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Podathon For Recovery: Evie’s Road to Recovery
Manage episode 504554544 series 2968201
In this Podathon For Recovery episode, Evie shares an extraordinary 44-year sobriety story—beginning with childhood trauma in post-war Austria, prescription drug misuse after a 1973 car accident, and the moment a newspaper listing led her to AA and a new life. She later sought help for sex addiction, moved to Los Angeles in 1982 for deeper recovery, and now helps clients as a coach and hypnotherapist. It’s a candid, hopeful conversation about breaking cycles, choosing healing, and why support programs still save lives.
Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction
Guest Bio:
Evie is a recovery advocate with 44 years of sobriety (since March 31), a former journalist, and a coach/hypnotherapist who started her practice in 2014. After healing from alcohol and prescription drug dependence—and doing deep work in Sex Addicts Anonymous—she specializes in helping clients with sexual dysfunction and weight issues often linked to trauma. Her story spans Vienna to Los Angeles and demonstrates the power of AA, mentorship, and sustained inner work.
Main Topics:
· Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction
· Childhood stress and early substance use in Austria; family trauma from the Holocaust era and post-war antisemitism
· Codependency and marriage to an alcoholic; later escalation with prescriptions after a 1973 car accident and PTSD
· The turning point: finding AA via a newspaper listing and committing to sobriety; first meetings in Vienna (including men-only and international groups)
· Moving to Los Angeles in 1982, sober living, women’s and mixed meetings; seeking help in Sex Addicts Anonymous
· Long-term recovery practices; choosing singleness to avoid unhealthy patterns; sponsoring others and “Eskimo” outreach approach
· Journalism career and interviews (e.g., Matthew Perry) touching on recovery; later training in spiritual psychology; launching a coaching/hypnotherapy practice in 2014
· Smoking/vaping discussion and health concerns; practical advice on timing help when peo
Rage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their famili
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Chapters
1. Podathon For Recovery intro (00:00:00)
2. Meet Evie; 44 years sober as of March 31 (00:01:48)
3. Early trauma, family history, and feeling ostracized in Austria (00:02:44)
4. Latchkey childhood; stress, bed-wetting, and first cigarettes at age 8 (00:04:42)
5. Codependent marriage; divorce; “functional” drinking and prescriptions after 1973 crash (00:06:25)
6. Israel trip; acupuncture/hypnosis; “I have to stop” moment (00:09:20)
7. A book opens the door; recognizing addiction dynamics (00:10:28)
8. The newspaper weather page that led to AA; first meetings (00:13:11)
9. Vienna meeting landscape; international/expat groups (00:17:18)
10. Scholarship to study in Los Angeles; 1982 arrival; sober living & women’s stacks (00:18:36)
11. Sex Addicts Anonymous; learning not to repeat unhealthy patterns (00:19:40)
12. Choosing singlehood; 40 years focused on self-relationship (00:21:40)
13. Journalism career; conversations about sobriety (incl. Matthew Perry) (00:23:18)
14. USM training; launching coaching & hypnotherapy practice (2014) (00:24:06)
15. Specializing in sexual dysfunction and weight issues tied to trauma (00:24:31)
16. “Eskimo” outreach: how she carefully connects people to meetings/sponsors (00:25:57)
17. Recovery then vs. now; relapse rationalizations & “missing out” myth (00:28:33)
18. How to reach Evie (00:31:18)
19. Smoking vs. vaping; readiness to quit; health impacts noted (00:33:16)
20. “Six feet under” without that meeting—what was at stake (00:38:19)
21. Monthly Donor Program for Rage Against Addiction: why it matters & how to join (00:39:06)
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