The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast

Today I’m speaking with Edward Latimore—author of “Sober Letters to My Drunken Self”. He’s a former professional boxer, and in this episode, we explore his powerful journey from growing up in the projects, his life of addiction, and how he is now living a life of sobriety, self-mastery, and success.  Edward’s story is about resilience, personal accountability, and the power of writing and community as tools for healing. Before we jump in, let’s talk a little bit about recovery resistance. It’s a term I use to describe that feeling of rebelliousness when we hear suggestions of things we could do for our recovery. It could be anything from journaling every morning, to spending 30 minutes meditating, letting go of toxic relationships, or even attending 12 step meetings, just to name a few. I actually dedicated a whole chapter in my book “The 12 Step Guide For Skeptics: Clearing Up Common Misconceptions Of A Path To Sobriety”. The truth is, we experience internal resistance for a good reason, which is ultimately rooted in our subconscious need for safety. But there comes a point when we recognize that some of our habits actually threaten our safety, like addiction, and we need to take action to change that. This is where it gets sticky. You might be aware that you need to change, so you seek answers, but actually taking action - like the exercise, meditation, self-reflection, step work, therapy etc - we balk. We get distracted. We procrastinate.  To combat this resistance, I have a few solutions listed in the book, but here’s a quick 4 step process to help you close the gap between knowledge and action. Recognize that resistance or procrastination is a stress response. Try to give yourself some compassion. Practice a technique called “chunking”. Take the task at hand and break it down into tiny little steps. Commit to taking action for 2 minutes at a time Do a 3 second countdown and MOVE. Don’t think, just act on that first 2 minute chunk. That’s it! And chances are, once you start taking action, momentum will carry you through. If that feels helpful to you, please be sure to get a copy of my book through Amazon. It’s full of mindset shifts, little bits of wisdom I’ve picked up over the years, and some practical suggestions on how to get and stay sober.  So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think! Guest Contact Info:  👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent andamp; Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1     Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast

✨ New Mini-Episode: Sobriety Reset ✨ If you’re starting (or restarting) your first 30 days of sobriety, this episode is for you. I share three powerful shifts that make the early days less overwhelming and a lot more doable. Sobriety isn’t about perfection—it’s about simple strategies that keep you steady. 💛 🎧 Listen now on the One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast: https://www.odaatchat.com Highlights: A mindset trick that instantly takes the pressure off. The hidden reason isolation makes recovery harder. A surprising everyday factor that drains your willpower. The real meaning behind “boredom” in early sobriety. A simple shift that helps you build momentum instead of relapse. 👉 Tune in for the full episode and discover how these can change your first 30 days.   Contact Info: IG: @arlinaallen  👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent & Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1     Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast  

Hi Friend, Thanks for downloading this episode, my name is Arlina and I’ll be your host. To contribute to recovery awareness, I am going to be publishing a series of weekly mini episodes for those who are thinking about getting sober or those who need a little bit of a sobriety reset. In fact, that’s what I’m going to call it: Sobriety Reset. They will be short episodes focusing on the basics of sobriety. Everything from how to prepare for your first week sober, how to talk to family andamp; friends about it, and what to do when you feel overwhelmed by cravings. This idea is to present the mindset, tools, and practices that will help you reach 100 days and make sobriety stick! I’ll post these to Youtube as well, so be sure to subscribe andamp; share with a friend! In this conversation, I’m speaking with Dr. Jason Giles, author of Outsmart Your Addiction. Dr Giles shares his powerful journey from fentanyl addiction to 25 years of recovery as a physician.  What really struck me about his story is that you can be very smart, extremely ambitious, successful by all accounts, and still be vulnerable to addiction.  He opens up about battling imposter syndrome, the belief that life without substances meant “the fun was over,” and the turning points that led him to seek help. Dr. Giles reflects on the role of spiritual awakening, the importance of asking for help, and the lessons he’s learned about recovery, neuroscience, and resilience. The discussion highlights how shifting our internal narrative can be the key to lasting change and why he remains hopeful about the future of recovery. So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think! Contact Dr Giles: Book: Learn the Powerful System Developed by a Doctor to Conquer his own Fentanyl Habit 👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent andamp; Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1     Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast

Hi friend, welcome to another episode! If you’re new here, my name is Arlina, I’ve been sober for 31 years and I’m the author of the #1 best selling book “The 12 Step Guide for Skeptics: Clearing up common misconceptions of a path to sobriety”.  And if you hear some snoring in the background, no thats not my husband Bob, its my english bulldog Teddy. Today I’m so excited to share a powerful conversation with author and long-term sober writer, Kyla. She’s been sober for over a decade and has such a refreshing perspective on recovery, self-worth, and healing. We talk about the challenges of growing up feeling “not enough,” how external validation can become its own addiction, and the freedom that comes from consistency in recovery practices. Kyla also opens up about her work with therapy and self-love practices, and how these tools continue to deepen her sobriety and sense of self. This episode is packed with wisdom, humor, and honesty—and I think you’re going to walk away feeling both encouraged and inspired to keep showing up for yourself, one day at a time. So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think! 👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent andamp; Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1     Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast

 “The degree of magic you experience in your life will be in direct proportion to the degree you surrender and let go.” Hey friend, My name is Arlina and I’ll be your host. I actually have a quick story for you to tell you about today’s guest. You may have heard me say that I’ve been feeling burned out, so I decided to take time off to do a “self-care summer”. I had 3 months worth of amazing interviews pre recorded, I wasn’t taking on new clients and the plan was to focus on quieting my mind so that I could listen for God’s will for me and to pay attention to what brings me joy. Really, I have been in a state of surrender.  This is where it gets interesting. Sometimes I have to book guests months in advance, and that’s what happened with today’s guest. So imagine my surprise when it’s finally time to interview today’s guest Kute Blackson, and guess what… his message is all about the magic of surrender! He said so many things that have absolutely been haunting me, but like in a good way. For instance he said that sometimes our wants come from wounds, which struck me like a lightening bolt. I can see how we want certain things like success or love, but if it comes from a place of an unhealed wound, that it carries an energy of neediness, grasping, chasing, and dysfunction. So anything that we create from that place, is ultimately not going to feel fulfilling - because the wound still exists! Emotional wounds are like a black vortex. There is no amount of drugs, alcohol, romantic love or achievement that will fill that hole. It needs to be healed. Such a powerful lesson! To give you a little more background on today’s guest, Kute Blackson is a transformational teacher, inspirational speaker, and bestselling author of The Magic of Surrender and You.Are.The.One. Known for his deeply spiritual yet down-to-earth approach.. His work has been featured on Larry King Now, NPR, and Impact Theory. Kute empowers people to break free from the conditioning of the past, embrace their true nature, and live authentically—starting with the courage to surrender. So without further delay, please enjoy this episode with Kute, and as always, let me know what you think! 👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent andamp; Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1     Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast

Hey friend,  Thank you for downloading this episode! In case we haven’t met yet, my name is Arlina, and I’ll be your host. I’m sure you have noticed that when you start on the path of being sober, that’s when the real work begins. Relationships shift, career goals change, and the old habits that no longer work, need to be rebuilt from the ground up. That’s exactly where my client John found himself—knowing he needed better work-life balance, but stuck in a cycle of constantly dealing with one crisis or another. Weekly coaching gave him the clarity, structure, and accountability to finally set boundaries at work, exercise regularly, and be fully present for his family.  You didn’t get sober just to survive, you got sober to build a better life. Don’t wait for things to “settle down.” Your new life starts now. Book your free clarity call today at soberlifeschool.com. In this wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Martha Koo, we dive into the evolving and sometimes controversial role of psychedelic-assisted therapies in addiction recovery. We explore the tension between traditional 12-step abstinence models and emerging treatments like psilocybin, ketamine, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).  Dr. Koo shares insights from decades in psychiatry and addiction medicine, including work with MAPS on MDMA therapy for PTSD, and explains how tools like TMS can transform brain patterns, reduce cravings, and improve quality of life—without medication side effects. We discuss how to decide if these therapies are right for you, why environment and community matter, and the importance of pairing peer support with professional guidance.  Whether you’re in long-term sobriety, newly sober, or just curious about modern approaches to mental health, this episode will challenge old assumptions and open new possibilities for healing. So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think! 👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent andamp; Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast

Before we jump in, I do want to mention that I have a lot of free recovery resources on my website at soberlifeschool.com. There’s a guide called “How to quit drinking: 30 tips for your first 30 days” with tips on how to beat cravings, how to answer the inevitable questions about why you’re not drinking, how to manage stress, and still have fun! Cuz we are all about having fun, just without the hangover. And one request: If you enjoy this episode, please rate and review on Apple podcasts and share it with a friend. It helps to get the message of hope to those who need it most. Since I started the podcast over 9 years ago, I have talked with hundreds of people, many of them medical experts in a variety of disciplines, about how to heal the underlying issues that cause addiction.  The overwhelming data suggests that psychedelic assisted therapy, done in the right setting with professionals can lead to profound healing. However it is not for everyone and for certain people it’s actually contraindicated. These are powerful compounds and the use of them should not be taken lightly.  By way of a disclaimer, I’m obviously not a doctor and I don’t play one on the internet, which is why today I am speaking with an actual doctor. This conversation is not to be taken as medical advice. It is for educational purposes only.  The reason I decided to interview Dr Jeff McNairy is because I know compounds like Ayahuasca are being discussed among people in the sober community and I wanted to present information to those considering it, both risks and potential benefits.  In this episode, Dr. Jeff shares his remarkable journey from studying medical anthropology to becoming a licensed psychologist working at the intersection of trauma, neuroscience, and ancient healing practices. We also discuss who should not participate in ayahuasca, what safe preparation and integration really look like, and why this plant medicine is being called “10 years of therapy in one night.” 💡 You’ll hear: How trauma gets stored in the amygdala—and how ayahuasca helps release it What Dr. Jeff has learned from over 20,000 participants (including veterans, doctors, and trauma survivors) Why integration is just as important as the ceremony itself What the research says about ayahuasca’s effect on neuroplasticity, and addiction. So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think! 👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent andamp; Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1     Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast

Hi Friend, If you’re new to the podcast, my name is Arlina, I’ve been sober for 31 years, I’m a recovery coach, a bestselling author, and I’ll be your host. If you’re a long time listener, you may have noticed I recently enabled ads at the beginning of each episode. Something I haven’t done before in the 9 years that I’ve been hosting the podcast.  With the growing expenses of hosting, and the podcast production team, combined with a decrease in donations, I decided to give ads a try. If you would like to hear ad free episodes, you can join my YouTube membership for as little as $1.99 per month. I will also have an additional membership level that includes private community chat rooms, live stream Q&A and Recovery Coaching with me, so you can overcome obstacles, keep you motivated, and on track. Just visit my youtube channel “the One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast” or you can find a link in the show notes at odaatchat.com So, what happens when you grow up with an alcoholic father and a narcissistic mother—and no safe adult in sight? In this powerful and revealing conversation with Pi Venus, we explore what it’s like to grow up in a home where you’re told, in words or in silence, that your needs are a burden. My guest shares her story of early emotional abandonment, internalized shame, and the moment she poured her first drink at age 12… and the long road to reclaiming her power, identity, and joy. We talk about the real root causes of addiction, why recovery doesn’t stop at quitting substances, and how to reparent the parts of ourselves that still carry fear, shame, and longing. She shares what it’s like to heal from narcissistic abuse—first from her mother, then from a romantic partner who mirrored her childhood patterns—and the tools that helped her finally feel safe in her own skin. You'll also hear about: The subtle signs of covert and overt narcissistic abuse Her "spontaneous sobriety" moment and what made it stick How losing everything became a path to finding her true self Why peace can feel boring—and how to get comfortable with it The role of daily ritual, play, and myth in deep healing Her book Mother Medusa and how ancient stories help us rewrite our own This one is for anyone healing from dysfunctional family systems, narcissistic abuse, or unresolved childhood trauma. It’s vulnerable, validating, and ultimately empowering.         So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think! 👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent & Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1     Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast  

Why do we always want more, even when we know it won’t make us happy? In this episode, I speak with Michael Long, co-author of The Molecule of More and author of Taming the Molecule of More, about the true nature of dopamine, craving, and how to reclaim our power from the constant chase for the next hit—whether it's drugs, sugar, social media, or even achievement. We explore: The surprising truth about what dopamine actually does Why the feeling of “wanting” hijacks the brain—and how it relates to addiction How GLP-1 medications (like semaglutide) may help reduce cravings—and why they’re not a magic fix The 6 tools from ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) that help us create space between craving and choice What Victor Frankl got right about meaning—and how to find your own Why "enoughness" in the present moment is the antidote to always wanting more If you struggle with addiction, compulsive behavior, or the nagging sense that you’re never quite satisfied—this episode offers insight, hope, and actionable tools to reclaim peace, purpose, and presence. 📘 Learn more or join Michael’s book club at tamingthemolecule.com   So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think! 👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent & Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1     Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast        

Hi Friend, Thank you for downloading this episode, my name is Arlina, and I’ll be your host. I have to admit, this one’s going to be tough. With a heavy heart, I want to share that my beloved first sponsor, Kimberly A—affectionately known as Kimmerz—has passed away. She was the gentle, wise soul who walked me through my first year of sobriety. Her kindness and love changed my life. In fact, in my book “The 12 Step Guide for Skeptics”, (and with her blessing of course), I documented how she walked me through the steps and set me on a path that has kept me sober for over 31 years now. In the book I included all the reading assignments and all the written homework that she gave me, as well as many of the lessons she taught me.  As a tribute to Kimmerz, I am republishing the conversation we had in episode 99. My hope is that you will get a sense of just how wonderful she was. She touched so many lives and I’m so grateful to have had the honor of sharing her story. So without further delay, please enjoy this episode with our beloved Kimmerz. May she rest in peace.  👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com 🎁Free Journaling Exercise: How To Get Unstuck, Be Consistent andamp; Reach Your Goals Download Here: https://www.innercompassprogram.com ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick https://www.makesobrietystick.com Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1     Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast