Spirit of Recovery

Addiction is a disease of disconnection.Recovery means establishing authentic, life-giving connections with oneself, one’s higher power, and other people. One of the greatest gifts of recovery is realizing that extending ourselves to others opens the channel for immense good to come to us. Connection is always a two-way street. As we give, so we receive. Special guest Roger Temme, M.Div., is the outreach director for the Care Communities in Austin, Texas, a nonprofit that creates volunteer teams to help those facing HIV/AIDS or cancer alone. Addiction can frequently be a complicating factor. A former member of a Catholic religious community and priest for many years, Roger shares his profound understanding and experience with the essential element of human connection in an authentic spiritual life. Learn more about Roger’s work at thecarecommunities.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding a connection to higher values is essential to recovery. Whether we call those values God, Spirit, Nature, Beauty, Order, or any other name doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we make an opening for a life-giving connection that is beyond the level of fear and mere scrambling. Special guest Rev. Laurie Durgan, spiritual director at Caron Renaissance Treatment Center and associate minister at Unity of Delray Beach, as well as a person in long-term recovery, shares how she supports people entering recovery in making that connection with creativity, gentleness, and clarity. Learn more about her work at caron.org/locations/renaissance and unityofdelraybeach.org/youth.html. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding a relationship with a Power greater than ourselves is no easy matter. We may have old, negative experiences with religion that jump up to haunt us just at those moments when we are becoming more open and vulnerable. We are not doomed, however. With persistence, willingness to explore, openness to the constructive experiences of others in recovery, and the courage to listen to the loving voice within us, we can find and build that most important of all relationships. Special guest Kenny B. is a person who has done just that. With several years working in recovery, he shares how his struggles lead him to a beautiful connection with his Higher Power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joyful long-term recovery happens when we choose over and over again to enlarge our spiritual life. We just cannot afford to pull up a rock and have a seat—even when life gets really tough! Special guest Brendan P. is a person in long-term recovery with 20 years of continuous sobriety and is also a stage 4 cancer stem cell transplant survivor. He attributes these overcomings to finally realizing who he is through a potent combination of the 12 steps and Unity teachings. Brendan shares how he has been able to recognize the amazing synchronicity and meaningful coincidences that have and continue to transpire in his life. Brendan is an All-American gymnast and Guinness World Records holder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to trust a power greater than ourselves? Is it possible that spiritual power can work miracles in our lives? Special guest C.J. is passionate about his experiences with the God of his understanding. With 29 years of continuous sobriety, C.J. credits his recovery from addiction to the 12-step program and a power greater than himself. He believes spiritual power helped him do what he did. He did not do it by himself. And he believes this is possible for everyone. C.J. is a storyteller, an avid fisherman, and a newspaper columnist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spiritual development is the power that propels recovery. Special guest Pat McGuire, a professional in the recovery field since 1970, grounds all her work in a deep awareness of spirituality. Pat has worked nationally and internationally to train counselors and develop programs for addiction treatment, including programs dealing with co-occurring issues of eating disorders, sexuality issues, and family dysfunction, and is a pioneer in addressing women’s addiction issues. She shares why and how spirituality is key in the maintenance of long-term sobriety. Learn more about Pat’s work at treatmentandrecoverysystems.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From significant advances in brain science to the reaffirmation of the healing power of support networks, 21st-century approaches to recovery have much to offer. Special guest Scott McMillan, principal at Recovery Systems Institute, shares how the treatment and recovery fields are evolving in policy and practice, and what this means for individuals and families seeking recovery. Scott has created and operated successful addiction treatment programs for more than 30 years, his pioneering work in the treatment of addictions as chronic disorders having influenced many organizations. He has coauthored seven books and numerous articles and provided training to government, higher education, and the private sector. Scott has also assisted many families in successful intervention with loved ones. His personal goal is to help programs achieve the best clinical outcomes in the most cost-effective manner. Learn more about Scott’s work at treatmentandrecoverysystems.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1962 movie Days of Wine and Roses played an important part in the growing awareness of alcoholism as a disease and the availability of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s portrayal of a young couple, whose love for each other dramatically spiraled down into an obsession with alcohol, revealed the depths of despair as well as the possibility of recovery. The movie was adapted from the original 1958 Playhouse 90 TV drama by leading playwright, screenwriter, and novelist J.P. Miller. Special guest Monty Miller, son of the late J.P. Miller, shares the story behind the story and how Days of Wine and Roses has impacted the modern recovery movement. Learn more at thedaysofwineandroses.