Ambitious Addicts welcomes Oklahoma-based Christina Cook back to the show. Christina Cook, a gambler in recovery, created the Broke Girl Society Podcast and online community to help women. Christina retells a bit of the origin story of her recovery as a former problem gambler. Like a lot of people who fall into problem gambling as a vice, Christina speaks about life events such feelings of powerlessness in early childhood and later in adult relationships. "Not feeling like I had control in my life was a big catalyst," she said of gambling. For awhile, gambling became her solution. "Even my own [inner] voice went quiet ... it felt like a sense of peace for awhile."

Later in the episode Christina recounts how those early traumas and experience struggling with problem gambling eventually shaped her vision for a women-centered community specializing in gambling recovery. Women were particularly underrepresented in her part of the country, so she saught a way for women to have a forum to connect. The Facebook Group Broke Girl Society has about 3500 members and hosts multiple virtual meetings weekly. People from all over the U.S. and the world tune into the Broke Girl Society podcast and visit the online community. You can find the online facebook community here https://www.facebook.com/groups/brokegirlsociety/.

Christina continues to attend conferences throughout the U.S. and the world to gather the latest emerging knowledge in the gambling harms space, so she can bring it back to her audience.

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Do you know someone who you'd consider to be an Ambitious Addict? Please let us know at terra@ambitiousaddicts.com

This episode was hosted by Terra Carbert and produced by Kirk Klocke. Music courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Ambitious Addicts is a production of the Self Discovery Sisterhood. Search Self Discovery Sisterhood on Facebook and Instagram; on Tiktok, find Terra at @selfdiscoverycoach

Visit us on the Web www.theselfdiscoverysisterhood.com

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Music:

Kilkerrin

Kid Kodi

Miniatures

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Nutrition coach Jimena Lerma joins Ambitious Addicts to talk about a long road to recovery from disordered eating and exercise addiction. Starting in her pre-teens, Lerma's relationship with her physical body was influenced by social pressure to achieve an unrealistic ideal. Internalized social pressure drove Lerma to adopt unhealthy eating and exercise patterns, which eventually harmed her health and overall wellbeing.

Lerma realized her yearning for an unattainable ideal of thinness was doing more harm than good, so she sought healing through holistic and spiritual means. Recovery came in fits and starts, but eventually stuck. Lerma eventually applied her own recovery journey and experience with practical and business knowledge to launch a coaching practice, mostly aimed at women looking to heal from disordered eating and improve their relationships with their body.

Lerma can be found on Facebook via her name or on Instagram @jimena.ler.ma

She welcomes DM's with inquiries about taking the first step toward better health and wellbeing.

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This episode is a production of the Self Discovery Sisterhood. It was hosted by Terra Carbert and produced by Kirk Klocke. Music courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions.

Do YOU know a woman in recovery from a substance or behavioral addiction who might make a great guest on Ambitious Addicts? Email Terra at terra@ambitiousaddicts.com

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Music:

"Kilkerrin" https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/351863

"Miniatures" https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/351866

Welcome back to Ambitious Addicts! We were on hiatus for awhile as Terra focused on growing her recruiting and coaching business, but we're back. We're calling this our "relaunch" episode. Kicking us off is guest Kirk Klocke, who will serve as Ambitious Addicts' new producer, allowing Terra to focus her energy on hosting.

Kirk Klocke joins Ambitious Addicts having edited podcasts and written for numerous clients and media outlets. He too is in recovery. This episode starts with Terra providing a quick overview of her origin story related to recovery. Kirk and Terra then switch chairs, and Terra interviews Kirk about his recovery, dating back to that first drink, all the way through the present.

If you're new to Ambitious Addicts, with some exceptions, we will primarily focus on stories of women in recovery -- what life was like then, what happened, and what life is like now. We're particularly interested in women who have created a highly successful "second act" for themselves in recovery. Our guests have included speakers, authors, and businesswomen.

Do YOU know someone who has an amazing story of recovery? We'd love to hear from them. Email us at terra@ambitiousaddicts.com with the details, and we'll be in touch.

This episode was hosted by Terra Carbert, a Twin Cities based executive recruiter and life coach. It was produced by Kirk Klocke. Guest engineering was provided by Mike Frigon. Music courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Thank you for listening, and we look forward to sharing our next great story of recovery!

Here are links to Blue Dot Sessions' music tracks that appear in this episode:

Borough

Kid Kodi

Kilkerrin

Miniatures