The Path Back to You is a free guide with a self-reflection quiz, five simple practices, and journaling prompts to help you reconnect with your voice, your needs, and your boundaries.â¨
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.
Time-stamped Highlights
[00:01:00] Sonia introduces the episode and shares a recent therapy revelation.
[00:02:30] Kathleen defines codependency in practical terms.
[00:04:00] Why codependency isnât just about romantic relationships.
[00:06:10] The difference between caring and being codependent.
[00:07:30] Sonia shares a story about her exâs âKrakenâ moods.
[00:09:00] Emotional reliance and attachment patterns.
[00:10:30] Codependent parenting and walking on eggshells.
[00:11:30] Red flags for identifying codependency.
[00:13:30] Examples of codependency outside of romance.
[00:15:00] How codependency forms in childhood.
[00:21:00] Why sobriety often reveals codependent patterns.
[00:23:00] What happens to relationships after sobriety and boundary-setting.
[00:24:00] Healthy interdependence vs. hyper-independence.
[00:26:00] Are women more likely to struggle with codependency?
[00:27:30] First steps for healing and reclaiming your identity.
[00:28:30] Book recs: Codependent No More and Facing Codependence.
[00:29:30] Reconnecting with your needsâstarting with Friday night plans.
[00:30:30] What changes when you stop playing the people-pleasing role.
[00:32:00] Guilt, grief, and growing into a new version of yourself.
[00:34:00] Do you need to explain your boundaries to others?
[00:35:00] How to handle guilt when you stop overfunctioning.
[00:36:00] Final thoughts and encouragement to keep doing the work.
Links
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this mini-episode of Sisters in Sobriety, weâre diving into sober dating with psychotherapist Samantha Barnes.Sam has over two decades of experience working with children, youth, and families on their wellness journeys. and sheâs currently embracing the single life with clarity, confidence, and no time for BS. We asked her 10 honest questions about dating, sex, and relationshipsâand she brought the wisdom.
Sam talks about being blindsided by how big of a deal not drinking was to a date, why she now leads with her sobriety on the apps, and the kinds of questions that feel supportive (versus just plain judgmental). She shares the red flags she used to ignore, the green ones she seeks out, and why walking dates are where it's at. Plus: her new philosophy on love (spoiler: itâs not about giving 150%).
đŹ Get ready for practical advice, honest reflection, and a reminder that your boundaries are validâeven on a first date.
đLinks
To learn more about Sam's work, visit her website or follow her on social media at @sweetspotcounselling.
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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Parenting while staying sober isnât for the faint of heartâbut you donât have to do it alone. On this weekâs episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are diving into the layered, often unspoken, realities of recovery and motherhood with the brilliant Sarah Allen Benton. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, addiction specialist, and the author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic and Parents in Recovery. She brings nearly two decades of personal sobriety and professional experience to this candid and compassionate conversation.
From blackout drinking in her early 20s to running a mental health practice and parenting a teen in sobriety, Sarah shares her remarkable journey and hard-won wisdom. Sonia and Kathleen explore questions like: What does it really mean to be a âhigh-functioning alcoholicâ? Why is parenting in recovery so uniquely challenging? How can we teach our kids about addiction and emotional health? Sarah breaks down the importance of talking openly about addiction with children, how to handle digital addiction in the age of iPads and TikTok
Sarah opens up about her early drinking days, her moment of reckoning at age 27, and the slow, gray, sometimes thankless beginning of recovery. She also shares what itâs been like to raise a daughter in a sober household, how her marriage has been shaped by recovery, and why self-care is not optionalâit's essential.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.
Episode Highlights:
00:01 Welcome Sarah Allen Benton and intro
00:58 Sarahâs first experience with alcohol and her early patterns
02:45 Blacking out from the beginningâwhat Sarah misunderstood about ânormalâ drinking
05:12 Being a high-functioning alcoholic in college
06:35 The illusion of control and trying to outthink addiction
09:12 The moment Sarah knew she had to stop
11:00 Building her own outpatient sobriety plan
12:30 What early sobriety felt like (hint: not pink clouds)
14:40 Writing as a tool for processing recovery
15:35 Becoming a parent in recovery and writing Parents in Recovery
17:05 Talking to kids about addiction and recovery
18:45 The stigma of being a parent in recovery
20:10 Raising toddlers vs. teensâsobriety challenges by age
22:00 Hypervigilance and screen time addiction
24:55 The science of digital hygiene and dopamine overload
26:50 Creative ways to talk to kids about brain health and family history
29:15 âThe Tellingâânavigating when and how to tell your kids youâre in recovery
32:00 Kids noticing changes in drunk adultsâand the emotional fallout
35:30 The challenge of giving your kids real-world exposure without trauma
38:00 Why this generation is more risk-averse but more anxious
40:10 Self-care vs. soul careâand why itâs not optional for parents in recovery
42:50 Recovery as a long-term investment, not a short-term reward
44:00 Wisdom from single parents in recovery
46:30 The myth of doing it all: learning to say no without guilt
49:00 How sobriety changes marriage and dating dynamics
51:00 Love without martinis: codependency, relapse fears, and boundaries
54:00 The importance of having a recovery-affirming partner
56:00 The parallel recovery journey for spouses and family members
Links
Learn more about Sarah!
