Soberful
275 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day 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
165: How to Live an Alcohol-Free Life in a Wet World With Chris Marshall
January 19, 2022 11:00 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBChris Marshall is starting a revolution. The founder of Sansbar in Austin, he passionately believes we need to create more opportunities for people to have fun and socialize without alcohol. He would like to see an alcohol-free bar in every town and as part of a rehab's treatment plan. Veronica chats to Chris about his work and upcoming tour that she will be joining him on. To learn more, visit the show notes.
164: How Do You Stop Drinking When Everyone Around You Still Drinks?
January 12, 2022 11:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBChip and Veronica explain how to live in a wet world when it seems like everyone drinks. To learn more, visit the show notes.
163: We Answer Your Questions
January 05, 2022 11:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBChip and Veronica answer your questions on subjects about sponsorship, epigenetic, financial sobriety and more. To learn more, visit the show notes.
162: Things That Changed Our Lives This Year
December 15, 2021 11:00 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBIn their traditional end of year episode Chip and Veronica discuss the things that changed thier lives this year. The events, movies, books, TV shows that made a mark on them. To learn more, visit the show notes.
161: What Happens to Friendships When We Stop Drinking
December 08, 2021 11:00 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBYou may have noticed that when you stop drinking your friendships change in this episode Chip and Veronica talk about how and why friendships change and how to navigate those changes. To learn more, visit the show notes.
160: The Alcohol Lie with Ann Dowsett Johnston
December 01, 2021 11:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MBAnn Dowsett Johnston's book 'Drink' is the best 'quit-lit' book out there. Ann talks candidly about her personal struggle with alcoholism, how she dealt with her shame and found her true self in sobriety. To learn more, visit the show notes.
160: The Alcohol Lie with Ann Dowsett Johnson
December 01, 2021 11:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MBAnn Dowsett Johnson's book 'Drink' is the best 'quit-lit' book out there. Ann talks candidly about her personal struggle with alcoholism, how she dealt with her shame and found her true self in sobriety. To learn more, visit the show notes.
159: Surviving the Holiday Season Sober with Tamara Kirby
November 17, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBTamara and Veronica discuss how to get through the holiday season sober. How to deal with the pressures of drinking and dealing with family members. To learn more, visit the show notes.
158: The Addicted Child with Richard Capriola
November 10, 2021 11:00 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBMany parents in recovery worry about their children abusing drugs and alcohol. In this episode, Veronica interviews Richard Capriola about his book 'The Addicted Child'. Richard lays out an accessible and comprehensive method to help parents dealing with adolescent drug and alcohol abuse. Richard Capriola has been a mental health and addictions counselor for over two decades. He has treated both adults and adolescents diagnosed with mental health and substance abuse issues. He recently re...
157: Healthy Happy Sobriety with Janey Lee Grace
November 03, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.2 MBVeronica interviews British radio legend Janey Lee Grace who was a holistic health guru who drank. Janey knew something was wrong with her and tried everything to fix it until she finally realised she needed to stop drinking. her book Healthy Happy sobriety documents her journey into holistic sobriety. To learn more, visit the show notes.
156: Empowering Habits for Sobriety
October 27, 2021 10:00 - 32 minutes - 30.3 MBWe get asked all the time what we do to be okay. In this episode, Chip and Veronica discuss their empowering habits that support their sobriety, mental and emotional health. To learn more, visit the show notes.
155: Sex and Love Addiction with Brianne Davis
October 20, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 42.2 MBIn this frank and open interview, Brianne Davis discusses her recovery from sex and love addiction. The 'secret addiction that often gets dismissed or laughed at. Brianne explains how she felt and what her recovery looks like and how she now helps other people recover. To learn more, visit the show notes.
154: Religious Abuse, Addiction and the LGBTQ+ Community With Dr. Jamie Marich
October 13, 2021 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBIn this continuing series on the relationship between religious abuse and addiction. Veronica talks to Dr. Jamie Marich about how the LGBTQ+ community has been affected by religious abuse. To learn more, visit the show notes.
