Sonia Does the Steps: Step One, Powerlessness, and the 12 Steps for Skeptics

About this episode

Sonia begins her journey of working the 12 steps, exploring powerlessness and recovery with guest Arlina Allen.

In this deeply personal first episode of a new Sisters in Sobriety series, Sonia begins something she has circled for years: working the 12 steps. Joined by Arlina Allen, recovery coach, host of the One Day at a Time podcast, and author of The 12 Steps for Skeptics, Sonia explores why she has always respected AA while still feeling hesitant to fully commit. Together, Sonia and Arlina open the door to Step One with honesty, curiosity, humor, and a modern lens for anyone who has ever wondered whether the steps could work for them. The conversation explores what it means to admit powerlessness over alcohol without collapsing into shame, why “unmanageable” does not always look like losing everything, and how women with high-functioning lives can still hit an emotional bottom. Sonia and Arlina talk about raising the bottom, separating the 12-step program from meeting culture, finding the right sponsor or guide, and why old recovery language can sometimes create resistance before people even get to the deeper wisdom underneath it. This episode breaks down Step One in a practical, accessible way: defining powerlessness and unmanageability, identifying patterns around moderation…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sonia Kahlon, Kathleen Killen

Guest: Arlina Allen

Topics covered

• 12 steps
• powerlessness
• recovery
• emotional sobriety
• women in recovery
• self-honesty

Keywords

• 12 steps
• powerlessness
• alcohol
• emotional sobriety
• recovery coach
• self-honesty
• high-functioning lives

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: One Day at a Time

Books & works: The 12 Steps for Skeptics

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