In this episode of I Love Being Sober, Tim Westbrook sits down with Estil Wallace, founder of Cornerstone Healing Center, for an honest, live conversation about recovery, mental health, and what it really takes to build a life in sobriety. Estil shares his personal journey through addiction, the role the 12 Steps have played in his recovery, and how lived experience – not theory – shapes the way he shows up today. Together, they talk about experience, strength, and hope, navigating early recovery, staying grounded as life gets bigger, and why recovery is about much more than just not using. This episode is for anyone who's struggling, early in the process, or looking for proof that meaningful change is possible one day at a time.

Addiction is typically addressed in a harsh and imposing manner, and compassion is often thrown out of the window. Heather Ross, a family recovery coach and podcaster, joins Tim Westbrook, MS to discuss how parents should support children struggling with substance use without confrontation or shame. Delving deep into family recovery, they break down how children struggling with addiction positively respond to connection, communication, and emotional regulation. Heather also explains that tough love often backfires, how nervous system regulation impacts the entire family, and how parents can set boundaries that build connection instead of distance.

Anxiety will always be a part of the roller coaster of life. However, suppressing it will only lead to frequent panic attacks and a more emotionally unstable you. Joining Tim Westbrook, MS is Dr. Nicole Cain, ND, MA, a licensed naturopathic physician in Arizona and a leading expert in trauma-informed and integrative mental health. Together, they discuss how to turn anxiety into intelligent signals from the body that lead to healing. Dr. Nicole also breaks down the four steps of reprogramming, the nine different types of anxiety, and how to listen to your symptoms. Find out how to treat anxiety not as an enemy but as a messenger you should closely listen to.

Choosing a medical provider in recovery can be a life-and-death decision, and for those newly sober, an uninformed choice could create a dangerous path back to old habits. Dr. Ravi Chandiramani, a pioneering naturopathic physician and expert in integrative addiction medicine with over 20 years of clinical experience, joins us to issue a crucial warning about the growing trend of biohacking, peptide therapy, and hormone replacement that is being pitched to vulnerable people in early recovery. Dr. Chandiramani explains the dangerous "more is better" mindset that makes controlled substances like testosterone and stimulants like Phentermine a slippery slope, detailing the real risks of non-FDA-approved peptides, and why it is essential to partner with a doctor who knows your full addiction history.

Addiction may bring you to your rock bottom, but it does not mean jumping back is impossible. Learn how to find your path to recovery and love yourself all over again with bestselling author and podcaster Arlina Allen. She joins Tim Westbrook to share how she helps redefine the recovery process through her Sober Life School, her book The 12 Step Guide for Skeptics, and The One Day at a Time Recovery Podcast. Learn how to embrace solutions-based approaches that go beyond traditional recovery techniques to deliberately create a better future for yourself. Arlina also explains how to live above the line and get rid of your limiting beliefs to start transforming your life and embrace an authentic, sober identity.

The era of saying "you got yourself here, now get yourself out" is over—the true future of data-driven addiction recovery is paved with objective science. Tim Westbrook, MS welcomes Dr. Evelyn Higgins, a certified addictionologist, former Olympic team doctor, and founder of Wired BioHealth™, who is moving the entire field past its stigmatized, trial-and-error past. Dr. Higgins dives into how understanding an individual's unique biological blueprint, including 85 biomarkers and genetic snips, provides clinical proof that addiction is a healthcare problem. Discover how this scientific validation takes the shame out of the equation and empowers individuals with personalized protocols for optimizing their physiology, making different decisions, and sustaining long-term sobriety.

How do you turn 35 years of absorbed pain and rage into peace? It all starts with the radical act of healing from shame and complex trauma. Tim Westbrook sits down with his personal therapist, Ken Wells, a nationally recognized expert in treating sex addiction, intimacy disorders, compulsive behaviors, and trauma. Ken shares his raw journey from a cult-like childhood, abuse, and clinical depression to 35 years of sobriety. He explains his powerful method of giving shame back to its source. Learn how he transformed his rage into compassion and found unconditional self-worth by focusing on managing behavior not shaming the person. Ken also reveals the single common denominator among all his clients—from everyday people to celebrities and billionaires—is the universal struggle of losing their true identity. Tune in for insight, practical tools, and a powerful message of hope for your own recovery journey.

Deep personal healing requires facing the self with as much courage as one faces the world. Former US Senator and trailblazing military leader Martha McSally, the first American female fighter pilot and the first to command a US Fighter Squadron, shares her raw, intimate story of navigating profound loss, emotional volatility, and a painful cycle of abuse that began after the death of her father and childhood dog. She discusses the critical shift from seeking external saviors to taking radical responsibility for her own recovery, a journey that involved disconnecting from a victim frequency and pursuing a spiritual path to "unpack her trauma." Martha details the simple, yet vital, daily habits—including breathwork, gratitude, and "morning rubs" with her rescue dog—that she uses to regulate her nervous system, raise her energetic frequency, and live a life grounded in resilience and peace.