Overcoming Opioids with Bachelorette alum, Hunter Montgomery
Sober Stories
Title: Overcoming Opioids with Bachelorette alum, Hunter Montgomery In this episode of Sober Stories, host Beth Bowen sits down with Hunter Montgomery for an honest conversation about his personal journey through opoid addiction and recovery. Starting with an innocuous prescription of Vicodin for a football injury during his university years, Hunter candidly shares how his dependency evolved, leading him down the paths of alcoholism and eventually harder substances like heroin. A heart-to-heart chat with his grandfather offers a glimpse into the generational perspectives on...
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Sober Girl Society's Millie Gooch: 30, Flirty, and Surviving
Sober Stories
In this episode of Sober Stories, host Beth Bowen welcomes Millie Gooch, founder of Sober Girl Society, for a deep conversation on the journey to sobriety and the importance of creating a supportive, non-judgemental community for those seeking an alcohol-free lifestyle. Millie, an alcohol-free advocate and accomplished author, shares her personal journey, reflecting on how her experiences getting sober as a young woman compelled her to create an online platform dedicated to providing resources and support for those interested in exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle. Beth and Millie...
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More Than Sobriety with Meg Fee of @youdonthavetodrink
Sober Stories
Content Warning: This episode includes discussions about eating disorders and cannabis use. If these topics might be triggering for you, please know we always support you skipping to the next episode. In this episode, Beth interviews Meg Fee, the voice behind the Instagram page @youdonthavetodrink. Meg shares her Sober Story, from her upbringing in an Irish-American family where drinking was normalized, to living in NYC as a young professional, to the intensity of the blackouts she would experience when drinking no matter how much she consumed. Meg opens up about the challenges she...
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Alcohol and the LGBTQIA+ Community, with Amy C. Willis
Sober Stories
Title: Alcohol + the LGBTQIA+ Community, with Amy C. Willis In this episode, Sober Stories host, Beth Bowen, interviews Amy C. Willis, a highly respected sober coach known for her unique and holistic approach to sobriety. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Amy provided insight into the interwoven complexities of queerness, substance use, and the recovery process. Amy's candid reflections on her personal struggle with alcohol addiction and her transformative journey to sobriety provide a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for change. Amy introduces us...
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The Sober Black Girls Club: Embracing Sobriety, Authenticity, and Joy with Khadi A. Oluwatoyin
Sober Stories
[Title]: The Sober Black Girls Club: Embracing Sobriety, Authenticity, and Joy with Khadi A. Oluwatoyin Khadi Oluwatoyin, a Nigerian-American, was born and raised in the heart of New York but is currently living in Tulsa Oklahoma, home of Black Wall Street and first settled by the Lochapoka Band of Creek Native American tribe. Khadi is an attorney, mental health and sobriety advocate, consultant, community builder, and social entrepreneur. Her work over the last few years has focused on increasing the wellness of Black girls, women, femmes, non-conforming folks, and queer folks of color. Khadi...
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Duality: Navigating Life's Contrasts with Bachelor Alum, Dr. Taylor Nolan
Sober Stories
Title: Duality: Navigating Life's Contrasts with Bachelor Alum, Dr. Taylor Nolan Dr. Taylor Nolan is a celebrated mental health advocate, therapist, and podcast host known for her compassionate and authentic approach to navigating complex emotional and psychological issues. With a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a doctorate in Human Sexuality, Taylor brings a unique perspective to her work, combining her expertise in mental health and sexuality to create a safe and inclusive space for her clients. Through her private practice, , Taylor offers therapy services...
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"She Did It Scared" with Jennie Canzoneri
Sober Stories
Jennie Canzoneri joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to talk about self-compassion and gentle self-talk after we make mistakes. Jennie shares her experience drinking again after long-term abstinence, how she returned to her sobriety, and all of the thoughts and self-talk that came along the way. Beth and Jenny talk about having to re-learn how to cope in healthy ways, the power of community, and how our “why’s” can evolve over time. Jennie explains the bloodwork that “scared her awake,” and Beth and Jennie discuss the ripple effect of our choice to quit drinking. Jennie shares what...
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"Sans" with Netflix's Bling Empire Star Kevin Kreider
Sober Stories
Kevin Kreider of Bling Empire joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss alcohol in Hollywood, how sobriety gives us everything we thought we’d get from alcohol and the importance of visibility of minority communities in recovery. Beth and Kevin talk about how his sobriety has been represented on the show, Bling Empire, and how that visibility encouraged him to create his own non-alcoholic beverage brand, Sans. Kevin gives a few behind-the-scenes looks at the Bling Empire production and cast, and Beth and Kevin discuss the beauty of long-term sobriety. Kevin shares what his story would...
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"Divine Guidance" with Inaya Zuwena
Sober Stories
Content warning: In this episode, our guest discusses childhood abuse/neglect and suicidal ideation/attempt. Inaya Zuwena joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss how sobriety has helped her work through childhood trauma and PTSD, the “rock bottom” that prompted her to get sober, and how sobriety unlocked her queer identity as a bisexual woman. Beth and Inaya talk about how her sobriety has evolved away from the 12 Steps and labels like “alcoholic,” and Inaya tells the story of reconnecting with her partner, Tom, after she quit drinking. Inaya explains the power of...
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"The Journey to Becoming Myself" with Yazmin Spark
Sober Stories
Yaz Spark joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss the rapidly changing landscape in the non-alcoholic beverage space, diversity within the sober community, and how her own story motivated her to make zero-proof fun. Beth and Yaz talk about the shift in the way people are thinking about alcohol, how ditching booze dramatically impacted her anxiety, and how sometimes we lose friends along the way. Yaz shares what her story would be called: "The Journey to Becoming Myself." Yaz Spark runs a non-alcoholic cocktail bar service in the UK called Align Events, as seen on BBC and Alcohol...
info_outlineCONTENT WARNING: In this episode, Bean shares her experiences with domestic violence and with suicidal ideation.
Bean Gill joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss how a virus taking the use of her legs eventually led her on a path towards sobriety. Bean talks about how she used alcohol to cope with an abusive marriage, how she ultimately learned to connect with feelings and emotions without numbing them, and where she uncovered the courage and bravery to speak her truth. Bean shares her experience as a South Asian woman in the sober and disability communities, how she navigates the pressure to drink as a sober person, and how ownership and agency has helped her reclaim her power. Bean shares what her story would be called: "Welcome to the Jungle."
Bean Gill is a Canadian-born South Asian woman, who describes herself as an “accidental advocate” after a virus paralyzed her from the waist down ten years ago. Now Bean runs the non-profit she co-founded, ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre, and uses her voice to raise awareness for disability rights, inclusion, and diversity. Bean is the reigning Miss Wheelchair Canada, won Global's Woman of Vision award, and was recognized by Mattel as one of Canada's top 60 inspiring women as part of Barbie's 60th Anniversary. She also won Top 40 Under 40 in 2019 and RBC's Women of Influence Award in the Ones to Watch category, a few steps forward in her plan to change the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Breaking away from society’s programming and recognizing your self-worth.
- Re-discovering her new identity after becoming paralyzed and suffering from alcohol use disorder.
- Taking ownership of your life and overcoming the victim mentality.
- Bean’s major turning point when she realized she had an alcohol problem.
Resources mentioned:
- Episode 4 - “Like a Mother” with Jyoti Chand of @mamajotes.
- Episode 9 - “Finding Freedom” with Payal Desai of @payalforstyle.
- Check out Beth’s viral TikTok - "Alcohol is a Class 1 Carcinogen" here.
Connect with Bean:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/branzoid/
Website - https://www.reyu.ca/
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