SHOW UP

Today I’m joined by Drew Moore, Creator, Producer, and Host of The Sober FixPodcast, and, as you may have already guessed, Drew is a sober human.

A very fast progression leading to 14 years of addiction. Nothing really wrong in the rest of life but turned to drinking and drugs anyway. First two years could be characterized as fun, but the remaining 12 was trying to get back to the first two years.

Could have gotten sober earlier in AA, but was still having fun. Comparing stories. Setting up the hurdles and telling myself I’d stop, but didn’t.

An overdose experience was the final straw. Had to change at that point. Realized that there may come a time that I don’t make it back. All in on 12 Steps, meetings, Higher Power. Until I was “all in,” it wasn’t going to work.

The decision and then the work necessary to stay on the path, improve, and stay sober.

We may not have all the same stories but so many of us share the same emotions, which is what we can all relate to.

It is our responsibility to change, to grow, to shed the old lifestyle. Then the freedom comes. Freedom from the old life but also freedom to move forward into a new life.

The work and commitment required to change and to get to that freedom requires doing things we are not accustomed to doing.

Please find Drew and his work at:

HOME | The Sober Fix (thesoberfixpodcast.com)

Instagram
https://www.youtube.com/@TheSoberFix/

My guest today is Kyle “Koyote” Yates, creator and Host of The Vibes Broadcast Network, as well as a sober human.Koyote and I kick it off with his story of getting to recovery. Peer pressure, the 80’s, drinking and drugs everywhere, losing relationships. Difficult to say no in those days.

How some of our friends from those days dropped off because they didn’t party like us, how some are not around anymore, how some are still acting like they were acting and living way back in high school.

Find Koyote the The Vibes Broadcast at:

YouTube, Rumble and Odyssey - The Vibes Broadcast

Anywhere you listen to a podcast you can find Koyote and The Vibes Broadcast Network.

Today I’m joined by C.J. Moneyway, creator and producer of the C.J.

Moneyway podcast and founder of C.J. Moneyway Entertainment, Inc. 

As an author and public speaker, C.J. brings wisdom, creativity,

and charisma to all pursuits in which he engages. 

 A couple of Midwestern guys kicking it back and forth about life, parents, going off the path, and finding ourselves again.

How finding the Bible helped get C.J. on a path. He found his skill with writing, wrote and published his book, Both Eyes Open, Both Eyes Shut.

How losing loved ones can and will shape our lives from that point forward. When we look back and wonder why we didn’t listen to the wisdom and experience of our parents.

It takes what it takes to get where we’re going. To get us to change we need to have the experiences we have. There is no other way.

As men, we need to look at ourselves and take accountability for everything in our lives. Then we start to grow, then we start to change.

“How can you be real to yourself when you’re lying to yourself” C.J. Moneyway

Nobody’s coming to save us, nobody’s going to take responsibility for our lives but us. How else do we transform?

Life is a leveling up process where we learn something at every level. 

There comes a time when we need to choose our path, choose our direction, choose how we want our life to be.

Contentment and fulfillment is very real! But we have to do the things that will get us there.

Here's where to find C.J.: 

FB Author Corwin Johnson; IG C.J_Moneyway; TT C.J Moneyway

Podcast: The CJ Moneyway Show

BOTH EYES OPEN AND EYES SHUT: Moneyway, C.J.: 9798326033437: Amazon.com: Books

Today I’m joined by one of my great friends of 35+ years, Tony Hoskins

A guy who is in my first book, (by his actual name), a college 

classmate and teammate of mine, a very successful entrepreneur 

and all-around good dude. One of my favorite things about

my longtime friend is that he adheres himself to a code.

The light above Tony’s head is NOT a halo, in case there’s a question 😊

Tony’s shares his inspiring story of where he started in this world, and where he is now. He lets us in on his earlier years, his upbringing, and how that’s shaped him throughout his life.

Going through the tough times to survive, put food on the table, trying new things. Is it a job, is it education?

Finally found a “home” in an industry that seemed to be a great fit, although there were definitely some hurdles to cross.

The challenge of finding the balance between making money and having a life. Not an easy journey. Is it worth it?

There are many parallels between Tony and I and how we grew up, which I think helps to cement our respect for each other. 

The entrepreneurial nature of commissioned sales. How can we evolve in our careers and move forward with our lives? How being left with no choice but to succeed can be a catalyst to success. Sink or swim is real.

Things we learned from our parents were powerful. Work ethic, responsibility, toughness can show up in our lives in various ways. 

How our relationship with our parents can change over time. 

Fulfillment in our lives and our careers is up to each individual. Definition of success can be different for everyone and certainly different from generation to generation.

What do we look for in hiring? What do we look for in people that we want to have working alongside us? How do we, as bosses or owners relate to the people we mean to lead? 

Teachable? Will they want to learn? Adaptable to change? Ambitious no matter where they came from? Character.

Gotta have the intestinal fortitude to do things we don’t necessarily want to do. It’s how we keep moving forward. Do scary stuff.

Victim mentality? Difficult to hear and difficult to watch. It is so important to put in the effort. It is crucial to try.

Definitions of success in different times in our lives.

Today I’m joined by Byron H00ver, an educator, husband, father & writer, who I’ve gotten to know via social media and I’m very glad that I have. Byron has a lot to offer this world and I’m honored and excited to be involved in any way, with that unfolding story. Byron is also a sober human!

 Byron and I have a lively, funny, and very enjoyable conversation about sobriety, writing, spirituality and the interplay of those components of life. How paradox is everywhere, and many times, crucial to recognize.

We write in different ways and we write in ways that resonate differently with different folks. 

 Telling the truth about ourselves to those we love. Can that be a catalyst for changing ourselves and our world? Starting to change starts with honesty. 

Hiding can cause problems. Hiding is dangerous. We can “combover” a lot of things in our lives if we allow ourselves too.

 The inspiration to write can be powerful. The drive to write can be formidable. I need to write the way I am moved to write, not the way others write. This sustains writing and this is how Byron remains true to himself.

The words coming from the silence, the words emanating from a flow as opposed to a brain. Writing is contemplative, spiritual, God. 

The material can show up in this silent, meditative time. A portal opens when we allow it to. 

We can allow the “fights” to be over, or we can allow the fights to continue. “Do your work and let it go” can be tricky because the fights can be subtle, as well as get more subtle over time.

 Continued immersion is a way to soak ourselves in “the life.” It’s a must for fully moving into a different way.

 You can find Byron on X  @RonBenWho

Today I’m joined by Michele Weinstat Miller, a 4X published author, 

Michele's books have been named "Best of 2019" by Strand Magazine; 

Outstanding August 2021 Mystery & Suspense title by Library Journal; 

and semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. Kirkus Reviews 

calls her "Mary Higgins Clark with Teeth." Michele now serves as 

General Counsel for a non-profit agency that provides re-entry services 

to the formerly incarcerated. Michele is also a very long-term sober human.

Michele and I start with her interesting, compelling, and heartfelt story of dysfunction, difficulty, bad decisions and move on from there. 

Tough beginnings, family dynamics play into how we start and who we become, self-respect, ego, super-achiever in every other area of life. 4.0 grades, how could there be a problem? Graduated NYU Law by age 22. Selling drugs in lieu of practicing law. Morally and ethically bankrupt. Switching seats on the Titanic doesn’t work. Disbarred.

Found the 12 steps, giving back, enjoying life, gratitude. The writing journey is an interesting and challenging one. Writing thrillers about aspects of sobriety. Being pulled back in The Lower Power, from peace and serenity, to the darkness.

How the writing flows through, how writing is a gift we’re given. More gratitude. We are responsible for nurturing our gifts. We are responsible for doing the work. Giving ourselves permission to take a break. Alanon and Zen come together: “don’t just do something, sit there.” 

Helping others based on our experiences. Giving back. Our experience, strength, and hope is our superpower as recovering people.

It takes spiritual work to be on this planet in a way that is happy. The benefit of gratitude lists. How doe we keep from being obsessive about our “next goal”? 

Letting go of the old idea of “I’m doing something wrong” if I’m not being constantly productive. Letting go of the old shame installed in us. Perfectionism.

Feelings pass? Really? Who knew! Light bulb moments in recovery. 11th Step taught them that 90% of problems are in how we think. We mentally create a world in which we cannot live.

The imaginary conversations we have with ourselves and others, sometimes without even knowing it.

When practicing principles becomes a habit for us, we might be getting somewhere. As we move forward, “the best wrong answer” is usually all we’re going to get. We don’t have to be perfect. 

So important to surround ourselves with like-minded people when we decide to get better. Be around people who want to live the life you want to live. Find people that have what you want, from a spiritual perspective. 

Please find Michele, her books, and her links at Michele W. Miller (michelewmiller.com)

Today I’m joined by Gigi Langer, a Stanford PhD, author of two 

published books: 50 WAYS TO WORRY LESS NOW, published in 2018, 

and LOVE MORE NOW, published in 2023. Additionally, Gigi is the 

co-author of five books, as well as hundreds of articles for teachers            

and teacher educators. Gigi is also a very long-term sober human.

***** Please find a very special and generous offer from Gigi below! *****

Gigi and I touch on so many areas of potential for dysfunction and addiction, as well as the ways we can be free of our past wreckage.  

People need guidance in many areas of life not just limited to addiction; moving through worry, anxiety, perfectionism, workaholism, dysfunctional relationships, etc. Our pace of healing is not always orchestrated by us. Heal the blockages, heal the trauma.  Left to our own devices rarely works. We need some type of help and assistance.

How family can barrel over us emotionally and mentally. We desire to be loved and we try everything in our power to achieve that. How we can believe we “know best” when we’re surrounded by all of the evidence we could possibly need, to understand that we don’t.

12 step recovery. Attraction vs promotion. Gigi is surrounded by women who support, knowing they’ll always be there for her. A beautiful thing. 

Relationships are the toughest part of recovery. Gotta find the patterns and coping strategies we’ve used. People pleasing, workaholism, martyrdom, etc. Our mechanisms for dealing with relationships. 

There’s freedom in knowing we can have a lot of input on what goes on in between our ears. 

Alanon, AA, Adult Children of Alcoholics can all be very helpful in emotional healing.

Special offer available until September 14, 2024!

***Gigi will mail the first 25 respondents a free signed copy of 50 Ways to Worry Less Now, if you send her an email ([email protected]) with your mailing address (within US only) letting us know how you liked our When I Stop Fighting - The Podcast episode ***

 Please find Gigi at https://gigilanger.com/

Rise up and build something; the author journey; legacy for children; being stuck vs staying stuck; Resonance; Healing is Powerful; Family relationships; Real, Raw, Vulnerable, with Nicole Danielle.

Nicole and I dive into our author journeys, what we believe our legacies might be. How we can be stuck in the mud and how we “unstick” ourselves. Nicole’s book and her journey from being in the storm to breaking free from the storm. The weight of not having a voice. Being true to ourselves. What are “mistakes” in our lives. Family relationships and how they affect us in our lives. We are not alone in our journey. How and why Nicole’s first book came to be, with the help of her son, Crosby. Finding the strength to speak. Learning and Unlearning.

Find Nicole at  HOME | Nicole Danielle
www.lifethrulyrics.com
www.somewhereroad.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-danielle-8562847/
Nicole Danielle (@its_nicoledanielle) • Instagram photos and videos
Life thru Lyrics (@lifethrulyricsbooks) • Instagram photos and videos
Somewhere Road (@its_somewhereroad) • Instagram photos and videos

Everything changes in Sobriety; Are we Willing? Doing the Work; People pleasing; I’m enough; Simple but not Easy; Daily persistent Effort; Taking Risks, Emotional Sobriety, Emotional Regulation, Change, with Brian Joyce.

Brian and I talk about gratitude and how it keeps us in the present moment, the here and now. Gratitude takes practice, life takes practice. Change and transitioning to a better, sober life is not always fun. Brian discusses Psychedelic Assisted Mental Health Therapy, and how it helped him with some negative thinking patterns. How A.A. changed things. How a spiritual way of life changed things. The importance of the 4th Step. Letting go of the old stuff. The power of our stories. Fighting life, fighting ourselves.

Find Brian at  Hoysay Recovery (@Hoysay_Recovery) / X (twitter.com)

When I Stop Fighting – The Podcast – The Recovery Journey, A.A., Sobriety, living in Massachusetts and Georgia, wanting Sobriety more than wanting to drink again, finding the right meetings, with Rich Sullivan.

Rich shares his difficult journey to recovery after getting started at an early age with alcohol. Getting sober with A.A. and moving forward with recovery. Finding an agnostic A.A. group and respect for leaving politics at the door of meetings. Choosing what sobriety material we consume so we can find what resonates. It’s a way of life to be sober and grow. Social Media can be an interesting tool in the arsenal of sobriety. Helping people be in touch with what in their lives needs work or attention. Getting out of ourselves and allowing ourselves to help others.

Find Rich at  Clear and Present Strangers - Alcohol Free Atlanta | Facebook
Rich Sullivan (@richsullivan_) • Instagram photos and videos
Rich Sullivan (@richsullivan) / X