Screen Time
There is a good chance you have been spending this time of social distancing with your eyes on a screen. You might be binging on streaming services to the point that they occasionally ask you to confirm you are still watching (which, of course, you are). Or you might be staring at your phone and using social media to keep up with friends and family. You could be glued to cable news, waiting for the next update on the COVID-19 virus. Or you might be working from home, logging hours in front of your laptop to keep things moving forward on the job.
No matter your reasons for screen time, we’re guessing your eyes are tired. So we have collected some suggestions for great recovery-related podcasts you can listen to that will support your recovery while you are taking a break from the screens.
But first, a little introduction to podcasts for those who might never have tried one before.
A Podcast Primer
You might think of a podcast as on-demand radio. And just like different radio stations offer different kinds of content—sports, oldies, pop, hip-hop, politics, and on and on—different podcasts are being made for just about every interest you can imagine.
But where do you find them? Head online from just about any device, and you can find podcasts on a number of different services, including Spotify, Soundcloud, Stitcher, iTunes, and Google Play. When you find a podcast you are interested in, you’ll notice that it has a list of episodes for you to choose from. For some podcasts, it might be best to start at the beginning and work your way forward just like you would with a new television program. But for podcasts focused on recovery, you can probably pick and choose the episodes most relevant or interesting to you.
Recovery-Related Podcasts
Here are some recovery-related podcasts that might be inspiring or encouraging—especially right now.
Far from Finished hosted by Alexis Castro: The Power of Personal Stories
From the podcast description: Told in their own words, these stories provide insight into the experiences of people who are embarking on their own personal journey of recovery and triumph over addiction. Full of hope and inspiration, these stories demonstrate what is possible through compassionate treatment and dedicating oneself to living a better life.
Sometimes what we really need is to hear from someone who has gone through the same thing we are going through—and has come out the other side. The stories told on Far From Finished provide just that sort of encouragement while reminding you that your substance use disorder is not the sole defining feature of who you are or who you can be.
AA Beyond Belief: All of the Steps, None of Religion
From the podcast description: We will provide a space for the agnostic, atheist, and freethinker in Alcoholics Anonymous to freely share their experience, strength, and hope with each other, and the Fellowship as a whole. Through civil and thoughtful discourse, we will learn and grow together in unity, service, and recovery.
There’s no denying that 12-Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are beneficial for many people in recovery. However, AA has some spiritual and religious underpinnings that may make some people uncomfortable. These recovery-related podcasts seek to offer a compromise, helping those who have difficulty with the religious aspects of AA to get its benefits in a way that they are comfortable with.
The Bubble Hour hosted by Jean M.: A Female Focus
From the podcast description: We are so grateful for the sober people who came before us to help find this path; this is one way to give back…Alcoholism thrives in the dark. Together, we bring light. And hope.
So often, people struggling with a substance use disorder are stigmatized to one degree or another—and the problem can be worse for women. The Bubble Hour seeks to pay forward the help and inspiration its creators have received on their own recovery journeys, and the podcast features guests who talk about alcoholism in general and the ways in which it can affect women in particular.
The Sobriety Blueprint Podcast hosted by Jonathan Sylvester: For Men on a Mission
From the podcast description: Sobriety is not enough for guys like us. If we don’t build a happy, healthy, and successful life that goes beyond just staying sober, not only are we selling ourselves short, we’re more likely to return to active addition.
Jonathan Sylvester’s addiction to painkillers was no joke. At one particularly low point, he found himself taking as many as 60 pills every day. Now that he is in recovery, he is committed to helping other men—especially those with a Type A personality—succeed and thrive. His notion that sobriety is not the end point but rather the condition that makes everything else achievable is a powerful one.
We Are Barely Scratching the Surface
Don’t see something among these four recovery-related podcasts that sounds like what you might be looking for? That’s just fine. There are plenty more options where these came from! Spend a little time searching, and you are bound to find the perfect podcast for you and your particular situation.
And who knows? As your recovery progresses, maybe you’ll be inspired to start a podcast of your own.
We Are Ready to Tune Into Your Needs Right Now
Bel Aire Recovery Center is open and able to serve you right now. If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, don’t let the problem escalate during this public health situation. Instead, get personalized, compassionate treatment that will set you on the road to a lasting recovery. We will listen to you and tailor a treatment plan that responds directly to your needs. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
