Why do I have to be sober? Was I really a weak-willed loser like the stigma says? Why do I want to eat so much sugar and drink all the coffee? In the Sober Powered Podcast, I will help you understand how alcohol affects the brain, how to navigate sober life, and how to develop the coping skills and tools you need. This podcast is for anyone whether you are sober curious, made the decision to get sober for good, or you're been sober for years. I'll cover a variety of topics to help you get an ...
…
continue reading
Did you know that literally EVERY DAY is a holiday? I don’t know about you, but we love having a reason to celebrate everyday. In this new podcast from Talkocast Studios, the lovely Nicole presents listeners with the history and quirkyness of each daily holiday. Whether it’s your favorite food’s day or something else totally random, happy holiday to you!
…
continue reading
This podcast is related to health, beauty & fitness tips...which improve your lifestyle..and you are a creator of your own body. So, when you eat healthy, you stay healthy...
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E243: Emotional Eating After Getting Sober
29:59
29:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:59
Emotional eating is a very frustrating thing to deal with, and it’s not uncommon to eat extra or have sugar cravings when you get sober. In this episode I’ll explain why we emotionally eat, the factors that contribute to emotional eating the most, and how this relates to your sobriety. You’ll learn about a lot of different studies on emotional eati…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E242: The Science of Making Good Habits in Long Term Sobriety
23:07
23:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:07
Many of us eventually realize that we have unhealthy habits like eating a bunch of junk at night, drinking way too much caffeine, not exercising, and more. We want to change these, but changing habits is tough. We can easily get into the same cycle we did with our drinking where we say we’re going to do it and then we do nothing, or we get inspired…
…
continue reading
Understanding why you crave alcohol can be a powerful tool in your sober journey, helping you reduce the frequency and intensity of these cravings. There are many theories about why alcohol cravings occur, and in this episode, I’ll explore the six most scientifically supported reasons. By gaining insight into the different factors that contribute t…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E240: Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) After Quitting Drinking: 8 Tips to Cope
25:33
25:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:33
You may have heard of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS), a condition that can develop after you’ve quit drinking and includes lingering symptoms like mood swings, anxiety, brain fog, and fatigue. In this episode I will explain what PAWS is, why it develops, what factors influence the severity of PAWS, what you can expect, and I’ll give you 8 ti…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E0: How Alcohol Affects Your Body: Here's What the Science Says
1:21:57
1:21:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:21:57
This episode is a deep dive into how alcohol affects the body, timestamps are below. This isn’t an episode meant to scare you, just to inform you about all the things you may be experiencing. Often we don’t know that alcohol is the cause. In the second half of the episode I’ll shift gears to the scary side of how alcohol impacts the body, specifica…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E239: How the Brain Heals After Quitting Drinking
22:03
22:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:03
In this episode you’ll learn about what the brain is like in the first couple of weeks of sobriety, how the brain’s of people who relapse are different from those who stay sober, how healing progresses up to 7 years of sobriety, and some common roadblocks. This episode is part of a 9 episode series for Dry July 2024. Make sure to follow my podcast …
…
continue reading
Moderation is impossible. If you can’t moderate, then you’ll never be able to. Some people can moderate with rules and intense focus, but that’s not real moderation. In this episode I’ll explain why we can never be cured, what’s going on in the brain, and hopefully help you accept that you drink the way you drink and that’s it. What to listen to ne…
…
continue reading
Have you ever felt totally convinced that it was going to be different this time, only to drink and find out it’s still not any different? We can repeat this cycle too many times to count, and maintain the belief that we’ll be able to moderate our drinking someday if only we keep trying. In this episode you’ll learn why you repeat this process even…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E236: Why Alcohol Feels Good and Then Feels Really Bad
16:51
16:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:51
At the end of our drinking, we continue to drink even though it’s not enjoyable and causes a lot of suffering. As addiction progresses it goes from liking alcohol to wanting or needing alcohol. In this episode I’ll explain why alcohol feels pleasurable and enjoyable for us, and how eventually we get a payback and start feeling miserable. You’ll lea…
…
continue reading
Everyone loves dopamine right now. We know it’s involved in addiction and pleasure, and that it gets depleted when we drink. In this episode, I’m going to explain dopamine’s role in motivation, cravings, and building associations with our drinking. One of the earliest signs of addiction is loss of control, so how dopamine contributes to us being un…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E234: The Scary Side of How Alcohol Affects the Body
41:23
41:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:23
