"My Dog Has Rights Too": Why We Need More Good Stories"My Dog Has Rights Too": Why We Need More Good Stories
Busy Living Sober with Host Elizabeth Chance
Elizabeth "Bizzy" Chance reflects on the huge response to a recent feel-good reunion story, linking it to themes of addiction, sobriety, faith and everyday gratitude. She contrasts fear and division with love, boundaries and the choice to focus on positive, uplifting stories in recovery.
16:33•13 Oct 2026
My Dog Has Rights Too: Why Good News Matters in Sobriety and Everyday Life
Episode Overview
- Good news stories can offer vital relief and hope, especially for people dealing with addiction and life stress.
- Fame does not make anyone more valuable; everyone’s story and recovery journey matters equally.
- Concerns about addiction being ‘passed down’ are real, but there are solutions and paths to sobriety.
- Peace often comes from turning control over to a higher power and accepting that others cannot be changed by force.
- Limiting fear-based media and practising gratitude for simple things can support serenity in sober life.
“We have to love one another… My decision does not warrant me not having friends.”
What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This chat with Elizabeth “Bizzy” Chance shows how much a simple feel-good story can matter when life feels heavy.
Fresh off the viral response to episode 680, where her childhood friend Michael Gessling shared that his birth father is Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers, Bizzy talks about why people kept saying, “I needed a happy story.” She reminds you that Michael is “just a regular guy,” and that fame doesn’t make anyone more important or more worthy than anyone else.
You’ll hear her reflect on generational addiction, Michael McDonald’s sobriety, and that powerful moment when he asked his son, “Are you an addict? Are you okay?” Bizzy relates this to her own recovery, her 12-step work, and the relief of having “a solution today” for addiction in her life. In classic Bizzy fashion, there’s also a slightly hilarious, slightly maddening story from the dog beach, featuring a woman who insists, “My dog has rights too,” while her dog attacks others.
Bizzy uses it as a metaphor: if you know something (or someone) doesn’t feel safe, why force it into stressful situations? That question extends to social media, news, and all the fear-based content that can hijack your peace. This episode leans into themes of love, faith, and everyday gratitude: clean water, food in the fridge, waking up sober.
Bizzy talks candidly about turning her will over to God, accepting she can’t control other people, and choosing to look for the “light” instead of getting stuck in anger and doomscrolling. If you’ve been craving more good news, gentle honesty, and a reminder that “you are not alone,” this one might feel like a deep breath. What feel-good story could you share today?
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