On this episode of In The Circle, we have a question from Arlena about a hot topic: how to stop using cannabis.

Arlena explains she's trying to quit using cannabis, that she lives amongst smokers, and feels entangled in it. She refers to her relationship with cannabis as a love affair.

I have heard that from so many people, and this inquiry is becoming more and more relevant as cannabis is being legalized across North America. Many people are finding that there are some challenges with this particular plant that they might not have been aware of before. 

If this conversation feels relevant for you, I want to let you know about a new program we created called Life Beyond Cannabis. This is a six-week online program – transformational, powerful, truly an incredible opportunity for somebody to let go of cannabis. Please come check it out at r20.com\lifebeyondcannabis.

Tommy discusses

• 3 ways cannabis can be relevant for humans
• Medical and spiritual uses of cannabis
• This plant’s role in Tommy’s journey
• How cannabis can suppress emotion

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we dive into what it truly means to be “stuck” in the frequency of addiction.

Pause for a moment on that phrase—the frequency of addiction. What does it bring to mind?

Today, Sarah asks a powerful question: “How do I know when I’m in—or out of—the frequency of addiction?” To illustrate this, she brings up the analogy of the Russian nesting dolls. Each time you open one, you think you’ve reached the end—only to find another, and another, and another.

Addiction can feel exactly like this—layer after layer, with no clear end in sight.

Before sobriety, recognizing this frequency and its destructive patterns can feel nearly impossible. You can’t simply think your way into a new awareness; it requires practice, patience, and a willingness to see differently. But once you commit to this lifelong practice, the shift begins. You’ll find yourself attracting new kinds of people, new opportunities, and new ways of living—because you’ve changed your frequency.

Tommy discusses

• Why people struggling with addiction continue to find themselves in the same unhealthy patterns
• Why the quality of your sobriety is not a guarantee; you must maintain the practice
• Why you need to change the frequency around you first, in order to put your body & mind into a state where you can start to identify patterns and make changes
• Everyone has the power to change their frequency

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this episode of In The Circle, we hear from Recovery 2.0 member, Luis, who asks… Are you ever truly free from addiction? 

His question takes us down an interesting path, where we must dissect the perspective of people struggling with addiction and those struggling in recovery. This inquiry challenges the oft-heard phrase: “once an addict, always an addict.”

In this episode, we unpack what I refer to as “The Big 6” (main categories of addiction) and the 4 Aggravations (more insidious mental addictions), providing a more hopeful context for healing.

We also uncover powerful truths… That you'll be healed from addiction when you no longer seek to be healed from it, when you're no longer looking for a cure; and that a real medicine makes itself obsolete.

• Are you ever really "cured" from addiction?
• Dispelling the adage "once an addict, always an addict"
• If you could use again with no side effects and no one knowing, would you?
• The 6 main categories of addiction
• The 4 aggravations (mental addictions)

Looking for a way to deepen your recovery journey and meet others in the Recovery 2.0 community? You’ve felt the call — a quiet knowing that your practice, your presence, your path, are meant to serve something greater. Train to become a Recovery 2.0 Yoga-Informed Recovery Coach - R20.com/coachtraining2025

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we’re taking a look at something that impacts us all - Procrastination.

In this episode, Galen brings to light the addictive nature of procrastination. When we actively avoid things we need to do - and even things we may want to do - it erodes our confidence. We may even take other actions that cause us harm.  

I look at procrastination as one of the four aggravations: Negative thinking, self-doubt, procrastination, and resentment. These are all patterns of belief and behavior that get in the way of a person's happiness. So, while nobody ‘craves’ these four aggravations, they do fit my definition of addiction: Any behavior someone continues to do despite it bringing negative consequences into their life.

This brings the concept of addiction to everyone's doorstep. Most of us have experienced any or all of these four aggravations at some point… so why do we continue to do these things when they are getting in the way of our progress and desires?

Any pattern of behavior that stops us from living the life we want to live should be addressed. So let’s dive into the roots of procrastination and discuss ways to break free of this habit for good.

Tommy discusses

• The 4 Aggravations: Negative thinking, self-doubt, procrastination, and resentment
• How to overcome procrastination
• The impact that one small step can make
• Why you don’t need labels
• Everyone's recovery journey is different

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we’re revisiting a critical aspect of recovery from Episode 64 - Forgiveness. 

In this episode, Mark brings us a topic that touches the core of many recovery journeys: self-forgiveness and building genuine self-confidence. Mark inquires: How can I learn to forgive myself and be confident in my self-worth?

For those of us in recovery, particularly during the early stages, the act of forgiving ourselves can seem monumental. This inability to forgive often leaves us trapped in a cycle of persistent low self-esteem. Understanding and resolving these feelings is an important step on the path to recovery.

It's an essential conversation for anyone struggling with guilt or shame and for those seeking insight into their journey towards healing. 

Tommy Discusses:

• How can I forgive myself?
• Finding connection and love within yourself
• “Borrowing” confidence from those who love you
• The frequency of gambling addiction
• Living life from the inside, out

Would you like to be a guest on the In The Circle Podcast? Submit Your Question Here: R20.com/inthecircle

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Weekly UPLIFT
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

In this episode of In the Circle, I respond to a courageous and heartfelt inquiry from Barbara. She asks: How do I make peace with taking medication for Parkinson’s, after years of addiction and recovery? 

Her story is raw, vulnerable, and deeply human: the daily crash after each dose, the fear it stirs up, the echoes of withdrawal, and the sense that maybe she’s being pulled back into something she’s worked so hard to rise above.