153: HALT SBH
October 06, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBWhat do we need to look out for when we first get sober. Chip and Veronica go through H.A.L.T (Hungry Angry Lonely Tired) as well as Stress, Boredom, and Hormones as triggers that lead to a drink. To learn more, visit the show notes.
152: Saved by a Song With Mary Gauthier
September 29, 2021 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBVeronica interviews Mary Gauthier, a grammy nominated sing songwriter and author of the book 'Saved by a song.' Mary's book is about the songwriting process and her recovery from addiction. At its core, she explores her return to authenticity. To learn more, visit the show notes.
151: Sobriety and Mental Health
September 22, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBChip and Veronica explore the relationship between addiction and mental health. To learn more, visit the show notes.
150: Party Girl with Anna David
September 15, 2021 10:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBVeronica speaks to Anna David a long time recovery advocate and author about the re-release of her book 'Party Girl.' Party Girls is a semi-autobiographical novel set in L.A. in the 90's. Credited with kicking off the whole 'quit lit genre' Anna discusses why she wanted to publish the book and what she hopes people get out of it. To learn more, visit the show notes.
149: How Secrets Keep You Sick
September 08, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBEveryone comes into sobriety with secrets. Secrets are like a cancer that grow and weigh us down. Chip and Veronica explore the nature of secrets, confessing to some secrets and how secrets effect our relationships. To learn more, visit the show notes.
148: We Answer Your Questions
September 01, 2021 10:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBChip and Veronica are back from their summer break! They answer listener questions such as: do they ever miss drinking? Can you drink on special occasions? Do you need to spend money to get sober? And, how do you get over the shame in early sobriety? To learn more, visit the show notes.
Sober Summer Soundtrack: Maintaining Sobriety As The World Opens Up
August 25, 2021 10:00 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MBLockdown restrictions have given you an opportunity to be away from everyday drinking and social pressures that would normally present themselves in social situations. Having that time has allowed you to build a really good foundation for your recovery so that you’re coming out of lockdown with a substantial amount of time and strength in recovery under your belt. On the flip side, after being isolated you haven’t had the opportunity to build up your defences against everyday distr...
Sober Summer Soundtrack: Using Emotional Intelligence as a Tool for Growth with Julia Ford-Carther
August 18, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBJulia wants everyone to recognize their emotions for what they are - data. Emotions are the information your brain is trying to tell you about how you feel about what's going on at that moment. You are not your emotions or your thoughts. When you do the work to develop your EQ, you'll find yourself in a much better place to take control of the experiences and interactions you have every day, rather than reacting from your conditioning. To learn more, visit the show notes.
Sober Summer Soundtrack: Processing Shame and Guilt with Laura McKowen
August 11, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBHow does a mother overcome shame and guilt?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Laura McKowen shares how she finally came to sobriety, how her drinking affected her daughter, what she sees as the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to therapy and self-healing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ She believes that WE are the lucky ones because “regular” folks will never understand the depths of pain we had to fight through and will never have the motivation we have built to see us through. We’re unstoppable. T...
Sober Summer Soundtrack: The Art of Balance
August 04, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBWhatever the question is, balance is always the answer. Balance is key to sobriety because if we become unbalanced; it can lead to relapse. In this episode Chip and Veronica discuss the mistakes they have made and how to achieve balance using some simple suggestions. To learn more, visit the show notes.
Sober Summer Soundtrack: Health from the Inside out with Special Guest Stephanie Gaudreau
July 28, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutes - 52.4 MBStephanie Gaudreau mission is to help women create bigger, bolder, fiercer lives - by building health from the inside out. In this episode, we discuss body image, health, nutrition. Step advises us how we can get started with exercise how we can deal with cravings in early sobriety as well as discussing her own reason for ditching the booze. To learn more, visit the show notes.
Sober Summer Soundtrack: Strengthening Your Connections With Boundaries
July 21, 2021 10:00 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MB**Trigger warning** How do you learn boundaries when they were violated as a child? We discuss why healthy boundaries are crucial to recovery and how you can begin to learn how to develop them. To learn more, visit the show notes.
