Protect Your Sobriety: Why Relapse Happens and How the Brain and Nervous System Heal

Sober Is Dope: Protect Your Sobriety: Why Relapse Happens and How the Brain and Nervous System Heal explores what actually causes relapse and why it often begins long before cravings appear.This episode covers Chapter 1, Working Thesis on Relapse and Addiction, which explains how relapse develops quietly through stress, emotional overload, isolation, and nervous system dysregulation, long before substance use returns. Protecting sobriety is not solely about willpower. It is about restoring safety and stability within the brain and nervous system.In this episode, Pop Buchanan reads from the book and reflects on how recovery unfolds at the level of the nervous system, daily regulation, and lived experience. The goal is not perfection. The goal is protection. Protection of your sobriety, your peace, and your capacity to stay regulated during real life.This conversation is for anyone in recovery, newly sober, long-term sober, or questioning their relationship with addiction. Sobriety is not just about stopping substances. It is about learning how to stay safe inside your own body.The paperback edition of Sober Is Dope: Protect Your Sobriety is currently available through Barnes & Noble and other retailers, while distribution updates continue across various platforms.

In this deeply emotional and inspiring episode of Sober Is Dope, Pop Buchanan welcomes Lee Lybarger and his son Richard “Rick” Lybarger, known professionally as Wisdom Won, for a powerful father-and-son dialogue on recovery, forgiveness, and spiritual rebirth.Lee, now more than ten years sober, reflects on his Navy background, his career in finance, and the long struggle with addiction that estranged him from his family for decades. With humility and remorse, he describes how he rebuilt his life through calisthenics, disciplined breathwork, and Hermetic meditation, discovering that true healing lies in consistent spiritual practice, not just abstinence.Rick, a certified breathwork coach and spiritual teacher with Wisdom Won Coaching & Energy Healing, shares how he transformed his pain into compassion. Through forgiveness and empathy, he helped reconnect the family and guide his father toward peace. Together, they embody how sobriety can evolve into spirituality, and how love can close even the widest gaps of time and pain.This conversation is about second chances, inner discipline, and the alchemy of forgiveness. It shows that healing is possible at any age and that redemption can ripple through generations.Contacts Website(s): https://WisdomWon.comhttps://Empowered-Man.comInstagram: @wisdomwon

This Episode is Sponsored by Kava HavenSOBER IS DOPE × KAVA HAVEN ✨ All the buzz, none of the booze ✨ Get 15% OFF your first order ⁠http://kavahaven.com/dope⁠Happy Labor DayIn this special Labor Day episode presented by Kava Haven, Pop Buchanan reflects on the journey of 2025 and shares an inspiring vision for the months ahead. He discusses the launch of Sober Brain Publishing and his new book Sober Brain Reset, which offers insights on healing the brain after addiction and unlocking the power of neuroplasticity. Pop also closes out his impactful Sober Mixology campaign and introduces his upcoming work Zero Proof Culture, exploring how non alcoholic beverages empower recovery and support a healthier lifestyle. Listeners will gain practical tips for brain health, learn about the growth of the Sober is Dope Foundation, and hear what is ahead as we move into the final stretch of the year and prepare for 2026. How To Heal The Brain After Addiction BookEarly AccessSBR: https://soberisdope.mysamcart.com/the-sober-brain-reset/#HTHTB: https://soberisdope.mysamcart.com/heal-the-brain-after-addiction/#Zero Proof Culturehttps://soberisdope.mysamcart.com/zero-proof-culture/Drunk and Depressedhttps://soberisdope.mysamcart.com/drunk-and-depressed/# 

Sober Mixology: The Art of Enjoying Nonalcoholic Life In this special episode of Sober Is Dope, I explore the exciting world of Sober Mixology, sharing the best nonalcoholic and alcohol-free beverages that help you unwind, stay social, and enjoy life without drinking.This episode is sponsored by Kava Haven, one of my favorite nonalcoholic spirits with refreshing hints of lemon and ginger. Whether you are sober curious, living a health-conscious lifestyle, or in long-term recovery, you will discover how to level up your nights out, self-care routines, and celebrations without alcohol.Better Sleep and Energy – Wake up refreshed without hangovers.Mental Clarity and Focus – Stay sharp and creative.Emotional Balance – Reduce anxiety and mood swings.Health and Longevity – Protect your liver, heart, and immune system.Fitness and Weight Friendly – Lower calories and no empty sugar spikes.Confidence in Social Settings – Enjoy the night without impairment.Supports Recovery and Sober Curiosity – Build a lifestyle of freedom and wellness.Benefits of Going Nonalcoholic

After losing her husband in March 2020, Nicky Wake transformed her personal journey through grief, loss, and alcohol-free reinvention into a mission to help others find love and connection. On Sober is Dope, Nicky shares how she created platforms like Chapter 2 Dating (for widows and widowers ready for love), SoberLove (a dating app for those choosing alcohol-free relationships), and WidowsFire, which explores intimacy and desire after bereavement. Nicky’s story is a powerful testament to how we can turn pain into purpose and build meaningful connections, even after unimaginable loss.HighlightsFacing grief head-on and rebuilding a life after lossWhy sobriety became a turning point on her healing journeyLaunching multiple platforms to help others find love and connectionCoping with loneliness and the stigma around grief and datingHow Nicky continues to inspire others through advocacy and community

Known to more than a million followers as the Crappy Childhood Fairy, Anna Runkle has spent 30 years helping people heal symptoms of childhood trauma and break free from isolation. In this episode, Anna shares her personal story, her groundbreaking techniques for regulating the nervous system, and lessons from her upcoming book, CONNECTABILITY: Heal the Hidden Ways You Isolate, Find Your People, and Feel (At Last) Like You Belong. We discuss how disconnection often stems from early trauma, why so many people struggle with relationships, and daily strategies for building secure, lifelong connections.Highlights • Understanding how early trauma affects adult relationships • Identifying and overcoming “covert avoidance” • Daily nervous system regulation tools that change lives • How to repair trust, set boundaries, and build confidence • Ending isolation and developing deep, meaningful relationships

Chris LaCorata, founder of Graasi Organic Barley Water, joins Sober is Dope to share how he built the first certified organic barley water brand in the United States with a mission rooted in wellness and sustainability. In this episode, we dive into Graasi’s clean-label, plant-based approach to hydration, its immune-boosting benefits, and how it became the official hydration sponsor of Borroka 3, a high-intensity MMA event. Chris talks about his journey as a veteran of American manufacturing, the importance of supporting rural communities, and how daily hydration and immune support can transform mental and physical health.HighlightsGraasi’s health-forward mission and American-made rootsVitamins C, D, and Zinc for immune support without added sugarWhy hydration matters for the brain and nervous systemLessons from building a sustainable wellness brandThe connection between mindful hydration and recovery

In this powerful episode of the Sober is Dope Podcast, host POP Buchanan sits down with Kate Vitela, RN, Certified Addiction and Mental Health Nurse, founder of Rewired Sober, and a passionate sobriety coach helping people rebuild their lives from the inside out.Kate shares her deep medical knowledge and lived experience to break down how alcohol affects the brain and nervous system, how to heal dopamine pathways, and how neuroplasticity can be your greatest ally in long-term recovery.You will learn:How dopamine dysfunction plays a role in addiction and recoveryWhat alcohol really does to the brain and nervous systemWhy your brain can heal — and how neuroplasticity worksTools for rewiring the brain in early recoveryThe story and mission behind Rewired Sober, Kate's transformative podcast and coaching practice🎧 Listen to Kate’s Podcast: Rewired SoberApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rewired-sober/id1781739552📲 Follow Kate on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/katevitela

In this profound episode of the Sober is Dope podcast, we welcome nationally recognized grief and trauma expert Dr. Jennifer R. Levin, PhD, LMFT, FT to explore the complex emotional terrain of sudden and unexpected loss. Whether it’s a suicide, overdose, accident, or sudden medical event, the aftermath of traumatic death can derail even the strongest among us.Dr. Levin is a Fellow in Thanatology, the highest distinction in the field of death, dying, and bereavement brings over 30 years of clinical expertise to this critical conversation. Together, we unpack the distinctions between traumatic grief, PTSD, and post-traumatic growth (PTG), and how these challenges intersect with sobriety and addiction recovery.From coping with “grief attacks” to rebuilding a sense of emotional safety, Dr. Levin shares actionable strategies for those navigating overwhelming grief, as well as for those supporting them.🆕 About the Book:Dr. Levin’s new book, The Traumatic Loss Workbook: Powerful Skills for Navigating the Grief Caused by a Sudden or Unexpected Death, drops on July 1, 2025 (New Harbinger Publications).This compassionate and practical guide offers tools based on CBT, mindfulness, and narrative therapy, and is an essential resource for those facing grief, as well as the professionals who serve them.🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How sudden or traumatic loss differs from "normal" griefWhat to say (and avoid) when someone dies suddenlyThe unique challenges of grief in sobriety and recoveryHow trauma shows up in the body and brain after lossTools to stabilize, find meaning, and move forward after traumaStrategies for dealing with grief in the workplaceWhy we often feel “unsafe in the world” after sudden death — and how to reclaim that safetyUnderstanding “grief attacks” and how to cope in the momentInsights into Dr. Levin’s proprietary workplace grief response modelThe concept of being “untethered” — and how to reconnect with life after loss📘 Grab the Book:The Traumatic Loss WorkbookAvailable July 1, 2025, wherever books are sold.Publisher: New Harbinger PublicationsGrab Book Here: ( https://traumaticgriefsolutions.com/the-traumatic-loss-workbook )📞 Connect with Dr. Jennifer Levin:💻 Website: https://www.TraumaticGriefSolutions.com🎙 Podcast: Untethered: Healing the Pain From a Sudden Death💬 Book 1-on-1 sessions or speaking engagements:https://DrJenniferRLevin.OnlinePressKit247.com📧 Media Inquiries: Michelle Tennant, Publicist – [email protected]

In this groundbreaking episode of Sober is Dope, we sit down with Dr. David Clarke, President of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (ATNS), to uncover how unresolved trauma and deep stress can literally rewire the brain to create chronic pain, illness, and suffering.Dr. Clarke shares how Neuroplastic Recovery Therapy (NRT) is helping thousands find relief — outperforming Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in clinical studies — and offers hope for people in recovery who are still battling invisible illnesses like fibromyalgia, migraines, IBS, and more.If you or someone you love is sober, but still suffering from chronic pain or fatigue with no clear diagnosis, this episode is a must-listen.⸻🔥 What You’ll Learn: • What neuroplastic symptoms are and why the brain is often the root of chronic pain • How adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to lifelong illness • Why traditional medicine is failing millions • How NRT works — and why it’s changing lives • The powerful mind-body connection in addiction recovery⸻🧠 Learn More + Resources:Dr. David ClarkePresident, Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (ATNS)🌐 Website: Symptomatic.Me📢 Media Kit: davidclarke.onlinepresskit247.com📧 Media Contact: Michelle Tennant — [email protected] | 828-749-3200📚 Therapy Resources + Annual Conference Info Available on Website⸻💬 Connect With Us:🔗 Sober is Dope | Hosted by POP Buchanan📱 IG: @soberisdope📧 [email protected]🎤 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube