

Addiction Unlimited Podcast
Angela Pugh
Are you ready to ditch daily drinking, reclaim your confidence, and create a life of freedom? Each week, Angela combines no-nonsense advice, personal stories, and science-backed strategies to tackle the challenges of sobriety. Angela Pugh is a globally-ranked Life Coach and podcast host, a professional Interventionist, and entrepreneur with more than 18 years of personal sobriety, helping people rebuild their lives since 2008. From navigating relationships to managing triggers, you’ll discover practical tools, empowering insights, and real-world solutions to thrive in sobriety. It’s time to stop feeling stuck and start feeling unlimited. Listen now for the inspiration, tools, and support you need to live a sober, confident, and happy life.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 10, 2023 • 34min
Breaking the Chains of Negative Body Talk
If you are tired of diet culture and obsessing about what to eat, how you look, and how to change it… know, you’re not alone.
The negative thoughts you have about your body are not your fault. The diet culture has us obsessing about “fixing” ourselves and it’s draining our time and energy.
My guest today, Summer Innanen is also a Coach and she specializes in body image, self-worth, and confidence. And these are all things we need to talk about!
She is also a best-selling author and the host of the Eat the Rules podcast where she features interviews with leading experts in body image, the anti-diet movement, self-help, and feminism.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Bodies Are Cool (book for kids): https://a.co/d/aJCSASj
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May 3, 2023 • 28min
How to Overcome the Fear of Missing Out
How to Deal With FOMO
Imagine this... you’re crawling in your bed – you love it there – you’ve got your book in your hand and you are so ready to shut the world out, and relax. You’ve had a long week – work, errands, activities – and you can’t wait to get under the covers and sink in to the warmth and comfort of your bed.
And right when you get the pillows situated just right, you’re about to open your book, or, if you’re like me, hit the power button on the remote – your phone dings at you, begging for your attention.
You pick up your phone to see what’s up and it’s a picture of your friends;
They're out, dressed up, looking amazing, everyone is smiling and having the time of their lives- and instantly you’re overcome with a wave of FOMO.
Just 3 seconds before you were ecstatic to be comfy and cozy in your bed!
But now… you feel inadequate. In bed at 9pm on a Saturday night… in your pajamas.
The good news is, you’re not alone in this.
And the point of this episode is to get some clarity on FOMO so that you can make choices that serve you in your life, rather than being impulsive and deciding to do something on a whim just to appease our ego or your social media feed.
FOMO will lead you to make decisions you regret because you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. I’ve done it, too!
I’ve been the person saying ‘yes’ to going somewhere I don’t really want to go or staying out way later than I like to because of all those thoughts that run through your head – I should be going out and doing things, I should be meeting people and having fun!
Then I end up doing things I don’t like or going places I don’t like and then I’m tired and mad and full of regret cussing myself for not knowing better.
FOMO steals your attention away from what’s important and from being connected to what’s actually happening in the moment. It contributes to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and making bad choices!
I want you to ask yourself what you are saying “yes” to, that you should be turning down in your life.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.”

Apr 26, 2023 • 38min
Benefits of Hypnosis for Treating Addiction and Other Ailments
Hypnosis for Addiction
I'll be the first to admit that the thoughts in my head, aka the committee, have knocked me off track more times than I want to admit.
There is always the 'fear' voice in the committee telling me, "You might really screw this up!", and the 'insecure' voice in there saying, "You can't do this," and "You're not good enough". And, although those messages aren't true, I know they are deep-rooted in my past experiences.
So what do you do when the committee is chattering away and all you want is to feel better?
My guest today is going to give you a great option!
And because I like to stick to tools with a solid reputation, here's a statistic that will blow your mind: In a review article, Dr. Alfred Barrio pointed out that the average success rate for hypnotherapy was 93% after an average of 6 sessions.
This was compared to a 38% success rate after an average of 600 sessions for psychoanalysis and 72% after 22 sessions for behavior therapy.
Mark Tyrrell joins me to talk about psychology, dopamine, addiction, and trauma and how working in a locked-down psyschiatric unit changed his outlook, and his path.
Tune in to hear:
What is hypnosis and what does it do?
How you can use it at home
Some common myths about what happens during hypnosis
And all the different ways we can use it to improve our lives
If you're looking for another proven method to feel better then pop in your ear buds and hit play because you won't want to miss this one.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Find Mark here: https://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
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Apr 19, 2023 • 30min
Addiction Unlimited Turns 5 And We’re Going Back to Episode Zero
Addiction Unlimited just turned 5! And to celebrate this journey that has been fulfilling and rewarding beyond my wildest dreams, I thought we would go back to day 1.
At least once a week I get messages from people who are looking for episode zero, About Me.