Sober Summer Soundtrack: The 5 Pillars of Sustainable Sobriety
July 15, 2021 17:39 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBThe Five Pillars of Sustainable Sobriety are essential for anyone wishing to live a happy and sober life. In this episode, Veronica's takes a deep dive into the five pillars of Movement, Connection, Balance, Process, and Growth. She explains how they work, how you can apply them to your life, and why you can't get sober without them. To learn more, visit the show notes.
147: A Sober Summer
June 30, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBIn our final episode before the summer break. Veronica and Chip discuss staying sober in the summer and how to deal with triggers and patterns related to drinking. To learn more, visit the show notes.
146: Endings
June 23, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBWhy are endings so hard? In this episode, Chip and Veronica explore how we struggle when things end. They look at how people can sabotage endings, avoid dealing with them or cut people off. Transitioning to different life chapters requires us to be honest about our feelings and communicate our struggle with things ending. To learn more, visit the show notes.
145: Getting the Right Kind of Help
June 16, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutes - 47.8 MBIn all our episodes we encourage you to 'get help' for an alcohol problem. Today we want to clarify what kinds of help to look for. What questions to ask a therapist, how to find a rehab and what to beware of when you join online programs. To learn more, visit the show notes.
144: Addiction Family Rules with Tamara Kirby
June 09, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBWhen we live in a family where there is addiction, dysfunction or mental health issues, there are hidden 'rules' we have to follow. In this episode, Veronica and Tamara discuss the three main addiction family rules; don't talk, don't feel, don't trust. To learn more, visit the show notes.
143: Step Parenting in Sobriety
June 02, 2021 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBBeing a parent is hard. Being a step-parent is even harder. When relationships break down because of an alcohol problem, many people go on to be a step-parent. In this episode, Chip and Veronica discuss the challenges and pitfalls. To learn more, visit the show notes.
142: The Adopted Child in Sobriety With Tamara Kirby
May 26, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBVeronica speaks to Soberful Life coach Tamara Kirby about the links between adoption and addiction. As an adopted child, Tamara explains how her 'original trauma' laid the groundwork for her addiction. To learn more, visit the show notes.
141: Healthy Relationships/Self Love With Yulonda Ross
May 19, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBVeronica introduces new Soberful Life coach Yulonda Ross. Yulonda discusses self-love and healthy relationships and how she overcame abuse and trauma to rebuild herself and learn to love herself. To learn more, visit the show notes.
140: Coach, Influencer or Fraud? with Kelly Ruta
May 12, 2021 10:00 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBIn this explosive episode, Veronica interviews Kelly Ruta about the unethical standards in the coaching industry. Prompted by an exchange with unqualified influencer coach Dave Hollis they dig deep into how consumers are being misled by influencers and unqualified coaches and the harm and damage caused. They outline what you should look for in professional services. To learn more, visit the show notes.
139: Dealing with Sexual Trauma
May 05, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MB**Trigger warning** Chip and Veronica discuss a very sensitive topic. Many clients who suffer from an alcohol use disorder have also experienced some kind of sexual abuse or sexual assault. In this episode, Chip and Veronica explore how that affects people and how telling our stories can help us heal and overcome this devastating trauma. To learn more, visit the show notes.
138: Living a Soberful Life with Louise O'Brien
April 28, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBWhat is a soberful life? In today's episode, Veronica interviews Soberful Life team member Louise O'Brien. Louise is a single mother who was struggling desperately with an alcohol problem. Unable to carry on, she took the leap into her sobriety, and everything changed....... To learn more, visit the show notes.
137: Ask Us Anything
April 21, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBWe are celebrating our third podcasting anniversary. In this episode, Chip and Veronica answer a variety of questions from their Soberful Life members. To learn more, visit the show notes.
136: Commitment with Tamara Kirby
April 14, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBWhen we commit to sobriety what does that mean? Why does it feel so scary? Why do we want a 'side-door' in case we don't like it? In this episode Veronica chats to Soberful coach Tamara about what commitment really means. To learn more, visit the show notes.
