The Sober Cafe Podcast April 5, 2009

In 2006, the Sober Cafe Podcast set out to increase support for independent recording artists in recovery whose music is available online at SunlightOfTheSpirit.com.  By focusing on music from clean and sober musicians, our show is spreading awareness that great music can be created without the use of drugs or alcohol.

Drawing from the wealth of personal experience of artists in long-term recovery, we then began our “Three Cups of Coffee & the Truth” interviews, focusing on their creative process as well as their experience, strength, and hope in recovery from addiction in all its forms. (Inspiration for the title of our interview series comes from Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame Member Harlan Howard, who often said, “Country music is three chords and the truth.”)

In 2008, SoberCafePodcast.com received an Entertainment Industries Council PRISM Award for Interactive Media.  These awards, presented by the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC), in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and FX Network, reflect the entertainment industry’s commitment to the accurate depiction of addiction and health issues in film, television, music, comic books and interactive entertainment.   We are truly honored and cherish this award.

Our focus in 2009 is to continue creating our intimate music shows and to increase production of our “Three Cups of Coffee & the Truth” interview series.  We’re expanding our interviews to also include authors, actors, and artists!

All of the music you hear in our podcasts is available through Sunlight of the Spirit Music – exclusively selling CDs from artists in recovery, with the largest selection of 12 step and recovery music available anywhere on the planet!  If you like what you hear and would like to support artists in recovery, please visit sunlightofthespirit.com.

Thanks for reading this far.  You rock!  Now, grab a half double decaffeinated half-caf, with a twist of lemon, put your feet up, and enjoy the show.

-Gracie Vandiver, Producer & Host
P.S.  If you would like to sponsor an episode, we would love to hear from you.  Contact info can be found on our Sponsors page.

Meet Laura C February 19, 2009

Hi, my name is LauraC and I’m an alcoholic/addict. Yes, you can laugh, I am raising my hand and sitting in a circle as we speak. I can laugh now too. I write and record a new genre of music called RECOVERY MUSIC. The CD will be entitled “The Gift of Brokenness”, and will have 12 Songs – each relating to one of the 12 Steps in Recovery. It’s basically, my raw, painful, joyful & hopeful process of recovering from addiction – in musical form. I wrote about everything….from driving drunk in a blackout, (“Pray for Me”), to sitting in an AA meeting and hating everybody and craving a drink, to waking up for the first time sober that I felt a glimmer of hope. I was blessed to record with Producers, Randy Miller (4 time Grammy Winner), and Sandy Stewart (Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac). We tracked the CD in Houston, TX and are mastering in L.A. this Jan 30. I am expecting a release date on CD maby late February. You can see a clip of me on NBC’s The TODAY SHOW w/Meredith Viera on my official website: www.lauracmusic.com, just click on PRESS. I hope you like the tunes. Let’s keep in touch. God is Good.

LauraC

SpiritStep Meditation CD December 16, 2008

Relax, observe and let go of unmanageable thoughts, emotions, and physical habits with meditation.

This first CD of the series offers:

•A discussion of 1st Step concepts and practices about learning to meditate – seeing how a source of our troubles are unmanageable thought and emotions
•Easy to learn beginning meditation techniques that help overcome this inner unmanageable part of ourselves
•2 guided meditations along with serene piano music that you can work with to build a foundation for your 11th Step practice
•Ideas on how to practice these skills throughout the day
Whether you are a newcomer, an old timer, in-between or associated with other 12 Step programs this will be a wonderful addition to your program and spiritual life.

Visit SpiritStep and purchase HERE