Why do people go back to drinking after years without alcohol? And more importantly… would you see it coming if it were happening to you?

In this episode, we’re talking about what actually leads to relapse after long-term sobriety. Not the obvious moments, but the harder to notice patterns that build over time.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Could this happen to me?”
• “Why does sobriety still feel hard sometimes?”
• “Am I missing something?”

This conversation is for you.

We break down the early signs most people don’t recognize, what tends to slip first, and why “just not drinking” isn’t enough to make this sustainable long-term.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness—and learning how to stay connected to your life so you don’t feel pulled away from it.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why relapse after years doesn’t come out of nowhere
• The subtle signs that things are starting to drift
• What often goes missing in long-term sobriety
• Why life can start to feel flat again
• What sustainable sobriety actually looks like

—

Resources & Support

Join our weekly Zoom meeting (safe, supportive, not AA): https://noalcoholneeded.net/meeting-faqs/

Get to know the people behind the voices of No Alcohol Needed:

https://noalcoholneeded.net/meet-the-voices/

Listen to the full podcast archive: https://noalcoholneeded.net/meet-the-voices/

If you’re stuck replaying things you’ve done in the past…

Feeling like you don’t deserve the life you have now…

Or wondering if you’ll ever be able to truly move forward…

This episode is for you.

Shame has a way of lingering long after the drinking stops. It shows up as self-doubt, disconnection, and the lingering belief that you’re not worthy of happiness.

In this conversation, we break down what it actually looks like to learn to forgive yourself - without pretending the past didn’t happen, and without getting stuck in it forever.

• Why shame feels so heavy and hard to let go of
• The critical difference between guilt and shame
• Why keeping your past hidden makes things worse
• What self-forgiveness actually looks like in real life
• How to stop punishing yourself and start moving forward
• Letting go of past versions of yourself
• Why forgiveness doesn’t mean “it was okay”

👉 Join our weekly Zoom meeting (safe, supportive, not AA): https://noalcoholneeded.net/meeting-faqs/

👉 Get to know the people behind the voices of No Alcohol Needed:

https://noalcoholneeded.net/meet-the-voices/

👉 Learn about private, 1:1 coaching:

https://createalifesofull.com/online-sober-coaching/

Social media affects mental health more than most of us realize. And now that AI-generated content is everywhere, it’s becoming harder to tell what’s real, what’s performative, and what’s draining us.

In this episode of No Alcohol Needed, Julie Miller and Steve Knapp are joined by Robbie Pike and Kristyna Holler for a candid conversation about loneliness, doom scrolling, AI content, and what real connection actually looks like in an alcohol-free life.

If you’ve ever:

• Scrolled for “just a few minutes” and felt worse after
• Compared yourself to someone online and felt inadequate
• Gotten angry in a comment section
• Felt strangely lonely after spending hours on social media
• Wondered whether AI is changing how we relate to each other

This conversation is for you.

We talk about how social media affects mental health, how AI is reshaping authenticity online, and why so many people feel more disconnected than ever - even while constantly “connected.”

And most importantly, we talk about how to protect real human connection in a world that keeps pushing us toward screens.

Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or simply trying to build a healthier emotional life, this episode will challenge how you think about social media and connection.

At No Alcohol Needed (formerly Through the Glass Recovery Podcast) we’re hanging out at the intersection of emotional wellness, personal growth, and living an alcohol-free life.

We talk about emotional intelligence, self-worth, sobriety, and how to build a life you don’t wish you could escape from.

---

Learn more about the podcast and the work we do: https://noalcoholneeded.net

---

Meet our guests:

https://noalcoholneeded.net/meet-the-voices/

Emotional intelligence (or "EQ") is the ability to perceive, interpret, demonstrate, control, evaluate, and use emotions. Described this way, it's easy to see the link between emotional intelligence and addiction. Dealing with challenging emotions is the number one cause of relapse, and for many of us who struggle with addictive behaviors, we never developed the skillset necessary to cope with these emotions in healthy ways.

We've invited Nick (The People DisPleaser); Mike, founder of Sober Press, and sober author Ginelle to share what they've learned about emotional intelligence. Anyone who is actively in recovery from addiction knows they need to develop their EQ. Listen to this podcast episode all about the value of emotional intelligence, and how to develop the skills and mindset necessary to stop the emotional struggle.

In this episode:

• Learning to recognize feelings and emotions
• How Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown helped us learn to name emotions
• Using somatic exercises to develop intuition, aligning the heart and the mind
• Finding the courage to learn and practice vulnerability
• The value of talking to others, either in the recovery community or in counseling
• Kindness and honesty as emotional skills
• How our natural reactions evolve over time
• Recognizing the physiological and emotional value of crying
• Learning to allow feelings to be exactly what they are
• How feelings and emotions are influenced by others
• the 5 parts of emotional intelligence

---

This week’s podcast guests are:

Nick, the People DisPleaser

Mike, creator of SoberPress

Ginelle, author of Make a Home Out of You

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

When your subconscious, underlying beliefs conflict with what you've learned to be actually true (cognitive dissonance), it becomes very difficult to permanently overcome addiction. But what does that mean? How does it work? And most importantly, how do you fix it?

In this sobriety podcast episode, we've invited Angie B, director of Peer180 RCO in Grand Junction, CO, and Matt, co-creator of The Mocktails Made Us, to share their experiences with rewriting old narratives surrounding alcohol. They share what beliefs they used to carry, and how they've worked to rewrite them, so that they can thrive in long-term sobriety.

In this episode:

• The belief that you can't trust yourself
• Changing it up - using skills learned from trauma to serve others
• Allowing others to share their perspectives and differing beliefs
• Breaking out of societal norms
• The belief that drinking is what you're "supposed to do"
• Asking for help - it's not weak!
• Expressing emotions, even when you were taught not to
• Understanding the link between cognitive dissonance and addiction
• Reframing conflict to be something you welcome, instead of something you fear

---

Matt is one-half of "The Mocktails Made Us" duo alongside his girlfriend, Brittany. As an alcohol-free couple living in Las Vegas, they advocate for the benefits of an alcohol-free lifestyle, proving that if they can avoid alcohol in "Sin City," it's possible anywhere.

After spending 20 years in a destructive cycle of alcohol use, Matt had his last drink on New Year's Eve 2022, initially committing to a dry January. Feeling great thereafter, he decided to embrace an alcohol-free lifestyle permanently. Join Matt and Brittany on their journey @themocktailsmadeus on Instagram and on their "The Mocktails Made Me" podcast at https://rss.com/podcasts/themocktailmademe."

---

Angie B. Grew up in Detroit, Ml, spent 3 years in Minneapolis MN and moved to Grand Junction in 1987. She loves being in the Grand Valley-away from the cold! Angie has a Bachelor's Degree in Operational Management. She spent 10 years working with the National Council on Alcoholism/Drug Abuse and her next 15 overseeing the Mesa County AmeriCorps Project.  She started with Peer 180 Recovery Community Organization as a Board Member in 2020, Volunteered as Exec. Director Nov. 2020 and was hired as Exec. Director in May 2021.  A Recovery Coach herself, she has since become an Academy Trainer in order to help others get their foot in the door. In May 2022 Peer 180 acquired the old Union Station Building to rent and has become a Recovery Community Center. Angie is in long term sustained recovery- 43 years and has maintained a recovery assistance home for 25 of those. Her passions are riding her Harley, her dog (Clutch), camping, organizing recovery events, helping others and developing a Flower Farm to retire to.

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

Grief and alcohol don't mix. We all know this... and yet, when grief strikes, it's hard not to want to numb the pain. We get it.

In this sober podcast episode, we gathered some very special people with poignant stories together to share what they've learned about navigating grief sober. Polly has lost not one, but two husbands. Dave's step daughter passed away suddenly last year when he was 8 months sober. And Corina shares about the grief of divorce, along with the grief of losing loved ones.

Listen as they share their stories in this very honest, open conversation about why grief and alcohol don't belong together, and how to move through grief in healthier ways instead.

"The tools we use for sobriety aren't just for sobriety - they're tools for life."

In this episode:

• The fear of facing grief, and how it leads to even more alcohol use
• Everyone experiences grief differently, and that's okay
• Drinking only postpones the feelings that eventually must be felt
• Allow space for things that make you smile amidst the grief
• Grieving relationships - friendships, divorce
• Dealing with the anger and bitterness that come with grief
• Facing the fear of the unknown after experiencing a loss
• Learning to surf the waves of grief, similar to surfing the waves of cravings
• Using the tools of sobriety to cope with grief in healthy ways

If you're facing tough emotions and could use some more guidance in doing it sober check out these other podcast episodes:

Cope With Emotions (Without Alcohol)

Managing Negative Emotions in Recovery

---

Corina is currently living her best sober life with her partner Greg and their rescue animals (2 former street cats from Egypt and a wild puppy monster from Edmonton’s SPCA). She works locally as a special education teacher and spends her free time enjoying nature walks or bike rides along the ocean or on the many trail systems nearby. Her healing journey in sobriety has come with beautiful gifts including authenticity, acceptance, compassion, and peace with others as well as herself. As the adventure continues, she gratefully looks forward with to more opportunities for discovery  believing that “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” 

— Brené Brown, Rising Strong

---

Hello world! I am Dave. After an over 20 year drinking career it was time to retire. I am growing and learning about myself everyday. Presence with family is my favorite gift recovery has given me. I didn’t know it also came with a community of beautiful people and connection. My hope is to inspire and support others with sharing my story through Instagram and fb. Follow my journey, @djsobershorts.

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

Talking to your kids about your addiction is hard and it's scary, but it's also necessary. When you're a parent and you're working through addiction and recovery, it's a challenge to know how much to share, and how to share it, with your children. In this groundbreaking episode, we have a conversation with Matt and Rachael about how we've approached talking to our own kids - of all ages - about our recovery. This is also a very personal episode, because Julie's teenage daughter Cora joins us, to share with our listeners what it's like from her perspective.

If you've got kids, this episode is a MUST listen.

In this episode:

• Preparing for the hard questions your kids WILL eventually ask you
• Allowing our kids to share what they experienced, without getting defensive or upset
• The value of letting your kids see your flaws
• Making your kids feel safe enough to ask for help
• Creating a space where families can talk about addiction and recovery without shame or fear
• How sharing our experiences with alcohol can affect the decisions they make when they're confronted with it
• Co-parenting with different viewpoints
• Resources are available to support your kids, if you don't feel capable right now

---

Matt, a 39 year old father of two from Burnt Hills, New York is14 and a half months sober.  He always believed he would get sober but at the same time feared it may never come.  The past five and half years have been a battle with alcohol that he wishes upon no one.  Along the way he has had the constant support of his family, friends and so many he has met along the way to help him achieve sobriety.  He wants to thank you all for sticking with him through all this. 

He’d like people to know that substance abuse and mental health issues do not discriminate and that if you are struggling there are people out there who want to and who will help you.  Matthew Perry always said to people who are struggling “It’s not your fault”, but this Matthew believes it’s your responsibility.  It’s your responsibility to acknowledge, accept and treat it every day, just like you would any other disease. 

Be kind to those who are still struggling.  Sobriety is hard, but it’s worth it.

shamman780 – instagram

Ben Meyer Recovery Foundation Youtube Video

---

My name is Rachael and I’m a proud to say I’m in long term recovery from both drugs and alcohol. My recovery date is 7/30/2017. I have chosen not to be anonymous and to use my voice and passion to help others like me find a solution. I am a harm reductionist and a certified peer support specialist in 2 states as well as recovery advocate. I am passionate about helping and inspiring others to better themselves which is why I created my page  Addict with Purpose. https://www.facebook.com/addictwithpurpose/

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find us on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

I would love to waltz in here and tell you all your friendships are going to be even better when you get sober. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Losing friends when you quit drinking is one of those challenges that nearly everyone has to learn to cope with, and it can be a very real struggle. It's painful to lose friendships, or even to watch them change as we move into this new, alcohol free phase of our lives.

We've gathered three fantastic guests to join us on this episode, to share what they've experienced and also what they've learned. Jason (Sober Gangster); Lisa (Hart2Heart Coaching); and our good friend Monica get real about how they're navigating a whole new social experience, sans alcohol. Have a listen - you'll walk away knowing you're not alone, and with some new ideas and perspectives to help you on your own journey of sobriety.

In this episode:

• How your circle shrinks as you get older, and especially in recovery - and how that's a natural process
• Exploring how your standards change as you begin the work of emotional sobriety
• Dealing with surface level, superficial friendships
• Being intentional with where you put your energy
• How to be a real friend
• Navigating friendships with people who aren't sober
• How to find people that are on a similar path
• Surprising fact: losing friends who ARE in your recovery circles is quite common
• Grieving lost friendships
• How to build a core community - no matter how long you've been at this
• Understanding that recovery changes us - and our friends have to learn to work through that, too
• How to use the internet to find people to build connections with

Want to hear more about friendships? Check out this episode from last season!

---

At 18, I entered prison. At 19, facing a potential 10+ years for parole violation, a pivotal decision changed my life. In a jail cell on October 12, 1996, at 3 a.m., I swore off mind-altering substances. The 21st encounter with handcuffs pushed me to break free. Living clean and sober for 27 years, I’ve found genuine freedom—earned through work, willingness, and honesty. Sobriety, my most gangster feat, opens doors to a life beyond imagination. – Jason Williams aka Sober Gangster

https://www.instagram.com/sober.gangster

https://www.facebook.com/Sobergangster

---

Hi, I’m Monica! I’m 54, reside in southern New Jersey, USA, and I am over 3.5 years sober. On Dec. 31, 2019, I woke up with my last hangover. I was finally done making life harder on myself, hurting my relationships, and slowly killing myself. I’ve learned that sobriety is a never-ending journey to becoming the person you were meant to be. It’s been incredibly hard, at times, but the gifts that sobriety have given me are much bigger than any hurdles I’ve overcome. I’ve worked to heal from my past, strengthened my relationships with my kids and husband, built a thriving massage practice, and made forever friends in recovery. I wouldn’t trade my sober life for anything.

---

My name is Lisa Hart Anderson. I am a sober woman in her 5th decade reinventing her life in this beautiful world of recovery. I am a Certified Recovery Coach where my passion is to help others stay on the sober path and find joy and fun again in this new life of sobriety. I have been married 33 years, have 3 grown sons, and embracing the empty nester world as I continue to help and encourage others. Throughout my life, I have been an educator, mentor,instructor and coach. It has always been in my heart to teach, guide and inspire with compassion and empathy. Insta and TikTok- hart2heartcoaching Website -harttoheart.coach.

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

When your liquid courage goes away, how do you get past the social anxiety when you get sober? First, just know you're not alone. So many people struggle with this! Remember when you walk into a situation that a lot of other people there are feeling just as awkward as you are.

We gathered some folks together who have all struggled with social anxiety, and they share their experiences and their wisdom, so hopefully you walk away with some more confidence and a deeper understanding of what it takes to move through social anxiety without alcohol. Join us as we chat with Robbie (host of Golden Hour Adventures podcast); Gina (also known as rapper Modern Day Monk); and Through the Glass regular Matt, as we wade into all those feelings of awkwardness and insecurity.

In this episode:

• Actionable tips to help you change your thought patterns in social situations
• How some of our guests made social anxiety go away completely
• Learning to make friends in sobriety
• Recognizing (and learning) your lacking social skills
• How to embrace the awkward
• Insecurity about appearance
• How Covid affected drinking, sobriety, and social interactions
• Overcoming the cycle of anxious thoughts
• Anxiety over how people are going to react to your decision to stay sober
• Facing the fear by pushing through it
• Letting people get to know the new, sober version of you
• Connection and vulnerability are the key to social anxiety (I mean, aren't they basically the key to everything?)
• Most people aren't hyper aware of others. I promise.
• Getting comfortable with yourself will give you the confidence to be comfortable with others

"Alcohol worked for me... until it didn't."

---

Hello my people! 

My name is Gina Murillo also known as Modern Day Monk. I'm a strong woman in long term sustained recovery and I live a wonderful life as a result of that. I consider myself a vibe influencer, a recovery rapper, and recovery speaker. I teach Muay Thai kickboxing and train Brazilian Jiu-jitsu at the best gym in Grand Junction called Grand Valley Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I'm also a full time student at Colorado State University and spend my free time helping others in all kinds of ways. My intention is to share my experience, strength, and hope with the world to help empower those around me. You can find some of the life lessons that I have learned on my social media, as I share them to inspire others. Thank you for taking the time to check out my journey. All love. 

https://moderndaymonkmusic.com

---

Robbie: I started my sobriety journey due to being sick of the same old story I would put myself though. I found my cannabis and alcohol use getting worse as the years went on. I used them to cope with everything and anything. I'm now nine months sober, I couldn't be happier with my decision to take on this new journey 

https://www.podbean.com/pa/pbblog-ua75n-e24517

---

Matt, a 39 year old father of two from Burnt Hills, New York is14 and a half months sober.  He always believed he would get sober but at the same time feared it may never come.  The past five and half years have been a battle with alcohol that he wishes upon no one.  Along the way he has had the constant support of his family, friends and so many he has met along the way to help him achieve sobriety.  He wants to thank you all for sticking with him through all this. 

He'd like people to know that substance abuse and mental health issues do not discriminate and that if you are struggling there are people out there who want to and who will help you.  Matthew Perry always said to people who are struggling “It’s not your fault”, but this Matthew believes it’s your responsibility.  It’s your responsibility to acknowledge, accept and treat it every day, just like you would any other disease. 

Be kind to those who are still struggling.  Sobriety is hard, but it’s worth it.

shamman780 - instagram

Ben Meyer Recovery Foundation Youtube Video

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

Is it possible to stay sober, when your spouse still drinks? This is one of the most common challenges our listeners have shared with us, so we've rounded up some guests to share their experiences with it. Of course, the answer is very personal and unique to your situation. But we hope that with some added perspective, maybe you'll find some tips and tools to navigate this situation in your home, if it's one you are struggling with.

Join us as we chat with Kate (Walking The Straight Line), Jordana (Executive Director of a healthcare organization) and Through the Glass regular Sherralynn about how our partner's drinking has affected our sobriety, and how we've learned to handle it.

In this episode:

• Understanding that you aren't the problem - it's not your fault
• Codependency and enmeshment, and how they affect our marriages
• You can't fix or save anyone, no matter how much you love them
• Prioritize building a support community
• You can't get sober for someone else - and that applies to your spouse as well
• Shifting away from being "drinking buddies" and finding a new identity within the marriage
• Making the decision to separate
• Knowing and communicating boundaries
• Understanding what is your responsibility, and not taking on more than that
• Finding the courage to communicate your needs
• Learning to prioritize yourself and your sobriety

Meet our guests:

My name is Jordana Blesa sober 11 years. Sobriety date 12.27.12. I was born in South America (Argentina) raised in sunny California. I was born into a family of Medical Professionals who were very successful in the medical field. I struggled with school growing up and was labeled with several mental health diagnoses so I believed for a long time “I was and am a problem”. Through my journey of recovery I see that mental health is a “super power” and with the appropriate tools, resources and authentic relationships 

I am more than capable and competent. 

As a young adult I was home schooled and placed in sports: Gymastics and Figure Skating. I excelled at sports and travelled the world as a professional figure skating representing the USA. After several traumatic events I walked away from the sport and went down a journey of self-sabotage, self-imposed crisis and overcame all obstacles and barriers by grace. Through anger and “proving a point” I was able to obtain my Bachelors degree in business and my MBA. All my experiences have led me to work in the behavioral health field. I currently work as an Executive Director for a healthcare organization and have been for the past 4 years helping family members, loved ones, dependent individuals and showing them with a team how recovery is beautiful, rewarding and life is meant to be lived. My mantra is “your past does not define you”. Personally I am an advocate for recovery, live my truth, help others in the recovery community and try my best plant the seed that recovery is possible. I am 39 years old, married and living in Baltimore, Maryland pursuing my dreams in healthcare with a robust team by building from the ground up a 300 bed substance abuse/ mental healthcare facility revolutionizing treatment for Marylanders. 

 My goal is to continue to disrupt the industry of healthcare, continue planting seeds that recovery is possible and being a living example that recovery is possible. “Together we can change the world”. 

Social media- 

Instagram- jordy_84-https://www.instagram.com/jordy_84?igsh=Nmp5bnp2Y2h1YnJ0&utm_source=qr

Facebook- Jordana Blesa-https://www.facebook.com/TiAmoMiAmore?mibextid=AEUHqQ

Linked In- Jordana Blesa-https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordana-blesa-a05b15b4?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Non-profit Director for f#ck the Stigma

Instagram  - https://www.instagram.com/fukthestigma?igsh=MXNwMzM4b2Y2MHc3eA==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FTStigma?mibextid=AEUHqQ

YouTube- https://youtube.com/@fthestigma?si=q5BY8ji_lax3J3Wy

---

Kate Taylor is a seasoned writer and editor, having worked in London, New York and Rome and with companies such as Disney and the United Nations. She is a big voice on Instagram where she talks about her sobriety and the journey from drinking wine on a nightly basis to where she is today. You can follow her at @walking_the_straight_line

---

Sherralynn is a bookish, Anglo-French mum of three who is currently between jobs, but a communicator by profession. She was raised in Norfolk, UK and lives near Paris, France with her French family and cat. Sherralynn’s sober journey began in 2016 after discovering This Naked Mind, and becoming “sober curious”. One baby and several other breaks from alcohol later, she found her sober tribe in August 2022, including Julie and Steve, and hasn’t looked back since. She can be found at @sober_af_for_today on Instagram, or on IAS under Motivated_AF.

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com for more information about all of the sobriety resources we offer!

Honesty is one of those topics that seems pretty simple and clear cut at first, but starts getting a little squirmier the more you dig into it. There's layers there, too. Many of us tend to think we're pretty honest folks, but as we work more and more on our recovery, we start recognizing areas of our lives where we'd actually been quite dishonest... and that's especially true when it comes to being honest with ourselves. We've invited three inspiring people in long term recovery to come chat with us, and reflect on how honesty has played in a role in their recovery from alcoholism... and how that's evolved over the course of time. Listen as we talk with Kenny, Emily, and Adam and get real about honesty.

In this episode:

• Honesty with yourself - and how that evolves with greater self awareness
• Excuses and lies of omission
• Using lies to hide and cover up addictions, imperfections, mistakes and flaws
• Dishonesty and perfectionism
• Advocating for yourself as a part of honesty
• Recognizing the physical reaction that happens when you are dishonest
• How ego applies to honesty
• Understanding - and getting honest about - underlying subconscious beliefs
• The freedom that comes with living an open and honest life

---

About our guests:

Kenny Hill is a combat veteran who has been sober for 17 years. He now works as a therapist with addiction and trauma in his private practice, called Recovery Hill.

Beyond his professional life, Kenny has a podcast called Patina’d Podcast, where resilience is the underlying theme as guests discuss their origin stories. This podcast can be found on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcast. 

https://www.youtube.com/@PatinadPodcast/featured

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/patinad-podcast/id1728582206

He also put together a mini-documentary series specific to addiction called “Story Of.” Each guest has sustainable recovery, and shares their experience and personal tips for long-term sobriety. Here is the link for ‘Story Of’:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZhkvLzyf87EjpTsLguktlPllq_kJmM2m

Kenny's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenny_from_recoveryhill/

And Patina’d Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patinad_podcast/

---

Adam Head spent the majority of adulthood running from a life that he found unfulfilling by drowning it in vodka and peppermint schnapps. This eventually landed him in the hospital with a diagnosis of acute alcohol induced liver failure. Fast forward through five rehabs, hundreds of meetings and a divorce, and he still found himself drinking. Until he discovered CBT, Spirituality, and the power of identity. He now lives a life he describes as overflowing with joy and is "effortlessly sober."

X - @theadamhead

www.adamthead.com

---

As always, you can find more information about our guests, as well as all of the other resources Julie and Steve offer, at throughtheglassrecovery.com

For many of us, our actions and behaviors have left our family and loved ones no longer trusting us, even after we've stopped drinking. So that begs the question - how do you regain trust after quitting alcohol? We've gathered Rachael, founder of Addict with Purpose; Michael, founder of SoberPress; and our adventurous friend Nadine to talk about what regaining trust from others - and in ourselves - has looked like in our lives.

In this episode:

• Learning to trust oneself
• Consistency and time as the foundation of trust
• Learning to do things that build trust
• The value of authenticity in trust building
• Honesty is a core component of trust
• Living the apology
• Understanding that we can't put a timeframe on someone else's trust
• How to apologize with action
• Learning to trust yourself through the hard times
• Humility and its role in building trust
• Also: learning to trust others

To learn more about Nadine, Rachael, and Mike, click here

Visit our website at Through the Glass Recovery for access to weekly zoom support meetings, our weekly newsletter, and other resources to support your sobriety.

Let's chat about self esteem and sobriety - and why it's so important. Life doesn't automatically just get easy when you quit drinking. Uncomfortable emotions still crop up from time to time, and one of the best things we can do is develop the skills to move through those emotions in a healthy way. One of the emotions that throws people for a loop is insecurity, so that's what we're gonna tackle today.

In this episode, we've invited sober influencer Azure, sober podcaster Brianna, and sober influencer Ginelle to come share with us how they've dealt with insecurity, and what they've done to increase their self esteem since they stopped drinking. If we can learn healthy ways to step out of insecurity and into confidence, we'll be able to handle life that much better. Stay tuned for some great insight and some helpful tips that you'll be able to use the next time insecurity gets the best of you.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The difference between external and internal self esteem
• The value of trusting and believing in your own intuition
• Letting go of living to impress others, and finding the courage to stop being fake
• How to define realistic expectations so you can reasonably lower your standards
• Learn the importance of small, esteemable acts and how to incorporate them into your life
• Understand how excessive apologizing minimizes our value and lowers self worth
• How to cope when regret is the source of your insecurity
• The value of therapy - not just in sobriety, but in building self esteem
• The interconnectedness of shame, vulnerability, and healthy self esteem

To learn more about Ginelle, Azure, and Brianna, click here

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com for access to weekly zoom support meetings, our weekly newsletter, and other resources to support your sobriety.

You can be doing everything “right” in your relationships - showing up, being agreeable, staying committed - and still feel deeply lonely.

In this episode of No Alcohol Needed, hosts Julie Miller and Steve Knapp are joined by Mike Coyne and Christen Miller for an honest conversation about why relationships often feel empty even after you’ve stopped drinking and started working on yourself.

This isn’t a conversation about fixing your partner or trying harder. It’s about the patterns many of us learned early on - performing, people-pleasing, staying quiet, avoiding conflict -  and how those habits quietly block real connection.

Together, they explore:

• Why effort doesn’t automatically create intimacy
• How performative relationships keep us feeling unseen
• The difference between being partnered and being connected
• Why vulnerability feels so risky - and why it matters
• How healthier relationships support emotional stability and happiness

This episode is for anyone who is emotionally aware, doing the work, and still wondering, “Is this really as good as it gets?”

---

If this conversation resonates and you’re feeling stuck in “emotionally aware but still lonely,” you’re not alone.

You can explore more episodes and resources here: https://noalcoholneeded.net

The stereotypical "alcoholic" is seen as selfish. Always focused on their own gain, getting their needs met, and using other people to make that happen. 

But... it's actually far more common for people struggling with alcohol misuse to be people pleasers. They bend over backward, taking care of everyone, keeping everyone happy, to the point where they find themselves exhausted, empty, and full of resentment. People pleasing can be a huge pitfall in maintaining lasting sobriety. Today we're joined by Robbie, co-host of Golden Hour Adventures podcast; Leah, sober yoga instructor; and Daph, recovery coach and sober companion, to chat about what people pleasing looks like in our lives, how it affects us, and how we've found the courage to say no more often.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• People pleasing as the desire to be liked and to fit in
• Understanding the pressure that people pleasing places on us in our daily lives
• Saying yes when we really mean no, and how that leads to resentment, which leads to drinking
• Boundaries and how to set them if you're a people pleaser
• People pleasing to avoid conflict
• Dealing with the guilt and resentment that we carry from decisions made from people pleasing
• Learning - and remembering - to check in with yourself
• Early sobriety requires a certain amount of being 'selfish'
• Working through the fear of disappointing others

To learn more about Robbie, Leah, and Daph, click here

Visit our website at Through the Glass Recovery for access to weekly zoom support meetings, our weekly newsletter, and other resources to support your sobriety.

We hear from a lot of people who are struggling with finding purpose in recovery. That feeling of being lost, of just floating through life, can be frustrating and can even lead to thoughts of drinking again. We know that if you have found your purpose in life, and you've found the courage to live out that purpose, maintaining lasting sobriety becomes achievable. So we've gathered together a group of folks to share their experiences in finding their purpose, and how it's looked in their lives. You'll hear from sober podcast host Michal, sober influencer Gary, and John, who is a sober ultra runner. We hope you're inspired to dig a bit deeper, and take the steps necessary to live out your own purpose.

In this episode, we talk about...

• Defining our values so that we can more clearly understand our purpose
• Allowing your purpose to evolve with you
• How sobriety provides the clarity necessary to discover your purpose
• Everyone has a gift. To know your gift is to know your purpose - or at least get you pointed in the right direction.
• Purpose is nearly always centered in helping others in some way
• Don't overcomplicate it! Your purpose is likely something quite simple.
• Finding purpose in recovery means you must first discover your true identity
• Experiment with what works. Keep an open mind and be willing to change directions often.
• What to do if you know your purpose, but you're too afraid to say it out loud

If you're feeling alone in your sober journey, if you're wishing you had some extra sobriety support, this sober podcast episode is for you. We've gathered three inspiring women to share with us how they've built a sober support network that works for them. The conversation explains perfectly how no one recovery journey is the same as any other, and how our needs for support in recovery are as unique as our journeys. Listen as we chat with TikToker Taylor, Courtney, author of The One Brought Back , and Through the Glass regular Sherralynn, and discovery many new resources that you can use to build a sobriety support network of your very own.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The I Am Sober app and community where Steve, Julie, and Sherralynn all met
• Why it's important to find people who are also in recovery, so they can relate to your experiences
• How to find online meetings (like the ones we host!)
• The pros ad cons of telling your immediate family and friends right away
• Courtney's journey through court ordered rehab, AA, and other recovery programs and how it was helpful for her
• How your church family can provide sobriety support
• Figuring out where you feel the most safe, so that you can be vulnerable
• How people who aren't in recovery just don't understand, and how that's okay
• The importance of continuing to experiment with new sources of support, as you continue to grow on your journey
• Not knowing what to expect at a support meeting, and what it's really like when you finally do show up

To learn more about Sherralynn, Courtney, and Taylor, visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com 

There, you can also sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

Urges and cravings to drink alcohol look different for everyone, but most of us can agree on one thing: there's a voice that pipes up inside our head, trying to convince us to drink. That voice sounds a lot like our own, and it gets really creative and tricky, trying to find ways to get you to give in and have the drink you've been working so hard to avoid. It's not unlike the angel on one side and the devil on another. In this podcast episode, we're joined by sober influencer Elle (@soberinthesprings) and Rich, a recovery coach, to talk about what that voice sounds like inside our heads. We share some practical tips and tricks to shut the voice down and manage the urgest and cravings so common in early sobriety.

In this episode:

• Knowing when you've reached a limit
• Giving yourself permission to do whatever you must, to put your sobriety first
• The alcohol voice is a bully
• How alcohol marketing gives alcohol its voice
• Learning to confront and question thoughts
• The drinking voice is an alarm - let's talk about how to respond to it.
• Mental tips and tricks to move through an urge to drink
• How we compare our problems to others and use that to justify our drinking
• Our #1 tool for dealing with the drinking voice

To learn more about our guests, visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

So it turns out, a lot of us were really bad at communicating. And then we got sober, and realized we couldn't just hide from difficult conversations and conflict anymore. We had to actually learn how to handle it. And it started with learning healthy communication skills in recovery. In this podcast episode, we dig into communication, and how to handle conflict effectively, after you get sober. We're joined by Mike, creator of Own Sobriety; Chris, creator of More Than 28; sober influencer Higgy, and our friend Melissa for a conversation about how we've learned healthy communication skills in recovery.

In this episode:

• Finding the courage to say what you need to say
• Learning to identify and then express needs
• Understanding that conflict in relationships is normal
• Facing the shame of forgetting drunken conversations
• Developing active listening skills
• Recognizing when you are being heard
• You must know yourself in order to communicate effectively
• Recognizing and unlearning unhealthy behaviors (i.e. manipulation)
• Honesty and communication skills in recovery
• How to communicate without the "lubricant" of alcohol
• Gaining confidence and self awareness in sobriety allows for improved communication
• Identifying and communicating boundaries

To learn more about our guests, visit our webite at throughtheglassrecovery.com

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

In this Valentine's Day episode, we invite our guests to share their thoughts on love. We share what we've learned about love and how it affects our relationships in recovery. You'll hear from sober influencer Amber, Jared Blaine - host of the Blaklist Podcast, and sober influencer Jennifer, about how their understanding of love has changed as they've worked on healing and understanding themselves. Each of us walked away with a new understanding of love, and we know you will, too.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Sobriety allows us to show up in loving relationships in the way that others deserve.
• Understanding attachment theory and how it pertains to our relationships is helpful.
• Our upbringing models love to us, and creates our definition of love.
• Learning to embrace solitude when you're single
• Discovering and understanding emotional needs, and how to meet them.
• It is possible to be loved by someone, but not feel loved by them.
• Love is an action, and it requires constant practice.
• Loving someone from afar, or leaving in love, can both be healthy solutions.
• How codependency and love are interrelated.
• Conflict in love - what it looks like, and determining healthy vs. toxic relationships in recovery.

In this episode, we mention the following books and resources:

Codependent No More by Melody Beattie

Rewired by Erica Speigelman

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman (Click the link to take a quiz and discover your own love language!)

If you loved this conversation and want to learn more about how our understand of love changes in recovery, be sure to check out this episode.

To learn more about our guests visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

Vulnerability is one of the hardest pieces of a strong recovery foundation, but it's also one of the most important. Without embracing the discomfort, you'll never find the connection that is truly the key to thriving once you quit drinking. In this podcast episode, we are joined by Justin from The Hope Shot, Casey from F-around and Recover, and our friend Matt to talk about the challenges they have faced when it comes to showing up vulnerably. We talk not only about the wins, but also the struggles, especially when it comes to men and facing society's beliefs surrounding vulnerability. 

In this episode:

• Showing and receiving love feels vulnerable
• It takes time to break down walls and let people in
• Drinking numbs our emotions; vulnerability is allowing ourselves to feel them
• Calculated risk: knowing when you're ready to face something vulnerable
• Despite society's beliefs, vulnerability is strength and courage
• Being vulnerable with strangers is sometimes easier
• Ownership of our mistakes and flaws is vulnerability
• How honesty pertains to vulnerability
• Why the people close to us are the hardest to be vulnerable with
• Facing fear and standing up for yourself
• Misplaced vulnerability - finding the right person with whom to share your truth

Today February 5th, Matt celebrates one year of Sobriety.  This is something he always believed would happen but at the same time feared may never come.  The past five and half years have been a battle with alcohol that he wishes upon no one.  Along the way he has had the constant support of his family, friends and so many he has met along the way helping him achieve sobriety.  He wants to thank you all for sticking with him through all this. 

He'd like people to know that substance abuse and mental health issues do not discriminate and that if you are struggling there are people out there who want to and who will help you.  Matthew Perry always said to people who are struggling “It’s not your fault”, but this Matthew believes it’s your responsibility.  It’s your responsibility to acknowledge, to accept and to treat it every day, just like you would any other disease. 

Be kind to those who are still struggling.  Sobriety is hard, but it’s worth it.

Casey Jordan is a recovery advocate and father of 2 from Hillsboro, Ohio. When Casey made the choice to get sober in May of 2022, he quickly became passionate about spreading hope to others in active addiction. He started the online recovery community “F Around & Recover” shortly after finishing an inpatient rehab program as a way to connect with other sober individuals and inspire anyone struggling to take the first step toward recovery. Since founding F Around & Recover, Casey has increasingly focused his energy on spreading the message that recovery is NOT “one size fits all”, feeling strongly that people shouldn’t be shamed for using different paths to sobriety. His dream is to play a role in recovery and sober living programs being implemented in rural communities. When Casey isn’t running “F Around & Recover”, he can usually be found spending time with his young kids.

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

For many of our listeners, Dry January is coming to a close, and you're starting to think about maintaining sobriety going forward. If you've decided you want to keep going, but you're not sure what that needs to look like, this episode is just for you. We've invited Chuck LaFlange, host of the Ashes to Awesome podcast, Jason Williams of Sober Gangster, and sober influencer Hayley Delashmit to dig into what it looks like after you've gotten used to not drinking, and are ready to start moving forward into really building an alcohol free life. We ask them the question, "What Now?" and they all share their very different, very valuable experience.

In this episode:

• Periods of growth come and go, ebb and flow. That's normal.
• How to avoid complacency - tips and tools for maintaining sobriety long term
• Finding your purpose, understanding that it will shift as time goes on
• Keep doing the things that work
• Start uncovering the reasons why you drank
• Learning to stay in the moment - the power of mindfulness
• Creating intention in day to day actions

Bonus topics:

• Dealing with the shame of relapse
• The power of social media in maintaining sobriety

At 18, I entered prison. At 19, facing a potential 10+ years for parole violation, a pivotal decision changed my life. In a jail cell on October 12, 1996, at 3 a.m., I swore off mind-altering substances. The 21st encounter with handcuffs pushed me to break free. Living clean and sober for 27 years, I’ve found genuine freedom—earned through work, willingness, and honesty. Sobriety, my most gangster feat, opens doors to a life beyond imagination. – Jason Williams aka Sober Gangster

https://www.instagram.com/sober.gangster/

https://www.facebook.com/Sobergangster

Chuck's 25-year struggle with addiction, marked by relapses and PTSD, took a turn following his father's death and his mother's constant reminder, "You are loved." This led to his recovery and the creation of the Ashes to Awesome Podcast. Alongside co-hosts Ryan Bathgate, and Dr. Lisa, the podcast addresses addiction and mental health, promoting hope, love, and acceptance. It's a platform for sharing stories and support, not only for those in recovery but also for their families, embodying a message of transformation and understanding.

Hi ya’ll I am Hayley Delashmit or “Giggles”. I was raised in Nashville, TN. I did take a random adventure and moved to Buffalo, NY in 2010 for 2 and a half years.(GO BILLS) . I currently live in a small farming and trucking town in Munford, TN. 

My sober birthday is January 11,2023. I recover out loud just so people know that they are seen and they matter. God gave me the strength and the voice to speak with kindness, grace and understanding just so I can let people know there is HOPE and that they are not ALONE.  This next chapter of my sober journey will be by Gods grace I get placed on the Liver Transplant list and in the meantime I will spread hope and smiles because smiles and laughter are contagious!  I am mostly found on  Facebook but I also have a tik tok & both are under my name, Hayley Delashmit!

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!

You can also find us on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

Sobriety vs. Recovery. You hear the words "sobriety" and "recovery" used interchangeably all the time, but there's a distinct difference, and if you're wanting to live a fulfilling life without alcohol, it's important that you understand what these words mean. In this episode, Steve is joined by Robbie, (host of Golden Hour Adventures podcast), Jon (author of Parables: Musings from an Addict on the Journey Toward Wholeness), Johnny Joy (creator of Sobritree app), and sober influencer Hayley to discuss what recovery has looked like in their lives, and how it differs from being "sober".

• Creating a recovery maintenance plan that suits your needs
• The value of connection in recovery
• Getting to know your authentic self
• What does, "dry drunk" mean?
• Growth as the foundation for recovery
• The benefits of the social media recovery community
• Learn to leave space for mistakes; recovery is trial and error
• It's about what works for you - this is YOUR journey
• Taking ownership of your recovery instead of placing blame
• Recovery doesn't mean giving up everything you enjoy

Want more insight on sobriety vs. recovery? Check out Episode 32: Are Sobriety And Recovery The Same?

This week's guests:

Johnny Joy. Yes that’s my real name. I am the founder of SobriTree, a resource guide for sobriety your way. I am a 4th generation Colorado Springs native, father of 2 amazing girls and husband to one incredible woman. I am a recovered drunk and pill addict, 10 years in March. My goal for the second half of my life is to help as many people save their own as possible, whenever I can, wherever possible. I am the luckiest guy I know and sobriety is the single most powerful thing that I have ever done. I want to share that message with the world.

Robbie started his sobriety journey due to being sick of the same old story he would put himself though. He found his cannabis and alcohol use getting worse as the years went on. He used them to cope with everything and anything. Robbie is now over a year sober, and couldn’t be happier with his decision to take on this new journey. Robbie co-hosts Golden Hour Adventures podcast and can be found on Instagram @runshills605.

Hi ya'll I am Hayley Delashmit or "Giggles". I was raised in Nashville, TN. I did take a random adventure and moved to Buffalo, NY in 2010 for 2 and a half years. (GO BILLS) . I currently live in a small farming and trucking town in Munford, TN. 

My sober birthday is January 11,2023. I recover out loud just so people know that they are seen and they matter. God gave me the strength and the voice to speak with kindness, grace and understanding just so I can let people know there is HOPE and that they are not ALONE.  This next chapter of my sober journey will be by Gods grace I get placed on the Liver Transplant list and in the meantime I will spread hope and smiles because smiles and laughter are contagious!  I am mostly found on  Facebook but I also have a tik tok & both are under my name, Hayley Delashmit!

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

Nearly everyone experiences shame in recovery… and it seems many of us drank to try to avoid feeling shame in the first place. "I drank to avoid feeling the shame of drinking," is a familiar concept to many of us. The shame cycle perpetuates, keeping us going round and round and never quite knowing how to stop. In this episode, we address dealing with shame in recovery. We're joined by social media sober influencers Benjamin Lerner and Sonya Johnson, and CEO of Camelback Recovery Tim Westbrook as we talk about how shame held us trapped in our addictions, and how overcoming that was key to staying successfully sober.

"I drank to avoid feeling the shame from drinking."

In this episode:

• Using honesty to combat shame
• Avoiding the feeling of shame by drinking, lying, and other unhealthy habits
• Talking about what you're ashamed of is ultimately how you'll set yourself free
• Finding the right people to share your truth with is imperative
• Allowing someone to walk alongside you in the hardest of times
• Trying to avoid feeling shame with perfectionism
• How perfectionism can lead to relapse
• Learning to live in the "gray" area of life, as opposed to black and white thinking
• Understanding that lifting shame makes us stronger in our recovery

"I thought I was a bad person because I couldn't stop. That just continued the shame cycle."

To learn more about our guests, visit out website at throughtheglassrecovery.com

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

Stress doesn’t go away just because you stop drinking - or just because you do the ‘self care’ stuff that someone told you to do.

In this episode of No Alcohol Needed, we talk about how to handle stress without alcohol in a way that actually works in real life. Not bubble baths. Not pretending everything is fine. Not dumping positive thinking on top of real stress and hoping it goes away.

Self-care - the kind that works - helps regulate your nervous system, build self-trust, and move through overwhelm instead wishing you could numb out.

Julie Miller and Steve Knapp are joined by Janice Dowd and Amber Fenner for an honest conversation about:

• Why stress feels so overwhelming
• Why self-care often “doesn’t work”
• How stress shows up physically and emotionally
• What real self-care looks like in daily life and in crisis
• How learning to handle stress builds confidence and self-trust

This episode is for anyone who feels overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or tired of relying on alcohol or other numbing habits to cope.

At No Alcohol Needed (formerly Through the Glass Recovery Podcast) we’re hanging out at the intersection of emotional wellness, personal growth, and living an alcohol-free life.

We talk about emotional intelligence, self-worth, sobriety, and how to build a life you don’t wish you could escape from.

Learn more about the podcast and the work we do: https://noalcoholneeded.net

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Free weekly group sessions on Zoom Real conversations that go beyond the alcohol https://noalcoholneeded.net/meeting-faqs/

Julie’s writing on sober living and emotional growth: https://createalifesofull.com

Browse the full library of podcast episodes: https://noalcoholneeded.net/category/blog/

When you've been sober for a bit, boredom seems to be one of the first challenges that shows up. How to fill all that free time? This is especially true if you don't have any hobbies, or if your social life revolved around drinking. In this episode, we're joined by Adriana from Dear Recovery, Jason from Sober Gangster, and sober rapper Gina (Modern Day Monk) to talk about how we dealt with boredom in early sobriety, and how we deal with it now that we've been doing this for awhile. If you struggle to fill your time and find yourself wishing away the hours in the day, this episode is for you!

In this episode:

• Loneliness and boredom sometimes go hand in hand
• Connecting with others is an almost instant cure to boredom
• Rediscovering hobbies that alcohol had pushed aside
• Learning not to overwhelm yourself with activities and to-do lists
• Exploring the link between creativity and drinking
• New hobbies and activities help build recovery skills
• Boredom is not a bad thing!
• Boredom is the door to creativity and trying new things
• Learning to appreciate the stillness and quiet
• Boredom encourages self reflection and "doing the work" of recovery
• Asking yourself, "Where's the void in my life?" and having the courage to address it
• Discovering "biohacks" to make life - and sobriety - easier and more comfortable

Want to learn more about the EFT tapping that Adriana mentions? Check out this link.

The group also discusses the benefits of cold plunging.

If you're still struggling with boredom in sobriety, check out this past episode, where a different group of people share their experiences.

Hello my people! 

My name is Gina Murillo also known as Modern Day Monk. I'm a strong woman in long term sustained recovery and I live a wonderful life as a result of that. I consider myself a vibe influencer, a recovery rapper, and recovery speaker. I teach Muay Thai kickboxing and train Brazilian Jiu-jitsu at the best gym in Grand Junction called Grand Valley Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I'm also a full time student at Colorado State University and spend my free time helping others in all kinds of ways. My intention is to share my experience, strength, and hope with the world to help empower those around me. You can find some of the life lessons that I have learned on my social media, as I share them to inspire others. Thank you for taking the time to check out my journey. All love. 

https://moderndaymonkmusic.com

Jason Williams:

At 18, I entered prison. At 19, facing a potential 10+ years for parole violation, a pivotal decision changed my life. In a jail cell on October 12, 1996, at 3 a.m., I swore off mind-altering substances. The 21st encounter with handcuffs pushed me to break free. Living clean and sober for 27 years, I've found genuine freedom—earned through work, willingness, and honesty. Sobriety, my most gangster feat, opens doors to a life beyond imagination. - Jason Williams aka Sober Gangster

https://www.instagram.com/sober.gangster/

https://www.facebook.com/Sobergangster

Adriana is a person in long-term recovery that was born and raised in Europe, but lives in NY. For the last half a decade, Adriana has been working in the Mental Health and Addiction field. She has a few different certifications as a Sr Peer Specialist, and is also licensed as a Counselor. Adriana is the Founder & Creator of Dear Recovery, a Clothing Brand & Social Media platform that starts conversations and helps ends the stigma surrounding Mental Health and Addiction.

Facebook.com/DearRecovery

@DearRecovery on Facebook, instagram and TikTok.

DearRecovery.com

Early sobriety is filled with challenges. It means getting through cravings, making huge changes in your life and in your mindset, and sticking with the promise you made to yourself to stop drinking alcohol. When you have no idea what to expect, so many different things can throw you off course in those first 30 days. So we've gathered some people to talk about what the first 30 days looked like for them, to give you some insight, so you can go into this prepared for the challenges. 

In this episode:

• Freedom from the hiding and the lies that create so much anxiety
• Practicing gratitude
• Making healthy choices to support your sobriety
• Finding a mentor to support you
• Building self respect and self worth
• Why you shouldn't wait to make changes
• Focusing on one thing at a time
• Understanding that there's no one size fits all recovery method
• Junk food is 100% acceptable
• Admitting you have a problem is where you'll find freedom
• Asking for (and accepting) help is key

If you've decided 2024 is your year to take back your life from alcohol, check out the following:

Episode 52: How To Beat Alcohol Cravings

Episode 18: Dealing With Cravings and Triggers

The Through the Glass Recovery blog

Meet our guests:

Meet Brandon Kaitschuck, a 29-year-old who decided to make a drastic change in his life one year ago. Since getting sober, he's lost 50 pounds and conquered an Ironman triathlon! When he's not helping others on their path to recovery, he's either studying Mandarin, performing with “Toed”, or crushing workouts. Professionally, Brandon works as a software salesman & enjoys meeting new people. Keep an eye out for Brandon's new music with “Toed” & upcoming podcasts on Viral Downtown !

https://instagram.com/alignyourminds?igshid=M2RkZGJiMzhjOQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://instagram.com/toed_jamz?igshid=M2RkZGJiMzhjOQ==

https://instagram.com/viraldowntown?igshid=M2RkZGJiMzhjOQ==

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-kaitschuck-65477815b

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

 Instagram 

Facebook 

Tiktok

In this episode:

• Authenticity and vulnerability are risks, but they allow for real connection

• Learning to have healthy relationships

• Presenting a false front, "masking", prevents connection

• Learn to let yourself be truly seen

• Putting on a social mask creates loneliness

• Emotionally unavailable people have a damaging effect

• Seek out people who are emotionally available

• We are capable of rewiring our thought patterns

• Urgency pushes us to do the work of emotional sobriety and healing

• We become addicted to our thoughts, which leads to substance use disorder

• Having the power to affect positive change in our children, in future generations

How often did you drink because you thought it helped you relax? We hear a lot of people say that's one of the things they miss about alcohol - the relaxing effect it seemed to have, or the way it temporarily quieted their mind. The thing about alcohol is that - while it works for a short time - in the end it only makes the anxiety and stress and racing mind even worse. If you have trouble relaxing and calming down your thoughts now that you're sober, this episode is for you!

Join us as we have a conversation with Kim (Sober Is The New Cool), Brad (Sober Motivation) and Brit (Sober Flatlander) about how we've learned to relax without alcohol, and quiet our minds when they just can't seem to stop.

In this episode:

• Quitting alcohol means less anxiety in general
• CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools to quiet the mind
• Coping with insecurities in healthy ways
• A long list of coping skills and tools to help you relax
• Finding the right people
• Creating a routine and schedule to keep life flowing smoothly
• Learning to forgive yourself
• Understanding the concept of boundaries and how to use them

Meet our guests:

I'm Brit - a former grey area drinker who found sobriety in March of 2021. I live in small town Saskatchewan with my husband, two kids, and 4 dwarf bunnies. I’m the creator of a website and Instagram page called Sober Flatlander, which I use to share my journey in sobriety and advocate for those struggling with substance use disorders and mental health battles. It’s my hope that by being honest and authentic about the reality of alcohol culture, we can create a healthier future for our society and youth.  

Kim - My journey began in 2013, I decided to make the commitment to stop drinking for 3 months in order to support my son Matthew who had been diagnosed with epilepsy. Sober Is The New Cool was created as I quickly realized the social pressures surrounding not only myself, but what my son would encounter. 

Follow Kim on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soberisthenewcool.ca

-Extending love, compassion, and support.

-Collaborating with other support groups to foster a sense of community.

-Using our story to bring people together around the globe.

-Bringing awareness to end the stigma associated with mental health and addiction.

As well as devoting her time to making Sober Is The New Cool more present in the sober community, Kim enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, golfing, running, and meditating.

Kim has been referred to as the "matriarch" of the sober community and plans to continue this journey by empowering others. Kim's outreach is strongly felt locally through such initiatives as forming a local group of women called, "Les Femmes du Quebec" but also internationally through her strong following of social media messages. Kim donates a portion of SITNC merchandise to The Douglas Foundation. 

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

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Tiktok

ng with regret can be exhausting, frustrating, disheartening, and even dangerous. But it can also be motivating and empowering, if you choose to look at it that way. How we learn to live with regret is a choice that we get to make. We can let it fuel our growth and our purpose, or we can let it hold us down forever. Which will you choose?

In this episode, we are joined by author and motivation speaker Martin Lockett, sober podcast host Scott (The Sober Heathen), and sober influencer Chris (IOHO2) to talk about the regrets we are living with, and ways we've found to cope so the regret can fuel us and not consume us.

In this episode:

• The difference between guilt and shame
• What it means to "investigate" your thouhts
• Finding purpose and meaning through regret
• Learning from our mistakes instead of drowning in them
• Coping with the regret of lost time
• Coming to terms with missing memories
• Empowerment or victimhood? It's your choice.
• Living with attention, living your ammends

Martin Lockett is a substance abuse counselor, author, public speaker, and advocate for reducing DUI fatalities. He spent 17.5 years in prison for a DUI fatality that claimed two lives and severely injured another. Lockett devoted the rest of his life to honoring his victims’ legacies by helping others who struggle with substance abuse. While incarcerated, Martin earned a BS in sociology, MS in psychology, and acquired state certification as a substance abuse counselor, and published two books. Now released, Lockett continues his mission and message by helping those in need of counseling for mental health and substance use disorders and sharing his powerful story across the country.

Christian is responsible for the Facebook recovery page with the funny letters and numbers in it's name, IOHO2. His first go at this new way of living was in 2015-'17 when he also kept a Facebook journal known as #itonlyhurtsonce, (IOHO). Then, as he admittedly states, sobriety lost its priority. Christian has traded in his taxi-cabs to be your local delivery guy these days, and celebrates 15 months sober with us on November the 12th!!

Scott: I am a proud father of twin boys. I host The Sober Heathen podcast with which I document my recovery journey. Although it is sometimes painful and deeply raw it helps me tremendously to recover honestly and openly! I have 4 OWI's, thousands in fines due, no license until the 30's (2030 :P), I am living back home, and I still have never felt better and in more control! Recovery is worth it because with it there is always HOPE!

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. We also have a new Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

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Discovering your identity after addiction is an adventure all in itself. One of the most common things we hear people say in coversations about recovery is, "I quite drinking and I didn't even know who I was!" Join us as we have a great conversation with sober comedian Trevor Keveloh, talk show host Marci Hopkins, and sober influencer Matt Shambo about how we've found our authentic selves now that we're sober.

Some of the concepts you'll hear about in this episode include:

• Discovering what you really enjoy
• Letting down walls to allow for connection
• "Masking" and how it hinders authenticity
• Not allowing others to define you
• Exploring hobbies and finding your unique style
• Finding your purpose
• The difference between sobriety and recovery
• Releasing insecurity to thrive as your true self

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

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Facebook 

Tiktok

The messages we receive from the people in our lives - going all the way back to childhood - shape the way we see ourselves, and unfortunately for a lot of us, that means we find ourselves often facing the challenge of self loathing. We tell ourselves we're not good enough, we're not worthy, we'll never succeed, and that we're failures. Listen as we chat with Greg (Mindbody Matters podcast host), and Instagram influencers Keith and Hali about what self loathing has looked like in our lives, and more importantly, how we've worked through it and learned to undo the messaging and start loving ourselves. 

In this episode, we'll share our thoughts on the following:

• How the message we receive from others shapes the way we see ourselves
• Turning to faith to create a sense of self love
• The effect that our childhood has on our inner voice
• Learning to recognize these messages so we can start to undo them
• Defining our own standards to live up to, instead of allowing others to define them for us
• The importance of keeping promises to ourselves
• Finding fulfillment in purpose
• Positive affirmations - how to use them, and how they work
• Allowing others in, so that they can lift us up when we're struggling
• Self loathing as the foundation of depression
• Rewriting our beliefs about ourselves
• Not feeling worthy of love, grace, and compassion
• Learning to accept compliments
• The fear of pridefulness holding us in a place of self loathing for the sake of humility

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

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Facebook 

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With the holidays just around the corner, we invited our guests to come share their experiences about how they have found enjoyment in sober holidays. Join us as we chat with Rachel, host of Recovery Daily podcast, and Tiktok sober influencers Stephen and Katherine about what holidays look like for them now that they aren't drinking. We share some tips, as well as some honest struggles and experiences.

Some of the things you'll hear in this episode include:

• Making good choices about who we spend time with
• It gets easier with time
• Giving yourself permission to grieve past memories
• Playing the tape forward as a tool to get through tough times
• Stay present, be prepared for what's coming, and know you'll be okay.
• Fomo (fear of missing out)
• Protect yourself in whatever way you need to
• Creating new traditions
• Receiving alcohol as a gift
• Check your motives - why are you going? Is it for a positive, healthy reason?
• Give yourself permission to not go, or to leave early.

Want more help and support to get you through your holiday season? Check out our Season 1 episode on Sober Holidays here.

The question, "How has getting sober affected your life?" brought about an incredible conversation about the benefits of a sober life. Join us as we chat with a few of our good friends (and Through the Glass regulars) - John, Antje, and Derrick - about how our lives have changed in recovery. The benefits are incredible - from the small changes and little wins, to life changing growth.

Some of the benefits of a sober life that you'll hear us talk about include:

• Learning emotional regulation, so our emotions don't run away this us anymore
• Healthy coping skills for stress management
• We're forced to learn new habits and new mindsets, and it's a gift
• Stopping to look back and appreciate the wins
• Letting go of self loathing and learning to love yourself
• Recovery is about a lot more than just not drinking
• Deeper, more meaningful relationships
• Finally being able to tell the truth, and being free from a life of lies
• Finding new, different friends that support our new lifestyle
• Learning to own mistakes and learn from failure
• Getting good at being bad at things; being okay with being a beginner
• How "One Day At A Time" applies to more than just not drinking
• Finally learning to be present in our lives
• Truly experiencing joy and gratitude
• Growing in courage and in confidence
• Gaining clarity about why we are the way we are
• Finding the strength to get through the hard times, from grief to depression, without drinking

Sign up for our newsletter at throughtheglassrecovery.com for sober tips, tools, and motivation, and get access to our free weekly sober support meetings.

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What happens to family relationships in recovery? It's no secret that addiction affects entire families, but we thought it would be good to also talk about navigating family relationships after you've stopped drinking. Spoiler alert: it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Of course there are positives, like more meaningful connections and rebuilding trust. But there are struggles, too. In this sober podcast episode, we're joined by DeAnn from Show Up And Stay, Ali from The Sober Witch, and our friend Kernie, to talk about what relationships look like, now that we're sober and working on healing ourselves.

In this episode:

• We all thought we were hiding our drinking from our families
• We pushed everyone away to "protect" them from us.
• Discovering the very real need for connection
• Creating new beliefs around intimacy
• Developing the maturity to have healthy relationships
• Other people aren't ready to change just because you are, and that's hard to accept sometimes.
• Finding connection in recovery communities is an important part of recovery
• Our growth is going to make our families uncomfortable
• We discover new identities, and have to introduce our families to the new "us"
• Where you are at now - in your relationships and in life - is not where you'll always be.

People pleasing doesn’t usually feel like a problem at first. It feels like being helpful, generous, and kind. Being easy to be around. Being the one who keeps everything running smoothly.

But over time, it can lead to anxiety, resentment, burnout, and a loss of self.

In this episode of No Alcohol Needed, Julie Miller, Steve Knapp, Mike Coyne, and Amber Fenner unpack how people pleasing actually works, why so many people don’t recognize it in themselves, and what starts to change when you stop organizing your life around other people’s emotions.

This conversation is especially relatable for people who’ve started questioning their relationship with alcohol, but it’s not limited to that. Anyone who feels responsible for keeping everyone else comfortable will recognize themselves here.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How people pleasing often starts as a survival skill
• Why it creates anxiety, resentment, and emotional exhaustion
• The connection between people pleasing, perfectionism, and over-apologizing
• Why saying no can feel so threatening
• What changes when you stop living for approval
• How relationships shift when you begin choosing yourself

At No Alcohol Needed (formerly Through the Glass Recovery Podcast) we’re hanging out at the intersection of emotional wellness, personal growth, and living an alcohol-free life.

We talk about emotional intelligence, self-worth, sobriety, and how to build a life you don’t wish you could escape from.

Learn more about the podcast and the work we do: https://noalcoholneeded.net

--CHECK OUT OUR OTHER RESOURCES--

Free weekly gathering on Zoom Real conversations about more than just not drinking. https://noalcoholneeded.net/meeting-faqs/

Julie’s writing on sober living and emotional growth: https://createalifesofull.com

It's Halloween season and we're here to talk about all the spooky, scary sober stuff - the things that scared us about getting sober, and how we get past our fears.

We cover everything from fear of relapse to fear of rejection, fear of shame and fear of sober vacations. We talk about how we've learned to face the fears and move through them, so fear doesn't have as much power to hold us back.

Listen as we chat with Rachael from Addict With Purpose and Through the Glass regular Corina about all the spooky sober stuff in this slightly silly, honest conversation about fear.

In this episode:

• The fear of relapse is a healthy fear
• Fear of admitting we had a problem
• The fear of living life without alcohol
• Fear of failure and success
• Fear of grief
• Fear of rejection, judgment, and shame
• Fear of loneliness
• Fear of vacationing sober
• Anxiety and excitement produce the same physiological reaction
• Learning to "make friends" with fear and use it as motivation

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

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Dealing with change in recovery can bring about all kinds of challenges and emotions. From excitement and anticipation, to anxiety and fear of the unknown, navigating change can be overwhelming. Listen as we are joined by our friends Sherralyn, Dan, and Kate, and we discuss the changes we've experienced since getting sober. We talk about the changes within ourselves, and also navigating changes that life has thrown at us. And most importantly, we share what we've learned about moving through change without drinking.

In this episode:

• The most significant change is the one inside ourselves.
• We can choose to be excited by the changes happening in us, instead of afraid.
• Learning to view the unknown with wonder and curiosity instead of fear
• The people in our lives change as we move through our recovery journeys
• Coping with change includes releasing the need for control.
• Choosing to use change as a change to grow instead of running from it.
• Learning how to embrace the emotions that come with change.
• Dealing with external changes out of our control in a healthy way.
• Learning to lean on your support system.
• The longer we are in recovery, the more confidence we gain in our ability to cope with difficult situations.
• Our relationships will also change, as we change.

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on: 

Instagram

Facebook 

Tiktok

You hear the word "boundaries" get thrown around a lot in recovery circles, but what does it actually mean? And more importantly - why do you need to understand it? We're going to dig into boundaries today, and our guests will share some examples of boundaries they've had to set in their own lives, as well as why it's been important for their recovery journeys. Meet Richard, who works with youth and their families; Nicole, a sober influencer we met on Instagram; and Sean, author of Going Dry; and listen as we chat about everything we've learned about how boundaries affect our lives and relationships now that we're sober.

In this episode:

• You are the only one in control of your boundaries
• Defining and setting our boundaries for ourselves first
• Having a willingness to be honest with yourself
• Taking ownership of what you can control and are responsible for
• Growing up without boundaries sets the stage for our adult lives
• How to communicate boundaries
• Setting boundaries with people who don't understand them
• Dealing with the pain of enforcing boundaries
• Practicing with boundaries by starting small
• Accepting boundaries with others with wisdom and grace
• Sharing the skills we learn in recovery with others in our lives

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on: 

Instagram

Facebook 

Tiktok

Feeling like you're being left out - or worrying about missing out - is soooo common when you're sober. Some things just aren't the same after you quit drinking, and it takes some time to get comfortable with that. And of course, sometimes we're worrying far too much about things that end up not being an issue at all anyway. Join us as we chat with Eliza, Sherralyn, and Alex about FOMO - what it means, and how we overcome it so we don't feel like we're missing out on anything at all.

In this episode:

• It all gets easier with time
• Jomo - the joy of missing out on the regret and embarrassment
• Friends that matter will still invite you, and are still fun to be around
• Risk vs. Benefit analysis to decide whether it's worth it
• Honestly, nobody cares if you're drinking or not
• Alcohol companies' effects on why we believe we need alcohol to have fun
• Mommy wine culture
• Modeling sober fun for our kids and ending the cycle

Negative self talk is seriously dangerous when it comes to recovery. Whether it's how we talk to ourselves when we're first starting out, or the things we say later as we start rebuilding our lives, we have to learn to quiet the inner critic, and show ourselves kindness. The cycle of negativity will only hold us back from achieving our goals, no matter what they are. It's easier said than done though, to learn how to catch those thoughts and change them. Join us in this podcast episode as we talk with Marc, Dave, and Corinna about how we've learned to stop negative self talk and give ourselves the chance to thrive.

In this episode:

• Changing "I can't" to "I can"
• Negative people affect your self talk
• The Stop Thought technique
• Learning to look for solutions, not problems
• Finding ways to see the positive
• Gaining awareness so you can stop negative self talk
• Pay attention to what you surround yourself with
• You can't shame yourself into change
• Negative self talk as a trauma response
• Being authentic is the only way to create a positive self image
• Discover your power of choice
• The importance of self forgiveness
• Choosing the right thoughts to reprogram with

For more about our guests, visit https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/podcast/stop-negative-self-talk-in-recovery/

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on: Instagram Facebook Tiktok

It is absolutely possible to have fun socializing while sober! If you are trying to figure out socializing sober and are finding it super awkward and frustrating - you are so not alone! Navigating your social life - sober - is hard, when all you've known for most of your adult life is pre-gaming before parties, drinking to feel confident, and all of your social events revolved around how much drinking you'd be able to do. In this episode we talk about learning how to socialize sober - social awkwardness and all. 

In this episode:

• Asking friends to help keep you accountable
• Facing pressure from others to drink, after you've said no
• Talking to others about your sobriety
• Choosing supportive friends
• Alternatives to going out for drinks
• Dealing with society's assumption that everyone drinks
• Coping with social anxiety
• How our standards for friendships change
• Replacing things you no longer enjoy with new things
• The power of virtual recovery pathways
• The value of internet friendships and connections

throughtheglassrecovery@gmail.com

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com

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Not knowing how to cope with emotions is one of the most common causes of relapse. In this episode, we are joined by sober influencer Hadley, and our friends Monica and Michal, as we talk about how we've gone from trying to escape from our emotions to being able to sit through them. From social discomfort to grief, to happiness and joy, listen as we explore what that's looked like in each of our separate journeys.

In this episode:

• Discomfort of social anxiety and introvertedness
• Discovering your identity - sober
• The effects of not learning to cope with emotions in our youth
• Learning to pause and understand the emotion before acting
• Observing emotions and situations from the outside
• Mommy wine culture and its lies
• The emotional roller coaster of early sobriety
• Understanding that you won't feel this way forever
• Self parenting techniques
• Navigating happiness and joy is also a challenge

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on: Instagram Facebook Tiktok

Dealing with stress in recovery can be one of the most difficult challenges that many people face. In this episode, we're joined by Mike and Bill, hosts of the Sober Not Mature podcast, and Nancy McKay, a certified life coach. Together we talk about some of the stressful situations we've been faced with, and how we learned to move through them now that alcohol is no longer an option. Listen as we share our best tips and advice for handling stress in healthy ways.

