Breaking Down the Twelve Steps

Today is a little different! I’m sharing a recording from a twelve-step meeting where I gave the lead a few years ago. It’s a simple, honest breakdown of the Twelve Steps and the process of actually working them, not as a rulebook or a rigid formula, but as a deeply personal experience.I’ve always felt that the steps are essentially free, personalized therapy. They ask us to look at our patterns, our pain, our responsibility, and our capacity for change with a level of honesty that most of us were never taught. In this lead, I walk through how the steps build on one another, why they matter, and what they’ve given me beyond just staying sober.Whether you’re new to recovery, thinking about working the steps, coming back after time away, or just curious about why they’ve helped so many people for so long, this episode offers a clear, human look at the process and why it still works.No perfection. No preaching. Just one addict’s experience with a framework that helped turn survival into something that finally felt like a life. 🌱If you or a loved one are navigating substance use or mental health concerns, please check out our sponsor ⁠Worthy Wellness Center⁠, a luxury mental health and SUD treatment center in San Diego, CA.DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

Today, I am joined by my best friends of over thirty years, Keri, Scott “Gumpy” and Barbara. They are not in recovery - which is actually why I wanted them on the show and what hopefully makes this conversation meaningful and different for you guys, too. I wanted to hear from the people who loved me through addiction without ever experiencing it themselves, and to explore what it is like on the other side of an addict friendship.Together, they reflect on watching a childhood friend slowly self destruct. The confusion, fear, frustration, and helplessness. The moments they tried to step in, the times they did not know how, and the emotional toll of caring deeply without having control. Their honesty offers a compassionate and often overlooked perspective for anyone who has loved someone struggling with substance use.The conversation is not all heavy, though!. Woven throughout are the shared memories that come from growing up together. Field parties, driving around in a fake cop car, and me calling Barbara as an adult to talk to my mom for me. The kind of stories only lifelong friends can tell.This episode is for friends, family members, and loved ones who have walked alongside addiction. Those who stayed close, those who pulled away, and those still trying to understand it all. Thoughtful, warm, and deeply human.If you or a loved one are navigating substance use or mental health concerns, please check out our sponsor Worthy Wellness Center, a luxury mental health and SUD treatment center in San Diego, CA.DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

This episode is a real-time holiday check in with me and my husband as we talk about what sobriety looks like during one of the most emotionally charged seasons of the year. We reflect on past holidays when substances were part of how we coped, numbed, or survived, and how different things look now with intention, communication, and boundaries.We also pause to acknowledge a milestone. My husband shares where he is at just over two years sober, specifically how his program and mental health have evolved.Together, we talk about the stress of family dynamics, expectations, grief, finances, and the nonstop pace of the season, along with the practical ways we take care of ourselves so resentment and burnout do not quietly take the wheel. From checking in with each other, to protecting our routines, to knowing when to opt out instead of powering through, this episode is about choosing sobriety on purpose when things feel loud and heavy.If the holidays have ever made you question your recovery, miss old coping mechanisms, or feel alone in the effort it takes to stay grounded, this conversation is for you. You are not weak for feeling it. You are human. And you are allowed to do the holidays differently now.Check out our sponsor Worthy Wellness Center if you or a loved one are looking for residential treatment, outpatient programs or sober living, Worthy can provide a safe space to heal.DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

Y'all, my guest today, Toni Becker is absolutely incredible.Toni lives in South Africa and is a content creator with twelve years sober. Toni was plagued by disordered eating years before her addictions to meth and alcohol began. Years of partying led to homelessness, meth psychosis and severe illness and kidney failure. In sobriety, Toni was still struggling with disordered eating. Treatment in sobriety finally helped her with that struggle. Later in sobriety, she developed facial dysmorphia induced by social media expectations and filters. Talking about these issues in sobriety was fascinating and I learned so much from Toni!Connect with Toni on ⁠Instagram⁠DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

Glynis’s journey is one of the most intense and transformative we’ve ever shared. She began using drugs at a painfully young age, smoking crack by 12, moving through juvie, and growing up as a ward of the state. By 18 she was stripping to survive, drifting from Massachusetts to Texas in the hope that a new place might quiet her addiction. Instead, she spent years in Dallas working as a prostitute and becoming deeply enmeshed the world of solicitation.Everything changed when she was arrested while smuggling people across the border between Mexico and California. That prison sentence became the turning point she never saw coming. Glynis got sober, stayed sober, and rebuilt her life from the foundation up.Today she has six years clean and is opening her own treatment center ⁠Peak Path Health ⁠in the Hollywood Hills, determined to give others the safety and support she never had.This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, redemption, and the belief that no one is too far gone to find a new path.Check out ⁠Worthy Wellness Center⁠Connect with Glynis on ⁠Instagram⁠DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

Glynis’s journey is one of the most intense and transformative we’ve ever shared. She began using drugs at a painfully young age, smoking crack by 12, moving through juvie, and growing up as a ward of the state. By 18 she was stripping to survive, drifting from Massachusetts to Texas in the hope that a new place might quiet her addiction. Instead, she spent years in Dallas working as a prostitute and becoming deeply enmeshed the world of solicitation.Everything changed when she was arrested while smuggling people across the border between Mexico and California. That prison sentence became the turning point she never saw coming. Glynis got sober, stayed sober, and rebuilt her life from the foundation up.Today she has six years clean and is opening her own treatment center Peak Path Health in the Hollywood Hills, determined to give others the safety and support she never had.This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, redemption, and the belief that no one is too far gone to find a new path.Check out Worthy Wellness CenterConnect with Glynis on InstagramDM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

This week, we sit down with Janice, an author, advocate, and nearly 20 years sober, to unpack a story that begins in a family of dive bar owners and ends in a life built on purpose and spiritual transformation.Raised around alcoholism, Janice picked up drinking and smoking weed in middle and high school before joining the Marine Corps. When an injury derailed her military path, she was prescribed pain medications that opened the door to years of dependency. By her mid 30s, she found herself addicted to methadone until she made the terrifying decision to quit cold turkey. What followed was a profound and unexpected spiritual experience that became the turning point of her life.Today, Janice has almost two decades of sobriety, has written two powerful recovery books, and dedicates her time to helping people navigate surgery and pain management without narcotics. Her story is raw, honest, and deeply hopeful, and it serves as a reminder of what is possible on the other side of surrender.Check out ⁠Worthy Wellness CenterFind Janice's books and info about sober surgeries: https://www.sobrietyrocks365.com/DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

Jed returns to the show for one of his most honest conversations yet. After years of sharing his growth and wisdom on this podcast, he recently experienced a relapse - and he shows up with raw transparency about what happened. We talk openly about the dishonesty and poor decision-making that comes with using, the shame that follows, and the painful reality of breaking trust with the people who love us most. Jed reflects on what it takes to rebuild that trust, how he’s finding his footing again, and why this chapter, though difficult, is part of his continued journey in recovery. This is a vulnerable, grounded conversation about being human, starting over, and choosing honesty even when it’s hard.DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

Gunnar grew up in what looked like the perfect family - until addiction slowly unraveled everything. After his parents fell deeper into their own substance use, his mother disappeared without a word, leaving Gunnar to navigate a childhood suddenly marked by instability and pain.By his teens, he turned to meth and heroin, beginning a long cycle of drug court, jail stays, and surviving on the streets of downtown San Diego. But Gunnar’s story didn’t end there. Through grit, recovery, and a community that believed in him, he rebuilt his life from the ground up.Now three years sober, Gunnar has graduated college and applied to graduate school with a mission: to advocate for the homeless community he once belonged to and push for real policy change.This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, redemption, and the impact of turning lived experience into purpose.Episode sponsored by Worthy Wellness CenterWorthy Wellness Center is nestled within the charming village of Carlsbad, in North County, San Diego, less than half a mile from the tranquil local beaches. Worthy stands as a sanctuary wholly devoted to nurturing the healing and well-being of those in recovery. Committed to addressing the holistic needs of individuals navigating through life’s challenges, whether related to substance abuse, alcohol addiction, or mental and mood disorders, Worthy Wellness Center takes a comprehensive approach to healing the body, mind, and spirit.DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

In this explosive conclusion to Blue’s story, the chaos of addiction reaches terrifying new heights. What starts as a wild meth-fueled adventure spirals into a blur of residential burglaries, near-death experiences, and cross-count geographicals between California and New Mexico. Blue narrowly survives a car explosion, brushes with death, and finds herself trapped in the same criminal underworld she once swore she’d escape.After a string of arrests, she lands in a New Mexico prison—this time with a baby in California that she's trying to get back to. Headed back to California, she was determined to find sobriety. Ending up in a federal indictment and facing years in federal prison, Blue is finally forced to confront the wreckage of her past and the possibility of a different future.Check out our sponsor Worthy Wellness CenterConnect with Blue's treatment center OC SafehouseDM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!