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want the power to flourish in recovery—to be yourself, fulfill your deepest purpose? Find your alignment with your innate spiritual power through engaging in life with passion and persisting even—and especially-- when the going gets rough. Special guest Richard C., a person in long-term recovery since 1974, shares how, by continuing to live his recovery, he has found fulfillment in his calling and relationships he didn’t know was possible. Richard is a Unity student and teacher of tai chi and Chi Qong, blogger, and spiritual retreat leader. Read his blog at istheremorethanthesteps.blogspot.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer is a high-risk time for teens in early recovery. Staying connected to healthy action is the key to continued sobriety. Sober Summer, a program sponsored by Teen and Family Services (TAFS), provides peer, social, and recovery activities for teens. And it works! Special guest George Youngblood, LCDC, ADCIII, NCACI, CCS, founder and CEO of TAFS, counselor, and author with many years of innovative approaches to teen recovery, shares how Sober Summer and the TAFS model work. Learn more at teenandfamilyservices.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our whole perspective on life changes when we wake up to the Presence of Spirit. We shift from fearful self-centered survival mode to peace and graciousness toward ourselves and all people. Special guest Scott L., a person in long-term recovery, shares how his life moved from addiction and incarceration to a deep commitment to spiritual practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction affects every member of a family—from the adult spouse or partner to the youngest child—even the family pet! Recovery, with the hope, healing, and help it brings, is for families. Transforming family relationships by using the tools of recovery gives each person dignity, self-respect, and new possibilities for a fulfilling life. Special guest Elizabeth Devine, M.Ed., LPC-S, director of treatment services at The Council on Recovery, Austin, Texas, shares practical perspectives on how family recovery creates healthy living for each person. She has extensive experience working with children and families in the area of recovery from family violence, substance abuse, grief, and LGBT issues. Learn more about her work at austinrecovery.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The disease of addiction is just that—a disease. The developing recovery advocacy movement is making strides in bringing addiction out of the shadows, reducing stigma, encouraging effective prevention and treatment, and community and family support resources. Special guest Holly Jespersen, communications manager for Shatterproof, a national organization committed to those goals, shares the power of moving from shattered to shatterproof. Visit shatterproof.org to learn more—and find out about the Shatterproof Challenge, rappelling events taking place across the United States to shine the light on addiction prevention and recovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Commitment to recovery leads us to find ourselves spiritually. While there are universal spiritual values, we each live them in a totally unique way. Special guest Roxanne Graves, a person in long-term recovery of 30 years, and a soon-to-be licensed Unity minister, shares her spiritual path and how she lives her unique combination of Unity and recovery principles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Music has the power to heal—to bring us through tears of identification with human suffering into the joy of deepened living. Special guest, singer and songwriter Sandra Knight, shares with us how making music is a part of her spiritual growth and how she uses music to bring light into the world. Her song “There Is A Hope” was written and recorded a few months after September 11, 2001, and has just been entered in to the Songs for Peace Contest—a worldwide platform for the transformative power and beauty of music. Learn about Sandra’s work at www.sandraknight.net and www.facebook.com at Song Writer Sandra Knight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Continuing to grow emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually enriches long-term sobriety. Inviting challenge rather than settling for comfortableness generates the joy that attracts others to recovery. One woman in long-term sobriety, Joyce E. first engaged recovery as a family member and through that came to face her own addiction. Her willingness to develop herself on ever-deeper levels brings her happiness and freedom, gave her great effectiveness as a school counselor, and is a light in her family and community. She shares what keeps her growing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Communities and families are learning new ways to create resources for recovery. Science has verified that addiction is a brain disease and impairs the ability to make good decisions. When an individual is in the throes of addiction, the actions of the family and community are key to supporting that person getting effective treatment and hopefully entering long-term recovery. Special guest Sharon Blair lost her daughter Jennifer to a drug overdose in 2009. She made a commitment at that time to advocate for effective community action and laws that support recovery. Learn about Sharon’s work at www.thejenniferact.