Best Zach Johnston Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 241: Episode 236: Catching Up! 42:40

14h ago42:40

42:40

Tawny and Lisa catch up at the end of summer on all that’s gone on and what they’re up to. They talk about Tawny’s honeymoon and the importance of taking a real break to recharge and reflect. Lisa talks about how if she was ever to believe Mercury Retrograde was a real thing, August would be the clincher. They also talk books, TV, and movies. Read …

1
Episode 240: Episode 235: The Power of Hope 37:15

4d ago37:15

37:15

Tawny and Lisa chat about how finding hope in a period of stress and anxiety transforms their mental states. And acting on that hope reminds them that they do have power to try to change things. Since VP Kamala Harris became the Democratic Party’s candidate for the presidency, they both feel like a weight has been lifted physically and their mental…

1
Episode 239: (Rebroadcast) Episode 168: Special Guest Laura Cathcart Robbins 38:59

15d ago38:59

38:59

Hey fam! We’re on a summer break, but will be back soon. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this encore episode! This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and fo…

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Cults & Healthcare Neglect 1:00:37

21d ago1:00:37

1:00:37

Dr Caroline Ansley is the founder of Centrepoint Restoration Project, a website that serves as a connection point, archive of information and safe landing space for former children of New Zealand’s notorious Centrepoint cult – with which Caroline has personal experience. She is also a General Practitioner, with over 20 years' clinical experience in…

1
Episode 238: (Rebroadcast) Episode 185: Special Guest Ann Dowsett Johnston 37:39

12d ago37:39

37:39

Hey fam! We’re on a summer break, but will be back soon. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this encore episode! Tawny and Lisa talk to (and fangirl!) Ann Dowsett Johnston, the bestselling author of DRINK: THE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WOMEN AND ALCOHOL, the book that broke the story on the pinking of the alcohol market and the closing of the r…

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Episode 237: (Rebroadcast) Episode 212: Gray Area Drinking with Jolene Park 44:32

26d ago44:32

44:32

Hey fam! We’re on a summer break, but will be back soon. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this encore episode! Tawny and Lisa talk to Jolene Park, founder of Healthy Discoveries. Jolene is a functional nutritionist and a pioneer in the area of “gray area drinking,” the kind where there’s no rock bottom, but where one drinks to manage anxiety and …

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Episode 236: (Rebroadcast) Episode 164: Special Guest Zach Braff 28:00

11d ago28:00

28:00

Hey fam! We’re on a summer break, but will be back soon. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this encore episode! This episode is sponsored by the sober entrepreneurs at Sour Humanoid vinegar. Add a splash of these artisanal vinegars to your dinner to brighten up the flavor of your protein and veggies. Order a bottle today at sourhumanoid.com and fo…

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Episode 235: Episode 234: The New Whole30 with Melissa Urban 37:31

18d ago37:31

37:31

Tawny and Lisa talk with Melissa Urban, the co-founder and CEO of Whole30 and an authority on helping people create lifelong healthy habits. She is a seven-time New York Times best-selling author, and her books have sold millions of copies in 20 languages. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, son, and a poodle named Henry. Melissa i…

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Episode 234: Episode 233: Drink Spiking Prevention with Shirah Benarde 40:14

27d ago40:14

40:14

Tawny and Lisa talk with Shirah Benarde, CEO and Co-Founder of NightCap, a line of multi-purpose drink spiking prevention products. When she was just 16-years old, the idea for NightCap came to Shirah in a dream after hearing about the horrors of drink spiking from friends who experienced it. By 2021, NightCap was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank serie…

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The Nicolas Cage Episode (with Zach Schonfeld) 1:42:07

1M ago1:42:07

1:42:07

Zach Schonfeld is a freelance writer, journalist, and critic. He wrote a book titled How Coppola Became Cage and is on the pod to talk about the astrology and works of the one and only Nicolas Cage. Zach is a Libra Sun // Pisces Moon // Scorpio Rising. What We Talked About: Truly Batshit: The Secret History of ‘Vampire’s Kiss,’ the Craziest Nicolas…

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Universal Predator with Esther Rockett 58:36

2M ago58:36

58:36

You may recall the name ‘Esther Rockett’ from episode 2, season 3 of this podcast, which was all about Universal Medicine – Serge Benhayon’s esoteric healing cult in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Esther has been blogging about the more alarming elements of Serge’s ‘modalities’ since 2012, and he sued her for defamation in 2015. The case went t…

