Steven Washington: “My Recovery Is Non-Negotiabl...
How do we remain committed to staying sober when grief strikes, when stress becomes overwhelming, or when shame threatens to pull us back into old patterns?
This week on Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon welcomes Steven Washington, a former professional Broadway dancer who has transformed his 23-year recovery journey into a powerful practice of embodied healing. Steven is the author of Recovering You: Soul Care and Mindful Movement for Overcoming Addiction and creator of the SWE Studio, an online community offering movement and meditation support for people in recovery.
In this deeply personal interview, Tami and Steven explore:
- Why recovery must be “non-negotiable”—with no conditions attached, regardless of life’s challenges
- How shame operates as the linchpin of addiction and the healing power of sharing it with trusted others
- The connection between sensitivity and addiction, and how to transform sensitivity from vulnerability into strength
- Practical tools for creating a trigger plan that works for both small daily stressors and major life crises
- How Qigong and embodied practices help regulate the nervous system and process emotions held in the body
- The journey from inherited shame to self-compassion and authentic self-worth
- Why asking for help—practiced with small things—prepares us for life’s biggest challenges
- Developing a personal relationship with a higher power that feels authentic rather than inherited
If you’re navigating recovery, supporting someone who is, or seeking to understand the connection between embodiment and transformation, Steven offers both practical wisdom and profound compassion for the journey.
Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at https://www.join.soundstrue.com