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I Love Being Sober

By: Tim Westbrook
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  • Summary

  • Hello my friends, and welcome back to yet another episode of I Love Being Sober brought to you by Camelback Recovery - a proud partner to the most effective way to achieve long term recovery without the pain and suffering and high cost of multiple stints in detox, rehabs, and sober living homes. My name is Tim Westbrook and I am the CEO and Founder of Camelback Recovery here in the always sunny and always sober Scottsdale, Arizona where my team and I over the course of many years have helped thousands of people on their path to long term recovery. I started this show because there is so much misinformation about addiction treatment, mental illness, and addiction recovery in general. There is much more to recovery than just going to inpatient treatment, seeing a therapist, and going to 12 step meetings. Those things are important and AA saved my life. However, to find long term recovery and live happy, joyous and free, there is a lot more to it than just stopping the drinking, stopping the drugs, or stopping any addictive behavior. Sobriety and recovery can and should be fun. That’s not to say that the recovery process is going to be easy and it’s not to say that there won’t be difficult times ahead. However, to live the life that you deserve and for it to be exciting and fun you need new lifestyle habits. New healthy lifestyle habits that promote your mental, spiritual, and physical health. That my friends will lead you to living a KICK ASS SOBER LIFE! Visit CamelbackRecovery.com to learn more about recovery coaching, sober living, and your next step to freedom and happiness.
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Episodes
  • Unlocking Wellness: Dr. Rao's Path to Mastery and Recovery

    Unlocking Wellness: Dr. Rao's Path to Mastery and Recovery
    May 21 2024
    I have the immense pleasure of welcoming Dr. Srikumar Rao to the show today. Dr. Rao is a distinguished coach, speaker, and author who collaborates with top entrepreneurs, professionals, and senior executives, guiding them on their spiritual and professional journeys. His pioneering course, Creativity and Personal Mastery, has been a highlight at prestigious institutions like Columbia Business School. Dr. Rao's work has reached millions through his TED Talk, Plug into Your Hard-Wired Happiness, and his acclaimed books, including Are You Ready to Succeed? and Happiness at Work. His latest book, Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots, continues to inspire those seeking unstoppable success. With a PhD from Columbia Business School and extensive media coverage, Dr. Rao is renowned for transforming ancient wisdom into practical exercises for today's intelligent professionals. I’m thrilled to have him share his insights with us today. [04:20] We learn how Dr. Rao created the Creativity and Personal Mastery course. He was getting his PhD at Columbia Business School. [04:49] He worked at Warner Communications and his career took off like a rocket. He worked on the advertising campaign for the movie The Exorcist. [06:26] He became head of communications at Warner Communications. [07:36] He had been doing a lot of reading and wanted to take the work of the world's great thinkers and put them into a course that would be acceptable to intelligent people in a post-industrial society.[08:15] He needed the course for himself. He created it and it did well. He moved the course to Columbia Business School, and it exploded.[09:33] He eventually began teaching the course privately and became a coach by accident.[10:01] Life is a spiritual journey. Addiction uses a dysfunctional mental model or idea of how the world works. The problem is we don't know we have mental models. Instead, we think this is the way the world works.[11:05] It's not the way the world works, it's our model of how it works.[12:01] We don't live in the real world. We live in a matrix. We experience the world the way we create it.[14:24] Think about your awareness like a flashlight. It illuminates whatever you shine it on.[16:01] We often shine our flashlight of awareness on the things that are wrong in life.[16:51] Consciously shine your flashlight of awareness on the many ways that you are truly blessed and fortunate.[19:57] Celebrate that the Universe is aware of you and working for you. A miracle doesn't have to bend the law of physics. All that's necessary is for you to have the conviction that the Universe interceded on your behalf.[21:29] Extreme resilience is when you bounce back extremely fast.[24:27] Asking yourself if there's a positive will move you to a different emotion. Is there something I can proactively do to make this a good thing?[29:36] Mindfulness and mental chatter. Having mental chatter isn't the problem, it's identifying with mental chatter.[34:51] Principles of personal mastery in a recovery journey. If you can reserve your mental chatter instead of becoming it, you'll have power you never had before.[36:01] When you become aware that you aren't your addiction, instead you're an observer of your addiction, eventually you'll have mastery and the addiction will drop.[37:57] Advice when struggling with relapse. Don't beat yourself up. Simply accept what happened and begin again.[41:44] The reason we feel overwhelmed is because there's a lot of mental chatter going on. Learn to focus on exactly what you're doing at that instant.[43:45] Don't label anything that happens to you as bad. Whenever a disaster happens, instead of thinking it's terrible, think about what you can do about it.[44:18] Focus on what is within your control, and you'll stop obsessing about what's not in your control.[44:57] Hardwired happiness. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. You accept the universe exactly as it is.[46:53] The if then model. If this happens, then I'll be happy.[47:26] Instead of realizing the model is flawed, we think we have the wrong thing on the side of the equation. When we recognize that the model is flawed, we begin recognizing peace and joy.[50:53] Whatever happens is fine. [52:10] Dr. Rao explains his coaching process and how it has two levels.[52:55] A transmitted presence elevates your level of consciousness. [53:44] You can decide after the first session if you are on a higher level or not.[01:00:39] You can learn more about Dr. Rao and his programs at his website.[01:02:22] You can also join Dr Rao's Community. Links mentioned in this episode: Camelback RecoveryI Love Being Sober YouTubeThe Rao Institute Dr. Rao’s TED TalkCreativity and Personal Mastery Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots: The Movers and Shakers' Guide to Unstoppable SuccessMore Books by Dr. Rao
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • From Rock Bottom to Rescue: Zach Skow's Journey of Sobriety and Salvation Through Paws

