In this episode, Amy dives into the concept of “The Privilege of Struggle.” Through candid storytelling, she reflects on her journey from evangelical rigidity to authentic spirituality, the ongoing path of recovery, and the nuanced realities of motherhood with ADHD. Amy shares raw, humorous, and heartfelt anecdotes—ranging from surviving childhood mishaps to navigating sobriety—that illuminate how facing life’s struggles can be both clarifying and empowering.

Key Points:

• The Privilege of Struggle: Amy reframes personal challenges not as setbacks but as growth opportunities that offer new perspectives and deepen empathy.

• Spiritual Transformation: Moving away from dogmatic evangelicalism, Amy shares how embracing uncertainty and “not knowing” has enriched her sense of God, connection, and recovery.

• Authentic Recovery: Drawing from her sobriety since 2011, Amy explains how being present—rather than numbing with alcohol—has allowed her to experience genuine “light bulb moments” and stronger relationships.

• Motherhood & Safe Struggle: Amy candidly explores the balancing act of motherhood, emphasizing the importance (and difficulty) of letting her kids face their own struggles to foster resilience, problem-solving, and empowerment.

• The Mary Feral Summer: Inspired by a childhood neighbor, Amy encourages the celebration of small pleasures (like poolside relaxation) and healthy boundaries—reminding listeners that self-care and modeling independence matter.

• Lessons from Adversity: Sharing a formative teenage misadventure, Amy illustrates how overcoming obstacles (often without easy solutions) rewires the brain, cultivates self-trust, and sparks “post-traumatic growth.”

• Owning Mistakes: Amy openly discusses moments when she didn’t get it right as a parent, highlighting the strength and deeper relationships that come from making amends and showing vulnerability.

• Embracing Imperfection: With humor and honesty, Amy dismantles the myth of “having it all together,” encouraging listeners to see their experiences, scars, and struggles as sources of light and authenticity.

Hosted by Amy Liz Harrison

Buy Amy’s Books: https://amzn.to/3ys8nuv

http://amylizharrison.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Lgxy8F

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3vHHHoi

#EternallyAmy #PriviledgeOfStruggle #RecoveryJourney #Spirituality #Motherhood #ADHD #Sobriety #PersonalGrowth #Authenticity #Resilience #Vulnerability #Parenting #SelfCare #EternallyAmy

Your story—the raw, the real, the unresolved—is your message. Take what you like and leave the rest behind.

Sobriety teaches us a lot about boundaries—how to set them, how to honor them, and how to recognize when they’re being crossed. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, we find ourselves stuck in old patterns—especially in places where we’re just trying to help.

In this week’s episode of Eternally Amy, I dig into what I call “Volunteering Voodoo”—that strange space where service, faith, guilt, and the desire to belong get all tangled up. If you’ve ever felt burned out, manipulated, or just plain exhausted by your volunteer work, especially in a church, nonprofit, or school, you’re not alone.

And if you’re doing all that while in recovery? It can get even trickier.

When Overgiving Becomes Overwhelming

For many of us in recovery, service is sacred. It’s part of how we stay sober. But what happens when that service starts to mirror the unhealthy patterns we’re working to leave behind?

In this episode, I share some personal and raw reflections on:

• Volunteer burnout and the pressure to be “always available”

• People-pleasing dressed up as “being of service”

• Manipulation and guilt in faith-based communities

• The need to belong, and how it can cloud our judgment

• Saying “no” as an act of self-care and empowerment

What 12-Step Programs Get Right

One of the biggest takeaways for me has been the contrast between unhealthy volunteer environments and the non-hierarchical, mutual respect found in 12-step programs. Nobody’s above anyone else. There are no medals for martyrdom. And there’s no shame in stepping back when you need to.

That’s the kind of structure I now seek out—and hope to help others recognize, too.

Permission to Walk Away

If volunteering is making you feel drained, resentful, or like you’re not enough unless you’re overextending yourself—pause. Ask yourself: Is this actually helping me grow, or am I shrinking to fit in?

Here’s the truth I’m still learning in recovery: You’re allowed to walk away. You’re allowed to protect your peace. And you don’t owe anyone access to your time, your energy, or your emotional labor.

Tune In

Give the episode a listen if you’ve ever struggled with the tension between faith, recovery, and wanting to do good—but not at the expense of your own wellbeing. (Episode airs May 26th)

🎧 Listen to “Volunteering Voodoo” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📚 Grab my books on sobriety and healing here

🌐 More from me at amylizharrison.com

Amy Liz Harrison is a bestselling author, podcast host, and proud sober mom of eight. She’s passionate about recovery, mental health, and creating honest conversations about life after alcohol. Find her on Instagram @amylizharrison.

What does it mean to get sober—not just from alcohol, but from denial, from ego, from deeply ingrained patterns of thought and behavior?

That’s the question author and activist Ted Neill wrestles with in one of the most powerful episodes of Eternally Amy to date. In this interview with host Amy Liz Harrison, a sober mom of eight and longtime 12-step devotee, Ted gets radically honest about his recovery, his mental health struggles, and his decision to write the 600+ page personal reckoning titled: My Name Is Ted and I’m a Racist: How a Bunch of Sober Alcoholics Gave Me Tools to Confront My Racial Biases

(Yes, that’s really the title.)

But this isn’t just a story about race. It’s a story about sobriety as a spiritual practice. About owning your s**t. About the life-changing power of humility, and how a room full of sober alcoholics gave one man the tools to confront his deepest blind spots.

If you’re in recovery and wrestling with how to navigate hard conversations without losing your serenity, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

Listen Now

🎧 Eternally Amy: Spirituality, Social Justice, Love & Connection – Featuring Ted Neill Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. (link - waiting for episode to air)

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—your feedback helps connect more sober seekers to life-changing conversations.

More about Ted:

My Name Is Ted and I’m a Racist — available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/c1gWZl0

tedneillauthor.com

@therealauthortedneill

Ted Neill – Author: facebook.com/therealauthortedneill