The Bubble Hour

FINALE Goodbye from the Hosts (full episode)

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Get the tissues! This is it. What an amazing decade it has been. How can we possibly say enough thanks yous for all of the heartfelt goodness we've ex...

Part 10 of 10: Goodbye from The Hosts

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Get the tissues! This is it. What an amazing decade it has been. How can we possibly say enough thanks yous for all of the heartfelt goodness we've ex...

Part 9 of 10: Listeners Say Farewell

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is so much love between the hosts, guests, and listeners of this show! In this episode, you'll hear some of the powerful messages listeners sent...

Part 8 of 10: Standout Moments

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Host Jean McCarthy shares some of the moments that most affected her as a host, plus listener favorites. Of course, every single episode had numerous...

Part 7 of 10: Author Interviews

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past decade, The Bubble Hour has featured more than 50 authors! We looks at some memorable interiews, and offers insights about what it's lik...

Part 6 of 10: Changes

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After nearly four years, the hosts of The Bubble Hour had to make some hard decisions. Was it time to end the show? Utlitimately, we decided to contin...

Part 5 of 10: The Boston Meetup

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This episode focuses on a special weekend when Ellie, Amanda, Catherine, and Jean met up in Boston. They recorded a live show together and got to know...

Part 4 of 10: Perfectly Imperfect

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Where we would be without a little imperfection and a whole lot of laughs? The Bubble Hour podcast usually ran smoothly, but we certainly had our shar...

Part 3 of 10: The Hosts

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past decade, Bubble Hour listeners came to know our five hosts like old friends. Ellie and Lisa started the show and were soon joined by Aman...

Part 2 of 10: Good Talks and Shared Wisdom

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the show finds its legs in the early years, incredible conversations about life after alcohol unfold. Listen through a tapestry of insights and sen...

Part 1 of 10: Looking Back to the Beginning

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The final season of The Bubble Hour begins by looking back at the orgins of the show. Ellie and Lisa unfolded this project in 2012 with no idea if any...

Looking Back and Forward for a New Year

31 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jean shares a new poem to encourage anyone starting fresh for the new year, and reflects on important milestones and decisions for The Bubble Hour. D...

10 Tips for Hosting a Sober Guest

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a special episode intended for listeners in recovery to share with normie friends and family who want to understand how to make us more comfor...

Holiday Tips from UnPickled Blog

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it's your first year of sobriety or you have decades of experience, the holidays can be a trying time. Here are a few things to consider as yo...

Jean Reflects on Time Off

12 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Host Jean McCarthy returns from an extended break and reflects on ways that sobriety has served her during her various adventures. Visit Jean's blog ...

Victoria Vanstone

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Victoria Vanstone examines the lighter side of life after alcohol on her blog Drunk Mummy Sober Mummy and podcast Sober Awkward. "Me and booze don’...

Betsy Byler

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Betsy Byler is a woman in successful long-term recovery who is also a therapist. Betsy hosts a podcast aimed at educating therapists about addiction a...

Sherry Hoppen, Author of SOBER CYCLE

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sherry Hoppen is the founder of She Surrenders, a ministry encouraging women into faith-based recovery. As a Christian woman who has lived through the...

Summer Update from Jean

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Host Jean McCarthy returns from an unplanned 3-week break and shares stories and insights from her time away. Plus information from Recovery Research...

Jenny Dalton

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jenny's path to recovery included several "fasts" from alcohol - planned, supported breaks for 30 or more days as she worked to envision her life with...

Bev Sartain

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Beverly Sartain is a Psyche Strategist who helps helpers heal their wounds so that they can serve Self and humanity from wholeness. Image of Healing ...

Nicole Cameron

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nicole has overcome great losses and built a life full of joy, but it was not an easy path to arrive where she is today. Grief was all too present in ...

Cybele Botran

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Cybele Botran of Wide Awake Recovery shares her story of recovery and healing. Cybele believes that each of us can be our own healers once we get pa...

Lori Massicot

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lori Massicot is a sober woman on a mission to help women over 40 create a life they love alcohol-free. For thirty years, Lori thought that alcohol wa...

Penni Moussa

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Founder of Recovery Buddha and woman in recovery, Penni Moussa is also a Clinical Psychologist, intuitive healer, writer, creative & mother of 3 y...

Maureen Towns

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In Broken Open, parenting and family consultant Maureen Towns shares her journey through her teenage kids’ mental health and addiction issues to he...

Ruby Warrington

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ruby Warrington is the author of Sober Curious (2018) and The Sober Curious Reset (2020). Her books have given voice to a movement that embraces an al...

Spring Check-in

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Host Jean McCarthy hosts a solo show with updates on her recovery, a big upcoming milestone, reflections on grief and celebration, plus heaps of encou...

Sean McCann and Andrea Aragon

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sean McCann and Andrea Aragon are the husband and wife team who co-wrote the recovery memoir “One Good Reason.”  Sean McCann rose to fame as a...

Deb's Story: Sober Life with BPD

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Looking back, Deb can see that she was self-medicating mental health problems with alcohol. When she entered a partial hospitalization program to asse...

Kelly's Story

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly created a self-image as a party girl that became eventually an uncomfortable way to live. Self-centered partners who also drank problematicall...

Matt Salis

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Salis shares his story and insights on recovery. Matt and his wife Sheri have co-authored a book about marriage and recovery, Sober Evolution: Ev...

Nichol's Story

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As a little girl, Nichol was not protected the way a child should be. The abuse she suffered left emotional wounds that she kept hidden from the world...

Shelby John

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Getting sober is just the beginning for recovery coach and therapist Shelby John, who believes that we can then go on to reach higher for a more joyfu...

New Year's Wishes

06 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Season 9 of The Bubble Hour! Host Jean McCarthy shares some thoughts about this special time of year, looks back over 9 years of this podc...

Darcy's Story

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Darcy noticed she was becoming increasingly reliant on alcohol to relax after her twin boys were born. Then came the double trauma of a miscarriage f...

Kathy L.

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kathy's busy, active life was disrupted abruptly when her husband was diagnosed with a dibilitating and ultimately fatal disease at a young age. The s...

Michael Blanchard "Through a Sober Lens"

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Blanchard's work combines photography and personal essays to illuminate the recovery experience and show the beauty and hope beyond the darkne...

Louise A

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"This was a T-intersection. This was not a crossroads. If I carried on drinking, I knew exactly where I was going to go." Louise A. shares her story ...

Michael Gallagher

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Gallagher is an author, speaker and coach, whose recovery has involved peeling back layers of childhood trauma and family instability while e...

Julie's Story

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Julie could feel the way that alcohol was creeping into her life in unwanted ways. She knew all too well what it's like to worry about a parent's drin...

Dr Maureen Talks Alcohol and Health

10 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Maureen is a diagnostic radiologist whose work often includes the devastating effects of alcohol on the human body in the form of liver disease and...

Kate Baily and Mandy Manners

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Baily and Mandy Manners of www.loversober.com share their personal stories and chat about their new book Love Yourself Sober. Their website incl...

Jennifer's Story

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer had begun to question her relationship to alcohol when her body started to show some strange symptoms. Even though both Jennifer and her husb...

Lotta Dann and The Wine O'Clock Myth

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Lotta Dann talks about her latest book "The Wine O'Clock Myth," which takes a look at the way alcohol seeps into all aspects of life and why we need t...

MaryBeth Murphy on Holistic Wellness in Recovery

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

MaryBeth Murphy is a registered nurse and a holistic wellness and recovery coach. Her style as a integrative nurse coach is to combine her medical tra...

Dawn's Story

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dawn left home in 1979 and didn't look back. She left behind cold Canadian winters and a turbulent relationship with her parents, and headed to LA to ...

Adam Fout

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Adam Fout is an addiction / recovery / mental health blogger and a speculative fiction / nonfiction writer in North Texas. Adam recounts his early exp...

Dr Heidi Dalzell on Eating Disorders and Alcohol Addiction

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Heidi J. Dalzell, PsyD, is a Clinical Psychologist, with 25+ years experience specializing in addictive behaviors, eating disorders, and trauma. Dr. D...

