Circle of Chairs with Jessica Guerrieri

This week on Circle of Chairs Conversations, I had the joy of sitting down with Jessica Guerrieri—a proud sober mom of three, award-winning author, and powerful advocate for mental health and recovery. We got to talk about fiction (love), the temptation of trying substances (like cannabis), and motherhood in recovery.You all, I LOVE this conversation and can’t wait to share it with you.In this episode, we talk about:How recovery reshaped her life as a mother and writerOur similar thoughts on cannabis (you’ll have to listen to hear more)Why vulnerability is a superpower in both art and healingThe importance of telling hard truths in fiction and nonfiction alikeWhat it means to balance sobriety with the challenges of parenting three kidsWhy she believes community—and literature—can help us hold both beauty and brokenness at the same time“Sobriety didn’t just save my life—it gave me the chance to live it fully.” — Jessica GuerrieriAbout Jessica GuerrieriJessica Guerrieri is an award-winning author, essayist, and mother of three. Her debut novel, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, will be released by Harper Muse in 2025. Her second novel, Both Can Be True, follows in May 2026.Her essays have appeared in People, HuffPost, and Writer’s Digest. She is also a frequent voice in the sobriety and mental health communities, blending vulnerability and wisdom in a way that resonates with readers around the world.Jessica lives in Davis, California, with her husband, three daughters, and a lively parade of pets.Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, was released Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here. Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com