The Bubble Hour

Amanda initially began to question her relationship with alcohol because she wanted to lose weight. Realizing that quitting was harder than expected began a process of undoing that required a lot of effort and learning. Amanda will reveal "how she did it" and how she manages her busy life as a mom in recovery.

The endless loop of on-again-off-again sobriety attempts can be draining and demoralizing. Jan knows the pattern all too well - she was caught in it for years on end and was starting to think she would never "get it". But she kept trying and something clicked. Hear Jan's story and what made the difference to her eventual success in freedom from alcohol.

Kelley has spent her life helping others, as a teen volunteering for service programs and as a therapist. But her own struggles with alcohol brought her to a point of needing to turn her attentions inwards and work on healing herself. The result is an even greater level of compassion and understanding that helps her connect and heal. Learn more about Kelley at www.kelleykitley.com

Having recently celebrated two yearsof sobriety, Pete reflects on some of the reasons he may have developed an addictive pattern with alcohol and how leaving it behind has changed his life for the better.  

Amy Dresner is a former professional stand-up comic, having appeared at The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, and The Improv. Since 2012, she has been a contributing editor of the online addiction and recovery magazine TheFix.com. She’s also written for the Good Men Project, The Frisky, Refinery 29, and has been a regular contributor to Addiction.com and PsychologyToday.com, where she has her own addiction blog entitled “Coming Clean.” “My Fair Junkie” is her debut book. www.amydresner.com

Jean talks to a member of her online group who she has always wanted to have on the show. With humor and insight, Shelli reveals her story of addiciton and how she changed her life for the better.   

You wanted to hear more from Sherry Gaba so here she is! Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a Licensed Psychotherapist and Certified Recovery and Transformational Life Coach who has helped hundreds of people cope with lifelong addictions of all kinds, including substance abuse, love and relationship addiction, and codependency. Sherry offers individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Her latest book "The Marriage and Relationship Junkie" was released on Valentines Day and became an instant besteller.

In the fall of 2014, Charles wrote to Jean after reading her blog to ask for insight. He continued to send updates over the weeks and months that followed, and then disappeared. Eventually he wrote again, this time with even more to share. His emails are read by Jean with Charles' permission, painting a story of insight and hope.

To welcome you back to the new season, we kick off with Jean's session on the Recovery Today series hosted by Psychotherapist and Recovery Coach Sherry Gaba.  Jean will return next week with new eipsodes of The Bubble Hour! If you would like to be a guest or have topic suggestions, please visit us on Facebook and send a private message.  

Arlina is the host of "ODAAT Chat" - a podcast about sobriety - and joins Jean to reflect on her own recovery and the influence that interviewing others has had on her own personal healing and growth.    

Sober blogger Christina of "Suburban Betty; Clean and Serene" is reknowned for her light-hearted approach to challenging situations. Two years ago, she had enough of sitting alone and drinking for hours at the end of each day. Since quitting, Christina is amazed at all the possibilities life now holds. Christina shares her story and offers encouragement for anyone who finds themselves struggling to get through Christmas and New Year's with their recovery intact.

Andrea Owen is an author, mentor, and certified life coach who helps high-achieving women let go of perfectionism, control, and isolation and choosing courage and confidence instead. She has helped thousands of women manage their inner-critic to create loving connections and live their most kick-ass life. She is the proud author of 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life: BS Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve, (Adams Media/Simon & Schuster). Her second book: How To Stop Feeling Like Shit: 14 Habits That Are Holding You Back From Happiness is due out in January 2, 2018 (Seal Press/Hachette Books). Learn more about Andrea at http://yourkickasslife.com and join the fun and wisdom at http://facebook.com/yourkickasslife

Sometimes recovery is about connecting the dots. Jessica never considered how other behaviours related to her alcohol addiciton, but in recovery she is learning that OCD-related patterns (hair pulling, or trichotillomania) relates to anxiety, which relates to childhood trauma, which relates to her eating disorder and drinking patterns. Over many years of attempted sobriety and relapse, these truths became revealed and now Jessica is celebrating 100 days of recovery.  

Are you hiding in a bathroom or closet at a family event? Turn the volume low, put your phone to your ear and listen to this message. I am sharing a lesson form my therapy for getting you through a family gathering that is pushing all of your buttons and making you wonder what happened to all of your recovery tools. Find two more BONUS PEP TALKS on http://unpickledblog.com/2017/11/23/sos-3-holiday-pep-talks/

Annika shares her story of life after alcohol, and how she juggles life with four little ones and still finds time to give service as a podcast host. You can find Annika's blog and podcast at www.motherrecovering.com - be sure to subscribe to this great resource!  

Living life in the fast lane while working in the entertainment industry meant Shelly-Anne's norm was a work hard/play hard world. "You want me to come where there isn't any booze or drugs? Don't invite me!" was her motto. This plus a lifetime of disordered eating behaviours led her to a crisis of health that would nearly take her life, but thankfully led her to a healing path. Now nine years sober, Shelly-Anne devotes her life to helping other women to overcome the brokeness that leads to self-destruction. Learn more about Shelly-Anne at www.shellyannemckay.com

Deborah was a high-level corporate executive with a secret. This wife, mom, and girl scout leader was quietly leaning hard on alcohol to get through the demands of her busy life. A frightening incident that could have taken her life instead gave it back to her, as it made her realize something needed to change.

On April 6, 2013 journalist Kate Bee quit drinking and created a blog to chronicle her experiences. The first comment came from another sober blogger, UnPickled (Bubble Hour host, Jean!). Now, over four years later, the two sober bloggers will speak for the first time in this episode of The Bubble Hour. Kate will share her story and explain a program she has created to help other women shift to alcohol-free living, The Sober School.  http://thesoberschool.com/

Blogger Alison writes about her recovery experiences on stonecoldtemperate.wordpress.com . She sometimes thinks there is nothing special about her recovery, yet listeners know that every guest is full of insight and wisdom to which we can all relate. Joining us all the way from Australia, Alison tells her story of getting sober and getting out of her comfort zone - including being a guest on our show!  

Today's guest is a listener who has used the Bubble Hour as a tool in her own recovery, and is now paying it forward by sharing her story to help others. Jessie has overcome a lot in her recovery - alcohol addiciton, self-harm, codependence and shame. Whatever our circumstances, the core of truth that supports sobreity and recovery is the same: honouring ourselves, valuing honesty, and reexamining old beliefs that no longer serve us well. Jessie shares how these principles serve her day to day.