Listen for free to a “Three Cups of Coffee and the Truth Interview” with Tommy Holmes, recorded during the 12 Step Music Fest in the Florida Keys.

Tommy is a natural talent that shines from the L.A. backdrop. Known for strong melodies and thoughtful lyrics, Tommy works hard to tell the truth in his songs on his self-titled CD, Tommy Holmes.

Recently, he was asked to write and record songs for the film 39 Pounds of Love. Tommy has also had several songs featured on national TV shows such as ABC’s The Nine, The WB’s Dawson’s Creek and UPN’s Jake 2.0.

In this episode of the Sober Cafe Podcast, Tommy shares about his musical background and some insights about his spiritual journey in recovery.

Click here to visit SoberCafePodcast.com.
Sponsored By: Sunlight of the Spirit Music

Benoit Denizet-Lewis is the author of America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life.

America Anonymous is the unforgettable story of eight men and women from around the country — including a grandmother, a college student, a bodybuilder, and a housewife — struggling with addictions.

For nearly three years, acclaimed journalist Benoit Denizet-Lewis immersed himself in their lives as they battled drug and alcohol abuse, overeating, and compulsive gambling and sexuality. Alternating with their stories is Denizet-Lewis’s candid account of his own recovery from sexual addiction and his compelling examination of our culture of addiction, where we obsessively search for new and innovative ways to escape the reality of the present moment and make ourselves feel “better.”

Are Americans more addicted than people in other countries, or does it just seem that way? Can food or sex be as addictive as alcohol and drugs? And will we ever be able to treat addiction with a pill? These are just a few of the questions Denizet-Lewis explores during his remarkable journey inside the lives of men and women struggling to become, or stay, sober.

As the addicts in this book stumble, fall, and try again to make a different and better life, Denizet-Lewis records their struggles — and his own — with honesty and empathy.

To listen to this insightful interview, please visit SoberCafePodcast.com.
Sponsored By: Sunlight of the Spirit Music

Using the power of music to support recovery from alcoholism and addiction in all its forms, SunlightOfTheSpirit.com offers the largest selection of 12-step and recovery music CDs anywhere on the planet.

Exclusively selling CDs by artists in recovery, SunlightOfTheSpirit.com was established in 2006, by Gracie Vandiver, to make the highest quality recordings of 12-step and recovery music only a mouse-click away.

A satisfied customer in the U.K. writes, “I have not been able to listen to my music during my recovery, too much association and takes my thoughts where I don’t want them to go (know what I mean?) - so these recovery CDs are the answer to my prayers. I can now play my air guitar and sing with gratitude, identification and sheer enjoyment, another gift of sobriety.”

Steadily growing during the past three years, this ‘little store that could’ now offers much of its diverse catalogue via MP3 downloads.

“By purchasing MP3s, our customers not only get instant gratification, but they get lower prices and no shipping fees,” says Vandiver. “If customers prefer owning physical CDs, SunlightOfTheSpirit.com still offers free shipping (within North America) when two or more are purchased at a time.”

A Google search for “recovery music” lists SunlightOfTheSpirit.com second, but it will always remain the first of its kind.

# # #

We love to hear from our customers. Somehow, it makes this whole virtual experience seem, well, less virtual. It allows us to have heart-felt connections.

Here’s what arrived recently in Sunlight of the Spirit Music’s inbox:

I have not been able to listen to my music during my recovery, too much association and takes my thoughts where I don’t want them to go (know what I mean?) - so these recovery CDs are the answer to my prayers. I can now play my air guitar and sing with gratitude, identification and sheer enjoyment, another gift of sobriety.
-Ian

Thank you, Ian! And thank you to all our loyal customers.

Adams’ music is a fusion of rock, folk, country, and blues - aka Americana. With stellar musicianship on her third CD, “Secret Heart,” and production by guitar veteran Nicholas Newell Kirgo (David Lynch, Vonda Shepard), “Secret Heart,” is a virtual who’s who of the L.A. music scene.

As host of the long running Americana Music Circle (Kulak’s Woodshed, Hollywood), she has shared the stage with some of the greatest talent from every corner of the globe.

More importantly, Lauren has been actively involved with local charitable events, including Hep C Aware (Hepatitis C awareness group), the House of Hope (shelter for women & families), Children of the Night (rescues runaway teens in Hollywood), along with benefit shows for musicians in need of health care.

Tune in to the Sober Cafe Podcast for a “Three Cups of Coffee and the Truth Interview” Sponsored by Sunlight of the Spirit Music.

Tune in to the Sober Cafe Podcast to hear Christopher Kennedy Lawford share his experience, strength, and hope with producer and host, Gracie Vandiver.

On February 17, 1986, after years of addiction and self-destruction, Christopher Kennedy Lawford reached a turning point in his life, one that would mark the beginning of his long road to recovery.

In his New York Times bestselling memoir, Symptoms of Withdrawal, he chronicled his deep descent into near-fatal drug and alcohol addiction, and his subsequent hard-won journey back to sobriety, which he has maintained for more than twenty years.

The overwhelming response he received to his book impressed upon Lawford the number of people struggling to find their own way back from addiction and the need to share their stories. There was no easy way out for any of them. They all had to go through a moment of humility, vulnerability, and transformation and choose to take that first step of the journey. And each had their own intensely personal moment that signaled a Before and an After.

The histories gathered in Moments of Clarity are the recollections of lives snatched back from the brink of a precipice so wide and deep it threatened to engulf them. As they bravely share their stories, they shed light not only on their own experiences but also on the journey we all take as human beings, looking to make sense of our world.

You are invited to participate in a Monthly Live Online Meditation Meeting presented by 11thStepMeditation.org.

This is a recurring 11th Step Meditation Meeting that meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 5:00 pm Pacific time for the purpose of bringing the 11th Step Meditation Community together live, online to share, learn and meditate together.

Meeting Format -
A leader shares about their experience with meditation in their recovery. They may suggest and guide a meditation format for the group to try, or just allow silence. There is a 20 minute meditation period. Meeting attendees may always meditate in the way they are most comfortable if they choose.

After the meditation, the meeting is opened up for sharing from attendees.

To share you will need either a microphone, if you are listening to the audio through the speakers on your computer, or share via the the phone, if you have called in to join and listen to the meeting.

Next Meeting
Date: Sunday, January 18, 2009
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PDT

Click here to learn more or register.

Click here for more info about the SpiritStep CD.

Winners of the U.S.A. Songwriting Competition were recently announced. (The competition’s name is misleading since it’s actually the world’s leading international songwriting competition.)

By My Own Hand, written by Jack Sundrud and Randy Handley, received an Honorable Mention! Congratulations Jack and Randy.

By My Own Hand is the title track on Jack Sundrud’s CD, By My Own Hand, one of Sunlight of the Spirit Music’s best selling CDs.

I’d like to wish you all very happy holidays, filled with love, joy, and kindness. In this amazing time of change, we’re seeing the veil being lifted throughout our society and the world as well.

We’ve seen unprecedented greed on personal and corporate levels, and at the same time, an amazing outpouring of positive energy. We are certainly at a crossroads with huge challenges in front of us. Many of us have lost whatever financial security we might have been able to accumulate, and there is much fear among us.

But it is times like these that character is built, both individually and as a nation. It is a time to go deep within, perhaps to re-evaluate our priorities, certainly to find a balance between left brain and right, between the pursuit of money and the pursuit of our unique creative expression. I feel grateful that life has somehow allowed me to follow my creative muse, and in doing so, I know it has helped me in so many other areas of my life.

I firmly believe that we are spiritual beings, and that our spirit is expressed through our creativity. To not express that spirit through the arts discounts a very important part of our being, and we become, I believe, somewhat unbalanced. Many of us have that voice inside that says, “I’ll never be as good as So And So, so why should I even bother to try?”

The answer, I have found, is that it’s not about comparing, it’s about DOING, about expressing oneself as best as possible. As the old cliche’ so wisely states: “It’s not about the results, it’s about the process”. And that process is magic in balancing those two sides of the brain.

So much of the madness we’re seeing is a result of this unbalance, a convoluted use of brain-power to achieve ends that ultimately do not serve us as a society - from war and violence to unprecedented profits and greed for some while so many others are struggling just to maintain.

Because we can only truly change ourselves, I support you in following your creative path during this coming year. No, don’t give up your day job! But perhaps, if you haven’t already, you can find an outlet for your creativity, something that’s not about results, but about process, about your individual expression of your very unique spirit. Because as Martha Graham said, “If you don’t do it, no one else will, because you are the only YOU that exists”.

CREATIVITY - that is what I wish you in the coming year - along with a healthy dose of love, kindness, good health, and good luck.

Peace,
Freebo

As independent recordings artists, none of the artists in our store are backed by a big major label’s promotional machinery - - and that means we need your help to spread the word about our music even more!

By helping us increase our visibility on the Internet, you’re giving artists in recovery support for their music and their sobriety!

And you’re helping folks in recovery from alcoholism and addiction in all its forms learn about our music and other valuable resources within the recovery community.

Please visit Digg.com and digg us!
(Even the smallest amount of effort can make a difference.)