Sober Stories

Content warning: In this episode, our guest briefly mentions suicidal thoughts experienced in early sobriety.

Dr. Jeff Simone joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss his experience in recovery from "all things" specifically opioids and alcohol. Jeff shares his story of going through pharmacy school and his early career while in active addiction, and how he found sobriety after years of Opioid Use Disorder. Beth and Jeff talk about "desert days" — those early days (and months, or years) in sobriety when it all feels really terrible and we're at high risk for return to substance use. Jeff explains what "Recovery Capital" means, and how true recovery requires a bio-psycho-social approach to all areas of our life. Beth and Jeff discuss what the sober community is getting right, what the sober community is getting wrong, and how we can fix that. Jeff shares a moving story of reading his son a bedtime story and coming to the decision to get sober, no matter the cost. Jeff shares what his story would be called: "A Pharmacist's Journey Into & Out of Hell."

Dr. Jeff Simone is a Doctor of Clinical Pharmacology, living in the greater Philadelphia area. Jeff battled an opioid and amphetamine addiction that he first sought treatment for in 2013. After several difficult years, he achieved sustained remission in 2016 and is currently living a life of full abstinence. Jeff founded Reaction Recovery in 2019 where he currently works one on one with individuals who are seeking to achieve greater emotional and physical stability on their own recovery journeys. Jeff has coached over 150 clients and families, centered on the biopsychosocial model. Jeff also hosts the podcast "Surviving Opioids - Beyond an Epidemic."

Connect with Jeff:

Instagram - @reactionrecovery

Website - https://reactionrecovery.com/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/comingup123

Podcast - Surviving Opioids - Beyond an Episodemic

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Book - The Body Keeps the Score
• Save 10% off your next Lyre's NA Spirits order with code SOBERSTORIES10TEN

Support Sober Stories:

Follow us on Instagram - @wearesoberstories

Follow us on TikTok - @wearesoberstories

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Content warning: we briefly discuss the suicidal thoughts our guest experienced in early sobriety.

Alex McRoberts of @soberyogagirlpodcast and @themindfullifepractice joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss how she came to sobriety through yoga, the power of mindfulness in recovery, and how sobriety has impacted her mental health journey. Beth and Alex talk about how pervasive alcohol has become in the health and wellness spheres, and how Alex views yogic philosophy in relation to sobriety. Alex explains how sobriety helped her find purpose, and Beth and Alex discuss how a tarot reader changed the trajectory of her life. Alex shares what her story would be called: "Sober Yoga Girl."

Alex McRoberts is a 500 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Life Coach, entrepreneur, podcaster, and Ontario Certified Teacher. She has taught yoga internationally, in Canada, where she is from, Kuwait, where she called home for five years. She now resides in Bali, Indonesia. When Alex became sober in 2019, yoga played a key role in her sober journey. In 2020, Alex founded the Mindful Life Practice Community and Sober Curious Yoga, an online yoga community with participants from all over the world who are changing their relationship with alcohol using mindfulness techniques such as yoga, meditation, community and journaling.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Alex navigated through early sobriety and mood disorder.
• The realities of quitting alcohol and the effects it has on your body.
• Alex's transition from 1st-grade teacher to international yoga teacher.
• Finding your sober community and building strong connections.
• The best gift Alex received from sobriety vs. her most difficult experience.

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 5 - "Open Up, Don't Just 'Man Up'" with Kevin Bellack
• Check out the Book, Meditations From the Mat by Rolf Gates
• Save 10% off your next Lyre's NA Spirits order with code SOBERSTORIES10TEN

Connect with Alex:

Instagram - @alexmcrobs, @soberyogagirlpodcast, @themindfullifepractice

Website - The Mindful Life Practice

Podcast - Sober Yoga Girl

Support Sober Stories:

Follow us on Instagram - @wearesoberstories

Follow us on TikTok - @wearesoberstories

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Content Warning: in this episode, we discuss Tori's slip, a.k.a. a relapse.

Tori joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss entering sobriety in her early 20s, how we can glamorize sobriety, and the importance of finding a sober community to celebrate with. Beth and Tori talk about Tori's slip in the fall of 2021 and how she returned to sobriety from that experience. Tori explains falling in love and navigating a new relationship while sober, and Beth and Tori discuss the real side of sobriety. Tori shares what her story would be called: "Enhance Your Discernment."

Tori Felder is the founder of The Retired Party Girl, an online community for sober-curious and sober women to connect and celebrate sobriety. They're changing the way society views sobriety by making recovery and wellness spaces joyful, fun, social, and empowering. Tori is also in grad school for counseling and will be entering the therapy world after graduation.

In this episode, we cover:

• Glamorizing and romanticizing sobriety and nonalcoholic drinks.
• The reality of maintaining sobriety and Tori's experience after a relapse.
• Admitting to having a drinking problem and sharing this vulnerability with your partner.
• How to navigate sobriety when your partner drinks.
• Falling in love while sober and navigating the dating world alcohol-free.

Other Resources Mentioned:

• If you're interested in joining a first-time meeting with Tori, head over to retiredpartygirl.com/events

• Save 10% off your next Lyre's NA Spirits order with code SOBERSTORIES10TEN

Connect with Tori:

Instagram - @theretiredpartygirl, @therapywithtori

Website - retiredpartygirl.com

Support Sober Stories:

Follow us on Instagram - @wearesoberstories

Follow us on TikTok - @wearesoberstories

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Kevin Bellack joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss how therapy helped him get sober, the way vulnerability can lead to freedom, and how he left his corporate accounting job to work in the recovery space. Beth and Kevin talk about the pain of those late-night binge drinking session, and how so many people live quiet bottoms. Kevin explains how a Blue October lyric gave him a wake-up call, and Beth and Kevin discuss the terror of raising teenagers. Kevin shares what his story would be called: "Open Up, Don't Just 'Man Up'"

Kevin Bellack is a former accountant turned recovery coach. He has been alcohol-free for almost 3 years and used therapy to start his journey off in early 2019. He promotes mental health awareness and provides encouragement, awareness, and tools to help people live an alcohol-free life or to cut back their alcohol consumption. He is currently a Thrive coach on the Reframe app, which is a neuroscience-based iOS app to help people address alcohol's role in their life.

In this episode, we cover:

• 2 key turning points in Kevin's life that guided him towards a sober lifestyle.
• Normalizing males seeking therapy and support when needed.
• The road to recovery and the major impact of verbalizing your feelings vs. internalizing your thoughts.
• Building trustworthy connections in the alcohol-free space.
• Is willpower enough if you have a drinking problem?

Other Resources Mentioned:

• "Be an Opener of Doors" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Snag Russel Brand's book, Recovery.
• Seeking professional help? Check out Better Help Therapy
• Follow 1,000 Hours Dry on Instagram!
• Listen to Episode 4 - "Like a Mother" with Jyoti Chand of @mamajotes
• You can also check out the Reframe App here.
• Save 10% off your next Lyre's NA Spirits order with code SOBERSTORIES10TEN

Connect with Kevin:

Instagram - @thesoberginger

Support Sober Stories:

Follow us on Instagram - @wearesoberstories

Follow us on TikTok - @wearesoberstories

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Jyoti Chand joins Sober Stories host, Beth Bowen, to discuss motherhood in sobriety, Jyoti's experience as a sober South Asian woman, and the way alcohol impacted her mental health before she quit. Beth and Jyoti talk about drunk uncles in bounce-houses (no, really) and just how counter-culture it is to quit drinking in this drinking world. Jyoti explains how quitting alcohol has increased her creativity, and Beth and Jyoti discuss the impact of sobriety on spirituality. Jyoti shares what her story would be called: "Like a Mother," a story about motherhood and sobriety.

Jyoti Chand, Mamajotes, is your "cool mom friend". Her mission is to make you smile and love yourself, using humor to connect with her audience and talk about tough topics and stigmas. Her goal is to spread knowledge, kindness, and, mostly, laughs. On top of sharing daily motherhood, she uses her background in stand-up comedy to spread laughter through funny videos with her husband, kids, and characters. She is also one of the creators of @thesoberdesi, a platform for sober-curious and alcohol-free South Asian women.

In this episode, we cover:

• Alcohol-induced trauma and the things we regret doing before we quit drinking.
• Jyoti's personal experience after she quit alcohol and the effects she faced daily.
• How to rediscover yourself in sobriety and find your unique creativity.
• Sobriety within the Desi culture, especially for women.
• Parenting and sobriety - what it looked like before and after Jyoti quit drinking.
• What the true meaning of "hitting rock bottom" actually is and what it looks like for everyone.

Other Resources Mentioned:

Holly Whittaker's book - Quit Like a Woman

Learn more about Sober Voices and the Lead Organizer, Nikita Mehta

Connect with Jyoti:

Instagram - @mamajotes, @thesoberdesi

TikTok - @mamajotes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mamajotes

Website: https://www.mamajotes.com/

Support Sober Stories:

Follow us on Instagram - @wearesoberstories

Follow us on TikTok - @wearesoberstories

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Sarah joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss the way sobriety intersects with her mental health experience, what it was like to plan a wedding and get married without alcohol, and how she found community with like-minded women. Beth and Sarah talk about the ripple effect of vulnerability and the changing narrative around mental health and substance use challenges. Sarah explains how following a hashtag led her to Sober Instagram, and Beth and Sarah discuss the power of sharing your story. Sarah shares what her story would be called if it were to be published: "Sober Hits Different."

Sarah Pottieger is an HR Director by day, and a sobriety advocate during every bit of her free time. She created the account @shestayssober in the hopes of finding community when she first began her sober journey, and it has blossomed into a support group for others who were just like her before she got sober. Sarah lives in Brooklyn with her husband and beloved cat. You can usually find her researching, writing, singing, or telling everyone how great therapy is.

We also discuss:

• Sarah's journey towards sobriety during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The importance of finding your community of people who are alcohol-free or in recovery.
• Sarah's battle with mental health and medication.
• The reality of being vulnerable when you suffer from alcohol addiction.
• The cultural taboo of talking about sobriety or struggles with alcohol abuse.
• Celebrating major life events (like getting married) alcohol-free.

Connect with Sarah Pottieger:

Instagram: @shestayssober

Email: [email protected]

Support Sober Stories:

Follow us on Instagram - @wearesoberstories

Follow us on TikTok - @wearesoberstories

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Christina joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss her path to sobriety after her alcohol slowly escalated in her mid-20's, how she moved through the grief of a breakup alcohol-free, and what it was like running a multi-million dollar business in early sobriety. Beth and Christina talk about her lowest point in Mexico, and how that experience led her to therapy and eventually sobriety. Christina shares what it was like to open up about her struggles while living a very public life, and Beth and Christina discuss the power of vulnerability. Christina shares what her story would be called, if she wrote it: "Feeling My Feelings Like a Champ."

Christina Galbato is a social media influencer, online educator, and digital marketing expert. After building a successful career as a travel influencer and working with brands like Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, and the Tourism Board of Morocco, Christina built a multi 7-figure online education business that has helped thousands of women build profitable businesses as influencers & bloggers. She has been featured in CNN and Forbes, and has spoken at AdWorld and StartUp Grind. She is also the host of top-rated entrepreneurship podcast Her Life By Design.

We also dive deep into:

• Christina's story with alcohol and when she knew it was time to get help.
• The changes she noticed in her life that began to improve.
• The feedback she received from others after going public with her story.
• What it's like to be sober in a big city.
• How to rebuild your mental muscles and uncover your internal feelings suppressed by alcohol.
• Discovering who you are without the alcohol.
• Dealing with a breakup and staying sober.
• How to cope with grief while maintaining sobriety.

Connect with Christina:

Instagram - @christinagalbato, @herlifebydesignpodcast

Website - christinagalbato.com

Podcast - Her Life By Design

Courses - The Influencer Bootcamp, The Blogger Bootcamp

Support Sober Stories:

Follow us on Instagram - @wearesoberstories

Follow us on TikTok - @wearesoberstories

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Back our Kickstarter

Content warning: Eating disorders and disordered eating

Amanda joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss how her eating disorder inadvertently led to her sobriety, the way her drinking had become like "Russian Roulette," and how her experience in the 12 Steps shapes her sobriety now. Beth and Amanda talk about her new book, "Not Drinking Tonight: A Guide to Creating A Sober Life You Love," and dig into the intricacies of how the clinical mental health field is missing the mark regarding Alcohol Use Disorder. Amanda explains a new concept, "disordered drinking," and Beth and Amanda discuss how to open more doors for folks seeking to change their relationship with alcohol. Amanda shares what her story would be called (if she didn't already have a book out!): "Finding the Gray."

Amanda E. White is a licensed therapist and the creator of the popular Instagram account @therapyforwomen. She is the author of the book "Not Drinking Tonight: A Guide to Creating A Sober Life You Love." She is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Therapy for Women Center, based in Philadelphia serving clients across the country.

We also cover:

• Disordered drinking and its relation to disordered eating.
• The importance of labels and why not everyone fits into the "clinical description."
• How Amanda's personal experiences have impacted the work she does as a licensed therapist.
• Why the hyper-achiever/perfectionist personality plays a big role among people who drink extensively.
• The common underlying factor between eating disorders and substance abuse.
• Common effects of getting sober that no one really talks about.
• Reparenting and addressing the gaps in your childhood so that you can become a loving parent to yourself.
• Practices that helped Amanda take care of herself and her own sobriety.

Connect with Amanda:

Instagram - @therapyforwomen

TikTok - @therapyforwomen

Website - www.amandaewhite.com

Amanda's book, "Not Drinking Tonight: A Guide to Creating A Sober Life You Love," can be found anywhere books are sold.

Support Sober Stories:

Follow us on Instagram - @wearesoberstories

Follow us on TikTok - @wearesoberstories

Receive email updates

Back our Kickstarter