365 Sobriety Without 12 Steps, Cultivating Community and Spirituality

·59 min·5 clips

Mikayla explains why she never thought AA was for her after a DUI meeting where she felt completely out of place.

The episode is an interview between host Arlena and guest Mikayla, co-host of the Two Sober Girls podcast. Arlena introduces the show's focus on recovery stories and resources. Mikayla expresses gratitude for previously being on Arlena's podcast, feeling valued and aligned. Arlena notes Mikayla's non-traditional 12-step path, sparking discussion on alternative recovery options. Mikayla explains she never considered AA viable, recalling a DUI-mandated meeting where she felt out of place as a young, fashion-conscious woman. Arlena contrasts this with her own early AA experience, finding comfort in older attendees. Mikayla details her sober curious journey beginning almost 20 years ago with 'The Secret,' which opened a private spiritual world alongside her party lifestyle. She mentions influences like Wayne Dyer, Esther Hicks, and Gabrielle Bernstein, whose book 'Spirit Junkie' resonated because Bernstein looked like her. Mikayla describes how these seeds later sprouted, guiding her to yoga teacher certification and a wellness focus. She emphasizes the importance of habits and future-self work, inspired by writing a perfect life letter from 'The Secret' that later manifested. Arlena asks about daily practices, and Mikayla outlines a morning ritual of breath, gratitude, and intentional feelings like peace and health, tied to actions like tongue scraping and reading. She is currently reading 'Atomic Habits' in a book club. Mikayla discusses manifesting, noting that achieving goals involves trade-offs and identity shifts. She recounts her decision to quit alcohol three years ago, despite managing occasional drinking, because it felt energetically misaligned and hindered her potential. A pivotal moment came during a dinner where she intuitively knew her last drink had arrived, leading to a private identity shift. She later found community by meeting her co-host Erin at a wellness event, bonding over sobriety despite different drinking histories. They co-founded the Sober Girls Mastermind community. Mikayla advocates for self-relationship through journaling and solitude, citing Sophia Loren's self-talk as inspiration. She links self-compassion to recovery, sharing her experience overcoming eating disorders through yoga and spirituality. The conversation touches on feminine and masculine energies, with Mikayla explaining how leaning into femininity improved her rest and relationships. She concludes by describing her coaching and community offerings, emphasizing direction through focused feelings and actions.

As heard by us

A warm recovery conversation about finding steadier direction once pain is no longer the main driver.

This recovery conversation looks at sobriety after the first emergency has passed: what keeps life moving when pain is no longer the main source of momentum. The host and guest follow a shift from trying to resolve hurt toward steadier motivation rooted in service and impact.

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Why you'd press play

You want sobriety to become more than relief from pain; you want it to point you toward purpose.

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