Parents in Recovery: Navigating a Sober Family Lifestyle
Parents in Recovery Facebook Group
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Welcome to Sisters in Sobriety and our mini-series The Truth About Sober Dating, Sex & Relationshipsâwhere we get personal with our favorite guests in 10 spicy questions.
Today, we're joined by the brilliant and refreshingly honest Ali Shapiro, creator of Truce with Food, health rebel, and emotional detective. You may remember Ali from our previous episode, where we talked about creating meaning beyond food. This time, weâre diving into what it's like to date with food stuff, relationship green and red flags, and how emotional safety is the real aphrodisiac.
đĄ From bracing for rejection to learning what she actually wants in a partner, Ali keeps it real about the awkwardness of first dates, being the âhealthy oneâ in a relationship, and why her go-to sober date still involves fresh air and muddy boots.
Plus: how Jason Mraz made it to her wedding playlist, and what she learned when marriage 2.0 arrived (aka, post-kids chaos). Youâll laugh, nod, and possibly reevaluate your own date night dinner order.
đ Links â Get in Touch with Ali Shapiro:
Free breakfast experimentTruce with Food group programđŹ Stay Connected with Sisters in Sobriety:
⢠Sisters In Sobriety Substack - find more tips, tricks, resources, and community
⢠Sisters In Sobriety Email
⢠Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
⢠Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
⢠Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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What if every addictionâwhether itâs alcohol, sugar, or even your phoneâis actually a substitute for love?
In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen sit down with the wise and wonderfully candid Dr. Donna Marks. Sheâs a psychotherapist, addictions counselor, educator, and author with 30+ years of experience helping people find freedom from addiction by turning inwardânot outwardâfor healing. Sheâs written Exit the Maze and The Healing Moment, and has created an award-winning addiction training program in Florida. Today, she joins us to unpack what addiction really is⌠and how self-love is the way through.
We cover a lot in this episodeâeverything from the impact of childhood trauma to the sugar-cocaine connection (seriously, itâs wild), to whether things like medical marijuana or Ozempic are helping people heal⌠or just creating new problems. Youâll hear about the sneaky ways addiction hides in everyday habits, why medication isn't always the magic answer, and how to truly support your brain and body on the road to recovery.
Expect real talk, powerful insights, and a whole lot of âohhh that makes so much senseâ moments. We also get personalâDr. Marks shares her own story of relapse, healing, and radical transformation. Plus, Kathleen opens up about her sugar detox journey and navigating ADHD medication in recovery.
Donât miss Dr. Marks talking about growing up in an addicted household, what led to her own relapse, and how she reclaimed her life through love, not punishment. Her transformation is seriously inspiring.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support space helping women change their relationship with alcohol. Want more tools, prompts, and inspiration? Head over to our Substack for all the extra goodness.
Highlights from the Episode:
00:02 â How Dr. Marks turned a painful upbringing into her purpose
00:06 â What caused her relapse after 23 years sober
00:08 â The problem with how doctors still treat painâespecially for people in recovery
00:10 â Why she built an addiction training program (spoiler: no one knew what to look for)
00:13 â Big Pharma, overprescribing, and how therapy sometimes misses the mark
00:17 â Kathleenâs personal update on tapering ADHD meds and cutting sugar
00:20 â That time sugar in salad dressing brought back all the cravings
00:23 â Why addiction is never really about the substance
00:25 â How childhood gaps in care create emotional holes we try to fill
00:28 â What true self-love looks like (and how to build it daily)
00:33 â Dr. Marks' take on how addiction drives most physical and mental illness
00:35 â Screen addiction, food noise, and feeling stuck in a loop
00:37 â Are drugs like Ozempic a shortcutâor just another trap?
00:39 â How trauma can actually become a doorway to growth
00:42 â What forgiveness actually looks like in healing
00:44 â The telltale sign youâve swapped one addiction for another
00:46 â âProgress, not perfectionââwhy this mindset is everything
00:47 â Final takeaways on sacred self-care, flexibility, and finding peace
Links to Connect with Dr. Donna Marks:
đ Website: drdonnamarks.comđ¸ Instagram: @drdonnamarksMore from Sisters in Sobriety:
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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What really happens when you start dating sober? Sonia sits down with Alida Flannery, a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach, founder of Epiphany Recovery, and co-founder of the womenâs sober collective SOULBRIETY. Alida opens up about navigating love and relationships without alcoholâand letâs just say, her first sober date included dogs, a hike, and thankfully, no cocktails.
Alida shares what it was like re-entering the dating scene after sobriety, how she negotiated her way down from a proposed 100-date challenge.
Together, Sonia and Alida talk about what it means to stay true to yourself in the dating world, and why sometimes a second drink at lunch is more telling than it seems. This episode has raw honesty that only two sober women can bring to the table.
If youâve ever wondered how to answer âWhy donât you drink?â on a date, what it means when someone orders six martinis, or how to spot love that feels like home instead of chaos, this oneâs for you.
Enjoyed the episode? Show us some loveâlike, comment, and subscribe to catch more from our Truth About Sober Dating, Sex & Relationships series. And if youâve got your own wild sober date story or green flag moment, drop it in the comments. We want to hear all the juicy details.
Links
⢠Sisters In Sobriety Substack - find more tips, tricks, resources, and community
⢠Sisters In Sobriety Email
⢠Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
⢠Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
⢠Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia sits down with Chris Janssenâboard-certified coach, author of Grace Yourself: How to Show Up for the Sober Life You Want, and all-around powerhouse when it comes to helping high-achieving women let go of shame and perfectionism and finally get free.
Chris doesnât just coach people through sobriety and mindset shiftsâsheâs lived it. After 14 years of sobriety, she found herself drinking again. She had the perfect life on paper, a thriving coaching practice, and a head full of recovery tools⌠and still, alcohol crept back in. What happened next? A whole lot of hard truths, humbling lessons, and eventuallyâfreedom. Again.
In this chat, weâre getting into: ⢠What to do when you think maybe you can drink again
⢠Why itâs so easy to fall into the âI should be able to moderateâ trap
⢠How to tell the difference between fear and vigilance
⢠What to do when youâre stuck in perfectionism and performance pressure
⢠Why community is the non-negotiable (even if you're embarrassed to go back)
⢠The truth about relapsingâand why you are never, ever starting over from zero
Chris also shares some incredibly powerful coaching tools for breaking toxic patterns, reframing setbacks, and rewriting your own rules. Spoiler alert: theyâre useful whether youâre on Day One or Day 3,000.
This is one of those episodes thatâll stick with youâbecause itâs real, raw, and hopeful as hell.
This is Sisters in Sobrietyâthe support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Come hang out on our Substack for tips, community, and the kind of conversations you wonât hear anywhere else.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 â Meet Chris Janssen: mindset coach, bestselling author, and secretly-struggling wine mom turned sober sage
01:30 â Chrisâs first sober journey: high-functioning on the outside, suffering on the inside
05:00 â The moment everything changed: one meeting, one sentence, and a huge weight lifted
07:15 â Raising three kids in sobriety and why âno one ever saw me drunkâ isnât the whole story
09:00 â 14 years later: the move, the pandemic, the identity crisis, and the return of wine
11:10 â Trying to âthinkâ your way through moderation (and why it never works)
13:30 â The trap of perfectionism: how losing her sober streak messed with her mind
15:00 â When sober groups donât fitâand why itâs okay to admit theyâre not for you
17:30 â The mindful drinking myth and other lies we tell ourselves
19:00 â Fear vs. vigilance: how to fast-forward the tape without spiraling
21:00 â Playing it smart, not scared: tools for staying sober without white-knuckling
23:00 â Relapse shame, pride in reverse, and why going back can be the bravest move
26:00 â Labels, stigma, and what to say when people ask why you donât drink
30:00 â What âgrace yourselfâ really meansâand how to stop trying to control your worth
33:00 â Releasing perfectionism: write down your made-up rules and start again
35:45 â Boredom or serenity? Why stillness freaks us out
37:00 â First steps for breaking a cycle when you feel totally stuck
39:00 â Peak performance and recovery: choosing your hard and focusing forward
41:15 â How Chris wishes sheâd handled her relapse
43:30 â Do you really have to go back to Day One? (Spoiler: maybe not)
45:00 â Whatâs next for Chris: more coaching, more writing, more realness
Links & Resources:
đ Chris Janssenâs Website
đ Grace Yourself (Book)
đ¸ Chris on Instagram
đ Chris on Facebook
đ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Sheâs back! đ¨ In this bite-sized bonus episode, we welcome newlywed and sober lifestyle expert Hilary Sheinbaumâthe brilliant mind behind GoingDry.co and author of The Dry Challenge and Going Dry: A Workbookâfor our new series The Truth About Sober Dating, Sex, and Love.
