Creating a Sober Life You Actually Want to Live

I'll Sit With You in the Darkness: When you're overwhelmed, craving, grieving or barely holding on

If you’re struggling today, this episode is for you. “I’ll Sit With You in the Darkness” was created for the moments when life feels overwhelming—when you’re carrying grief, fighting an urge, questioning yourself, feeling alone, or simply trying to make it through the next hour. Drawing from both lived experience with addiction and recovery and more than a decade of teaching meditation, yoga, breathwork, and nervous system regulation, I guide you through a gentle conversation, grounding practices, and a reminder that you do not have to face difficult moments alone. Come as you are. Take a breath. Let’s get through this together. (This is not a substitute for a life threatening emergency or professional counseling)

Self Sabotage: When Chaos Feels Safer Than Peace

Why do people destroy things they genuinely want? In this episode of A Beautiful Rebellion, Linsey sits down with a guest who went through addiction treatment six different times before finally finding lasting sobriety. But this conversation goes far beyond relapse. Together, they unpack the deeper psychology of self sabotage — not simply as “bad decisions,” but as protection strategies rooted in fear, shame, emotional overwhelm, nervous system conditioning, and identity. This episode explores: - isolation as emotional self-protection - irritability as a warning sign - relapsing when life gets painful… and when life gets good - fear of success and visibility - why chaos can feel safer than peace - learning how to stop abandoning yourself during discomfort Whether you struggle with addiction, anxiety, depression, avoidance patterns, or simply feel stuck in cycles you can’t fully explain, this conversation offers a deeply human look at why self sabotage happens — and what healing can actually look like beneath the surface. Hosted by Linsey Dara.

Outgrowing the Version of You the World Still Sees

What if the version of you people see… isn’t who you are anymore? We’re quick to define people by their lowest moment. A season of their life becomes the whole story—and even when they change, the narrative doesn’t always follow. In this episode, I sit down with Frederick “Freddy” Shegog, who went from homelessness and addiction to becoming a nationally recognized speaker. But this conversation isn’t just about where he’s been—it’s about what it actually takes to become someone new. We talk about survival mode, the reality of addiction, the role of environment, and the tension between personal responsibility and systemic challenges. And maybe most importantly… what it costs to be known for a version of yourself you’ve already outgrown. This one is honest, layered, and stayed with me long after we stopped recording. Hosted by Linsey Dara

Creating a Sober Life You Actually Want to Live

Now 22 years sober and running hundred mile races, Sober Motivator Troy Thompson is living a balanced, adventurous life he never expected. He says the big decision to get sober is just the first step to a life and a world you never dreamt of, and must explore to be in a happy recovery. We cover the importance of filling your time with new and old hobbies forgotten in addiction, as well as creating tiny wins by challenging your self to grow. Troy tells us how he maintains a balanced life to stave off depression. Hosted by former news anchor and your peer in recovery, Linsey Dara.

Essentials for Recovery: What Those in Addiction & Loved Ones Should Know

What actually makes recovery work? Is it treatment? Willpower? The right program? Or are we overlooking the two things that matter most? In this episode of A Beautiful Rebellion, Linsey Dara sits down with Elizabeth—a nurse practitioner based in Chicago, Illinois, and the voice behind @stayinyourcortex—who brings a rare and powerful dual perspective: both as a clinician working in addiction and as the wife of someone two years into recovery. Together, they break down what she’s witnessed from both sides of the experience—what truly helps, what quietly harms, and what most people misunderstand about the recovery process. At the center of the conversation are two essential (and often misinterpreted) elements: accountability and shame—and how each can either support healing… or keep you stuck in the cycle. They also explore:     •    How PTSD can manifest in unexpected ways during recovery     •    The difference between taking responsibility and staying trapped in shame Blending clinical expertise with deeply personal insight, this conversation offers a grounded, real-world look at what it actually takes to build sustainable recovery. Whether you’re sober curious, actively in recovery, or still struggling—this episode meets you exactly where you are.