Since Right Now

"It as always more about the destination than the route."—Matt on "getting lost."

Part 1 of our two-part 2 Year Anniversary LIVEstravaganza.

Beginning with this episode the show will be broadcast LIVE! on Wednesday nights at 8:00pm Central. You can catch LIVE! episodes via http://SinceRightNow.com/on-air or http://mixlr.com/sincerightnow . Using Mixlr’s built-in chat you can interact with us in real-time and we’ll also be opening up the “phone lines.”

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Themes: @djfmdotcom

"I need help. I need a miracle."

—Carly on coming to believe that a power greater than herself could restore her to sanity.

As an avid traveler, yogi & confessed self-help junkie, Carly writes about her adventures in life & sobriety on http://MiraclesAreBrewing.com/ where she offers inspirational concepts for enlightenment, spirituality & embracing epicness.

She’s been sober from cocaine and alcohol since August 17, 2008 and has found her passion working as an ambassador for sobriety by sharing her experiences of living life above the influence in her writing and speaking. She currently offers one-on-one sobriety coaching and is working on publishing an ebook as well as a self-help book along with creating her first sober retreat in 2017. When she’s not writing or geeking out on the Internet, you can find her sipping tea, hiking mountains, catching a flight, reading a book or dancing to deep house music, which often may be a dance party of one in her living room.

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Intro & Outro Themes by the phenomenally talented @djfmdotcom

“I decided to start taking random pills from the pharmacy where I worked.”—Erin on adapting to her circumstances.

Erin is a recovering addict, personal trainer, freelance writer, and blogger living in Chicago.

Her blog, http://erinsinsidejob.com/, is a journey through her continued recovery and a reminder to others that true wellness comes from within. Active in the mental health and fitness communities, Erin has multiple years of experience in sharing her story with the public, growing her professional career in the face of adversity, and marketing her message to a wide reader base. She has also been featured in such publications as The Huffington Post, Refinery 29, and several others.

“I remember waking up the next morning, there was blue paint all over my nurse’s costume, there were chicken nuggets on the terrace…”

—Helaina on the makings of a memorable rock bottom.

Helaina Hovitz was 12-years-old and in middle school three blocks from the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. Her memoir encapsulates the journey of a girl growing up with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after living through the events of 9/11 firsthand, chronicling its effects on a young girl at the outset of adolescence and following her as she spirals into addiction and rebellion, through loss, chaos, and confusion.

It would take Helaina more than a decade to overcome the PTSD—and subsequent alcohol addiction—that went misdiagnosed and mistreated for so many years.

Visit http://HelainaHovitz.com/ for more.

"…and then I realize I sound like a tremendous dick.“—Chris, in the rooms.

In which Chris goes to listen to Jeff speak, doesn't know what the fuck is going on and ends up speaking himself.

Jeff's talk was terrific. And it was his birthday.

"Everyone knew what they were going to be; I had no idea. Then as soon as I drank I was like THIS is what I'm going to be."—Mishka on career choices.

A misfit kid at the best of times, Mishka had his world shattered when, in a twenty-four-hour span in 1992, he survived a mass shooting on his school’s campus, then learned that his parents were getting divorced. His father, a prominent rocket scientist, abandoned the family and their home was lost to foreclosure. Shubaly swore to avenge the wrongs against his mother, but instead plunged into a magnificently toxic love affair with alcohol.

http://www.mishkashubaly.com/

“I just had a doctor's appointment and he asked (about my family history.) I said as long as mental health isn’t involved we’re pretty healthy.”

Garrett, himself in recovery and an ACOA, is the Director of Operations for Alta Centers.

Alta Centers is on out-patient program with a focus on creativity that works with evidence-based practices to sustain an individuals sobriety while keeping them involved in day-to-day life. We believe in a model that is contained but also gives an individual the freedom to deal with issues as they arise in their treatment experience.

www.altacenters.com

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Themes by @djfmdotcom

“I was hungover for many years and I just thought I was tired.”—Kristi on the self-delusions of the active alcoholic.

Kristi is an essayist and fiction writer whose work has appeared in The Mississippi Review, Salon's Virgin Fiction anthology, AddictionUnscripted.com (formerly TheRealEdition.com), and elsewhere. She's currently at work on a collection of personal essays about living sober in a tipsy world, and on a novel about all kinds of things.

She blogs about recovery at http://offdry.wordpress.com and can also be found at http://KristiCoulter.com.

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Themes by @djfmdotcom

Image source unknown.

“I didn't come crawling into an AA meeting thinking, ‘Oh, I've got to quit drinking.’”—Nancy on denials last gasp.

Inspired by writers she admired for their honesty and grit—Joyce Maynard, Augusten Burroughs, Anne Lamott and Kelly Corrigan—Nancy started writing more and more and by early 2005 had compiled a 250 page manuscript for her own memoir, Last Call: A Memoir.

On her blog, also Last Call, she blogs about recovery, alcoholism, addiction, family, love and her four-legged child, Lucy.

Nancy’s work has appeared on The Fix, The Real Edition, XO Jane and Ravishly, as well as numerous recovery and addiction websites and blogs…including TheRecoveryRevolution.Online

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Themes by @djfmdotcom

Image of NJ Beach via U.S. Nat'l Archives

“I didn't start dealing until my dealer went to jail.“—Kelly on rising to the occasion.

From Kelly:

Now, after a relapse and fresh out of out-patient, this time feels different. I feel this a major game-changer for me. I feel like it’s re-birth of sorts. I feel PRESENT and enthusiastic about this new me. I like the person I am becoming and am hopeful for what ever the future brings. I was ambivalent about the 12 Steps and AA in general but I joined a women's group and I have something to share at every meeting. I am going to work the Steps and just take one day at a time. I am hopeful.

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Themes by @djfmdotcom