Recovery Catalyst - Substance and Behavioral Addictions Unpacked

Catherine York | Sobriety & Recovery Host
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Recovery Catalyst, the space for women navigating the realities of sobriety on their own terms. Host Cat York creates a grounded, honest community for women in recovery who are moving beyond high-level theory and dry, textbook lectures. Whether you are working through a traditional program like Alcoholics Anonymous or exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle, you have a home here. We bridge the gap between heavy, lived experience and practical tools for healing. Our conversations focus on the authentic, messy, and rewarding work of maintaining long-term sobriety, with a special emphasis on how women use creative work—like writing, art, and personal expression—as a tangible anchor for daily recovery. Join us as we explore the complexities of mental health, the weight of trauma, and dual diagnosis. Recovery Catalyst is dedicated to fostering deep, plain-English conversations about addiction recovery, emotional healing, and the practical steps to building a life you don't need to numb. This show answers the core questions facing women in long-term sobriety. We move beyond the basics to focus on practical, creative, and authentic healing: -How can women in recovery process trauma without using substances? -Are there effective paths to sobriety for women who don't resonate with traditional programs like AA? -How do I find motivation and maintain footing during the "middle" phase of long-term recovery? -How can I use creative habits—like writing or art—to build a fulfilling life after quitting alcohol? -Where can I find an authentic community of women who understand the day-to-day realities of sobriety? -How do I untangle my addiction from underlying mental health struggles and dual diagnosis? -How can I learn to tolerate my own thoughts and discover my true identity while sober? -How do I manage social anxiety and loneliness when navigating a world  centered around drinking? To follow, support, or apply to be a guest, visit: https://www.podpage.com/recovery-catalyst/

  1. 1d ago

    Addiction Is Not Just Compulsion

    Addiction is more than just "inability to stop despite harm." Join me, Cat York, as I challenge outdated definitions and explore recovery through a new lens—one that focuses on the nervous system, trauma, and the whole person. After 20 years of heavy drinking and six years of continuous sobriety, I’m cutting through the "ice-cold" clinical language to have honest conversations about what actually helps. We explore why addiction is often a choice made within a fight-or-flight nervous system, and why traditional models like AA, NA, and rehab have real limits. We go beyond substances, covering gambling, shopping, relationship addiction, and the brain patterns that keep us stuck. If you're looking for recovery support that prioritizes emotional skills, trauma healing, and practical tools, this show is for you. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want deeper insights on these recovery topics? Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive resources and bonus thoughts delivered to your inbox: https://msha.ke/recoverycatalystpodcast

  2. Sep 30

    Write An Essay For SA And Call It Justice

    We speak plainly about the Cornell 7 case and why calling rape “one night” is a way to protect men instead of confronting harm. We defend the idea that consent is simple, intoxication removes consent, and accountability is the only path that respects survivors.  • Naming the Cornell 7 and rejecting minimized consequences  • Stating clearly that intoxication means no consent  • Calling out institutional failures by the university and the DA  • Challenging bystander silence and fraternity culture  • Sharing the long tail of sexual assault trauma from a survivor’s view  • Arguing prevention means raising boys with self-control and respect  • standing with Jane Doe while protecting her privacy  • inviting disagreement while holding the line on accountability  Let me know what you think in the comments or email me. Links in the show notes.  Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (JDI) brings together organizations and people committed to ending sexual assault and domestic violence and creating a more just and equitable world. https://www.janedoe.org/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want deeper insights on these recovery topics? Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive resources and bonus thoughts delivered to your inbox: https://msha.ke/recoverycatalystpodcast

  3. Sep 23

    A New Direction For The Recovery Catalyst Podcast

    We share a major shift in where we’re taking the Recovery Catalyst Podcast while staying rooted in our mission to talk honestly about grief, trauma, addiction, mental health, and recovery. I explain why I’m streamlining the show to focus on women in recovery and how creative expression like art and writing can be a practical tool for healing.  • Why my personal recovery story keeps shaping the mission  • Why the guest lineup shifts to women only  • How women’s recovery paths are judged differently than men’s  • What “creative work” means, from hobby to lifelong practice  • Why art can support sobriety, PTSD healing, and emotional regulation  • Why I’m moving away from clinical perspectives and toward lived experience  • What I’m looking for in future guests and stories  If you're interested in being a guest, the link is in my bio to connect, but you can also email me at callhercatpodcast@gmail.com  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want deeper insights on these recovery topics? Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive resources and bonus thoughts delivered to your inbox: https://msha.ke/recoverycatalystpodcast

  4. Sep 22

    Mind Your Business And Stay Sober with Jason Fareas

    Addiction stories often mask pain as permission, creating a dangerous cycle. In this episode, I’m joined by recovery counselor and podcaster Jason Fareas for a candid discussion on what sustains sobriety when willpower falls short. We explore how undiagnosed ADHD fueled Jason’s self-medication, why substance abuse often replaces one addiction with another, and the traps of romanticizing our past. Jason breaks down why honest storytelling is a vital tool for relapse prevention and offers a clinical look at the trauma and fear often hidden beneath anger. Finally, we discuss the realities of life after treatment—from boundaries and family support to the hard truth that trust is rebuilt through action, not just words. If you are navigating recovery or supporting a loved one, this conversation provides real tools and hope. Learn more about Jason and his Podcast My Madness METHod eight19product.com/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want deeper insights on these recovery topics? Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive resources and bonus thoughts delivered to your inbox: https://msha.ke/recoverycatalystpodcast

  5. Sep 17

    How To Quit White Knuckling Your Sobriety with Mark Wigginton

    We talk with Mark Wigginton about what it means to rebuild a recovery life after relapse, shame, and midlife grief. His story moves from a chaotic childhood and an absent father to harm reduction, daily practices, and a new definition of abstinence rooted in choice.  • Early instability, frequent moves, and why alcohol first feels like relief  • The impact of an absent father and the stories we create in the void  • Finding unseen childhood photos and how grief can rewrite identity  • How multiple losses in 2023 affect mental health and drinking risk  • Shifting from pass-fail sobriety to harm reduction and authentic choice  • White knuckle sobriety, cravings, and learning tools that fit your nervous system  • Highly sensitive person traits, overstimulation, and self-understanding  • Career chaos, relapse dynamics, and building accountability again  • Writing a memoir after 40 and why midlife recovery stories matter  • Daily recovery reading and a simple five-question journaling method  To Learn More Mark Wigginton or to inquire about his coaching please visit markwigginton.com/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want deeper insights on these recovery topics? Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive resources and bonus thoughts delivered to your inbox: https://msha.ke/recoverycatalystpodcast

  6. Sep 17 ·  Bonus

    Six Years Without Alcohol And What It Taught Me

    Six years sober isn’t a victory lap—it’s a quiet moment of truth. Sobriety gave me my life back, but it also forced me to face the reality of growing up in an alcoholic home and the impact of addiction and trauma. In this episode of Recovery Catalyst, we talk about what continuous sobriety, relapse, and early recovery actually look like when navigating the mental health weight of alcoholism. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence—showing up for your family and building a life with real goals and room to breathe. Because messy recovery is real recovery. If you’re struggling or celebrating with your sobriety I want to hear from you. Not the polished version but the real version. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want deeper insights on these recovery topics? Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive resources and bonus thoughts delivered to your inbox: https://msha.ke/recoverycatalystpodcast

  7. Sep 11

    How To Heal After A Toxic Relationship with Heather Melville

    Have you ever caught yourself asking, “Was it really that bad, or am I overreacting?” That question is often the first sign that gaslighting has taken its toll. In this episode, I’m joined by relationship coach Heather Melville, founder of Healthy Relationships, to discuss the messy, non-linear reality of healing after leaving an emotionally or physically abusive relationship. We break down what “toxic” truly looks like—from the exhaustion of walking on eggshells to the quiet erosion of your own reality. Heather shares insights on navigating the shame and isolation that often follow a breakup, and we discuss practical, body-based tools for reclaiming your self-worth—including solo travel, creative outlets, and the power of movement—to help your nervous system shift out of survival mode. Whether you’re in the thick of it or further along in your recovery, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t need to be “fully healed” to move forward. We challenge the myths of recovery and explore what it really means to build safe, respectful, and resilient connections. What’s one sign of healthy love you want in your life now? To learn more about Heather and her coaching services please visit: www.healthyrelationships.info/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want deeper insights on these recovery topics? Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive resources and bonus thoughts delivered to your inbox: https://msha.ke/recoverycatalystpodcast

  8. Sep 9

    Official Trailer

    We’re building a recovery podcast that skips the dry lectures and speaks to real sobriety, from sober curious to early recovery to long term healing. We name the hard parts like trauma, mental health, and dual diagnosis while focusing on how to build a meaningful life after addiction.  • A clear welcome for sober curious listeners and people in early sobriety  • Why we prioritize honest conversation over textbook advice  • Mental health and trauma as core parts of addiction recovery  • D diagnosis and untangling substance use from underlying struggles  • Questions we explore like daily life alcohol-free and staying motivated  • Navigating loneliness and social awkwardness in a drinking culture  • Considering AA and other paths to recovery support  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want deeper insights on these recovery topics? Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive resources and bonus thoughts delivered to your inbox: https://msha.ke/recoverycatalystpodcast

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About

Welcome to Recovery Catalyst, the space for women navigating the realities of sobriety on their own terms. Host Cat York creates a grounded, honest community for women in recovery who are moving beyond high-level theory and dry, textbook lectures. Whether you are working through a traditional program like Alcoholics Anonymous or exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle, you have a home here. We bridge the gap between heavy, lived experience and practical tools for healing. Our conversations focus on the authentic, messy, and rewarding work of maintaining long-term sobriety, with a special emphasis on how women use creative work—like writing, art, and personal expression—as a tangible anchor for daily recovery. Join us as we explore the complexities of mental health, the weight of trauma, and dual diagnosis. Recovery Catalyst is dedicated to fostering deep, plain-English conversations about addiction recovery, emotional healing, and the practical steps to building a life you don't need to numb. This show answers the core questions facing women in long-term sobriety. We move beyond the basics to focus on practical, creative, and authentic healing: -How can women in recovery process trauma without using substances? -Are there effective paths to sobriety for women who don't resonate with traditional programs like AA? -How do I find motivation and maintain footing during the "middle" phase of long-term recovery? -How can I use creative habits—like writing or art—to build a fulfilling life after quitting alcohol? -Where can I find an authentic community of women who understand the day-to-day realities of sobriety? -How do I untangle my addiction from underlying mental health struggles and dual diagnosis? -How can I learn to tolerate my own thoughts and discover my true identity while sober? -How do I manage social anxiety and loneliness when navigating a world  centered around drinking? To follow, support, or apply to be a guest, visit: https://www.podpage.com/recovery-catalyst/

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