Illuminated Recovery

Lisa
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

Illuminated Recovery Podcast is shedding light on the path to healing through storytelling. Host Lisa shares her experience and dives deep into trauma recovery to illuminate issues such as Alcohol Use Disorder, Eating Disorders, and Complex PTSD. Guests will also be featured on the show to broaden the lens of these topics. This is a recovery journey about unlearning old conditioning, becoming conscious, and inspiring inner growth and authenticity. Join us if you are willing to be more vulnerable, are interested in changing your relationship to yourself or want to cultivate more awareness.

  1. E31: Illuminating Nonviolent Communication

    May 31

    E31: Illuminating Nonviolent Communication

    In this episode of Illuminated Recovery, Kathy Ziola, a certified NVC trainer and author of Live Compassion, talks about the transformative power of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) which is a practical model for self-connection and communication with others. It  supports compassionate giving and receiving and is used to create a quality of understanding where everyone’s needs matter and people work together to meet those needs peacefully. The intention is to create relationships built upon honesty, authenticity and empathy. She shares how these simple, profound tools can shift your entire mindset — from blame and defensiveness to curiosity and compassion.  With over 35 years of experience as a psychotherapist, group facilitator, and healing arts professional Kathy brings deep understanding and insight into human relationships and personal growth. Applying Nonviolent Communication isn’t just about changing the way you talk; it’s about transforming your internal relationship and your approach to others. When we see each other’s humanity—acknowledging that everyone is doing their best with what they have—we create a foundation for genuine compassion. Show notes:  Kathy’s website: www.nvctrainingsource.com   www.youtube.com/ Kathy’s email: @communicationworks1284  Kathy on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/kathyziola/ Kathy on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/communication-works-nvc/ Kathy on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/comworksconnections   https://www.facebook.com/kathy.ziola Kathy Ziola’s Book: Live Compassion https://nvctrainingsource.com/book/ The Center of Nonviolent Communication: https://www.cnvc.org/ Marshall Rosenberg’s Book: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life https://puddledancer.bookstore.ipgbook.com/nonviolent-communication--a-language-of-life--3rd-edition-products-9781892005281.php?page_id=21 You can find Lisa on Instagram @illuminatedrecoverypodcast Or by email: illuminatedrecovery@gmail.com

    56 min
  2. E30: ILLUMINATING KELLY’S STORY: Sobriety, Midlife and Smashing the Patriarchy

    May 17

    E30: ILLUMINATING KELLY’S STORY: Sobriety, Midlife and Smashing the Patriarchy

    Many women are conditioned to shrink—to stay small, quiet, and overlooked. Kelly’s journey from rock-bottom to radical self-acceptance reveals how awakening from that cycle of shame, addiction, and societal conditioning can be a game-changer. Her story is a powerful rallying cry for women tired of playing small and ready to step into their true power.  In this episode, Kelly shares the raw, unfiltered truth about her years of alcohol abuse—how she functioned through her addiction, and the pivotal moment that shattered her old identity. We talk about why “functioning” alcoholics are often the most invisible, and what it truly means to recover emotionally and spiritually—not just abstain from drinking.  We break down the importance of de-centering men and fighting the patriarchy and societal conditioning that keep women playing small—especially in midlife. Kelly discusses her journey into authentic sobriety, the lessons learned through therapy and community, and how the process of growth actually gets more exciting, not scarier, with age. Find Kelly on Instagram @kelz_living_well And on Substack: @crowsandkindred Show Notes: Book: Quit Like A Woman by Holly Whitaker You can find Lisa on Instagram @illuminatedrecoverypodcast Or by email: illuminatedrecovery@gmail.com

    1h 8m
  3. E29: Well, Actually: Unpacking Wellness Culture In Pursuit Of True Well-Being

    May 3

    E29: Well, Actually: Unpacking Wellness Culture In Pursuit Of True Well-Being

    Most of us are unknowingly caught in a web of diet culture, weight stigma, and trauma responses that keep us disconnected from our true selves. In this eye-opening episode, Julie Norman joins Lisa to expose the hidden mechanisms fueling our societal obsession with shrinking and controlling our bodies—and reveal how these patterns are deeply intertwined with trauma, oppressive systems, and collective chaos. Julie has spent 30 years healing — personally and professionally. Beginning as a registered dietitian and now a yoga teacher specializing in recovery, she knows this terrain from the inside out. Together, they dissect the pervasive influence of diet culture, the rise of weight loss medications like GLP-1 drugs, and the insidious role of fawning—an often-overlooked trauma response—that pushes us to conform at the expense of our authenticity. They explore how social pressures, systemic abuse, and internalized shame foster a collective trauma that manifests as diet obsession, weight stigma, and the pursuit of safety through control. Connect with Julie Norman:  https://julienormanyoga.com/ On Instagram: @bodykarmahealing You can find Lisa on Instagram @illuminatedrecoverypodcast Or by email: illuminatedrecovery@gmail.com SHOW NOTES: Minnesota starvation study: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Starvation_Experiment Fawning by Dr. Ingrid Clayton: https://www.ingridclayton.com/ Nicole Sachs substack article: https://substack.com/@nicolesachslcsw/p-194819019 Good Woman: A Reckoning by Savala Nolan: https://savalanolan.com/ Needy by Mara Glatzel: https://maraglatzel.com/book/

    1h 10m
  4. E28: Reclaiming Authenticity After Trauma

    Apr 19

    E28: Reclaiming Authenticity After Trauma

    Carly Kilbourne, a licensed therapist, joins me to explore the hidden impacts of childhood emotional neglect and estrangement on adult relationships. Discover how sobriety led her to uncover deep emotional wounds and embrace authenticity. Learn practical tools to unlearn people pleasing behaviors and reconnect with your inner child, set boundaries, and reclaim your power. She brings a grounded, relatable perspective to trauma recovery, reminding us that healing isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about coming home to who you were before survival took over. Perfect for anyone seeking genuine healing and deeper connections. Show Notes: Find Carli on Instagram @authenticaftherapy Website for therapy: thirdplacetherapy.com You can find Lisa on Instagram @illuminatedrecoverypodcast Or by email: illuminatedrecovery@gmail.com

    1h 12m
  5. E27: Illuminating Night Terrors
with Charity O'Reilly

    Apr 5

    E27: Illuminating Night Terrors
with Charity O'Reilly

    Night terrors can be a terrifying experience for both the person experiencing them and their loved ones. If you or someone you know struggles with these distressing episodes, you're not alone. In this episode, Charity O'Reilly, a trauma therapist, shares her personal journey with night terrors, which began in childhood due to trauma. We explore the differences between night terrors and nightmares, delve into personal experiences, and discuss actionable strategies for managing these sleep disturbances which requires a nuanced approach, especially considering their ties to trauma.SHOW NOTES:CBTI: Cognitive behavioral therapy for Insomnia  CBTN: Cognitive behavioral therapy for Nightmares Book by Dr Matthew Walker: “Why We Sleep” Connect with Charity: https://charityoreilly.com/ On Instagram @teawithatraumatherapist Co-author of “You Will Get Through This” You can find Lisa on Instagram @illuminatedrecoverypodcast Or by email: illuminatedrecovery@gmail.com

    49 min
  6. E26: IFS Awakening: Healing by Welcoming All Parts of You

    Mar 22

    E26: IFS Awakening: Healing by Welcoming All Parts of You

    David Hilton joins me to talk all things IFS (Internal Family Systems). David is an IFS practitioner and in this episode, we explore this powerful framework for healing that starts with one radical idea: nothing inside us is wrong. We talk about how to build a relationship with yourself by welcoming the parts we’ve pushed away, ignored, or bypassed, and learning to open to the burdens we didn't even know we were holding.  Honoring the full complexity of who we are — the dualities, the contradictions, the wounds and the wisdom — is where real healing begins. And creating spaciousness within ourselves? That might just be the most transformative thing we can do. Show Notes:  Connect with David Hilton: https://www.mindfulnondualtherapy.com/ On Instagram @ifs_awakening David’s podcast: Self Led Besties Podcast On Instagram @selfledbestiespod You can find Lisa on Instagram @illuminatedrecoverypodcast Or by email: illuminatedrecovery@gmail.com

    1h 7m
  7. E25: IFS in Action: Meeting an Exile with Compassion

    Mar 8

    E25: IFS in Action: Meeting an Exile with Compassion

    This episode is unlike any other. In this raw, unscripted session, you'll listen in as I work live with Tess Felder — going inward to meet a part of me that has carried pain for a very long time. Internal Family Systems therapy is one of the most profound healing modalities I've encountered in my recovery, and in this episode, you get to witness it in real time. If you've heard of IFS but never seen it in action, or if you're deep in your own healing journey and curious what this work actually looks and feels like — this one is for you. Whether you're new to Internal Family Systems or already doing this work yourself, this episode offers a rare, unfiltered look at what healing can actually sound like. 5calls.org Tess Felder: @meditatingwithtess You can find Lisa on Instagram @illuminatedrecoverypodcast Or by email: illuminatedrecovery@gmail.com

    1h 2m
  8. E24:Behind the Perfect Family: Estrangement, Sibling Abuse & Breaking Dysfunctional Patterns

    Feb 23

    E24:Behind the Perfect Family: Estrangement, Sibling Abuse & Breaking Dysfunctional Patterns

    In this episode of Illuminate Recovery, I sit down with trauma therapist Cassie Krajewski, to explore the root causes and the layered grief of estrangement  as well as sibling abuse — a dynamic often minimized or overlooked. We discuss the often invisible traumas of omission — what wasn’t protected, acknowledged, or repaired — and how emotional neglect shapes our identity and  our self-perception. We unpack the protective survival strategies many of us developed just to cope, and how those patterns can follow us into adulthood. We also examine how these same dysfunctional dynamics don’t stay confined to families — they show up in our systems of power, revealing parallels between authoritarian parenting and authoritarian leadership. If you’re an adult child of a dysfunctional or emotionally immature parent who is beginning to question your family narrative, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and language for experiences that often go unnamed. Show notes: Cassie Krajewski, LCSW https://www.inneratlastherapy.com/ On Instagram: @inneratlastherapy You can find Lisa on Instagram @illuminatedrecoverypodcast Or by email: ⁠illuminatedrecovery@gmail.com

    57 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Illuminated Recovery Podcast is shedding light on the path to healing through storytelling. Host Lisa shares her experience and dives deep into trauma recovery to illuminate issues such as Alcohol Use Disorder, Eating Disorders, and Complex PTSD. Guests will also be featured on the show to broaden the lens of these topics. This is a recovery journey about unlearning old conditioning, becoming conscious, and inspiring inner growth and authenticity. Join us if you are willing to be more vulnerable, are interested in changing your relationship to yourself or want to cultivate more awareness.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lisa
  • Show Website
    Illuminated Recovery

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