No Alcohol Needed: The Podcast

By Julie Miller & Steve KnappSociety & Culture Health & Fitness Mental Health Education Self-Improvement Philosophy

No Alcohol Needed: The Podcast episodes

November 13, 2023E62: The Benefits of a Sober Life
The question, "How has getting sober affected your life?" brought about an incredible conversation about the benefits of a sober life. Join us as we chat with a few of our good friends (and Through the Glass regulars) - John, Antje, and Derrick - about how our lives have changed in recovery. The benefits are incredible - from the small changes and little wins, to life changing growth.

"We fail, we get up, we learn from that failure. That's what recovery is."

Some of the benefits of a sober life that you'll hear us talk about include:
Learning emotional regulation, so our emotions don't run away this us anymore
Healthy coping skills for stress management
We're forced to learn new habits and new mindsets, and it's a gift
Stopping to look back and appreciate the wins
Letting go of self loathing and learning to love yourself
Recovery is about a lot more than just not drinking
Deeper, more meaningful relationships
Finally being able to tell the truth, and being free from a life of lies
Finding new, different friends that support our new lifestyle
Learning to own mistakes and learn from failure
Getting good at being bad at things; being okay with being a beginner
How "One Day At A Time" applies to more than just not drinking
Finally learning to be present in our lives
Truly experiencing joy and gratitude
Growing in courage and in confidence
Gaining clarity about why we are the way we are
Finding the strength to get through the hard times, from grief to depression, without drinking

"Whatever I'm going through, I know I'm not going out of my way to make it worse now."
Get in touch:

Sign up for our newsletter at throughtheglassrecovery.com for sober tips, tools, and motivation, and get access to our free weekly sober support meetings.

Find us on:

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45 min
November 06, 2023E61: Navigating Changing Family Relationships in Recovery
What happens to family relationships in recovery? It's no secret that addiction affects entire families, but we thought it would be good to also talk about navigating family relationships after you've stopped drinking. Spoiler alert: it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Of course there are positives, like more meaningful connections and rebuilding trust. But there are struggles, too. In this sober podcast episode, we're joined by DeAnn from Show Up And Stay, Ali from The Sober Witch, and our friend Kernie, to talk about what relationships look like, now that we're sober and working on healing ourselves.

"First I had to heal myself, before I could heal my relationships."

In this episode:
We all thought we were hiding our drinking from our families
We pushed everyone away to "protect" them from us.
Discovering the very real need for connection
Creating new beliefs around intimacy
Developing the maturity to have healthy relationships
Other people aren't ready to change just because you are, and that's hard to accept sometimes.
Finding connection in recovery communities is an important part of recovery
Our growth is going to make our families uncomfortable
We discover new identities, and have to introduce our families to the new "us"
Where you are at now - in your relationships and in life - is not where you'll always be.

"It's really hard to do the thing that is best for you, and disappoint the people that you care about."
53 min
October 30, 2023E60: Spooky Scary Sober Stuff
It's Halloween season and we're here to talk about all the spooky, scary sober stuff - the things that scared us about getting sober, and how we get past our fears.

We cover everything from fear of relapse to fear of rejection, fear of shame and fear of sober vacations. We talk about how we've learned to face the fears and move through them, so fear doesn't have as much power to hold us back.

Listen as we chat with Rachael from Addict With Purpose and Through the Glass regular Corina about all the spooky sober stuff in this slightly silly, honest conversation about fear.
"I'm done being afraid of being afraid."

In this episode:
The fear of relapse is a healthy fear
Fear of admitting we had a problem
The fear of living life without alcohol
Fear of failure and success
Fear of grief
Fear of rejection, judgment, and shame
Fear of loneliness
Fear of vacationing sober
Anxiety and excitement produce the same physiological reaction
Learning to "make friends" with fear and use it as motivation

"Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure."
Let’s connect!

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

Instagram

Facebook

Tiktok
40 min
October 23, 2023E59: Change in Recovery -An Opportunity for Growth
Dealing with change in recovery can bring about all kinds of challenges and emotions. From excitement and anticipation, to anxiety and fear of the unknown, navigating change can be overwhelming. Listen as we are joined by our friends Sherralyn, Dan, and Kate, and we discuss the changes we've experienced since getting sober. We talk about the changes within ourselves, and also navigating changes that life has thrown at us. And most importantly, we share what we've learned about moving through change without drinking.

"You can view change as a challenge, or as an opportunity."

In this episode:
The most significant change is the one inside ourselves.
We can choose to be excited by the changes happening in us, instead of afraid.
Learning to view the unknown with wonder and curiosity instead of fear
The people in our lives change as we move through our recovery journeys
Coping with change includes releasing the need for control.
Choosing to use change as a change to grow instead of running from it.
Learning how to embrace the emotions that come with change.
Dealing with external changes out of our control in a healthy way.
Learning to lean on your support system.
The longer we are in recovery, the more confidence we gain in our ability to cope with difficult situations.
Our relationships will also change, as we change.

"Because we change inside, things around us change, too."
Get In Touch!

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

Instagram

Facebook

Tiktok
45 min
October 16, 2023E58: Why Boundaries Are Important In Recovery
You hear the word "boundaries" get thrown around a lot in recovery circles, but what does it actually mean? And more importantly - why do you need to understand it? We're going to dig into boundaries today, and our guests will share some examples of boundaries they've had to set in their own lives, as well as why it's been important for their recovery journeys. Meet Richard, who works with youth and their families; Nicole, a sober influencer we met on Instagram; and Sean, author of Going Dry; and listen as we chat about everything we've learned about how boundaries affect our lives and relationships now that we're sober.

"When you start setting boundaries, you get closer to peace."

In this episode:
You are the only one in control of your boundaries
Defining and setting our boundaries for ourselves first
Having a willingness to be honest with yourself
Taking ownership of what you can control and are responsible for
Growing up without boundaries sets the stage for our adult lives
How to communicate boundaries
Setting boundaries with people who don't understand them
Dealing with the pain of enforcing boundaries
Practicing with boundaries by starting small
Accepting boundaries with others with wisdom and grace
Sharing the skills we learn in recovery with others in our lives

"If someone works up the courage to set a boundary with you, they really care about you."

Get In Touch!

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

Instagram

Facebook

Tiktok
45 min
October 09, 2023E57: Fighting FOMO When You’re Sober
Feeling like you're being left out - or worrying about missing out - is soooo common when you're sober. Some things just aren't the same after you quit drinking, and it takes some time to get comfortable with that. And of course, sometimes we're worrying far too much about things that end up not being an issue at all anyway. Join us as we chat with Eliza, Sherralyn, and Alex about FOMO - what it means, and how we overcome it so we don't feel like we're missing out on anything at all.

"You're taking tomorrow's joy and using it right now."

In this episode:
It all gets easier with time
Jomo - the joy of missing out on the regret and embarrassment
Friends that matter will still invite you, and are still fun to be around
Risk vs. Benefit analysis to decide whether it's worth it
Honestly, nobody cares if you're drinking or not
Alcohol companies' effects on why we believe we need alcohol to have fun
Mommy wine culture
Modeling sober fun for our kids and ending the cycle

"What about worrying about missing out on the rest of your life?"
42 min
October 02, 2023E56: Stop Negative Self Talk
Negative self talk is seriously dangerous when it comes to recovery. Whether it's how we talk to ourselves when we're first starting out, or the things we say later as we start rebuilding our lives, we have to learn to quiet the inner critic, and show ourselves kindness. The cycle of negativity will only hold us back from achieving our goals, no matter what they are. It's easier said than done though, to learn how to catch those thoughts and change them. Join us in this podcast episode as we talk with Marc, Dave, and Corinna about how we've learned to stop negative self talk and give ourselves the chance to thrive.

"The story I tell myself is the story I'm going to believe."

In this episode:
Changing "I can't" to "I can"
Negative people affect your self talk
The Stop Thought technique
Learning to look for solutions, not problems
Finding ways to see the positive
Gaining awareness so you can stop negative self talk
Pay attention to what you surround yourself with
You can't shame yourself into change
Negative self talk as a trauma response
Being authentic is the only way to create a positive self image
Discover your power of choice
The importance of self forgiveness
Choosing the right thoughts to reprogram with

"You can't shame yourself into changing. You must love yourself into changing."
For more about our guests, visit https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/podcast/stop-negative-self-talk-in-recovery/

Let’s connect!

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on: Instagram Facebook Tiktok
49 min
September 25, 2023E55: Have Fun Socializing... Sober
It is absolutely possible to have fun socializing while sober! If you are trying to figure out socializing sober and are finding it super awkward and frustrating - you are so not alone! Navigating your social life - sober - is hard, when all you've known for most of your adult life is pre-gaming before parties, drinking to feel confident, and all of your social events revolved around how much drinking you'd be able to do. In this episode we talk about learning how to socialize sober - social awkwardness and all.

"How many things did I do that I had to drink to enjoy?"

In this episode:
Asking friends to help keep you accountable
Facing pressure from others to drink, after you've said no
Talking to others about your sobriety
Choosing supportive friends
Alternatives to going out for drinks
Dealing with society's assumption that everyone drinks
Coping with social anxiety
How our standards for friendships change
Replacing things you no longer enjoy with new things
The power of virtual recovery pathways
The value of internet friendships and connections

"Everything I did revolved around drinking."
Get in touch:

[email protected]

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com

Find us on: Instagram Facebook Tiktok
40 min
September 18, 2023E54: Coping With Emotions (Without Alcohol)
Not knowing how to cope with emotions is one of the most common causes of relapse. In this episode, we are joined by sober influencer Hadley, and our friends Monica and Michal, as we talk about how we've gone from trying to escape from our emotions to being able to sit through them. From social discomfort to grief, to happiness and joy, listen as we explore what that's looked like in each of our separate journeys.

"You don't have to drink to make emotions go away. That happens on its own."

In this episode:
Discomfort of social anxiety and introvertedness
Discovering your identity - sober
The effects of not learning to cope with emotions in our youth
Learning to pause and understand the emotion before acting
Observing emotions and situations from the outside
Mommy wine culture and its lies
The emotional roller coaster of early sobriety
Understanding that you won't feel this way forever
Self parenting techniques
Navigating happiness and joy is also a challenge

"When I drank to numb an emotion, I only felt better for like, 5 minutes."
Keep in touch with Through the Glass Recovery:

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on: Instagram Facebook Tiktok
36 min
September 11, 2023E53: Dealing With Stress in Recovery
Dealing with stress in recovery can be one of the most difficult challenges that many people face. In this episode, we're joined by Mike and Bill, hosts of the Sober Not Mature podcast, and Nancy McKay, a certified life coach. Together we talk about some of the stressful situations we've been faced with, and how we learned to move through them now that alcohol is no longer an option. Listen as we share our best tips and advice for handling stress in healthy ways.

"I have the power to change my thoughts about anything."

In this episode, you'll hear about the following:
A huge list of tips and tools for getting through stressful moments
"Triggered" really just means feeling discomfort
Ways to distract or sideline thoughts about stress
The value of reaching out for help
Acute vs. Chronic stress in recovery
Recognizing some of the physical symptoms of stress
Learning not to minimize the "small" stressors in each day
Helping others can relieve stress on both sides
Understanding how to change your perspective to move from stress to gratitude

"There's nothing wrong with being uncomfortable sometimes. It's called life."

Nancy J. McKay is a Certified Wayfinder Life Coach, Certified Equus Coach® & Master Facilitator. She is f*ing passionate about helping women face difficult life challenges head-on with courage, curiosity and grit so that they can get to the other side faster, feeling confident, stronger and more resilient. Nancy has been in recovery from alcohol addiction since 2009 and is an ovarian cancer survivor since 2015. She founded Amazing Outlook Coaching, LLC in 2018 at the age of 61. Nancy is also a two-time international best-selling author and speaker, sharing her inspiring story of recovery and creating a new life after cancer. She lives in Lakewood, Colorado with her husband and their two rescued Westies. You can connect with Nancy at
https://www.amazingoutlookcoaching.com
Mike and Bill have both been sober since April, 2010 and they met at a sober living facility in Cleveland, OH. Through that facility, they were introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous and they continue to practice those principles to this day. They have a weekly podcast, Sober Not Mature, that can be found anywhere that podcasts are heard or you can visit their website, www.sobernotmature.com.

Let's connect!

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on: Instagram Facebook Tiktok
40 min