Fragmented to Whole
Life Lessons from 12 Step Recovery
This podcast can help you go from fragmented to whole. The title of the podcast comes from my journey of recovery in 12 step programs where I came in feeling fragmented and now I AM WHOLE. I talk about how that happened, and many of the lessons I've learned in recovery. I cover such topics as learning acceptance, overcoming unrealistic expectations, intimacy, forgiveness and boundaries.
All episodes are 20 minutes or less, most are less than 15. The first episode is my story in brief so you'll hear about the kind of profound life changes that I experienced in 12-step recovery. Other episodes cover specific topics such as Acceptance, Victim Mentality, Overcoming Negative Thought Loops, etc. You don't have to be in recovery to benefit from it though!
One last (very important) thing. I don't speak for or endorse any particular 12 step program of recovery. Though I'm a huge fan of 12 step recovery, and a member of two 12 step fellowships, I cannot speak them. Take what you want and leave the rest.
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Fragmented to Whole Podcast 49: Soothe Your Mind & Heart During COVID-19
I suggest previous episodes that will help you soothe your mind and heart during this pandemic, whether anxious, depressed or overwhelmed. Show NotesIf you’re stuck in negative thought loops, catastrophizing about the future, or burned out and overwhelmed from rescuing others I can help! Rather than creating a new episode this week, I make suggestions…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 48: Boundaries of Self Containment and Self Protection
I make the distinction between boundaries of self containment and self protection and give examples of both in my life. Show NotesLearning boundaries of self containment means I only share things that are personal with trustworthy people. Boundaries of self protection means I get to decide what I will and will not tolerate. I give…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 47: Be Prepared to Lose People
Learning to live with losing people, whether to death, relapse or friendships that have faded, is much easier in recovery. Show NotesBefore recovery, I subconsciously assumed that losing people somehow took something away from me. Now that I’m in recovery and recognize my wholeness, I realize it’s just part of life to lose people. Perhaps…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 46: Control vs. Choice
If you’re someone who tries to rigidly control things and would like to have greater choices in your life, this episode is for you! Show NotesRecovery is about making choices in our lives, not living with rigid control. I share a continuum that goes from being in denial and practicing rigid control, to having greater…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 45: Actions That Lead to Freedom
Thinking, believing, learning, reading – NONE of these will lead you to freedom from addiction, it’s action that will do it! Show Notes12 Step Recovery programs are programs of action. You must take action – whether you believe it will work or not – if you’re going to recovery. In this episode I lay out…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 43: Amends, Apologies, Harms and Hurts
Learn the difference between making an amends and an apology, and how that relates to the difference between something that harms someone vs. hurts someone. Show NotesThe amends process required by the 12 steps includes changed behavior, not just an apology. This episode helps clarify what kinds of things require amends vs. an apology by…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 42: Why Take a Daily Inventory
You’ll learn how taking a daily inventory of your life can nip your dysfunctional behavior in the bud and prevent the buildup of crap in your life – really! Show NotesThe practice of taking a daily inventory is recommended in 12 step recovery, but many people don’t do it. I talk about how much it’s…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 41: Discipline Equals Freedom
This episode shows who discipline equals freedom from obsession and compulsion in the context of 12 step recovery. Show NotesPeople who are undisciplined think there’s no way that discipline can equal freedom. It sounds like the opposite of freedom, in fact. This episode will show you how having discipline in certain areas leads to freedom…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 40: Feeling Trapped? There IS a Way Out!
If you feel trapped in your life, this episode will help you get out of that. Show NotesI describe a couple of situations in my life where I felt trapped and how I got out of them. I’m living proof that it’s possible to not only get out of feeling trapped, but to live a…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 39: Wholeness, Integration and Integrity
If you’ve felt fragmented your whole life and want to integrate those fragments and be whole, this episode is for you! Show NotesI never understood that having integrity had anything to do with being whole, or that being dishonest contributed to my fragmentation. Recovery helped me to integrate my fragmented pieces into one coherent whole,…
Fragmented to Whole Podcast 38: The Promises of Recovery
If you want to know what day-to-day life in recovery looks like compared to life before recovery, this episode is for you! Show NotesThe promises of recovery tell us what our lives might look like once we’ve got some recovery under our belts. In this episode I’ll share how the promises of recovery – and…
What listeners are saying
"Barb, it's clear that you're speaking from your lived experience, and what you talk about is beyond the rooms of recovery. You actually operationalize recovery."
- C
"Your podcast was a delight to listen to. Authenticity, sincerity starts within and re-parenting oneself with gentleness, humor, love and respect are the tools that fuels the process."
- A
"Full of useful, helpful guidance!!!! So, I say thank you for your efforts! It was not preachy at all - and I guard against 'preachiness.' ...Thank you for your efforts Barb."
- A.C
"I play [your podcasts] for people when I give them rides home from meetings. They find them awesome as I do...I am hoping to begin using your podcasts in groups at work - short enough to hold people's attention and wonderful topics that all can benefit from as we try to bring healing and freedom from suffering into the world...you are a delight and a noble soul. Thank you. Grateful for your commitment to help heal our planet."
- R
"If I had to describe it....I bathed in episodes 1-3 this morning and I feel much more prepared to engage in the tasks that will bring me success...thank you."
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"You have opened doors in my mind that I did not know existed. Listening to you and your podcasts has made an enormous impact on my life, and now my outlook. You rock!" ~ A.
"Thank you, Barb! Listening to your podcast gave me hope that you could help me.
Framing everything through the lens of “boundaries” made sense to me. Something “clicked.” I realized many of my own struggles – maybe all of them – could be seen through the same lens. I also felt – after bingeing your podcasts – that I already knew you and that you were a straight shooter. You experienced many of the challenges that I was facing, and I greatly appreciated your willingness to share openly and honestly. And I was so encouraged to hear you talk about how much better your life is after starting your own recovery journey." ~ K