I own it, I did that, not proud, but that was me, and when I face it, I take back a little dignity, not looking for excuses, I just want to be free from power.

Weakness had on me.

Free, free, free, free, free.

Hi, everyone, and welcome to the bubble hour where real people tell real stories of addiction

and recovery. I'm Gene McCarthy, author and blogger over at Unpickled. I've been telling my story there

since my first day of sobriety nine years ago, and I hold space for your stories here. Well, today I'm thrilled to talk with

a fellow author and blogger, the charming, warm, funny Claire Pooley. Claire's blog, Mommy, was a

secret drinker, began in 2015, and formed the basis for her first book, a memoir called The Sober

Diaries. It was such a huge success, and her second

book, a novel called The Authenticity Project, is now available. It's sure to be a huge hit as well.

Here's my recent chat with Claire Pooley. Claire Pooley, welcome to the bubble hour. Thank you, Jean.

I'm so pleased to be here.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am about this moment.

Well, I'm having a little bit of a surreal excitement, too, to think that we're actually speaking.

You know, we could sort of swim in the same warm bath of the recovery-friendly internet,

and yet here we are connecting.

What a delight to have you here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, as I said, I'm thrilled to be here and all over the other side of the pond.

So it's morning your time and it's evening mine.

Yes, that's right.

...