Sunday, December 20, 2015

Speaker Discussion "Meeting" with Liz F. - Getting Sober When You're Young

In recovery meetings it is common practice for one person to share their experience, strength and hope and then to pick a recovery topic for the group to discuss. We have recreated this concept here on The Bubble Hour. Hearing that there are other people just like us...with the same experiences, thoughts and feelings is revolutionary.  
On this show, our guest Liz F., who is currently 23 years old and got sober young, will share her story and the impact recovery has had on her life.
Liz's message of recovery applies to any age, but if you are young and struggling, or newly sober, or if you are the parent of a young person who is struggling, or new to recovery, this message is particularly relevant for you.
Listen through the link below, or follow the information in the tab above to learn how to subscribe to our podcast: 

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Teaching People How To Treat Us - Setting Boundaries in Early Recovery

Setting boundaries is an essential skill in life, especially for people in recovery. Alcoholic and addicts often have dysfunctional boundaries: either too rigid (leading to suppressed emotions or distant relationships) or too enmeshed (depriving us of a sense of personal identity). If we don't learn how to create and maintain healthy boundaries interpersonal relationships may continue to be defined by old roles and patterns, increasing the risk of relapse.

As part of recovery, we learn how to set boundaries and to respect other people’s boundaries in return. 

But, especially in early recovery, this can be daunting.  An important aspect of setting healthy boundaries is learning, simply, how to say "no".  Another important part of setting boundaries is identifying how we are feeling; something that can take practice when we are newly sober. We can't teach other people how to treat us if we can't identify our own thoughts, feelings and emotions.

On this show we discuss what boundaries are, why they are important, and share tips, tools and advice on ways we identify, build and strengthen them, with an emphasis on how to do this when you are newly sober.




Sunday, November 29, 2015

Re-Broadcast: From Self-Medicating to Self-Care

“I need a drink” is a common catch phrase people use to sum up a bad day.  The culture is rife with advice that a “nice glass of wine” is all it will take to feel better about whatever challenges life dishes up.  So, when we are faced with big health issues, like anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses; physical illness or changes in our physical health; or stress caused by any social or familial changes or losses, it can seem like an easy fix to pick up a drink to “take the edge off.”  
As alcoholics, this response becomes our go-to.  We come to depend on alcohol to deal with our problems.  It becomes a vicious cycle as our bodies and brains are stressed from processing the alcohol, as we stuff our emotions deeper and deeper down inside, and as we become dependent on the drink to fix us.
We find great freedom from that dependence in sobriety, but it can be daunting to realize that even though we are now sober, we still have the same issues we had before we sought relief in the bottle - the same anxiety, the same depression, the same hormonal changes, the same trauma.  

On this show, our guests share their experiences about how they found new and better ways to deal with their lives.  From menopause to dual diagnoses, we can move from self-medicating to proper self-care!
Listen below, or follow the instructions in the tab above for how to subscribe to our podcast! 

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Plan Ahead for a Sober AND Fun Holiday Season!

The holiday season is upon us once again, starting (for those of us in the US) with Thanksgiving this week. In light of this, we thought it was timely to revisit tips and strategies for not just surviving the holiday season, but also reaping the gifts, choices and freedoms we enjoy as people in recovery!

If you are newly sober, there is no doubt this can be a challenging time.  On this episode show we share tips, tools and advice and our own personal stories of what worked for us - and some things that didn't - when we were newly sober, as well as what we do today.
Listen below, or click on the link above to subscribe to our podcast! 

Sunday, November 8, 2015

How To Navigate The Dating World When You're Sober

Dating is confusing enough, at times, but it can be especially tricky to navigate when you're sober. 
On this episode we talk about Sober Dating. We will address questions like: 
  • When/how do I tell someone I'm sober?
  • How do I maintain healthy boundaries and keep focus on self-care/program of recovery?
  • What about dating in early recovery?
  • The person I'm dating is sober, too, which is great, but what pitfalls should I look out for?

What do I do if the person I'm dating drinks? 
And more...
 Listen through the widget below, or follow the link above to learn how to subscribe to our podcast.  Thank you! 

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Let's Talk About Recovery Meetings

On the Bubble Hour we do not endorse or promote any particular program or pathway to recovery.
We honor the traditions of twelve-step programs, and as such we do not discuss them by name, and we will continue to honor this policy.
We receive emails from listeners who are considering going to a recovery meeting, or who have gone and have questions.  We have received requests to do a show about what recovery meetings are like.  
On this episode, our co-hosts will talk about recovery meetings, with the following important caveat: we can only share our own experience, strength and hope. We do NOT speak on behalf of any program, nor do we endorse any one pathway. 
On the Bubble Hour we strive to create community, which to us is the cornerstone to all forms of recovery. We honor and recognize that for many - but not all - this community is found in twelve step meetings.  Many listeners message us that they made the decision to try a recovery meeting to seek community.  Others tell us they are curious but fearful and want to know what to expect.
If you are considering a twelve step recovery meeting, this episode is for you.  Please bear in mind, though, that nobody speaks on behalf of ANY twelve step program, and that all meetings are different based on culture, location and each group's conscience. 
Listen below, (or follow THIS LINK as the widget has been giving us trouble) or follow the instructions on our page for how to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes: 

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Speaker Discussion with Debbie B at One Year of Sobriety


In recovery meetings it is common practice for one person to share their experience, strength and hope and then to pick a recovery topic for the group to discuss. We have recreated that concept here on The Bubble Hour. Hearing that there are other people just like us...with the same experiences, thoughts and feelings is revolutionary.  

The first year of sobriety is full of emotional upheaval, struggles, victories and many "firsts". On this episode we talk to Debbie B., who recently celebrated one year of recovery, about what her journey was like in her first year.

Listen below, or follow the instructions above on how to subscribe to our podcast:



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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Speaker/Discussion "Meeting" With Tammy L.

In recovery meetings it is common practice for one person to share their experience, strength and hope and then to pick a recovery topic for the group to discuss. We have recreated that concept here on The Bubble Hour. Hearing that there are other people just like us...with the same experiences, thoughts and feelings is revolutionary.  Tune in to this episode to hear our guest Tammy L. share her story and our discussion following her share. 




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Sunday, October 11, 2015

Unite To Face Addiction Rally - The Day The Silence Ended

On October 4, 2015, tens of thousands of people convened on the Mall in Washington D.C. to Unite to Face Addiction.  Our co-hosts Amanda and Ellie were there, along with our guests, John, and Courtney Webster of Your Recovered Life.

On this episode we share what it was like to be there, why this is such an historic event, and where we go from here.



A special thank you to Greg Williams and the other organizers for making this AMAZING event happen!

#UniteToFaceAddiction #TheDayTheSilenceEnds




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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Special Guest Dana Bowman, Author of "Bottled: A Mom's Guide to Early Recovery"

We are so excited to have special guest Dana Bowman, Author of "Bottled; A Mom's Guide To Early Recovery" on the show! 
About "Bottled":
"An unflinching and hilarious memoir about recovery as a mother of young kids, Bottledexplains the perils moms face with drinking and chronicles the author’s path to recovery, from hitting bottom to the months of early sobriety—a blur of pain and chaos—to her now (in)frequent moments of peace. 
Punctuated by potent, laugh-out-loud sarcasm, Bottled offers practical suggestions on how to be a sober, present-in-the-moment mom, one day at a time, and provides much needed levity on an issue too often treated with deadly seriousness."
This book is fantastic, and we highly recommend it for anyone in recovery, who is struggling with drinking, or who loves someone who is in recovery or dealing with addiction.
Dana's prose is poignant, vulnerable, honest and funny; this book is a must-read for anyone navigating early sobriety. 
You can check out more of Dana's writing at her blog: Momsie Blog: Motherhood is Hard. Laughter Is Easy.
Listen below, or click on the tab above to subscribe to our podcast! 


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Sunday, September 20, 2015

Back From Break! And An Honest Discussion About Balance

We are back from our summer hiatus, and excited to start a new season of The Bubble Hour!
We talk a lot about the importance of balance and self-care, and tonight we are going to have an honest conversation about making decisions in our lives that put recovery and balance at the top of our priority list. Sometimes it's hard to take a step back from things we love in order to keep balance in check, and sometimes we have life circumstances that require us to take on more, and maintaining balance can be a challenge.
Co-hosts Ellie and Amanda talk about why balance is important, about how we make decisions - even in the face of a lot of change - to maintain our recovery.
We also talk about this upcoming season of The Bubble Hour, and some changes we're making to the show based on your input
Listen through the widget below, or follow the tabs at the top of the page to subscribe to our podcast! 



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Sunday, August 16, 2015

Early Sobriety - Am I Ever Going To Feel Better?

For the month of August the co-hosts of The Bubble Hour are taking a break to refresh, renew and focus on our own self-care.  We will be back in mid-September with a fresh new format!  Until then, we are re-broadcasting some of our most popular and informative episodes.
Early sobriety can be challenging in many ways - lots of ups and downs and experiencing emotions for the first time without the numbing effects of alcohol.  On this episode we discuss tools and tips for getting through those first few days, weeks and months of recovery.
Listen to the show through the widget below, or follow the information in the tab above to subscribe to our podcast: 


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Sunday, August 9, 2015

Re-Broadcast: Relapse Triggers

When people stop using alcohol and drugs they are given a second chance on life. Some embrace this new life and never look back. Others find living without alcohol and drugs to be a struggle every day. Regardless of your experience, we are all susceptible to triggers which can cause us to relapse. Recognizing and managing these triggers is important to maintaining our sobriety. 

So what are triggers? A “trigger” of addiction involves any high-risk situation or stressor that “cues” a thought, feeling, or action to use alcohol or drugs. There are two types of triggers: internal, which occur within us, and external which occurs outside of us. 

On this episode we explore common triggers and discuss ways to counteract these unhealthy reactions and develop an action plan to keep ourselves safe and sober. 


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Sunday, July 26, 2015

Rebroadcast: "It's Not Just A Drinking Disease, It's A Thinking Disease" (and an announcement)

ANNOUNCEMENT:

In order to protect our own "bubbles", the co-hosts of The Bubble Hour are taking the month of August to refresh, renew and focus on balance and self-care.  We will resume in mid-September with a fresh new format!


Until then, we will be rebroadcasting some of our most popular and/or informative episodes.  Last Sunday was a rebroadcast of our show:  "It's Not Just A Drinking Disease, It's A Thinking Disease".

Getting sober isn't just about putting down the drink or the drugs, it's also about understanding the way our brains work, how we think, how we process.  
In this episode we talk about how we cultivate awareness of our thought patterns, and learn how to change the way we think so we can continue to grow and learn in recovery.

Listen through the widget below, or click on the tab above to subscribe to our podcast:


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Sunday, July 12, 2015

Speaker Discussion "Meeting" with Greg

The heart of every show is our guests and their recovery stories.  Everyone who participates on the show is a volunteer, whose willingness to honestly share their experience, strength, and hope helps keeps us all sober.  

So this episode is an open format episode in the style of a speaker/discussion meeting, where one guest shares their recovery story.   We are thrilled to welcome Greg to the show!  Greg shared his experience, strength and hope with us.

Listen below, or follow the tab above to subscribe to our podcast.





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Sunday, July 5, 2015

Re-Broadcast: How To Talk To Family & Friends About Your Recovery

Many of us spend years agonizing over the question..."am I an alcoholic?" before finally admitting to ourselves that "yes, I am an alcoholic". Saying those words out loud for the first time takes a whole lot of courage...and that's just the beginning. Getting and staying sober takes a lot of work and involves changing just about everything about ourselves. Many people join support groups where people suggest we go to a meeting every day? Get a sponsor? Believe in a power greater than ourselves? Let go of our resentments? Practice acceptance, patience and tolerance? Practice self-care? It's a whole new world for us, but if we want to stay sober, we learn to embrace these changes and we thrive. 

But what about our loved ones and our friends? How do we explain our recovery process to them? Many of us have hidden our disease so well that our loved ones had no idea we were drinking too much. Some will tell us to just stop. Some will suggest we only drink on the weekends or on special occasions. Even the ones who pleaded with us to stop drinking may find it difficult to understand our recovery process. 

On this episode of The Bubble Hour we will discuss ways to talk to our loved ones about our recovery process and why it needs to be the number one priority in our lives...even above them. 




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Sunday, June 28, 2015

The Truth About Honesty In Recovery

When we are drinking, we may find ourselves mired in dishonesty. This can be subtle or extreme. We may try to cover up our drinking and tell lies or exaggerations to avoid consequences, responsibility, or conflict. Dishonesty is at the root of denial including telling ourselves we can safely drink when we have evidence to the contrary. Lying may even become a habit as we hide from our addiction to cover up our true mental and emotional health to protect our ego, reputation, self image.

