In this episode, we are going to learn what it's like to be in a relationship with someone who is deep into addiction. Imagine being a young woman who gets involved with an older man who dazzles her. Imagine that you get pregnant by that man, and despite promising that he would stand by you, he, in fact, abandons you and denies paternity. Imagine that man gets sober and remarries, and his whole family pretends that you and your child don't exist. Imagine that man is the son of the most powerful man on earth. Today, we are going to hear Lunden Roberts's story. Lunden is the mother of a little girl named Navy, whose father is Hunter Biden and whose grandfather is President Joe Biden. Lunden Roberts has written a book called Out of the Shadows, which details her dysfunctional relationship with Hunter, his constant fear of being the family black sheep, and Lunden's fight to have the Biden family recognise her daughter. To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you know if you are one? Chip takes Veronica through the criteria you need to meet to find out how serious your alcohol problem is. The outcome will shock you. To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Social media is addiction by design. Dr. Nicholas Kardaras joins Veronica to talk about social media addiction and how it was deliberately designed to hijack our dopamine system and get us hooked. It's digital candy and we are enticed into displaying our idealised internal lives. Dr. Kardaras explains how predatory algorithms work and how they are responsible for creating a mental health crisis for young people. To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celeste Yvonne is a writer and sober mother who used to write cute 'mommy needs wine' memes and blogs. One day she realized she couldn't parent and drink alcohol so reluctantly she quit. Now she is taking on the 'mommy needs wine' trend.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam Delaney is a journalist and broadcaster. Entrenched in the British binge drinking culture, he felt like he was living the life until he wasn't. In today's episode, he discusses the 'toxic' and 'dysfunctional' British drinking culture and how he left it behind.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is codependency is it a good thing or a bad thing? How do I know I am codependent? Veronica answers questions on this subject.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie LeVoir is the host of The Way Out Podcast. He describes himself as an alcoholic from the first drink. We discuss his addiction and recovery and why he had to do whatever it took to get sober.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Cuban is the younger brother of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. He talks candidly about his battle with alcohol and cocaine addiction and how he overcame an eating disorder. His latest book, 'The Ambulance Chaser' is out now.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Casey Davidson was fully signed up to the mommy needs wine culture, here she tells her story of leaving it behind and finding freedom.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting sober in rural environments presents its own unique challenges. In this episode, Veronica interviews Shanna Whan founder of Sober in the Country a charity that helps people in rural places to stop drinking. Driven by desperation Shanna saw there was simply no support for people in rural Australia so she set about creating her own. Australian woman Shanna Whan is the pioneer of change in the bush when it comes to our love affair with booze. The founder and CEO behind national bush charity Sober in the Country spent 15,000 hours going against the grain to ''be the change'' and now her advocacy, raw and often irreverently funny conversations have seen the life-saving message that it's ''OK2SAYNO'' (to beers in the bush) go national and international. Shanna was recognised formally in 2021 by her peers and the public as a ProBono Australia winner in the ''Impact 25'' awards. Shanna Whan is a rural woman and in her own words a ''very unlikely'' national spokesperson for change when it comes to the complex subject of our great love affair with booze in the bush. The founder behind now nationally recognised brand and not-for-profit Sober in the Country Ltd (SITC) created the 'OK2SAYNO' campaign to ensure we are putting our mates and their health first. Far from being an anti-alcohol message; SITC is simply focused on advocacy, awareness, and ensuring those who choose to say 'no thanks' or 'not today' (no matter their reason) are supported fully. After almost losing her own life to alcohol addiction in 2015 and spending seven years of working tirelessly to support others she is now regularly referred to as a pioneer who cracked the lid on this yarn in the remote sector of Australia. Shan is not someone you'll ever find accepting labels like 'influencer,' or 'guru' spoken over her, though. She stands extremely firm on insisting she's just one of (too) many in the bush fighting a battle - sometimes for survival - without help, education, information, or even any appropriate support. So she said she simply decided to make it her life's work to change that. These days she is using her national media profile to boldly fight for us on a national level and to challenge our leaders to open their eyes, look west, and to see that for remote Australians, ''ISO'' is our reality.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veronica is joined by Eric Zimmer host of the popular podcast 'The One you feed.' In telling his story they explore what spirituality is and why it is so essential to sobriety.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chip and Veronica answer questions from the Soberful Life Community on resentments.