1000 Days Sober Podcast

Ep 53: Joe Hoare Using Laughter to Change Your Life

Welcome to Episode # 53 of The Alcohol & Addiction Podcast and my guest Joe Hoare. I asked Joe to come on the show because I think the world needs to lighten up, and HE is the best person to kick start a revolution. He has been improving the lives of others in the health and wellness space for over 30-years and has appeared on tv, radio, and Glastonbury Festival. He is also the author of Awakening the Laughing Buddha Within. Joe is a laughter coach, and he helps you to find your zest for life through laughter yoga courses, conferences, and one on one sessions. In this podcast, we talk about the importance of getting out of our heads, the importance of the smile, mindfulness, connection, nature, and getting into the habit of taking things one simple step at a time. Here is his full bio. Joe provides conference and team sessions and run courses, workshops, Retreats and one-to-one sessions. "Professionally I have been running meetings, delivering conference sessions and providing workshops for over 30 years. My clients range from the international blue-chip companies (such as Kraft, Bank of Ireland, Novo Nordisk, Lloyds, Continental Airlines), to universities and colleges (including Bristol, Dundee, U.W.E, Cheltenham Science Festival), to charities and the Healthcare sector (Housing Associations, the NHS, Oxfam, NACTHPC, and others), and to the very experiential end of the spectrum like Glastonbury Festival. In 2006 I set up the UK's Laughter Facilitation course, to teach others how to use this material. In 2000 I co-authored 'The Holistic Workspace', and in 2013 'Awakening the Laughing Buddha within' with the Barefoot Doctor.
I was a Director of the mould-breaking Pierian Centre in Bristol and am an occasional visiting lecturer at the University of the West of England in the fields of leadership, empowerment and health promotion. I also trained in ‘Laughter Yoga’ with Dr Madan Kataria, founder of laughter clubs international, and run regular nls: natural laughter skills sessions for organisations and the general public. My work regularly appears in the public eye, including BBC 2's 'Don't Die Young' with Dr Alice Roberts, the Johnny Walker Show on Radio 2, Points West, BBC 1's Inside Out, Discovery Health Channel, Radio 4, The Sunday Times, The Independent on Sunday, Nursing Times, Bristol Evening Post, among others. In the late 1990's I ran BMA-accredited innovative stress management programmes."   Other Nuggets of Information Joe Hoare website: http://www.joehoare.co.uk/ Awakening the Laughing Buddha Within by Joe Hoare : http://amzn.to/2aVvJSp The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle : http://amzn.to/2btQoMe The podcast I refer to about smiling is The Sessions With Sean Croxton Episode 16 Jake Ducey : https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sessions-sean-croxton/id1076701919?mt=2 Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Joe or me, then please leave them in the comments section on the blog, or you can message me at needyhelper@gmail.com. If you find the AA Podcast a valuable resource, then please tell your friends about it and share the love. You would make me a very happy man indeed if you could rate us on iTunes.

Ep 52: Kim Sandhu on his addiction, mental illness and recovery

Welcome to Episode # 52 of The Alcohol & Addiction Podcast. In this week’s episode I talk to Kim Sandhu. Kim has kindly come on the show to talk about a life that has been inextricably linked with addiction ever since he had his first drink of Southern Comfort aged 11. We cover a wide range of issues personal to Kim including how his difficult relationships with his father, mother, and brother, and how they shaped his life. We talk about mental illness, trauma, and touch upon how wide ranging addiction is. We also touch upon the power of story, forgiveness and Kim’s journey through seven years of sobriety, relapse and where he is today. Kim blogs about his life at http://www.thetriptofreedom.com. I find his courage to be that of a lion. I think his writing is amazing. And his willingness to open up his personal story for us all to learn from is deeply moving. Ladies and gentlemen, Kim Sandhu. Other Nuggets of Information You can check in with Kim Sandhu on his blog at http://www.thetriptofreedom.com Why Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield - http://amzn.to/2aWBR8b The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - http://amzn.to/2aHfCrR The Storyfluence Training Course - http://storyfluence.com/a/sw.html?cbid=bowie23 Unbroken Brain by Maia Szalavitz - http://amzn.to/2aWC37j Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Kim or I, then please leave them in the comments section on the blog, or you can message me at needyhelper@gmail.com. If you find the AA Podcast a valuable resource, then please tell your friends about it and share the love. You would make me a very happy man indeed if you could rate us on iTunes. This podcast would not be possible without the sterling efforts of Neil Chow and Liza Lim, so big hugs and kisses to them, and also to you, the listeners, without whom this podcast wouldn't be possible, so thanks for giving me your ear to bend. Finally, I want to take the time to tell you about three great products that I am affiliated with. I use all three and highly recommend them. The first is the Storyfluence Training Course by Michael Hauge and Andre Chaperon. An excellent grasp of storytelling is essential in all aspects of business and in life, and what better way to learn about the framework of a story than from a Hollywood scriptwriter and the man responsible for the Auto Responder Madness email course. Secondly, I want to tell you about Blinkist. Have you ever picked up a book and thought ‘just get to the point?' Well, Blinkist does that. They have read hundreds of self-help books, and they break down the most relevant points into a 15-minute bite-sized taste of pure goodness. If you love reading books, you will love Blinkist. Finally, if you are looking for an email subscription list management system with a difference then look no further than ConvertKit. They are so personable, they make you feel loved, and are always on hand to make their product better for you the customer.

Ep 51: Hugh Byrne

Welcome to Episode #51 of the Alcohol & Addiction Podcast and this week my guest is Hugh Byrne. Hugh Byrne, PhD is a guiding teacher with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, has practised mindfulness meditation for thirty years and been teaching since 2000. He trained with Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, and other senior Insight Meditation teachers. Hugh teaches Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and completed training in Somatic Experiencing, a mind-body approach to healing trauma. Hugh has a law degree from London University and a PhD from UCLA, has worked for many years in human rights. He is the author of The Here-and-Now Habit: How Mindfulness Can Help You Break Unhealthy Habits Once and For All. He teaches classes and retreats in the Washington, DC, and internationally. And in this episode, we talk about what a habit is and how it differs from addiction, why it's so difficult to break habits, and how mindfulness practice can make recovery so much easier. Other Nuggets of Information Hugh-byrne.com (http://hugh-byrne.com/) Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (http://amzn.to/2aFeLpM) Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Hugh or I, then please leave them in the comments section on the blog, or you can message me at needyhelper@gmail.com. If you find the AA Podcast a valuable resource, then please tell your friends about it and share the love. You would make me a very happy man indeed if you could rate us on iTunes. TDR2016 gave us a five-star rating and said this about our podcast: "I’ve been listening to the podcasts since summer 2015 and even though I don’t have an addiction, I find them insightful. They serve as a useful reminder tool when I’m going through a shift and need a different perspective." I love that quote because it is my dream that one day all people come to this site to be educated on life, and not just people with addictions. This podcast would not be possible without the sterling efforts of Neil Chow and Liza Lim, so big hugs and kisses to them, and also to you, the listeners, without whom this podcast wouldn't be possible, so thanks for giving me your ear to bend. Finally, I want to take the time to tell you about three great products that I am affiliated with. I use all three and highly recommend them. The first is the Storyfluence Training Course by Michael Hauge and Andre Chaperon. An excellent grasp of storytelling is essential in all aspects of business and in life, and what better way to learn about the framework of a story than from a Hollywood scriptwriter and the man responsible for the Auto Responder Madness email course. (http://storyfluence.com/a/sw.html?cbid=bowie23) Secondly, I want to tell you about Blinkist. Have you ever picked up a book and thought ‘just get to the point?' Well, Blinkist does that. They have read hundreds of self-help books, and they break down the most relevant points into a 15-minute bite-sized taste of pure goodness. If you love reading books, you will love Blinkist. (http://jump.blinkist.com/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=2396) Finally, if you are looking for an email subscription list management system with a difference then look no further than ConvertKit. They are so personable, they make you feel loved, and are always on hand to make their product better for you the customer. (http://mbsy.co/ftNdv)

Ep 50: Maia Szalavitz

Welcome to Episode # 50 of The Alcohol & Addiction Podcast. In this week’s episode I talk to Maia Szalavitz. Maia is a neuroscience journalist and author or co-author of seven books. Her most recent, Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction, was published in April, 2016. She writes for major publications including TIME, the New York Times, Scientific American, the Washington Post, VICE and Pacific Standard and I invited her onto the show to talk about that fabulous book. So without further ado. Here is Maia Szalavitz. Other Nuggets of Information Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unbroken-Brain-Maia-Szalavitz/dp/1250055822/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=needhelp06-21&linkCode=w00&linkId=&creativeASIN=1250055822) Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Maia or I, then please leave them in the comments section on the blog, or you can message me at needyhelper@gmail.com. If you find the AA Podcast a valuable resource, then please tell your friends about it and share the love. You would make me a very happy man indeed if you could rate us on iTunes. This podcast would not be possible without the sterling efforts of Neil Chow and Liza Lim, so big hugs and kisses to them, and also to you, the listeners, without whom this podcast wouldn't be possible, so thanks for giving me your ear to bend. Finally, I want to take the time to tell you about three great products that I am affiliated with. I use all three and highly recommend them. The first is the Storyfluence Training Course by Michael Hauge and Andre Chaperon. An excellent grasp of storytelling is essential in all aspects of business and in life, and what better way to learn about the framework of a story than from a Hollywood scriptwriter and the man responsible for the Auto Responder Madness email course. Secondly, I want to tell you about Blinkist. Have you ever picked up a book and thought ‘just get to the point?' Well, Blinkist does that. They have read hundreds of self-help books, and they break down the most relevant points into a 15-minute bite-sized taste of pure goodness. If you love reading books, you will love Blinkist. Finally, if you are looking for an email subscription list management system with a difference then look no further than ConvertKit. They are so personable, they make you feel loved, and are always on hand to make their product better for you the customer.

Ep 49: Hils Crisp

After years living a life and doing work that wasn't really her, Hils finally broke free of the shackles of mediocrity and changed everything about her life. She moved to a new city, re-trained, left her steady job in Marketing and started her own business - before she felt truly ready or was clear! Hils is a Heart IQ™ Practitioner Level 3, a Level 2 Teacher of The Art of Feminine Presence™, an NLP Practitioner & an EFT Practitioner. She holds a deep frequency of love and acceptance, is very grounded and inspires people through her enthusiasm, positivity and love for life. And yes, you’ve guessed it, in this episode we talk a lot about love. Enjoy. Other Nuggets of Information Are you ready to break out of your rut and start to DREAM BIG, to really go for your dreams with courage and confidence? If YES, then grab Hils free workbook and audio "Dare to Dream & Do" to get you started on your journey to living your purpose: http://hilscrisp.com/dare-dream/ Main website: http://www.hilscrisp.com Dare to be YOU! Self-development Program: http://hilscrisp.com/dare-to-be-you/dare-to-be-you-program/ Hils also has a Facebook group and is happy to invite you to join. If you want to live your life to the full, courageously and authentically, head on over and join in with her daily mini-practices: https://www.facebook.com/groups/livingcourageously/ Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Hils or me, then please leave them in the comments section on the blog, or you can message me at needyhelper@gmail.com. If you find the AA Podcast a valuable resource, then please tell your friends about it and share the love. You would make me a very happy man indeed if you could rate us on iTunes. This podcast would not be possible without the sterling efforts of Neil Chow and Liza Lim, so big hugs and kisses to them, and also to you, the listeners, without whom this podcast wouldn't be possible, so thanks for giving me your ear to bend. Finally, I want to take the time to tell you about three great products that I am affiliated with. I use all three and highly recommend them. The first is the Storyfluence Training Course by Michael Hauge and Andre Chaperon. An excellent grasp of storytelling is essential in all aspects of business and in life, and what better way to learn about the framework of a story than from a Hollywood scriptwriter and the man responsible for the Auto Responder Madness email course. Secondly, I want to tell you about Blinkist. Have you ever picked up a book and thought ‘just get to the point?' Well, Blinkist does that. They have read hundreds of self-help books, and they break down the most relevant points into a 15-minute bite-sized taste of pure goodness. If you love reading books, you will love Blinkist. Finally, if you are looking for an email subscription list management system with a difference then look no further than ConvertKit. They are so personable, they make you feel loved, and are always on hand to make their product better for you the customer.

Ep 48: Jesse Sandler

Welcome to Episode 48 of the Alcohol & Addiction Podcast and this week my guest is Jesse Sandler Jesse Sandler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who earned his Master's degree in Social Welfare from the University of California at Los Angeles, and his bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He has worked at the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital and currently works at an Intensive Outpatient Program that focuses on treating individuals with dual diagnoses. He also runs a small private practice. Jesse is well trained in leading group and individual therapy sessions and utilises an eclectic combination of techniques from Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy. Jesse believes that through hard work, commitment, and hope, people can and do get better. Most recently, Jesse is working to address another aspect of recovery: people's living environments. After watching his clients and loved ones struggle and grow frustrated trying to find sober roommates, Jesse and his partner, Emily Churg, decided to do something about it. They wanted to create a matching service for people committed to living a clean lifestyle that also protected their personal information. Thus, MySoberRoommate was born! MySoberRoommate is an online community for sober people to meet like-minded roommates. Using MySoberRoommate.com's search and messaging features, you can instantly see photos, read profiles, and message with potential roommates who meet your selected criteria. MSR also understands the importance of privacy and anonymity. You control what personal information you share and when you share it. Whether you're in recovery, or you've chosen to live clean for other reasons, one of the best ways to maintain your clean lifestyle is to surround yourself with like-minded people, particularly in your living environment, and it is Jesse and Emily's hope that MySoberRoommate will make it easier for people to do just that. During this podcast, we talk about Jesse's experience in the addiction sphere and get to learn all about http://MySoberRoommate.com Other Nuggets of Information If you want to hire Jesse to help you with your recovery, then you can e-mail him at jessesandlerlcsw@gmail.com. If you are looking to share a house with a sober roommate or have a room you want to rent out to a sober roommate then check out http://MySoberRoommate.com Books, Podcasts and Websites David Burns and The Feeling Good Podcast - https://feelinggood.com/ Shawn Achor: Before Happiness and the Happiness Advantage - http://amzn.to/29xeC2N You Are Not Your Brain: The 4 Step Solution For Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life by Jeffrey M Schwartz and Rebecca Gladding - http://amzn.to/29xeVuf WTF With Marc Maron - http://www.wtfpod.com/ Outro Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Jesse or me, then please leave them in the comments section on the blog, or you can message me at needyhelper@gmail.com. If you find the AA Podcast a valuable resource, then please tell your friends about it and share the love. You would make me a very happy man indeed if you could rate us on iTunes. This podcast would not be possible without the sterling efforts of Neil Chow and Liza Lim, so big hugs and kisses to them, and also to you, the listeners, without whom this podcast wouldn’t be possible, so thanks for giving me your ear to bend.

