The SHAIR Recovery Podcast

Latest Episodes:

TSP 066: "No More Green Beer" with Jeff Tabler: 5 DUIs, an ankle monitor, and 1 year sober! May 17, 2016

Show notes

Jeff Tabler joins us on The SHAIR Podcast today. He recently celebrated his 1 year Sobriety Anniversary 2 days before St. Patty's day. He's a prominent member of the SHAIR Private Facebook Group and very active in his local recovery community. But prior to joining 12 step recovery Jeff battled with severe alcoholism that lead to 5 DUI's, incarceration, and the loss of his wife. Join us now and hear the whole story. Clean Date: March 15, 2015 Omar: Let me ask you this, Jeff. How do you maintain your spiritual condition, that conscious contact with a higher power? Jeff: Prayer. Prayer and meditation. Every morning I get up. People say get up and hit your knees. I just don't. I don't know. I'm not the kind of guy. I can talk to God as a man, and I feel like I don't have to get up and literally ... I get that maybe it's figurative for people, sometimes. I just lay in bed, I open my eyes, I think through my day, and I ask my higher power, I ask God. I say, "What would you have me do today?" Then I carry on throughout my day and if I start to question what's going on, I stop and try to center myself. I don't need to take fifteen, twenty minutes to meditate, either. If I need to stop for thirty seconds, a minute and a half, just to stop and say what's my motivation here? Am I doing this out of necessity, or am I doing this as an attention seeking behavior? I can usually figure that answer out right away.

TSP 065: "Pregnant in Sobriety" with Mary M. Too Blessed to be Stressed! May 10, 2016

Show notes

My friend Mary joins us today on The SHAIR Podcast. At the time of this interview Mary was 5 months pregnant and now 8 months pregnant at the time we are launched this interview. So I hit her up on Facebook real fast to see how the last 3 months have been.

Since the interview Mary has been working on getting LCDP certified (licensed chemical dependency professional) to further her substance Abuse treatment career and has received her Tobacco Cessation Certification as well.

My good friend Andy, Mary's fiancé, spends months away from home as a merchant marine which has allowed her to accomplish to big mile stones during this absence. So in a nut shell Mary has basically, in her words not mine, been doing lots of training for work, is getting ready for maternity leave, getting really fat (again Mary's words), and more importantly getting ready for our AA baby as she puts it, "We're too Blessed to be Stressed"

Andy…Mary…I wish you all the love and happiness in the world and I look forward to see all the beautiful baby pictures, HP Baby!

Clean Date: June 23rd, 2014

Here are Mary's SHAIR Podcast interview highlights:

The SHAIR podcast YouTube channelOmar: Now, listeners, just a little history, actually. Mary and I met because she is the fiancée of a good friend of mine and she had come down to Costa Rica. They were touring Costa Rica. My wife and I took them out to dinner and Mary told us that she was pregnant.

How far along were you at the time when you were in Costa Rica?

Mary: I was about seven weeks, so I was really sick and pretty miserable ... It was good. It was a good trip.

Omar: Well, you were a trooper because you didn't let my wife and I see you sweat.

Mary: Yeah. It's all about putting on your game face, you know?

Omar: Oh, absolutely. I get it ... You were just telling me right now before we started about how tough it's been these last few months because your fiance's been gone. Tell us a little bit about how that's been.

Mary: Yeah. Well, Andy is a merchant marine. For people who don't know what that is, they work on these big cargo ships that go deliver huge things across the ocean from different countries. He works in the States, so he's in Alaska. He's been gone since Thanksgiving and it's February 7th now, so he comes back in two weeks. It's hard because he hasn't been around. I've been kind of doing this early pregnancy thing by myself, which is a little bit challenging, especially in recovery.

