Tag: audio

[Audio] Interview with Kristi Coulter 2018

Belle 7 Comments

It's been 2 years since I spoke with sober penpal #128, Kristi Coulter. She has a new book coming out on Tuesday, August 7th called Nothing Good Can Come From This. 

But the story of how she got here has a lot to teach us sober folks.

Like, how do you deal with people telling you that you just don't get it, or that you're shit?

I sent out this audio today (episode SP260) to podcast subscribers ... 

BUT I am going to make this full podcast available for 48 hours, even if you are not a podcast subscriber.

You'll want to hear this. Start now, just for a few minutes. 

Sober Podcast 260. Kristi Coulter (2018)

If you could leave a comment after you listen, that'd be great. Anonymous is fine. To download the entire audio, you can use the link below.

Download SP260. Kristi Coulter (2018)

Sign up for the ​podcast membership
(1-2 new full-length audios each ​week, you can cancel whenever you like ... but you won't. more sober tools = good)

Feedback from listeners:

GermanLena: Love that part about it not being about willpower. Because I guess, that’s what works ... slowly getting to know a perspective of things to be great and even greater! And particularly inspiring awesome to getting to know real people who are showing up, and what is possible if you just go through that tough stuff. 'cause grass IS greener on the other (sober) side! Love for that <3"

Emsyface: "​Before she quit she felt like she was just fulfilling everyone else’s needs and that her writing/pure creativity was “not essential”. This I think is important because it shows how alcohol makes us just focus on getting through and we deny ourselves any sense of pleasure or frivolity. ​She talks about reading your blog and you “liking” being sober. Catherine Gray in her book talks about sobriety having such a negative image whereas the reality is anything but. That was so worth hearing again. I found it affirming to hear from someone who didn’t have underlying mental health issues that if one did, one might need more support. Other little nuggets were “drinking doesn’t change reality” (but changes how you process it); and that feelings don’t kill you. ... Thanks for this- one of the best I’ve heard in a while."

from me:
there have been weeks, now, with no update from the painting studio. what you doing?
stuff.
got anything to show?
not yet.

so when he presents me with this painting (Fender 1), i'm like, have i seen this before?
yes. it's been hanging on the wall in my studio for inspiration.
inspiration?
so that i'll play more guitar. do more of those hobby things that we talked about. this is one.
this is one what?
this is one of the guitar paintings...
how many are there? 
seven. 

seven guitar paintings, hanging on the wall in his studio. let it be said that i never go up to his studio, like twice in 6 years, because it's up 7 flights of stairs (no elevator).

and now he's ready to sell his personal collection 🙂 

this painting also shows us what's available when we step 'outside' of the booze elevator. all the things that used to bring us joy, they're still there ...

Fender ​2

​Fender ​2
canvas itself is 30 x 30 cm (12" x 12")
acrylic on wrapped canvas, varnished, edges of the canvas are painted black
Wood frame is African ayous (hardwood), pale straw colour.

Free shipping included.

Available with or without frame
link here > www.artsober.com

hugs from me & him 

how to travel (audio)

Belle Leave a comment

How do you stay sober when you're dealing with family, extra people, chaos, lack of sleep, and travel.

The advice I have for sober travelling will apply to you whether you are travelling or not, because you always have to be creating a space where you’re safe to be sober. 

And you know what? You need a lot more alone time than you think, so build it in. More in the full audio that is going out today to podcast subscribers.

Here's a clip where you can listen to a bit of the audio.

extract from Sober Podcast 254. How to Travel (You need more alone time than you think)

You can leave a comment below, anonymous is fine. Tell me the part that seems true for your experience ... To download the entire audio, you can use the link below.

Download SP254. How to Travel

Sign up for the ​podcast membership
(1-2 new full-length audios each ​week, you can cancel whenever you like ... but you won't. more sober tools = good)

Audio: Sober Summer

Belle 9 Comments

May 29, 2018.

​This is an archived podcast #249: Sober Summer.

Flyaway asked for a personalized audio about how to deal with being sober in the summer. So my answer? The first time you do anything is weird. The first sober sex, the first sober summer … and more.

She sent me this after she heard my reply:

“Hi Belle! Yep, I needed that message, all of it. You looked at all the angles and I needed all of it. I was already feeling better before I made this audio request, it was your contest that prompted me to ask. You had people send in questions and email # (whatever) would win. I thought ‘I don’t have any questions’ and then that day this popped into my head, and I thought there might be a question in here. I had to be prompted to send that email though, you really are a sober genius. Thanx Belle, Flyaway.”

​I have posted below the full audio for you and i’ll leave it up for 24 hrs.

[link removed]

Question: Have you done a sober summer before? Is there anything in this audio that might be helpful for you when it’s summer where you are next?

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Download the entire podcast episode #249

Sign up for the podcast membership
(1-2 new audios per week, you can cancel whenever you like … but you won’t. more sober tools = good)

 

 

Audio: My Situation is Different

Belle 10 Comments

This is an audio clip from Sober Podcast #228 sent to sober podcast members.

This audio is a personalized response to someone who asked me “but what about these circumstances, my life is hard, these things and these things.”

And no matter what day you’re on today, there’s a message in here for you.

I received this from J: after she heard my personalized reply:

“It’s really interesting to me that you said (and of course this is true) that I would have ended up overdrinking whether I married my widower or not … I see that you are of course right – I’d be an overdrinker with an overdrinker’s brain whether I had this particular job or these particular kids as my responsibility or not. So. That’s the truth. Wolfie will tell my very receptive brain that drinking anaesthetic would be a good idea. NO MATTER WHAT”

==

Question: How tempting is it to think that our situation is different? (this is a trick question; wolfie is an anus).

==

hugs, me

below i’ve posted a 3 minute clip from the longer audio, all i ask is that you leave a message in the comments. If you’d like to listen to the whole thing, you can use the link to download at the bottom of the post.

 

 

Download the entire podcast episode #228

Sign up for the monthly podcast membership
(1-2 new audios per week, you can cancel whenever you like … but you won’t. more sober tools = good)

(ps, my blog allows for anonymous comments – so you don’t have to fill in a name or an email address to post your comment below).

 

Audio: All The Stuff

Belle 7 Comments

This is an audio clip from Sober Podcast #222 sent to sober podcast members.

When J sent me an email that said this: “I use all the supports, I do it all. But then a switch flips and I’m drinking…” I just had to reply.

The difference between what our brain says we’re doing, versus what we’re doing… that’s what I talk about here.

Can you see how this audio applies to something in your life? lemme know.

P.S., here’s the response from J after she listened: “Thank you. Wow. Awesome. I listened once and will listen again and take notes and email you and make lists. You are right on all accounts … My head is spinning now. I’m going to work up a plan and I will email it to you. Thank you so much for this. I needed to hear it.”

 

below i’ve posted a 3 minute clip from the longer audio, all i ask is that you leave a message in the comments. If you’d like to listen to the whole thing, you can use the link to download at the bottom of the post.

 

 

Download the entire podcast episode #222

Sign up for the monthly podcast membership
(1-2 new audios per week, you can cancel whenever you like … but you won’t. more sober tools = good)

(ps, my blog allows for anonymous comments – so you don’t have to fill in a name or an email address to post your comment below).

 

Duck Ponderings 004 – The Book

Belle

catch up on episodes 1-3

duck-ponderings.dp04.book

Duck Ponderings 004 – The Book. The first book was an ‘accident’, the second book was more intentional. My 80% free model. The idea of being led by subscribers. How I’ve ‘stopped pushing’.  Oh, and there are horses at the duck pond today! And I tried really hard to get a photo …

dp4 IMG_8201

dp4 IMG_8203

 

Links mentioned:

”See the peacocks from here” (one minute message 284) >  http://traffic.libsyn.com/oneminutemessage/omm284.when.you.get.here.youll.see.this.mp3

200+ free One Minute Messages > https://gumroad.com/l/belle-omm/100dscb

Longer Podcasts Archives > http://tiredofthinkingaboutdrinking.com/store/archivedaudios.htm

The blog online > http://www.tiredofthinkingaboutdrinking.com/blog/

The blog collection of Year 1 in a PDF file (“Keeping the Wolf from the Door”) > https://gumroad.com/l/Year1-Blog/

The actual how-to-quit-drinking book (“Tired of Thinking About Drinking: Take My 100-Day Sober Challenge”) > http://www.100daysoberchallenge.com

Bundle of Top 10 Podcasts > https://gumroad.com/l/BellesTop10Podcasts/highjump084

Article on Medium about pushing > https://medium.com/@SoberBelle/ive-stopped-pushing-this-is-living-sober-fe0e09b95b46

Music: “Acoustic Blues,” thanks to Jason Shaw, https://bit.ly/2pZvbyu

~

Donations to support these audios and keep them free 🙂 https://gum.co/DuckPonderingsaudios

 

duck pond video

Belle 9 Comments

if you’d like a sober pause, something to help change the channel, i invite you to listen/watch. you can come with me for a few minutes. I often record one-minute audio messages from the duck pond, but yesterday when i was there, i filmed a few seconds of it for you 🙂

video here [click to begin!]:

[evp_embed_video url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/oneminutemessage/duck_pond_2018-03-03_IMG_7880.mov”]

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sample audio recorded at the duck pond here:

to access the 200+ free one-minute audio messages, go here.

Audio: I’m a guest on Lee Davy’s Alcohol & Addiction Podcast

Belle 9 Comments

In January 2018, I was a guest on Lee Davy’s Alcohol & Addiction Podcast. More about Lee here > The Truth About Alcohol*

We talked for 1.5 hrs (no kidding!) about language, metaphors, starting a sober journey with a trial/challenge. We also examined the differences between group support (which he offers) and the kind of one-on-one support that I do.

I have sent this audio out to my sober podcast members. But today I want to share it with you.

This link will be live for the next 48 hrs [link has been removed]

 

[link has been removed]

 

HOMEWORK:

after you listen, post a comment and tell me what phrase from this audio is an a-ha moment for you. Something that you’ve maybe heard before, but today you REALLY heard it. Loud and clear.

 

Download this interview with Lee Davy

Sign up for my weekly podcast subscription
(1-2 new audios per week, you can cancel whenever you like … but you won’t. more sober tools = good)

(ps, my blog allows for anonymous comments – so you don’t have to fill in a name or an email address to post your comment below).

 

==

comments from listeners:

Springer: “Belle! I listened to your podcast interview with Lee Davy 3 or 4 times so far. It is brilliant!!! You are both inspiring and driven to help people. It was such a great interview. You (as always) sound very calm and graceful and wise and he also sounds like a very cool person. Thanks for sharing that with the world!!”

Hidcote: “A mood isn’t a decision is such a cool mantra. And when I visualise my neural pathways changing and adapting is one of the best, comforting, uplifting feelings ever :-)”

Sami: “I went to my first aa meeting in about 10 years on Monday & felt exactly the same way I did 10 years ago, totally disconnected, it just did not resonate with me, I dont know why but I felt totally depressed afterwards, felt sorry for the people at the meeting & what they had been through & this made me sad, I dont need to feel worse than what I already do!  I understand its only 1 meeting but I went with someone who recommended it as a fabulous meeting, I just felt like it was not for me, maybe wolfie talking who knows but so not keen to go back. I just listened to your interview with Lee Davy & everything you said totally resonated with me, I got more out it than I did at the meeting. So am thinking I should sign up for the 100 day challenge today, this makes sense & see how I feel afterwards….”

~

  • this is an affiliate link. that means that if you go to lee’s site and you happen to spend money there, he will send me some coins. note: i have not reviewed his stuff. i haven’t taken his class. i am not recommending his stuff. i’m just disclosing that this is an affiliate link.

 

 

Audio: Thirty Years

Belle 16 Comments

This is an audio clip from Sober Podcast #220 sent to sober podcast members.

Sober in St. Pete asked me for a personalized message, to talk about the fact that she’s been trying to do this sober thing for a while.

“I’d love something about how LONG I have tried this. Remember I am 60 years old, and started around age 30 on this path to recovery, with three resets after 1.5 years. I need to know that this is possible. Guess I need some hope.”

There’s an interesting ‘undercurrent’ to my message to her. What do you hear me saying that is applicable to YOU, no matter what day you’re on? hugs from me

 

below i’ve posted a 3.5 minute clip from the longer audio, all i ask is that you leave a message in the comments. If you’d like to listen to the whole thing, you can use the link to download at the bottom of the post.

 

 

Download the entire podcast episode #220

Sign up for the monthly podcast membership
(1-2 new audios per week, you can cancel whenever you like … but you won’t. more sober tools = good)

(ps, my blog allows for anonymous comments – so you don’t have to fill in a name or an email address to post your comment below).

 

Audio: Dating

Belle 4 Comments

This is an audio clip from Sober Podcast #219 sent to sober podcast members.

Rehc asked for a personalized audio about dating, as a sober person, especially when you meet someone magical and think “holy, this is the one!” I have a mix of softy-softy and kick-ass in this audio, and am a bit more kick-ass-y than usual.

 

below i’ve posted a 2 minute clip from the longer audio, all i ask is that you leave a message in the comments. If you’d like to listen to the whole thing, you can use the link to download at the bottom of the post.

 

Feedback from listeners:

Fridgkit: “I liked the dating podcast. As a married person … married couples ‘date’ other couples. Like the pair my husband and I had dinner with that love wine-pairing tasting menus. It’s easy to let Wolfie trick you into ‘you have to be able to drink a little, or there won’t be anyone you can socialize with.’ Not true. Or if it is true, you need new friends.”

 

 

Download the entire podcast episode #219

Sign up for the monthly podcast membership
(1-2 new audios per week, you can cancel whenever you like … but you won’t. more sober tools = good)

(ps, my blog allows for anonymous comments – so you don’t have to fill in a name or an email address to post your comment below).