Tawny and Lisa talk about a recent Hinge (yes, the dating app) survey showing that 75% ofHinge daters say grabbing a drink is not their first date choice. Singles were more interested inmaking 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 amuseum, 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 theSingle Girl.”Read about the Hinge studySober date ideas from TawnyBuy “Sex and the Single Woman”This episode is sponsored by the amazing folks at Soberlink! soberlink.com/partners/recovery-rocks

Episode 129: Episode 129: Booze-Free Dating is a Thing

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.

Health & Fitness

Tawny and Lisa talk about a recent article in The Washington Post,  "Why Loneliness is Associated with Food Cravings in Some Women." It reports on a new study that suggests that alterations in the lonely brain may be why some women are more susceptible to unhealthy food choices. And why they often crave sweet, calorie-rich foods, in particular. They also talk about the article’s note that it’s the quality, not quantity of relationships that can keep loneliness at bay. Music Minute features Def Leppard and Eric Carmen. Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze Sign up for "Beyond Liquid Courage" Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses) Sign up for Nonfiction Book Proposal 101 with Tawny here. Sign up for Tawny’s Nonfiction Book Proposal Boot Camp here. Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar

Episode 225: Episode 225: Loneliness and Food Cravings

Tawny gives Lisa an update on her changing relationship with substances, which she wrote about in her recent newsletter. They talk about her discovery of plant medicine and its benefits for her. They also talk harm reduction and stigma. For both Tawny and Lisa, it all comes down to the fact that one day at a time is the only approach that actually works – how we show up today and how we react to today are the only things we can control.  Music Minute features Sheryl Crow, David Bowie and INXS. Check out GRASS: Green Recovery Support Group.  Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze Sign up for "Beyond Liquid Courage" Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses) Sign up for Nonfiction Book Proposal 101 with Tawny here. Sign up for Tawny’s Nonfiction Book Proposal Boot Camp here. Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar

Episode 224: Episode 224: Tawny’s Changing Relationship with Substances

Tawny and Lisa talk about Tawny’s recent Beyond Liquid Courage newsletter, "People Pleasing is Over."  She learned through years of recovery and therapy that her people-pleasing is tied to her codependency. Lisa learned in early recovery that if she didn’t stop always trying to please others, she wasn’t going to be able to stay sober. People pleasing is more nuanced than just doing something for a loved one because you want to. It’s about doing something for someone else because you fear disappointing them at the risk of your own mental and physical health. Oh, an apparently Anne Hathaway’s done with people pleasing, too!Music Minute features Ricky Nelson and Jay-Z with Linkin Park. Check out the Anne Hathaway's interview with The New York Times. Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze Sign up for Tawny’s newsletter, "Beyond Liquid Courage" Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses) Sign up for Nonfiction Book Proposal 101 with Tawny here. Sign up for Tawny’s Nonfiction Book Proposal Boot Camp here. Order Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar

Episode 223: Episode 223: People Pleasing is Over

Tawny and Lisa talk about being discerning with what we add to our plates and what we say “no” to. Our tendency to be “people pleasers” means we end up saying yes to things we don’t want or need to do to avoid disappointing others. But oftentimes, that concern can be misplaced or exaggerated. We can also tweak the way we accept invitations if they would otherwise take too much out of us (hint, hint: boundaries!). The bottom line is that managing our energy budgets is a priority for our mental health. Music Minute features Alanis Morisette and the Rolling Stones Check out Tarot for the Wild Soul and Lindsay Mack’s podcast  Kroll Show: Too Much Tuna  Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze Sign up for "Beyond Liquid Courage" Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses) Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar   

Episode 222: Episode 222: Declining the Invitation

Tawny and Lisa talk to Steve Rose, an addiction counselor specializing in gambling addiction, with a Ph.D in sociology. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about how gambling addiction is on the rise. This trend is closely linked to broader addictive behaviors such as smartphone and social media usage, which draw on many of the same psychological mechanisms. They talk about what gambling addiction is, how to spot it in yourself or someone else, what recovery looks like, and more. Music Minute features The Growlers hip hop and lofi hip hop. Find Steve on his website and his podcast, Pros & Concepts  Check out The Age of Addiction by David Courtwright Find support at Gamblers Anonymous,  Internet Addictions Anonymous, and  Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous  Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze Sign up for "Beyond Liquid Courage" Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses) Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar

Episode 129: Episode 129: Booze-Free Dating is a Thing

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