Omar: No, I can only imagine. The main reason why I reached out to you is because I was on Facebook and I was reading this post you put up. It just cracked me up. It totally cracked me up. Obviously, I am not a woman, I'll never be pregnant, I'll never get it, all right? It was kind of a cool thing to read. I knew Mary's in recovery, so I was like, "I'm going to reach out to her because I want to get her on the show and discuss what it's like to be pregnant and sober." It can't be that easy.

Mary: No, it's definitely has a whole new range of challenges to it. I compare it a lot to early recovery in terms of emotional rawness. There's all sorts of crazy stuff going on, so it's kind of like experiencing something new all over again.

Omar: Here are the rules that you're supposed to have for dealing with a pregnant woman, right?

Mary: Yeah.

Rule 1. Never tell a pregnant woman she looks tired, especially on a Friday. Okay?

Rule 2. Never comment on how much weight a pregnant woman has or has not gained. Ever.

Mary: No.

Rule 3. If you are going to make a comment about a pregnant woman's appearance, a simple "You look great" will do the trick.

Rule 4. No uterus, no opinion unless you are the actual creator of the baby.

Rule 5. If you tell a pregnant woman she looks tired and she gives you attitude, do not immediately respond with "Wow. Pregnancy hormones, much?"

"I can't believe I actually have to post something about this. For all of my friends who have refrained from unsolicited belly touches and commenting about my appearance, you are the real MVPs. Sincerely, a very sassy pregnant Mary."

Omar: Does it sound more funny being read back to you?

Mary: It kind of does, but actually, all those things were based on real actual experiences that I've had so far in this pregnancy. People have actually said things about each of those rules that have made me make that list.

TSP 064: "100 Days (Sober)" with Lauren Yoder, do you remember your first 100 days sober? May 03, 2016

Show notes

Lauren Yoder started writing poems in grade school and wanted someday to write a book. Unfortunately like so many other teenagers, she got introduced to drugs and alcohol and began writing many depressing, lonely, and sometimes suicidal poems. Ultimately Lauren hits rock bottom with drugs and alcohol and was left with two choices go to a treatment facility or lose everything.

Her family gave her the ultimatum that would change her life forever. In February of 2014 she flew 1900 miles to California to live with a bunch of alcoholics and druggies, staying there for 45 days. She has been sober every day since, one day at a time.

Since that time Lauren has now written two books, From the Weeds: a collection of poems, and100 Days(Sober) a book of journal entries from her first 100days sober. Joins us now as Lauren takes us into her journey of recovery!

Clean Date: February 10,2014

TSP 063: "Overcoming Childhood Abuse and Trauma" with Dr. Dean Robb of Next Stage Recovery! Apr 26, 2016

Show notes

Dr. Dean Robb joins us today on The SHAIR Podcast. Dean is a recovery coach and the founder of Next Stage Recovery. "I believe that we are all called to a path leading toward the "true self" or an authentic, congruent identity. Every person has an essential, God-given individuality – their unique "inner gold" – that is meant to be shared with a larger community. We are meant to be who we really are, and one important purpose of life is for us to discover, express and share our true self with the world. Conversely, I believe that emotional dysfunction and mental illness arise when we are not living authentically; i.e. when our outer lives are not congruent with our true inner self." – Dr. Dean Robb Clean Date: December 10, 1984

TSP 062: "Recovery is an Inside Job" with Erin Bahadur, a recovering addict, NASM certified personal trainer, and blogger! Apr 19, 2016

Show notes

Erin Bahadur joins us on today's Episode of The SHAIR Podcast. She is the founder of Erin's Inside Job, a recovering addict, NASM certified personal trainer, fitness instructor, and blogger. Her goal is to help everyone realize that true wellness comes from within (and sometimes through desserts). "I started this blog as an outlet to help me get outside of myself. This statement may sound like a contradiction to the concept of an Inside Job, but it's not. I wanted to be able to take the improvements that I was making on myself (the inside) and share them with others (the outside). I also believe that true wellness comes from working to improve the inside (emotionally, physically, and spiritually). This will be reflected on the outside." - Erin Bahadur Clean Date: May 20th, 2010

The O-Zone Ep.2 "Sobriety Songs" with singer / songwriter Mary Lyn B. Apr 15, 2016

Show notes

On today’s episode of The SHAIR Podcast is the 2nd episode of the O-Zone, where I host a new featured show on InRecovery Radio brought to you by the Star Worldwide Network studios in Scottsdale, Arizona and produced by Bill Gates. Today, we have Mary Lyn joining us, and Mary Lyn has a CD out called Twelve Songs, and I'm going to let Mary Lyn tell us a little bit about everything that she's got going on currently. Mary Lyn, are you with us?

Mary Lyn: I am. Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be a part of the O-Zone. I love it.

Omar: I love it, and feel free to call me O.

Mary Lyn: Okay, O. That's great. Just call me Mary Lyn.

Omar: This is exciting, so Mary Lyn, please tell us about your CD. Tell us where the inspiration came for the CD. I also know that you have a workbook that coincides with this CD and where it comes from, so tell us where it was inspired from and where you're going with it.

Mary Lyn Twelve Songs

Mary Lyn: Well, sobriety has just been such an awesome journey for me, and I think I love recovery more now today than I did when I first got sober. I've been playing guitar since I was 16 years old, and just writing songs and music, and it's very personal for me, my songwriting, and it's kind of how I come to understand things ... Is through songs. Or even communicate. It was always through lyrics or songs or going, "Hey, listen to this," and then someone could tell how I was feeling, because I wasn't really capable of describing how I was feeling, so music was a great tool for me to use to help other people see where I was and vice versa.

When I got sober, I just was trying to understand the 12 steps for myself. I was just trying to figure out ... You sit in those meetings when you first get sober, and it's a whole new language. I mean, I never heard people talk like this before. They have all these funny little sayings; Ninety meetings, ninety days, first things first, easy does it, and all this stuff. I was just like, "Wow. Okay, I'm just trying to absorb it myself."

I started writing songs about being sober, and I had gotten in touch with a producer that I used to work with before drugs and alcohol took me out of the game, and I said, "Can I play some songs, and can we make some demos and stuff?" I kept bringing him these songs, and he goes, "You should make a CD," and I was like, "What? No. No. I'm not going to make a CD." He goes, "Well, you should," and then I went home, and a couple of weeks later ... Really, I woke up in the middle of the night and I said, "Oh, my God. The CD is 12 songs, and each song is going to be inspired by the 12 steps," and then the journey began.

Mary lyn

I just kind of went through this journey of doing steps and then looking for the hook, because I didn't want the CD to be this ... I wanted it to be relate-able to any ... Something that you would hear on the radio. I want people to enjoy the music if they were in recovery or were out of recovery, so I really wanted it to have a national flavor to it, so that's what I did. I went around and tried to find hooks and how would I ... How do you explain step two? Came to believe in a power greater than ourselves to restore us to sanity, right? I mean, how do you write a hook to that? And ninety meetings in ninety days, right? Because that's when that shift happens, in that time period where you kind of either get it or don't.

And so then we just kind of went on from there, and then I just kept doing the next indicated thing with the CD. I'd never made a CD before, so I just kind of asked questions, and it took two years to put that CD together. It took me a year to write the songs, and then it took me a year to get money together to pay for the producing of it and the artwork, and I found out about how you distribute things and all of that.

It was just such an amazing journey, and I never thought that the music was going to go where it went. It was really just something personal. I was amazed that one person bought the CD, because I was really just kind of doing it for myself. I've had to do reorders after reorders of it, and it just blows me away. It's been played all over the world, and I get emails from people saying how ... From Japan and Australia and England. It's like, "Wow, this is so cool." It's completely God inspired, and the whole process of AA has helped me get to the next steps.

