Soberful
271 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 381 ratingsVeronica Valli and Chip Somers are experts on recovery. Chip Somers was most recently described by Russell Brand in his book 'Recovery' as a 'right social liability.' Together they have been sober for almost 50 years and have a LOT of stories, messes, experience and occasionally helpful advice to share on living in sobriety. They bring all of that (and more) to the Soberful podcast. This podcast is for anyone who wants to live an alcohol-free life, is struggling to get sober or who is in long-term recovery.
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Episodes
260: Ask Us Anything 6 Years
April 03, 2024 12:00 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBVeronica and Chip celebrate 6-years with the Soberful podcast. Questions answered: what was your first impression of each other? How have you changed over 20 years? Should you leave your partner if they don't support your sobriety? How to deal with stress and crabings? And can you get sober without God? To learn more, visit the show notes.
259: The Alcohol Free Market With Dr. Emily Nicholls
March 27, 2024 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MBVeronica meets Dr. Emily Nicholls to discuss the No and Low alcohol market. The deliberate blurring of marketing by alcohol companies and whether the alcohol-free market is a good or bad thing. Dr Emily Nicholls is a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of York, UK. Her research interests include gender, identity and alcohol consumption. Emily’s research has spanned different areas of drinking and non-drinking over the last ten years, from the ‘girls’ night out’ to drinking patterns and p...
258: Parenting as Prevention With Dr. Camilo Ortiz and Four D’s
March 20, 2024 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBAs part of our parenting as Prevention series, Dr. Ortiz joins Veronica to discuss the four D's: Discomfort, distress, disappointment, and (mild) danger and how our kids need to manage these feelings in order to learn vital life skills as adults. Director of clinical training and associate professor of psychology, Dr. Ortiz conducts research on parenting, disruptive behavior problems in children, and child anxiety. Dr. Ortiz received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of M...
257: Finding Joy in Sobriety
March 13, 2024 12:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBChip and Veronica believe if sobriety wasn't joyful, fun and interesting, we wouldn't want to do it. Finding joy in sobriety is what underpins long-term sobriety. They discuss how to find your joy in sobriety. To learn more, visit the show notes.
256: The Four Tasks of Mourning
March 06, 2024 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBIn the second part, Veronica and Chip take you through the four tasks of mourning and how these actions can help us move through this important process of letting go. To learn more, visit the show notes.
255: The Cycle of Grief
February 28, 2024 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBIn this two-part episode, Chip and Veronica talk about the very necessary process of going through the grief cycle whenever we lose something. To learn more, visit the show notes.
254: How to Make Amends to People You Have Hurt
February 21, 2024 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBIn this episode, Chip and Veronica discuss the tricky but important process of making amends. How to approach people, why it's important to think it through and why it matters so much to your sobriety. To learn more, visit the show notes.
253: The Sober Sexpert Cindi Roberts
February 14, 2024 12:00 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBVeronica interviews THE sober sexpert about women, sexuality and sobriety. What are the 'hot topics' for women when they get sober? Cindi Roberts, M.Ed., Certified Professional Coach (CPC), Certified Professional Recovery Coach (CPRC). Cindi is a professional recovery coach that supports women who want to focus on finding and recovering intimate connections to self and others. Often referred to as the SoberSexpert™, Cindi holds a Master’s degree in Sexual Health Education and is currently ...
252: Overcoming Negative Thinking with Shelby John
February 07, 2024 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBShelby John is a sobriety coach who shares her wisdom about parenting teens whilst dealing with your own negative thinking. To learn more, visit the show notes.
251: Eating Disorders, Body Image, Perfectionism With Rory Brown
January 31, 2024 12:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBRory brown is a behaviour change coach who helps people find freedom from food. Rory experienced an eating disorder and body dysmorphia as a young man; convinced that he would be happy if he achieved the perfect body, he eventually became suicidal. He shares his story of recovery and how he helps his clients overcome their issues with food. To learn more, visit the show notes.
250: Workaholism
January 24, 2024 12:00 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBChip and Veronica discuss workaholism and how we can use work to hide from our feelings. Workaholism can affect our health and wellbeing. To learn more, visit the show notes.
249: Going Public With Your Sobriety With Ann Dowsett Johnston
January 17, 2024 12:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBHow do you go public with your sobriety? What if everyone warns you it will be the end of your career if you do? Ann and Veronica discuss how they went public with their sobriety and the confusion between anonymity and secrecy. To learn more, visit the show notes.
248: How to Recover from Trauma with Ann Dowsett Johnston
January 10, 2024 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBAnn joins Veronica to explore how trauma can be the root of an alcohol problem and how we need to heal this trauma in order to stay sober. To learn more, visit the show notes.
247: The Pinking of the Alcohol Market with Ann Dowsett Johnston
January 03, 2024 12:00 - 34 minutes - 32 MBMom juice, mom wine, mom water. Veronica is joined by guest co-host Ann Dowsett Johnston to discuss how the alcohol market is deliberately targeting mothers. By emphasizing how hard motherhood is, the loneliness, depression and exhaustion, they are positioning alcohol as the answer. Veronica and Ann have a few things to say about this! To learn more, visit the show notes.
246: Things That Changed Our Lives This Year
December 13, 2023 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBIn our traditional episode of the year, Chip and Veronica share the things that changed their lives this year. Events, movies, films and books. To learn more, visit the show notes.
245: The Holiday episode with Casey Davidson, Gill Tietz and Paul Churchill
December 06, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 56 MBVeronica joins forces with three other sober podcasters to discuss getting through the holidays sober. To learn more, visit the show notes.
244: Binge Drinking and the Work Place
November 29, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBChip 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.
243: The Normalization of Abnormal Drinking with Benoit Kim
November 22, 2023 12:00 - 53 minutes - 48.8 MBBenoit 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.
242: Hyper-independence, Loneliness and Connection
November 15, 2023 11:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBIn 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.
241: Fear, Breast Cancer and Alcohol with Lucy Rocca
November 08, 2023 12:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBLucy 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.
240: Drinking Alone
November 01, 2023 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBChip 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.
239: Finding Yourself with Allegra Huston
October 25, 2023 11:00 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBAllegra 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.
238: Alcohol Abuse and Eating Disorders
October 18, 2023 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBVeronica 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.
237: High End Drinkers - Social Status and Drinking
October 11, 2023 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBVeronica 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.
236: Surviving Breast Cancer and Getting Sober With Jenn Nelson
October 04, 2023 11:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBJenn 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.
235: Sober Spirituality with Erin Jean Warde
September 27, 2023 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBEpiscopalian 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.
234: It's Not About the Wine with Celeste Yvonne
September 20, 2023 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBCeleste 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.
233: Sobriety is a Shift in Perception
September 13, 2023 11:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBVeronica 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.
232: Why We Take Things Personally
September 06, 2023 11:00 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBBack 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.
231: Social Anxiety and Alcohol Abuse
June 28, 2023 11:00 - 42 minutes - 58.2 MBOne 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.
230: Hot Sobriety with Kate Baily
June 21, 2023 11:00 - 39 minutes - 54 MBKate 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.
229: The First Sponsor, Discovering Father Ed with Dawn Eden Goldstein
June 14, 2023 11:00 - 42 minutes - 57.7 MBDawn 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 an...
228: Hyperindependence
June 07, 2023 11:00 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBHyperindependence 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.
227: Men and Mental Health with Sam Delaney
May 31, 2023 11:30 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBSam 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.
226: We Answer Your Questions - Being Sober in Our Family
May 24, 2023 11:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBChip 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.
225: Drugs, Alcohol and Rock N’ Roll With Simon Mason
May 17, 2023 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBSimon 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.
224: Binge Pattern Dependency Drinking
May 10, 2023 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBChip 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.
223: Dry Society with Lori Windfeldt
May 03, 2023 11:00 - 39 minutes - 36 MBLori 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.
222: Push Off From Here with Laura McKowen
April 26, 2023 11:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBLaura 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.
221: We Answer Your Questions - Ask Us Anything 5 Year Podcast Bday
April 19, 2023 11:00 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBChip 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.
220: Women Without Kids with Ruby Warrington
April 12, 2023 11:00 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBRUBY 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 Mi...
219: Creativity and the Journey to Our Authentic Selves With Sarah Gillespie
April 05, 2023 11:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MBVeronica 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.
218: The Concept of a Higher Power with Dr. Peg O'Connor
March 29, 2023 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBVeronica 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.
217: Collegiate Recovery with Dr. Kristine De Jesus
March 22, 2023 11:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBDr. 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.
216: We Answer Your Questions - How To Accept Your Past
March 15, 2023 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBChip 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.
215: Self-Obsession
March 08, 2023 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBOne 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.
214: Why You Need a Sobriety Practice
March 01, 2023 11:00 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MBVeronica explains that a sobriety practice is really just personal development that maintains our emotional and mental health. She goes into depth as to what that would look like and how it is essential for all human beings not just those suffering from an alcohol problem. To learn more, visit the show notes.
213: Parenting as Prevention with Laurie Dhue
February 22, 2023 11:00 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBVeronica is joined by former news anchor Laurie Dhue. After getting sober on the nightly news (although no one knew that at the time) Laurie is now a recovery advocate. She is the brand ambassador for recoverydecuation.com a much-needed online platform that supports and helps parents (and affected others) who have kids affected by addiction. To learn more, visit the show notes.
212: We Answer Your Questions - Love
February 15, 2023 11:00 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBAll things love. Chip and Veronica answer questions about self-love, parental love and is falling in love different when you are sober? To learn more, visit the show notes.
211: How Our Childhoods Shape Us: Prince Harry and Institutional Trauma With Dr. Jamie Marich
February 08, 2023 11:00 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBDr. Jamie Marich returns to discuss Prince Harry's book in relation to trauma, mental health, addiction and what happens when someone is brave enough to speak up about institutional abuse. To learn more, visit the show notes.