What struck me most was the physical discomfort she described and the emotional complexity behind it—the grief, the doubt, the resistance. I’ve seen this before, in myself and others: when medication is both necessary and triggering, it’s not just about dosage. It’s about trust. It’s about building a relationship with the medicine that aligns with our values, instead of clashing with our past.

My invitation to you is to reframe the story. What if this is magic medicine? What if we drop the judgment and meet the reality of the moment with full presence and compassion? It’s not giving up. It’s aligning with what’s true right now and adjusting our lives to support that truth with grace. That might mean talking to your doctor, shifting routines, or simply asking for more help. But it starts with acceptance.

So if you’re in a complicated relationship with medication, or supporting someone who is, I hope this conversation reminds you: your strength is not measured by how little you need, but by how deeply you show up for your life. There is no shame in taking what helps. There’s only the next step, the next breath, and the next moment of courage.

Tommy Discusses:

• Relief and discomfort can coexist
• Lifestyle adjustments and Medication
• Acceptance is a powerful tool
• You are not alone, you are not failing

Would you like to be a guest on the In The Circle Podcast? Submit Your Question Here: R20.com/inthecircle

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Weekly UPLIFT
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

In this episode of In the Circle, I have the honor of talking with Author and master yoga teacher, Guruprem. 

Guruprem has been a major influence on my life and recovery journey. It was he who passed on the teachings that helped me heal my back and laid the foundation for Recovery 2.0.

Today, he shares grounded wisdom on how to bring more ease back into your life. He touches on being of service, the role of meditation, and the practice of “acting as if”—and challenges some deeply held beliefs many of us don’t even realize we have.

Tommy Discusses:

• The power of breathwork and yoga
• Opening our hearts and minds to unconventional healing
• Understanding addiction and the mind-body connection
• The primary element in recovery 

Would you like to be a guest on the In The Circle Podcast? Submit Your Question Here: R20.com/inthecircle

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Weekly UPLIFT
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

In this episode of In the Circle, I answer one of the most important and relevant inquiries I have ever received. Michelle asks, "How Can I Handle the Pain of Weaning Off Prescribed Medication?"

She shares the emotional tug-of-war between love and shame, wanting to reduce her dose of buprenorphine, but feeling defeated when pain flares up and she takes more than planned. Her honesty opens up a deeply relevant conversation about what it means to meet ourselves with compassion in the hardest moments.

I’ve seen again and again, in my own recovery and others, that the real struggle isn’t just physical. It’s the inner conflict: the part that wants comfort now, and the part that longs for freedom.

So many people carry guilt when they “slip” during tapering. But I believe it’s not about failure. It’s about learning to listen. And with the right tools, the right support, and a shift in how we relate to pain, I truly believe we can change, not just our dose, but our entire experience of healing.

If you’re in the middle of this journey or supporting someone who is, I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not broken, and you’re not alone. We’re not here to rush or shame the process. We’re here to explore what’s possible, together.

Tommy Discusses:

• Withdrawal is a mental, emotional, and physical battle
• Shame is not all it seems to be
• Support and strategy are essential
• There is NO shame in needing medication, but it’s okay to wonder what’s possible without it
• Progression is not perfect

Would you like to be a guest on the In The Circle Podcast? Submit Your Question Here: R20.com/inthecircle

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Weekly UPLIFT
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

In this episode of In the Circle, I am extremely privileged to speak with Father Richard Rohr.

Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar, author, and spiritual teacher renowned for his work in Christian mysticism and contemplative spirituality. Born in 1943 in Kansas, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1970 and later founded the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through the CAC and the Living School for Action and Contemplation, Rohr has helped thousands explore a deeper, more experiential faith.

Rohr’s teachings emphasize the union of action and contemplation, encouraging spiritual growth through lived experience rather than rigid doctrine. His message includes ideas like the “true self,” the “universal Christ,” and the transformative power of embracing paradox, suffering, and mystery. He is known for offering an “alternative orthodoxy” that bridges traditional Christian thought with modern spiritual needs.

He has authored numerous influential books, including Falling Upward, The Universal Christ, and The Divine Dance. Though recent health challenges have led him to step back from public speaking, Rohr continues to write and guide through his work at the CAC, remaining a vital voice in contemporary spirituality.

Tommy Discusses:

• The role of practice
• Religion, spirituality, and science 
• The true recovery goal
• Healthy vs unhealthy religion 

Would you like to be a guest on the In The Circle Podcast? Submit Your Question Here: R20.com/inthecircle

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Weekly UPLIFT
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

In this episode of In the Circle, I have the honor of talking with writer, musician, and master teacher of Kundalini Yoga, Guru Singh.  

Guru Singh is a globally respected spiritual teacher, musician, and author who has shaped the Kundalini yoga and meditation community for decades. Renowned for his dynamic, science-based, and musically infused teaching style, he has trained thousands of teachers worldwide, inspiring a ripple effect of conscious awareness.

Alongside his wife, Guruperkarma Kaur, he co-founded Kundalini University and The 13 Moons community, offering mentorship, teacher trainings, and spiritual guidance to a global audience. With nine books, numerous albums, and a strong media presence, Guru Singh blends ancient wisdom with modern insight—making spirituality accessible, practical, and profoundly transformative.

In this episode, we shed light on what addiction is and why it is a special gift for those who get to experience addiction and then recover from it.  He delves into the causes of resentment and shame and how to move beyond these challenges.

Tommy Discusses:

• How to let go of resentment and shame
• Finding light in the darkest places
• The effect of yoga in recovery
• What is addiction?

Would you like to be a guest on the In The Circle Podcast? Submit Your Question Here: R20.com/inthecircle

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Weekly UPLIFT
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.