TSP 061: "Connect, Hope, Live" with Brian Bailys, founder of ASCENT Recovery Aftercare Solution! Apr 12, 2016

Show notes

Today on The SHAIR Podcast we have Brian Bailys, the founder of Ascent, a drug, alcohol and mental health aftercare solution, share his own addiction and recovery story.So what is Ascent?Ascent is dedicated to helping recovering substance-use clients build a foundation for lifelong success. Ascent combines the best that 21st Century technology has to offer with that all-important human touch to help clear the path to recovery. Ascent is there wherever and whenever the client needs us. They connect clients with coaches that have lived and breathed what the client is going through. They are there at the right time and place, when the client needs it and wants it. They are an active participant and contributor as the client makes progress on their journey upward and onward. Ascent provides: One on one coaching using evidence based models Clinically tested outcomes based e-recovery tool Extensive coach training Quality assurance program Strict brand adherence Coaches that have “lived it”To learn more go to ourascent.com.

TSP 060: "Our Young Addicts" with Rose McKinney: coping skills, boundaries, and being the loving parent to young drug addicts Apr 05, 2016

Show notes

Today, we have Rose McKinney, the Midwestern Mama and the founder of Our Young Addicts joining us on The SHAIR Podcast.

Too many young people are becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol. Our Young Addicts is a growing community of parents and professionals who share experiences, resources and hopes – no matter where your child may be on the spectrum of experimentation, recreational use, abuse, addiction, treatment, relapse, or recovery.

The Midwestern Mama created Our Young Addicts when her 20-something son’s addiction was spiraling out of control; today, he is in recovery and thriving in his sobriety.

The mission of Our Young Addicts is having parents and professionals work together in our local communities. Watch their news clip here.

TSP 059: "The Gift of Desperation" with Zach B. Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, Addiction, and Journey of Recovery. Mar 29, 2016

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of The SHAIR Podcast. Today, we have Zach B. Joining us! Zach is a father of twins, an amazing husband, a wonderful, powerful example to the rest of his community, especially in the recovery community, where he does a tremendous amount of service, but prior to all of this, Zach was surrounded by drugs and alcohol from the age of twelve and had a tumultuous relationship with alcohol and drugs until he found recovery. Zach's got an amazing and powerful story. Join Us Now! Clean Date: March 10th 2013 Omar: All right, so Zach, what is the best suggestion you have ever received? Zach: It had to be Buddy. He tells me this over and over again. He says, "Let go or get dragged." When I come up to him and I'm complaining. I was like, "Man, this is not going my way. I should be getting paid this much in this job." He says, "Zach, let go or get dragged. You can't control any of this. The outcome is God's and God's alone, so you just live this life, man." I write that down everywhere I go, and I use it, and I love it. I mean, let go or get dragged. It's so true. Omar: I love it. Okay, and if you could give a newcomer only one suggestion, what would it be? Zach: You deserve this. I mean, that's one thing it took me a while to accept. That I could deserve something better, something more meaningful. If anyone is listening to this and they're on the edge of recovery or in the midst of it and you're doubting yourself, you deserve every bit of good that's going to come your way. Trust me, good is going to come. When the storm is done and it's weathered, there's going to be sun, and it's beautiful. It's like you're looking through glasses. I mean, just the vision is beautiful. You'll learn new things. You'll have new hobbies. There will be so much more to replace your alcoholism or your addiction. It's not even funny. You can do some great things.

TSP 058: "Making Strangers Smile" with Amanda Nelson, from Methamphetamine Addiction to a Vision of Hope! Mar 22, 2016

Show notes

Amanda Nelson joins us on today's episode of The SHAIR Podcast. Amanda is a Beachbody Coach, a recovering drug addict, and an advocate for sobriety and clean living. Amanda is on a mission to inspire others so they know they too can cross the bridge from darkness to happiness!! Today Amanda records these wonderfully inspirational videos where her motto on a daily basis is to make a stranger smile. Join us now as Amanda takes us through her unbelievable battle with drugs and alcohol until a spiritual awakening brings her into recovery. Clean Date: August 10th, 2015

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