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery opens the door to living the life we have always aspired to—the one we cherish as an expression of our deepest, truest self. Making this our reality means facing passivity—the attitude that holds us hostage to old ways of doing things—and finding solutions leading to creativity and real fulfillment. Special guest John Lee is a pioneer in the fields of self-help, anger, codependency, creativity, recovery, relationships, and men's issues. He is a prolific best-selling author, personal life coach, consultant, poet, teacher, and humorist. John shares ideas from his latest book, The Half-Lived Life: Overcoming Passivity and Rediscovering Your Authentic Self—explaining how passivity affects people in and out of recovery, and how moving out of passivity improves and deepens all our relationships. Learn about John’s work at www.johnleebooks.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Young people in or seeking recovery face strong cultural headwinds. Young People in Recovery (YPR), a grassroots advocacy organization, is focused on creating a national network of young people in recovery. Special guest Justin Luke Riley, president and CEO and a founding member of YPR, is 27 years old and has been in long-term recovery for seven years. As a natural leader and gifted public speaker, Justin has been featured in USA TODAY and MTV-Act for his involvement in youth leadership and community engagement, including serving on the executive board for Faces and Voices of Recovery. Justin shares how YPR empowers young people to take charge of their futures through advocacy for improved access to treatment, educational resources, employment opportunities, and secure, quality housing. To learn more about YPR, visit www.youngpeopleinrecovery.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The human brain and body are amazingly sensitive and resilient. Recovery opens the pathway to physiological health and well-being by supporting a new perspective on living and new behaviors that sustain it. Special guest Pete Katz, B.A., LCDC, ADC Level III Diplomate, ICADC, is a nationally recognized addiction counselor and educator in addiction theory and pharmacology, human brain and body health, personal growth, addiction and culture, addiction prevention, and the inventor of a patented AOD assessment process. He shares the impact of addiction and recovery on the brain, and how developing new responses to common cultural messages can support recovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spirit is the power that moves us from defeat into lives of purpose. Learning to put spiritual principles into practical action creates needed changes in recovery. Special guest Lonnie Vanderslice shares how her ministry empowers recovering homeless women by providing practical applications of Unity and recovery principles. Lonnie, a third-year student in the M.Div. program at Unity Institute® and Seminary, and a person in long-term recovery, co-owns Weave Gotcha Covered, a “100 Jobs” program participant. Learn how Lonnie integrates ministry with practical job skills in a recent front-page Kansas City Star feature at http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/workplace/article9524453.html. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our desire to live deeply calls us to heal deeply. Special guest Nikki Myers shares what moved her to develop Yoga of 12-Step Recovery (Y12SR) and how it works to provide a rich and powerful framework for ongoing recovery. Guided by its theme, ‘The Issues Live in the Tissues,” Y12SR meetings are now available all over the country and the curriculum is quickly becoming a feature of addiction recovery treatment centers. Nikki is an accomplished yoga therapist, teacher, and somatic experiencing practitioner. She is the founder of CITYOGA School of Yoga and Health in Indianapolis, Indiana. From her personal struggles with addiction, Nikki is quick to tell the world, “The 12-step program and Yoga saved my life—one is my lifeboat, the other my launching pad.” Learn more about Nikki’s work at www.y12sr.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery is a continuous process of opening ourselves to deeper healing and greater freedom. We find freedom by healing the hurts that have, in our best effort at self-protection, kept us hiding out from life. Special guest Richard C., a person in long-term recovery since 1974, shares how, by continuing to live his recovery, he has found a trust of people and life he didn’t know was possible. Richard is a Unity student and teacher of tai chi and chi qong, blogger, and spiritual retreat leader. Read his blog at www.istheremorethanthesteps.blogspot.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Entering the new year with spiritual intention rather than unrealistic expectations is the key to deepening recovery. As we focus on discovering our wholeness, we find our year holds delightful surprises. Special guest Chris Shea, M.A., CRAT, CAC-AD, is an addiction counselor, campus minister, trainer, and author. He shares how shifting from expectations to intention brings powerful growth in recovery. Learn more about Chris’ work and read his blog at www.lifesjourneyblog.