We’re brewing up some exciting new episodes here at Stack'n'Days headquarters, and we can’t wait to share them with you in the coming weeks! But today, we’ve got something special: an episode featuring our very own Ray Donovan on Dupe Witherick’s Thriving Alcohol Free Podcast. You might remember Dupe from her powerful appearance on our show last November. She shared how a 21-day alcohol-free challenge turned into nearly five years of sobriety, a renewed sense of well-being, and a deeper connection to her faith.

Now, the tables have turned, and Ray is in the hot seat. In this episode, he opens up about his sobriety journey—sparked by becoming a father and the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Realizing his relationship with alcohol didn’t align with the man he wanted to be for himself and his family, Ray made the life-changing decision to stop drinking over three years ago.

Ray dives into moments of personal clarity, the power of vulnerability, navigating emotions, and how sobriety has shaped his life. This is your chance to hear his story in a fresh, intimate way—through the lens of an interview.

Enjoy this special episode, and stay tuned for more from Stack’n’Days!

Ray’s Toolkit:

• Prioritize Self-Awareness

• Establish Boundaries

• Seek Community

• Embrace Change

• Pursue Small Joys

Connect with the show

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/⁠⁠⁠

Apply to be a guest:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/rsvp-1⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @stackndays

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-IqvFJ2SlufC6KuyiztjQ⁠⁠⁠

Resources

https://www.thrivealcoholfree.com/podcast

⁠⁠⁠https://www.samhsa.gov/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinreframeapp.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.theluckiestclub.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.aa.org/

Podcast host, author, and coach Dupe Witherick describes herself as a “normal drinker.” Unlike common stereotypes, her relationship with alcohol didn’t involve a dramatic rock bottom—instead, she had seamlessly woven drinking into her daily life and identity. Dupe joins Ray to share how alcohol shaped her university years, professional life, and social interactions. It wasn’t until a personal loss and the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic that she began to question her reliance on alcohol. What started as a 21-day alcohol-free challenge blossomed into nearly five years of sobriety, renewed well-being, and a deep connection to faith and a higher power.

Dupe’s Toolkit:

• Pause and reflect on why you’re drinking

• Ask yourself what emotion you’re feeling

• Replace drinking with productive activities

• Embrace new activities

• Believe in yourself

• Find supportive communities

• Have faith or believe in a higher power

• Pursue new passions and dreams

• Self-worth is critical

• Listen to your intuition

Dupe’s details

Instagram: @thrivealcoholfree

TikTok: @thrivealcoholfree

Thrive Alcohol Free Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/thrive-alcohol-free/id1707202708

Thrive Alcohol Free: https://www.thrivealcoholfree.com/

Book - A Cocktail of Clarity: How to Ditch Drinking, Embody a Joyful New Identity and Thrive Alcohol Free: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3MNVZQS

Connect with the show

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/⁠⁠⁠

Apply to be a guest:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/rsvp-1⁠⁠⁠

Instagram and Tiktok: @stackndays

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-IqvFJ2SlufC6KuyiztjQ⁠⁠⁠

Resources

⁠⁠⁠https://www.samhsa.gov/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinreframeapp.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.theluckiestclub.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.aa.org/

Ray sits down with Jasmine Rogers, whose journey to becoming two years sober from alcohol, has been anything but straightforward. The duo explores what it truly means to live authentically — the challenges, the triumphs, and the unexpected moments of growth. This is Jasmine’s second time in sobriety. Her first lasted a year, and then when she thought she was “cured,” she relapsed even worse. The staying factor is she always remembered the clarity sobriety gave her. So she started seeing a therapist, was encouraged to go to AA. Raising her son gave her a higher purpose to continue living alcohol-free. She went from being the life of the party to encouraging others through her own actions to seek a life unhindered by substances. It’s raw, inspiring, and filled with moments that will leave you rethinking what it means to live on your own terms.

Jasmine’s Toolkit:

• Reflect on what makes you genuinely happy

• Set boundaries

• Advocate for yourself

• Embrace solitude as a way to grow

• Prioritize mental and emotional health

• Try new things

• Try old things you forgot you loved

• Reach out to community

• Jasmine’s details

• Instagram: @soulfully_sober

  TikTok: @soulfully_sober

  Connect with the show

  Website:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/⁠⁠⁠

  Apply to be a guest:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/rsvp-1⁠⁠⁠

  Instagram and Tiktok: @stackndays

  YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-IqvFJ2SlufC6KuyiztjQ⁠⁠⁠

  Resources

  ⁠⁠⁠https://www.samhsa.gov/⁠⁠⁠

  ⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinreframeapp.com/⁠⁠⁠

  ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theluckiestclub.com/⁠⁠⁠

  ⁠⁠⁠https://www.aa.org/
  

Ray connects deeply with guest Andry Rakotoniaina as they share experiences from the food and beverage industry. Andry opens up about how, as the eldest in an immigrant family, he faced immense pressure, especially after his father’s passing. Alcohol became an escape from these heavy responsibilities, but over time, it took control of his life. With a career in the restaurant industry, where alcohol was always within reach, the journey wasn’t easy. Today, Andry is co-founder of the Kentucky chapter of Ben’s Friends, supporting hospitality workers in sobriety. This powerful conversation dives into addiction, the strength to break free, and how recovery can transform lives.

