Rock and Roll-loving, Gen X lawyer Lisa Smith is in a 12-step recovery program from addiction to alcohol and drugs. The equally rock-obsessed millennial writer Tawny Lara finds her addiction recovery through blogging. Give them a couple microphones and you get the Recovery Rocks podcast– a new and inclusive discussion for anyone currently in or curious about recovery.
Episode 3: Recovery and Health Care System
March 27, 2020
Access to treatment for substance use and mental health disorders should be available to everyone, not just those who can afford it. Tawny and Lisa talk about access, preventative care, and the ability (or lack of ability) for people to take charge of their own wellbeing.
How to Get Mental Health Treatment if you Can’t Afford it. Check out our friends and sponsor at Tempest for some great community to help your wellbeing: jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Episode 2: When It Gets Lonely
March 20, 2020
Tawny and Lisa talk about loneliness, what it means to them, and strategies for getting through it. Single or in a relationship, home alone or surrounded by other people, we can feel lonely at any time. What to do about it is the question. And don’t forget to check out our incredible season 3 sponsor, Tempest, at jointempest.com and @jointempest.
Episode 1: Catching Up
March 19, 2020
They’re back! After a year on hiatus, Tawny and Lisa talk about what they’ve been up to, including a cross-country move and a loved-up in-town move. New situations and protecting sobriety through decluttering, relocating, and traveling. But always remembering to celebrate sober milestones and achievements. And we’re thrilled that this season is sponsored by our kick-ass friends at Tempest! Go to jointempest.com to check it out! Follow them at @jointempest.
Special Pre-Season Bonus Episode with Guest Mike Russell!
March 13, 2020
Mike is a cancer survivor, recovery advocate, and the founder of Monument, a platform designed to connect those struggling with alcohol to medical providers and community to support either sobriety or moderation. Mike’s cancer journey has informed Monument’s approach to access to treatment and how we think about success. Mike also shares his experience with some prescription medications that helped him get sober. Find out more about Monument at joinmonument.com. Follow them at @joinmonument. Recovery Rocks listeners get $100 off per month for your first three months with code RECOVERY. A monthly plan includes weekly therapy with a licensed therapist, access to a Monument physician, and more. Plans are currently available in New York and Florida with additional states coming soon. The Monument community is available everywhere for free.
See important safety information about the medication options at http://bit.ly/medoptions.
Episode 30: SEASON 2 FINALE: MUSIC CHAT WITH RUBY WARRINGTON AND DAVE STARR
Apr 24, 2019Lisa and Tawny wrap up Season 2 of the show with guests Ruby Warrington and Dave Starr talking about the importance of music in their lives and in their sobriety. This episode was filmed in front of a live audience in New York City!
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Episode 29: LIVE WITH DAVE STARR (AKA TAWNY’S DAD!)
Apr 10, 2019
Tawny and Lisa chat with Dave Starr (a.k.a. Tawny’s dad!) about sobriety and being a heavy metal musician. This unique episode is full of laughter, tears, rock n roll chat, and father-daughter reflection all recorded in front of a live audience in New York City!
Episode 28: LIVE WITH RUBY WARRINGTON, AUTHOR OF SOBER CURIOUS
Apr 10, 2019Tawny and Lisa chat with Ruby Warrington about all things “sober curious”: what it means, the questions to ask, avenues to explore, and why there’s no judgment in whatever works for any one person’s sobriety. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience in New York City!
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Episode 27: REVEALING OUR RECOVERY
Mar 27, 2019Getting sober is an intensely personal decision and journey. Tawny and Lisa describe their experiences telling — and not telling — other people in their lives about their recovery. From family and friends to work colleagues and the rest of the world, it’s your story to tell, if and when you chose.
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Episode 26: HOW RECOVERY CHANGES OVER TIME
Mar 20, 2019
Sobriety is not a static thing. As we move through recovery and get healthier, our feelings about the past, present, and future evolve. We do it differently, but we’ve both become more accepting and less fearful. And we even hear music differently over time, from Jim Morrison to George Michael to Counting Crows!
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Episode 25: PRIORITIZING OUR RECOVERY
Mar 13, 2019To stay sober, Tawny and Lisa have certain “non-negotiables”: things they have to do and make time for no matter how hectic life gets or how comfortable they feel in their recovery. These can include seeing a therapist, going to recovery meetings, meditating, doing yoga, or just taking a nap. They discuss what those non-negotiables are, why they’re critical, and how they make time for them.
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Episode 24: SOBER SEX
Mar 6, 2019We’re going there. Tawny and Lisa discuss how sex changes in recovery, including dealing with the mental and emotional challenges that come with being sober between the sheets. Intimacy, one-night stands, asking for what you want, vibrators, and much more — it’s all up for discussion this week!
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Episode 23: WHEN SOBRIETY SUCKS
Feb 27, 2019Let’s be honest. Sometimes sobriety sucks and we have bad days. Tawny and Lisa talk about their different approaches to getting through the tough spots without picking up a drink or a drug. Spoiler alert: there’s no one “right” way to do it. With shout outs this week to Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Gin Blossoms!
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Episode 22: SOBER RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS
Feb 20, 2019Tawny and Lisa talk about how their relationships with friends and family changed when they got sober, in ways both expected and unexpected. Sure, there can be FOMO and challenges, but there are also new ways of engaging that are so much more rewarding than spending just another night in a bar.
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Episode 21: ALTERNATIVE PATHS TO RECOVERY
Feb 13, 2019Recovery is an extremely personal journey of self-work. No two people recover in exactly the same way. There are a variety of programs and methods to help people get and stay sober. Tawny and Lisa are happy to use this platform to discuss some of the lesser known options available, acknowledging that there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to recover. Whatever works for someone is the perfect path for them.
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Episode 20: LAPSE VS RELAPSE
Feb 6, 2019Lisa and Tawny talk through their very different views of Lapses and Relapses in recovery. Tawny shares a nuanced perspective on her personal experience of acting out sexually due to heartbreak and having a nervous breakdown. Despite serious debate about “powerlessness” and other terms, they both agree that smashing the stigma around relapse is essential. There is no shame in anyone’s path to recovery and no two paths are the same.
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Episode 19: SELF-CARE IN SOBRIETY
Jan 30, 2019Taking care of ourselves and taking time out to do it is critical to our recovery. Tawny and Lisa talk about what works for them and how they learned to make self-care part of their lives. From making your bed and opening your mail to watching TV on your couch and taking naps, it all matters. Sex and the CIty, anyone?
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Episode 18: RELATIONSHIPS IN RECOVERY
Jan 16, 2019Lisa and Tawny discuss how their interpersonal relationships have changed in recovery. They share personal stories about family dynamics, co-workers, romantic partners, and most importantly…their relationships with themselves. Come for the recovery, stay for the Led Zeppelin music minute!
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Episode 17: COPING WITH CO-EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WHILE IN RECOVERY
Jan 16, 2019It’s common to self-medicate mental health issues with substance abuse. Lisa and Tawny did this for years before embracing sobriety. This week they share what their depression and anxiety look like, now, and how they deal with these issues in healthy, productive ways.
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Episode 16: CONTROL ISSUES: WE’VE GOT THEM
Jan 9, 2019When Tawny and Lisa got sober, these crazy things called “feelings” showed up and they couldn’t drink them away. Some of those feelings included regret and shame about the past. Not to mention dealing with grief and “emotional hangovers” while sober. In this episode, they talk about how they deal with these feelings today.
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Episode 15: CONTROL ISSUES: WE’VE GOT THEM
Dec 26, 2018Tawny and Lisa both struggled with what they could and could not control, including their drinking and drug use. In sobriety, they still face this challenge, but have developed tools, from yoga to practicing acceptance, so they can handle what they can’t control without picking up a drink or drug.
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Episode 14: MONEY MATTERS: LOOK BACK, BUT DON’T STARE
Dec 26, 2018Substance abuse and addiction aren’t just bad for your health; they’re also terrible for your bank account. Lisa and Tawny blew a lot of money while drinking and using drugs. They have accepted that fact, forgiven themselves, and talk about how they moved forward.
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Episode 13: SOBRIETY VS RECOVERY: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Dec 19, 2018When we put down drugs and alcohol, we learned about the meanings of sobriety (abstaining from certain substances and behaviors) and recovery (working on ourselves to understand why we had the desire to pick up in the first place). But, as with everything on this journey, they mean different things to different people and they can be done in all kinds of ways.
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Episode 12: ENTERTAIN US! OUR FAVORITE RECOVERY BOOKS, MOVIES, AND MORE
Dec 12, 2018Lisa and Tawny dish on their favorite recovery-related movies, TV shows, books, and blogs. From Mom to Love to Shame to Party Girl to Some Kind of Monster to My Fair Junkie to Slash and Anthony Kiedis’s autobiographies, we could go on and on. These works give insight into recovery from all kinds of substances and behaviors from all kinds of perspectives.
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Episode 11: OUR OTHER ADDICTIONS
Dec 5, 2018When an addict stops drinking or using drugs, their addictive personality typically sticks around, often transferring to other substances or behaviors. Tawny and Lisa open up about other addictions they deal with in sobriety: personal development, self-help books, sugar, work, and more.
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Episode 10: PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS
Nov 28, 2018A big concept in 12-Step recovery is avoiding the “people, places, and things” that can trigger us or make us uncomfortable. Tawny and Lisa talk through what this concept means and how it can help anyone in recovery, whether or not they are in 12-Step programs.
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Episode 8: ALLIES IN RECOVERY: ASKING FOR HELP AND SUPPORTING OTHERS
Nov 14, 2018Lisa and Tawny discuss the important role that allies play in the recovery community. They also discuss the parallels between sobriety and being in the LGBTQ+ community. The perpetual coming out, the stigma that keeps us from embracing our true selves, and how allies can help us feel safe.
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Episode 7: SOBER DATING
Nov 7, 2018Lisa and Tawny discuss how sobriety restored their self-esteem and taught them to enjoy being single before they embarked on sober dating. It also helped them figure out what they want and need in a partner and how to communicate honestly with someone new.
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Episode 6: OUR RELATIONSHIPS TO ALCOHOL AND WHY WE DUMPED IT
Oct 31, 2018Not everyone’s relationship to alcohol is the same. Tawny was a career bartender and social butterfly who rarely drank alone. Lisa was a so-called “high functioning” alcohol abuser who frequently drank alone to numb out. They discuss the similarities and differences of how they finally decided to quit drinking.
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Episode 4: LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
Oct 17, 2018TSocial media. It’s the ultimate double-edged sword. It can inspire us and give us community. It can also be toxic and make us feel less than those we see with seemingly “perfect” lives. This week, Tawny and Lisa discuss their love/hate relationship with social media and how they try to navigate its rocky waters.
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Episode 3: TO 12-STEP OR NOT TO 12-STEP
Oct 10, 2018There are multiple paths to recovery and which one to take is a hugely personal decision. Lisa got and stays sober through 12-step programs. Tawny got sober blogging and connecting online. In this episode they discuss the pros and cons of both.
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Episode 2: GETTING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Oct 3, 2018While the “get outside your comfort zone” rhetoric can be helpful at times, Lisa and Tawny discuss the beauty of comfort zones and the important role they play for someone in recovery. They also explore the necessity of self-forgiveness, learning to give yourself grace, and setting boundaries to preserve said comfort zones.
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Episode 1: WELCOME TO RECOVERY ROCKS!
Sept 25, 2018Lisa and Tawny welcome you to the debut episode of Recovery Rocks podcast! Lisa talks about being a lawyer/author in recovery while living in Manhattan. Tawny talks about being a sober blogger/event coordinator in recovery in Manhattan. They also share their opposing opinions on the extremely important topic of The Grateful Dead with John Mayer vs. Jerry Garcia.
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