Tawny and Lisa talk about advocating for your mental health in the workplace. While programslike those under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other sabbaticals may be available,red tape and stigma can keep us from taking the time we need. They also discuss the need foremployers to recognize that a “sick day” can apply to physical health or mental health. The brainis an organ in the body and needs to be taken care of just like any other organ. Use your sick days, y’all!Music Minute features The Beatles and Jojo.This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar! Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle (or two!) today at sourhumanoid.com and follow them at @sourhumanoid.

Episode 156: Episode 156: Mental Health Support and the Workplace

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 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 221: Episode 221: Gambling Addiction

Tawny and Lisa talk to Camille St Martin, an author and recovery advocate who recently released Spilled, her book of poetry inspired by her recovery journey. Like so many of us, she felt alone in her drinking spiral and found relief and catharsis in writing. Poetry was a passion she had as a teen and sobriety brought her the chance to reconnect with it. Music Minute features Ani DiFranco. Purchase Spilled hereJoin Camille's newsletter for a chance to win a free signed copy hereFollow Camille on InstagramFollow Camille on Tik TokCheck out the Facebook Self-Publishing 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) Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar

Episode 156: Episode 156: Mental Health Support and the Workplace

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