In this episode, you'll hear about the following:

• A huge list of tips and tools for getting through stressful moments
• "Triggered" really just means feeling discomfort
• Ways to distract or sideline thoughts about stress
• The value of reaching out for help
• Acute vs. Chronic stress in recovery
• Recognizing some of the physical symptoms of stress
• Learning not to minimize the "small" stressors in each day
• Helping others can relieve stress on both sides
• Understanding how to change your perspective to move from stress to gratitude

Nancy J. McKay is a Certified Wayfinder Life Coach, Certified Equus Coach® & Master Facilitator. She is f*ing passionate about helping women face difficult life challenges head-on with courage, curiosity and grit so that they can get to the other side faster, feeling confident, stronger and more resilient. Nancy has been in recovery from alcohol addiction since 2009 and is an ovarian cancer survivor since 2015. She founded Amazing Outlook Coaching, LLC in 2018 at the age of 61. Nancy is also a two-time international best-selling author and speaker, sharing her inspiring story of recovery and creating a new life after cancer. She lives in Lakewood, Colorado with her husband and their two rescued Westies. You can connect with Nancy at https://www.amazingoutlookcoaching.com 

Mike and Bill have both been sober since April, 2010 and they met at a sober living facility in Cleveland, OH. Through that facility, they were introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous  and they continue to practice those principles to this day. They have a weekly podcast, Sober Not Mature, that can be found anywhere that podcasts are heard or you can visit their website, www.sobernotmature.com.

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on: Instagram Facebook Tiktok

Join us as we kick off Season 2 with an incredible conversation about how to beat alcohol cravings.

Besides learning how to beat alcohol cravings, we help you work through:

• Coping with FOMO when it shows up as a trigger
• Creating and using a sober toolbox
• Surviving even the hardest cravings without giving in
• Breaking the habit of situational triggers
• Alcohol and social situations
• Giving yourself permission to put your sobriety first
• Cognitive dissonance - the argument inside your brain
• Finding the courage to talk about the hard things
• Recognizing the physical symptoms of triggers before it gets out of hand
• Romanticizing the old days
• Understanding that cravings aren't a sign of a failing recovery

Katie talks about her toolbox, that she uses to help her stay sober. Here's her list of tools:

• Call my sponsor
• Call my husband
• Go to a meeting
• Take a walk with my dog
• Call/text sober support people
• Watch recovery Tiktok
• Write a prayer to put in my God box
• Set a 10 minute timer
• Meditate/breathing exercises
• Pray and let go of my will

Meet our guests:

Robbie started his sobriety journey due to being sick of the same old story he would put himself though. He found his cannabis and alcohol use getting worse as the years went on. He used them to cope with everything and anything. Robbie is now nine months sober, and couldn't be happier with his decision to take on this new journey. Robbie co-hosts Golden Hour Adventures podcast and can be found on Instagram @runshills605.

It doesn't matter if you're a few days sober or ten years sober - cravings happen. At their best, they are annoying. At their worst, the sneak up on you when you least expect it and smack you upside the head and suddenly everything is spinning and you don't know which way is up. By the end of this episode, you'll have a whole new stack of tools to add to your sober toolbox, and you'll realize that cravings aren't actually something to fear or feel bad about at all.

Katie B is 42 years old from Dallas, Texas but currently lives in Everett, WA. She has a handsome husband of 7 years with 1 16 year old son,  Jakob,  and 2 bonus kids, Layla, 15 and Isaac, 20. For the last 2.5 years she's worked at the same rehab facility where she got sober. Her sobriety date is March 16th, 2016 after 28 1/2 years of active addiction and alcoholism. 

Matt is a 38 year old father of 2 from Burnt Hills, NY who works in State government. He’s an avid outdoorsman, and his favorite times are those he gets to spend with his children playing games, reading, and coaching his son's sports teams. Matt has attempted both inpatient and outpatient treatment multiple times in the past 5 years,and last year had the opportunity to experience residential sober living at Release Recovery in Westchester County. He encourages people who are still struggling to reach out and know it's ok to ask for help. You can find Matt on Instagram @shamman780

Watch Matt's story on YouTube here.

throughtheglassrecovery@gmail.com

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com

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"Say No Without Feeling Guilty" is our last re-release for the summer, before we get back to producing new episodes! We've had an amazing couple of months off, and we're also so excited to get back to regularly producing new content to help support you, no matter where you are in your recovery journey.

In this episode, we chat with Antje, Kelsey, and Sonia about overcoming people pleasing and learning how to say no without the guilt. It’s easy to want to keep everyone else happy, but we do so the expense of our own happiness. We agree to things we don’t want to, out of fear that we will disappoint others, and the result is that we disappoint ourselves.

Some of the points and topics we cover include:

• Over-explaining ourselves
• Finding out who really supports our recovery
• Honoring ourselves by making our own decisions
• Choosing authenticity over meeting expectations
• Allowing others to say no to us, also
• Not apologizing unnecessarily
• Getting angry at ourselves for letting others walk all over us
• Fear of disappointing others (and then realizing that’s their problem.)
• Start with easy conversations to practice for the hard ones
• Demonstrating to our kids and others that saying no is okay
• Learning to honor ourselves, our feelings, and our wants
• Learning to sit with discomfort
• Learning to avoid engaging in toxic conversations and behaviors
• Dealing with the consequences of saying yes when we didn’t want to
• Pausing before responding to allow ourselves time to think
• Valuing our time enough to say no

Kelsey started a TikTok account to share her sober journey and inspire others. Since she started, she’s gained 23,000 followers. You can find her at https://www.tiktok.com/@kelseygoessober and on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_sorensen_/

Sonia is the creator and owner of EverBlume, a recovery resource that places members in small support groups based on their specific needs and situations. For more information, visit joineverblume.com or visit Sonia’s Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joineverblume/

Antje first discovered drinking as a way to “fix” her eating disorder. She thought that drinking was more acceptable than binging and purging all of her meals. When drinking grew more and more out of control, she reluctantly considered sobriety in January of 2022. Soon after, she found connection and support in an online sober community. She is so glad to that she took that first, scary step and gave sobriety a chance.

throughtheglassrecovery.com

throughtheglassrecovery@gmail.com

Instagram – @through_the_glass_recovery

In this episode of No Alcohol Needed, Julie Miller and Steve Knapp are joined by Christen Miller and Sean Rollinson for a candid, emotionally honest conversation about overcoming victim mentality and what it really means to take responsibility for your thoughts, emotions, and reactions - without blaming yourself or denying real pain.

This is not a surface-level discussion. The group digs into why victim mentality can feel protective, how blame and shame quietly keep people stuck, and why taking responsibility often feels unfair at first - especially if you’ve actually been hurt.

This episode will challenge the way you think about control, self-worth, and emotional freedom, and it will show you how to take your power back. 

• What overcoming victim mentality really looks like in daily life
• Why radical responsibility can feel confronting — and why it matters
• The difference between being harmed and staying stuck
• How blame and shame fuel emotional distress and addiction
• Why anger often hurts us more than the person we’re angry at
• How thoughts shape emotions and drive behavior
• The connection between responsibility, confidence, and self-esteem
• What emotional regulation actually looks like without numbing
• Small, practical ways to start taking responsibility this week

https://noalcoholneeded.net/meet-the-voices/

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Redesign a life without alcohol - with support.

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Stories and reflections on rebuilding life after alcohol.

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Are perfectionism and addiction connected? Join us we we dive into how perfectionism is linked to addiction, and how we've overcome it in recovery. We’re joining recovery coach and Instagram sober superstar Daph, the host of Creating Ripples podcast, Alex, and our good friend John to talk about how perfectionism shows up in our recovery. It seems like some people struggled with perfectionism, and it was one of the causes of their drinking. And others fight perfectionism now that they’re in recovery, wanting to make up for lost time. Either way, we’re diving into perfectionism into this episode, sharing what we’ve learned and sharing where we’ve struggled.

Some of the concepts we cover include:

• Trying to ‘perfect’ our recovery
• Learning to embrace where we are right now
• Parenting and perfectionism
• Learning to accepting being ‘good enough’
• Finding balance in the all or nothing mentality
• People pleasing and becoming a doormat
• The opposite of perfectionism – where we don’t even bother to try
• Trying to get people to like us
• Discovering our own expectations
• Communicating and knowing our limits
• The tendency to quit things we can’t do perfectly
• Talking to ourselves like we would if we were children

In this episode, as we explore the idea of rebuilding trust in addiction recovery, we learn that we must always start with learning to trust ourselves again. Listen as we are joined by Debs, Brian, and Antje in what was our first official Through the Glass Recovery Podcast episode. We were still figuring out what we were doing, but this conversation was raw and honest and beautiful and filled with wisdom, and it's an honor to be able to share it with you. It remains one of our favorite and most powerful podcast episodes, and we're excited to re-release this remastered copy. 

In this episode:

• Trusting yourself to maintain sobriety

• It's our job to show others that they can trust us

• Overcoming the damage caused by lies

• Lying by omission

• Understanding the other person's point of view

• Recognizing that it takes time for our growth to be visible to others

• Rebuilding trust with our children in addiction recovery

• The freedom of no longer feeling like a fraud

• Learning to trust others with our stories

• Trusting our own authenticity - that we will be accepted just as we are

• Keeping promises to ourselves must be the priority.

We would love to hear your thoughts:

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com

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In this episode, we discuss what we've learned about managing negative emotions in recovery.  Most of us with alcohol problems used drinking to numb the emotions we didn't otherwise know how to deal with. The hard ones - grief, sadness, depression, anxiety, regret, dread. When we decide to get sober, we have to find ways to deal with those emotions, without turning them off. Listen as we are joined by Molly, Chelsea, and Brian to share how we've learned to accept our emotions and move through them in healthy ways.

• Healthy distraction as a coping mechanism
• Tools for distracting
• Learning to give space to our emotions
• Validating vs. invalidating emotions
• Learning to treat yourself kindly
• The trial and error process of developing coping skills
• How to take breaks from hard emotions without using substances
• EMDR therapy
• Finding community and learning to share the hard things
• Accepting that being uncomfortable is part of the process

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