Sisters In Sobriety

What if your sugar cravings, chronic fatigue, or lack of clarity weren’t just random symptoms—but signs of deeper imbalances that could be blocking your recovery? On this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia is joined by strategist, speaker, and sober advocate Christie Dames. With over 38 years of sobriety and a career helping high-performers unlock their potential, Christie shares how her lived experience and research intersect to shed light on the brain-body connection.

Today, they talk about why what you eat—and what surrounds you—matters deeply when it comes to emotional clarity, energy, and healing. How does what we eat impact our emotional sobriety? What’s the role of metabolic health in our ability to regulate mood and access clarity? And how do toxins—whether in food, electronics, or water—quietly sabotage our healing efforts?

Listeners will learn about the connection between mitochondrial health and long-term sobriety, how refined sugars and processed foods derail emotional regulation, and the invisible toll environmental toxins like PFAS and EMFs take on our well-being. Christie also shares practical tools for lowering your toxic load—think organic swaps, safer tech habits, and why red light bulbs might become your new best friend.

And yes, as always, we go there—into the personal stories. Christie opens up about her own path to sobriety, including her recovery from misdiagnosis, withdrawal from neuroleptic medication, and the chronic pain that shaped her understanding of emotional vs. physical hunger. From healing trauma to navigating relapse triggers, she helps us see our cravings not as flaws but as clues.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks and resources.

Episode Highlights:

00:01:00 — Christie introduces the idea that sugar cravings can block emotional sobriety

00:02:30 — The physical trauma that set the stage for addiction

00:03:45 — Why alcohol felt like an elixir for Christie’s fractured sense of self

00:04:55 — Mold exposure and neurological misdiagnosis compound her health issues

00:06:45 — The impact of neuroleptic drugs and a 10-year brownout

00:07:50 — Getting sober—despite still being medicated

00:08:30 — Sugar as her first addiction, and how it worked on her undernourished brain

00:10:15 — Giving up sugar: was it harder than alcohol?

00:12:45 — Why metabolic health is the key to “next-level” sobriety

00:14:20 — Understanding insulin resistance and fasting insulin

00:16:00 — What to eat: whole foods, organic, and the truth about strawberries

00:18:45 — Toxins in baby cord blood and how they impact future health

00:21:15 — Dairy and gluten: are they just food, or emotional disrupters?

00:23:00 — Why A2 dairy and goat’s milk might be different

00:25:30 — How trauma and toxicity contribute to neuroinflammation

00:27:10 — The four-day delayed reaction to food and what to watch for

00:29:00 — Emotional vs. physical hunger: how to tell the difference

00:32:50 — Learning to pause before reacting or reaching for food

00:35:00 — How shame spirals can begin with food choices

00:37:20 — Working with high performers: unlocking their hidden blocks

00:40:00 — Using intuition, presence, and somatic tools with clients

00:42:00 — PFAS: the “forever chemicals” and why they’re a major health threat

00:44:30 — EMFs and why cell phones and WiFi matter more than you think

00:46:00 — Sobriety makes you more sensitive—embrace it

00:48:10 — Creating a low-tox lifestyle that supports brain health and longevity

00:50:00 — Hacks: red lights, blue blockers, and neuro-restorative sleep habits

00:51:30 — Christie’s favorite ways to lower your toxic burden

00:52:00 — Where to connect with Christie ([email protected])

Links

📧 Christie’s Email

Sisters In Sobriety Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, we’re back with another installment of our no-filter mini-series where past guests answer 10 revealing questions about what it’s really like to date without alcohol in the picture.

This time, Sonia chats with Kaitlin Henry, wellness advocate and host of the Step Zero podcast. Kaitlin busts the myth that you have to hit rock bottom before you can change—and now, she’s opening up about love after divorce, how getting sober changed her approach to relationships, and why acts of service are her love language.

From awkward first sober dates to realizing that two-drink limits are non-negotiable, Kaitlin shares the red and green flags she looks for, the playlist track that sums up her love life, and her favorite sober date idea (hint: it involves a boat and no wine list).