135: Why We Count Days
April 07, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBChip and Veronica explore why we celebrate sober birthdays, why we count the days of our sobriety. To learn more, visit the show notes.
134: Adult Children of Alcoholics With Dr. Claudia Black
March 31, 2021 10:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBVeronica interviews world-renowned expert Dr. Claudia Black on the impact addiction has on children. Dr. Black outlines how adverse childhood experiences can manifest themselves in adulthood, how to recognise if this is your experience and how to change it. She also outlines what a functioning family looks like. To learn more, visit the show notes.
133: When Does Sobriety Get Better?
March 24, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MB'I stopped drinking three days ago - why isn't everything better?' Chip and Veronica explain the process of sobriety when you can start to expect to feel better, sleep better and enjoy sobriety. To learn more, visit the show notes.
132: Relationships in Early Sobriety
March 17, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBChip and Veronica discuss how romantic relationships in sobriety can often capsize us. They share how insecure and needy they were in early sobriety and how they navigated romantic relationships. They also offer tips on how to balance your sobriety with falling in love. To learn more, visit the show notes.
131: Staying Sober After Lockdown
March 10, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBMany of our Soberful Life members have reached out to us asking for advice on staying sober after lockdown. In this episode, Chip and Veronica discuss why preparation is everything. Do the work now to make sure your sobriety is solid and make sure you have fun and socialise, as we are all going to need to do that when the pandemic finally ends. To learn more, visit the show notes.
130: Creating a Safe Space for People of Color in Recovery With Grachelle Sherburne
March 03, 2021 11:00 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBSoberful diversity and inclusion consultant Grachelle Sherburne joins the podcast this week to discuss how addiction and sobriety differ for people of colour. She shares her wisdom and insight into improving outcomes for minorities and why her equine assisted therapy is an essential part of her practice. To learn more, visit the show notes.
129: Is Trauma at the Root of My Alcohol Problem?
February 24, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 35.7 MBChip and Veronica get to the root of addiction and explain the different types of trauma that people experience, leading them to abuse alcohol. To learn more, visit the show notes.
128: Sobriety and Women's Hormones With Nurse Practitioner Mimi Devine-Touhey
February 17, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBMen and women get sober differently. The same methods won't work for women that work for men because women also have to battle hormonal changes that can dramatically affect their sobriety. In this episode Veronica discusses women's issues and sobriety with new Soberful Life practitioner and nurse practitioner Mimi Devine-Touhey. To learn more, visit the show notes.
127: Sobriety in Social Media
February 10, 2021 11:00 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MBIn this passionate discussion Chip and Veronica discuss the impact of social media and sobriety. They look at how the internet and social media has helped so many people get sober but also the negative impact it has had on people. To learn more, visit the show notes.
126: Food Addiction with Tiffany Thoen
February 03, 2021 11:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBAbout Coach Tiffany - As an RN, Intuitive Eating Coach, and person in long term recovery, Tiffany has helped hundreds of women to achieve their goals. She works with high achieving women who can do anything they set their mind to but still struggle with food. Having experienced food obsession herself, she committed to finding a kinder solution that didn't involve depriving herself. She was able to heal her relationship with food, it was so powerful that she has dedicated herself to supporti...
125: My Life With Joe Walsh an Interview With Kristin Casey
January 27, 2021 11:00 - 50 minutes - 45.8 MBKristen Casey is a true survivor. In this honest and frank conversation, Kristin discusses her relationship with Eagles Legend Joe Walsh and how their love was destroyed by their addiction. Kristen saved her own life by getting sober and now helps others. To learn more, visit the show notes.
124: Procrastination
January 20, 2021 11:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBWhy do we procrastinate, why do we avoid doing things we need to do. In this episode Veronica and Chip explore how fear of failure and fear of change lead us to distracting ourselves. They also make a commitment to do things they have been procrastinating on! To learn more, visit the show notes.