We’re all experiencing information overload, with truth and lies mixed across all kinds of media we consume. As a journalist, Tawny has guidance on how to make sure you’re reading credible, real news. To keep ourselves mentally healthy, we need to consume news in a way that works for us. Look for objectivity and coverage that doesn’t pick sides. Also, most importantly, engage in critical thinking.

Music Minute features The Beatles, Green Day, 4 Non Blondes, and Fleetwood Mac

Some satire on how to spot misinformation

Check out 1440 News 

Check out The Bulwark 

Listen to The Daily from The New York Times 

Order The Sobriety Deck 

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze

Subscribe to Tawny's newsletter, "Beyond Liquid Courage"

Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses)

Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar   

Lisa celebrated 21 years sober and Tawny is coming up on 10 years of sobriety and life in New York City. Neither of them say they’ll never drink again – they still take it one day at a time. They also talk about keeping things fresh in long-term sobriety. Let yourself try new things just for yourself. As Tawny tells her students, “feel free to write badly!” That goes for other things you enjoy or want to try like painting or playing piano. Whatever it is, just have fun doing it. 

Music Minute features (being sad about Gwen Stefani and) No Doubt, Gin Blossoms, The Allman Brothers Band, and Talking Heads

Order The Sobriety Deck 

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze

Subscribe to Tawny's newsletter "Beyond Liquid Courage"

Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses)

Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar   

Tawny and Lisa get back to basics and the Serenity Prayer. Whether your Higher Power is God, the universe, or a stick of incense, this episode is for you. Even if the whole "Higher Power thing" is not for you, knowing what we can and cannot control is a key tool in staying sober. It’s not acquiescing or giving up if what you need to do right now is take care of yourself physically and mentally, and no more than that. Rest is essential. Letting go of what you can’t control helps tremendously.

Music Minute features the Dropkick Murphys and the musical Rent

Watch The Dropkick Murphys Made in the USA 

Order The Sobriety Deck 

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze

Subscribe to Tawny's newsletter  "Beyond Liquid Courage"

Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses)

Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar   

Tawny and Lisa get a primer on ibogaine treatment for addiction from Dr. Eduardo Ramirez Juấrez, who has extensive emergency medicine experience at Cancun’s leading private hospitals and five years of specialized work with ibogaine treatment. They talk about what ibogaine is, how it is used for substance use disorder, the steps involved in treatment, and stigma. If you’re curious enough, magical things can happen. But note that Tawny and Lisa do not have personal experience with ibogaine and this interview is not an endorsement – it’s strictly informational. 

Music Minute features a discussion of soundtracks designed for ibogaine treatment and Manấ

Check out Dr. Juấrez at Beond 

Read the recent Stanford University study 

Order The Sobriety Deck

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze

Subscribe to Tawny's newsletter https://tawnylara.substack.com/ "Beyond Liquid Courage"

Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses)

Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar

We’re all experiencing information overload, with truth and lies mixed across all kinds of media we consume. As a journalist, Tawny has guidance on how to make sure you’re reading credible, real news. To keep ourselves mentally healthy, we need to consume news in a way that works for us. Look for objectivity and coverage that doesn’t pick sides. Also, most importantly, engage in critical thinking.

Music Minute features The Beatles, Green Day, 4 Non Blondes, and Fleetwood Mac

Some satire on how to spot misinformation

Check out 1440 News 

Check out The Bulwark 

Listen to The Daily from The New York Times 

Order The Sobriety Deck 

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

Order Tawny’s book, DRY HUMPING: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze

Subscribe to Tawny's newsletter, "Beyond Liquid Courage"

Order Tawny’s new NA drink, (parentheses)

Purchase Lisa’s memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar   

Lisa and Tawny acknowledge their transfer addictions, sometimes spending money as a coping strategy similar to how they drank. Cutting down on purchasing and consumption has been a trend for years, but is even bigger this year. No-Buy or Less-Buy is having a moment in 2025.  Beyond saving money, it’s also a way to support your recovery and core values. No Buy is not a punishment – it should feel empowering and even fun. Consider setting some goals for spending less and doing it with an accountability buddy. But don’t put too much pressure on yourself! We also need to go gently in 2025.

Music Minute features Trixie and Katya and I Like To Watch and NSYNC

Order The Sobriety Deck 

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

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   

In our current political environment, it’s more important than ever to lean on our sobriety toolkits. What are the core elements of staying sober? Asking for help when needed, knowing your triggers (including people, places, and things), making time for physical activity, taking it all one day at a time, leaning into community, and just breathing. 

Remember the opposite of triggers is glimmers, the things that bring us shots of joy. Also remember HALT –if you feel off, ask yourself if you’re hungry, angry, lonely or tired. If so, acknowledge it and take action to fix it, when you can. Go gently and be kind to yourself!

Music Minute features Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson and Led Zeppelin

Order The Sobriety Deck 

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

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   

Tawny and Lisa catch up on all they’ve been reading and watching in an attempt to stay distracted from the horrendous 24-hour news cycle. Allowing time to check out and get lost in stories is a critical element of their self-care and sobriety routines. It’s important to stay informed, but you have to make space for moments of joyful distraction, too.

Music Minute features The Substance soundtrack, Chappelle Roan, Doechii, and Beyonce.

Read:

All Fours

You Don't Need a Budget

 
The Mighty Red

The Herd 

Watch:

Severance

The Substance

Dexter 

Order The Sobriety Deck 

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

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   

Calling all Swifties! Tawny and Lisa talk to Julianne Griffin, the founder of Swift Steps, a sober community for Taylor Swift fans, with music as a vital part of recovery. The inclusive group supports Swifties facing challenges from substance use disorder to codependency, heartbreak, toxic familial relationships, gambling, and other compulsive disorders. There are meetings and journaling workbooks that blend Taylor’s music with recovery-focused prompts. Swift Steps also holds monthly themed craft nights, milestone bracelet (instead of traditional coins) projects, and even virtual fitness classes designed to support both mental and physical health, all with an emphasis on T. Swift lyrics and intersectionality.

Music Minute features Taylor Swift, of course!

Check out Swift Steps 

Follow Swift Steps on Instagram 

Order The Sobriety Deck

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

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

Tawny and Lisa talk to Ellen Scanlon, the host of “How to Do the Pot,” a podcast about cannabis for women. This podcast was a huge resource to Tawny when she began implementing cannabis into her recovery program. She fangirled a bit while interviewing Ellen! They discuss what to consider when incorporating cannabis as a medical alternative to prescription drugs. They also talk about the difference between CBD and THC, cannabis for anxiety and endometriosis, and share research on the psychological and physical effects of cannabis. 

Music Minute features Beyonce and West Coast jazz

Listen to How to Do the Pot podcast and get all the info

Subscribe to Ellen’s Substack 

Find Ellen on Instagram 

Order The Sobriety Deck by Hannah Gardner

Listen to The Sobriety Deck Playlist by Hannah Gardner

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