We hit her with 10 juicy questions about sober dating, first-time sober sex, red (and green!) flags, her Barry's Bootcamp date strategy, and what love looks like without the booze goggles. đŞđ
If you've ever wondered what to say when someone asks, âWhy donât you drink?â, how to survive your first dry date, or what Taylor Swift song sums up your love lifeâthis oneâs for you.
đĄFun fact: Hilary met her husband because she stopped drinking. Talk about a sober love story.
Links
⢠Sisters In Sobriety Substack - find more tips, tricks, resources, and community
⢠Sisters In Sobriety Email
⢠Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
⢠Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
⢠Kathleenâs Instagram
Support this podcast at â https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Ever wish you had a reset button for your habitsâand maybe your relationship with alcohol too? On this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are chatting with Silvia Subirana, a clinical psychologist and the Head of Content at MyDry30, an app thatâs part sober-curious experiment, part life makeover. Silvia is here to share how MyDry30 helps people drink less (or not at all) without guiltâand how it can help you feel better in your body, your mind, and your everyday life.
Weâre diving into all the good stuff: Why does alcohol feel like such a default in our social lives? Whatâs the science behind changing habits (especially the sticky ones)? And how can tools like hypnotherapy, journaling, and movement actually help us feel more grounded and in control? If youâve ever wondered how to quit something without it feeling like a punishmentâthis oneâs for you.
Silvia breaks it all down. We talk about how habits are wired into our brains, how our bodies often know whatâs up before our minds catch on, and why adding more to your life (not just taking alcohol away) is a key part of feeling fulfilled. Plus, she shares the surprising benefits of gratitude texts, tiny daily rituals, and letting go of perfection when you're trying something new.
We also get personalâSilvia opens up about her own story: a gut-health wake-up call, why she stayed alcohol-free even when she technically could go back, and how she found her way to MyDry30. If youâve ever felt stuck in the cycle of starting over, or wondered if moderation is even for you, this conversation will feel like a warm hug and a deep exhale.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.
Time-stamped Highlights
00:00 â Meet Silvia, psychologist and content lead at MyDry30
01:30 â Silviaâs path from psychology to sobriety to building a wellness app
03:10 â The health issue that made alcohol a no-go
05:00 â Why MyDry30 never uses guilt or shame to promote change
06:50 â The appâs daily combo: movement, journaling, hypnosis (yes, really!)
08:30 â Demystifying hypnotherapy (no swinging watches here)
10:45 â Why âbeing in a tranceâ is just super-deep relaxation
12:20 â How our brains form habits (even ones we donât want)
14:00 â Why journaling hits different than venting to a friend
15:30 â How MyDry30 handles âslip-upsâ with kindness
17:00 â Shifting from âI canât drinkâ to âI donât want toâ
18:30 â The power of connection: why gratitude texts matter
20:00 â Why alcohol cravings feel different from food cravings
21:30 â When your body says âenough alreadyâ louder than your mind
23:00 â Silviaâs take on healing stress through body awareness
25:00 â Breathwork and grounding: not just for yogis
26:30 â The 5-4-3-2-1 method to snap out of spirals
28:00 â If you keep starting over, youâre not brokenâyouâre human
29:30 â What is gray area drinking⌠and is it working for you?
31:00 â Moderation vs. sobriety: which path is actually harder?
32:00 â Be curious! Experimenting is better than perfection
33:30 â Whatâs next for MyDry30: 90-day programs, your way
34:45 â Wrapping up: itâs okay to go slow, and youâre not alone
Links
Check out MyDry30
https://mydry30.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mydry30appđ Sisters In Sobriety Substack â where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
đŹ Sisters In Sobriety Email
đ¸ Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
đ Kathleenâs Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
đ¸ Kathleenâs Instagram
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