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What do you replace drinking with?

For Tommie Runz, the answer was miles, discipline, honesty, and community.

In this powerful episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, host Nadine Mulvina sits down with Tommie Runz — a sober endurance athlete, father, podcast host, and community builder — to talk about what nine years of sobriety has taught him about living with intention and pushing toward your next level.

Tommie shares the pivotal moments that led him to Alcoholics Anonymous, why truth-telling was the real beginning of his recovery, and how long-distance running became a tool for healing, clarity, and purpose. Together, Nadine and Tommie explore the deep parallels between endurance running and long-term sobriety, the role of community in recovery, and how sharing your story can help others feel less alone.

This episode is especially meaningful for anyone in early sobriety wondering “what now?” — and for those years into recovery who are still discovering who they’re becoming.

You’ll hear about:

• Tommie’s turning point and early days in AA
• Why honesty is foundational in sobriety
• The mental and emotional parallels between running and recovery
• How fatherhood shaped the way he shows up in sobriety
• The importance of community, service, and visibility as a Black sober athlete
• Using storytelling and social media to support others on their journey
• How to find your “thing” after quitting alcohol

Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or years into your recovery journey, this conversation will inspire you to build a life you don’t want to escape from.

🎥 This episode is also available to watch on YouTube.

🔗 Connect with Tommie Runz

Instagram: @tommie_runz

🔗 Connect with Nadine & The Sober Butterfly

Instagram: @the.soberbutterfly

⭐ If this episode resonated with you:

Please share it with a friend, post it to your stories, and leave a rating and review. This is how we grow the sober community together.

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Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

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In this episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, host Nadine Mulvina sits down with writer and traveler Melissa Rodway, author of The People You Meet: Luxury, Leeches, Love, and Lao Lao with a Host of Interesting Characters in Southeast Asia, for a thoughtful, story-driven conversation about how travel shapes identity, purpose, and connection.

This episode goes far beyond bucket lists and destinations. Nadine and Melissa explore the deeper, often unspoken layers of travel—how movement through the world changes us emotionally and spiritually, the people who leave lasting imprints on our lives, and the difference between simply taking a vacation and truly traveling with intention.

Melissa opens up about the realities of travel burnout, travel ego, and knowing when it’s time to come home. She shares how her relationship with travel has evolved with age, why purpose matters more than pace, and how adventure doesn’t disappear as we grow—it simply changes form. The conversation also touches on routine versus freedom, rest versus movement, and how travel can act as both a mirror and a teacher.

Listeners will also hear about unforgettable people Melissa has met on the road, powerful moments from her global travels, and a memorable trip to Jordan that left a lasting impact. Throughout the episode, travel is framed not as an escape, but as a tool for self-discovery, discernment, and deeper connection.

This episode is perfect for anyone who has ever felt changed by a trip, struggled with the tension between adventure and stability, or wondered what they’re really searching for when they book the ticket.

✨ In This Episode, We Discuss:

• How travel reshapes identity over time
• The people we meet on the road who stay with us long after the trip ends
• Travel ego, comparison, and letting go of “travel hierarchy”
• Recognizing travel burnout and knowing when it’s time to come home
• The difference between vacations and meaningful travel
• How purpose and priorities shift as we age
• Why adventure still matters—even when life changes
• The inspiration behind The People You Meet

📖 Melissa’s Book

You can find Melissa’s book here:
👉 The People You Meet: Luxury, Leeches, Love, and Lao Lao with a Host of Interesting Characters in Southeast Asia
https://www.amazon.com/People-You-Meet-Interesting-Characters-ebook/dp/B0F3V7NPW3

🎧 About The Sober Butterfly Podcast

The Sober Butterfly Podcast explores identity, connection, and what it looks like to rebuild a meaningful life after big change. Through honest solo episodes and thoughtful conversations, Nadine Mulvina invites listeners into nuanced discussions about growth, relationships, purpose, and becoming aligned—without needing to burn everything down.

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

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In this honest and educational solo episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, host Nadine Mulvina explores why Dry January isn’t the same as sobriety—and why that distinction matters for anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol.

Drawing from personal experience and years of conversations within the sober and sober-curious community, Nadine breaks down the two biggest pitfalls of Dry January: the “fuck it” mindset when the challenge feels too hard, and the false reassurance that completing 30 days automatically means alcohol isn’t an issue. She explains how both can keep people stuck in the same drinking patterns long-term.

This episode reframes Dry January as a starting point—not a finish line—and offers practical, compassionate guidance for those attempting Dry January, as well as tools and reminders for people who are already sober and navigating January with clarity and intention.

Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, taking a break, or supporting someone who is, this episode invites you to prioritize honesty, self-trust, and sustainable change over perfection or willpower.

🦋 In This Episode, Nadine Discusses:

• Why Dry January is not the same as long-term sobriety
• The difference between a 30-day alcohol break and an identity shift
• How the “fuck it” mindset can sabotage Dry January attempts
• Why completing Dry January doesn’t automatically mean alcohol isn’t a problem
• White-knuckling Dry January vs. white-knuckling sobriety
• How sobriety removes distortion and builds clarity
• Practical tips for doing Dry January in a supportive, self-aware way
• Why willpower alone isn’t a plan
• How to create replacements instead of just restrictions
• The importance of having a post-January plan
• Guidance for sober listeners navigating January
• Why sobriety isn’t a trend—it’s a lifestyle

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• You don’t attract change by forcing it—you create it through honesty
• Dry January can reveal patterns, but reflection is what creates growth
• Sobriety is about alignment, not deprivation
• White-knuckling is a signal—not a failure
• Support, systems, and self-trust matter more than perfection

💛 Support & Resources

If this episode brings up questions or concerns about your relationship with alcohol, you are not alone, and support is available.

🇺🇸 United States

• SAMHSA National Helpline
  📞 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
  🌐 https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
  
  Free, confidential support available 24/7 for individuals and families

🌍 International

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  🌐 https://www.aa.org
  
  Meetings available worldwide (in-person & online)
• SMART Recovery (science-based, non-12-step)
  🌐 https://www.smartrecovery.org
  
  Tools and meetings for people seeking a balanced approach
• Women for Sobriety
  🌐 https://womenforsobriety.org
  
  Supportive community specifically for women
• Sober Curious / Moderation Support
  🌐 https://www.alcoholchange.org.uk
  
  Evidence-based resources around alcohol awareness and change

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.