In this episode, Louis shares how the path to recovery begins when you begin putting yourself first. He shares his struggles, loss of a dear friend to addiction, his desire to be there for and with his family, and, above all else, be there for himself to enjoy and experience life.

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:18 Louis' favorite quote
• 01:36 Louis' background
• 01:57 How his struggle with substance abuse began
• 03:30 What has Louis accomplished in his sobriety journey so far, and, what he hopes to accomplish in the future
• 05:20 Louis' typical day during addiction vs. now
• 08:14 How Louis deals with triggers and cravings
• 10:17 Key to finding long term success in recovery
• 12:28 Why people fail at staying sober
• 15:52 Louis' rock bottom
• 17:10 Happiest moment of life
• 18:07 Has Louis forgiven herself?
• 18:45 What do people often get wrong about Louis
• 19:22 What Louis wished he knew when he was 20
• 19:49 Rapid Fire round - 
  • What is on Louis' nightstand
  • What is his favorite meal
  • Favorite book
  • How many hours of sleep he gets every night
  • A TV show Louis binged and thoroughly enjoyed
  • One thing he is truly grateful for today
• 20:39 Louis’ advice to anyone struggling with addiction

Connect with @SoberSideChat

• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat
• Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/louis-dimaggio/

Other episodes you might find interesting:

• I Am Enough!
• The Ability to Dance Fearlessly, Sober
• Choose Your Struggle
• Law Enforcement, PTSD, Addiction & Recovery
• Appreciating Little Things and Living a Purposeful Life in Sobriety
• Embracing Discomfort to Begin Healing in Sobriety
• Adding “Alivefulness” to Life 
• My Story: The Ripple Effects of Alcoholism
• We are not Bad People Trying to be Good, We are Sick People Trying to be Well 
• How Substance Abuse Destroys Families

In this episode, Heather shares her journey on passing death to life, her struggles with addiction, mental health & the willingness to live, and finally, finding faith and freedom on her path to recovery.

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:20 Heather's favorite quote
• 02:50 Heather's background
• 03:50 How Heather’s struggle with substance abuse began
• 05:20 How it progressed
• 15:45 How she managed to stop and stay stopped
• 21:30 What has Heather accomplished in her sobriety journey so far, and, what she hopes to accomplish in the future
• 29:50 Heather's typical day during addiction vs. now
• 35:07 Heather’s tips on addressing cravings
• 40:25 Top 3 reasons why people fail at staying sober
• 19:04 What the word 'recovery' means to Heather
• 19:34 Heather’s rock bottom
• 21:15 Happiest moment of life
• 23:53 Has Heather forgiven herself?
• 25:33 What do people often get wrong about her
• 27:11 What is Heather trying to learn
• 27:27 What Heather wished he knew when he was 20
• 40:25 How can friends and family offer support
• 49:40 Rapid Fire round - 
  • What Heather likes to do for fun
  • What is her favorite meal
  • Favorite book
  • How many hours of sleep she gets every night
  • A TV show Heather binged and thoroughly enjoyed
  • One thing she is truly grateful for today
• 51:25 Heather’s advice to anyone struggling with addiction 

SoberSide Chat Podcast Details:

• Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/heather-stroh/
• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat

Other episodes you might like:

• Choose Your Struggle
• Law Enforcement, PTSD, Addiction & Recovery
• Appreciating Little Things and Living a Purposeful Life in Sobriety
• Embracing Discomfort to Begin Healing in Sobriety
• Adding “Alivefulness” to Life 
• My Story: The Ripple Effects of Alcoholism
• We are not Bad People Trying to be Good, We are Sick People Trying to be Well 
• How Substance Abuse Destroys Families – A Lawyer’s Perspective on Addiction, Suicide & Relationships

In this episode, Jay Shifman shares his struggle with a misdiagnosed mental health disorder, two suicide attempts, addiction to prescription pills, and, his long journey to recovery. 

Jay is a vulnerable storyteller, stigma-destroying speaker, podcaster, and event host. He hosts a wildly popular podcast Choose Your Struggle that has been downloaded over 35 countries. Jay’s personal story of struggle is familiar to the millions of people all over the world who also struggle with issues of mental health, substance misuse, and addiction. Now in long-term recovery, it is Jay’s mission to encourage difficult conversations and honest education. Jay uses his voice, and his platforms to educate, entertain, and empower. 

He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Lauren, and their dog, Nell.

Connect with Jay: 

• JayShifman.com | ChooseYourStruggle.com
• Jay’s Podcast: Choose Your Struggle
• Social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

Connect with SoberSide Chat:

• Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Full Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/jay-shifman/
• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:56 Jay's favorite quote: “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche.” 
• 06:33 Jay’s background and struggles
• 10:50 Why Jay prefers the term ‘substance misuse’ (instead of ‘substance abuse’)
• 13:07 Examples of Jay’s favorite practices for mental health care and how we can implement them in our everyday lives
• 16:51 Substance misuse red flags
• 20:54 The key to finding long term success in recovery
• 24:05 Why Jay considers himself in recovery without being sober
• 29:05 About Jay’s podcast ‘Choose Your Struggle’ and his narrative series ‘Rock Bottom Storytellers’
• 33:15 Jay’s lowest point in life
• 37:00 Happiest moment of life
• 39:12 What do people often get wrong about her
• 41:19 Rapid Fire round - 5 Questions
  1. What's on his nightstand
  2. Favorite meal
  3. Hours of sleep he gets every night
  4. Favorite TV show
  5. One thing he's grateful for today
• 42:57 Jay’s advice to anyone struggling with addiction

Other episodes you might like:

• Using Yoga as a Tool to Address Addiction
• One Day at a Time – A Life Story
• Living a Purposeful Life in Sobriety
• Embracing Discomfort to Begin Healing in Sobriety

In this episode, Erik shares how being separated from drugs and alcohol by force, when he ended up in a jail cell, made him realize that his life would continue to get worse if he stayed on that path. That is when he became willing to do anything suggested to him, embrace a program, and follow the path that was laid out for him in his journey to recovery.

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:41 Erik's favorite quote: “Let Go and Let God"
• 02:19 Erik's background
• 03:28 How Erik got started drinking
• 04:26 How his drinking progressed
• 05:55 How he managed to stop and stay stopped
• 07:50 What has Erik accomplished in his sobriety journey so far, and, what he hopes to accomplish in the future
• 10:42 Erik's typical day in addiction vs. now
• 13:15 Erik’s thought on the key to finding long-term success in sobriety
• 15:56 Top 3 reasons why people fail at staying sober
• 19:04 What the word 'recovery' means to Erik
• 19:34 Erik’s rock bottom
• 21:15 Happiest moment of life
• 23:53 Has Erik forgiven himself?
• 25:33 What do people often get wrong about him
• 27:11 What is Erik trying to learn
• 27:27 What Erik wished he knew when he was 20
• 35:44 Rapid Fire round - 5 Questions
  1. What's on his nightstand: Notebooks, Books & a Phone Charger
  2. Favorite meal: Poke Bowl
  3. No. of hours of sleep every night: 6-8
  4. Favorite TV show: The Umbrella Academy
  5. One thing he's grateful for today: His sobriety. His family.
• 37:40 Erik’s advice to anyone struggling with addiction or lost & confused

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SoberSide Chat Podcast Details:

• Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/erik-a/
• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat

In this episode, Beth Shaw shares how you can use Yoga as a tool to transform your mind, body and spirit - how you can address addiction and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety through Yoga.

Beth is a pioneer in the Wellness, Yoga & Fitness space in North America. She played a critical role in the widespread growth of yoga throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1994, she founded the global mind-body education school, called YogaFit, which has since certified over 200,000 instructors worldwide. 

Beth is also a best-selling author of several books including YogaFit, YogaLean, The YogaFit Athlete, and, Healing Trauma With Yoga.

She is a go-to yoga & mindfulness expert in the media and has been featured in numerous fitness, business and other publications including SELF, Yoga Journal, Huffington Post, New York Times, Time Magazine, LA Times, Entrepreneur, Washington Post, and USA Today.

Connect with Beth: 

• BethShaw.com
• YogaFit
• Facebook (@BethShawWellness)
• Instagram (@beth.shaw.mind.body)
• LinkedIn
• Beth’s Books:
  • YogaFit
  • YogaLean
  • The YogaFit Athlete
  • Healing Trauma With Yoga

Connect with SoberSide Chat:

• Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Full Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/beth-shaw/
• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:58 Beth's favorite quote: “Just for today.” 
• 02:33 Beth’s background
• 03:40 Beth’s experience with addiction
• 04:53 How Beth played a pivotal role in the growth of Yoga throughout the US and Canada
• 06:03 How can Yoga be used as a tool to address addiction and recovery
• 06:45 How does Yoga help with mental health, specifically, anxiety and depression?
• 08:13 Other benefits of Yoga
• 09:03 How does Yoga transform a person physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually
• 11:05 About Beth’s non-profit organization - Visionary Women in Fitness
• 12:38 About YogaFit
• 13:38 Healing Trauma with Yoga
• 15:16 Beth’s lowest point in life
• 16:31 Happiest moment of life
• 17:29 What does ‘recovery’ mean to Beth
• 17:58 Who Beth looks up to 
• 18:42 What do people often get wrong about her
• 19:50 What is Beth trying to learn
• 20:39 What is something Beth wished she knew when she was 20
• 21:09 Rapid Fire round - 5 Questions
  1. What's on her nightstand: Three books - Consciousness Rising, Predictable Revenue, Healing Trauma With Yoga
  2. Favorite meal: A spinach salad with sauteed walnuts and blue cheese and beets
  3. Favorite resource / book: The Power of Now
  4. No. of hours of sleep every night: 7
  5. Favorite TV show: Sinners

Mike is a 57-year-old retired police officer from Long Island, NY. He is a lover of mother nature, and enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening and cooking, among other things. He is a father of two awesome adult children and Papi to two grandsons.

In this episode, you will hear Mike share his life story and how a significant incident in his career, and other events that followed, led to his mental health decline and increasing dependence on alcohol. You will also hear about how he got the help he needed, the ups and downs of his life and how he is dealing with life on life’s terms.

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:51 Mike's favorite quotes (three): 
  1. “The Axe Forgets What The Tree Remembers”
  2. “A Satisfied Life is Better Than a Successful Life”
  3. Peace Prayer of Saint Francis:

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

• 05:36 Mike’s background
• 07:41 How his drinking began
• 12:01 How an incident in his career led to his retirement from the police force and  mental health decline
• 15:16 Mike’s attempt at recovery
• 19:08 What Mike has accomplished so far in recovery, and, what he hopes to accomplish in the future
• 22:23 Mike’s thoughts on what the key is to finding long-term success in sobriety
• 26:14 What does the word ‘forgiveness’ mean to Mike
• 27:31 Has Mike forgiven himself?
• 27:37 Mike’s rock bottom
• 28:59 Happiest moment of life
• 31:03 Who Mike looks up to
• 33:00 What is he trying to learn/grow into
• 38:09 Something people often get wrong about Mike
• 35:44 Rapid Fire round - 5 Questions
  1. What's on his nightstand: A lamp and an ASP Baton
  2. Favorite meal: Anything that is fun and exciting to prepare
  3. Favorite recovery-related resource: My Spiritual Toolkit App
  4. No. of hours of sleep every night: 8
  5. Favorite TV show: Downton Abbey
  6. What is Mike grateful for today: 
     • Continued growth and understanding of himself
     • His children
• 37:40 Mike’s advice to anyone struggling with addiction

See the full show notes and more details at https://sobersidechat.com/mike-lando/

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SoberSide Chat Podcast Details:

• Podcast Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/mike-lando/
• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat

In this episode, Christian shares how no matter how many times you fall down, you can get back up, embrace sobriety, and live a meaningful life.  You will hear how he was finally able to beat alcoholism by being honest, open-minded and willing;  by letting go of his ego, his stubbornness and accepting help from others.

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:24 Christian's favorite quote: “Death smiles at us all; all a man can do is smile back.”
• 01:53 Christian’s background
• 04:13 How his drinking began, and, progressed
• 08:03 His coping strategies for cravings
• 10:10 What Christian has accomplished in his sobriety journey so far, and what he hopes to accomplish in the future
• 16:55 Christian’s thoughts on what the key is to finding long-term success in sobriety
• 19:44 Top three reasons why people relapse
• 21:55 What does the word ‘recovery’ mean to Christian
• 22:09 Christian’s rock bottom
• 23:37 Happiest moment of life
• 24:29 Who Christian looks up to
• 25:37 Has Christian forgiven himself?
• 26:44 What is he trying to learn/grow into
• 27:46 What he wished he knew when he was 20
• 35:44 Rapid Fire round - 5 Questions
  1. What's on his nightstand: Books
  2. Favorite meal: Pizza
  3. Favorite recovery-related resource: Joe & Charlie’s recovery radio
  4. No. of hours of sleep every night: 6-8
  5. Favorite TV show: Sons of Anarchy
  6. One thing he's grateful for today: Constant love and support of his family
• 37:40 Christian’s advice to anyone struggling with addiction

———————

SoberSide Chat Podcast Details:

• Podcast Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/christian-p-life-story/
• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat

In this episode, Lisa talks about how we can heal and transform obstructive energy or emotional patterns using meditation, chakras and energy work. 

Lisa is an energy worker specializing in women's energetics, sexual trauma healing, chakra manifestation, and kundalini awakening. She is the author of Chakra Empowerment for Women and The Art and Science of Meditation. Lisa is certified in mindfulness meditation instruction and trauma sensitivity, and has trained in a variety of kundalini and energy healing modalities. She is a member of the International Association of Meditation Instructors, the Energy Medicine Practitioners Association, and, The Breathe Network.

Connect with Lisa: 

• EnlightenedEnergetics.com
• Facebook (@chakraempowerment)
• Instagram (@chakraempowerment)
• Twitter (@mommymystic)
• Lisa’s Books: Chakra Empowerment for Women and The Art and Science of Meditation

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SoberSide Chat Podcast Details:

• Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/lisa-erickson/
• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:24 Lisa's favorite quote: “You have more power than you can possibly imagine.” 
• 04:08 What is meditation?
• 09:11 How to get started meditating as a beginner
• 11:09 What are Chakras?
• 11:37 What is energy work?
• 14:02 Men vs. Women in terms of their energy bodies
• 17:37 How to use meditation, chakras and energy work as tools to address addiction
• 19:53 Lisa’s take on finding long-term success in sobriety
• 23:26 Lisa’s lowest point in life
• 25:14 Happiest moment of life
• 25:52 What does 'spirituality' mean to Lisa
• 26:15 Who Lisa looks up to 
• 26:45 What is ‘somatic technique’
• 28:21 What is Lisa trying to learn
• 29:05 What do people often get wrong about her
• 29:58 What is something Lisa wished she knew when she was younger
• 30:13 About Lisa’s two books
• 31:44 Rapid Fire round - 5 Questions
  1. What's on his nightstand: Lots of books
  2. Favorite meal: Pasta
  3. No. of hours of sleep every night: 7 or 8
  4. Favorite TV show: Ted Lasso, Schitt’s Creek
  5. One thing she's grateful for today: Grateful for a beautiful day, and, where she lives (by the ocean)
• 33:13 Lisa’s advice to anyone struggling with addiction

In this episode, as Eric shares his life story, you will hear how addiction to alcohol slowly crippled his life. You will hear about his battles, the consequences, the ups, the downs, and his efforts at sobriety. He talks about how your environment and circumstances can keep you stuck in that ‘addicted’ zone. He also shares how a single person (in Eric’s case, his cousin) can have a tremendous impact on your path to recovery. 

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:24 Eric's favorite quote: “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” ― J.K. Rowling
• 01:14 How Eric got started drinking
• 04:15 How his drinking progressed
• 07:39 His coping strategies for cravings
• 11:37 A profound conversation with his cousin
• 17:32 What has Eric accomplished in his sobriety journey so far, and, what he hopes to accomplish in the future
• 18:06 How learning to do uncomfortable things helps him heal
• 19:53 Eric’s thought on key to finding long-term success in sobriety
• 23:19 Eric’s rock bottom
• 28:21 Happiest moment of life
• 31:40 Has Eric forgiven himself?
• 34:29 What do people often get wrong about him
• 35:44 Rapid Fire round - 5 Questions
  1. What's on his nightstand: Two books -  The Four Agreements, and, Alcoholics Anonymous
  2. Favorite meal: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
  3. No. of hours of sleep every night: 6
  4. Favorite TV show: Ozark
  5. One thing he's grateful for today: That he’s able to get out of bed without waking up in a cold sweat and shaking, not knowing where his next drink is coming from.
• 37:40 Eric’s advice to anyone struggling with addiction or lost & confused

———————

SoberSide Chat Podcast Details:

• Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/eric-r-life-story/
• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat