Is sobriety worth it? You hear all the time that it's the battle of a lifetime. That it's a lifelong journey of emotional growth and 'doing the work'. Is it really worth pouring that much time and energy into staying sober?

When you're in the thick of the struggle, it can be tough to remember why you're fighting. This episode is meant to remind you what life is like on the other side of that craving, or that hard situation, or that tough emotion. Listen, and then bookmark this episode so you can come back to it the next time you're not sure if it's really worth it.

In this episode:

• Sobriety is "The Ability To..."
• Be present; get healthy; save money
• Facing the issues on the inside that you've avoided for too long
• Emotions - understanding and allowing them
• Self discovery and authenticity
• How relationships improve with sobriety
• Experiences keep getting better the longer you're sober
• Understanding happiness and how to achieve it
• The health benefits of sobriety - and no longer worrying

---

Chris Cardone, owner of Continuous Beverage Solutions, boasts 24+ years in bartending and hospitality, consulting for NYC’s top bars and restaurants. A 2017 Diageo World Class Bartending US Champion, he placed 5th globally and now judges the competition. Featured in Epicurious and major publications, Chris also educates with DiageoBarAcademy.com, partners on Astreaus Gin, and pioneers "healthy mixology." A flair bartending finalist and trainer to stars, he’s shaped the industry with expertise and passion.

Chris Cardone

Founder @ Continuous Beverage Solutions

Chief Mixologist @ Via Carota Craft Cocktails

Director of Mixology @ Astraeaus

2017 Diageo World Class US Bartender of the Year

---

Matt (shamman780), a 39 year old father of two from Burnt Hills, New York is 19 months sober. He always believed he would get sober but at the same time feared it may never come. He spent five and half years stuck in the up and down battle with alcoholism before finding a better way. He wants to thank you everyone for sticking with him through all this.

He’d like people to know that substance abuse and mental health issues do not discriminate and that if you are struggling there are people out there who want to and who will help you. Matthew Perry always said to people who are struggling “It’s not your fault”, but this Matthew believes it’s your responsibility. It’s your responsibility to acknowledge, to accept and to treat it every day, just like you would any other disease.

Be kind to those who are still struggling. Sobriety is hard, but it’s worth it.

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. We also have a Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!

Self care isn't just for crisis. It's what creates a life where alcohol has no place. Self care is how we make emotional regulation a natural part of our lives, and it's how we provide maintenance for our sobriety. It can also be a challenge to give ourselves permission to take the time for self care, in a world where self care is often seen as selfish.

In this sobriety podcast episode, we chat with Antje and Lester about how they've incorporated self care into their lives on a daily basis. We all share tips and examples of what works in our lives, and how we continue to make self care a priority in our lives every day, without guilt.

• Questions to ask yourself to identify self care
• Meeting your basic needs
• Self care is a requirement, not an option
• How to know if self care is working
• Relaxing looks different for everyone. Learn how it looks for you.
• The healing quality of nature
• Connection acts as self care
• Self care evolves as you evolve
• Work/life balance and how it pertains to self care
• Self care as part of routines
• Savoring, meditation, mindfulness, and gratitude

Want to learn more about alcohol and self care? Check out this article about self care mistakes you might be making in sobriety, and what to do instead.

---

Antje first discovered drinking as a way to “fix” her eating disorder. She thought that drinking was more acceptable than binging and purging all of her meals. When drinking grew more and more out of control, she reluctantly considered sobriety in January of 2022. Soon after, she found connection and support in an online sober community. She is so glad to that she took that first, scary step and gave sobriety a chance.

---

Lester Vaskin is a Criminal Justice Recovery Coach at Peer 180 Recovery Community Organization and a State Opioid Response (SOR) Grant Recovery Coach. He lives in Grad Junction, Colorado.

He is a man in active sustained recovery, which means to him that since December 14th, 2021 he has abstained from any mind altering substance to experience life and all it has to offer, both good and bad, without having to run from it. His life in recovery is a life full of joy with his girlfriend Miranda and their dog Max.

---

Follow Through the Glass Recovery on Facebook and Instagram.

For more free resources, including information about our free weekly Zoom support group, visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com

You hear the word "boundaries" all the time in recovery. They're obviously an important piece of staying emotionally and mentally healthy. But what does the word "boundaries" actually mean? How do you set a boundary?

In this episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, we have invited certified recovery coaches Jamie and Nele, and Jessica, author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, to join us in a conversation about what boundaries have actually looked like in our lives. You'll hear real life examples and experiences that you can easily apply to your own life - and give you the courage and strength to set boundaries of your own.

If you're a people pleaser, and put others' needs before your own in order to keep the peace - this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• How to determine your "no's"
• The idea that boundaries are a practice, not a skill to be learned and checked off
• Learning by example - find strong mentors
• Getting comfortable with disappointing people
• Getting past your people pleasing instincts
• Boundaries can create conflict - and that's okay
• It's all about telling people what IS welcome in our lives
• Crossed boundaries can bring a chance for deeper connection
• Setting boundaries with yourself (which is tough, but necessary.)
• Navigating boundaries in a relationship when your spouse drinks

Other episodes you might love:

• Managing conflict in recovery
• How to stop people pleasing
• More about setting boundaries

---

Originally from the Bay Area, Jessica lives in Northern California with her husband and 3 young daughters. Jessica has a background teaching special education but she left the field to pursue her passion for writing and to raise her girls. She is a vocal advocate for addiction recovery with over 11 years of sobriety.

Her debut literary book club fiction novel “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” won the Maurice Prize for fiction from her alma matter UC Davis. It is a devastating and poignant novel that meditates on the often-unspoken costs and sacrifices of motherhood, relationships between women, and the slippery slope of using alcohol to take the edge off.

Available now for preorder and in bookstores everywhere May 13, 2025.

https://a.co/d/au9W8c8

---

Jamie Woodall is an entrepreneur and (Still Here) trained Recovery Coach who is passionate about personal transformation.

She trained as a Therapeutic Tutor for children with Dyslexia, helping them to see their own strengths and self-advocate. Jamie spent over a decade with the experiential education company, Where There Be Dragons, designing and instructing programs in the Himalayas and Indonesia for high school and gap-year students.

She also co-founded the Odyssey Institute in Bali, which focused on environmental studies, leadership, and global citizenship.

Jamie is fascinated by experiences which push boundaries and inspire introspection, self-awareness, and personal growth.

Currently based on Bowen Island, BC, Canada, she is raising two teenagers, has recently learned to DJ, and is living her best life.

---

Nele is the Recovery Program Coordinator at The Health Partnership. Check out her work at: Thehealthpartnership.org

---

For more great resources, podcast episodes, recovery meetings, and support groups, check out throughtheglassrecovery.com

Alcohol addiction is often surrounded by feelings of shame, guilt, and regret. The result is painfully low self esteem that doesn't just go away once you've gotten sober. Building self esteem in recovery takes intention and effort. In this week's podcast episode, we're joined by Cassie and Brenton, who share how they've taken action to build their self esteem in recovery, and the ways their action has impacted their lives.

In this episode:

• The best self help books to build self esteem in recovery
• Ditching others' opinions to make room for our own
• All the things you are doing to create a false sense of self esteem
• What a failure really is, and why you're not one
• Knowing your value and potential, and embracing it
• Finding the courage to raise your standards

Need more insight on Self Esteem in Recovery? Check out these other episodes:

https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/podcast/self-esteem-and-sobriety/

https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/podcast/self-worth/

---

A former Pastor with over a decade in ministry, Brenton has been on a recovery journey since July 2022. He founded the Instagram account @OfficeRecovery to blend humor and healing, helping others smile, learn to laugh again, and take the next right step forward. With an MBA in leadership underway, he's passionate about creating supportive spaces in faith and recovery communities. Available for speaking and writing engagements, he focuses on faith, sobriety, and inclusive, compassionate leadership.

---

Cassie Bollinger is a full-time student, entrepreneur, and podcast host dedicated to inspiring and supporting others. As a growing Scentsy business owner and host of Who Nose Best, a podcast for Scentsy Consultants, Cassie shares valuable insights into direct sales and personal growth. With her journey of recovery, she brings a unique perspective on building self-esteem and self-worth, and she’s passionate about helping others discover their potential as they overcome challenges and embrace transformation.

https://beacons.ai/casandrabollinger

---

Check out all of our free resources on our website: throughtheglassrecovery.com

You know you need help. You've tried everything, and you're still struggling to quit drinking. Rehab is the obvious next step, but the idea of going to inpatient treatment is overwhelming. In this ground breaking episode, you'll hear from four different guests who share what their experience in rehab was like. And not just their experiences, but you'll also hear how they handled telling their employer they were going to treatment; how they got the most out of the experience; what fears they had, and how they faced them.

Rehab has the potential to be a life changing experience. If you or someone you love is considering going to inpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder, we're here to make sure you're equipped with all the knowledge and advice you need to make this less intimidating, and also to make sure you find lasting freedom from alcohol.

In this episode:

• What will you tell your employer? Your family?
• The danger of comparing yourself to others in rehab
• What to expect from medically supervised detox
• The value of connection
• Giving yourself permission to put yourself first
• Facing - and reconciling - your past
• What does "doing the work" actually mean?
• Going back to your normal life after rehab

---

Billie hails from the great state of Oregon in the greater Pacific Northwest. After a career in law enforcement, she now works as a professional elder justice subject matter expert, as well as an instructor in Oregon’s law enforcement academy. She is also a domestic violence advocate for her local police department and meets with survivors of intimate partner violence to provide resources and safety planning options. Billie continues her advocacy by being involved in her states suicide prevention and awareness programs and facilitates her local chapter of a suicide bereavement group for families who have lost their loved ones to suicide. She is wife, mom to two wonderful kids and an avid dog lover.

---

My name is David and I am 20 months into my recovery journey. I had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol for 20 plus years. I started in rehab and began putting in the work. I believe everyone can choose their own path in recovery. Through support from family, friends, community, sharing, and counseling, I have been able to begin healing from childhood traumas. It is an honor to be a part of such a beautiful community of people. I didn’t know how lost I was until I found myself. One love!

---

Scott: I am a proud father of twin boys. I host The Sober Heathen podcast with which I document my recovery journey. Although it is sometimes painful and deeply raw it helps me tremendously to recover honestly and openly! I have 4 OWI’s, thousands in fines due, no license until the 30’s (2030 :P), I am living back home, and I still have never felt better and in more control! Recovery is worth it because with it there is always HOPE!

---

Chris McGuinn served as Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Labor on opioid issues. He created the “Make Them Describe, Before They Prescribe” campaign, encouraging claimants to ask important questions when receiving new prescriptions. He has also worked in the addiction treatment field, managing single-site and multi-state operations for various Intensive Outpatient providers in the Washington, DC area. He founded More Than 28 to advocate for longer stays and better insurance coverage for treatment.

www.morethan28.com

Twitter: @morethan28

Instagram: @more_than28

Facebook: www.facebook.com/morethan28

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. We also have a Facebook Group where our friends and listeners can offer support to one another. Come join us!

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

Instagram

Facebook

Tiktok

No matter how long you've been sober, staying sober during the holidays can be tough. So much of our lives revolved around alcohol for so long, and that seems to come on full force when the holiday season hits. Whether it's because you're socializing and celebrating, or because the holidays bring a deep sense of loneliness and grief, we want you to know you're not alone, and you CAN do this - and not just survive the holidays, but thrive through them. Listen as we chat with Austin, Billie, and Jennifer about their experiences with staying sober during the holidays, and what they've learned to make it easier.

In this episode:

• Grief during Christmas
• Facing hard memories without alcohol
• How you can start preparing for the holidays NOW
• How to handle the unknown of your first sober holiday season
• Learning how to allow it to just be hard
• Building new traditions to replace the old, alcohol-infused ones
• Start experimenting with new things
• Know your limits, and stay home if that's what you need to do.

---

Billie hails from the great state of Oregon in the greater Pacific Northwest. After a career in law enforcement, she now works as a professional elder justice subject matter expert, as well as an instructor in Oregon’s law enforcement academy. She is also a domestic violence advocate for her local police department and meets with survivors of intimate partner violence to provide resources and safety planning options. Billie continues her advocacy by being involved in her states suicide prevention and awareness programs and facilitates her local chapter of a suicide bereavement group for families who have lost their loved ones to suicide. She is wife, mom to two wonderful kids and an avid dog lover.

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

Instagram

Facebook

Tiktok

What causes a relapse? And what are you supposed to do after a relapse, if that's where you find yourself? In this week's episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, we're joined by Patti Clark and Dave Davis, who share their experiences. Patti relapsed after 10 years of sobriety, and shares what she sees now, looking back on that. Dave went through several relapses before finally reaching lasting sobriety, and the lessons he learned from each relapse are what got him to where he is now. Whether you're currently in a relapse cycle, or just want to avoid relapsing in the future, this episode is chock full of everything you need to hear.

In this episode:

• The loss of connection as a cause of relapse
• Finding people you really feel a connection with - not just any support group, but the right one
• Understanding society's influence
• Learn about yourself and your challenges so you can move through them
• Dealing with the shame after relapse
• Sobriety vs. Recovery
• Finding the lesson in a relapse
• Learning to love yourself enough that you can stay sober
• When you're limping along in sobriety, you're likely to relapse

---

Patti Clark is the award-winning author of This Way Up: Seven Tools for Unleashing Your Creative Self and Transforming Your Life. Her own experience as a middle-aged woman in recovery is deeply reflected in her new book, Recovery Road Trip: Finding Purpose and Connection on the Journey Home.

Patti was born and raised in Northern California, lived in New Zealand for many years, and is now living in Portugal.

Online

https://www.patticlark.org

https://www.facebook.com/PattiClarkAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/patticlarkauthor

---

Senior Database Architect by day. Husband, Father, Musician, Photographer, Artist, Internet DJ, Astrologer, Designer and Writer by night. Born and raised in Ottumwa, Iowa and later in Cedar Rapids, moved to Illinois in the 80s to go to DeVry. And never left. With many attempts at quitting drinking through the pandemic, it finally worked for me on the 20th of March 2023 and I have not looked back since.

---

Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.

You can also find Julie and Steve on:

Instagram

Facebook

Tiktok