Chekesha Kay Ellis

07 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chekesha Kay Ellis had a busy, full life that she loved. The product of a strict upbringing, she worked hard at two jobs and had no interest in partyi...

Dennis Berry

01 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dennis Berry is a life coach in Colorado, but has been working with people worldwide for over 15 years.  His expertise is in Addiction Recovery for...

Kate Russell

25 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kate grew up in a household with two alcoholic parents who constantly subjected her to neglect and abuse. Much as she swore she would never follow in...

Jenny's Story

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jenny, the youngest child in a big family with little parental supervision, was introduced to alcohol at a young age by her older siblings. She soon ...

Guest Ben Heldfond

28 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After 25 years of freedom from heroine addiction, Ben realizes that his sobriety has the power to transform every aspect of his life. When he and his ...

Listener Q&A with Jean

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Topics discussed in response to questions from listeners include: OCD/BFRB (body-focussed repetitive behaviours)What happens if a former podcast guest...

Maria's Story

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"Being a grateful alcoholic means no living in the wreckage of my past," says Maria R. as she looks back on six years of sobriety. Maria did not start...

Erica C. Barnett, author of QUITTER

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A must-listen episode for anyone struggling to understand chronic relapse. Erica C. Barnett had her first sip of alcohol when she was thirteen, and s...

Maestro George Marriner Maull

23 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

George Marriner Maull is a conductor, violist, television host and music educator with over 50 years of experience as a professional classical musicia...

Guest Lucy Hall

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Her mother died of alcoholism when she was six and left behind seven children some of whom later lost their lives to substance abuse. The impression h...

THE SOBER LUSH authors Amanda Eyre Ward and Jardine Libaire

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Sober Lush authors Amanda Eyre Ward and Jardine Libaire share their personal stories of recovery and explain how their friendship unfolded into a ...

Margaret's Celebration

01 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Margaret shares her story as part of her double celebration: 50 years old and 1000 days sober! As a kid who felt awkward but just wanted to fit in an...

Lynn Matti of Sobersoul Recovery

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Lynn Matti is a therapist who has been sober since 2010 when she checked herself into Hazelden Betty Ford to free herself from alcohol and benzodiazep...

Kara's Story

11 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kara epitomized the image of a good girl. She was brought up in a deeply religious family, followed the rules, and helped to care for her younger sibl...

Audrey's Story

04 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  Audrey reflects on the effects that her dysfunctional family of origin dynamics have had relative to her slide into a problematic relationship wit...

Jill's Story

27 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jill spent her life trying to control her sensitive emotions and reactions. The demands of being a military wife and mom added extra pressure, and she...

Leslie's Story

21 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Leslie's growing reliance on alcohol was her main way to cope with the overwhelming emotions of having a son struggling with a drug addiction. His tra...

Gigi Langer

13 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

GIgi Langer is a presenter, retreat leader, and author of the award-winning book, "50 Ways to Worry Less Now: Reject Negative Thinking to Find Peace,...

Adrienne Enns of "May You Know Joy"

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When Adirenne went into rehab eight years ago, it was not exactly a joyful experience. But Adrienne came to learn that she had so much more power than...

Winged Victory

24 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's guest uses the name "Winged Victory" to honour her anonymity. Under this name, she has created a wealth of recovery resources including a blo...

Kristie's Story

17 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kristie began using drugs and alcohol as a teen to help her escape from the unhappiness of her difficult life. The partying habits stayed with her in...

Kathy Robbins, Psychotherapist and Recovery Coach

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kathy Robbins is a psychotherapist who is in successful long-term recovery. She has been alcohol-free for 31 years and is also in recovery from codepe...

Gayle Macdonald of Sober Bliss

24 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Gayle and her husband moved to a village in Spain in search of a safer, quieter life. The tranquillity and isolation of their new location were wonder...

Clare Pooley

17 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Pooley began writing about her sobriety in 2015 and her blog, "Mommy Was a Secret Drinker," became a book in 2017, "The Sober Diaries." Clare's ...

Jen McNeely of She Does the City

11 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jen started a blog to document the party life she enjoyed in 2007 and it became a huge hit. So what happened years later when she gave up alcohol and ...

Guest Heidi Busche

03 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Heidi Busche is a woman in recovery, as well as a relationship expert, podcaster, coach and author of the book "Relationship Ready."    To learn...

Guest Kendra Ogdon

27 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kendra Ogdon is a woman in successful long-term recovery who is shining a light for others in her work as an IOP counsellor. She joins us to share her...

Natalie's Story

20 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Last summer, Natalie decided to take charge of her relationship with alcohol. Now in her sixth month of sobriety, she reflects on her decision and exp...

Linda Parmar on Addiction, Recovery and Money

14 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When Linda Parmar embraced a life of sobriety more than five years ago, she thought she was putting her worst impulses behind her. However, not only d...

Linda's Story

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Linda is a woman in successful long-term recovery from alcohol addiction. She got sober in 2011 together with her husband and the pair have stayed al...

How They Did It

01 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jean McCarthy asks twelve women to share how they found their way into recovery. Recorded live at a SheRecovers retreat in Mexico in December 2019, t...

Perspectives on Recovery and the Holidays

28 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Numerous women in recovery share how they navigate the holidays. These interviews were recorded on-site at a SheRecovers retreat in Mexico and include...

Holiday SOS

25 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered what is said when someone calls a sponsor? Or what kind of advice someone with decades of recovery might offer to a person who ...

Holiday Greetings Episode

22 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Friends of the show and former cohosts offer their warm wishes, tips and advice for getting through the holidays with your sobriety intact. Be sure t...

2019 Year End Update from Jean

09 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Bubble Host Jean McCarthy chats about recent events, including walking a labyrinth in Mexico, creating a family recipe book, her favourite crafts, upd...

Emily Lynn Paulson

02 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Lynn Paulson is the author of Highlight Real: Finding Honesty & Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life. Emily is an entrepreneur, certified profe...

Robin K's Story

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Robin was in a serious car accident that nearly took her life. After nine surgeries and months of slow, painful healing, she began to use alcohol to m...

Guest Colleen Schroeder

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Colleen looks back on how social drinking went sideways from a young age, and how she normalized it as she got older. She got sober just three weeks a...

Michellene's Story

22 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Michellene first considered sobriety at 26 after it became clear that her relationship with alcohol was out of control. Despite attending a program an...

Maria's Story

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Maria reflects on aspects of life that contributed to her increased alcohol consumption as a way to cope. Motherhood, divorce, and work pressures were...

Lori's Story

01 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lori was functioning well in her high-pressure career and alcohol was both a problem and a crutch. Her addiction kicked into overdrive when she had to...

Keith Keller, Author of "The Infinite Recovery Handbook"

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Keith Keller is a recovery expert and activist, and author of "The Infinite Recovery Handbook". To learn more, visit www.infiniterecovery.org

Mo's Story: Nine Months Sober

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mo suffered through public embarrassment due to her drinking and has embraced life without alcohol for the past nine months. She shares her story, inc...

Guest: Jacob Evans

20 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

By all accounts, Jacob was a young man with success in his sights. He was a law student and student body vice-president - all the things that are assu...

The "Ask Me Anything" Episode

30 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When the guest doesn't work out as planned, UnPickled and Bubble Hour followers save the day by sending questions and topics to help fill the hour. P...

"This Way Up" Author Patti Clark

23 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Author Patti Clark has been described as a cross between Elizabeth Gilbert and Julia Cameron. Her book 'This Way Up: Seven Tools for Unleashing Your...

Jenn's Story

15 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jenn's 40th birthday party was one that left her feeling a truth that couldn't be ignored. The heavy use of alcohol to offset the pressures of being a...

An Update from Lisa N

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Part 4 of this special summer series featuring all 4 former Bubble Hour hosts, returning to share where life has taken them since their time on the po...

An Update from Catherine

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This special summer series features, former Bubble Hour hosts sharing the lastest in their recovery since moving on from the show

An Update from Amanda F

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this special summer series, all four former Bubble Hour hosts share updates on their lives and recovery since their time on the podcast

An Update from Ellie S.

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this special summer time series, we spend some time with the previous Bubble Hosts, including Ellie, Amanda, Catherine and Lisa.