Cancer and cirrhosis. The 2 scary parts of drinking. This is going to be a brutally honest episode about the scary side of how alcohol affects the body. I purposefully split this off from the previous episode in case you don’t want to hear it. In this episode you’ll learn how the body processes alcohol, why women typically have more health related …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E233: How Alcohol Affects the Body: A Deep Dive
42:46
42:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:46
There’s so much to say about how alcohol affects the body I could go on for hours, and none of it is good stuff. I’ll explain why alcohol makes you sweaty and red, how it affects sleep, how it impacts the heart and blood pressure, how alcohol impacts skin and aging, how it causes leg cramps, how it initially energizes us before making us horribly e…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E232: The 3am Wake Up of Shame: Alcohol and Anxiety
16:27
16:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:27
Not remembering how we went to bed becomes a normal experience, but it is not normal. We get drunk, eventually end up in bed, only to jolt awake around 3am. After the panic passes, we realize we’ve done it again. We got way too drunk and can’t remember the end of the night. This realization is followed by shame and anxiety, which likely continues i…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E231: Everything You Need to Know About Alcohol Withdrawal
21:43
21:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:43
Withdrawal is pretty obvious, the symptoms that we experience when we quit drinking. There is a lot more to it though. In this episode you’ll learn about why we have withdrawal symptoms and how alcohol impacts the central nervous system. Then I will focus on kindling and how withdrawal can become worse the more cycles we go through, and how returni…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E230: 11 Tips to Quit Drinking in Dry July
17:40
17:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:40
Getting started is the hardest part. What are you supposed to do with your time? How do you get through the first week? In this episode I’ll cover 11 tips to help you succeed in Dry July. E190: NA Drinks: the pros and cons Quit drinking course for Dry July on Sober Powered Skills Sober Support: Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life http…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E229: 5 Mindset Shifts to Help You Stay Sober (That Aren’t Stupid)
13:26
13:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:26
Our thoughts create our reality. For most of my life I thought that I had bad luck and bad things kept happening to me, but in sobriety I realized I had very toxic thinking. When something happens to us, we assign meaning to it and that meaning can create issues. It’s important to learn how to adjust your perspective. In this episode I will cover 5…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E228: Why Alcohol Automatically Captures and Holds Your Attention
23:26
23:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:26
If you’ve stopped drinking, have you noticed that when you walk into a room your eyes immediately go to where the alcohol is? Or how you keep track of how quickly everyone is drinking and what drink they’re on without any effort? Or how you never realized how much people in TV shows and movies drink until now? This is because alcohol can capture an…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E227: You Need a Goal (200 lb Deadlift Achieved!)
15:17
15:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:17
Let's talk about goal setting and building self-confidence. You've probably heard me mention off and on that I've had this goal to deadlift 200 lbs. I just achieved it. If you can stay put for a short story about my deadlift, then I promise I have a point. I want to get into goal setting, how to determine what your goal should even be, and what thi…
…
continue reading
Many of us use alcohol to turn off our brain, escape our problems, or check out, but escapism is actually associated with more intense drinking and lower life satisfaction. In this episode you’ll learn about the different theories behind escapism, why we’re doing this, and how it makes our problems worse. I hope that this episode can help you make …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E225: 5 Strategies for Dealing with Relapses and Getting Back on Track
19:55
19:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:55
What causes a relapse? How can we recognize it and make changes before we actually relapse? In this episode I’ll discuss the path to relapse and what is going on. Whether you relapsed or want to be vigilant in case you relapse or get weird thoughts, then you’ll learn about denial, low insight, not being ready to quit, and 5 strategies to deal with …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E224: Alcohol Makes Your Brain Stop Working
22:20
22:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:20
Your brain has to be connected well to be able to work. We beat ourselves up because we know we shouldn’t drink, but then we do, or because we keep convincing ourselves it’ll be different this time, even though it’s never different. It’s easy to think this is because you’re a weak-willed loser with no self-control, but it’s just not true. In this e…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E223: 6 Common Triggers for Drinking and How to Avoid Them
20:39
20:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
20:39
There are triggers to drink everywhere, but I’ve seen 6 common ones that mess up people’s attempts to get sober. In this episode I’ll explain what these are and how you can start dealing with them. I’m going to start our discussion with a personal lesson I learned about giving up when things get hard. We also need to learn how to push through disco…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E222: 6 Neurotransmitters That Get Messed Up By Alcohol
19:38
19:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:38