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery is about fulfilling our life’s purpose—finding freedom from the chains of addictive behavior so we can soar! Special guest Alan Peterson, New Thought singer/songwriter, poet, and life coach, believes we can follow our calling of our heart and soul—and even that we must. Alan shares his life experiences in going for it and his music and poetry. Learn about Alan’s work at www.alanpetersonmusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prayer empowers us to live creatively and constructively. It consciously connects us with our Higher Power and strengthens our sense of self, self-worth, and meaning. Through prayer we fulfill our calling to participate abundantly in life. Special guest Rev. Terry Lund shares why prayer is such a powerful practice, and useful methods for expanding our prayer life. Rev. Terry was born into the New Thought movement and was raised with Unity principles. She graduated from Unity School of Religious Studies in 1989 and was ordained a Unity minister in 1990. She has ministered in Billings, Montana, and El Paso, Texas. Prior to becoming minister at Unity of Las Cruces in 2004, Terry served for nine years as the chair of the Prayer Studies Department of Unity School of Religious Studies. She has also served as an addiction counselor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Connecting with a constructive, helpful power that is greater than what harms us, is essential to recovery. If we have old ideas or hurtful experiences that block out that connection, what can we do? Special guest Marie Krebs, M.S., licensed professional counselor, licensed chemical dependency counselor, certified sexual recovery therapist, has extensive experience supporting people in recovery as they develop a relationship with a helpful higher power. The Texas Association of Addiction Professionals, Dallas chapter, recognized Marie as the 2014 Counselor of the Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Music inspires, bringing hope to the healing heart. Special guest singer/songwriter Sonia Lee’s passion is singing for people in recovery. Herself a person in long-term recovery, she carries the positive message of strength and faith she has found on the sometimes rocky path of her personal journey. Sonia shares her music and recovery experiences with audiences at treatment centers, conferences, spiritual retreats, churches, festivals, and intimate house concerts. She also gives interactive music therapy workshops for recovering people. Sonia tells how and why she carries the recovery message with music. Learn more about Sonia’s music and work at www.sonialee.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addressing sexual health is an important component of recovery. Common sexuality issues, when not resolved, can make people more vulnerable to substance abuse and relapse. Special guest Dr. Raven James, author of Sexuality and Addiction: Making Connections, Enhancing Recovery, shares practical ways people who have been impacted by negative sexual experiences, or attitudes, can heal and strengthen their recovery. Dr. James is a sexologist and associate professor in the Master of Health Sciences in Addictions Studies program at Governors State University. Her extensive experience as a researcher and a clinical practitioner centers on women, HIV prevention, and LGBT issues. Learn more about her work at www.drraven.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When children with a family history of addiction are supported with knowledge, nurture, and coping skills, they are less likely to develop an addiction themselves. And they have the foundation to live productive, fulfilling lives and create healthy families. Camp Mariposa, developed and funded in part by the nonprofit Moyer Foundation, are places where children transform from hopelessness to possibility. Special guests Brian Maus, M.A., LMFT, Camp Mariposa program director, and Jeanette Altman, family educator supervisor of Healthy Families/Healthy Children at Jewish Family and Children’s Service, and director of Camp Mariposa Florida, share the powerful difference it makes when children are given solid support. Learn more about their work at www.moyerfoundation.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spirituality is not only good for your attitude, brain imaging research shows it is also good for your brain. Additional scientific research indicates that our overall health is positively impacted by active and regular spiritual practice. Bill Starr, D.Min., CDP, MAC, has served as chaplain at the Sundown M Ranch addiction treatment facility in Selah, Washington, since 1998. He is a frequent presenter at statewide conferences focusing on spirituality, trauma, grief recovery, and listening skills. Bill shares the 4 P’s of spirituality and how spirituality makes such a positive difference in recovery. Learn more about Bill’s work at www.sundown.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily meditation forms the foundation for continuous spiritual growth. Too often, recovering people feel intimidated by misguided images of what meditation is and how to practice it. Special guest Tom Catton, in long-term recovery since 1971 and a meditator since 1966, explains a simple, effective approach he uses and shares with people around the world. His book, May I Sit With You: A Simple Approach to Meditation, is near publication. Tom is the author of The Mindful Addict. Read more about his work at www.amazon.com/Mindful-Addict-Memoir-Awakening-Spirit/dp/0981848273 by Central Recovery Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The essence of recovery is moving out of isolation into connection with oneself, a Higher Power, and other people—joining in the community of life. Special guest Chris Shea, M.A., CRAT, CAC-AD, is an addiction counselor, campus minister, trainer, and author. He shares how a holistic approach, using the psychological method of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from a spiritual perspective, leads to self-awareness and connection. Learn more about Chris’s work at www.lifesjourneyblog.com, www.facebook.com/lifesjourneyblog, and www.twitter.com/lifejourneyblog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Music reaches the depths of our soul and guides us in self-discovery. Creating music, hearing music, moving to music—all expand us and show what is possible for our lives. Special guest Kathy Moser shares her passion for music and recovery and the gifts that come from creating your own songs. Kathy is a nationally touring songwriter, performer, teacher, and social artist, bringing positive change to the world through music. Her songwriting workshops for recovering people are not only fun—they develop practical recovery skills. Hear Kathy’s Wings Over Water—Creativity in Recovery, Mondays, 8 p.m. EST, at www.coaradio.com and visit www.kathymoser.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery is not really an individual matter—well, it is and it isn’t. We alone can do it, but we cannot do it alone. Beyond recovery support groups and professional treatment is the climate in the broader community. Special guest Robert Miles has worked with communities as a recovery treatment and prevention professional and legislative advocate for 25 years and is currently a Board member of the Texas Recovers Rally for Recovery. Robert shares what makes a community recovery supportive rather than hostile, and describes how recovering people can be visible while still honoring the tradition of anonymity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Members of the LGBTQ Community face unique challenges in recovery. Societal attitudes have for too long burdened this community with isolation, shame, and confusion. LGBTQ people are claiming the right to supportive, understanding resources that build the foundation for long-term recovery. Special guest Lisa Hinson, LCDC, shares why addressing issues such as self-esteem, healthy sexuality, sober relationships, coming out in recovery, high-risk factors of using, and spirituality—is essential. Lisa is a Certified ARISE Interventionist and Certified Offender Educator with more than 15 years’ experience in the substance abuse and mental health fields. She is Immediate Past President of the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals and is currently a Clinical Representative for Starlite Recovery Center. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 53 million people, 17 percent of the population in the United States, identify themselves as Latino. Cultural, language, and clinical factors often throw up barriers to treatment and recovery. Changes in attitude and policy, the recruitment of bilingual-bicultural recovery professionals, and the expansion of culturally aware recovery peer support are essential. Special guest Eliana Livoni-Schippel, LCDC, born in Peru, has provided bilingual-bicultural professional recovery services for 27 years. She shares how culturally aware treatment and support groups can support long-term recovery in the Latino community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may have heard that coincidences are miracles where God is too busy to take a bow. Our Higher Power is always bringing us to places where we can bless others and be blessed by them. Special guest Rick Bingham, LCDC, an ordained minister, shares the “coincidence” that started him giving away purple bandanas. Rick has more than 35 years' experience as a professional in the recovery field and is a speaker, trainer, and acupuncture detox specialist. He has led many spiritually oriented wilderness treks and is a major contributor to Two Miles or Twenty Minutes. Rick’s motto is—walk slow, climb high, pray often. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Change calls us to enter the crucible. Facing what is most painful and difficult allows us to find our true strength. We don’t go alone, for the power of spirituality is our guide and companion. Dr. Ken McGill, minister, licensed marriage and family therapist, and author, shares how deep transformation happens when we courageously encounter the psychological facts of our lives in the loving presence of Spirit. Learn more about Dr. McGill’s work and his new book Cultivating Love at www.drkenmcgill.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it possible to connect money with our deepest spiritual values? It is. In fact, making the connection between our money and our spirituality is essential. Sooner or later, recovery calls us to face money—what it means to us and how we use it. Special guest Samuel Schaal, M.Div., RLP©, is a Unitarian Universalist transition minister, registered life planner, and specialist in stewardship/money and spirit. He shares how to unite the very practical world of money management with self-care, healthy boundaries, and positive participation in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every person carries within them the potential for well-being and constructive living. Activating that potential requires change—in how we see ourselves, what we think, and what we do. What creates the willingness to change? How do we sustain positive change? And what part does our spirituality play? Guest Scott Breedlove, trainer for addiction counseling professionals and soon returning to the Missouri Substance Abuse Professional Credentialing Board as assistant director/development manager shares what works to help people change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can happen for a teen when the whole family gets involved in recovery? An increased possibility for fulfillment and success. Special guest Cindy Putney, Parent and Community Liaison for TAFS of Austin, shares how an Alternative Peer Group model focusing on practical solutions, positive socializing, healthy family involvement, and spiritual values adds up to strong support for recovering teens. Learn more at www.teenandfamilyservices.