Episode 636 Kava for Anxiety? Morgan Smith on Kava, Kratom, Alcohol Alternatives, and RecoveryEpisode 636 Kava for Anxiety? Morgan Smith on Kava, Kratom, Alcohol Alternatives, and Recovery
Busy Living Sober with Host Elizabeth Chance
Elizabeth “Bizzy” Chance speaks with Morgan Smith about kava, comparing it with kratom, alcohol and marijuana while reflecting on personal definitions of sobriety. The conversation focuses on anxiety relief, harm reduction and the ethical side of kava sourcing for people interested in alcohol-free living.
32:56•30 Apr 2026
Kava, Kratom and Sobriety Lines with Morgan Smith
Episode Overview
- Kava is presented as a non‑physically addictive plant drink that some people use for relaxation and anxiety, but Morgan stresses it is an option, not a cure.
- Kratom is described as acting on opioid receptors and being very physically addictive, and Morgan criticises products that secretly mix it with kava.
- Bizzy shares a strict personal definition of sobriety (no mind‑altering drugs) while recognising others may choose differently, highlighting individual responsibility.
- Morgan questions heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals after experiencing blackout‑like effects from benzodiazepines and seeking alternatives that leave him clear‑headed.
- Both emphasise simple daily connections – family time, walking, quiet thinking – as key tools for stress relief alongside or instead of any substances.
“"I’m here to just present it as an option, but not a solution, certainly."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This conversation between host Elizabeth “Bizzy” Chance and Morgan Smith, CEO of Kalm with Kava, gives a grounded look at one increasingly popular option: kava. Morgan shares how a tech career, a close friend’s death, and his own anxiety led him into the kava world and ultimately into running farms in Hawaii and sourcing directly from South Pacific growers.
He explains, in plain language, what kava actually is: a shrub root drink used for around 3,000 years in Pacific cultures for relaxation and connection. As he puts it, kava “helps to relax you… it’s not physically addictive,” and for him it fits because he doesn’t want anything that turns him into “a zombie or a slave to it.” For a recovery-focused audience, the heart of the chat is the sober grey area.
The pair also unpack common confusion between kava and kratom, with Morgan calling out “unscrupulous companies” that mix the two and pointing out that kratom acts on opioid receptors and can be “very physically addictive.” Marijuana, benzodiazepines and prescription meds all get a reality check too, with both guests questioning how “legal” automatically became “safe.” Lighter moments come as Morgan jokes that kava tastes like “medicinal mud water” and shares hacks for making it drinkable, plus his go‑to “natural sober high” of annoying his teenage daughter and walking the dogs.
Bizzy shares her own definition of sobriety – no mind‑altering drugs, but plenty of herbal tea – while Morgan openly admits he’s wary of saying kava is for everyone in recovery. He stresses kava as an option, “but not a solution, certainly,” and repeatedly notes he’s not a doctor or sobriety expert. If you’re sober, sober‑curious, or just anxious and curious about kava, this chat might help you ask better questions before you add anything new to your toolbox.
What would your own definition of sober look like after hearing this?
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