The Bubble Hour

By The Bubble Hour

What's The Bubble Hour about?

The Bubble Hour is a weekly podcast hosted by recovery author and blogger, Jean McCarthy.

Real People. Real Stories. Real Hope.

The "Bubble" is what we use to stay safe and happy in sobriety (especially early sobriety). We surround ourselves with things and people who bring us joy, laughter and comfort. What do you put in YOUR bubble?

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The Bubble Hour episodes:

11.22.2022
FINALE Goodbye from the Hosts (full episode)
(Due to a glitch, some listeners did not receive the full finale - reposted to ensure everyone hears it all!) Get the tissues! This is it. What an amazing decade it has been. How can we possibly say enough thanks yous...
11.22.2022
Part 10 of 10: Goodbye from The Hosts
Get the tissues! This is it. What an amazing decade it has been. How can we possibly say enough thanks yous for all of the heartfelt goodness we've experienced this past decade? Loving messages of gratitude from Ellie, Lisa, Amanda,...
11.22.2022
Part 9 of 10: Listeners Say Farewell
There is so much love between the hosts, guests, and listeners of this show! In this episode, you'll hear some of the powerful messages listeners sent to thank The Bubble Hour team for a deacde of recovery encouragement. Get The Bubble...
11.21.2022
Part 8 of 10: Standout Moments
Host Jean McCarthy shares some of the moments that most affected her as a host, plus listener favorites. Of course, every single episode had numerous golden moments. It was not easy to decide on a handful when there are litterally hundreds...
11.21.2022
Part 7 of 10: Author Interviews
Over the past decade, The Bubble Hour has featured more than 50 authors! We looks at some memorable interiews, and offers insights about what it's like to prepare for an author interview. Affiliate links: The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley Drink by...
11.21.2022
Part 6 of 10: Changes
After nearly four years, the hosts of The Bubble Hour had to make some hard decisions. Was it time to end the show? Utlitimately, we decided to continue but with some big shifts. We look at how, and why, the...
11.21.2022
Part 5 of 10: The Boston Meetup
This episode focuses on a special weekend when Ellie, Amanda, Catherine, and Jean met up in Boston. They recorded a live show together and got to know each other in person. Listen to some highlights from the recorded conversation and...
11.21.2022
Part 4 of 10: Perfectly Imperfect
Where we would be without a little imperfection and a whole lot of laughs? The Bubble Hour podcast usually ran smoothly, but we certainly had our share of goof-ups and giggles! Technical issues, tongue twisters, dropped calls, on-air surprises. No...
11.21.2022
Part 3 of 10: The Hosts
Over the past decade, Bubble Hour listeners came to know our five hosts like old friends. Ellie and Lisa started the show and were soon joined by Amanda. Catherine and Jean joined at the end of Season 2. The five...
11.21.2022
Part 2 of 10: Good Talks and Shared Wisdom
As the show finds its legs in the early years, incredible conversations about life after alcohol unfold. Listen through a tapestry of insights and sentiments about recovery, a scrapbook of treasures from the archives. Recovery from alcohol use disorder is about...
11.21.2022
Part 1 of 10: Looking Back to the Beginning
The final season of The Bubble Hour begins by looking back at the orgins of the show. Ellie and Lisa unfolded this project in 2012 with no idea if anyone would even listen. Soon pal Amanda helped out on and...
12.31.2021
Looking Back and Forward for a New Year
Jean shares a new poem to encourage anyone starting fresh for the new year, and reflects on important milestones and decisions for The Bubble Hour. Download a copy of Jean's poem, 'The Pivot' at https://unpickledblog.com/2021/12/30/new-year-new-beginnings/ Learn more about host Jean McCarthy at http://www.jeanmccarthy.ca and order...
12.20.2021
10 Tips for Hosting a Sober Guest
This is a special episode intended for listeners in recovery to share with normie friends and family who want to understand how to make us more comfortable at their events. The list of tips is directed towards people who are...
12.13.2021
Holiday Tips from UnPickled Blog
Whether it's your first year of sobriety or you have decades of experience, the holidays can be a trying time. Here are a few things to consider as you make your way through the weeks ahead. This is an audio version...
12.12.2021
Jean Reflects on Time Off
Host Jean McCarthy returns from an extended break and reflects on ways that sobriety has served her during her various adventures. Visit Jean's blog UnPickled at www.unpickledblog.com and order her books via www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books
07.14.2021
Victoria Vanstone
Victoria Vanstone examines the lighter side of life after alcohol on her blog Drunk Mummy Sober Mummy and podcast Sober Awkward. "Me and booze don’t go well together, its like bunk beds and ceiling fans – the two just don’t work," says Victoria. "There...
06.28.2021
Kim Bellas
"I know now that alcohol was not my friend," says Kim Bellas. Kim quit drinking to model alcohol-free living for her teenaged son, who has a medical condition that will require him to do the same. She didn't think her...
06.22.2021
Betsy Byler
Betsy Byler is a woman in successful long-term recovery who is also a therapist. Betsy hosts a podcast aimed at educating therapists about addiction and recovery, "All Things Substance with Betsy Byler". Betsy's website is www.betsybyler.com - links are there to contact...
06.14.2021
Sherry Hoppen, Author of SOBER CYCLE
Sherry Hoppen is the founder of She Surrenders, a ministry encouraging women into faith-based recovery. As a Christian woman who has lived through the nightmare of addiction to alcohol, she helps others battling addiction through writing, speaking, coaching. Sherry leads...
06.07.2021
Summer Update from Jean
Host Jean McCarthy returns from an unplanned 3-week break and shares stories and insights from her time away. Plus information from Recovery Research Institute on the effectiveness of various recovery programs, celebrating and recognizing Bubble Hour milestones, listener letters, and thoughts...
05.11.2021
Jenny Dalton
Jenny's path to recovery included several "fasts" from alcohol - planned, supported breaks for 30 or more days as she worked to envision her life without drinking. When her father died, she longed to honor her grief by feeling it...
05.04.2021
Bev Sartain
Beverly Sartain is a Psyche Strategist who helps helpers heal their wounds so that they can serve Self and humanity from wholeness. Image of Healing Roadmap created by Bev Sartain: https://holisticcoachtraininginstitute.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/HCTI+-+A+Healing+Roadmap.pdf Website - https://holisticcoachtraininginstitute.com/ Book - Transcending Trauma: How I Use Spiritual Psychology To Heal My...
04.27.2021
Nicole Cameron
Nicole has overcome great losses and built a life full of joy, but it was not an easy path to arrive where she is today. Grief was all too present in her life, even as a child. Nicole was just...
04.20.2021
Cybele Botran
Cybele Botran of Wide Awake Recovery shares her story of recovery and healing. Cybele believes that each of us can be our own healers once we get past the judgement, guilt, and shame that hold us back. She teaches transformative practices of...
04.13.2021
Lori Massicot
Lori Massicot is a sober woman on a mission to help women over 40 create a life they love alcohol-free. For thirty years, Lori thought that alcohol was the solution to her anxiety and shyness, and on August 11, 2013,...
04.06.2021
Penni Moussa
Founder of Recovery Buddha and woman in recovery, Penni Moussa is also a Clinical Psychologist, intuitive healer, writer, creative & mother of 3 young adults; the youngest of whom is on the Autism Spectrum. Having travelled a journey which includes...
03.29.2021
Will Black
Will Black is a young man in recovery who shares his passion for wellness through his expertise in yoga and meditation. Will relates his experiences with using alcohol to alleviate symptoms of social anxiety and depression, only to realize drinking then became...
03.23.2021
Maureen Towns
In Broken Open, parenting and family consultant Maureen Towns shares her journey through her teenage kids’ mental health and addiction issues to help parents find freedom in chaos. Maureen Towns BScN, MA is a relationship mentor with over 25 years of nursing...
03.16.2021
Ruby Warrington
Ruby Warrington is the author of Sober Curious (2018) and The Sober Curious Reset (2020). Her books have given voice to a movement that embraces an alcohol-free lifestyle as a choice, and encourages people to explore their relationship with alcohol...
03.09.2021
Spring Check-in
Host Jean McCarthy hosts a solo show with updates on her recovery, a big upcoming milestone, reflections on grief and celebration, plus heaps of encouragement for YOU! Learn more about Jean at www.jeanmccarthy.ca where you can link to her blog UnPickled,...
03.01.2021
Dr. Alice Kerby
Dr Alice Kerby is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Health Consultant, Holistic Health Practitioner, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in training. She uses her decades of experience and training to focus on the stress response from an autonomic nervous system and...
02.16.2021
Sean McCann and Andrea Aragon
Sean McCann and Andrea Aragon are the husband and wife team who co-wrote the recovery memoir “One Good Reason.” Sean McCann rose to fame as a founding member of the multimillion selling folk group Great Big Sea. But all of that performing and partying allowed...
02.09.2021
Deb's Story: Sober Life with BPD
Looking back, Deb can see that she was self-medicating mental health problems with alcohol. When she entered a partial hospitalization program to assess and treat her symptoms of anxiety and depression, it was necessary to address the issue of alcohol...
02.01.2021
Kelly's Story
Kelly created a self-image as a party girl that became eventually an uncomfortable way to live. Self-centered partners who also drank problematically appeared one after another. She leaned on others for her self-worth and thought, “if you like me then I’m less broken."...
01.25.2021
Matt Salis
Matt Salis shares his story and insights on recovery. Matt and his wife Sheri have co-authored a book about marriage and recovery, Sober Evolution: Evolve into Sobriety and Recover Your Alcoholic Marriage. They also host a podcast together called UnToxicated. Visit...
01.18.2021
Nichol's Story
As a little girl, Nichol was not protected the way a child should be. The abuse she suffered left emotional wounds that she kept hidden from the world. Through her teens and adult years, she leaned on alcohol to cope...
01.11.2021
Shelby John
Getting sober is just the beginning for recovery coach and therapist Shelby John, who believes that we can then go on to reach higher for a more joyful, fulfilling life than we ever imagined. Now 18+ years sober, Shelby recognizes that she...
01.06.2021
New Year's Wishes
Welcome to Season 9 of The Bubble Hour! Host Jean McCarthy shares some thoughts about this special time of year, looks back over 9 years of this podcast and offers inspiration for the days ahead. Recovery is better together and The...
12.29.2020
Darcy's Story
Darcy noticed she was becoming increasingly reliant on alcohol to relax after her twin boys were born. Then came the double trauma of a miscarriage followed by a devastating decision to end another ill-fated pregnancy. Darcy tried to push through her emotions,...
12.21.2020
Kathy L.
Kathy's busy, active life was disrupted abruptly when her husband was diagnosed with a dibilitating and ultimately fatal disease at a young age. The stress of being a caregiver led her to lean on alcohol and the pattern continued into her...
12.15.2020
Danielle's Story
Danielle is a multiple suicide attempt survivor, a kidney cancer survivor, and a stroke survivor. She started writing about her sobriety publicly in 2018 after she suffered a massive stroke four months into her sobriety journey. That stroke took away her ability to...
12.08.2020
Michael Blanchard "Through a Sober Lens"
Michael Blanchard's work combines photography and personal essays to illuminate the recovery experience and show the beauty and hope beyond the darkness of addiction. His books include Fighting for My Life: Finding Hope and Serenity on Martha's Vineyard and Through a Sober...
12.01.2020
Louise A
"This was a T-intersection. This was not a crossroads. If I carried on drinking, I knew exactly where I was going to go." Louise A. shares her story of reluctant participation in the recovery process. It took some time for her...
11.24.2020
Michael Gallagher
Michael Gallagher is an author, speaker and coach, whose recovery has involved peeling back layers of childhood trauma and family instability while examining the effects of highly controlling religious teachings. His book, Waking Up: A Guide for Transformation, is part memoir...
11.17.2020
Julie's Story
Julie could feel the way that alcohol was creeping into her life in unwanted ways. She knew all too well what it's like to worry about a parent's drinking and didn't want her own children to live with that burden....
11.10.2020
Dr Maureen Talks Alcohol and Health
Dr Maureen is a diagnostic radiologist whose work often includes the devastating effects of alcohol on the human body in the form of liver disease and cancer. She is also a woman in recovery, which allows her to have great...
11.02.2020
Kate Baily and Mandy Manners
Kate Baily and Mandy Manners of www.loversober.com share their personal stories and chat about their new book Love Yourself Sober. Their website includes links for personal coaching, an online community for women in recovery and tons of resources. Kate and Mandy...
10.26.2020
Jennifer's Story
Jennifer had begun to question her relationship to alcohol when her body started to show some strange symptoms. Even though both Jennifer and her husband are medical professionals, it took a while to realize that alcohol was the root cause...
10.19.2020
Lotta Dann and The Wine O'Clock Myth
Lotta Dann talks about her latest book "The Wine O'Clock Myth," which takes a look at the way alcohol seeps into all aspects of life and why we need to take a strong stand against the persuasion of the alcohol...
10.12.2020
MaryBeth Murphy on Holistic Wellness in Recovery
MaryBeth Murphy is a registered nurse and a holistic wellness and recovery coach. Her style as a integrative nurse coach is to combine her medical training with alternative therapies such as reiki, craniosacral therapy, crystal healing and armoatherapy to develop...

What's The Bubble Hour about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Bubble Hour episodes:

FINALE Goodbye from the Hosts (full episode)

Part 10 of 10: Goodbye from The Hosts

Part 9 of 10: Listeners Say Farewell

Part 8 of 10: Standout Moments

Part 7 of 10: Author Interviews

Part 6 of 10: Changes

Part 5 of 10: The Boston Meetup

Part 4 of 10: Perfectly Imperfect

Part 3 of 10: The Hosts

Part 2 of 10: Good Talks and Shared Wisdom

Part 1 of 10: Looking Back to the Beginning

Looking Back and Forward for a New Year

10 Tips for Hosting a Sober Guest

Holiday Tips from UnPickled Blog

Jean Reflects on Time Off

Victoria Vanstone

Kim Bellas

Betsy Byler

Sherry Hoppen, Author of SOBER CYCLE

Summer Update from Jean

Jenny Dalton

Bev Sartain

Nicole Cameron

Cybele Botran

Lori Massicot

Penni Moussa

Will Black

Maureen Towns

Ruby Warrington

Spring Check-in

Dr. Alice Kerby

Sean McCann and Andrea Aragon

Deb's Story: Sober Life with BPD

Kelly's Story

Matt Salis

Nichol's Story

Shelby John

New Year's Wishes

Darcy's Story

Kathy L.

Danielle's Story

Michael Blanchard "Through a Sober Lens"

Louise A

Michael Gallagher

Julie's Story

Dr Maureen Talks Alcohol and Health

Kate Baily and Mandy Manners

Jennifer's Story

Lotta Dann and The Wine O'Clock Myth

MaryBeth Murphy on Holistic Wellness in Recovery

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