Episode 65: Two Years of Recovery and Mother’s Day: A Marriage Transformed by Recovery

Do you need immediate help?Suicide Hotline - 988Substance Abuse and Mental Health hotline - 1-800-662-4357Want to reach out?Find us on:Instagram (@chapter3stigma)YouTube (@Chapter3Stigma)Chapter 3 Stigma Website & BlogIn this deeply personal episode, Kyle invites his wife Alyssa back to the Chapter 3 Stigma podcast for a conversation recorded on Mother’s Day 2025, nearly two years after Kyle entered rehab for alcoholism. What follows is a moving and honest dialogue between partners about what it means to rebuild trust, parent with presence, and navigate the emotional terrain of recovery together.Alyssa takes the lead, asking Kyle unfiltered questions about what’s changed in the last two years, what still challenges him, and how he’s stayed sober through life’s curveballs. From discussing the power of the 12 steps to the fear of complacency, to grieving the loss of their daughter Lucy while staying spiritually connected, this episode offers hope and depth for anyone walking the path of healing or supporting someone who is.Whether you're newly in recovery, a longtime supporter, or someone seeking hope in a hard season, this conversation will stay with you.00:00 Welcome & Why Mother's Day Will Never Be the Same Again02:34 “Doesn’t It Feel Like Another Lifetime?” — Alyssa Reflects04:11 The One-Year Chip, Milestones, and What Comes Next08:39 “How Did You Do It?” — Kyle on Listening, Action & AA10:52 From Rehab to Real Life: Building Consistency & Confidence13:05 The Hardest Part: Letting Go and Forgiving14:55 What’s Been Easy: Joy, Presence & Parenting in Recovery17:58 Alcohol Today: Boundaries, Triggers & Reclaiming Peace23:38 Showing Up for Others: Giving Back in the AA Community29:41 Surprise Realization: I Was Afraid of My Own Potential32:34 Time, Energy & Creativity Recovered in Sobriety35:14 "I Couldn’t Picture Life Beyond 35" — Facing the Future40:08 Legacy Over Achievement: What Really Matters44:42 What I Haven’t Shared Yet: Resentment, Rage, and Growth46:22 The Fear of Complacency and Staying Connected50:04 One-on-One Conversations and Writing the Book for Grant54:31 What Progress Looks Like Now: Emotional Stability & Prayer59:54 Talking to Lucy: Faith, Grief, and End-of-Day Reflection1:02:53 Final Reflections: A Life Rebuilt One Day at a TimeKeywords: recovery podcast, sobriety anniversary, couple in recovery, addiction and marriage, 12 steps of AA, emotional sobriety, grief and sobriety, faith in recovery, relapse prevention, parenting sober, Mother's Day recovery story, overcoming alcoholism