Glutamate, GABA, Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin, and the whole HPA axis (stress response). These are some of the important systems in your brain that get messed up when you blast your brain with alcohol all the time. Then when we quit drinking, these get even more messed up. In this episode you’ll learn what these 6 do, how alcohol messes them…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E221: 5 Ways to Redefine Fun Without Alcohol
19:41
19:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:41
Alcohol is marketed as a key to relaxation and fun. Ads and movies show us that alcohol is essential for social bonding and carefree moments, signaling us that a drink in hand is your ticket to fun and connection. Then when we start to notice our drinking is problematic and think about how we may have to get sober, one of the first things we panic …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E220: The Hippocampus and Alcohol: Blackouts, Memory Deficits, and Learned Associations
20:55
20:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
20:55
The hippocampus is an important part of the brain, which is unfortunately very vulnerable to alcohol. It is most well-known for its role in blackouts, but damage to the hippocampus from our drinking can cause problems with everyday memory too, like telling someone the same story over and over again. The hippocampus has a lesser known, but very impo…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E219: 7 Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Support Your Sobriety
21:12
21:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:12
Our lifestyle can make our sobriety easier or harder. When we quit drinking, things have to change. We can’t keep coming home to the same old routine but just not drink. In this episode I’ll explain 7 lifestyle changes that you can make overtime to support your sobriety and why these changes are helpful. What to listen to next: E188: wellness over …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E218: In the Moment Craving vs Constant Craving
19:33
19:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:33
There are 2 types of alcohol cravings that you may experience as you quit drinking: sudden, in the moment cravings or constant all day cravings. In this episode, you’ll learn about both types and 3 reasons we crave alcohol. I’ve experienced both types of cravings so I will share my experience and help you understand why you keep craving alcohol and…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E217: Warm Weather: 3 Reasons We Think Alcohol is Required
15:48
15:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:48
The weather is getting warmer and we start thinking about how everyone’s going to be on the porch or at restaurants drinking, how nice that looks, and how left out we feel for not participating. It’s normal to see other people drinking and wish you could do it too. In this episode we’ll talk about 3 reasons why we think alcohol is required when the…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E216: 4 Types of Impulsivity: Which One Are You?
16:46
16:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:46
We don’t drink because we’re losers with no self-control. A lot of times we drink because we can’t handle emotions, we get the F its, and we keep convincing ourselves it will be different this time. These are all different types of impulsivity. In this episode, you’ll learn 4 different impulsive traits and how these influence our drinking. I’ll exp…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E215: 5 Different Ways of Thinking About Sobriety
16:20
16:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:20
Do we “get” to be sober or do we have to be sober? What if you don’t want to glamorize sobriety or think about alcohol as a class one carcinogen? Do you have to call yourself an alcoholic to quit drinking for good? In this episode I’m explaining how we think we are different from everyone else and 5 different ways I’ve seen the sober community talk…
…
continue reading
We drink to cope because it seems to help us manage anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, etc., but self-medicating with alcohol only makes your problems worse. Drinking to cope increases our risk of developing a problem and in this episode I’ll explain why. You’ll learn how much more likely coping drinkers are to develop a problem, how this makes i…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E213: Self-Care is NOT Temporarily Turning Off Your Brain (Getting "Me Time")
16:37
16:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:37
We think that turning off our brain with alcohol at the end of the day is “me time” and it’s the only way to get a break. This isn’t self-care, it’s called being depleted and trying to survive a life that drains you. Poor self-care is one of the most reliable predictors of relapse in people trying to get sober. It’s important and in this episode I’…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E212: Why Some People Get Sober and Others Don’t (Resilience and Epigenetics)
16:16
16:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:16
It’s frustrating if you keep trying to stop drinking, but aren’t succeeding. We’ve discussed the brain changes that make it more difficult in a few recent episodes, but there are other factors as well. In this episode we’ll discuss the difference in how people handle the same life circumstances and stressors, and what determines whether you will be…
…
continue reading
Anticipation of the reward from alcohol is one of the main reasons we stay stuck in the back and forth cycle. We believe alcohol will help us relax, unwind, deal with negative emotions, have fun, or connect with others. This is what causes cravings for alcohol. In this episode I’ll explain how we learn to associate certain things with drinking, how…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E210: Good News, Your Brain Heals A LOT After 90 Days Sober… Unless You Relapse
18:31
18:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:31
Significant brain healing can happen within the first few months of being sober. Finally some good news for us, right? In this episode you’ll learn more about how alcohol damages the brain to make it harder to stay sober and how the brains of people who are able to stay sober differ from those who go on to relapse. It’s not just deciding that you’r…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E209: How Porn Addiction Affects the Brain
