Sobriety Uncensored

EP 69

Daniel tells Jenna of a recent neck injury which leads to a discussion about the disruption of certain activities in his sober toolbox. They talk about the critical nature of maintaining routine and adjusting their sober activities as needed. Daniel asks the question "what...

Episode 68

Jenna and Daniel talk about navigating parental choices when their children are considering drinking. They discuss trust and respect and how that ties into their parenting styles. Daniel talks about some recent travel which leads them to recall some of their habits...

Episode 67

Daniel talks about planning some upcoming travel and being careful not to overthink the plans. Jenna shares about attending the first happy hour she's been to since getting sober and acknowledges her signals to know when to leave. They discuss having...

Episode 66

Jenna tells Daniel about a recent injury and the potential of needing surgery, the use of pain medication and potential cross addiction. Their discussion leads them to consider how they have evaluated their individual reasons for becoming addicts in the...

Episode 65

Daniel and Jenna talk about fear mongering as a method to promote sobriety and the aggressive nature of some sober people in their promotion techniques. They discuss associated policing and judgement-based modalities, particularly when trying to figure out your "why" to stop drinking.

Episode 64

Jenna asks Daniel about his drunken gaming during his active addiction and Daniel explains his need for control and escape at the time as a coping mechanism. They discuss their hyper awareness of alcohol in everyday life as Daniel talks...

Episode 63

Daniel and Jenna talk about their experiences with isolation and the importance of sober community. Jenna recognizes her stubborn nature and how it affected her willingness to initially accept her need for a sober community. Daniel talks about recently attending...

Episode 62

Daniel and Jenna talk about celebrating St. Patrick's Day. They recall the internal negotiations and bargaining in active addiction when it came their habits as they tried to maintain a "normal" appearance to outsiders. They talk about the shift from...

Episode 61

Daniel tells Jenna about recently going to a concert and being the only sober person there. They discuss the relief of knowing the how, what, when and where of events in sobriety versus the work of arranging, coordinating, and doing...

Episode 60

Daniel and Jenna talk about the feeling of being fully engaged in activities and how freeing it is to not experience self doubt. They discuss the emotional stability and self confidence that comes with more sober time.

Episode 59

Daniel and Jenna talk about Daniel's new game idea, "Sober Bingo", and brainstorm how to play and suggest sharing wins on social media. They discuss idle time, particularly in early sobriety, and how they survive the mundane without alcohol.

Episode 58

Jenna and Daniel talk about Super Bowl Sunday and how they approach social situations in recovery. They discuss different techniques they've successfully used to safely participate in gatherings while maintaining their sobriety.

Episode 57

Daniel and Jenna reflect back to early recovery and consider things they may have done differently. They discuss the concept of the “pink cloud” and their own misconceptions of the excitement in early sobriety.

Episode 56

Jenna and Daniel discuss their physical health during active addition versus recovery. They talk about societal biases regarding addiction and health.

Episode 55

Daniel and Jenna talk about Daniel’s recent conference in Vegas and how he is able to dismiss the potentially tempting environment. They discuss their varying stages of self pity, anger and acceptance when surrounded by alcohol advertising and merchandising.

Episode 54

Jenna and Daniel talk about downtime and being careful about setting productivity expectations too high versus feeling bored or stagnant. They discuss journaling as a recovery and mental health tool.

Episode 53

Daniel and Jenna talk about the pros and cons of social media, not just as it applies to their sobriety but their self confidence in general.

Episode 52

Daniel and Jenna talk about the concept of self-shame particularly as it applies to “slip ups” in recovery. They discuss the balance of shaming oneself and being overly permissive with false starts.

Episode 51

Daniel talks about recently officiating a wedding which leads to a discussion about how such social events are handled at different stages of sobriety. Jenna & Daniel acknowledge how their sobriety ebbs and flows especially when being challenged with celebrations...

Episode 50

Jenna and Daniel talk about Daniel’s rediscovery of AA meetings. They address some of the stigma associated with meetings and compare their own individual experiences.

Season 2 - Episode 1

Episode 49 (aka Season 2 Episode 1) Daniel and Jenna talk about Daniel’s recent mental health recovery program and discuss the common themes between that and addiction recovery. They compare different views on anonymity and discuss their comfort level with recognizing...

Episode 48

As Season 1 comes to a close, Daniel and Jenna recap some of the topics covered over the last 47 episodes as they recharge for Season 2.

Episode 47

As they wrap up summer, Daniel and Jenna talk about what the month of August represents to each of them. Jenna opens up about the anniversary of her father’s passing, and how the tradition of how she celebrates him has...

Episode 46

Jenna asks Daniel whether or not he was affected by hurricane Hillary which leads to a discussion about “hunkering down” when emergency situations occur. They talk about how, as alcoholics, they would use situations to rationalize their drinking. Jenna shares...

Episode 45

Daniel and Jenna discuss the importance of maintaining or adjusting their recovery programs with change in routine, particularly as their kids start a new school year. They talk about how any change in daily routines can be a challenge for...

Episode 44

Daniel and Jenna welcome guest, Celeste Yvonne. Celeste is a writer and certified sober coach with over 20 years of experience as a communications professional in corporate America. Her essays on parenting, the mental load of motherhood, mommy wine culture,...

Episode 43

Jenna and Daniel address a common question about how they will react if and when their children start to drink. With children of varying ages, they talk about their own realities with having honest conversations and their shared desire for...

Episode 42

FAQs Part 2: Daniel and Jenna address the topic of utilizing medication in recovery. They discuss their own personal experiences with or without meds in addition to other substances, like nicotine and caffeine. They emphasize the relative nature of using...

Episode 41

FAQ’s Part One: Daniel and Jenna address the most frequently asked questions/comments on TikTok including: How do I start? What was your last straw? I want to go to a meeting but I’m scared. When will I stop thinking about drinking? How do I set...

Episode 40

Jenna and Daniel discuss agitation, irritability and rage specifically as it applies to early sobriety, and how alcohol muted those feelings, in addition to feelings of happiness and joy, in active addiction. They address the expectation for everything to feel...

Episode 39

Daniel asks Jenna about her progress with finding new hobbies and they explore the differences for Jenna this summer versus her first sober summer of 2022. They talk about how they continue to notice alcohol in shows and movies and...

Episode 38

Jenna and Daniel start by talking about road trips which leads to a discussion about Daniel attending a conference out of town and how those circumstances wouldn’t be an option if he was still drinking. They discuss how their sobriety...

Episode 37

Daniel and Jenna talk about boredom, particularly in early sobriety. They also discuss the concept of perfection and different approaches to living sober, including how people in recovery can feel judged if they’re not reaching that perfection. They compare their...

Episode 36

Daniel talks about a recent visit to Disneyland, which prompted a conversation between him and his wife about his process of sneaking alcohol in certain settings during his active addiction. Jenna and Daniel compare their differing reactions to being questioned...

Episode 35

Daniel and Jenna talk about participating in daily activities in active addiction versus in sobriety. They consider the challenge of being present and communicating with their kids about drinking without instilling too much fear.

Episode 34

Episode 33

Daniel and Jenna poke fun at themselves and how they differ in addressing negative or confrontational followers. They talk about how certain personality characteristics still exist in sobriety, and how some qualities were muted or magnified in active addiction.

Episode 32

Jenna and Daniel compare methods to squash cravings in early sobriety as well as in maintenance mode. They talk about doing what works regardless of how ridiculous it may seem, and blocking out nay-sayers who seem to find a problem...

Episode 31

Daniel and Jenna talk about the upcoming season of weddings, graduations, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day, and how spring and summer offer countless opportunities to justify drinking. They address their inability to moderate and how at times they envy those...

Episode 30

Jenna and Daniel talk about the business of recovery and their individual experiences with requests for support or appearances. They discuss the importance of utilizing different resources in recovery and not depending on one sole source for support, especially as...

Episode 29

Daniel and Jenna discuss their perspectives on certain activities as Jenna commits to an all-girls 50th birthday weekend and Daniel plans a sober camping trip. They talk about how their current outlooks and expectations with these types of trips have...

Episode 28

Daniel and Jenna talk about their experiences with weddings as Daniel prepares to officiate a ceremony for a former student. Daniel considers being reunited with people whom he hasn’t seen since his active addiction, and the potential of it being...

Episode 27

Jenna and Daniel discuss how their obstinance and unwillingness to accept their addiction delayed their recovery process. Jenna talks about feeling resentment and animosity towards her husband with his attempts to convince her to change. They consider their experiences with...

Episode 26

Jenna and Daniel talk about their experiences with spring break which leads to a discussion about the challenges of sober travel. They consider sober travel and accepting that certain types of trips are no longer and option in sobriety. Daniel...

Episode 25

Daniel and Jenna talk about long-standing anxiety and depression, and how drinking is sometimes used to battle overwhelming feelings when in reality it exacerbates them. They discuss coping mechanisms and methods used to battle anxiety and depression in sobriety.

Episode 24

Jenna and Daniel discuss the process of amends and their individual approaches to expressing an apology for regretted behaviors. They analyze the motivation for making amends and consider the potential self-serving nature of doing so.

Episode 23

Daniel and Jenna talk about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day as well as other upcoming dates on the calendar that give occasion to drink. They talk about the pressure of giving up on sobriety on these days and how it can...

Episode 22

Daniel and Jenna welcome their first guest, Laura McKowen. Laura is the author of a bestselling memoir and founder of “The Luckiest Club”, a global sobriety support community. Laura tells her sober story, talks about what inspired her to start...

Episode 21

Jenna and Daniel recall the extreme measures they went through during active addiction and believing their own lies, specifically as it applies to what they would tell their families to maintain a buzz. They remember specific scenarios where behaviors that...

Episode 20

Daniel and Jenna discuss their different approaches to confrontational people, specifically the practice of “tough love” and maintaining appropriate boundaries as it applies to social media as well as every day life. They talk about the “fix me” mindset and...