Choosing sobriety may be the first truly honest thing we've done in awhile. On this episode, we will be talking about how honesty has shaped our recovery, the choices we have to make to get and stay sober, how our definitions of honesty have evolved, and how dishonesty figures into the 11 stages of relapse if we let it.

Join us on Sunday, June 28, 2015, as we get honest and help each other stay honest as a core function of our sobriety.

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Sunday, June 21, 2015

Special Father’s Day Speaker Meeting With Frank F. – It’s A Family Disease

The heart of every show is our guests and their recovery stories.  Everyone who participates on the show is a volunteer, whose willingness to honestly share their experience, strength, and hope helps keeps us all sober. 

In honor of Father’s Day, Co-Host Amanda’s father, Frank, who is also in recovery, joined us on the show. Frank shares his own story and talks about what it was like for him to see his daughter showing signs that she was headed down the same path.

It is often said that alcoholism is a family disease. In this case, that certainly seems to be true, but this is proof that families can and do recover together.



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Sunday, June 14, 2015

Sober In The Summer

Summer is an amazing time to be sober and fully present in our lives.  However, for many people - especially those in early recovery - summertime can be full of triggers.  Cook-outs, beaches and fun with friends can still be a ton of fun, but it is best to be prepared so you can enjoy yourself AND stay sober! 

On this episode all four co-hosts will share their experiences with summertime triggers and what we do to stay sober in the summer AND have a great time! 



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Sunday, June 7, 2015

On Isolation - Interview with Andrea Owen from "Your Kick Ass Life"


Do you find yourself mistaking isolation for strength? This is a common pattern among people in active addiction and the habit can persist into recovery. There is a saying in recovery rooms which states, “Addiction is the only disease that tells you that you are alright.”, so when we isolate, we are putting our recovery at risk.

On this episode of The Bubble Hour we discuss the issue of isolation with Andrea Owen, certified life coach and author of “52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life”.


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Sunday, May 31, 2015

Speaker "Meeting" with Emily S.

The heart of every show is our guests and their recovery stories.  Everyone who participates on the show is a volunteer, whose willingness to honestly share their experience, strength, and hope helps keeps us all sober.  

On this episode we'll hear the inspiring story of recovery blogger Emily S., writer of emilyism.com. Emily will discuss her experiences throughout her journey to sobriety and as a recovery advocate.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Speaker "Meeting" with Raquel A.

We’re always trying to think of topics that are compelling to our listeners, but the heart of every show is our guests and their recovery stories.  Everyone who participates on the show is a volunteer, whose willingness to honestly share their experience, strength, and hope helps keeps us all sober.  
So this episode is an open format episode in the style of a speaker/discussion meeting, where one guest shares their recovery story.   We are thrilled to welcome Raquel A. to the show!  Raquel will share her experience, strength and hope with us.

Listen below, or click on the link above to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!  


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Sunday, May 10, 2015

Meet the Creators of "I Am Not Anonymous"

Did you know that there are over 23 million people in recovery in the US alone?  Organizations like "I Am Not Anonymous" are working to break the stigma of addiction, and share peoples' stories of recovery to help others who are suffering and feel they are alone.

From the "I Am Not Anonymous" website: 

"For years, those suffering from addiction have done so in silence as a result of the negative stigma surrounding it. The truth is, people DO recover. Our mission is to bring the SOLUTION into the conversation in hopes of helping the millions of people who remain untreated and help the world understand that addiction is not a moral failing. It is a powerful disease and the stigma associated with it is just as deadly as the disease itself."

On this show we are so excited to welcome the Creators of "I Am Not Anonymous", Tom and Kate.  Through the power of story and photography, Tom and Kate are at the forefront of the ever-increasing movement to break down the stigma of addiction. We will talk to them about their own journeys in recovery (Tom) and loving sommeone in recovery (Kate), as well as learn more about the project and the impact it is having on the stigma of addiction.

Listen to the show below, or click on the link above to subscribe to our podcast: 




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Sunday, May 3, 2015

Speaker "Meeting" with Dayna B.

We’re always trying to think of topics that are compelling to our listeners, but the heart of every show is our guests and their recovery stories.  Everyone who participates on the show is a volunteer, whose willingness to honestly share their experience, strength, and hope helps keeps us all sober.  

This episode is an open format episode in the style of a speaker/discussion meeting, where one guest shares their recovery story.   On this episode we are thrilled to welcome Dayna B to the show!  Dayna is coming up on one year of sobriety, and she shares her experience, strength and hope with us.

Listen through the widget below, or click on the tab above to learn how to subscribe to our podcast!  


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Sunday, April 26, 2015

Interview with Sherri VandenAkker - Creator of the Film "My Name Was Bette"

On this episode, we interviewed Sherri VandenAkker and her sister, Krystyn White.

Sherri is the creator of the film My Name Was Bette:  The Life and Death of an Alcoholic. This stunning documentary offers a shocking yet moving look at women's alcoholism.  The film chronicles the progression of the disease in Sherri and Krystyn's mother, Bette VandenAkker -- a nurse, wife, and mother -- who died in September, 2007.   The film, which was also created by Josh WE Hays, employs interviews, family photographs, medical records and graphics, and court documents to provide a personal and detailed look at the physical, emotional, and mental toll of alcoholism.  The film also also offers hope to those affected by the disease who seek to heal their pain and strained relationships.

On this show we will talk with Sherri and Krystyn about their personal journeys with their mother's alcoholism, as well as discuss what it was like to create the film.  If you have ever loved someone who struggled with alcoholism, you understand the challenges of loving someone with this disease.
Sherri, who is  Co-producer, Director, and Writer of the film -- was raised in central Massachusetts.  She now lives north of Boston.  She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned her doctorate in English.  She is a Professor at the Springfield  College, School of Human Services, Boston.

This film is avaialble to rent on Amazon; to view the film click HERE.  Visit the film's website by clicking HERE.

Listen to the show below, or follow the tab above for how to subscribe to our podcast!  


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Sunday, April 19, 2015

Sober Vacations

The very idea of having fun on vacation without drinking can be daunting, especially for those of us who once planned our resort time around swim up bars and vineyard tours. Is it possible to have fun travelling and stay sober? How do we ensure that we have the support we need away from our usual recovery-centered routines? Whether it is a summer camping trip or a mid-winter beach getaway, vacations require a little extra planning and consideration in sobriety. On this show Jean, Amanda and Catherine recount their recent vacations and explore what worked well, what went wrong, and what they might try differently next time.




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Sunday, April 12, 2015

Imposter Syndrome

Impostor syndrome is the feeling that you’re a fraud—that you’re somehow less qualified, less deserving of success. There is the fear that you’ll be “found out," which may lead you to attempt to work longer and harder than others. This can be a source of resentment, exhaustion, and a sense of impending doom. While Impostor Syndrome is not solely the domain of alcoholics, many of us report deep attachments to perfectionism and, it's cousin, Impostor Syndrome. Many of us drank over our feelings of resentment and fear arising from the core belief that we were frauds. Now that we are sober, we can bring these fears into the light of truth. When we think, "I'm a fraud," instead of drinking, we ask, "Is that true?" We connect with our recovery communities and see the truth of our own self-worth reflected back at us in the faces of our sober friends. We learn to discard these old patterns of thinking and replace them with healthier, more balanced ones. In recovery, we find freedom from the tyranny of Impostor Syndrome.

Listen below, or follow the tab above and subscribe to our podcast!

 
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Sunday, April 5, 2015

Speaker Meeting With Lisa U.

A very close friend of The Bubble Hour was asked to share her story at a 12-Step recovery meeting so we asked her to record it so we could share it with all of you. Lisa U. has faced many challenges in her recovery, but she got through them all with courage and dignity. We hope her story will inspire you as much as it inspires us. 



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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Increased Alcoholism Rates Post Gastric Bypass Surgery

Sunday March 29, 2015 - Increased Alcoholism Rates Post Gastric Bypass Surgery


In 2012 a study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that reports the percentage of patients abusing alcohol increased from 7.6% to 9.6% two years after gastric bypass surgery - potentially creating 2,000 alcoholics every year in the US.
There is more than one theory on why this occurs.  Some say it is addiction transfer: a patient switches an addiction to food to an addiction to alcohol.  More recent evidence suggests an anatomical explanation - metabolic and hormonal changes triggered by gastric bypass surgery that leave patients especially vulnerable to alcoholism.  Maybe it is both - or neither?  The truth is nobody is 100% sure of why alcoholism rates increase post surgery.
If you are struggling with alcoholism post-surgery, however, the reason why may not be as relevant as what to do about it.  There are unique challenges that face people whose alcoholism may be attributed to gastric bypass surgery, and on this episode of the Bubble Hour we will discuss this startling trend.  We will share more information about why experts feel this increased vulnerability to alcoholism occurs, and speak with special guest Jessica about her own experience with gastric bypass surgery, alcoholism and recovery.
We are also excited to welcome Diane Grimaldi, DNP, PMHCS, BC as a guest on the show and an expert on this issue.
Diane started her psychotherapy practice in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1984 after receiving her Masters Degree in Adult Mental Health Nursing from Boston College and becoming a board certified Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric Nursing. 
In 2014 she received a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.  For more information about Diane and her practice please visit www.grimaldicounseling.com.
Listen to the show below, or follow the link at the too of the page for how to subscribe to oi
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Sunday, March 22, 2015

Speaker/Discussion "Meeting" With Kristin S.

In recovery meetings it is common practice for one person to share their experience, strength and hope and then to pick a recovery topic for the group to discuss. We have recreated that concept here on The Bubble Hour. Hearing that there are other people just like us...with the same experiences, thoughts and feelings is revolutionary.  

Tune in to this episode to hear our guest Kristin S. share her inspirational story. For her topic, Kristin talked about how identifying with other alcoholic's stories instead of comparing herself to those who were "worse than her" helped her to accept that sobriety was the right choice for her and to embrace recovery.


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Sunday, March 15, 2015

Special Guest: Lori Butterfield, Director of the Documentary, Lipstick & Liquor

A cold December day. A mystery unfolds. Thirty-nine year old Julie Kroll stumbles away from a minor car accident, leaving behind her eight year old daughter...and an open container of alcohol. As darkness descends, she disappears.

This is the opening of Lipstick & Liquor, a documentary which explores the rise in alcoholism amongst women. As Julie's story unfolds, the film introduces us to four women who tell their recovery story. Lipstick & Liquor seeks to shake off the stigma associated with women alcoholics and to provide understanding and insight into the effort to stay sober.

Join us on this episode for a discussion with the director of Lipstick & Liquor, Lori Butterfield, as she shares about the making of the movie and her journey in understanding the disease of alcoholism and the stigma around it. 

Lori is an Emmy Award-willing producer, director and writer whose credits include television programming for National Geographic, Discovery, Animal Planet, Travel Channel and Discovery’s Science Channel. Lori has been working in production for more than twenty years, traveling to 50 countries on six continents.  Lori spent a combined decade working at National Geographic and Discovery Networks, with prior experience at Australia’s Seven Network and the news operations of CNN and Headline News. Lori is currently serving as Senior Vice President, Creative Content & Development at Home Front Communications, a full-service communications firm with expertise in digital media, interactive web services, content and broadcast.

You can learn more about the film on their website: http://lipstickandliquor.com/ or watch the trailer below:




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Sunday, March 8, 2015

Drinking Dreams

Whether you are newly sober or in successful, long-term recovery, awaking from a dream about drinking alcohol can be unsettling. Drinking dreams do have significance and we can use them to reinforce our recovery. On this episode of The Bubble Hour we will discuss our various experiences and explore research on what different types of dreams mean at various stages of sobriety.


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Sunday, March 1, 2015

Interventions: What They Are, Who Needs One, And How To Do Them

On this episode, we will talk about interventions:  what they are, who needs one, and how to go about doing one.

When a loved one is struggling with an active addiction, it is an exremely powerless and oftentimes hopeless feeling. Because the symptoms of the disease of addiction are behavioral as well as physical, and denial is such a huge component of the disease as well, it is difficult (if not impossible) to reason with an active alcoholic/addict.  Many people turn to an intervention to get help for an addict who is not able to break the cycle of addiction.  

But where to start?  On this episode we will walk through the steps of an intervention, as well as provide advice on what works, and what doesn't.  We will talk about ways a family can be helpful to an active addict, both with an intervention and in general, share our own personal experiences with interventions, and talk to a nationally certified recovery coach.

Please tune in to this informative episode!  



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Sunday, February 22, 2015

Celebrating Sobriety Milestones

Getting sober is not easy and many say the first 90 days are critical. This is a time when we are learning a whole new way of life and it can be very difficult and confusing. Celebrating milestones, whether it’s 24 hours, 30, 60, 90 days or years, helps us to see how far we have come and re-commit staying sober. Most recovery programs celebrate milestones by giving out a token (chip, keychain, etc.). This is helpful to the recipient and to others members of the group to see that long-term sobriety is possible.

On this episode of The Bubble Hour, we talk about how celebrating milestones has helped us with our recovery and some of the special things we have done to celebrate.  



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Sunday, February 15, 2015

Speaker/Discussion "Meeting" with Lisa B.

We’re always trying to think of topics that are compelling to our listeners, but the heart of every show is our guests and their recovery stories.  In recovery meetings it is common practice for one person to share their experience, strength and hope and then to pick a recovery topic for the group to discuss so we have recreated that concept here on The Bubble Hour. Hearing that there are other people just like us...with the same experiences, thoughts and feelings is revolutionary.  Tune in to this week's episode to hear our guest Lisa B's story ad our discussion.  

**We have shared the recipes Lisa mentioned on the show at the bottom of this post. We hope you will enjoy them!***





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Sunday, February 8, 2015

Alcohol and Hormones: Menopause, Peri-Menopause and Recovery

Did you know that heavy alcohol use can accelerate menopause onset by as much as 5 years? Do you know how to distinguish between the symptoms of detox and menopause when the feelings are remarkably similar?

How is long-term recovery affected by the onset of menopause?

Listen and learn more about an issue that affects all women, eventually.




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Sunday, February 1, 2015

Re-Broadcast: Sober Firsts, Part 1

Early recovery is full of “sober firsts”. They seem to come fast and furious in the initial weeks and months, and can be overwhelming at times. Eventually, the “firsts” are fewer and further between, but their infrequency can make them feel more jarring. On this episode of The Bubble Hour we look at “sober firsts” of three major types:
  • “Mixing with the Normies” – going back to the places and situations where drinking is part of the milieu, now as a person in recovery
  • “Engaging in Recovery” – new places and situations you encounter once you quit drinking
  • “Sober and Solo” – the things you go to or through on your own.
Join us and our guests as we talk about what these experiences were like for us and some tips for navigating these challenges of early sobriety.
Listen through the widget below, or follow the link above to subscribe to our podcast! 


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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Speaker Discussion "Meeting" with Lisa N. (Co-Founder and Former Co-Host of The Bubble Hour)


In recovery meetings it is common practice for one person to share their experience, strength and hope and then to pick a recovery topic for the group to discuss. We thought it would be great to recreate that concept here on The Bubble Hour. Hearing that there are other people just like us...with the same experiences, thoughts and feelings is revolutionary.  Our featured guest on this show is a voice many of you will recognize - Lisa N., one of the founders and former Co-Host of The Bubble Hour. 

Listen through the widget below, or follow the link above to subscribe to our podcast to hear our guest Lisa N's story and our discussion. 


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Sunday, January 18, 2015

Getting Unstuck

How many times did we wake up saying, "Today is Day 1," only to pick up a drink later? Maybe we said, "I'm just a binge drinker. I can go weeks without a drink," but we still have a sneaking suspicion that something is wrong and can't quite figure out how to break the habit. Or we get some sober time - 30, 60, 90 days or more - and then think, "Surely I have figured out to moderate by now!" We cycle through dark thoughts of shame and defiance to willingness mixed with confusion. How can we get unstuck and into a sober life? Join us on this episode as the co-hosts of The Bubble Hour discuss the stages of change from around a table at our first ever in-person meeting. We talk about getting into action to move out of stuck thinking and into a life of recovery.




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Sunday, January 11, 2015

Feeling Our Feelings: A Brave New World

While we are active in our addictions, we are numbing all of our feelings.  Although the initial impulse might be to dull the hard emotions - fear, anger, hurt - the actual result is that we dull of our emotions, limiting our experience of joy, contentment, and connection.  When we get sober, we find a crazy new rush of feelings - good and bad - that can be overwhelming.
 
On this episode, we discussed our experiences with our emotions and techniques for processing them.  Sobriety is a brave new world, which includes the full range of human feelings.  We're glad to be showing up for them all! 
 
Listen through the widget below, or go to the tab at the top of the page to learn how to subscribe to our podcast!


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Sunday, January 4, 2015

New Years - A Time For Reflection & Hope

On this episode of The Bubble Hour our co-hosts Ellie, Amanda, Catherine and Jean look back on 2014 and discuss what lies ahead for each of them in 2015. They also reflect on their favorite moments on the show from the past 12 months. Lessons learned, hope for what lies ahead, and insights on the pain and joy of life from these four strong women in recovery.




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