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Living in peace with others and self-confidence in ourselves takes courage—and focus. With practice we can learn not to give in to anger and fear. In their place we see new options and develop enduring strength to act with self-control and self-respect. And that’s the key to productive living. Special guest Fred Wright, after a successful career in advertising, became a Unity minister and has served churches in Kansas City, Puerto Rico, Idaho, and Ohio. Rev. Fred is a student of neuropsychiatrist Dr. Abraham Low’s work. Developed in the 1930s, it is known as the first Cognitive Behavioral Training (CBT) system. Recovery International carries on this work today through a peer-to-peer self-help approach. Learn more at www.lowselfhelpsystems.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acceptance of the power of addiction—to substances or to behaviors—is where freedom begins. From that point, our sacred task is self-awareness, discovering embedded emotions and stances that link us to addiction. And then, we move forward with our innate spiritual power to strengthen and create links to life and permanent recovery. Special guest George DuWors, MSW, LICSW, BCD, specializes in relapse prevention. His books White Knuckles and Wishful Thinking, and Getting It: Building Motivation From Relapse, provide a practical, experiential approach connected to 12-Step recovery principles. George is a psychosomatic therapist, author, and trainer focusing on supporting long-term sobriety and relapse prevention. Learn more about his work at www.motivationformaintenance.com and www.gettingitworkbook.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is not what happens to us, but what happens through us, that makes us whole. No matter how harsh our experiences have been, our Higher Power can guide us into joy. Special guest Joann M. is a remarkable woman. Her deep commitment to her spiritual calling kept her on the demanding path to self-worth and wholeness. Joann shares how her own recovery led her to create Journey to Wholeness—New Wings, Chasing the Joy, a nonprofit ministry for women rising out of tough circumstances. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want your life to change? Deep commitment to spiritual development is required. Far from chaining us to unwanted loads, committing to our spiritual life frees us in ways we never thought possible. Special guest Mark Hicks, spiritual leader and founder and developer of Truth Unity, shares his passion for active engagement in inner transformation. Truth Unity is a ministry grounded in the great classic metaphysical teachings. It encourages the study and practice of Unity principles, and actively fosters discipleship formation in Unity. Learn more at www.truthunity.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is spirituality? Is it believing certain ideas? Engaging in specific practices? Belonging to a particular group? Feeling positive emotions? Having extraordinary experiences? Special guest Rudy England defines spirituality as none of the above. He sees spirituality as an inside job—engaging our true self so that we live a full-spectrum life. An attorney and ordained minister, Rudy participates in law, politics, teaching, writing, and speaking about spirituality, religion, ethics, and legislation. His award-winning, monthly eblog on spirituality is found at www.rudyengland.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when the bottom drops out of your life—and you have years of good, deep recovery? You let go into the enormity of God’s love and grace. Through the prayers and uplift of an inspired faith community, with countless friends cheering him forward, and his own boundless trust in God, guest Bob A. is celebrating a birthday this week that his medical doctors told him he would not live to see. Bob is a former colleague and a current friend who amongst other things is in recovery, has a heart for helping others, and is always open to a new adventure. Bob tells me he has never been so happy in his life and is grateful God woke him up this morning, woke him up sober, and woke him up next to his amazing wife JoAnn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is obesity the result of laziness and lack of willpower? NO! Obesity is combination of poor habits; biochemical, nutritional, and hormonal dysfunction; and misinformation and denial. Recovering from an eating disorder is much like recovery from any addiction—except that the person with an eating disorder faces their substance countless times every day. Guest Stephanie Bernstein, M.S.W., shares how focusing on inner wellness frees her for successful living. Stephanie is a health and wellness consultant and a person in recovery from food addiction. She is committed to dispelling the stigma associated with eating disorders. Learn more about Stephanie’s work at www.alwayspeaceofmind.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spiritual growth should mean that we never have to deal with emotions again, right? WRONG! Emotions are a powerful gift from our Higher Power. Authentic spirituality invites us to embrace and learn from them—even (and especially) when they make us uncomfortable. Guest Guy Lynch shares how facing the facts of our lives, including our emotional reactions, is essential to spiritual growth. Guy is a Unity minister dedicated to sharing the inclusive message of God's love for all people and the spiritual principles that turned his own life from defeat to success and happiness. He is currently the minister of Unity of Beaverton, president and founder of THE ASSOCIATION OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANS, and host of The Practical Christian radio program broadcast nationally online. Learn more about Guy’s work: www.practicalchristians.org and on Facebook and www.unityofbeaverton.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices