With honesty and a playful spirit, Nina brings deep presence and heart to the SHE RECOVERS community. Grounded in mindfulness and inspired by authentic connection, she creates spaces where people can show up exactly as they are. Whether she’s facilitating gatherings, sharing recovery tools through her coaching practice, or finding joy in everyday moments, her approach to healing is rooted in compassion, humor, and radical self-love.
She has recently been recognized as a SHE RECOVERS volunteer. SHE RECOVERS Gems are volunteers who their peers have acknowledged for their profound and life-altering contributions and service to our community.
We had the honor of interviewing Nina about her role as a SHE RECOVERS volunteer.
What does being a SHE RECOVERS Foundation volunteer mean to you?
Facilitating gatherings means the world to me! Grabbing a cup of tea and listening to the wisdom, challenges, laughter, and heart of this community is one of my favorite ways to start the day.
What made you want to become a SHE RECOVERS Foundation Volunteer?
I was so inspired by watching other volunteers and community members show up exactly as they are—messy, real, and so full of heart. It made me want to be part of that.
What three words would your friends or fellow volunteers use to describe you?
Playful, earnest (okay, maybe a little much), warm.
How do these aspects of who you are show up in your everyday life?
Giggling with my husband, chasing my pooch around the garden, sending silly memes to friends, sitting with trees, forgiving a rude stranger after a brief moment of annoyance, and laughing way too hard when a tall person takes a gentle tumble (as long as they’re okay!).
What is something of which you are proud?
Just showing up, really. Running my own little coaching practice, sharing mindfulness tools, and serving others with an open heart.
What do you do outside of your SRF Volunteer role for work and/or play?
Reading, baking, travel (I’m not really from any one place—I love noticing cultural quirks), rewatching comfort shows, getting lost in a good movie, and moving my body through hiking, dancing, and swimming.
What does radical self-care look like for you?
Honoring my sensitivity instead of numbing it, and showing up for myself like I would for a dear friend.
Tell us a little bit about your recovery journey. What are you recovering from? What tools and resources do you weave into your patchwork of recovery?
Mindfulness has been the foundation of my recovery for over 20 years. It teaches me to stay present, care for my nervous system, release past trauma, and remember that I belong. Taking things one day at a time (and often one breath at a time!) has also helped me stay sober since January 2024. Humor, play, and comedy are key, too—laughing at the human condition helps me see the magic that sits right alongside the darkness.
What or who is inspiring you right now?
Chelsea Peretti (my all-time fave comedian and a sober inspiration!), Thich Nhat Hanh, and Tara Brach for their teachings, Valerie June for her magical music, Louise Erdrich for her fiction, my fellow SHE RECOVERS friends, and my highly sensitive pooch, Mingus.
What SHE RECOVERS Intention & Guiding Principle resonates with you the most?
We understand that the practice of radical self-love is paramount to our well-being.
What is your favorite SHE RECOVERS resource?
I love them all, but the twice-daily SHE RECOVERS Together Online Gatherings and My Recovery Patchwork workbook have been the most powerful for me.
What is one piece of advice you would give to another woman/non-binary individual who is seeking a community like SHE RECOVERS?
You’ll see what I mean in my photo! I was at a bar recently and made a beeline for a cute dog instead of the drinks. Her owner ended up making me her guardian for the night. I had a blast—no cravings, just connection. So wherever you find yourself, look for your anchors: dogs, trees, sober friends, a cozy corner. They’re everywhere once you start noticing.
