Eternally Amy

In this Boozeless Bookclub edition of Eternally Amy, Amy Liz Harrison and Dr. Sarah Michaud unpack All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert — diving deep into the messy, magnificent world of codependency, grief, and emotional recovery. From laughter to loss, this conversation reminds us that healing isn’t about control — it’s about awareness, compassion, and connection. Expect humor, raw honesty, and soul-level truth bombs that hit close to home for anyone navigating sobriety, spirituality, or self-discovery.

• Grief is a teacher you don’t choose — but it changes you forever.

• Literature as therapy: Stories can reveal our own denial and hope.

• Codependency can kill people — but awareness can save them.

• Humor and truth coexist: Laughter keeps the healing honest.Recovery is not about control; it’s about connection.
  

• [00:00] – Amy welcomes Dr. Sarah and introduces Boozeless Bookclub

• [00:05] – “Codependency can kill people” — the truth behind the patterns

• [00:20] – The intersection of addiction, love, and literature

• [00:33] – “It took separation for me to wake up” — Dr. Sarah’s turning point
  

• [00:47] – “Grief is a teacher I never wanted” — Amy’s story of loss and growth

• [00:55] – Final reflection on recovery, awareness, and compassion
  

• Dr. Sarah Michaud: Instagram  |  Book: Co Crazy

• Amy Liz Harrison: amylizharrison.com | @amylizharrison

TakeawaysKey TimestampsResources & LinksBook Discussed: All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert

In this candid solo episode, Amy Liz Harrison opens up about an 18-month journey with a mysterious eye condition that tested her patience, safety, and self-advocacy. From lash glue allergies to medical gaslighting, Amy draws powerful parallels between eye health and recovery, reminding us that getting to the root—not just treating the symptoms—matters most.

Takeaways

• Why self-advocacy with doctors is critical, especially for women.
• How recurring health issues mirror recovery lessons: root causes vs. surface symptoms.
• The connection between frustration, aging, and grace in sobriety.
• What almost causing a car accident taught Amy about prioritizing health.
• The importance of finding professionals who truly listen.

Key Timestamps

• [00:02:00] — Lash glue allergies, DIY extensions, and the struggle with deep-set eyes.
• [00:07:00] — The onset of recurring “weepy eye” flareups and medical dismissals.
• [00:14:00] — Recovery wisdom applied to health: treating root causes, not symptoms.
• [00:18:00] — A near car accident as a wake-up call to take her vision seriously.
• [00:25:00] — Finally finding a doctor who listened and offered real solutions.
• [00:27:00] — Sobriety lesson: follow directions, don’t go rogue in early recovery.

Notable Resources / Guest Links

Amy Liz Harrison Website: www.amylizharrison.com

Follow Amy on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook: @amylizharrison

Books by Amy: Eternally Expecting & Eternally Awkward

What happens when you open old wounds to write your life story? For Jason Mayo, author of “In Case of Emergency Break Childhood”, the process was nothing short of gutting—and ultimately cleansing. In this heartfelt conversation, Jason sits down with Amy Liz Harrison to talk about writing his debut memoir, navigating recovery, and rediscovering the power of storytelling.

Jason shares how his early “drinking history” writing assignment in sobriety became the seed for his book, why trauma is often hidden in plain sight, and how recovery allowed him to reconnect with his past in order to live fully in the present.

This episode is raw, real, and full of laughter, tears, and a reminder that telling the truth—even when it hurts—is what sets us free.

5 Takeaways

• Writing about the past can feel like reopening old wounds, but it can also be profoundly cleansing.

• Trauma doesn’t always look like we expect—divorce, loneliness, and shame are just as impactful as big, obvious events.

• Sharing your story in recovery creates connection and helps others feel less alone.

• You don’t need to be a “writer” to tell your truth—if you can talk, you can write.

• Healing often comes from perspective: looking back with empathy for your younger self.

Timestamped Key Moments

• [00:02:00] Amy gets emotional introducing Jason’s memoir and why it touched her so deeply.

• [00:10:00] Jason on the year-and-a-half journey of writing his memoir and rediscovering old memories.

• [00:20:00] Why Jason shifted from “recovering quietly” to “recovering out loud” through writing.

• [00:30:00] Writing as therapy? Jason explains why it wasn’t cathartic—but it was cleansing.

• [00:36:00] The hidden face of trauma and Jason’s revelation through the ACEs test.

• [00:53:00] The wild coincidence: Jason and Debbie Gibson, high school classmates, both release memoirs on the same day.

Notable Resources / Guest Links

• Purchase Jason’s Memoir: In Case of Emergency Break Childhood: https://a.co/d/i0xY0h6

• Jason’s Website:  https://sobernotsubtle.com/

• The Sober Curator (where Jason is a contributing writer): thesobercurator.com

• Follow Jason on Instagram: @sobernotsubtle

• Jason’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08K57ST7H/allbooks

Loved this conversation? Don’t forget to subscribe to Eternally Amy, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can also follow Amy at @amylizharrison and visit amylizharrison.com for books, resources, and more.

Boilerplate

Eternally Amy is the courageous and candid podcast hosted by Amy Liz Harrison—a Gen X, sober mom of eight who went from jail to joy. Each week, Amy shares raw stories of recovery, parenting, mental health, faith, and creativity. Expect laughter, honesty, and a safe space to explore what it means to live in radical authenticity.

Social Media Copy

LinkedIn (thought-leadership)

“Writing your story isn’t always cathartic—it can be gut-wrenching. But as Jason Mayo shared with me on Eternally Amy, it’s also deeply cleansing. His memoir, In Case of Emergency Break Childhood, digs into trauma, recovery, and rediscovering empathy for your younger self.

Our conversation reminded me: healing often comes when we stop hiding, start telling the truth, and allow others to see themselves in our story.

Listen to our full conversation here [link]

#Recovery #Sobriety #MentalHealth #Storytelling #EternallyAmy”

In this heartfelt and laughter-filled conversation, Amy sits down with clinical psychologist, author, and sober powerhouse Dr. Sarah Michaud, PsyD. With over 30 years of experience in addiction and codependency treatment, Dr. Sarah brings both professional wisdom and deeply personal stories—including the hard truth of navigating her husband’s relapse after decades of sobriety. Together, Amy and Dr. Sarah dig into the subtle (and sneaky!) ways codependency shows up in everyday life, from parenting to people-pleasing to choosing the “right” sandwich.

This episode is an equal parts therapy session, comedy hour, and recovery roadmap. Whether you’re navigating sobriety, healing old wounds, or learning how to finally put yourself first, this conversation will leave you nodding, laughing, and maybe even forgiving yourself a little more.

5 Key Takeaways

• Codependency often begins with dismissing our own needs to focus on others—sometimes in the smallest ways, like food choices.
• Recovery is about learning to identify and voice your own feelings, even when it feels uncomfortable.
• Fear—of rejection, being misunderstood, or not being safe—often sits at the root of codependent behaviors.
• Parenting can resurface old wounds, but awareness creates space to respond with compassion instead of projection.
• Forgiving ourselves is an essential part of true healing and maintaining sobriety.

Timestamped Key Moments

• [00:06:30] Dr. Sarah on how women are socialized to prioritize others—and the dangers of losing connection to self.
• [00:13:00] The irony of codependency: trying to “save” others only creates distance.
• [00:22:00] Amy shares her event-anxiety story and how fear of safety shows up in sobriety.

• [00:37:00] The childhood memory that shaped Amy’s fear of being misunderstood.
• [00:53:00] Dr. Sarah’s hilarious “fancy food basket” story—a codependency trap in real-time.

Notable Resources / Guest Links

Dr. Sarah Michaud, PsyD’s book: Co-Crazy: One Psychologist’s Recovery from Codependency and Addiction

Connect with Dr. Sarah via The Sober Curator

Get Dr. Sarah’s Book “Co-Crazy” on Amazon

Follow Amy Liz Harrison on Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn @amylizharrison

CTA

If today’s conversation resonated, share it with a friend, subscribe to Eternally Amy, and leave a review—it helps others find the show! For more of Amy’s books, courses, and resources, visit AmyLizHarrison.com.

What do you do when someone says your singing voice sounds like a dying moose? Or when a stranger at church pats your head to check for horns? For Jesse Butterworth—pastor, musician, and longtime friend of Amy Liz Harrison—criticism has been a constant companion.