Ep 47: Melissa Johnson

Welcome to Episode #47 of the Alcohol & Addiction Podcast and this week my guest is Melissa Johnson. Melissa is a dedicated member of the recovery community and a working mother of two children who inspires others with her personal accounts of addiction and recovery through blogging. She enjoys spending time with her kids, doing yoga, and investing in her non-profit outreach Clean Life.Clean Home where she provides a free home cleaning service for other sober parents. In this episode, we hear about Melissa's journey through alcoholism and drug addiction, a time in her life that eventually led to her losing her two children to foster care, not once but twice! And we talk about her recovery; the importance of her new blog, and her new cleaning service Clean Life. Clean Home. Thanks for listening. If you found it valuable, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. If you have any questions for Melissa or I, then leave a comment on the blog or email me at needyhelper@gmail.com. This podcast would not be possible without the sterling efforts of Neil Chow and Liza Lim, so big hugs and kisses to them, and also to you, the listeners, without whom this podcast wouldn’t be possible, so thanks for giving me your ear to bend. Other Nuggets of Information Stay in touch with Melissa by following her blog http://Mytruthstartshere.org and/or http://www.facebook.com/mytruthstartshere also her nonprofit http://Cleanlifecleanhome.com and/or http://www.facebook.com/Cleanlife.cleanhome

Ep 46: Rebecca Weller

Welcome to Episode 46 of the Alcohol & Addiction Podcast and this week my guest is Rebecca Weller. Rebecca is a Health & Life Coach, Author and Speaker. Named ‘one of Perth’s leading Healthpreneurs’ by The Sunday Times Magazine, Rebecca has coached hundreds of women to get their sparkle back and create a life they love. Creator of http://SexySobriety.com and http://VeganSparkles.com, she provides one-on-one and group coaching programs, hosts live events, and is the author of the upcoming book: ‘A Happier Hour‘. Rebecca’s work has been featured by The Australian, The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, SBS Food, Good Health Magazine, Elle Quebec, and now us humble folk over at the Alcohol & Addiction Podcast. We touch upon a whole plethora of interesting stuff including where on earth she gets all of her energy from, her journey from alcohol to recovery, and the courses and materials she has at her disposal to help you quit drinking. So without further ado. I will turn you over to the beautiful abolisher of booze. Bex Weller. If you found it valuable and want to say thanks, then there are some things you can do that will put a smile on my face. The first is to take the time to make a comment on the blog below this podcast. Did it generate any questions that you want to ask either myself or Bex? Do you have a view you would like to share? Then please interact. If you found the information valuable then perhaps someone you know will also find it helpful. Head over to Stitcher, iTunes or Soundcloud and give the podcast a 5-star rating and leave a few words of encouragement, joy and love. Lastly, who would you like to see on the Podcast? Leave me a message below and we can interact. Other Nuggets of Information Learn more at http://BexWeller.com or http://VeganSparkles.com Books, Podcasts and Websites Kick The Drink Easily! By Jason Vale- http://www.needyhelper.com/book-40-of-52-kick-the-drink-easily-by-jason-vale/ The Bubble Hour Podcast- http://www.thebubblehour.com/ Tommy Rosen- http://www.tommyrosen.com/yoga/ Mrs D is Going Without- http://livingwithoutalcohol.blogspot.com/ Interview with Mrs D- http://www.needyhelper.com/the-alcohol-addiction-podcast-presents-mrs-d-lotta-dann/ Tired of Thinking About Drinking- http://tiredofthinkingaboutdrinking.com/

Ep 45: Danielle Boose

Welcome to Episode #45 of the AA Podcast and my guest Danielle Boose. Danielle is a self-described "Warrior Boss Lady", who shares her experiences from being broken and confused to a successful business owner, radio personality and public speaker. A former high school teacher and mental health professional, Danielle channelled her passion for empowering others through coaching them to identify their assets and uncover their inner warrior mindset. An intuitive and results oriented leader herself, Danielle engages and leads her audience through dynamic and interactive transformations. She’s devoted to empowering women business owners to find their authenticity, fine-tune their brand, and grow their revenue. Sharing her experiences and lending a helping hand to other women as well as her community is her life’s purpose. Through her leadership at Achievable Greatness, she serves youth and young adults by empowering, encouraging, and educating them through skill-based training and support. As a mother of two, she knows first-hand the difficulties that single mothers face with managing their responsibilities while accomplishing personal goals. With a commitment to serve, she offers the community wisdom, encouragement, and supportive resources to help individuals meet their goals using a transparent approach. Her playful delivery style allows for individuals to gain wisdom without all the seriousness. She prides herself in relaying a message to her audience that’s easily understood and provides real solutions to their everyday problems. Danielle’s warrior personality helps her to achieve her greatness, and she leaves her audience with the urgency to transform their own lives. In this episode, Danielle and I talk about achievable greatness, the importance of connecting with teenagers and young adults and to remove the command and control adult-child hierarchy and to level the communication playing field. We cover vulnerability, why so many young adults are afraid to come forward and seek help and what we can do to help that, what the most prominent forms of addiction Danielle sees in her work, why she decided to operate a non-profit instead of a for profit, what she would do with 10,000 hours of spare time, and much more. If you found it valuable and want to say thanks, then there are some things you can do that will put a smile on my face. The first is to take the time to make a comment on the blog below this podcast. Did it generate any questions that you want to ask either myself or Danielle? Do you have a view you would like to share? Then please interact. If you found the information valuable then perhaps someone you know will also find it helpful. Head over to Stitcher and iTunes and give the podcast a 5-star rating and leave a few words of encouragement, joy and love. Finally, what do you think of this podcast? Is it helpful and if so why? What could I be doing better to make your life easier? What types of guests would you like me to invite onto the show? What would you like us to talk about? Show Notes Blogs If you want to hire Danielle as a coach or consultant then click here - http://www.danielleboose.com/ To check out her non-profit Achievable Greatness click here - http://www.achievablegreatness.com/ Books & Links Life & Lyrics: Through Danielle’s Eyes by Danielle Boose - http://amzn.to/1UWvCm7 Oprah: A Biography by Oprah Winfrey The Samuel L. Jackson Story -http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/samuel_l_jackson/biography.htm Dave’s Way by R David Thomas - http://amzn.to/1UF9UEC

Ep 44: Cathy Simmons

Today, I am joined by Cathy Simmons, an amazing woman who spent many years working in financial institutions in London before deciding to take a drastic career change and move into the world of saving people's lives. Cathy trained at the Quest Institute as a cognitive hypnotherapist and now runs the Simmons Practice helping people to get free of the horror of cigarettes and other addictions by use of the Simmons Method. During this podcast Cathy and I dig deep into the reasons, I was able to quit the most addictive drug in the world by just changing the way I think, why that method doesn't work for everyone, how hypnotherapy works, and the framework behind the Simmons Method. There is plenty of stuff for the science geeks amongst you as Cathy gets stuck into the role our grey matter plays in addiction. We talk horses, riders, buildings, the importance of visualisations, disassociating from inherent badness, and much, much more. If you found it valuable and want to say thanks, then there are some things you can do that will put a smile on my face. The first is to take the time to make a comment on the blog below this podcast. Did it generate any questions that you want to ask either myself or Cathy? Do you have a view you would like to share? Then please interact. If you found the information valuable then perhaps someone you know will also find it helpful, and who doesn't know someone who smokes! Head over to Stitcher and iTunes and give the podcast a 5-star rating and leave a few words of encouragement, joy and love. Please let me know if you try but can't do this for some reason. Finally, what do you think of this podcast? Is it helpful and if so why? What could I be doing better to make your life easier? What types of guests would you like me to invite onto the show? What content would you like to hear? Show Notes Blogs & Blog Posts Cathy Simmons and her programs (http://cathysimmons.co.uk/hypnotherapist-in-london/) The Addiction Killing Catalyst (http://www.needyhelper.com/the-addiction-killing-catalyst/) Michael Phelps talking about the importance of visualising success:(https://www.youtube.com/embed/Htw780vHH0o) Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) (http://www.ash.org.uk/) The Human Givens Institute (HGI) (http://www.hgi.org.uk/) Why Do I Drink Alcohol & Using Five Why to Find Your Answer? (http://www.needyhelper.com/why-do-i-drink-alcohol-use-five-why-to-find-your-answer/)