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Episode 232: BONUS: The Sobriety Deck Pre-Launch! 12:44

1M ago12:44

12:44

Watch the special video convo here! Our card deck is available for pre-order! We’re so excited! The deck comprises 50 cards, with a glossary and additional resources, that offers guidance and inspiration for anyone rethinking their relationship with alcohol. We’ve loaded it with practical tools and inspirational prompts to help you conquer the chal…

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Episode 233: Episode 232: Modern Friendship with Anna Goldfarb 41:01

2M ago41:01

41:01

Tawny and Lisa talk with Anna Goldfarb a journalist, author and speaker. Called “The New York Times’ friendship correspondent”, Anna’s work explores the nuances of friendships, relationships, and pop psychology. They talk about making friends, keeping friends, and approaching friendship with empathy. Her new book, Modern Friendship: How to Nurture …

1
Episode 231: Episode 231: Outrage Overload and Staying Sober 34:11

2M ago34:11

34:11

Tawny and Lisa talk about how the 24/7 news cycle, algorithmically designed to spark extreme reactions, can make us feel overwhelmed and sometimes hopeless. They go back to their sobriety tool kits to not only keep them sober, but to reset their thinking. This includes remembering where they are in the moment, reminding themselves of what they can …

1
Episode 230: Episode 230: Addiction is a Family Disease 30:18

2M ago30:18

30:18

Tawny and Lisa talk about addiction as a family disease. Whether it’s with your birth family or your chosen family (or both!), healing individually and as unit can break cycles of addiction and unhealthy behaviors. They both talk about their experiences with their families and how it’s an imperfect journey that never really ends. Music Minute featu…

1
Episode 229: Episode 229: TikTok, Self-Diagnosing Disorders, and Mental Health in Schools 39:22

3M ago39:22

39:22

A recent article in The New York Times discussed two recent studies that cast doubt on whether large-scale mental health interventions are making young people better. But most specialists in adolescent mental health still agree that lack of access to treatment is the biggest problem young people face, along with the damage social media can do. Tawn…

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Cult Information and Family Support with Tore Klevjer 46:33

3M ago46:33

46:33

Tore Klevjer has been involved with the volunteer charity organisation Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS) since its very formation almost three decades ago, in 1996. Avid listeners of this podcast will know that the end of every episode mentions CIFS. We’re lucky in Australia to have this incredibly dedicated group of volunteers who support…

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Episode 228: Episode 228: Trauma Recovery Through Art 46:09

3M ago46:09

46:09

Tawny and Lisa talk with composer Melissa Dunphy, an award-winning composer who specializes in vocal, political, and theatric music. Her work includes, LISTEN (2019), two choral movements set to testimony by Anita Hill in 1991 and Christine Blasey Ford in 2018. They talk about creating art as a tool for healing trauma and understanding ourselves. C…

1
Episode 227: Episode 227: Music in Recovery with Emmy Jo 39:00

3M ago39:00

39:00

Tawny and Lisa talk to Emmy Jo, an indie-soul pop musician based in New York City. Emmy Jo's first viral moment came with her Spotify single "yellow year". Her music, self-dubbed "sad girl bangers," creates a space where melancholy meets infectious beats, inviting listeners to share in the collective human experience. They get into mental health, h…

1
Episode 226: Episode 226: Catching Up! 26:29

3M ago26:29

26:29

Tawny and Lisa catch up on what’s been going on lately. Tawny has been settling into post-book tour and post-(parentheses) launch life and taking time to go to cultural events and see live music. Lisa spent time in Nashville to speak at a benefit for the Women’s Center at Cumberland Heights, a nonprofit addiction treatment center. They also talk ab…

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Episode 225: Episode 225: Loneliness and Food Cravings 32:24

4M ago32:24

32:24

Tawny and Lisa talk about a recent article in The Washington Post, "Why Loneliness is Associated with Food Cravings in Some Women." It reports on a new study that suggests that alterations in the lonely brain may be why some women are more susceptible to unhealthy food choices. And why they often crave sweet, calorie-rich foods, in particular. They…

1
Episode 224: Episode 224: Tawny’s Changing Relationship with Substances 29:56

4M ago29:56

29:56

Tawny gives Lisa an update on her changing relationship with substances, which she wrote about in her recent newsletter. They talk about her discovery of plant medicine and its benefits for her. They also talk harm reduction and stigma. For both Tawny and Lisa, it all comes down to the fact that one day at a time is the only approach that actually …

1
Episode 223: Episode 223: People Pleasing is Over 33:18

4M ago33:18

33:18

Tawny and Lisa talk about Tawny’s recent Beyond Liquid Courage newsletter, "People Pleasing is Over." She learned through years of recovery and therapy that her people-pleasing is tied to her codependency. Lisa learned in early recovery that if she didn’t stop always trying to please others, she wasn’t going to be able to stay sober. People pleasin…

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Escaping Twin Flames with Cecilia Peck & Inbal B. Lessner 58:31

4M ago58:31

58:31

Cecilia Peck and Inbal B. Lessner are the director/producer/editor team behind the award-winning Escaping Twin Flames, a three-part documentary series for Netflix about Twin Flames Universe – a cult you may remember from season 5. This powerhouse duo has turned their talents to investigating high-control groups over their last couple of projects, w…

1
Episode 222: Episode 222: Declining the Invitation 30:53

4M ago30:53

30:53

Tawny and Lisa talk about being discerning with what we add to our plates and what we say “no” to. Our tendency to be “people pleasers” means we end up saying yes to things we don’t want or need to do to avoid disappointing others. But oftentimes, that concern can be misplaced or exaggerated. We can also tweak the way we accept invitations if they …

1
Leonard Cohen, Judee Sill, and Beethoven (with Maia Friedman of Coco) 1:23:32

4M ago1:23:32

1:23:32

Maia Friedman is a multi-instrumentalist and musician who plays in Coco, the Dirty Projectors, and releases solo music. Maia is a Scorpio Sun // Libra Moon // Aquarius Rising. Today we chat about the music and astrology of Leonard Cohen, Judee Sill, and Ludwig van Beethoven. What We Talked About: Coco - 2 (Album) // Coco - Self-titled (Album) // Co…

1
Episode 221: Episode 221: Gambling Addiction 39:50

5M ago39:50

39:50

Tawny and Lisa talk to Steve Rose, an addiction counselor specializing in gambling addiction, with a Ph.D in sociology. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about how gambling addiction is on the rise. This trend is closely linked to broader addictive behaviors such as smartphone and social media usage, which draw on many of the same psychologica…

1
Episode 220: Episode 220: Poetry for Recovery 34:00

5M ago34:00

34:00

Tawny and Lisa talk to Camille St Martin, an author and recovery advocate who recently released Spilled, her book of poetry inspired by her recovery journey. Like so many of us, she felt alone in her drinking spiral and found relief and catharsis in writing. Poetry was a passion she had as a teen and sobriety brought her the chance to reconnect wit…

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Interview Episode: LGATs with John Hunter PhD 1:34:28

5M ago1:34:28

1:34:28

For his 2017 PhD, John Hunter put forward a hypothesis that offers insights into both the “transformational” experiences associated with large group awareness training (LGAT) participation and the common claims of psychological harm and problematic behaviour associated with participation. Dr Hunter presented his work at the 2023 International Culti…

1
Episode 219: Episode 219: Boisson, Book Proposals, and Bestie Catch-Up 36:54

5M ago36:54

36:54

Tawny talks about what’s going on with Dry Humping six months out and how she’s promoting her new drink, (parentheses). She’s also teaching a class on writing a nonfiction book proposal on May 22nd. They also talk about Lisa’s 20th SoBerthday and how indie non-alcoholic bottle shops are the heartbeat of the burgeoning non-alcoholic drink industry. …

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Episode 218: Episode 218: Recovery Rock Stars: Art Alexakis of Everclear 47:29

5M ago47:29

47:29

Tawny and Lisa talk to Art Alexakis, frontman for Everclear, one of the defining bands of the 1990s, still going strong. Art has almost 35 years of recovery, living very much one day at a time. They talk about recovery and Art’s writing process, including the iconic song, “Father of Mine.” They also discuss what it takes to know when you’re done wi…

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Episode 217: Episode 217: Glimmers: The Opposite of Triggers 31:16