Andry’s Toolkit:

• Recognize Industry Risks

• Acknowledge the Allure

• Address Family Pressures

• Honesty is Key

• Watch for Normalized Habits

• Find the activities that bring you joy

• Embrace Your Cultural Identity

• Seek Sober Role Models

• Accept That Change is Gradual

• Celebrate Sobriety

Andry’s details

Instagram: @willpedal4brew

Ben’s Friends Hope: https://www.bensfriendshope.com/

Connect with the show

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/⁠⁠⁠

Apply to be a guest:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/rsvp-1⁠⁠⁠

Instagram and Tiktok: @stackndays

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-IqvFJ2SlufC6KuyiztjQ⁠⁠⁠

Resources

⁠⁠⁠https://www.samhsa.gov/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinreframeapp.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.theluckiestclub.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.aa.org/

Ray catches up with Lunic Adisson-Boyd, a licensed minister, advocate for spiritual growth and entrepreneur and founder of God is Great Apparel, about her journey from addiction to recovery. Once living it up, Lunic eventually faced the harsh realities of substance abuse, especially when it comes to past trauma, and realized she needed to make a change. With a mix of humor and heartfelt honesty, she discusses how faith, community, and a bit of divine intervention helped her turn her life around. She encourages listeners to embrace grace, recognize their purpose, and empower themselves through service and entrepreneurship.

Lunic’s Toolkit:

• Embrace faith, spirituality and purpose

• Build a support network:

• Prioritize Self-Compassion:

• Practice kindness toward yourself

• Consider therapy

• Stay away from things that take you back to your vice

• Volunteer or engage in service

• Acknowledge your fears and confront them

• Stay open to change

• Practice mindfulness and reflection

Lunic’s details

Instagram: @iamlunicthemessenger

God is Great Apparel Instagram: @godisgreatapparel

Website God is Great Apparel: https://www.godisgreatapparel.com/

Resources mentioned in the show:

Narcotics Anonymous: https://www.narcotics.com/na-meetings/

Connect with the show

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/⁠⁠⁠

Apply to be a guest:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/rsvp-1⁠⁠⁠

Instagram and Tiktok: @stackndays

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-IqvFJ2SlufC6KuyiztjQ⁠⁠⁠

Resources

⁠⁠⁠https://www.samhsa.gov/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinreframeapp.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.theluckiestclub.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.aa.org/

Grief, time, love and...pickleball. In this week's solo episode, Ray reflects on the past three years of his sobriety journey – what he considers the most challenging and deeply reflective years of his life. He opens up about the emotional weight of grief, the impact of aging family members, and the role of therapy in maintaining his sobriety. This podcast has become a therapeutic outlet. He talks about the importance of his Black female therapist, the lessons time teaches in recovery, and the importance of finding joy and levity along the way.

Connect with the show

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/⁠⁠⁠

Apply to be a guest:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/rsvp-1⁠⁠⁠

Instagram and Tiktok: @stackndays

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-IqvFJ2SlufC6KuyiztjQ⁠⁠⁠

Resources

⁠⁠⁠https://www.samhsa.gov/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinreframeapp.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.theluckiestclub.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.aa.org/stclub.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.aa.org/⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Ray sits down with Kristen Feemster, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and wellness coach, to talk about her powerful journey through addiction and recovery. A former college athlete, Kristen opens up about how the pressure to be perfect as a Black woman, growing up in a mostly white community, and other life stressors led her down a path of alcohol addiction. She shares the pivotal moments that made her realize she needed to change and the people and inclusive spaces that helped her along the way. Kristen also dives into the importance of having a strong support system, why open conversations about mental health and addiction matter, and the resources out there for anyone looking to heal their relationship with alcohol.

Kristen’s Toolkit:

• Find safe professional spaces to recover as a person of color

• Seek therapy

• Loved ones leaving a compassionate, loving space to seek help

• Take the scary step to seek help

• Be honest with yourself

• Take note if you’re becoming defensive about the substance you’re using

• Don’t worry about perfectionism

• Connect to sober communities on social media/ podcasts

• Physical activity

• Create a routine sleep schedule

• Education on alcohol and its effects

• Spirituality of some kind

Kristen’s details

Instagram: @kristenfeemster

Facebook: B3 by Kristen

YouTube: @kristenfeemster

Website: B3 by Kristen

Resources mentioned in the show:

She Recovers

Sober Black Girl’s Club

B3 by Kristen

Connect with the show

Website:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/⁠⁠⁠

Apply to be a guest:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.stackndays.com/rsvp-1⁠⁠⁠

Instagram and Tiktok: @stackndays

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-IqvFJ2SlufC6KuyiztjQ⁠⁠⁠

Resources

⁠⁠⁠https://www.samhsa.gov/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinreframeapp.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.theluckiestclub.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.aa.org/