When it comes to promoting recovery, there is liberation in knowing that it can come in all kinds of packages. On this episode of Beyond Belief Sobriety we are learning about LifeRing, a secular support group that has offered Casey Cannizzaro, a life coach, exactly the safe, flexible space he needed in order to explore not only sobriety but his identity as well. It’s an organization that advances the idea that there are as many ways to live free of illicit or non-medically indicated drugs and alcohol as there are stories of sobriety. Casey shares with Host John Sheldon the path he took and why LifeRing – with its inclusive, flexible philosophy – makes such a good fit for so many people. This conversation touches on how the program differs from AA’s more structured (and tradition-bound) approach and how pandemic has transformed the recovery landscape with new ways of connecting people evolving in their sobriety through platforms ranging from book clubs to text-only meetings to global online meetings to the forum created by The Beyond Belief Sobriety Podcast.

If you’d like to learn more about the resources that LifeRing has to offer, click here. You’ll find a wide variety of meetings as well as reading resources.

If you’d like to support this podcast, please consider clicking here to become a patron. Your contribution of just $1, $3 or $5 a month goes a long way towards building this community!

To view this and other episodes of Beyond Belief Sobriety on YouTube, visit this link.

“I embrace the differences and I’m so glad that I did because as I listened to (episodes of Beyond Belief Sobriety) I heard something miraculous happening, an open-mindedness and willingness to question things and that’s where it started for me.” (Casey)

“In the early years the podcast was focused on secularizing the 12 Steps. It was all about that, but gradually over time it evolved away from AA to the point where I don’t really even consider myself a member of AA but rather just a person in recovery who is interested in secular paths to recovery.” (John)

“That’s what recovery is all about. It’s never the same as long as we continue to grow.” (John)

“A lot of 12-Step ideology reminds me of the organized religion of the recovery world. And certainly some people seek that out and need it. I was not one of them.” (Casey)

“Substance abuse is really a spectrum disorder.” (John)

“(Self-empowerment) basically means that each person’s recovery can and does look different and LifeRing is encouraging of people finding their own path.” (Casey)

“That intersection where mental health intersects with substance abuse and recovery intersects with identity is a valuable one to hear.” (Casey)

“The fact that we’re able to make support and recovery available to anyone, anywhere – I love that!” (Casey)

“If the kind of support I need right now in my life doesn’t exist, let me create it. Because if I need this kind of support it’s very likely that someone else does too.” (Casey)

LifeRing Website

If you’d like to support this podcast, please consider clicking here to become a patron. Your contribution of just $1, $3 or $5 a month goes a long way towards building this community!

To view this and other episodes of Beyond Belief Sobriety on YouTube, visit this link.

Show Notes Written by knwhelmick at Fiverr