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In this episode of gAy A: The Queer Sober Hero Show, Sober Steve welcomes back Julianne Griffin, aka Jewels, the founder of Swift Steps—a unique sober community for Swifties in recovery. They dive deep into the therapeutic power of journaling, finding balance in sobriety, and the challenges of staying accountable in recovery. Jules shares how the love for Taylor Swift’s music, lyrics, and journey has become a powerful anchor for Swift Steps members to connect, support each other, and grow.

What’s Covered in This Episode:

• Swift Steps 101: For those unfamiliar with Swift Steps, Jules provides an overview of this inspiring recovery community for Swifties.
• Journaling with Taylor: Discover how the Swift Steps course, Blank Spaces and Brave Faces, uses Taylor Swift's music and lyrics as a journaling framework, encouraging members to explore their recovery journeys, release shame, and embrace self-compassion.
• Personal Growth and Accountability: Jules reflects on the challenges of showing up for herself, balancing self-care with the demands of community leadership, and the importance of support networks in recovery.
• Navigating Family Triggers: From co-dependency to challenging family relationships, Jules opens up about the struggles of setting boundaries and seeking personal growth within recovery.
• The Power of Swift Steps Community: Hear how Swift Steps members inspire each other, keep each other accountable, and bring a shared purpose that continues to enrich Jules’ own journey in sobriety.

What’s Next?
Curious to learn more about Swift Steps or join this vibrant community? Head over to their social media @swiftsteps13 or check out swiftsteps.org to join the mailing list and receive all the details.

Tune in for insights, laughs, and a whole lot of Taylor-inspired recovery wisdom, and don’t forget to hit "follow" so you never miss an episode of gAy A! 🌈✨

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Hey there, super sober heroes! 🦸🏽‍♂️ This week on Gay A, Sober Steve is thrilled to welcome back a fan-favorite guest and globetrotter, Frankie New! Steve and Frankie dive into a topic close to Frankie's heart: Traveling in Sobriety.

In This Episode: Join Steve and Frankie as they discuss the unique adventures and perspectives that come with sober travel. From finding queer-friendly destinations and the occasional surprise doll museum to embracing the joy of being fully present in each moment, Frankie shares insights on the empowering freedom that sobriety brings to his journeys. Here’s what else to look forward to:

• 🎒 Sober Travel Tips: How to stay grounded, prioritize safety, and find enjoyment—wherever in the world you are.
• 🌏 Navigating Different Cultures: Frankie's experiences with queer and sober spaces across continents and why he feels more comfortable than ever traveling solo.
• 💫 Rediscovering Fun and Connection: How being sober has allowed Frankie to connect more deeply with the places he visits and the people he meets.

Follow Frankie on Instagram and TikTok at @FashionQueerHistorian to keep up with his latest journeys and fascinating research!

Follow Us Here, and on all the Socials @gAyApodcast

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Hey, Super Sober Heroes! In this episode of gAy A, Sober Steve welcomes back Jaycee K. Clark for a powerful conversation on the impact of social media on mental health and sobriety. With over 1,227 days sober, Steve sits down with Jaycee to discuss how social media plays a dual role in our lives—both as a tool for connection and a source of distraction. Jaycee, who will be one of the keynote speakers at the Here, Queer, Sober event next September, shares personal insights from her recent social media hiatus and how it transformed her recovery and self-care routine.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

• Social Media Hiatus: Jaycee opens up about taking a break from social media to focus on her mental health and emotional well-being. She highlights the importance of recognizing when social media becomes a distraction and how taking a step back helped her reconnect with herself.
• The Power of Disconnecting: How disconnecting from the online world can create space for deep emotional healing, self-reflection, and improved mental health in sobriety.
• Being Intentional: Jaycee emphasizes the need to be intentional with social media use—knowing when to engage, when to take a break, and how to create healthy boundaries.
• Balancing Creation and Consumption: As someone who uses social media for activism and sobriety advocacy, Jaycee shares tips on balancing content creation and consumption while staying grounded and present.
• Lessons in Recovery: They dive into the parallels between social media dependency and addiction, discussing how both require self-awareness and personal boundaries to maintain balance.
• Being Vulnerable and Staying Connected: Jaycee talks about the importance of staying connected with her recovery community, even when offline, and how being open with others about her struggles helps her stay grounded.

Key Moments:

• Jaycee explains how her relationship with social media changed after entering recovery.
• How taking a break from social media empowered her to focus on her mental health and sobriety.
• Steve and Jaycee discuss the pros and cons of social media in the recovery space and how to navigate the pressures of being online.
• Jaycee talks about using social media as a tool for advocacy and sharing her recovery journey out loud.

Connect with Jaycee:
Follow Jaycee Clark on Instagram: @officialjayceek

Resources Mentioned:

• Here, Queer, Sober event in NYC, September 2024

Stay Connected:
Follow us on Instagram: @gAyApodcast
Find more resources and episodes at www.sobersteve.com.

Tune in Every Thursday:
Make sure to hit Follow so you don’t miss new episodes of gAy A every Thursday!

If you enjoyed this episode:
Please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more people in the LGBTQ+ recovery community.

Stay Sober, Friends!

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Hey there, Super Sober Heroes! In today’s episode of gAy A, host Sober Steve (with 1,227 days sober!) welcomes back Danielle—one of our long-time pod family members, to dive into a topic that many in the LGBTQ+ community can relate to: Being “Out” in Sobriety.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Danielle reflects on her experiences of coming out in college and how it mirrors her sobriety journey.
• They discuss the importance of recovering out loud and the impact of living authentically in both your sexuality and your recovery.
• The connection between vulnerability and community, and how being open helps others feel less alone.
• Danielle shares how running is part of her self-care routine in sobriety and how she finds both mental and physical health benefits from it.
• Why it’s so crucial to be present and how sobriety allows Danielle and Steve to fully embrace life’s ups and downs.
• The societal assumptions about the queer community and sobriety, and how the LGBTQ+ community continues to evolve with more support and visibility.

Danielle’s candid and insightful take on being open about sobriety, sexuality, and life is sure to inspire anyone struggling with the idea of coming out in any aspect of their life. The conversation highlights the importance of connection, community, and embracing your authentic self, no matter the fears or challenges you face.

Key Moments:

• Danielle shares her personal story about coming out in college after a tragic event sparked her to live authentically.
• The parallel between coming out as LGBTQ+ and coming out as sober.
• The importance of vulnerability and how recovering out loud has helped others start their sobriety journeys.
• Reflections on how the queer community continues to grow stronger despite challenges.

Connect with Danielle:
Follow Danielle on Instagram at @DC_and_Rosie (closed account but accepting friends of Steve!)

Resources Mentioned:

• Looking for support in your sobriety journey? Visit www.sobersteve.com for more resources and community connections.

Make sure to hit Follow so you don’t miss any of our upcoming episodes, and don’t forget to tune in every Thursday for new content.

Follow us on Social Media:

• Instagram: @gAyApodcast
• Facebook: gAy A Podcast

If you enjoyed this episode:
Leave us a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform! Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and grow this amazing community.

Stay Sober, Friends!

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In this week’s episode, host Steve Bennet-Martin, aka Sober Steve the Podcast Guy, continues the dive into gAy A's archives with Part 2 of "Sober Support from the Vault." After more than 225 episodes, Steve brings back some powerful early interviews that still resonate today. Whether you’re a new listener or a longtime fan, this episode offers a chance to revisit impactful stories from some of gAy A's earliest guests who continue to make waves in the queer sober community.

Featuring clips from early interviews with Charlie Gray, Danielle (Daisy Soul Child), Michael from Happy Without The Hooch, and Scott, this episode is packed with wisdom, vulnerability, and inspiration. From exploring how sexuality intersects with addiction to understanding the deep support that the sober community provides, this episode is not one to miss.

Key Takeaways:

• Charlie Gray on Vulnerability: Hear how Charlie used his memoir, At Least I'm Not a Frog, to be open and raw about his darkest moments, and why he believes it’s important to be honest about the "dirty" parts of addiction to help others feel less alone.
• Danielle (Daisy Soul Child): In this clip, Danielle talks about coming out as a lesbian in the Black community and how hiding her true identity played a role in her addiction. She offers powerful advice on how accepting and loving yourself can be a key to recovery.
• Michael from Happy Without The Hooch: Michael shares how being gay impacted his relationship with alcohol, especially in a world where LGBT socializing often revolves around bars. He also reveals how he found new ways to build community and connection in sobriety.
• Scott's Legacy: In one of the most poignant clips of the episode, Steve reflects on Scott, a friend and fellow member of his home group who passed away sober. Scott’s wisdom and dedication to sobriety, despite life’s challenges, continues to inspire Steve and the gAy A community.

Follow Us:
Follow gAy A wherever you’re listening to make sure you never miss an episode—new episodes every Thursday!

**Where to Find Us:**
Me:
- gAy A on IG 🟢
- gAy A everywhere else 🖇️
- Charlie Gray on Amazon Books
- Charlie's Instagram 🔴
- Danielle's IG 🟢
- Michael on IG 🟢

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In this week’s episode of gAy A, Sober Steve the Podcast Guy sits down with his long-time sober sibling, Savannah. With 1,215 days sober for Steve and 1,365 days for Savannah, they share an honest conversation about surviving the challenges of sobriety—especially in a world where alcohol seems to be everywhere. From navigating social events and mocktails to processing personal triggers and using sobriety tools, this episode is packed with wisdom for anyone looking to go from simply surviving to truly thriving in sobriety.

Key Takeaways:

• Surviving a World Full of Alcohol: Savannah and Steve discuss how they handle being surrounded by alcohol in everyday spaces—from grocery stores to Pride events—and how to stay grounded in sobriety.
• Tools for Thriving: Savannah shares how she stays strong in her recovery through the use of meetings, staying connected with her sober network, and never being afraid to ask for help.
• Triggers and Emotions: From dealing with life stressors like school and mental health to handling unexpected emotions, Savannah opens up about how she copes without turning to alcohol.
• Mocktails and Boundaries: Savannah shares a personal story about a mocktail mishap and gives advice on how to navigate the world of non-alcoholic drinks safely and confidently.
• Going From Surviving to Thriving: Tips for transitioning from just getting by in sobriety to embracing life fully—staying focused, working the program, and sharing openly in meetings.

Connect with us!
Don’t miss this empowering episode of gAy A! Follow/Subscribe now wherever you listen for new episodes every Thursday!

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- Savanna on Tik-Tok
- gAy A on IG 🟢
- gAy A everywhere else 🖇️

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In this exciting and unconventional episode of gAy A, Steve Bennet-Martin, aka Sober Steve the Podcast Guy, puts AI to the test! Can AI really understand the intersections of queerness and sobriety? Steve and ChatGPT dive into some of the most powerful themes shared by LGBTQIA+ individuals in recovery, exploring how technology can shed light on these deep, personal experiences. Plus, can you tell the difference between AI Steve and Real Steve? Tune in and find out!

Key Takeaways:

•Can AI Relate?: How AI reflects on the shared queer and sober experiences and the common challenges we face.
•What’s Your Favorite Part of Being Sober?: Steve and ChatGPT discuss authenticity, self-acceptance, and the incredible connections formed in sobriety.
•How Do Queerness and Sobriety Intersect?: A deep dive into how living authentically and staying sober are connected journeys.
•AI’s Survival Guide for the First 90 Days: Practical tips on how to get through early sobriety and why support networks matter more than ever.
•Can You Tell the Difference?: Steve challenges you—can you spot when it’s AI Steve talking?

What's Next?
Scroll up and text the show with what you thought of this episode! Also, ...
- gAy A on IG 🟢
- gAy A everywhere else 🖇️
Follow this show wherever you are listening for new episodes every Thursday morning!

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