In this raw and surprisingly funny conversation, Amy and Jesse unpack why criticism stings, how to tell the difference between critique and cruelty, and why sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is simply: “That hurts my feelings.” From the pitfalls of passive-aggressive culture to the healing power of forgiveness, Jesse reminds us that being misunderstood is inevitable—but losing yourself doesn’t have to be.

Resources & Guest Links

If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to Eternally Amy wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this episode with someone navigating criticism in their own life—it just might change the way they see themselves. And don’t forget to follow Amy on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @amylizharrison or visit amylizharrison.com for coaching, memoirs, and resources.

Tony Harte's story is not your typical recovery tale—it's a blend of grit, logic, and soulful searching. In this illuminating and refreshingly honest conversation, Amy welcomes Tony, a 35-year sober "spiritual gangster" whose path led him from a hospital bed at 21 to a deeply meaningful life rooted in Stoic philosophy. With warmth and wit, they explore what happens when traditional definitions of God no longer fit, and how philosophy—not dogma—can anchor a sober life.

If you've ever wrestled with the spiritual side of recovery or questioned whether the 12 steps are enough, Tony’s thoughtful, no-BS approach to emotional sobriety and spiritual curiosity will feel like a breath of fresh air. It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about staying curious and building a blueprint for peace.

5 Insightful Takeaways

• Stoicism isn’t emotional suppression—it’s emotional training. Tony debunks common myths and shows how ancient virtues like wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance align with modern recovery tools.
• You don’t need a traditional God to find spiritual grounding. Tony shares how he found freedom in letting go of rigid beliefs and embracing a personal spiritual path.
• Life—and sobriety—don’t require perfection, just presence. Through daily practices like the power of pause, Tony models how to respond mindfully, not react impulsively.
• AA provides the blueprint—Stoicism adds depth. For Tony, the 12 Steps are the foundation, but Stoicism adds another layer of peace, logic, and actionable insight.
• Not all who wander are lost. This episode is a masterclass in permission to seek, evolve, and explore spiritual life without judgment or pressure.

Timestamps

• [00:02:00] Tony's recovery origin story—from hospital bed to treatment at 21
• [00:10:00] Finding a spiritual path beyond religion—and the method to his seeking
• [00:16:00] Why Stoicism clicked: A logical, action-based life philosophy
• [00:23:00] The four Stoic virtues and how they apply to emotional sobriety
• [00:37:00] AA’s power—and its limits—for long-term peace
• [01:00:00] Faith, logic, and the two-vine approach to higher power

Notable Resources & Guest Links

• Tony Harte’s Blog: astoicsobriety.com

• Instagram: @a_stoic_sobriety

If this episode stirred something in your soul or sparked your own questions about faith and sobriety, we’d love for you to share it with someone on a similar path. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave a review if it resonated, and follow Amy @amylizharrison on all platforms.

Hosted by Amy Liz Harrison

Buy Amy’s Books: https://amzn.to/3ys8nuv

http://amylizharrison.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Lgxy8F

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3vHHHoi

#EternallyAmy #Authenticity #SpiritualGrowth #12StepRecovery #Motherhood #FaithDeconstruction #ADHDLife #SelfCare #PersonalGrowth #Recovery #Curiosity #Impermanence

What if the secret to handling life’s curveballs—from school board battles to flight delays—was hidden in the rules of improv? In this episode, Amy Liz Harrison unpacks how the power of “Yes, And” can transform our daily interactions. Drawing from personal stories (hello, monkey bar mishaps and honor roll debates), Amy gives us a real-time lesson in emotional agility, communication with grace, and embracing humor in hard moments.

With a blend of wit, wisdom, and lived experience, Amy shares five magical “power phrases” that help shift energy, protect peace, and create connection—even when life serves you squid instead of a hamburger. This one’s a must-listen for anyone navigating tough conversations, curmudgeonly Christians, or just trying not to lose it at the post office.

5 Key Takeaways

• Improv is life practice. Responding with openness instead of defensiveness creates opportunity for connection.

• Use “yes, and…” to validate others’ experiences while guiding the conversation toward solutions or humor.

• Power phrases like “how wild!” or “your feelings are welcome here” can de-escalate tension and foster empathy.

• Choose curiosity over certainty. Wearing life like a loose garment can prevent unnecessary emotional tangles.

• [01:44] – Why improv theater taught Amy how to handle negativity in everyday life

• [07:00] – Real-life example: trying to change school culture, one pep band request at a time

• [14:56] – How to disarm negativity with light humor (and what to say instead of clapping back)

• [36:18] – “How rude!” – Amy’s favorite sarcastic tool to keep things light

• [44:44] – “Your feelings are welcome here”—the ultimate parenting phrase

Notable Quotes

“Improv is a way of practicing life on life’s terms.”

“Yes, and is not just a communication tool—it’s a life philosophy.”

“How rude!—It’s sarcastic, but it lightens the mood like magic.”

Resources & Mentions

• Comedy Sports – Improv comedy shows in various U.S. cities

• Rule 62 – A 12-step principle: Don’t take yourself too seriously

• Amy Liz Harrison’s Memoirs – Eternally Awkward & Eternally Expecting

Feeling inspired to reframe your next awkward moment? Subscribe to Eternally Amy, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who needs a reminder that life’s weirdness can be met with grace, humor, and a dash of sarcasm.

Follow Amy on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook @amylizharrison Visit amylizharrison.com for more tools, memoirs, and magic.

In this episode, Amy dives into her “Secret Questions:” those persistent, introspective musings about connection, trends, and self-loyalty that linger at the back of her mind. Through raw reflection, humor, and heartfelt honesty, Amy invites listeners into her inner world—one shaped by recovery, spirituality, motherhood, and life with ADHD.

Key Points:

• The Longevity of Relationships: Amy candidly explores why some people seem able to maintain lifelong friendships and networks, while others (like herself) struggle to keep in touch. She reflects on generational differences, personal choices, and the elusive “secret sauce” that holds relationships together over time.

• Deconstructing Self-Blame: Drawing on her 14+ years in recovery and 12-step wisdom, Amy examines her tendency to assume personal fault for relationship drift, while also acknowledging the role of impermanence and growth throughout life.

• The Mystery of Trends & Virality: Amy shares her befuddlement with marketing and internet trends, questioning what makes certain moments go viral or products become beloved. She humorously acknowledges her pop culture “stuck in the 80s” status and the unpredictability of what connects with people en masse.

• Caring vs. Not Caring: Reflecting on her shifting bandwidth and emotional investment, Amy discusses oscillating between deep care for projects, relationships, and pop culture—and total indifference, often dictated by ADHD and life chaos.

• The Struggle with Self-Abandonment: Despite her fierce loyalty to others, Amy vulnerably reveals her ongoing struggle with self-abandonment when it comes to advocating for her own needs, health, or boundaries—an area she’s still working on, even in sobriety.

• Humor Meets Seriousness: True to form, Amy balances self-deprecating humor (including her delight in a tongue-in-cheek Nancy Drew container) with deep insights on impermanence, spiritual practice, and the resilience demanded by life’s unpredictability.

• Practical Wisdom: While not offering definitive answers, Amy encourages curiosity, self-compassion, and continuous self-examination as tools for navigating relationships, trends, and self-advocacy.

Closing Thoughts:Amy leaves listeners with the acknowledgment that some questions may never be fully answered—and that’s okay. By staying curious, kind, and authentic, we can keep growing and caring (at least when it matters most).

Hosted by Amy Liz Harrison

Buy Amy’s Books: https://amzn.to/3ys8nuv

http://amylizharrison.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Lgxy8F

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3vHHHoi

#EternallyAmy #Authenticity #SpiritualGrowth #12StepRecovery #Motherhood #FaithDeconstruction #ADHDLife #SelfCare #PersonalGrowth #Recovery #Curiosity #Impermanence

In this episode, Amy dives into the concept of Disguised Dependencies: the subtle emotional and behavioral patterns that can quietly undermine our recovery, self-worth, and relationships. Through candid reflection and humor, Amy explores how unnoticed dependencies—from rituals like infrared saunas to the comfort of Lifesavers Orange Mints—can shape our sense of safety, identity, and connection, even after achieving sobriety.

Key Points:

• Understanding Disguised Dependencies: Amy defines disguised dependencies as the often unseen emotional and physical habits that we rely on for comfort and stability, highlighting how they can persist beneath the surface even in recovery.

• The Role of Self-Awareness: She emphasizes the importance—and challenge—of developing self-awareness, sharing her own journey of digging deep and facing uncomfortable truths about motives, coping mechanisms, and the need for approval.

• The False Self & Emotional Dependency: Drawing on Alan Berger’s insights and her own experience, Amy unpacks the concept of the “false self”—the persona we create to manipulate others’ responses—and how it feeds emotional reliance on external validation.

• Vulnerability & Acceptance: Amy encourages embracing vulnerability and releasing the need for perfection, recounting her personal struggles with insecurity, loneliness, and the urge to control, especially as a mom and woman in recovery.

• Tools for Growth: Through practical exercises (like sentence completion to uncover disguised dependencies), Amy provides listeners with actionable ways to identify, understand, and begin to heal from emotional dependencies.

• Faith, Motherhood, & ADHD: The episode weaves in Amy’s reflections on her evolving spirituality, the complexities of parenting in a tech-driven era, and the impact of ADHD on habits and routines.

• Humor & Humanity: With her signature blend of lightheartedness and depth, Amy shares relatable anecdotes about everything from Botox to love languages, reminding listeners that growth comes from awareness, not perfection.

• Practicing Emotional Sobriety: The path to emotional freedom, Amy says, is one of ongoing curiosity, resilience, and self-compassion—letting go of blame, embracing imperfection, and making room for the true self to emerge.

Hosted by Amy Liz Harrison

Buy Amy’s Books: https://amzn.to/3ys8nuv

http://amylizharrison.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Lgxy8F

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3vHHHoi

#EternallyAmy #DisguisedDependencies #RecoveryJourney #EmotionalSobriety #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #Spirituality #Motherhood #ADHD #Vulnerability #Resilience #Authenticity #EternallyAmy #Recovery

In this episode, Amy dives into the concept of “The Privilege of Struggle.” Through candid storytelling, she reflects on her journey from evangelical rigidity to authentic spirituality, the ongoing path of recovery, and the nuanced realities of motherhood with ADHD. Amy shares raw, humorous, and heartfelt anecdotes—ranging from surviving childhood mishaps to navigating sobriety—that illuminate how facing life’s struggles can be both clarifying and empowering.

Key Points:

• The Privilege of Struggle: Amy reframes personal challenges not as setbacks but as growth opportunities that offer new perspectives and deepen empathy.

• Spiritual Transformation: Moving away from dogmatic evangelicalism, Amy shares how embracing uncertainty and “not knowing” has enriched her sense of God, connection, and recovery.

• Authentic Recovery: Drawing from her sobriety since 2011, Amy explains how being present—rather than numbing with alcohol—has allowed her to experience genuine “light bulb moments” and stronger relationships.

• Motherhood & Safe Struggle: Amy candidly explores the balancing act of motherhood, emphasizing the importance (and difficulty) of letting her kids face their own struggles to foster resilience, problem-solving, and empowerment.

• The Mary Feral Summer: Inspired by a childhood neighbor, Amy encourages the celebration of small pleasures (like poolside relaxation) and healthy boundaries—reminding listeners that self-care and modeling independence matter.

• Lessons from Adversity: Sharing a formative teenage misadventure, Amy illustrates how overcoming obstacles (often without easy solutions) rewires the brain, cultivates self-trust, and sparks “post-traumatic growth.”

• Owning Mistakes: Amy openly discusses moments when she didn’t get it right as a parent, highlighting the strength and deeper relationships that come from making amends and showing vulnerability.

• Embracing Imperfection: With humor and honesty, Amy dismantles the myth of “having it all together,” encouraging listeners to see their experiences, scars, and struggles as sources of light and authenticity.

Hosted by Amy Liz Harrison

Buy Amy’s Books: https://amzn.to/3ys8nuv

http://amylizharrison.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Lgxy8F

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3vHHHoi

#EternallyAmy #PriviledgeOfStruggle #RecoveryJourney #Spirituality #Motherhood #ADHD #Sobriety #PersonalGrowth #Authenticity #Resilience #Vulnerability #Parenting #SelfCare #EternallyAmy

Your story—the raw, the real, the unresolved—is your message. Take what you like and leave the rest behind.