At 24, Kaine suffered a cocaine-induced heart attack. He survived, but he wouldn’t get sober for another five years.

In this episode of A Beautiful Rebellion, host Linsey Dara talks with Kaine about cocaine’s terrifying grip, how close he came to losing his partner and son, and what has changed in his 10 months of sobriety. He shares how the gym and staying active have helped him build a different life, why he believes men need more space to open up, and where his experience with AA has left him wanting something different.

Kaine also reflects on the person he was then—and how emotional that younger version of him would be to see where he is today.

Steve Halland touches on:

- Why "rock bottom" is a gift

- The difference between being "dry" and being "in recovery"

-How working a program changed his sobriety

- The dangers of an ego-centered existence

- What makes the difference between people staying in recovery and leaving sobriety behind

- What a "higher power" can be for you

What if surrender isn’t weakness—but one of the strongest things we can do?

For people struggling with addiction or alcoholism, those in recovery, the sober curious, and the families who love them, surrender can be one of the hardest—and most essential—parts of getting well.

In this episode of A Beautiful Rebellion, host Linsey Dara sits down with Army veteran and successful businessman Jim McKinley to explore The Art of Surrender. Jim was trained in a world where surrender meant defeat. But when alcohol began taking control of his life, he had to reconsider everything he believed about strength, control, asking for help, and what it actually means to surrender.

Together, Linsey and Jim talk candidly about addiction and recovery, masculinity, family, identity, hope, hitting the point where you can no longer do it alone, and the surprising strength required to finally accept help.

Whether you’re sober, sober curious, questioning your relationship with alcohol, actively struggling with addiction, supporting a loved one, or simply trying to let go of something you can no longer control, this conversation offers a different way to think about surrender:

Not as giving up—but as making room for something better.

Hosted by Linsey Dara | A Beautiful Rebellion Podcast

If this conversation helps you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it.

Why do people destroy things they genuinely want?

In this episode of A Beautiful Rebellion, Linsey sits down with a guest who went through addiction treatment six different times before finally finding lasting sobriety. But this conversation goes far beyond relapse.

Together, they unpack the deeper psychology of self sabotage — not simply as “bad decisions,” but as protection strategies rooted in fear, shame, emotional overwhelm, nervous system conditioning, and identity.

This episode explores:

- isolation as emotional self-protection

- irritability as a warning sign

- relapsing when life gets painful… and when life gets good

- fear of success and visibility

- why chaos can feel safer than peace

- learning how to stop abandoning yourself during discomfort

Whether you struggle with addiction, anxiety, depression, avoidance patterns, or simply feel stuck in cycles you can’t fully explain, this conversation offers a deeply human look at why self sabotage happens — and what healing can actually look like beneath the surface.

Hosted by Linsey Dara.

What if the version of you people see… isn’t who you are anymore?

We’re quick to define people by their lowest moment. A season of their life becomes the whole story—and even when they change, the narrative doesn’t always follow.

In this episode, I sit down with Frederick “Freddy” Shegog, who went from homelessness and addiction to becoming a nationally recognized speaker. But this conversation isn’t just about where he’s been—it’s about what it actually takes to become someone new.

We talk about survival mode, the reality of addiction, the role of environment, and the tension between personal responsibility and systemic challenges.

And maybe most importantly… what it costs to be known for a version of yourself you’ve already outgrown.

This one is honest, layered, and stayed with me long after we stopped recording.

Hosted by Linsey Dara

Now 22 years sober and running hundred mile races, Sober Motivator Troy Thompson is living a balanced, adventurous life he never expected.

He says the big decision to get sober is just the first step to a life and a world you never dreamt of, and must explore to be in a happy recovery.

We cover the importance of filling your time with new and old hobbies forgotten in addiction, as well as creating tiny wins by challenging your self to grow.

Troy tells us how he maintains a balanced life to stave off depression. Hosted by former news anchor and your peer in recovery, Linsey Dara.

What actually makes recovery work?

Is it treatment? Willpower? The right program?

Or are we overlooking the two things that matter most?

In this episode of A Beautiful Rebellion, Linsey Dara sits down with Elizabeth—a nurse practitioner based in Chicago, Illinois, and the voice behind @stayinyourcortex—who brings a rare and powerful dual perspective: both as a clinician working in addiction and as the wife of someone two years into recovery.

Together, they break down what she’s witnessed from both sides of the experience—what truly helps, what quietly harms, and what most people misunderstand about the recovery process.

At the center of the conversation are two essential (and often misinterpreted) elements: accountability and shame—and how each can either support healing… or keep you stuck in the cycle.

They also explore:

    •    How PTSD can manifest in unexpected ways during recovery

    •    The difference between taking responsibility and staying trapped in shame

Blending clinical expertise with deeply personal insight, this conversation offers a grounded, real-world look at what it actually takes to build sustainable recovery. Whether you’re sober curious, actively in recovery, or still struggling—this episode meets you exactly where you are.

Early sobriety can make the nervous system feel louder, not quieter. In this conversation, we unpack what’s actually happening in the body and why regulation—not willpower—is often the missing piece. This episode includes nervous system education and simple, trauma-sensitive breathwork you can use when cravings, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm show up.

Our guest Shea Fairbanks shares a few breathing exercises toward the end of the interview. Host Linsey Dara shares her trauma, sensitive techniques at the end of the episode.

Links to Linsey’s breath meditations:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0mytRNK4t2lws9dGMa1ekR?si=FjKMxkAZST6eObcL35bwHA

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4JFVfRaFlsHxgFq0BsSJux?si=wOr0fj5pTo-6qj79Pjtsuw

https://open.spotify.com/episode/38nAWVUV8jzm1m1Z5MNfqO?si=q0xle19JTn6fopum9GxdQA

Sheafairbanks.com

Marijuana is often framed as harmless. Non-addictive. Even medicinal.

But for some people, chronic use can lead to addiction, psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, and suicidal ideation—and those risks are still widely misunderstood.

In this episode of A Beautiful Rebellion, Linsey Dara sits down with an MMA fighter and coach who tried to quit marijuana over 100 times before finally getting sober.

Together, they talk openly about:

• How marijuana addiction actually develops

• The link between heavy or prolonged use and psychosis, paranoia, and delusional thinking

• Experiencing hallucinations and suicidal ideation

• Why “it’s just weed” kept him trapped for years

• The mental battle of trying—and failing—to quit repeatedly

• What finally made sobriety stick

• And why honesty about cannabis matters, especially for young people and high-performers

This conversation isn’t anti-marijuana—and it isn’t fear-based.

It’s about telling the full truth, breaking denial, and making space for people whose experience doesn’t match the cultural narrative.

If you’ve ever struggled to stop, wondered if weed is affecting your mental health, or felt alone in something no one talks about—this episode is for you.

Sex, love, and intimacy can look very different before and after sobriety. What changes? What challenges remain? And how do you rebuild authentic connection when your life is no longer fueled by addiction?

In this episode of A Beautiful Rebellion, Linsey Dara sits down with Luke Ryan, certified life coach specializing in sobriety, self-awareness, and conscious relationships. Luke shares his experience navigating love, intimacy, and parenting while sober, and offers practical insights for anyone stepping into a clean life.

Together, they explore:

• How romantic and sexual relationships shift after getting sober

• The role of self-love and self-awareness

• Building trust, honesty, and connection in all types of relationships

• How to approach sex, love, and emotional intimacy without shame or secrecy

Whether you’re newly sober, supporting someone in recovery, or just curious about life after addiction, this conversation offers honesty, hope, and guidance for building meaningful relationships.