No Alcohol Needed: The Podcast

Without systems in place to fill your new time, and a plan to create a supportive sober tribe, recovery from alcohol addiction can feel really boring and lonely. The good news is - it doesn't have to be that way. All you need to do is some creative planning and a bit of mustering up some courage, and you'll find that recovery is actually intensely rewarding. But without any direction, it can be hard to know where to start.

In this week's episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, we're chatting with Brenton (@officerecovery), Charles (@charlessharrisonjr) and Josh (@josh.quits.forever) about how they've filled up the free time that sobriety gave them, and how they've built up a support system that keeps them accountable and provides them with the connection we all need when we decide to create a life that is free from alcohol.

Key topics in this episode:

For further listening about filling free time and finding new friends, be sure to check out these other episodes:

E104: Sober and Bored: How to Fill All That Free Time You Just Found

E68: When You're Sober and Lonely

E39: How Loneliness Affects Recovery

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To learn more about our guests, visit https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/podcast/make-new-friends-sober/

For information about our free support group on Zoom, visit https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/meeting-faqs/

Long term sobriety requires establishing healthy habits that become a part of your daily routine. Figuring out what your habits need to be is an important part of the recovery exploration process - what works for one person may not work for another. But what we do know is that routines and habits are key for maintaining recovery for the long term.

In this podcast episode, we invite Matt, Ian, and Meghan to join us in a conversation about how they've found a set of habits that fit their lifestyle and their sobriety. Listen, and you'll walk away with a whole stack of ideas for things to try, and ways to incorporate them into your life. And maybe most importantly, how to stay motivated to keep the habits no matter what's going on in your life.

Key topics in this episode:

Resources:

To dowload Julie's e-book about authenticity and self discovery, click here.

For a list of great personal development books that will support your long term sobriety, check out this blog post.

Meet Our Guests:

Matt Shambo (shamman780), is a 40 year old father of two from Burnt Hills, New York.  He celebrated two years sober on February 5, the day after this podcast was recorded.  Matt always believed he would get sober but at the same time feared it may never come.  He spent five and half years stuck in the up and down battle with alcoholism before finding a better way.  He wants to thank you everyone for sticking with him through all this. 

Matthew would like people to know that substance abuse and mental health issues do not discriminate and that if you are struggling there are people out there who want to and who will help you. 

Be kind to those who are still struggling.  Sobriety is hard, but it’s worth it.

#soberdaddoingsoberdadthings

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After losing everything due to overdrinking from a very young age, Ian reached a breaking point and began his journey to reclaim his life. Today, Ian is a successful author, entrepreneur, and the creator of Make It Great (MIG).

Proudly sober since 2017, he has dedicated himself to personal growth, family, and living a life of purpose and clarity. His journey from addiction to empowerment has become his mission: to help others trapped in the same cycle of self-destruction break free and embark on their own transformative path to health, passion, and a renewed mindset.

Through his book, Wild Ride To Sobriety, Ian aims to inspire others to overcome their struggles and embrace a life of balance, success, and fulfillment.  

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Hey, I’m Meghan Melin—wife, mom of two (8 & 6), former personal trainer who used to preach health while secretly binge drinking, and now a sober coach changing lives. I know firsthand what it’s like to feel stuck in a cycle that no longer serves you. I quit drinking, rebuilt my mindset, and now I help others do the same. Through Sober Strong, my coaching, and my YouTube channel, I’m here to show you that sobriety isn’t boring—it’s powerful. 

https://beacons.ai/soberstrong

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What habits have helped you the most in your recovery? Come join us on instagram @throughtheglassrecovery or in our Facebook group Recovery Your Way, and let's continue the conversation!

In a world where drinking alcohol is glorified as a coping tool for difficult parenting moments, staying sober and raising kids is definitely a challenge. Each age group comes with it's own conflicts and struggles, but many parents find the teen years in particularly to be emotionally exhausting. If you're in recovery, chances are you already have a hard time managing emotions sometimes. Adding the stress of teenagers to the mix can really throw you for a loop.

On the other hand though, your recovery gives you an incredible opportunity to really show up for your kids. In today's episode, we chat with Amos, Seija, and Robbie about how their sobriety has affected their parenting, and what they've learned since showing up sober for their teens.

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Robbie Pike started his sobriety journey due to being sick of the same old story he would put himself though. He found his cannabis and alcohol use getting worse as the years went on. He used them to cope with everything and anything. He is now over two years sober, and couldn’t be happier with his decision to take on this new journey.

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My name is Seija, I am a grateful recovering alcoholic. I have been sober since April 10, 2015. I grew up in the Chicagoland area and we moved to the Denver suburbs in 2014. I am the proud Mom to three sweet young adults; Jackson (23), Maya (19) and Lincoln (14). I am also thankful to be walking this recovery journey with my partner, Greg, and grateful to do life with him. 

I am fortunate to be able to be of service in many ways in my life - my career in an assisted living community, volunteer work as a victim advocate with a local police department and a proud Board member at our recovery club. 

I am thankful to be able to work with many women in sobriety, honored to be trusted with their story and watch them grow & glow. 

If I could share one bit of advice, I’d remind people in early sobriety that nothing will change if nothing changes. I can’t expect the results to come from the work I don’t do - in every area of my life. Just keep going, I promise life only gets better in sobriety! 

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Amos Dupuis has been sober for 29 months, embracing a new life filled with opportunities beyond imagination. He attributes his journey to the guidance of his higher power, giving gratitude for the doors that have opened—and the ones that have closed with purpose. With a renewed sense of love and possibility, he is experiencing a life that feels truly limitless.

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"That's the goal: to help our kids exceed us."

Episode Highlights:

If you need more support and advice for parenting, make sure you check out Episode 87: Talking to Your Kids About Your Addiction.

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We'd love to hear about your experiences with raising teenagers now that you're sober. Come join the conversation on Instagram or Facebook!

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most widely known path to recovery from addiction, and often it's the only option people are aware of when they decide they're ready to stop drinking. While AA works well for many people, it doesn't always provide what someone needs to achieve lasting sobriety. Our goal is to bring to light how many different options there are for recovering from alcohol use disorder.

Our guests share what their experience in AA was like, how it shaped their recovery, and what they did when they realized they needed something different.

"AA does not have a monopoly on changing your life for the better."

Episode Highlights:

"Take what you need and leave the rest."

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Rich Sullivan and his wife run a local sober and sober curious community on Facebook called Clear + Present Strangers. You can find the group by searching. Also check out their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearandpresentstrangers/

They also offer a self guided coaching course and 1:1 coaching, as well as promote local alcohol-free events, feature restaurants that offer great NA options.

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Rachel Collins is a licensed clinical professional counselor and founder of Stride Forward Counseling. She is LGBTQIA+ affirming and her mission is to empower you to lead a more meaningful life. Rachel is trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-basedcognitive therapy (MBCT). She has a special interest in working with individuals who are struggling with substance abuse, addiction, and that are highly sensitive. 

Visit her website at https://strideforwardcounseling.com

Check out Rachel's podcast: 

Self-improvement Book Club by Rachel

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-improvement-book-club-by-rachel/id1647601481

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Dr. Joanne Ketch LPC: I’ve walked through most of the major seasons of adult life sober. My own journey inspired me to dedicate my career to transforming the treatment of substance use disorder. Through my master’s and doctoral work, I developed a passion for empowering people to own their recovery and breaking down misinformation and stigma around addiction. I believe recovery is about building a full, rewarding life, and I’m honored to share a bit of my story today. You can find more of my work at www.drjorecoverycoaching.com.  

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Resources:

Rewired by Erica Spiegelman - a recovery program based on self reflection and journaling.

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We would love to hear about your experience with AA! We know it works for a lot of people, and it doesn't work for others, and we're always open to hearing stories from both sides of the fence. Come share your thoughts on Instagram: @throughtheglassrecovery or on Facebook

Find full show notes and other resources on our website: throughtheglassrecovery.com

In this roundtable discussion, we dig into the topic of anger. We know that anger can be a driving force behind alcohol use, which means we need to not only understand why we get so angry, but also have the tools to deal with our anger in productive ways. Listen as five people share what they've learned about managing anger in recovery.

Tools for coping with anger:

Do you struggle with managing anger in recovery? Share your story with us on Instagram @throughtheglassrecovery

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Meet our guests:

My name is David and I am 20 months into my recovery journey. I had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol for 20 plus years. I started in rehab and began putting in the work. I believe everyone can choose their own path in recovery. Through support from family, friends, community, sharing, and counseling, I have been able to begin healing from childhood traumas. It is an honor to be a part of such a beautiful community of people. I didn’t know how lost I was until I found myself. One love!

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At 18, I entered prison. At 19, facing a potential 10+ years for parole violation, a pivotal decision changed my life. In a jail cell on October 12, 1996, at 3 a.m., I swore off mind-altering substances. The 21st encounter with handcuffs pushed me to break free. Living clean and sober for 27 years, I’ve found genuine freedom—earned through work, willingness, and honesty. Sobriety, my most gangster feat, opens doors to a life beyond imagination. – Jason Williams aka Sober Gangster

https://www.instagram.com/sober.gangster

https://www.facebook.com/Sobergangster

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My name is Amy and I am a recovering alcoholic that currently resides in Texas. I have dealt with varying degrees of my alcoholism in the 33 years that I was active in my addiction. I took my first drink with the intent to “get drunk” at 13. In January 2024, I started my healing and sobriety journey. 

 I am grateful to be in recovery and hope to help others along in their journey by sharing my story authentically. You are welcome to reach out to me through social media or email. 

Email: [email protected]

Tiktok: The Sober Amy May @kittykitty_no-no

In this Valentine's Day episode, we've asked our guests how love shows up differently now that they're sober. Not just in romantic relationships, but also in relationships with family and friends, and - perhaps most importantly - how love shows up in their relationships with themselves.

"I always equated love with approval."

When we stop drinking alcohol and we start showing up differently in our lives, we start seeing that how we showed and accepted love wasn't healthy, and it often wasn't realistic. Learning how to love ourselves, so we can share that love with others, is one of the most fulfilling aspects of living a sober life.

Listen as we chat with Sarah Jane and Will about love and relationships in recovery.

In this episode:

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Will Gordon – a Boston native and middle school teacher whose hard-fought battle with alcohol addiction led to total organ failure and a life-saving double transplant in 2023. Through the gift of organ donation and unwavering support from my wife and family, I found my way back from the edge. Today, I share my journey from rock bottom to recovery with raw honesty and hard-earned hope hosting TheWillpowerPodcast, reminding others that even our darkest chapters can lead to meaningful change.

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Sarah-Jane is the founder of Content Healers, a business dedicated to helping individuals restore balance and well-being through sound healing and energy healing practices. With 4 years of personal sobriety, Sarah-Jane brings a deep sense of resilience and commitment to healing into her work. A proud mother of four boys, she understands the importance of nurturing both oneself and others.

She uses her expertise to guide others on their journey to physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness, offering transformative healing experiences for those ready to make lasting changes in their lives.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dtbvq1KhG

https://www.instagram.com/content_healers?igsh=aXJ3NWh5OXhwajYx

Contenthealers.co.uk

For most people, the idea of recovering out loud fills them with anxiety and incites an instant cringe. All those stories, all that shame... why would you share it with others? But often, at some point in one's journey, they realize that their story has the potential to lead others to the same freedom they've found.

When you've found freedom from addiction, it's natural to want to help others find their way there, too.

In this episode, we're joined by John, Corey, Kristyna, and Jeff, who have all chosen to talk openly about their journey to sobriety. Some have gone fully public, talking about it in front of huge audiences. Others have quietly shared bits and pieces with people close to them. These are their stories - the fears they faced, the fulfillment they gained, and how their experiences with recovering out loud turned out.

In this episode:

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John began drinking to manage social anxiety and perfectionism present all his life.  As his drinking escalated, he appeared on the outside to be functioning - married, two kids, a practicing physician.  But on the inside he was struggling to hold it all together.  It took him years of trying to moderate before he realized he had to quit drinking, then many tries to actually stop drinking.  He’s now sober over 3 years and more at peace than ever.

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Kristyna is a 45-year-old fierce woman, wife, and mother of 2 boys, ages 8 & 9. She is a born and raised SOUTH Jersey girl – GO BIRDS! Kristyna grew up around alcohol and had her first drink at 12 or 13 years old. From then on it was pretty much drinking whenever possible. In her 20’s she began to really feel the

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Jeff Breedlove serves as strategic policy advisor for the Georgia Council for Recovery

Jeff is married to Kathryn Ballou; they reside in the Grant Park neighborhood in Atlanta.

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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

We tend to use the words recovery and sobriety interchangeably. Reality is that they are two very different things.

Generally sobriety is defined as not using a mind altering substance. Recovery is doing the healing and processing necessary to remain free of the substance and live a happy and fulfilling life without it.

In this podcast episode, we have invited Steve, Mike, and Will to join us for a conversation about what recovery has looked like in their lives. Recovery looks different for every person, based on their life experiences and their needs. Listen as these three men - plus your hosts, Steve and Julie - share how they figured out what needed healing, and the steps they took to do the work of recovery.

In this episode:

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My name is Mike and I recently celebrated 6 years of sobriety, my sober date is 01/17/18. I publish a newsletter for men living a sober lifestyle called Own Sobriety. It can be found at ownsobriety.com and @ownsobriety on Instagram, Facebook & X (Twitter). I also post sober lifestyle content on my personal Instagram, @mikeunwasted.

I was an all-the-time drinker for 9 years, from age 25 to 34. Every aspect of my life revolved around alcohol and I suffered from several physical & mental health issues. It took several attempts to make sobriety stick, but my life is completely different today. I’ve been able to hold a job and advance my career, address health issues head-on, and create a stable, happy lifestyle. I have recovered out loud from the beginning of my sober journey and credit the decision to my long-term success.

Through Own Sobriety, I am able to connect with other men who are living a sober lifestyle which keeps me grounded to my own sobriety. Building a sober community and maintaining a support system has been critical to keeping me on track in sobriety. Even after 6 years of sobriety, I do my best not to take a single day for granted and constantly remind myself how bad it was. I worked my ass off in early sobriety to get to this point and build a life that no longer has room for or a need for alcohol.

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Will Gordon - a Boston native and middle school teacher whose hard-fought battle with alcohol addiction led to total organ failure and a life-saving double transplant in 2023. Through the gift of organ donation and unwavering support from my wife and family, I found my way back from the edge. Today, I share my journey from rock bottom to recovery with raw honesty and hard-earned hope hosting TheWillpowerPodcast, reminding others that even our darkest chapters can lead to meaningful change.

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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 

Dealing with difficult emotions is the number one reason that people report turning back to alcohol after they've stopped drinking.

When you've used alcohol for many years to numb all of the feelings that come up in life, facing them sober feels overwhelming. The highs are incredible - joy, excitement and happiness like you haven't experienced in years. But the lows are exhausting, and can oftentimes come out of seemingly nowhere.

When alcohol was your only coping mechanism for a long time, learning new skills to handle emotions sober can feel more than a little bit daunting.

In this episode, we've invited Dr. Joanne Ketch, author Jon Siedel, and Rachael Pioltini, creator of the Addict With Purpose community to join us in a conversation about what it means to be "emotionally sober" - how to move through big emotions in healthy ways. There are two parts to emotional sobriety - understanding why you react to certain things the way you do, and then finding new ways to respond so that you aren't causing yourself even more heartache.

This conversation is for anyone who finds themselves feeling overwhelmed by emotions sometimes, to make it just a little easier to get through them.

As promised, click here to dowload the worksheet Julie mentions that will help you understand and process your emotions.

In this episode:

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Joanne Ketch: I’ve walked through most of the major seasons of adult life sober. My own journey inspired me to dedicate my career to transforming the treatment of substance use disorder. Through my master’s and doctoral work, I developed a passion for empowering people to own their recovery and breaking down misinformation and stigma around addiction. I believe recovery is about building a full, rewarding life, and I’m honored to share a bit of my story today. You can find more of my work at www.drjorecoverycoaching.com.  

 [email protected]

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Jon writes, speaks, and consults on the power of storytelling, radical vulnerability, faith, mental health, and addiction. His personal story—from spiraling into addiction to how he climbed out of it— is the focus of his next book, “Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic,” slated for release in the fall of 2025. His previous book on anxiety, “Finding Rest,” instantly became a #1 Amazon bestseller, topping the charts in several categories like anxieties and phobias, mood disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Originally from Wisconsin, he now resides in Frisco, TX, with his wife and two kids.

 jonseidl.com 

theveritasdaily.com

https://www.instagram.com/soberwisconsin

https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl

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My name is Rachael and I’m a proud to say I’m in long term recovery from both drugs and alcohol. My recovery date is 7/30/2017. I have chosen not to be anonymous and to use my voice and passion to help others like me find a solution. I am a harm reductionist and a certified peer support specialist in 2 states as well as recovery advocate. I am passionate about helping and inspiring others to better themselves which is why I created my page  Addict with Purpose. https://www.facebook.com/addictwithpurpose/

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Keep in touch with Julie & Steve at throughtheglassrecovery.com 

You'll find a full list of podcast episodes, free resources, blog articles, and information about private sober coaching. 

For most people, when they decide to stop drinking alcohol, they do it quietly. It's not something they want to talk about, it's not something they want to share with all their friends and loved ones. It's embarrassing, right? We never thought this is where we'd end up, and it's hard to accept that it is. We just want to quietly conquer the alcohol demon and get on with living our lives.

Except that's not how it works.

As we explore in this podcast episode - talking about it is exactly what we need to be doing.

Talking about the things we're embarrassed and ashamed of is how we get on the other side of that shame and really start healing. It's how we connect with others in a meaningful way, and finally fill that void that loneliness has been creating for so long. Vulnerability is the key to sobriety - and it's not talked about enough.

Listen as we chat with Jennifer, Michael, and Nicole about how vulnerability has made recovery from alcohol abuse a reality in our lives.

In this episode:

It seems that men have an even harder time (in general) with vulnerability. If that resonates, make sure you check out this episode about vulnerability as well.

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My name is Jennifer Gerroir, and you can find me on Instagram @dropkicksober. My sober date

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Hello! My name is Mike, I’m an alcoholic, dog person, designer, and human. 

My quit date is April 9, 2019.

I’m originally from New Orleans and have lived in the south most of my life. However, I did live in Portland, Oregon for a while, where I started my career as an advertising Art Director.

I now live in Austin, TX where I continued my career working for a large ad agency. 

I resigned from that job to pursue a career in freelancing. Just a few months after I got sober. 

Being newly sober and embarking on a whole new lifestyle was a bit crazy to make such a huge change early in sobriety, but I did it. It was a calculated decision. My counselor in IOP, my private counselor, and a social worker strongly recommended it as it was a trigger for my drinking and using weed.

I founded SoberPress during the pandemic. It was an endeavor that helped me stay clean as I navigated being in isolation because of COVID-19. In August of 2020, I launched my Instagram page: @soberpress, and serendipitously found an amazing supportive community online. At the same time, I was working on establishing a blog soberpress.org where I would soon feature stories of recovery from around the world. 

I’m very much involved in the community holding ambassadorships, appearing in podcasts, running SoberPress on Facebook, and helping with SoberHope.

Links:

Website: https://www.soberpress.org/

Instagram: @soberpress https://www.instagram.com/soberpress/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3509692239095770

Sober Hope-Austin Texas: https://www.facebook.com/groups/616558783253253

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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