Soberful

Chip and Veronica discuss the culture of alcohol, hospitality and binge drinking as it relates to work. Nearly all industries have ways of promoting excessive drinking. They give tips on being sober in these environments and navigating them while also keeping and excelling at your career.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Benoit Kim describes himself as a 'third culture kid'. He was the child of Korean parents raised in Paris and America. Alcohol took hold of him when he was young, and he experienced two hospitalizations when he was in college. Benoit talks about his time in the US military and how he came to get sober and become a psychotherapist.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

In the follow-up to a popular episode on hyper-independence. Chip and Veronica discuss how hyper-independence is a perfect storm that leads us to be lonely, and loneliness leads us to drink. They give suggestions on how to break out of that cycle.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Lucy Rocca from Soberistas joins Veronica to discuss how she got through the fear of her breast cancer diagnosis. She shares how exercise, mindfullness and meditation helped her keep the fear at bay and how she made a choice to respond to cancer from a place of empowerment. To learn more, visit the show notes.

Chip and Veronica discuss how 'drinking alone' has changed over the years, why more women drink alone and how dangerous it can be when we age. When we drink alone we are drinking for the wrong reasons and it's a clear sign that we have a problem.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Allegra Huston was born into Hollywood royalty, the sister of Anjelica Huston and the daughter of famed director John Huston. Allegra discusses her fractured childhood and how she had no sense of self. And how writing saved her, restored her mental health and gave her purpose beyond her famous family.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Veronica and Chip discuss the relationship between eating disorders and alcohol abuse. They explore how eating disorders can exist before and after an alcohol problem. They also look at the relationship between eating disorders and sexual trauma.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Veronica and Chip explore how 'high end' drinkers mask their alcohol problem. When you tell yourself that you only drink fine wine or 100 year old whiskey are you masking the fact that really you just want to get a buzz?   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Jenn Nelson is a breast cancer survivor and sober women. She joins Veronica where they discuss her denial around her alcohol use, finding out about her breast cancer at age 33 and what made the difference to her sobriety. To learn more, visit the show notes.

Episcopalian minister Erin Jean Warde joins Veronica to discuss her new book 'Sober Spirituality.' They discuss the role of alcohol in religion and how it has been misrepresented, what spirituality means and faith-based recovery. To learn more, visit the show notes.

Celeste Yvonne is the author of 'It's not about the wine' - the loaded truth behind mommy wine culture. Celeste explains what this culture is and how detrimental it is to mothers. To learn more, visit the show notes.

Veronica explains why sobriety is a shift in perception. When we take things personally, it makes us very sensitive and can often lead to resentment. Resentments are the free drunk, and unless we find a way to shift our perception of what is happening we will always use alcohol to manage them. To learn more, visit the show notes.

Back from their break Veronica and Chip discuss why we take things so personally. Why in early sobriety we are hyper sensitive and can find offence where none was meant. They discuss how we can begin to not take things personally and this is an easier way to live and stay sober. To learn more, visit the show notes.

One of the most common reasons people drink is to manage their social anxiety. Chip and Veronica discuss how alcohol makes anxiety worse and what they can do to change it.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Kate Baily joins Veronica to talk about Hot Sobriety. Which means we are talking about mid-life women, hormones and menopause. Kate and Veronica talk about how many women are struggling with sobriety and hormonal changes and how devastating alcohol is for menopausal women. They give tips and advice for getting through this time of life. They also discuss their new program. Hot Sobriety.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Dawn Eden Goldstein is the author of the new biography Father Ed: The Story of Bill W.'s Spiritual Sponsor as well as several other books. Born in New York City, she began her writing career as a rock and roll historian. She went on to work for the New York Post and the New York Daily News before she turned her interest to spiritual matters. In 2016 she became the first woman to earn a doctorate in sacred theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. She has taught at universities and seminaries in the United States, England, and India, and she now lives in Washington, DC. veronica and Dawn have a fascinating conversation about how pivotal Father Ed's sponsorship of Bill W. was.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Hyperindependence is a trauma and stress response. If we didn't experience safety as children we often become hyperindepent as adults. Chip and Veronica break down what this means, how it affects sobriety and what to do about it.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Sam Delaney was a British jack-th-lad, drinking, partying, not taking anything seriously. Then his mental health caught up with him it all came crashing down. Sam talks to Veronica about how hard it is for men to be vulnerable talk about their feelings and how he hopes his new book will change that.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Chip and Veronica answer tough questions like; How do we handle watching our own children start using drugs and alcohol while we are in long term sobriety? And how do we have boundaries we family members who drink?   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Simon Mason shouldn't be alive. Drop out, drug dealer, addict. He thought he was living the life as a drug dealer to the biggest bands in Britpop (Oasis) it took him ten years and multiple treatment and detox stays to get sober. Simon shares his tales and how music saved his life.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Chip and Veronica break down what binge pattern drinking is. They discuss that it's not how much we drink or how often its the pattern that matters. We can delude ourselves for a long time that our drinking isn't problematic if we don't drink every day, which is how Veronica's drinking was.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Lori Windfeldt, the founder of Dry Society Social Club, joins Veronica to discuss why having fun and socialising in sobriety is so important. And how we can normalise not drinking in our communities.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Laura McKowen's second book is called 'Push Off From Here' a guide to sobriety and life. Veronica and Laura discuss the nine essential truths in the book and how to apply them to sobriety.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Chip and Veronica are celebrating their fifth podcast anniversary. They answer questions from listeners. Including: how do we know our choices are authentic, how can we be of service to sober people, and what grey-area drinking is. And is sex better sober?   To learn more, visit the show notes.

​RUBY WARRINGTON is a British-born author, editor, podcaster, and the founder of Numinous Books. Recognized as a true thought leader, Ruby has the unique ability to identify issues that are destined to become part of the cultural narrative. Her previous books include Material Girl, Mystical World; Sober Curious; and The Sober Curious Reset, and her work has been featured by countless media outlets globally, including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Good Morning America. She lives in Miami. To learn more, visit rubywarrington.com. She joins Veronica for a conversation about sobriety, motherhood, the role of women and making choices. They explore what it means to be a mother, why women feel this is their primary role and why more and more women are opting out.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Veronica is joined by her best friend, Sarah Gillespie. Sarah wrote and recorded the title track to the podcast and discusses the similarities between getting sober and producing art.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Veronica meets with philosopher Dr. Peg O' Conner author of 'Higher and Friendly Powers: Transforming Addiction and Suffering'. They discuss what spirituality is, how they interpret the 12-steps. What spirituality is essential to sobriety and how it can also block people in sobriety.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Dr. De Jesus is today's guest. She discusses the need for collegiate recovery across all higher education campuses. Why our students need these resources, and why so many young people are turning to drugs and alcohol.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

Chip and Veronica answer your questions about dealing with the past and finding peace. Letting go of shame and regret and keeping our side of the street clean.   To learn more, visit the show notes.

One of the defining characteristics of addiction is 'the obsession of self.' Chip and Veronica talk about their own experiences and how to overcome self-obsession.   To learn more, visit the show notes.