Keep in mind as you listen, my editing skills have come a long way, lol.
This is Episode 0, About Me.
I wanted to share some information about myself so you know who you are listening to and why I do what I do.
In a nutshell, I got sober on January 7, 2006 after crashing my car at 70mph and hitting another car. That was my rock bottom moment.
And, don't get things confused. My rock bottom moment was low, but I was high-functioning.
Like many of you out there struggling, I could rationalize all the reasons I didn't need to quit drinking. I had a good job, I made a lot of money, I lived in a beautiful place with a super expensive car in the garage, and, from the outside, it looked like I had it all together.
But that's the funny thing about 'rock bottom', people think rock bottom is an event, but it's really a feeling.
So, I quit drinking and focused all my energy on building a new life.
When I started to see all the changes happening to me and saw myself growing into an amazing sober, honest, upstanding person, I knew that all I wanted to do was help others get that same feeling of loving themselves, trusting themselves, and feeling proud of who they are becoming.
I got certified as a Life Coach, I did a 2 year Addiction Counseling program, started building a practice as a Professional Interventionist, went to social work school, and worked full-time to achieve 6000 supervised hours for my counseling credentials in a neighboring state.
My journey has taken a lot of twists and turns. I've struggled with self-esteem, relationships, money, food and weight issues on top of anxiety, workaholism, and a plethora of other things!
I want to share with you all the things I've tried and all the mistakes I've made so I can tell you what works, and what doesn't.
This episode is a brief insight into me, my quirks, and my love of f-bombs.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.”

Apr 12, 2023 • 41min
Your Smug Inner Critic and How to Shut It Down
Inner Critic
Ongoing thoughts that are negative and critical create feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
Did you get chills when you read that!? I definitely did, because I know that pain firsthand.
Like most psychological things, that constant chatter in your head stems from early experiences with your primary caregivers. The good news is, you don't need to dig in to the nitty gritty right now to start making friends with that inner critic that always has so much to say.
The committee, as I call it, plays a significant role in how you live your life, the choices you make, and how you feel about yourself. And that means, we have to coexist in a positive way!
My guest today spent many years feeling lost and fulfilled. She thought she was living the dream with the husband, the kids, the job... but on the inside she was sinking.
A high-stress lifestyle of work and diapers made her life unrecognizable and she slowly started to shut down. Feeling unfulfilled and listening to the inner critic telling her her husband didn't love her, she would dive deeper into work where she felt seen and successful, and straight into the arms of another man.
Jill's rock bottom moment came crashing down and she had to make some tough choices. She got the happy ending, but it was at the end of a long and bumpy road.
I know you can relate to that.
Listen in to Jill's story of harsh realities, facing the consequences of her decisions, dealing with alcohol having front-row seat in her marriage, and taming that inner critic to get to the happy ending.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela for private Coaching: addictionunlimited.com/call
Find Jill here: https://www.jilloboyle.com/
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
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Apr 5, 2023 • 35min
3 Stages Of Relapse And How To Triumph Over Temptation
stages of relapse
What if I told you that you could statistically increase your chances of living an alcohol-free life, even if you’re just getting started, or you’ve been struggling with staying sober?
Well, today I have 3 proven steps to help you do exactly that, and these are the same steps you’ll use to get through each of the stages of relapse.
If you're like me, and most of my clients, you know the struggle of trying to get and stay sober. And sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we fall back into our old patterns. So today, we're going to explore the three stages of relapse and how to fight against them. We'll take a look at how to recognize the signs, how to move through them, and how to come out on top.
Things that may surprise you in this episode are:
In stage one, you aren't actually even thinking about drinking
High-risk situations can be hard to identify, but you'll have a clearer picture after this
Bargaining! (I thought this was just one of the stages of grief!)
So when you start to feel frustrated, stressed, or overwhelmed, it's important to understand where you are and take steps to manage your emotions and stress level.
You might start to doubt yourself or feel like you can't handle the situation but I'm here to tell you, you absolutely can. And with the steps we talk about in this episode, you'll know exactly what you need to do to protect yourself and nourish your recovery.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Episode #79: https://addictionunlimited.com/is-relapse-a-choice/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
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Mar 29, 2023 • 40min
What to Do When Your Finances Are Out of Control
finances
I want to talk about something that is near and dear to my heart, and if you aren’t already thinking about this in your life and finding solutions, you’ll want to start after this conversation.
This is a huge issue, not only in recovery, but for everyone. 63% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.
And, most of us don’t have the know-how, the skills, or the confidence to not only get out of debt, but to properly manage the money we do have!
From total avoidance, trying to pretend it’s not happening, to just plain irresponsibility and overspending – it will affect every area of your life.
Jobs, how you live, your dating and relationship life, keeping secrets, never letting friends too close because you don’t want them to know too much, how you keep family at a distance because you don’t want them to know yet another way you are falling short - it is a lot.
So, when I came across my guest today, she got my attention immediately.
She is a financial Coach and she really gets that emotional attachment to money and how powerful it is in both negative and positive ways.
We’re going to talk about some practical money management strategies, and some emotional connections to money. Understanding your relationship to money, what motivates you and what makes you anxious- and how to start fixing it when your finances are out of control.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Find Sarah here: https://www.facebook.com/SarahRollerFinancial
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
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Mar 22, 2023 • 33min
When You Understand Emotional Intelligence Your Feelings Are More Manageable
Emotional Intelligence
Today we're talking about some limitations.
You know those habits you have that turn a conversation into a fight, or, make you avoid a conversation altogether because you know it won’t go well – the kind of traits that you absolutely need to develop and strengthen to improve every area of your life, but that aren’t so fun to talk about.
When I think about fun in my life, I think about travel, and friends, my family, and my businesses and all the amazing and cool things. I don’t necessarily think about these traits, although these traits I’m going to lay out for you today are absolutely essential in your personal growth and the growth of your relationships.
Both at home, and at work. I have grown so much in my emotional intelligence over the years and these skills have made my life so much better and easier!
Now, let’s dig into emotional intelligence so you can make your feelings more manageable, and continue building yourself into a person you love and respect.
Just to give you an idea of how important this topic is, check this out-
A 40-year study at UC Berkeley reported that emotional intelligence is nearly 4 times more powerful than IQ at predicting success.
So, what exactly is emotional intelligence, or EQ? What does it mean to be emotionally mature?
Emotional maturity means having the self-control to manage your emotions and work to understand them. As an emotionally mature individual, you don't view emotions as a weakness. Instead, you value them and don't try to hide them.
There are five key elements to EI: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
We're going break them down one by one.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.”

Mar 15, 2023 • 38min
How to Unlock Your Emotional & Relationship Patterns
Some of you may be aware of another program we talk about in recovery, or, another struggle many of us have, and that’s being the adult child of an alcoholic/addict or being an adult child from a dysfunctional family.
And for those of you who aren’t familiar… growing up with these circumstances leaves wounds and scars and trauma. And we carry all of that into our adult life, it shapes how we interact in the world, how we choose partners, and the patterns we repeat over and over again.
My guest today, Andrea Ashley, talks about these topics in such a simple and refreshing way I couldn’t wait to get her on the show!
She is the host of the Adult Child Podcast, and some of the topics I want to get into today is the ‘convincing’ she talks about, as well as how being an adult child affects our dating and mating lives. Picking and dating emotionally unavailable people, You know this topic hits close to home for me, my friend, so buckle up and get ready for some TMI.
I also want to cover some of the common characteristics of growing up in this type of environment, what that looks like, and how we can heal.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Find Andrea here: IG: @adultchildpod
ACA Laundry List: https://adultchildren.org/literature/laundry-list/
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Mar 8, 2023 • 38min
Must-Hear Tips to Elevate Your Self-Care Routine
self care routine
If you are a human being with a beating heart, you’re going to want to take notes with this episode because this topic is a game-changer!
And you know how I love to come at things from a different angle so we are talking about this in a way that no one else is talking about it.
We all know the importance of taking care of ourselves, you hear it everywhere, the buzzwords… self-care.
You hear the catch phrase, ‘you have to put your oxygen mask on first’, but how many of you are actually taking the time to put this into your daily life practice?
Are you really taking care of yourself?
Because, if you’re anything like me, and most of my clients, your life is busy.
You have a big job, a family, a partner, a house- and all the responsibilities that come with it.
And, usually, we get so caught up in all the things and getting the to-do list done and keeping the kids alive another day that everything gets prioritized over your self.
I hear you saying it,
“I should start exercising”
“I should spend more time with my friends or build new friendships”
“I really want to travel more”
… you are saying all the things… but when do you make it a priority to take care of you?
I want you to feel happier in your daily life and be more present with your family and feel more confident in yourself and your abilities.
So today, we’re talking to Dr. Melissa Durfey , aka The Self-Care Doc, all about taking everyday things and making them self-care rituals.
This is essential to your overall health and quality of life - it affects how you think, feel, how you act and respond to situations.
AND, when it comes to mental health, self-care can help people manage stress, lower their risk of illness and increase energy levels.
What I’m saying is… it’s kind of a big deal.
Get in your favorite podcast-listening position, my friend, and let it alllll sink in!
Links mentioned in this episode:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Dr. Melissa Durfey: https://www.myselfcaredoc.com/
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.”