33:32
33:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:32
Behavioral addictions are stigmatized because they feel like more of a choice because there’s no substance changing your brain. However, process addictions or behavioral addictions like porn do actually change the brain in similar ways. In this episode I’ll explain why porn is so addicting, brain changes from porn, and how porn influences us to obj…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E208: Stress, Depression and Our Eating Habits
17:57
17:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:57
We do the same thing with our diet that we do with our drinking- our eating habits aren’t great, but they’re not bad either so it feels manageable. Our food quality impacts our mental health and stress levels though. I’ve been struggling with fatigue and depression, so it got me interested in the link. In this episode I’m explaining the importance …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E207: 15 Milestones to Look Forward to in Sobriety (Sober Timeline)
18:00
18:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:00
There are lots of great things that happen when you quit drinking, but we can get distracted by wanting everything to be easy and perfect. In this episode I’m sharing 15 things you can look forward to from day 2 to years of sobriety. Wherever you’re at in your journey, this episode will remind you of some of the best things about being sober. What …
…
continue reading
You’ve probably heard of the acronym HALT, hungry, angry, lonely, tired. These are all triggers for relapse because they influence our ability to think things through and wait. These feelings make us impulsive, overwhelmed, and more likely to go for an instant gratification choice like drinking, even when we know we want to stay sober. In this epis…
…
continue reading
For some of us, each time we go through withdrawal, the next withdrawal is worse. This is called kindling and in this episode I’m explaining what kindling is and how it happens. You’ll learn why we get withdrawal symptoms when we quit drinking, what delirium tremens is, and how kindling makes it harder to get sober. I’ll also discuss what counts as…
…
continue reading
On March 31st, National Crayon Day celebrates the joy of coloring and the endless creative possibilities that these colorful wax sticks have brought to children and adults alike for over a century. Subscribe here and on you favorite podcasting apps: https://jonny.hopp.to/celebrateBy Talkocast
…
continue reading
On March 30th, Take a Walk in the Park Day encourages everyone to enjoy the physicaland mental health benefits of taking a leisurely stroll through their local parks, reconnecting with nature and finding peace in our busy lives. Subscribe here and on you favorite podcasting apps: https://jonny.hopp.to/celebrate…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E204: Can Anyone Get Addicted to Alcohol?
22:58
22:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:58
Is everyone on the slow path towards addiction? Are all moderate drinkers a little bit addicted? We know alcohol is an addictive substance that gets us hooked and then changes our brains to keep us hooked, but why does this process even start? In this episode I’ll explain 15 risk factors that can lead us to become addicted to alcohol. You’ll learn …
…
continue reading
On March 29th, National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day celebrates the hard work, dedication, and vital role small family-owned businesses play in supporting their local communities and driving the U.S. economy. Subscribe here and on you favorite podcasting apps: https://jonny.hopp.to/celebrateBy Talkocast
…
continue reading
On March 28th, National Something on a Stick Day celebrates the fun and convenience of enjoying a wide variety of foods served on skewers, sticks, or other handheld utensils, from savory kebabs to sweet popsicles and everything in between. Subscribe here and on you favorite podcasting apps: https://jonny.hopp.to/celebrate…
…
continue reading
On March 27th, National Joe Day celebrates all the wonderful people named Joe or any ofits variations, encouraging everyone to appreciate the "average Joes" in their lives and enjoy a cup of joe in their honor. Subscribe here and on you favorite podcasting apps: https://jonny.hopp.to/celebrateBy Talkocast
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
E203: Why You Still Want Alcohol Even When You Hate It (It’s Dopamine!)
16:41
16:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:41
Drinking stops being fun and enjoyable, but we continue to do it anyway. Why is this? We know it makes us miserable and we want to stop, but by 4pm or after a few days or weeks of sober time we talk ourselves back into it. In this episode you’ll learn about the adaptations that happen in the brain as we drink heavily and how this leads to compulsiv…
…
continue reading
On March 26th, Wear A Hat Day raises awareness and funds for brain tumor research by encouraging people to don their favorite headwear, highlighting the importance of finding a cure for this devastating disease. Subscribe here and on you favorite podcasting apps: https://jonny.hopp.to/celebrateBy Talkocast
…
continue reading
On March 25th, International Waffle Day celebrates the beloved crispy, golden treat that has become a breakfast staple around the world, with its origins tracing back to a mispronunciation of a religious holiday in Sweden. Subscribe here and on you favorite podcasting apps: https://jonny.hopp.to/celebrate…
…
continue reading
On March 24th, National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day celebrates the delightful combination of sweet, chewy raisins enrobed in a luscious chocolate coating, a classictreat enjoyed by movie-goers and candy lovers alike. Subscribe here and on you favorite podcasting apps: https://jonny.hopp.to/celebrate…
…
continue reading