5M ago31:16

31:16

Tawny and Lisa talk about “glimmers,” mini-moments of calm and even joy. Glimmers are the opposite of triggers. They create a subtle, but meaningful mood shift. Think of how you feel when you pet a dog or hear a song you love. They also talk about “golden shadows,” which, similar to glimmers, are small bright spots that break through when doing dif…

1
Message from Sarah 5:25

5M ago5:25

5:25

A little update from Sarah about what to expect with Let's Talk About Sects now that we're winding up the sixth season of the show. Don't worry, we're not going anywhere! But there are a few small changes to make sure that this project remains sustainable. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/ltaspod https://www.ltaspod.com/supporters Subscrib…

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Episode 216: Episode 216: How to Set Up Your Home Up for Recovery 31:58

6M ago31:58

31:58

Tawny and Lisa talk about creating a home that supports your recovery. This can look different for everyone. It can range from clearing out anything you might find triggering, to setting up a space that makes you feel calm and content, to changing up your routine on arriving home. Like everything in recovery, it’s a process that doesn’t happen over…

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Episode 215: Episode 215: Why Do People in Recovery Getting into the Mental Health Field? 34:00

6M ago34:00

34:00

Tawny and Lisa talk to Raam Roch Hai and Dr. Anthony Foster, Co-CEOs and Founders of AHA! Recovery, a new approach to treating substance use disorders. They discuss the effectiveness of therapists who are themselves in recovery working with others seeking recovery or supporting a loved one. AHA! Recovery blends three evidence-based therapeutics pra…

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The Retreat: a Divine Madness Update 1:34:25

6M ago1:34:25

1:34:25

In the last episode of season 5, we looked into a Boulder, Colorado community then known as Divine Madness and led by Marc Tizer, usually referred to as 'Yo'. Its members were recognised for some amazing results in ultramarathons. At the time of researching that episode, updates about the current status of the group were hard to come by. Deru Youma…

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Episode 214: Episode 214: Young and Sober with Alex Kosinski 35:33

6M ago35:33

35:33

Tawny and Lisa talk with Alex Kosinski, a 20-something sober friend, who’s building a new life in his adopted city of San Diego. They talk sober dating, healthy habits, and being open to new experiences. Alex finds connection through pursuing passions like fitness, chess and studying Spanish, as well as leaning into the local recovery community. Mu…

1
Episode 213: Episode 213: Boundaries, Codependency and Energy Vampires 34:49

6M ago34:49

34:49

Tawny and Lisa talk codependency, something many folks in recovery grapple with. Melody Beattie, author of Codependent No More, defines codependency as, “The concept of losing one’s self while taking care of another.” Anticipating other people’s needs all the time leads to anxiety, projection, and manipulation. The answer is to stop trying to contr…

1
Episode 212: Episode 212: Gray Area Drinking with Jolene Park 44:32

7M ago44:32

44:32

Tawny and Lisa talk to Jolene Park, founder of Healthy Discoveries. Jolene is a functional nutritionist and a pioneer in the area of “gray area drinking,” the kind where there’s no rock bottom, but where one drinks to manage anxiety and later regrets how often or how much they drink. They talk about Jolene’s recent Substack piece on the online sobe…

1
Interview Episode: The Troubled Teen Industry with Emma Lehman 35:45

7M ago35:45

35:45

Journalist Emma Lehman is the creator of the independent podcast Gooned, which dives into the Troubled Teen Industry or TTI – a network of for-profit congregate care facilities for youth ranging from wilderness programs to therapeutic boarding schools. In the podcast, Emma interviews survivors, parents, staff members, experts and activists. Across …

1
Episode 211: Episode 211: Catching Up on Life, Books, Movies and TV! 41:48

7M ago41:48

41:48

Tawny and Lisa catch up on what’s been going on so far this year. They also share some of their latest picks for reading and watching. Tawny has finally had some time to decompress from all of the book tour craziness. Lisa has been diving into all kinds of distractions to try to keep things light in a challenging year. Music Minute features Taylor …

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Avatar 49:44

7M ago49:44

49:44

Harry Palmer created Avatar after his presidency of the Church of Scientology's Elmira Mission ended in the mid-1980s, as a result of legal proceedings around trademark infringement. Avatar says that it aims to create an 'enlightened planetary consciousness' or EPC through its courses, which are expensive and numerous. Former students say they have…

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