Recovery Rocks

Some can be highs and some can be lows, but there’s a first time for everything in sobriety! Tawny and Lisa discuss “explaining” why you’re not drinking, finding sober-friendly events and new sober friends, and, yes, first sober dates. They also discuss breaking the cycle of bummer holidays, celebrating successes, and being kind to our sober, growing selves. Shout out to our Tempest for making season 3 possible! You can find them at jointempest.com and @jointempest.

Dealing with death and grief are a real challenge for everyone and can test our recoveries. Tawny and Lisa discuss different kinds of grief, the danger of prolonged isolation, and how-to connect and stay sober through it. No surprise, the ladies turn to music, too, at these times. If you’re looking for help with substance use issues, check our friends and sponsor at Tempest. You can find them at jointempest.com and @jointempest.

Lisa shares a big takeaway from studying to become a SheRecovers coach: boundaries are the space you hold around yourself to protect your recovery. Tawny takes it a spicy step further to describe her boundaries as a full-body condom that protects her from the outside world. 

Tawny and Lisa chat about how it’s totally OK to have a low sex drive during this very unsexy global pandemic. Tawny offers alternative ways to connect with your partner if you’re not in the mood. Then she fills Lisa in on how Zoom dating has changed and how she thinks the future of dating will evolve. Finally, she teaches Lisa about online orgies and how the porn industry has adapted social distancing. Somewhere in there, the girls talk about their love for David Byrne and the Talking Heads.

Tawny and Lisa interview Amanda and Jardine, whose new book, The Sober Lush, comes out Tuesday, June 2. A Sober Lush life is lived in the present and full of abundance, whether it’s a fancy bath bomb and self-care, doing a small kindness for someone else, or enjoying a live music show sober. And they teach us that we all need an Adult Snow Day from time to time!

Tawny’s stuck in the 90’s with binging Melrose Place and streaming Billboard’s top hits of 1995 on Spotify. Lisa’s digging Homeland and Say Yes to the Dress. They’re both low key obsessed with Too Hot to Handle and 90 Day Fiance, but it’s OK because they read, too! Books like The Herd, Little Fires Everywhere, Uncanny Valley, and My Friend Anna (Delvey) are keeping them sober and sane(ish) during the quarantine.

Lisa and Tawny chat with Eve Goldberg, the founder of BIGVISION NYC. Eve started this non-profit after her son’s heartbreaking overdose, She didn’t want another young person in recovery to suffer from isolation. BIGVISION NYC began as a place for weekly sober social events in New York City and has quickly adapted to these unprecedented times. They now offer these free events several times a week on Instagram Live and Zoom to folks all over the world. P.S. Eve works out while listening to disco and we’re super into it.

Lisa and Tawny discuss the anxiety they both feel while grocery shopping during the quarantine. Their sobriety tool belts keep them calm during these and other high-stress moments. It’s all about taking life one day at a time -- or one grocery store trip at a time. Of course, the Rolling Stones and Red Hot Chili Peppers get shout outs.

What is a hobby? How can it be a creative outlet? Tawny and Lisa talk about the surprising and fulfilling things they got interested in once they got sober. Only in recovery would Tawny be curious enough to teach herself piano. No shock it started with a Lady Gaga song! Season 3 of Recovery Rocks is sponsored by our friends at Tempest. Check them out at jointempest.com and @jointempest. 

Lisa talks through how a 12-step program led to her thinking on a Higher Power and Tawny addresses her spiritual skepticism. As always, even when their approaches to recovery are different, they find plenty of common ground. Even “Higher Ground” of the Stevie Wonder and Red Hot Chili Peppers variety! Our friends and sponsor Tempest support all kinds of recovery. Find them at jointempest.com and @jointempest.