Sober Banter

Rachel and Colin sit down with Licensed Master Social Worker Janice J. Dowd and her daughter Katie for an honest conversation about rebuilding trust after addiction.

Together, they explore living amends, family dynamics, recovery meetings, and what long-term sobriety actually requires beyond the early days. This episode looks at how relationships heal over time and what accountability, service, and emotional growth look like in real life.
Episode 22 | Originally Released November 26, 2024
This episode features remastered audio for improved clarity.

If you are navigating recovery within a family system, rebuilding relationships after addiction, or trying to understand what long-term sobriety truly demands, this conversation offers grounded perspective.

• (00:00) - Meet Janice Dowd & Katie | Mother–Daughter Recovery

Topics Covered

• Rebuilding trust and relationships in recovery
• Living amends and long-term accountability
• Family dynamics and generational healing
• Recovery meetings and finding the right fit
• Service work and staying sober
• Finding serenity without alcohol

Guest Information

Janice J. Dowd, LMSW is an author, conference speaker, and mother in long-term recovery. Her work focuses on helping families and professionals build emotional capacity, regulation, and repair in the aftermath of addiction.

Website: https://www.janicejohnsondowd.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_in_recovery/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-dowd-b748b141/

Standout Moments

• Katie shares what it was like when her mom first got sober and how recovery impacts the entire family
• A candid discussion about recovery meetings and finding the right fit
• How continued work, writing, and education can become living amends
• Honest talk about sobriety in the restaurant industry

About Sober Banter

Sober Banter is a recovery podcast hosted by Rachel and Colin, a married couple who got sober together in November 2021. The show focuses on life after alcohol, recovery in real time, and the conversations people do not always say out loud. We believe there is no one right way to get sober and that laughter still belongs in recovery.

New episodes every Thursday.

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Choosing the sober life together since November 22, 2021. It wasn’t planned that way…it’s just how it happened.

00:00 Discussing Sobriety Anniversary

00:43 Our Sobriety Journey

01:34 Understanding Sobriety Dates

03:27 First AA Meeting Experience

06:57 Recognizing Alcohol as the Problem

09:32 Reflections and Conclusion

Enjoyed this episode? Let’s stay connected!

💌 Subscribe to Sober Banter so you never miss an episode.

💬 Leave a review or a comment—your thoughts mean the world and help others find us.

🔄 Share this episode with someone who might need it.

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @soberbanterpodcast 

☕️ Support the show: 

Buy us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberbanter 

Donate at https://www.venmo.com/u/Soberbanter

Do you have questions or feedback or want to be a guest? Hit us up at soberbanter.com or email Rachel at [email protected]

Julie Fontes, author of “Like a Normal Person”

02:41 Journey to Sobriety

04:33 Challenges and Reflections

12:29 Different ways to quit drinking

17:46 Recognizing the Problem

19:21 Family Dynamics and Sobriety

25:25 The Struggle with Labels

30:24 Reflections

💬 A Note from Us

This was a big moment for Sober Banter—our first guest interview and it was an honor to have Julie Fontes join us for it. Julie is the incredible author of Like a Normal Person, a memoir that moved us deeply with its raw honesty, vulnerability, and humor.

We’ll be real with you—this was our first time navigating interview mics, Zoom setups, and all the things behind the scenes, and yes… we were nervous. But Julie’s warmth and openness made us feel like we belonged in the space. She met us exactly where we were and gave us the confidence to grow as hosts.

We’re forever grateful that she trusted us to hold space for her story and became the voice that helped launch this next chapter of our podcast. Julie, thank you for being a part of our beginning—you set the tone for everything to come.

With so much gratitude,
— Rachel & Colin

Want to connect with today’s guest, Julie Fontes?

Visit her website at https://www.juliefontes.com.

You can also subscribe to her newsletter on Substack at https://juliefontes.substack.com.

Enjoyed this episode? Let’s stay connected!

💌 Subscribe to Sober Banter so you never miss an episode.

💬 Leave a review or a comment—your thoughts mean the world and help others find us.

🔄 Share this episode with someone who might need it.

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @soberbanterpodcast 

☕️ Support the show: 

Buy us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberbanter 

Donate at https://www.venmo.com/u/Soberbanter

Do you have questions or feedback or want to be a guest? Hit us up at soberbanter.com or email Rachel at [email protected]