Get ready for some serious honesty, relatable stories, and a few laugh-out-loud moments. Whether you're newly sober, sober curious, or just navigating dating without defaulting to “grabbing drinks,” this one's for you.

Kaitlin's Links

Get In Touch With Kaitlin

Her go-to song by Gracie Abrams

Sisters In Sobriety Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are taking on one of the trickiest parts of recovery: what happens at home. Their guest, Amber Hollingsworth, is a licensed professional counselor, family recovery expert, and the brain behind the YouTube channel Put the Shovel Down. With over 20 years of experience, she helps families deal with the chaos of addiction—without burning themselves out in the process.

If you’ve ever tried to help a loved one and ended up feeling like the bad guy (or totally powerless), this conversation is going to hit close to home. Amber explains why the old-school intervention model often backfires, how shame and blame keep people stuck, and why the people closest to someone struggling with addiction often have more influence than they think.

There’s a better way—and Amber walks us through it. From her “Invisible Intervention” method to a strength-based approach that helps people reconnect with their values, she shares real tools that actually work. You'll hear how she encourages people to stop focusing on what’s going wrong and start noticing what’s still right—and how families can become part of the solution without getting dragged down by the drama.

Sonia and Kathleen also open up about their own experiences trying (and failing) to stage an intervention, what they’d do differently now, and why it's so hard to step out of the “rescuer” role when someone you love is hurting. It’s raw, it’s real, and honestly—it’s the kind of conversation that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about helping someone get better.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.

Episode Highlights (Time-Stamped):

00:01:00 – How Amber got into addiction counseling (hint: not the usual story)

00:02:30 – Growing up surrounded by addiction, and not realizing it until much later

00:04:45 – Why she started Put the Shovel Down and how it became a mission

00:05:55 – Why families often have more power than they think

00:06:40 – Creating a team approach: everyone gets their own support

00:08:20 – Why one-sided therapy can sometimes make things worse

00:10:30 – Everyone has their version of the story—and why that matters

00:12:00 – The most common way families accidentally slow down recovery

00:13:30 – When traditional interventions help—and when they totally miss the mark

00:15:00 – The bargaining stage (and why no one gets to skip it)

00:17:00 – Words that trigger defensiveness—and what to say instead

00:19:00 – What went wrong in Sonia and Kathleen’s attempt to help a family member

00:21:30 – The Invisible Intervention method explained step by step

00:23:00 – Building credit and influence with your loved one

00:25:00 – Natural consequences vs. punishment: why the difference matters

00:27:30 – What really helps someone see the problem for themselves

00:30:00 – Strength-based coaching: how Amber helps people reconnect with who they are

00:32:45 – Why it’s not about calling people out—it’s about calling them back to themselves

00:34:20 – Common values people rediscover when they stop drinking

00:36:30 – How to acknowledge addiction without crushing someone with shame

00:38:10 – Why so many middle-aged women defend their nightly wine

00:41:00 – How alcohol becomes the stand-in for self-care

00:42:00 – What to say to someone who doesn’t “seem” like they have a problem

00:43:30 – Why trying moderation might actually help you quit

00:45:00 – Navigating early sobriety when everyone around you is still drinking

00:46:00 – Final takeaway: You’re not powerless—and you don’t have to lose yourself trying to help someone else

Amber's Links

YouTube

Instagram

Sisters In Sobriety Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website – Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📲 Kathleen’s Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special mini-episode of our spicy new series: The Truth About Sober Dating, Sex, and Love, we have Whitney Combs. A nationally board-certified health and wellness coach, wife, and mom of three. Whitney opens up about rediscovering intimacy without alcohol, why honesty became her ultimate non-negotiable, and how she chooses restaurants based solely on dessert and mocktails (relatable). Oh—and she’s got a concert horror story you won’t forget.

If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate sober sex, sober dating apps, or what to say when someone asks, “Why don’t you drink?”—this episode is for you.

Whitney’s Links

• 🌐 Whitney’s Website

• 📲 Whitney on Instagram

• 🎵 “If We Were Vampires” – Jason Isbell

Sisters in Sobriety Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website – Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📲 Kathleen’s Instagram

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Navigating family dynamics can be one of the hardest parts of recovery—especially when the relationships we’re told are “unbreakable” feel anything but safe. In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are joined by Dr. Sharon Martin, psychotherapist and author of Cutting Ties with Your Parents and The Better Boundaries Workbook. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Martin helps us unpack what it really means to set boundaries with family, the complexities of estrangement, and how these issues often resurface in sobriety.

Together, we explore some big questions: How do you know when it’s time to go no-contact with a parent or family member? What’s the difference between estrangement and avoidance? How do you deal with the guilt, grief, and judgment that come up when you make that choice? And how do old family wounds start to resurface once we get sober? From emotional manipulation to the pressure to reconcile, we talk through the many layers that come with stepping away from dysfunction.

Dr. Martin offers practical tools and insights for healing—whether you’ve already gone no-contact or are just beginning to question what’s healthy for you. We talk about building self-trust through small, everyday actions, reparenting yourself when you never got what you needed growing up, and what it looks like to maintain sobriety while navigating painful family dynamics. You'll also learn why grief can show up even when you never had the kind of relationship you're mourning.

This episode is also deeply personal. Sonia opens up about grieving the mother-daughter connection she never experienced, and Kathleen shares what it feels like to question whether estrangement is truly healing or just a form of self-protection. It’s a thoughtful, honest, and empowering conversation—especially for anyone trying to make peace with their past while protecting their present.

20 TIME-STAMPED HIGHLIGHTS

[00:01:00] Meet Dr. Sharon Martin and how she found this work

[00:03:00] Growing up with alcoholism and how it shaped her path

[00:05:00] Why trauma always finds its way into therapy

[00:06:30] When a family relationship stops feeling emotionally safe

[00:08:45] Estrangement isn’t a rash decision—it’s the last resort

[00:10:30] Facing guilt, judgment, and societal pressure

[00:12:00] Why other people’s opinions don’t always reflect reality

[00:14:30] How emotional manipulation becomes normalized

[00:17:30] What healthy estrangement can actually look like

[00:20:00] When reconciliation is worth considering—and when it’s not

[00:22:00] Why false hope and outside pressure often backfire

[00:23:30] Navigating milestone events like weddings and funerals

[00:25:30] Estrangement vs. avoidance—how to tell the difference

[00:29:00] Grieving the family fantasy you never had

[00:31:00] Why complicated grief around family is valid

[00:34:00] The importance of processing feelings through movement and expression

[00:35:30] Keeping your sobriety solid while navigating emotional landmines

[00:37:00] Emotional wounds adult children of dysfunction carry

[00:40:00] Rebuilding self-worth through small, doable commitments

[00:44:00] Why early sobriety can bring childhood trauma to the surface

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Head to our Substack for extra tools, reflections, and mocktail recipes to support your journey.

Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website – Kathleen does not endorse products mentioned

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

Connect with Dr. Sharon Martin

📘 Cutting Ties with Your Parents – Amazon

📘 The Better Boundaries Guided Journal – Amazon

🌐 LiveWellWithSharonMartin.com

📸 Instagram

📘 Facebook

📺 YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special mini-episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen invite you to slow down for a few minutes and take an honest look at how codependency may be showing up in your life. This isn’t a diagnosis or a formal assessment—just a chance to reflect with a simple, 10-question quiz that’s designed to spark insight and self-awareness.

☁️ In this candid conversation, we ask:

• Do you often feel responsible for others’ emotions?

💬 After the quiz, Sonia and Kathleen open up about how codependency has impacted their own relationships—from family dynamics to marriage—and how awareness has helped them move toward healthier boundaries and interdependence.

🎓 You’ll learn:

• What codependent patterns can look like in everyday life

👀 If you’ve ever found yourself walking on eggshells, ignoring your own needs, or feeling responsible for someone else’s emotional state, this episode is for you.

📝 Want to revisit the quiz later or share it with a friend? It’s available on our Substack—along with tons of supportive content, reflections, and resources to help you change your relationship with alcohol and deepen your self-awareness.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing yourself in relationships—always giving, fixing, or putting others first, Kathleen has created The Path Back to You is a free guide with a self-reflection quiz, five simple practices, and journaling prompts to help you reconnect with your voice, your needs, and your boundaries.✨

Links

Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are diving into a topic that often comes up after we quit drinking: codependency. With Kathleen’s clinical expertise as a couples therapist and Sonia’s real-life experiences, they’re unpacking what codependency really means—and how to spot it in yourself.

What exactly is codependency—and how is it different from being loving, loyal, or just... a decent human? Is it mutual? Does it show up only in romantic relationships? Can you be codependent with your dog? In this episode, Sonia and Kathleen explore these questions and more, including the red flags, psychological roots, and surprising ways codependency might still be running the show in your sober life.

Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of the difference between support and self-sacrifice, healthy interdependence versus emotional enmeshment, and how sobriety can reveal codependent tendencies that were previously hidden behind a wine glass. The episode also explores hyper-independence as the flip side of codependency—and why swinging between extremes isn’t the goal either.

As always, the episode gets personal. Sonia opens up about how she once believed caretaking was the hallmark of a good marriage, how she walked on eggshells to avoid the "Kraken" (her ex’s moods), and what changed after getting sober. Kathleen shares insights from her own marriage, her childhood patterns, and how even therapists have to work on their stuff. It’s honest, raw, and full of lightbulb moments.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing yourself in relationships—always giving, fixing, or putting others first, Kathleen has created The Path Back to You is a free guide with a self-reflection quiz, five simple practices, and journaling prompts to help you reconnect with your voice, your needs, and your boundaries.✨

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.

Time-stamped Highlights

[00:01:00] Sonia introduces the episode and shares a recent therapy revelation.

[00:02:30] Kathleen defines codependency in practical terms.

[00:04:00] Why codependency isn’t just about romantic relationships.

[00:06:10] The difference between caring and being codependent.

[00:07:30] Sonia shares a story about her ex’s “Kraken” moods.

[00:09:00] Emotional reliance and attachment patterns.

[00:10:30] Codependent parenting and walking on eggshells.

[00:11:30] Red flags for identifying codependency.

[00:13:30] Examples of codependency outside of romance.

[00:15:00] How codependency forms in childhood.

[00:21:00] Why sobriety often reveals codependent patterns.

[00:23:00] What happens to relationships after sobriety and boundary-setting.

[00:24:00] Healthy interdependence vs. hyper-independence.

[00:26:00] Are women more likely to struggle with codependency?

[00:27:30] First steps for healing and reclaiming your identity.

[00:28:30] Book recs: Codependent No More and Facing Codependence.

[00:29:30] Reconnecting with your needs—starting with Friday night plans.

[00:30:30] What changes when you stop playing the people-pleasing role.

[00:32:00] Guilt, grief, and growing into a new version of yourself.

[00:34:00] Do you need to explain your boundaries to others?

[00:35:00] How to handle guilt when you stop overfunctioning.

[00:36:00] Final thoughts and encouragement to keep doing the work.

Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this mini-episode of Sisters in Sobriety, we’re diving into sober dating with psychotherapist Samantha Barnes.Sam has over two decades of experience working with children, youth, and families on their wellness journeys. and she’s currently embracing the single life with clarity, confidence, and no time for BS. We asked her 10 honest questions about dating, sex, and relationships—and she brought the wisdom.

Sam talks about being blindsided by how big of a deal not drinking was to a date, why she now leads with her sobriety on the apps, and the kinds of questions that feel supportive (versus just plain judgmental). She shares the red flags she used to ignore, the green ones she seeks out, and why walking dates are where it's at. Plus: her new philosophy on love (spoiler: it’s not about giving 150%).

💬 Get ready for practical advice, honest reflection, and a reminder that your boundaries are valid—even on a first date.

👇Links

To learn more about Sam's work, visit her website or follow her on social media at @sweetspotcounselling.

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parenting while staying sober isn’t for the faint of heart—but you don’t have to do it alone. On this week’s episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are diving into the layered, often unspoken, realities of recovery and motherhood with the brilliant Sarah Allen Benton. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, addiction specialist, and the author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic and Parents in Recovery. She brings nearly two decades of personal sobriety and professional experience to this candid and compassionate conversation.

From blackout drinking in her early 20s to running a mental health practice and parenting a teen in sobriety, Sarah shares her remarkable journey and hard-won wisdom. Sonia and Kathleen explore questions like: What does it really mean to be a “high-functioning alcoholic”? Why is parenting in recovery so uniquely challenging? How can we teach our kids about addiction and emotional health? Sarah breaks down the importance of talking openly about addiction with children, how to handle digital addiction in the age of iPads and TikTok

Sarah opens up about her early drinking days, her moment of reckoning at age 27, and the slow, gray, sometimes thankless beginning of recovery. She also shares what it’s been like to raise a daughter in a sober household, how her marriage has been shaped by recovery, and why self-care is not optional—it's essential.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.

Episode Highlights:

00:01 Welcome Sarah Allen Benton and intro

00:58 Sarah’s first experience with alcohol and her early patterns

02:45 Blacking out from the beginning—what Sarah misunderstood about “normal” drinking

05:12 Being a high-functioning alcoholic in college

06:35 The illusion of control and trying to outthink addiction

09:12 The moment Sarah knew she had to stop

11:00 Building her own outpatient sobriety plan

12:30 What early sobriety felt like (hint: not pink clouds)

14:40 Writing as a tool for processing recovery

15:35 Becoming a parent in recovery and writing Parents in Recovery

17:05 Talking to kids about addiction and recovery

18:45 The stigma of being a parent in recovery

20:10 Raising toddlers vs. teens—sobriety challenges by age

22:00 Hypervigilance and screen time addiction

24:55 The science of digital hygiene and dopamine overload

26:50 Creative ways to talk to kids about brain health and family history

29:15 “The Telling”—navigating when and how to tell your kids you’re in recovery

32:00 Kids noticing changes in drunk adults—and the emotional fallout

35:30 The challenge of giving your kids real-world exposure without trauma

38:00 Why this generation is more risk-averse but more anxious

40:10 Self-care vs. soul care—and why it’s not optional for parents in recovery

42:50 Recovery as a long-term investment, not a short-term reward

44:00 Wisdom from single parents in recovery

46:30 The myth of doing it all: learning to say no without guilt

49:00 How sobriety changes marriage and dating dynamics

51:00 Love without martinis: codependency, relapse fears, and boundaries

54:00 The importance of having a recovery-affirming partner

56:00 The parallel recovery journey for spouses and family members

Links

Learn more about Sarah!

Parents in Recovery: Navigating a Sober Family Lifestyle

Parents in Recovery Facebook Group

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Sisters in Sobriety and our mini-series The Truth About Sober Dating, Sex & Relationships—where we get personal with our favorite guests in 10 spicy questions.

Today, we're joined by the brilliant and refreshingly honest Ali Shapiro, creator of Truce with Food, health rebel, and emotional detective. You may remember Ali from our previous episode, where we talked about creating meaning beyond food. This time, we’re diving into what it's like to date with food stuff, relationship green and red flags, and how emotional safety is the real aphrodisiac.

💡 From bracing for rejection to learning what she actually wants in a partner, Ali keeps it real about the awkwardness of first dates, being the “healthy one” in a relationship, and why her go-to sober date still involves fresh air and muddy boots.

Plus: how Jason Mraz made it to her wedding playlist, and what she learned when marriage 2.0 arrived (aka, post-kids chaos). You’ll laugh, nod, and possibly reevaluate your own date night dinner order.

🔗 Links – Get in Touch with Ali Shapiro:

• Free breakfast experiment

📬 Stay Connected with Sisters in Sobriety:

• Sisters In Sobriety Substack - find more tips, tricks, resources, and community

• Sisters In Sobriety Email

• Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

• Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

• Kathleen’s Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.