Host Jean McCarthy reflects on alcohol-free living and the impact of surprise triggers. She recounts a recent social outing that caused a (momentary!) sober wobble and how she protected her recovery in that *sticky* situation.

Want to see those sparkly shoes Jean talks about? Visit The Bubble Hour on Instagram to see more.

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

Purchase Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1999299981/

Still drinking and wondering how to get started on sober life? This book is for you: UnPickled Prepare to be Alcohol-Free: Tips and Insights to Ease the Transition

All books by Jean McCarthy are available at www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com

Guest Virgina Kerr considers the power of personal story telling to inpact others and reflects on protecting her early recovery like a fragile treasure.

Resources in this episode:

The Bubble Hour (Season 7, Episode 8) Virginia Kerr https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2019/02/20/guest-virginia-kerr

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

Purchase Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1999299981/

Still drinking and wondering how to get started on sober life? This book is for you: UnPickled Prepare to be Alcohol-Free: Tips and Insights to Ease the Transition

All books by Jean McCarthy are available at www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com

This little boost of sober inspiration comes with a dash of pumpkin spice, as we reflect on the changing seasons and keeping life simple. Host Jean McCarthy shares how learning to step back from people pleasing has been a lesson in her recovery.

We also revisit Maria's story from The Bubble Hour Season 7. You can hear the rest of that episode on the website or via Apple Podcasts.

All books by Jean McCarthy are available at www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Learn more about The Bubble Hour and listen to the archives at www.thebubblehour.com

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

Purchase Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1999299981/

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com

There's no one right or perfect way to talk about our recovery, but gahhh the vulnerability hangover of knowing we've overshared when trying to explain alcohol-free life to a normie.

Host Jean McCarthy reflects on feeling awkward at a party recently and perhaps holding back a little too much for fear of turning small talk into a monologue.

Resources in this episode:

"Update With Ellie" episode on The Bubble Hour (2017)

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Listen from Website

The Ember Ever There: Poems on Change, Grief, Growth, Recovery, and Rediscovery by Jean McCarthy

UnPickled Prepare to be Alcohol-Free: Tips and Insights to Ease the Transition

All books by Jean McCarthy are available at www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Learn more about The Bubble Hour and listen to the archives at www.thebubblehour.com

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

Purchase Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1999299981/

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com

The CHIME model is a worthwhile addition to your recovery toolkit. CHIME is an acronym for common components found in various pathways to recovery success: community, hope, identity, meaning, and empowerment.

Learn more about CHIME here.

Download a free CHIME checklist and wallpaper for your smartphone here.

Also in this episode:

Shelley-Anne McKay on The Bubble Hour Season 5 Episode 41

Anna's Story on The Bubble Hour Season 7 Episode 11

Learn more about The Bubble Hour and listen to the archives at www.thebubblehour.com

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

See all books by Jean McCarthy: www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Purchase Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1999299981/

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com

Travelling as a person in recovery takes a little extra thought and care. Let's talk about the perks of travelling alcohol-free, and share a few precautions.

We hear expert tips and insights from Margaret Ward of Alcohol-Free Adventure Retreats (A.F.A.R.), and revisit her interview on The Bubble Hour in Season 8.

Follow A.F.A.R on Facebook

Learn more about The Bubble Hour and listen to the archives at www.thebubblehour.com

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

See all books by Jean McCarthy: www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Purchase Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1999299981/

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com

(please note that some links may be affiliate referrals that afford a small commission to this podcast at no additional cost to purchasers)

Are resentments holding back your recovery? When do opinions or differences morph into resentment? What can you do to dial them back, and why should you?

Resources in this episode:

Maestro George Marriner Maull on The Bubble Hour: https://jeanmccarthy.ca/2020/06/22/the-bubble-hour-s8e24-maestro-george-marriner-maull/

Nicole Cameron on The Bubble Hour Season 9, Episode 16: https://jeanmccarthy.ca/2021/04/26/the-bubble-hour-s9e16-nicole-cameron/

The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie

UnPickled Holiday Survival Guide by Jean McCarthy

Learn more about The Bubble Hour and listen to the archives at www.thebubblehour.com

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

See all books by Jean McCarthy: www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Purchase Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1999299981/

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com

(please note that some links may be affiliate referrals that afford a small commission to this podcast at no additional cost to purchasers)

Are you intentional about the language you choose to talk about recovery? The same phrases that feel accurate and comfortable in some situations can be misunderstood by a wider audience. Does being a non-drinker mean a person is sober? Does sobriety always equal recovery? Today's show aims to help you find the right words to accurately reflect your recovery perspective.

In this episode:

Jean reads from her book UnPickled Prepare to be Alcohol-Free: Tips and Insights to Ease the Transition (2022)

Greg Williams, director of The Anonymous People (2014) documentary

Greg William's Bubble Hour interview is available via Patreon

The Bubble Hour S9E10: Ruby Warrington, Author of Sober Curious and The Sober Curious Reset

Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington

The Sober Curious Reset by Ruby Warrington

"Addictionary" recovery language from Recovery Research Institute

Learn more about The Bubble Hour and listen to the archives at www.thebubblehour.com

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

See all books by Jean McCarthy: www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Purchase Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1999299981/

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com

(please note that some links may be affiliate referrals that afford a small commission to this podcast at no additional cost to purchasers)

You might want to check in on Gran. She could be drinking more than you know. Many factors increase the risk for addiction as we age, while symptoms are easily masked or hidden entirely.

The good news, of course, is that recovery is possible at every age. It's never too late to go alcohol-free!

We revisit A Letter from Ella on The Bubble Hour (2018) to hear how one woman's drinking changed after menopause and retirement. (Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts)

Resources and Support:

Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour

Learn more about The Bubble Hour and listen to the archives at www.thebubblehour.com

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

See all books by Jean McCarthy: www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com

What role does shame play in your recovery motivation? Old perspectives and programming can be so hard to spot. Shame might help keep us sober, but it isn't a great tool in the long run.

Resources in this episode:

From The Bubble Hour archives: Season 5 Episode 21 (2017) Sober Julie on life Straight Up

She Recovers Everyday by Dawn Nickel

Take Good Care: Recovery Readings Inspired by The Bubble Hour

Learn more about The Bubble Hour and listen to the archives at www.thebubblehour.com

Support Tiny Bubbles and The Bubble Hour by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thebubblehour or Buy Me a Coffee

See all books by Jean McCarthy: www.jeanmccarthy.ca/books

Visit Jean's Blog UnPickled www.unpickledblog.com