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his book 'The Righteous Rage of a ten-year-old boy' Justin explores his traumatic childhood and adult addiction. Justin grew up with a step-father who constantly criticised and punished him and a mother who escaped into religion. He never felt good enough and spent a lot of his life trying to fix that with his behaviour and alcohol. Now committed to self-awareness, he is 14 years sober and sharing his story to help others. Justin B. Long is an author, business owner, and the host of the podcast, Straight from the Horse Doctor’s Mouth which he produces with his wife, Dr. Erica Lacher. His bestselling book series, The Adventures of the Horse Doctor’s Husband, has been enjoyed by readers all over the world. While his wife’s mission is to make the world a better place for horses, Justin’s mission is to make the world a better place for people by combatting toxically masculine ideas surrounding men and their emotions. His current book, The Righteous Rage of a Ten-Year-Old Boy, is a raw, intense examination of his childhood, the traumatic events bottle, I can promise you that formed his negative self-image, and his journey through therapy to overcome it all.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when we get complacent about our sobriety? Chip and Veronica discuss the times they had got complacent about their recovery. When they stopped going to meetings and stopped doing all the work they did to remain emotionally sober, Veronica shared her tool of 'when I'm ok with me, I don't have to make you wrong.' And how she uses that as a guide. When she notices that she is picking at or criticising other people, it's usually an indication that she is not ok and needs to do something to take care of her mental and emotional health. No matter how long we have been sober, we still need to connect with other sober people. Whatever sobriety program we work in, we need its principles to guide us for the rest of our lives. To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chip and Veronica explore the different ways we rationalise our drinking, particularly the emergence of clean wine as a wellness product.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let me ask you a question: What is it that you're looking for every time you drink? Is it connection? Fun? Relaxation? A way to escape your own thoughts and feelings? Whatever it is that you're looking for at the bottom of the bottle, I can promise you that alcohol will never deliver.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa and Mercy are millennials who are defining sobriety in their own way. During the pandemic, they created 'Sober Voices' a platform that represents sobriety in all its forms.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new monthly feature where we will answer your questions. This week we are answering questions on sex and relationships in sobriety.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dopamine Nation is a fascinating book by Dr Anna Lembke. She addresses how living in a dopamine saturated world affects us and our relationship with addiction. We discuss topics such as how dopamine affects us, the relationship between pleasure and pain, radical self-honesty, 'club goods' and the importance of community in recovery and parenting kids.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finally, the Soberful book is released into the wild! Chip turns the tables on Veronica and interviews her on why she wrote the book and what she wants people to get out of it.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Marshall is starting a revolution. The founder of Sansbar in Austin, he passionately believes we need to create more opportunities for people to have fun and socialize without alcohol. He would like to see an alcohol-free bar in every town and as part of a rehab's treatment plan. Veronica chats to Chris about his work and upcoming tour that she will be joining him on.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chip and Veronica explain how to live in a wet world when it seems like everyone drinks.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chip and Veronica answer your questions on subjects about sponsorship, epigenetic, financial sobriety and more.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In their traditional end of year episode Chip and Veronica discuss the things that changed thier lives this year. The events, movies, books, TV shows that made a mark on them.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when the worst thing in the world happens? Cammie Wolf Rice lost her son to opioid addiction. He was a gifted student who was prescribed oxycontin for an operation and started a 14-year battle with opioids. After his death, Cammie used her pain as power. Learn how she is creating real change so nothing like this happens to another family. To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may have noticed that when you stop drinking your friendships change in this episode Chip and Veronica talk about how and why friendships change and how to navigate those changes.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ann Dowsett Johnston's book 'Drink' is the best 'quit-lit' book out there. Ann talks candidly about her personal struggle with alcoholism, how she dealt with her shame and found her true self in sobriety.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tamara and Veronica discuss how to get through the holiday season sober. How to deal with the pressures of drinking and dealing with family members.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many parents in recovery worry about their children abusing drugs and alcohol. In this episode, Veronica interviews Richard Capriola about his book 'The Addicted Child'. Richard lays out an accessible and comprehensive method to help parents dealing with adolescent drug and alcohol abuse. Richard Capriola has been a mental health and addictions counselor for over two decades. He has treated both adults and adolescents diagnosed with mental health and substance abuse issues. He recently retired from Menninger Clinic in Houston where he worked as an addictions counselor for over a decade. He is the author of The Addicted Child: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veronica interviews British radio legend Janey Lee Grace who was a holistic health guru who drank. Janey knew something was wrong with her and tried everything to fix it until she finally realised she needed to stop drinking. her book Healthy Happy sobriety documents her journey into holistic sobriety.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We get asked all the time what we do to be okay. In this episode, Chip and Veronica discuss their empowering habits that support their sobriety, mental and emotional health.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this frank and open interview, Brianne Davis discusses her recovery from sex and love addiction. The 'secret addiction that often gets dismissed or laughed at. Brianne explains how she felt and what her recovery looks like and how she now helps other people recover.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this continuing series on the relationship between religious abuse and addiction. Veronica talks to Dr. Jamie Marich about how the LGBTQ+ community has been affected by religious abuse.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do we need to look out for when we first get sober. Chip and Veronica go through H.A.L.T (Hungry Angry Lonely Tired) as well as Stress, Boredom, and Hormones as triggers that lead to a drink.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veronica interviews Mary Gauthier, a grammy nominated sing songwriter and author of the book 'Saved by a song.' Mary's book is about the songwriting process and her recovery from addiction. At its core, she explores her return to authenticity.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After bartending her way across Hollywood and Beverly Hills, Angela was in over her head with a drinking problem that was relentless. She got sober in 2006 and dedicated her life to helping others do the same. She joins Veronica to discuss how to deal with boredom in sobriety and how we need to take responsibility for our lives and experiences. To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veronica speaks to Anna David a long time recovery advocate and author about the re-release of her book 'Party Girl.' Party Girls is a semi-autobiographical novel set in L.A. in the 90's. Credited with kicking off the whole 'quit lit genre' Anna discusses why she wanted to publish the book and what she hopes people get out of it.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone comes into sobriety with secrets. Secrets are like a cancer that grow and weigh us down. Chip and Veronica explore the nature of secrets, confessing to some secrets and how secrets effect our relationships.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chip and Veronica are back from their summer break! They answer listener questions such as: do they ever miss drinking? Can you drink on special occasions? Do you need to spend money to get sober? And, how do you get over the shame in early sobriety?   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lockdown restrictions have given you an opportunity to be away from everyday drinking and social pressures that would normally present themselves in social situations.⁣ ⁣ Having that time has allowed you to build a really good foundation for your recovery so that you’re coming out of lockdown with a substantial amount of time and strength in recovery under your belt.⁣ ⁣ On the flip side, after being isolated you haven’t had the opportunity to build up your defences against everyday distractions and triggers.⁣ ⁣ In this episode, we’re talking about how to create a plan for strengthening your sobriety so you’re ready to maintain your sobriety as we come out of lockdown and enter the new normal.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia wants everyone to recognize their emotions for what they are - data.⁣ ⁣ Emotions are the information your brain is trying to tell you about how you feel about what's going on at that moment. You are not your emotions or your thoughts.⁣ ⁣ When you do the work to develop your EQ, you'll find yourself in a much better place to take control of the experiences and interactions you have every day, rather than reacting from your conditioning.⁣   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whatever the question is, balance is always the answer. Balance is key to sobriety because if we become unbalanced; it can lead to relapse. In this episode Chip and Veronica discuss the mistakes they have made and how to achieve balance using some simple suggestions.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie Gaudreau mission is to help women create bigger, bolder, fiercer lives - by building health from the inside out. In this episode, we discuss body image, health, nutrition. Step advises us how we can get started with exercise how we can deal with cravings in early sobriety as well as discussing her own reason for ditching the booze.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Trigger warning** How do you learn boundaries when they were violated as a child? We discuss why healthy boundaries are crucial to recovery and how you can begin to learn how to develop them.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Five Pillars of Sustainable Sobriety are essential for anyone wishing to live a happy and sober life. In this episode, Veronica's takes a deep dive into the five pillars of Movement, Connection, Balance, Process, and Growth. She explains how they work, how you can apply them to your life, and why you can't get sober without them.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final episode before the summer break. Veronica and Chip discuss staying sober in the summer and how to deal with triggers and patterns related to drinking.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veronica interviews Dr. Christine Gibson about the link between trauma and addiction. how trauma impacts our physical health and how the brain responds to trauma. They discuss EFT and how effective matrix reimprinting is in healing trauma. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are endings so hard? In this episode, Chip and Veronica explore how we struggle when things end. They look at how people can sabotage endings, avoid dealing with them or cut people off. Transitioning to different life chapters requires us to be honest about our feelings and communicate our struggle with things ending.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In all our episodes we encourage you to 'get help' for an alcohol problem. Today we want to clarify what kinds of help to look for. What questions to ask a therapist, how to find a rehab and what to beware of when you join online programs.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we live in a family where there is addiction, dysfunction or mental health issues, there are hidden 'rules' we have to follow. In this episode, Veronica and Tamara discuss the three main addiction family rules; don't talk, don't feel, don't trust.   To learn more, visit the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices