DeAnn interviews Kate Vitela, a board-certified nurse coach and addiction specialist, about her journey in sobriety and career. Kate, a registered nurse for over two decades, discusses her transition from various healthcare settings to behavioral health after getting sober in 2018. She shares her experiences with a state monitoring program for nurses with substance use issues and her eventual success in leadership roles. Kate emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practices, self-care, and creativity in recovery, including her involvement in fashion and her newly released podcast, "You've Been Selected."

You can find Kate on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katevitela/

Explore Kate’s blog: https://thesobercurator.com/category/sober-lifestyle/youve-been-selected/

Work with Kate: https://linktr.ee/KateVitela

Email Podcast: [email protected]

Podcast Link: https://www.katevitela.com/podcast/

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

DeAnn's conversation with Laura Nelson, founder of Front Office Rocks and Sober Life Rocks. Laura discusses her journey from starting her own business to advocating for sober professionals. She shares her personal struggle with alcohol, leading to her sobriety in early 2020, and the founding of Sober Life Rocks to support sober professionals at conferences. Laura emphasizes the need for inclusive event planning, highlighting issues like the lack of non-alcoholic options and the pressure to drink. Her book, "The Inclusive Event Planner," targets meeting planners and HR to improve event inclusivity. She shares information on the Sober Life Rocks community and LinkedIn group for support and advocacy.

Reference Links:

Sober Life Rocks Website:
https://soberliferocks.com/

Sober Life Rocks LinkedIn Group:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14532282

The Inclusive Event Planner
https://inclusiveeventplanner.com/

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

DeAnn is joined by co-founders of Sobrynth, Marin Nelson and Ingrid Lindberg, to address some big questions, including one big one:

How can technology be leveraged to scale human-centered solutions and care navigation for employees and their families seeking support for substance use disorder while still maintaining the importance of personal connection and empathy?

Marin Nelson 

Co-founder and CEO of Sobrynth. 15+ years of enterprise sales career delivering 320% YoY growth and 8-figure SAAS deals. Leader at Salesforce, health tech, and social impact startups. 19 years in recovery.​

Ingrid Lindberg​ 

Co-founder of Sobrynth. Ex-customer Experience Officer for Cigna & Prime. Serial founder. 25 years of brand, marketing, and product experience primarily focused on the consumerization of healthcare, focusing on making healthcare more human. 

https://sobrynth.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sobrynth

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works

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

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced 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. 

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced 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.

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced 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

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced 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 

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced 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.

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced 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 

For our most recent updates follow the Sober Positive Workplace Showcase Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sober-positive-workplace/?viewAsMember=true

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the show, 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 Created and Produced by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works