The Truth About Alcohol (Why Quitting Feels So Hard)

Ep 56: Kelly Fitzgerald on Her Journey to Becoming The Sober Senorita

Welcome to Episode # 56 of The Alcohol & Addiction Podcast and my guest Kelly Fitzgerald AKA The Sober Senorita. The story of Kelly Fitzgerald is an unerringly familiar one. A young woman is drawn into a lifestyle built on the flooded foundation of alcohol. Nightclubs, parties, shots and the whole sorry mess that goes with it including a broken nose after a particularly eventful bender. Then, one day, she had enough. Kelly Fitzgerald was no more. The Sober Senorita blossomed in her place. Kelly created the Sober Senorita as a website where she could tell her story with the aim of inspiring others to follow her journey out of the darkness of addiction and into the light of what comes after, and this is exactly what we talk about in this episode of the Alcohol & Addiction Podcast. Podcast Takeaways The Sober Senorita - https://sobersenorita.com/ Veronica Valli: Why You Drink and How to Stop - http://amzn.to/2bZFZpk Caroline Knapp: Drinking a Love Story - http://amzn.to/2bZFwUh Sarah Hepola: Blackout Remembering The Things I Drank to Forget - http://amzn.to/2bSIo9k Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Kelly 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. Before you go, do you want to join me in the trenches and learn what life is like in the middle of an addiction story? I'm not talking about the part when you are drunk out of your skull and can't remember anything. I'm talking about what comes after you quit. How do you fill the white space? How do you find a new community? How do you find meaning and purpose? If these questions interest you, then buy my new book Needy Helper 2015 Diary Excerpts: A Life After Alcohol. - http://amzn.to/2axGveg Talking about community, how would you like to become a member of the Needy Helper Hub? It's a new idea to create a constant community, support and continual personal improvement process forever. It's my intention to be online as much as I can to answer any questions you have about your addiction, and to continually update the Hub with training tools, tips and techniques to help you create a whole new life. If that interests you, then click the link below to find out more. - http://www.needyhelper.com/the-needy-helper-hub/ 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 55: Mukunda Chandra das on using yogic techniques to overcome addiction

Welcome to Episode # 55 of The Alcohol & Addiction Podcast and my guest Mukunda Chandra das. Michael Kohan or Mukunda Chandra das (affectionately known as Mukunda) is dedicated to helping his clients and students find balance in all aspects of their lives—emotional, spiritual, mental and physical. Mukunda is a Certified Health and Lifestyle Coach and a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher who works with others to help them restore balance in their lives by helping them to make healthier and more conscious lifestyle choices. True harmony is achieved through developing a balanced cooperation between mind, body and soul. Living in this world can be tough at times, but when we learn simple spiritual tools for healing and maintenance, life can be much easier. Mukunda’s goal is to help clients and students to discover the skills to help them move forward in all areas of their lives. In Fall 2003, after a painful divorce and the continued strain of working long hours in a competitive environment, it was suggested that he take a yoga class as a means to reduce stress. He was immediately enchanted by the beautiful practice of asana yoga and thrilled to find how yogic discipline and philosophy can help a person to live a more peaceful life. After three years of active study, Mukunda met his spiritual mentor (Guru) H.H. Radhanatha Swami. After several years of formal study under his Guru, which included the systematic reading of spiritual texts, dedicated practice of mantra meditation, rising early for morning services, and regulating his cooking and diet, Mukunda received formal initiation into his spiritual lineage in 2013. After seventeen years in the corporate world, Mukunda left his job and moved out of New York City with the goal of becoming a full-time yoga teacher. This proved to be a great challenge, and Mukunda found himself starting over at 38 years old, hardly able to make ends meet. During this time, he became a serious student and practitioner of personal development techniques, which changed his life immensely. In 2014, inspired to teach the approaches that had helped him so deeply, Mukunda received training in Holistic Health and Lifestyle Counseling from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (accredited by SUNY and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners), where he studied a variety of practical coaching methods. With this understanding, he can create completely personalised plans based on your goals to move you toward your ideal vision of health within your unique situation, body, lifestyle, preferences, and resources. To learn more about Mukunda and his teachings head to yourwellnessyogi.com Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Mukunda 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. Before you go, do you want to join me in the trenches and learn what life is like in the middle of an addiction story? I'm not talking about the part when you are drunk out of your skull and can't remember anything. I'm talking about what comes after you quit. How do you fill the white space? How do you find a new community? How do you find meaning and purpose? If these questions interest you, then buy my new book Needy Helper 2015 Diary Excerpts: A Life After Alcohol. Talking about community, how would you like to become a member of the Needy Helper Hub? It's a new idea to create a constant community, support and continual personal improvement process forever. It's my intention to be online as much as I can to answer any questions you have about your addiction, and to continually update the Hub with training tools, tips and techniques to help you create a whole new life. If that interests you, then click the link below to find out more.

Ep 54: Julian Kirkman

Welcome to Episode # 54 of The Alcohol & Addiction Podcast and my guest Julian Kirkman-Page. In 2012 and after 40 years of being a heavy drinker Julian quit alcohol, forever. Four years earlier his brother died due to alcohol aged 56, and already having lost his mother to alcohol related cirrhosis of the liver, Julian’s own life ambition was to reach age 57! At the time Julian also suffered from high cholesterol and high blood pressure, had type 2 diabetes, gout, and felt like a wizened old man. Now he is completely cured, has never felt so healthy and happy, and he seriously expects to live well into his nineties. Julian’s book ‘I Don’t Drink’ explains why and how Julian quit and sets out the methodology he used. His book is positive, includes amusing stories and even includes diary pages to help the reader in the first days and weeks of living sober. Julian has also written ‘One Less for the Road’ aimed at the drinker who needs to quit but who like Julian was, can’t imagine life without alcohol. In this episode we talk about the effect societal conditioning and most importantly our parents have on our drinking, the importance of risk assessing, why we should always create a super human villain that we can slay in our journey away from alcoholism, star charts, and why you should THINK ARMY! Other Nuggets of Information Julian Kirkman-Page website: http://www.idontdrink.net/ I Don’t Drink! How to Quit Alcohol A Drinkers Tale by Julian Kirkman-Page: http://amzn.to/2bL2qPx One Less For The Road: Is There Life After Alcohol? by Julian Kirkman-Page: http://amzn.to/2bL3gf4 The Easyway to Control Alcohol by Allen Carr http://www.needyhelper.com/easy-way-to-control-alcohol-by-allen-carr Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Julian 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. Kimboskiboy gave us a five star rating and said the podcast was Stunning. "I've just subscribed to this podcast after listening to No.42 (The episode with Helen Evans). It is hugely informative, complex at times, but manages to give real, down to earth and relatable help for those who have addiction issues. It's raw...... but there's no BS. Thank you Lee." 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 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