    From Rock Bottom to Rescue: Zach Skow's Journey of Sobriety and Salvation Through Paws
    Apr 16 2024
    I’m honored to host a truly remarkable guest, Zach Skow, whose life story and work exemplify the transformative power of sobriety and compassion. Zach is more than just a survivor; he is a beacon of hope and change. As the founder of Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue and the visionary behind the Pawsitive Change Program, Zach has leveraged his passion for animals to foster healing and redemption. His innovative approach, which pairs rescue dogs with inmates, facilitates life-changing bonds and promotes mutual healing and growth. Zach's journey is also deeply personal. As someone who has maintained sobriety, he embodies the resilience and commitment we celebrate on this podcast. His experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the realm of sobriety provide profound insights and inspiration to us all. Today, we'll learn how exploring sobriety has fueled his mission and how the unconditional love of dogs can lead to profound personal transformation. [04:23] Before getting sober, Zach's life was completely dedicated to drugs and alcohol. He spent a lot of time making sure he had enough drugs and alcohol to get through the day. [05:40] He spent a lot of time in the solitude of self-hatred. [07:51] He also had terminal depression and he now wonders how he got through it. [08:04] Zach shares the moment that propelled him into sobriety. He was in acute liver failure and everything was going wrong. He needed a transplant and was trying to cope with his own mortality. [11:04] Things were so bad, he couldn't control anything except for the suicidal thoughts that he was obsessed with. [13:36] He was at rock bottom and didn't even recognize himself, but his dogs knew he was still there. [15:57] One glance from his dogs during this terrible time in his life, made all the difference. He stayed up with the dogs, watched the sunrise, journaled, and committed to doing better. [16:38] Everyday of his life since then has been dedicated to helping dogs. He found a profound purpose outside of himself. [17:23] Having a purpose outside of himself allowed him to embrace sobriety. He also had to stay sober for 6 months to get a liver transplant. He had to walk, change everything about his diet, and find a will to live. [18:44] When your energy and mind and spirit are elsewhere, you are required to be present. [19:28] He also attended 12-step groups and got tools that he needed to stay sober. [21:03] He also discovered that he liked himself. [23:30] At first, sobriety was just the means to get a liver transplant, now it's the most important thing in Zack's life. [27:02] Dogs really made a difference in his recovery, especially in the beginning. You need to introduce structure into a dog's life, so they can be adopted. A person in recovery also needs structure. [30:22] Marley's Mutts was born out of Zach's struggle to get a liver transplant. He was working with the dogs while waiting for the transplant. After six months, he didn't need the transplant anymore. [33:02] He started an animal rescue. Marley's Mutts has been around since April of 2009. They have 30 employees, over 100 dogs, and have found homes for more than 10,000 dogs. [34:55] Zach talks about the four programs that are part of Marley's Mutts including the Pawsitive Change Program. [35:04] The Pawsitive Change Program came about when one of his buddies adopted a dog after coming out of prison. The dog ended up changing the former inmate's life. [37:09] There's something about a dog that represents love, compassion, and home. Bringing dogs into the prison really helps with rehabilitation. [39:13] Zach shares a story about a dog named Smokey who would bite people. Smokey was paired up with an inmate named Jason. Smokey was afraid, Jason introduced him to the world in a new way and kept his needs in mind. [41:47] Smokey and Jason ended up being rehabilitated. [43:18] Every prison should have a Pawsitive Change Program. [45:05] Build your dog's routine into your own healthy routine. Links mentioned in this episode: Camelback Recovery I Love Being Sober YouTube Zach Skow Intagram Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue Pawsitive Change Program Zach Skow Facebook Marley’s Mutts YouTube
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    48 mins
  • The Power of Purposeful Aging: Nourishing Body, Mind, and Community with JJ Virgin

    The Power of Purposeful Aging: Nourishing Body, Mind, and Community with JJ Virgin
    Apr 10 2024
    I’m thrilled to welcome a true powerhouse in the world of nutrition and fitness. She is a triple-board certified nutrition expert and a member of the Fitness Hall of Fame. Her passion for the healing power of nutrition goes beyond professional duty; it is her mission to revolutionize our views on aging and longevity. She has an impressive track record of entrepreneurial success, having launched three multimillion-dollar businesses, including a highly successful personal brand. She is the driving force behind the Mindshare Collaborative, a leading professional community in the health industry, renowned for launching numerous New York Times bestsellers, PBS specials, and successful seven-figure brands. Her influence also extends to television and media. She co-hosted TLC’s 'Freaky Eaters' and was the go-to nutrition expert for Dr. Phil’s Weight Loss Challenges. Her expertise has been showcased across various platforms, including PBS, Dr. Oz, Rachael Ray, Access Hollywood, and The TODAY Show. As an accomplished speaker, she has captivated audiences of over 10,000 and shared stages with luminaries such as Tony Robbins, Seth Godin, Lisa Nichols, Gary Vaynerchuk, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dan Buettner, and Mary Morrissey. Join us as we dive into a conversation with the incredible JJ Virgin, exploring the transformative power of nutrition and wellness. [05:57] Aging Powerfully: People who are positive about aging live longer. Mindset is key. JJ decided to get in the best shape of her life at 60. [07:23] Starting around age 30, how we build muscle shifts. Without protein and resistance training, we can lose 3% to 8% of muscle a decade. [08:20] When we lose muscle, we lose our power. We lose our type 2 muscle fiber which influences everything. [09:05] We need to train and build a strong foundation. [11:31] Mental, emotional, and spiritual health ties into physical health. [14:06] Shifting to exercise and health when you're in recovery will make you feel better than ever. [15:55] Replace negative habits with healthy habits. [17:08] Don't be the oldest person in the room in fitness class. We have to continue to progress while aging powerfully. [18:15] You can progress in your resistance routine by changing the weights and exercises etc. You can also change things up with your other exercises or type of yoga. [19:29] The true definition of exercise is doing more than your body is used to so that it will get stronger. [21:34] There's so much to being an expert from knowing the science to having field experience. [23:44] Mindset is first. The three pillars are food & supplements, exercise & activity, and how you recover. [27:18] JJ shares how important sleep is. [29:16] Get curious and pay attention to what works for you. [30:30] To improve how we age: Have a purpose. Have an amazing group of humans. Move a lot. [36:25] Speed of stair climbing matters. [37:05] Alcohol can disrupt sleep and contribute to adipose tissue. It's also a common factor in blue zones. [39:24] JJ shares her opinion on drinking. [40:56] The biggest thing that's impacted with grass-fed or wild is the fat. JJ shares what we get when we eat non grass-fed or wild meat. [44:54] JJ tries to be careful with food, but also lives in the real world. [47:32] Grass-fed meat is nutrient dense and more lean. [49:09] We need creatine for explosive exercise. It also helps with mood, brain function, bone health, skin health, and so much more. [50:11] Foundational supplements include creatine, D3 and K2, fish oil, and magnesium. JJ also likes collagen. And protein powder and essential amino acids. [54:15] Our bodies can handle acute stress. Our bodies weren't built for chronic stress. This includes not sleeping enough, poor nutrition, and not living enough. [55:03] Stress raises your cortisol and keeps it up. It also puts you in a catabolic state and makes it very hard to build muscle. Higher blood sugar makes you more insulin resistant and leads to belly fat. [58:02] Eating healthy and exercise will help with stress, but some mindfulness meditation and breath work is essential. Links mentioned in this episode: Camelback Recovery I Love Being Sober YouTube JJ Virgin 7-Day Eat Protein First Challenge JJ Virgin YouTube JJ Virgin Instagram JJ Virgin Facebook The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
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    1 hr and 1 min
Hygiene & Healthy Living Economics
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