Food, Alcohol, Trauma & Recovery With Alle Hall

On this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen sit down with Alle C. Hall, an author, speaker, and writing instructor with over 35 years in recovery from bulimia, compulsive overeating, alcoholism, and sexual anorexia. Her debut novel, As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back, has earned multiple awards and is even included in the staff libraries of major treatment centers. But beyond the accolades, Alle’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and finding joy after trauma.Alle opens up about her journey through addiction, the ways trauma shaped her relationship with food, alcohol, and intimacy, and how creativity became a key part of her healing. She shares how a "geographic cure" led her to Tokyo, where she unexpectedly found a recovery community, and how she later navigated motherhood, deep depression, and even a relapse after 27 years of sobriety. Through it all, she’s built a life rooted in hope, healing, and self-expression.This conversation covers so much—why addiction often shifts between different compulsive behaviors, the importance of spirituality in recovery (even if you don’t know what that looks like for you yet), and how to navigate the shame that so often lingers after trauma. Alle also gets real about what it means to heal from sexual anorexia, how she rebuilt trust and intimacy, and why she’s passionate about helping others use writing as a tool for self-discovery.From early struggles with food and body image to finding her voice through writing, Alle’s story is full of lessons on resilience and self-compassion. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to truly heal from trauma, this episode is proof that recovery is not just about survival—it’s about rediscovering joy, creativity, and a life that feels fully your own.Some of the highlights from this episode:How childhood trauma shaped her addictions and recovery journeyThe unexpected way she found a recovery community in TokyoWhy addiction is often just a symptom of deeper issuesHow Tai Chi, therapy, and DBT became crucial tools for healingThe unique challenges of food addiction and learning moderationWhat sexual anorexia is and how she worked through itThe role of spirituality in recovery—even when it feels complicatedHow creativity and storytelling can be powerful tools for healingThis is a deep, inspiring, and sometimes funny conversation that reminds us that healing isn’t linear—but it is possible.Connect with Alle C. Hall:InstagramWebsiteLinks:Sisters in Sobriety Substack – where we share more tips, resources, and communitySisters in Sobriety EmailSisters in Sobriety InstagramKathleen’s Website (Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast.)Kathleen’s InstagramOur Sponsors:* Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code SIS2025 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sisters-in-sobriety/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy