DeAnn Knighton and Heather Lowe discuss their experiences with sobriety and the benefits and potential challenges of navigating non-alcoholic social scenes. Heather shares her journey from a high-functioning drinker to a sober coach, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and the role of non-alcoholic drinks in maintaining sobriety. They highlight the need for awareness and understanding of individual triggers and the benefits of normalizing sobriety for the broad range of individuals choosing sobriety, no matter the reason. 

Action Items: 

• Explore non-alcoholic beverage options that feel right for you, without pressure to replicate alcoholic drinks.
• Be mindful of your own responses and triggers when trying new non-alcoholic experiences, and don't hesitate to opt o-t if it doesn't feel comfortable.
• Consider different entry points to exploring your relationship with alcohol, whether it's moderation, abstinence, or something in between.

https://www.ditchedthedrink.com/blog/are-alcohol-free-drinks-good-for-me

To learn more about Heather and her work: 
https://www.ditchedthedrink.com/

#soberpositiveworkplace #showupandstayorg #ditchedthedrink

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

In this week's episode, DeAnn is joined by Marin Nelson, one of the original founding members of Soberforce and a current founding member of Sobrynth.   They discuss the role of anxiety and depression in addiction and highlight the importance of normalizing the conversation around sobriety in the workplace.  

Key Discussion Points:

* Marin Nelson shares her recovery journey and insights on workplace inclusivity for those in recovery.
* Marin and DeAnn discuss the strange dynamic between those in recovery and those who identify as alcohol-free, with a focus on normalizing the conversation and moving forward together.
* Marin started her sales career sober and worked in nonprofit health, highlighting the importance of cultural sensitivity in recovery programs. She discusses the challenges of navigating virtual events while sober, feeling uncomfortable and anxious about it.
* Marin shared her experience of creating a sober community in the workplace to destigmatize addiction and provide support.
* DeAnn and Marin discuss alcohol as a tool for self-medicating anxiety as well as the role anxiety plays in recovery.  This includes the importance of advocating for oneself in medical settings.
* DeAnn and Marin connect over the role that sugar played for each of them in childhood and the role it plays in recovery now in managing sugar intake and finding a balance.

IMPORTANT LINKS:
https://sobrynth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinenelson/
Email: [email protected]

About Sobrynth:
 Today, 46 million Americans suffer from substance use disorder. Of those, 70% are employed. This costs the economy $81BN a year. Substance use disorder is impacting 2 out of 3 families. We are not doing enough to reach these employees and their families who are seeking care for a highly stigmatized and often shame-filled chronic condition.  We believe that the existing approach to substance use disorder in the workplace is inadequate - this is not a sub-bullet condition, and it deserves a dedicated solution. 

 Sobrynth provides 24/7 assistance for employees and their families seeking support with immediate substance use disorder needs and for those employees who are sober and curious. We marry that support with a recovery-ready workplace strategy. We understand that return to work is an integral part of a person’s journey, so as a core part of our services, we supply a world-class sober Employee Resource Group framework. 

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

Cheryl Brown Merriwether, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CPRC, CRSS, CM

CoFounder, Vice President, Executive Director, International Center for Addiction & Recovery Education™(ICARE)

• Cheryl shares her personal story of growing up as an adult child of an alcoholic, facing challenges in her family of origin, and confronting her issues with codependency. 

Prevention 

• Behavioral health merging brings positive change while also creating an additional burden on an already overwhelmed system. 
• Prevention programs focus on education and awareness, changing workplace cultures to make resources available and safe for employees to seek help.  
• Cheryl discusses companies making moves toward prevention, including Oracle, Salesforce, and Wayfair. 
• Biden Harris Admin releases a recovery-ready workplace toolkit and partners with state coalitions.

Opioid epidemic and employer responsibility to support workforce.

• Employers can play a crucial role in addressing the opioid epidemic by providing education and training to their workforce.
• Education and training can alleviate liability and risk management concerns for naloxone use.

Links:
https://icare-aware.org/
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/RRW-hub/Toolkit

Cheryl Brown Merriwether  brings over two decades of experience in corporate HR management at AT&T, addiction recovery awareness, and adult education to the International Center for Addiction and Recovery Education (ICARE). As VP and Executive Director, she oversees and directs the administration, operations, and student support services for ICARE’s three divisions, Strategic Sobriety Workforce Solutions™, International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches (IAPRC) and NET Institute. Additionally, Cheryl is the Immediate Past President of GOSHRM, an active Board Member of Project Opioid, and a former adjunct faculty member at the University of Phoenix. 

 In February 2023, Cheryl was awarded BambooHR’s inaugural HR Experience Maker Award in the Heart & Soul category.  SUCCESS Magazine named Cheryl a 2022 Women of Influence award winner for her pioneering work in addiction and recovery.  She graduated from the Rally Social Enterprise Accelerator 2022 Winter program, which provides mentorship, 1:1 coaching, and resources to social entrepreneurs seeking positive social change.

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

Cross-over episode!  Today, DeAnn is joined by half of the Through the Glass Recovery podcast team, Steve Knapp, to talk about sobriety, the workplace, and vulnerability.  This is a candid conversation about difficult things that many are rarely willing to discuss with such self-awareness and humility. We are so grateful to Steve for sharing so much of himself here. It makes for an authentic and grounded episode.

• Recovery, addiction, and workplace stigma.
  • Fear of blowback and lack of safety are common concerns for those in recovery, making it challenging to navigate workplace environments without feeling judged or vulnerable
  • Steve, a married father of two, was a high-functioning alcoholic who hid his addiction but struggled with depression and anxiety.
• Addiction recovery, relationships, and fatherhood.
  • Difficult topics are discussed authentically, including parenthood and working through relationship struggles in sobriety. 
• Career fulfillment and disconnection in corporate culture.
  • Steve emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and emotional health in the workplace, citing the need for leaders to treat employees like humans and create a sense of team.
• Personal growth, adventure, and self-improvement.
  • Leadership expectations create boundaries and addiction, leading to unequal treatment and discontinuation of feedback
  • Steve is now using social media and podcasting to share his journey and connect with others 

Where to find Steve and Julie:
https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/
Instagram, Twitter, Tik tok, YouTube and X:  @throughtheglassrecovery

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

In this week's episode, DeAnn speaks with Earl Murphy.  Earl is the current president of Soberforce, the peer-led sober community within Salesforce that was started during the pandemic. 

Conversation Includes: 

• Earl's journey from deep entrenchment in drinking culture to leading a business resource group for sobriety at Salesforce.
• Soberforce at Salesforce creates inclusive space for recovery and allyship.
• Sobriety, workplace dynamics, and personal growth. 
• Educational insights on the realities of early sobriety and the impact of alcohol in the workplace emphasize the need for a stigma-free corporate culture.
• Changing landscape of sobriety and the business value in creating recovery-friendly workplaces.
• DeAnn shares a story of peer pressure and Sobriety-related insensitivity 
• Soberforce Mission Statement 

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

This week, co-founder Craig Knighton takes the host seat to interview DeAnn to discuss recent shared non-alcoholic experiences. The conversation considers trauma, triggers, and recovery impact.   They are joined by a special guest who shares an alternative perspective on recovery and non-alcoholic beverage options. 


-Non-alcoholic options in a restaurant.
-Alcohol triggers and inclusive dining experiences.
-Recovery and abstinence approach
-When the taste is a trigger for shame and other challenging emotions.

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

Welcome to January and 2024.  This episode introduces the content dropping in January. We have FIVE great interviews coming this month, including an episode when Craig interviews DeAnn about a recent shared experience that did not go as expected.  Today's episode is a quick reflection episode to set that up, along with some foundation for the other upcoming interviews we are excited to share with you this month. 

Topics include: 
school update 
tattoos 
false confidence 

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

In this week's episode, we connect with Dr. Masica Jordan-Alston of Jordan Peer Recovery.  Dr. Jordan-Alston and her team have worked systematically to create change through diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for all, starting with peer recovery training and certification in every US state and internationally.  She also has some powerful stories to share.  

• Gaps in inclusion both in research and human services: Lack of cultural diversity in delivering services while neglecting marginalized groups (LGBTQIA, black indigenous people of color, and people incarcerated)
• Peer support is growing and expanding, with a focus on connecting individuals with similar experiences and creating systems of support within communities.
• Pay it forward: Masica shares her personal experience with diabetes, including diagnosis and treatment, and how she overcame the initial shock and fear to live a full life. Much later in life she connects with a young girl at the beach who is also living with diabetes, and offers words of encouragement and support, highlighting the importance of sharing experiences and empowering others in recovery.
• Culturally responsive practices in human services: avoid assumptions and ask individuals what works best for them.
•  Organizations should prioritize setting up internal peer groups to foster better marketing exposure, customer service experiences, and community engagement.
• Grief and loss with a personal story:  Masica shares her personal journey with grief and loss, including the death of her father, grandmother, godmother, and brother, and how she turned her lived experience into a resource for others. This work aims to provide a safe space for people to process their emotions and find support through her lived experiences with grief and through the experience of others 

Link to Dr. Alston's Bio and Work
https://jordanpeerrecovery.com
https://www.griefandlosscentersofamerica.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-masica-jordan-alston-lcpc-cprs-a5610b36/

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

On this week's episode of our Sober Positive Workplace Series, DeAnn speaks with Karolina Rzadkowolska, author of "Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You".  Karolina is a powerhouse in the alcohol-free movement.  She has helped countless gray-area drinkers reconsider their relationship with alcohol.  The episode discusses alcohol culture and its impact on the workplace, generational considerations for how we think about alcohol and alcohol-related marketing, and the shifting expectations of the next generation who are the future leaders of our workforce.  

Realities and disconnects of alcohol culture: 

• Alcohol became a tool for Karolina to get out of her shell and meet new people, and she had no boundaries around it in college.
• Drinking alcohol makes you feel like an adult. It gives you independence, a sense of rebelliousness,  glamour, or sophistication.
• Drinking during the week is a socially acceptable means of doing it without having to explain it to anyone.
• 60% of people overdrink in the United States, meaning that a woman has more than one drink, is now considered heavy risky drinking, according to the medical establishment, and it gets even lower in Canada, where the drinking limits have gone lower and lower.
• Most people over 52% wish they didn't drink at all, and most people recognize that they don't like it and wish they were drinking less.

Karolina shares her workplace experience: 

•  She was one of the first people in her known sphere in her workplace to go alcohol-free, and she chose to adopt that story. People started coming out of the woodwork and saying that alcohol-free living is better for most people.
• One thing about a workplace scenario is that there's this assumption that what everyone wants to do and is fun for them is drinking.
• Holistic health is becoming more important to young people, and there is more of a lens on the importance of taking care of yourself.
• Why more and more CEOs are drinking less? 

Karolina shares thoughts on how we can work to bridge non-drinkers: 

• The odd division that exists in the world of non-drinkers and the spectrum of beliefs around substances.
• Being willing to evolve and change some of the language and the methods that are used to reevaluate is super helpful, but it doesn't go to say that the other methods don't work.

https://euphoricaf.com
https://www.instagram.com/euphoric.af/?hl=en

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

Host, DeAnn Knighton, and Janet Hadley, founder of Choose Sunrise (UK organization), review considerations for employers in building alcohol safety into their organizations 

Stigma and workplace. 7:37

• Reaching out to the gray area drinkers in the workplace
• Stigma is a result of our evolution to put people into groups, which is useful, but creates blind spots for gray areas.
• "Drink Responsibly" is a powerful slogan that enforces stigma 

Who has a bigger problem with alcohol? 13:22

• Alcohol is the number one risk factor for premature death of individuals ages 25 to 49, according to the US and the UK.
  • The UK and the US are both above the global average of 4.9% for prevalence of alcohol use disorder
  • In the UK Alcohol use disorder is not specifically called out in the discrimination act, but it is not a protected characteristic in the same way that depression is.
  • The Americans with disabilities act ensures that people with disabilities, including people with addiction to alcohol, have the same rights and opportunities.    Link: https://adata.org/factsheet/ada-addiction-recovery-and-employment
•  Alcohol Safe Workplace Accreditation (UK) 24:40 
  • The accreditation standards cover policy, culture, education, and support for individuals.
  • 40% of all workplace accidents are alcohol-related, and 50% of sexual harassment claims in the workplace involve alcohol. 
  • The head of Lloyd's of London is a big insurance underwriter in London and has recently banned all daytime workplace drinking, which is a huge indication of how things are changing and culturally saying that this isn't inclusive.
• Setting up a sober curious society. 30:11
  • Janet started a sober curious society while working at the Co-op in her corporate job. 
  • The importance of engaging people from the community to be a part of the organization and being out loud about who they are.

Janet Hadley - Link
https://choosesunrise.co.uk

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
[email protected]

More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

For podcast updates, follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/showupandstayorg/

Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works