The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast

Today my guest is Renee Leonard Kennedy, the author of "After the Flowers Die: Encouragement for Walking Through Life After Loss." I have to say, it was really interesting how we connected. Her publicist emailed me to pitch her as a guest, and I read it at a moment when I was really struggling with grief from the loss of my Mom. It was so serendipitous; it really felt like a spiritual experience, kinda like a little wink from God, if you will. I'm always in awe when stuff like that happens, you know? The exact message I needed right when I needed it. Renee is a lovely woman in long-term recovery who shares what she has learned about processing grief in order to help others, so I love her for that. She also was very candid about leaving AA, finding Celebrate Recovery, and lots more. Before we jump in, I have another quick book recommendation (besides Renee's, of course), which is Atomic Habits by James Clear. It's not your typical recovery book per se, but the parallels in this book are undeniable. It's a very practical way to set up your environment to support the habits that lead to self-care and positive outcomes. He talks about how to implement the tiny actions that have a huge impact. I got the audio version first and loved it so much that I also bought the book. If you don't have audible yet, you can actually get this book for FREE if you sign up for a trial membership on odaatchat.com. I'm an affiliate for audible, so if you sign up, I get a small commission that should allow me to retire by the time I'm 107. So that's it from me! Please enjoy the episode with Renee! Connect with Renee! Email: reneeleonardkennedy@gmail.com Website: reneeleonardkennedy.com Instagram: renee.l.k Twitter: @ReneeLeonardKe1 Facebook: reneeleonardkennedy Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen On: https://apple.co/30g6ALF https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ Watch Full Episodes! https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo

Today my guest is Hilary Phelps. If her last name sounds familiar it's because she's the sister of Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps! After 15 years of continuous sobriety, Hilary has decided to tell her story. We had a wide ranging conversation about what it was like to be the sibling of such a public figure, her own achievements, which are very substantial I might add, like being the number 1 ranked swimmer in her age group in the nation, a triathlete, and being a mother to an amazing little boy. We talk about her journey through alcohol abuse, what happened that lead her to sobriety and what life is like now after a painful divorce. Hilary is so relatable, authentic and genuinely a beautiful person. I love her and I know you will too. Before we jump in, I wanted to tell you 3 things. First thing is I have officially opened a soap shop called "Happy Soul Soap and Candle Co" where I have a whole collection of Sobriety themed soaps with sayings like "One Day at a time" surprise surprise, let go let god, Higher Power, Faith Over Fear and lots of others. They are all natural except for a few that are brightly colored, but they smell amazing and they're really beautiful, if I do say so myself. Making soap has been such great grief therapy and I dedicated the shop to my Mom since she always encouraged my artsy side. Check it out at happysoulsoapandcandle.com And speaking of Cliches, the second thing is I'm doing a fun little series about AA Cliches on TikTok @arlinaallen, and the podcast Facebook page. It's where I share a cliche and either tell a story or offer what it means to me. And if you follow it, I hope you share what they mean to you too! And the last thing is about reviews. Did you know reviews are the number one way to support the podcast? The more reviews we get, the higher the ranking, and the more we will reach the people who need to hear solutions the most. There are many other podcasts that are kicking my ass in the rankings. I know this isn't a competition, but I'm a scorpio and it's in my nature to want to do better. so with your help we can change that! If you have a moment to rate and review the podcast on Apple right now, I would greatly appreciate it! Without further delay, please enjoy the episode with Hilary! Connect with Hilary here: Visit Website: https://www.hilaryphelps.com/ Follow on Instagram @hilaryphelps_ Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg Lightning Round Answers: Book recommendation: Self Care Practice: Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen On: https://apple.co/30g6ALF https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ Watch Full Episodes! https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo

Today my guest is Steven Washington, author of Recovering You: Soul Care and Mindful Movement for Overcoming Addiction. If you have ever met someone who is so grounded, so authentic, and warm, then you will understand how I felt speaking with Steven. What a sparkling gift he is! See, this is why I love having a podcast. I get to meet amazing people and introduce you to them, and we are all better for it. We talk about his story of childhood challenges that shaped his life, alcoholism while performing at the highest levels, and the moment of clarity that altered the trajectory of his life. Before we jump in, I wanted to share an interesting topic that came up in the 12 Step workshop I'm facilitating. The question was, how do I know if I'm doing God's will or if I'm in self-will? Such an important question and one I think a lot of us visit from time to time. I did a short video about it on Tiktok but thought it was worth mentioning here too. We do need to take action, and we do so based on goals and responsibilities. I think for me what can be confusing is when I experience some sort of pain and frustration. This is what can be confusing for me. If pain and frustration are involved, does that mean I am not in God's will? Am I trying to force something that isn't meant to be? Or is it part of the natural process? While there are no clear-cut answers, I have found a barometer that has helped a lot, and it's this question: Do my actions or decisions ultimately bring me peace? For example, I had been struggling with a friendship that no longer felt right for a variety of reasons. After much reflection and discussion with trusted advisors, I decided to let that friend go. Was it painful? Yes. Did the decision ultimately bring me peace? Absolutely. While I don't wish anyone harm, I acknowledge that changes in both parties resulted in the loss of commonality, and that's okay. Nobody has to be made wrong. It has been a blessing to release with love and make room for new opportunities. So that's how I decide if I'm in God's will or not, and if we take a step back, I'll say that the word "God" can be whatever makes sense to you, and it's a valuable exercise to revisit that concept as well. I hope that helps! And I would love to hear your thoughts on Tiktok, Facebook, or Instagram. So without further ado, please enjoy the episode with Steven! Connect with Steven! Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/stevenwashingtonexperience/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/STEVENWASHINGTONEXPERIENCE/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCELKG49gXvN7E-GY271iSHQ Website: www.stevenwashingtonexperience.com Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen On: https://apple.co/30g6ALF https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ Watch Full Episodes! https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo

Today my guest is Lily Shanks. She is a former attorney turned certified yoga instructor and life coach. She is no stranger to perfectionism, workaholism, alcoholism, and burnout. Having learned how to overcome so many challenges, she now works with other women to do the same through a variety of practices. She is absolutely lovely, and I can't wait for you to meet her! Before we jump in, I have a favor to ask. The podcast is officially years old now, and I have spoken with over 250 guests, with some distinguished and exciting guests coming up. It takes a lot of work and expense to keep the show going; at the moment, I have 2 donors supporting the show. If the podcast has helped you and you feel so inclined to support the show through a donation, you can do so by visiting odaatchat.com, and there will be a link to donate. If you would like to support the show in other ways, reviews are hugely helpful, as is sharing it with friends. The show is a passion, and I'm so grateful for all the love and support. Thank you for an amazing 7 years, and I look forward to many more! And with that, please enjoy the episode with Lily! Connect with Lily! Visit Website: https://www.myinternalweather.com/lilyshanks Follow on Instagram my_internal_weather Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg Lightning Round Answers: Book recommendation: Blackout, by Sarah Hepola, The Grapevine Self Care Practice: yoga, pray meditate Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen On: https://apple.co/30g6ALF https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ Watch Full Episodes! https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo

Today my guest is Ted Perkins, who will be talking about his recovery journey through SMART Recovery and his new book "Addicted in Film: Movies We Love About The Habits We Hate." It's a brilliant concept, and it makes so much sense when you consider how we all learn and relate through stories. Ted is a former Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Studio executive, university lecturer, public speaker, Hollywood producer, virtual reality entrepreneur, and successful working film and TV series screenwriter. He volunteers his time as an addiction and recovery YouTube personality and sobriety mentor. He has helped thousands of people on their recovery journey through his blogs, videos, and weekly SMART Recovery meetings. Before we jump in, I wanted to announce another resource for you which is a book review series I'll be publishing on TikTok @arlinaallen and Instagram, which is also @arlinaallen . Every single episode we do on the podcast mentions at least 2 or 3 books. I'm obsessed with books for a few reasons, not the least of which is the transformational ideas conveyed by experts who have typically spent thousands of hours researching, contemplating, distilling all the information, and writing about it in ways that can literally change your life in deeply profound ways. It's incredible to think you can gain all their information for the price of a book, which is typically less than $20. One of the things I always find myself putting on my gratitude list is all my teachers. Connect with Ted! Visit Website: https://www.addictedinfilm.com/ Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg https://www.youtube.com/@SmartRecoveryUSA Lightning Round Answers: Book recommendation: Favorite Quote: Self Care Practice: What I wish I knew: Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen On: https://apple.co/30g6ALF https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ Watch Full Episodes! https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo

Today my guest is Peg O'Connor, author of "Higher and Friendly Powers-Transforming Addiction and Suffering". She has been sober for 34 years, holds Ph.D in philosophy, she is a professor at Gustavus Adolphus College, and a contributor to Psychology Today. We dig into the premise of her book around where the term Higher Power comes from and what it really means. Her intention is the same as mine, which is to alleviate unnecessary suffering by helping people overcome ideas that may be holding them back from solutions such as the 12 Step program. That's actually a good segway to announce that I'm hosting a free 12 Step Workshop for Women starting January 3rd and all you have to do is join the One day at a time private women's group on Facebook! There will be a lot of challenges for Dry January - some that are quite expensive, but if you have financial constraints that put these out of reach, I got you covered. Everything is free, even the literature! I am a huge 12 step advocate because it has helped me to stay sober for over 28 years. If you're worried about the God thing, I have a way around that. If you are worried about being an "alcoholic", don't worry about that either! Whatever has prevented you from going through the process, I will share context and perspectives that will help you get past the barriers so that you can access a truly magical transformation. So if you have been thinking about it, take this as a sign! Fortune favors the bold so let's goooo…. Be sure to invite your friends too. The more the merrier. Without further ado, please enjoy this episode with Peg! Get the book! Get the book here: https://amzn.to/3G6Edku Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg Lightning Round Answers: Book recommendation: Mary Carr, "Lit" Favorite Quote: Use "Misery Threshold" instead of Rock Bottom Self Care Practice: Exercise, Walking Meditation, 12 Step Meetings Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen On: https://apple.co/30g6ALF https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ Watch Full Episodes! https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo

Today my guest is Mike Gibson, a former NFL player currently working at Healthy Life Recovery in San Diego, CA. He shares his story of becoming physically addicted to opioids after a significant injury playing football. We talk about how being a professional athlete made it difficult to relate to others, his resentment toward God, and the spiritual experience that lead him to recovery. Before we jump in, I wanted to announce that I will be offering a free 12-step workshop for women through my private group. I haven't taken anyone through the steps since I started coaching full-time, and honestly, I really miss it. It's completely free; you don't have to buy any books or attend any meetings if you don't want to. It begins early January, and all you have to do is join the Facebook group! Just do a search for "One Day At A Time - Private Women's Group" and I will announce all the details next week!! So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, with Mike! Connect with Mike! Visit Website: https://healthyliferecovery.com/ Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg Lightning Round Answers: Book recommendation: The Four Agreements Self Care Practice: 1-2 meetings per week, community support through church and sober softball league. Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen On: https://apple.co/30g6ALF https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ Watch Full Episodes! https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo

Today my guest is Dr. Lida Fatema. Her mission is to provide psilocybin-assisted coaching for female physician moms to move through past trauma, depression, anxiety, and burnout. I'm personally fascinated by the research on the use of psychedelics to treat alcoholism and other underlying causes of addiction, such as trauma, depression, and anxiety. It's not a panacea for everything, and those of us with addiction issues need to proceed with caution; however, the clinical trials at Johns Hopkins and NYU look promising. I invited Dr. Lida to the podcast to share the pros and cons, protocols, and her personal experiences both as someone who struggled with mental health and as a facilitator. My intention is not to encourage use or to dissuade you but to provide you with information so you can come to your own conclusions. As a disclaimer, I am not a doctor, and I don't play one on the internet. None of this content should be construed as medical advice or be construed as a recommendation to use any of the substances mentioned in this episode. There are physical, psychological, and sometimes legal risks with such usage. Please consult your doctor before considering anything we discuss in this conversation. As always, if you find this information useful, please share with your friends and leave a review on Apple Podcast. Without further delay, please enjoy this episode with Dr. Lida Fatima. Connect with Dr. Lida Fatema! Visit Website: https://www.consciousphysician.org/ Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen On: https://apple.co/30g6ALF https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ Watch Full Episodes! https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo

Today my guest is Jake Yoder, and we are discussing the fairly controversial topic of marijuana and recovery. Jake shares his experience with it, why he decided to stop and how he did it. We also talk about a spiritual experience he had, harm reduction, and how to have a natural high. This topic is a particularly complex one. In 12-step programs, there is a heavy focus on counting "sober time" and a lot of talk about complete abstinence over everything. What sober means and what "everything" includes is debatable. However, I do want to point out that the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" is specifically focused on alcohol. There is another program called Marijuana Anonymous that is focused on marijuana. At the end of the day, you need to decide what's right for you. For the record, I am clear that I do not know what's right for anyone else. I do believe in harm reduction, which is what I practiced when I stopped drinking, but I also know that using marajuana can be a slippery slope for people with addiction and dependency issues. There are medicinal benefits however for a certain group of people, it becomes another substance that is used to manage emotions in an unhealthy way. For me personally it was another way to numb out and it was stunting my healing because I have learned that I have to feel it to heal it. There was a lot to say about this topic and I feel like we left out a few very key components to this discussion, but that leaves room for you to make your voice heard! If you have any thoughts to share on this topic, please leave a comment on the Facebook page, shoot me a DM on IG @arlinaallen or @odaatpodcast and I'll address them in a following episode. As always, I would like to thank you for supporting the podcast with reviews on Apple, donations made through odaatchat.com to cover production costs and by sharing the episodes with your friends. Unity is a foundation principle to community and together we help alleviate the suffering of others. So with that, please enjoy this episode, with Jake! Connect with Jake! Visit Website: https://www.naturalhighsrecovery.org/ Follow on Instagram @naturalhighsrecovery Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/naturalhighscommunity/ Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg Lightning Round Answers: Book recommendation: Favorite Quote: Self Care Practice: What I wish I knew: Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes! Listen On: https://apple.co/30g6ALF https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ Watch Full Episodes! https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo