Sonia sits down with Jeremy Lipkowitz to unpack addiction, dopamine, and the hidden patterns behind compulsive behaviors—from alcohol to everyday habits.

They dive into the questions most people avoid: What actually drives compulsive behavior? Why does dopamine keep us chasing more instead of feeling satisfied? How do perfectionism, shame, and high achievement intersect with addiction? And what happens when we swap one coping mechanism for another—alcohol for work, porn, social media, or even productivity? They also explore how habits quietly escalate and how identity becomes entangled in addiction.

Jeremy breaks down neuroplasticity and how repeated behaviors wire the brain, reinforcing cycles of craving and avoidance. He reframes dopamine as the chemical of wanting—not pleasure—and explains how this fuels the loop of desire. The conversation introduces tools like urge surfing, mindfulness, and creating space between stimulus and response, alongside a deeper look at emotional avoidance, shame, and the “hungry ghost” cycle of never feeling like enough. They also demystify meditation—what it actually is, and how to practice it without perfection.

The episode also traces Jeremy’s personal turning point—from a high-achieving student battling insecurity and compulsive behaviors to discovering meditation and a new definition of fulfillment. As Sonia reflects on her own patterns in real time, the conversation becomes a powerful example of what it looks like to pause, notice, and choose differently.

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.

TIME-STAMPED HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 – Introduction to Jeremy Lipkowitz and his work in addiction recovery 01:30 – Jeremy’s early struggles with insecurity and addiction 03:45 – Realizing the path he was on wasn’t leading to happiness 06:15 – Why success didn’t translate into fulfillment 08:00 – Neuroplasticity and how habits shape the brain 10:30 – Dopamine explained: wanting vs. liking 12:45 – How addiction escalates over time 14:30 – Addiction as emotional avoidance 16:10 – Why we struggle with boredom and discomfort 17:45 – Identity and shame in addiction 20:00 – Rationalizing harmful behaviors 21:30 – Addiction as a universal pattern 23:00 – The “dry drunk” concept and root causes 24:30 – Healthier vs. harmful coping mechanisms 26:00 – Recognizing subtle compulsions 28:15 – What urge surfing is 31:00 – Creating space before reacting 34:00 – Building mindfulness as a skill 37:00 – Meditation myths and perfectionism 41:30 – Different types of meditation 45:00 – Mindfulness in everyday life 49:00 – Perfectionism as addiction 52:00 – The “hungry ghost” mindset 55:30 – Sonia’s real-time habit awareness 58:30 – Learning to sit with boredom 01:02:00 – Why abstinence can help moderation 01:06:00 – How subtle habits take hold 01:09:00 – Finding freedom from external validation

Jeremy's Links

SIS Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

Inflammation is at the root of so many modern health struggles—but what if the way we approach it is completely backwards? In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia sits down with Dr. Shivani Gupta—Ayurvedic practitioner, functional health expert, and author of The Inflammation Code—to explore a radically personalized approach to healing. Sonia guides listeners through how inflammation shows up in daily life, how stress and lifestyle habits quietly fuel it, and how Dr. Gupta’s “Elemental Design” framework helps decode each person’s unique health blueprint.

The conversation dives into how different body types respond to stress, food, and alcohol, and why a one-size-fits-all wellness plan often fails. Questions unfold around how mental inflammation contributes to physical disease, how gut health connects to energy and mood, and why sleep, circadian rhythm, and daily rituals may matter more than the latest health trend. The episode also explores the real impact of alcohol on gut permeability and inflammation, and how habits like late-night eating, blue light exposure, and chronic stress quietly disrupt the body’s natural healing processes.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Gupta introduces key concepts like chronic low-grade inflammation, bio-individuality, and the connection between the microbiome and overall health. She explains how ancient Ayurvedic principles align with modern science—from circadian rhythm optimization to the role of super spices like turmeric in reducing inflammation. The discussion weaves in practical insights on improving sleep hygiene, supporting the gut microbiome, managing cortisol, and using simple daily rituals—like tea, breathwork, or structured routines—to regulate the nervous system and reduce inflammation at its source.

As the conversation unfolds, Dr. Gupta shares her deeply personal journey—from growing up between Western medicine and Ayurvedic traditions to a turning point that led her to reject overmedication and seek root-cause healing. That experience sparked decades of study and ultimately shaped her mission to bring ancient healing wisdom into modern life in a practical, accessible way. The episode closes with a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t require perfection—it starts with small, intentional shifts that bring the body back into balance.

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.

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Shivani Gupta and The Inflammation Code 02:00 Growing up between Western medicine and Ayurveda 03:00 The breaking point with overmedication and antibiotics 04:30 Discovering Ayurveda and root-cause healing 06:00 Turmeric and the science behind super spices 08:00 What “Elemental Design” means for your health 10:00 Understanding Vata, Pitta, and Kapha body types 12:00 How different constitutions experience inflammation 14:00 Autoimmune conditions and personalized health patterns 17:00 Circadian rhythm and its role in inflammation 18:30 How sleep impacts detoxification and healing 20:00 Building a realistic sleep routine 22:00 Ideal sleep environment and temperature 23:30 Common mistakes with turmeric and anti-inflammatory diets 25:00 Chronic inflammation and modern lifestyle stressors 27:00 Supplements vs. whole foods: what actually works 31:00 What is “mental inflammation”? 33:00 Stress, burnout, and disease connection 35:00 Gut health, microbiome, and daily habits 37:00 Alcohol’s impact on gut health and inflammation 40:00 How different body types respond to alcohol 43:00 Tools for relaxation without alcohol 47:00 The most important first step: prioritizing sleep

Dr. Shivani's Links

www.shivanigupta.com IG: @dr.shivanigupta

SIS Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

Addiction, astrology, and emotional healing take center stage in this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, as Sonia sits down with humanistic astrologer Jessica Lanyadoo. Together, they unpack how addiction isn’t just about substances—it’s about emotional patterns, coping mechanisms, and the ways we abandon ourselves. Jessica brings a grounded, no-nonsense approach to astrology, helping Sonia explore how tools like astrology, community, and self-awareness can support sobriety and long-term healing.

What role does emotional regulation play in addiction? Can astrology reveal patterns behind compulsive behaviors or anxiety? How do dopamine-driven habits like scrolling or shopping mirror substance use? Sonia and Kathleen guide the conversation through big questions around fate vs. free will, the psychology of addiction, and whether spiritual tools—like astrology—can become coping mechanisms themselves. The discussion also explores the complexities of recovery spaces, including the benefits and challenges of 12-step programs, shame, and accountability.

The conversation weaves together concepts like harm reduction, emotional processing, and the neuroscience of addiction. Jessica introduces the idea that addiction is often rooted in an inability to tolerate feelings, rather than a lack of willpower. She breaks down how different types of anxiety and coping behaviors can manifest, and how misdiagnosis—both psychologically and personally—can keep people stuck. The idea of “momentum” becomes a powerful framework: how addictive behaviors build quickly, while healing and self-connection require slower, intentional practice.

Through personal reflections, Sonia shares moments from her own sobriety journey—navigating divorce, resisting the urge to drink, and recognizing how other behaviors can mimic addiction. The episode shifts into a deeper, more vulnerable space as they explore recovery tools like AA, the concept of “dry drunk” vs. true sobriety, and the emotional weight of making amends. Jessica offers a nuanced take on “living amends,” boundaries, and why healing doesn’t always require direct reconciliation—sometimes it requires protecting yourself while still taking accountability.

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

00:00 – Introduction to Jessica Lanyadoo and her humanistic approach 01:15 – What humanistic astrology actually means 03:00 – Addiction beyond substances: emotional and behavioral patterns 05:30 – Astrology’s perspective on different types of addiction 08:15 – Dopamine, escapism, and modern-day addictive behaviors 09:30 – Can astrology become a coping mechanism? 10:45 – Is addiction fate or free will? 12:30 – Physiological vs. emotional components of addiction 14:00 – Different types of anxiety and how they show up 16:30 – Misdiagnosis and why some treatments don’t work 17:45 – The concept of momentum in addiction vs. healing 19:00 – “Dry drunk” vs. true sobriety 20:00 – Why AA works (and why it doesn’t for everyone) 22:00 – Shame, community, and healing in recovery spaces 24:00 – The complexity of group dynamics in AA 26:30 – Boundaries, triggers, and navigating recovery communities 28:00 – The truth about making amends 29:30 – What are “living amends”? 31:30 – Trauma, safety, and when not to reconnect 34:00 – Self-abandonment and taking personal accountability

Jessica's Links

Ghost of a Podcast

Access free horoscopes + other goodies and classes available for purchase at lovelanyadoo.com

SIS Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram