In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen explore the nuanced connections between food, emotional well-being, and self-worth with special guest Ali Shapiro, a health coach, speaker, and creator of the Truce with Food program. Ali brings a unique perspective to our understanding of food and body image, diving deep into how they shape—and often complicate—our personal stories

Ali breaks down big questions: How does food influence our sense of safety and belonging? What role does diet culture play in our self-worth? And how can we begin to reclaim our autonomy over our eating choices? Listeners will find Ali’s candid discussion on media messaging and societal expectations especially valuable, with practical advice on setting personal standards that nurture self-respect and belonging.

Throughout the episode, Ali addresses key concepts like body image, emotional eating, and the hidden impact of attachment chemicals on our relationship with food. Listeners will also hear about “self-authoring” our values—moving away from discipline and control and toward devotion to personal well-being. This episode covers functional medicine insights and tangible tools for aligning with our internal sense of self-worth.

Ali also opens up about her own personal story, reflecting on her early experiences with body image struggles and loneliness that many can relate to. Through her honesty, she shares how those moments shaped her journey to find true belonging, and how each of us can start unearthing our food and body stories to reclaim joy and freedom in our lives.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Introduction to Ali Shapiro and her background
[00:01:13] Functional medicine and cognitive behavioral approach
[00:02:00] The intersection of food and sobriety
[00:04:45] Unearthing the stories we tell ourselves about food and body
[00:06:35] The willpower and discipline myth in dieting
[00:07:57] The concept of food as safety and belonging
[00:10:04] Kathleen shares her earliest food memory
[00:12:45] Food as a source of comfort for loneliness
[00:13:39] Attachment chemicals released by food
[00:17:14] Media’s impact on body image and self-worth
[00:21:40] Transitioning to self-authority in adulthood
[00:23:14] Self-worth and evolving the sense of belonging
[00:26:32] Kathleen discusses finding a supportive partner
[00:28:20] Building a community that aligns with self-worth
[00:30:53] The lasting impact of family messages on body image
[00:31:42] Moving from discipline to devotion in self-care
[00:33:32] Foods and drinks that impact blood sugar levels
[00:34:00] Outro and preview of part two with Ali Shapiro

Links

Get In Touch With Ali -

• Free breakfast experiment
• Truce with Food group program

• Sisters In Sobriety Substack - find more tips, tricks, resources, and community
• Sisters In Sobriety Email
• Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
• Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
• Kathleen’s Instagram

In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen dive deep into topics of self-sabotage, overcoming limiting beliefs, and perfectionism with returning guest Lorina Christine, a transformational coach, mentor, and podcast host. Today, Sonia and Kathleen are here to help you gain insights into managing high-achieving tendencies while embracing imperfection for lasting self-growth.

Lorina Christine brings her expertise on EFT tapping, emotional healing, and mindfulness practices such as breathwork and movement. The conversation delves into how perfectionism often masks fear of failure and how we can reframe this mindset to move forward. Key questions explored include: What are the root causes of perfectionism and self-sabotage? How can EFT tapping be used to release limiting beliefs and foster emotional healing? What daily practices can we use to realign our goals with our deeper purpose?

Listeners will walk away with valuable tools, like EFT tapping, to manage stress and anxiety, shift from a fear-based mindset, and gain self-confidence. Lorina also shares how incorporating self-compassion, movement, and breathwork can bring about transformation in everyday life. Whether you're dealing with self-sabotage, fear of failure, or just need a little encouragement to break through limiting beliefs, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways.

On a more personal note, Lorina opens up about her own journey from rebellion against societal expectations to becoming a high achiever in her entrepreneurial life. She discusses the challenges she faced growing up with a narcissistic step-parent and how that shaped her path. Get ready to hear Lorina's heartfelt story and learn from her experiences of overcoming obstacles to achieve personal and professional growth.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks, and resources.

Highlights:

00:01:17 – Overview of Lorina’s work and EFT tapping
00:02:00 – Perfectionism as a form of self-sabotage
00:02:32 – Lorina’s personal story of rebelling against societal expectations
00:03:23 – High achieving tendencies in entrepreneurship
00:04:45 – Root causes of perfectionism
00:05:50 – Strategies Lorina uses to manage high achieving tendencies
00:07:25 – Messy action vs. perfectionism
00:08:30 – Difference between fear of failure and perfectionism
00:09:55 – Importance of embracing imperfection
00:13:10 – How to identify and break self-sabotaging patterns
00:15:00 – Lorina discusses the role of self-concept in personal growth
00:16:30 – EFT tapping explained
00:17:50 – Lorina leads a live EFT tapping session
00:21:40 – Discussion of shifting energy with EFT
00:25:30 – The importance of acknowledging limiting beliefs
00:27:00 – How EFT works alongside other practices like breathwork and movement
00:32:00 – Lorina discusses emotional regulation and the impact of EFT
00:36:00 – How tapping can bring immediate relief and long-term results
00:40:00 – The healing power of dance and movement
00:44:00 – Lorina challenges Sonia to a self-love dance routine
00:48:00 – Shifting mindset from “I have to” to “I get to”
00:52:00 – Closing remarks and what’s next for Lorina Christine

Links:
Follow Lorina Christine on Instagram: @Lorina.Christine
Listen to Lorina’s podcast: Unleash Your Radiance for more wellness, entrepreneurship, and mindset content
Sisters In Sobriety Substack – find more tips, tricks, resources, and community
Sisters In Sobriety Email
Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
Kathleen’s Instagram

In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are joined by Timothy Gordon, MSW, RSW, a social worker and expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to help you dig deep into how ACT can support recovery and mental health. Together, they’re here to help you understand how ACT can help you live a fuller, more present life, especially when facing tough emotions and the challenges of addiction.

Tim Gordon isn’t just your average therapist—he’s an ACT trainer, international presenter, and co-author of several therapy books, including The ACT Approach and The ACT Deck. He’s passionate about using therapy to help people move through trauma, attachment issues, and addiction to live more meaningful lives. Tim’s warm, down-to-earth style will make it easy to follow along, even if you're new to the world of therapy.

In this episode, you’ll hear Sonia and Kathleen chat with Tim about the basics of ACT, focusing on how it helps people break free from negative patterns and take action in their lives. They dig into key questions like: What is psychological flexibility, and how can it help with recovery? How can you stop running from your emotions and start dealing with them in a healthier way? This episode covers all that and more, so you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how ACT works in everyday life.

Tim also shares practical tips and personal stories about how ACT helped him in his own life, from overcoming his own doubts to finding balance as a father and therapist. Whether you’re in recovery or simply looking for better ways to handle life’s ups and downs, this conversation will leave you with a fresh perspective on how to navigate the hard stuff without feeling stuck.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. For more support, tips, and resources, be sure to check out our Substack.

Time-stamped Highlights:

[00:00] – Welcoming today’s guest, Timothy Gordon, and introducing the topic of ACT
[00:01] – Tim’s background and how he got into social work and ACT
[00:03] – Why ACT is different from other therapies and why it matters in recovery
[00:06] – Understanding psychological flexibility and how it can change your life
[00:09] – The role of trauma and attachment in addiction
[00:12] – How ACT helps you show up for your emotions instead of avoiding them
[00:16] – Breaking negative cycles and finding new ways to cope
[00:19] – Tim shares a personal story about overcoming doubts with ACT
[00:22] – Practical tools for being present and mindful in everyday life
[00:25] – The power of accepting your emotions and using them to grow
[00:28] – Tim explains how small changes can make a big difference in recovery
[00:30] – How to be more mindful and break free from old habits
[00:33] – Finding connection and meaning in relationships and life
[00:36] – Addressing loneliness and disconnection in today’s fast-paced world
[00:38] – Tim talks about his new projects and balancing work with fatherhood
[00:41] – Why secure attachment is so important for recovery and well-being
[00:44] – Closing thoughts on how ACT can transform your recovery journey

Links:

• Sisters In Sobriety Substack - find more tips, tricks, resources, and community
• Sisters In Sobriety Email
• Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
• Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
• Kathleen’s Instagram