

Relevant Recovery
Donnie & Heather
Hosts Heather & Donnie discuss challenges relevant to recovery. Topics include chemical dependencies on a variety of substances, as well as food, social media, money and much more. They discuss everything from mental health, anxiety, depression, fear, marriage and resentment. Join Heather and Donnie as they share their personal experience with recovery and sobriety.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 17, 2025 • 1h 19min
Sex and Love Addiction - Episode 215
In this powerful episode of the Counterfeit Contentment series, we expose how sex and validation-seeking hijack our brains, warp intimacy, and leave us spiritually empty — and how healing happens through connection with God, community, and recovery.

Aug 10, 2025 • 2h 19min
Food, Control and Recovery - Episode 214
In this episode, Food, Control & Recovery, we unpack how food, body image, and control can become counterfeit forms of comfort in recovery. From emotional eating to obsessive restriction, we explore the overlap between disordered eating and substance use—and how true healing begins at the heart, not just the habit.

Aug 3, 2025 • 1h 27min
Shopping and Materialism - Episode 213
In this episode, we look at how shopping and materialism offer quick comfort—but leave us emptier. From dopamine hits to identity traps, we unpack what’s beneath compulsive spending and how spiritual contentment offers a better way.

Jul 27, 2025 • 1h 22min
Seeking Contentment - Episode 212
What’s the difference between happiness and true contentment? In this episode, we explore how recovery can get hijacked by counterfeit comforts—and how real peace comes through surrender, presence, and trust in God.

Jul 20, 2025 • 1h 23min
All About Abstinence - Episode 211
In this spicy episode, we break down what abstinence-based recovery means, how it differs from other pathways, and why clarity around definitions is critical. We explore why blending models can compromise recovery, and why honoring each path helps everyone heal.
NIH took the article down but here is a link to a website discussing the same article: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/682790

Jul 13, 2025 • 1h 11min
When Life Gets Lifey - Episode 210
In this raw episode, Donnie and Heather open up about navigating major life transitions. They share what it looks like to trust God in the middle of chaos and uncertainty, and how recovery has taught them to stay grounded when life is anything but.

Jul 5, 2025 • 1h 4min
Recovered Isn’t Cured - Episode 209
We’ve recovered—but we’re not cured. In this episode, we break down the Big Book’s message about the daily spiritual solution to alcoholism. Recovery brings freedom from obsession, but we still need connection, humility, and daily action to stay well.

Jun 29, 2025 • 1h 19min
2-Fold vs 3-Fold Argument - Episode 208
In this episode, we dive into a common debate within the 12-step community — is alcoholism a 2-fold or 3-fold illness? We examine the language, confusion, and implications associated with both perspectives. While the allergy of the body and the obsession of the mind are the only qualifying markers of alcoholism, many overlook the universal human condition: the spiritual malady. We’ll explain why the real solution to all forms of brokenness — whether alcohol, drugs, food, or anything else — is spiritual in nature. Let’s clear up the language and get back to the heart of the matter: reconnection with Power.

Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 18min
The Ripple Effect - Episode 207
Sometimes it’s not the big moments, but the small, quiet ones that change everything. In this episode, we explore The Ripple Effect—how one simple decision, conversation, or act of obedience can set off a chain reaction that’s far greater than we could ever imagine.

Jun 15, 2025 • 1h 15min
When God Says Jump - Episode 206
In today’s episode, we’ll talk about what it means to actually listen when God says move, even when it feels like you’re stepping off a cliff. No script, no filter—just faith, fear, and what it looks like to trust in the unknown.