The Sober Edge: Recent Episodes
Teri Patterson
Are you ready to explore the ‘edge’ you get from not drinking? Are you curious if not drinking will really change your life for the better? Wondering what to do with all of your energy and mental clarity now that you’re not drinking? Join your host Teri Patterson, certified This Naked Mind Senior Coach and functional nutritionist as she interviews men and women who have let go of drinking alcohol and created a life of passion, purpose and joy! Teri brings you tips, tactics and practical knowledge from her work helping people change their relationship with alcohol and take their life to the next level. Want to run a marathon, write a book, create true wellness, or start a business? Get ready to be motivated, inspired and astounded by what is possible with The Sober Edge.
Seven years ago, I walked into a church basement in Colorado to become part of the very first This Naked Mind coaching certification. I had no idea how much that weekend would change my life.
In this episode, I'm looking back at everything that happened after that—from coaching hundreds of clients, building my own business, and working alongside incredible mentors to discovering that some of my biggest lessons came from changing my mind.
I share the coaching philosophy that has stayed with me, the approach I've completely shifted over the years, and why experience has taught me that one clear decision can change everything.
Whether you're alcohol-free, thinking about becoming alcohol-free, or simply curious about how people grow over time, I hope this conversation reminds you that evolution isn't a sign you were wrong—it means you're still learning. SHOW NOTES
What happens after you've been alcohol-free for years?
For many of us, that's when the real adventure begins.
In this heartfelt conversation, Terri welcomes back Michelle Plant—over seven years alcohol-free—to talk about the unexpected evolution that happens after alcohol is no longer taking center stage. Together they explore identity, creativity, play, grief, laughter, and the freedom to become more than one version of yourself.
Michelle shares how sobriety opened the door to stand-up comedy, storytelling, and creating a live show called This Might Hurt a Little, where people read letters they were never meant to send. Along the way, the conversation turns toward the recent loss of Michelle's mother, the courage of grieving without numbing, and the surprising gifts that can emerge when we're willing to stay present for both joy and heartbreak.
This episode is a beautiful reminder that alcohol-free living isn't about finding your final identity—it's about giving yourself permission to keep evolving.
SHOW NOTES Here
Link to previous episode with Michelle
What if self-sabotage isn't really sabotage at all?
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri Patterson explores how many of the behaviors we criticize—procrastination, perfectionism, avoidance, people-pleasing, and even shutting down—may actually be nervous system strategies designed to keep us safe.
Drawing on neuroscience, nervous system regulation, and her own experience after more than ten years alcohol-free, Teri explains why growth can feel threatening, why we return to familiar patterns, and how compassion creates lasting change far more effectively than criticism ever could.
Rather than asking, "What's wrong with me?" this episode invites listeners to ask a different question: "What is this behavior trying to protect me from?"
It's a conversation about moving from fear to curiosity, from judgment to understanding, and creating the safety our brains need to build new pathways forward. Show Notes HERE
What if the problem isn't that you need more willpower?
In this solo episode, Teri explores one of the biggest myths in alcohol-free living: the idea that lasting change comes from simply trying harder. Drawing on neuroscience, habit formation, nervous system regulation, and practical real-life strategies, she explains why willpower is a limited resource—and why successful alcohol-free living depends on needing less of it.
You'll learn how alcohol impacts the brain's reward system, why stress and fatigue make cravings feel stronger, and how simple changes to your routines, environment, and support systems can dramatically reduce the amount of willpower you need to rely on.
If you've ever worried that you just don't have enough discipline, this episode offers a refreshing and hopeful perspective: it's not about becoming stronger. It's about learning to support yourself - differently. SHOW NOTES HERE
This week on The Sober Edge, I'm joined by my friend Lauren Fay for a conversation that feels honest, thoughtful, and deeply human.
Lauren shares the story behind her memoir Blurred Lines—why she chose to move beyond a traditional coaching book and instead tell the truth through story. We talk about identity shifts, visibility, family dynamics, self-trust, nervous system healing, and what really happens after we stop drinking.
What I loved most about this conversation is that it isn't about perfection or polished transformation. It's about the blurry middle. The becoming. The messy, beautiful work of building a life we no longer want to escape from.
We also explore:
- why story connects more deeply than advice
- the difference between escaping your life vs. escaping yourself
- how alcohol disconnects us from self-love
- the courage it takes to be truly seen
- the "throughline" of who we've always been
- why sobriety isn't conditional on life being easy
Lauren's story is powerful, but the deeper message is universal: there is so much more available to us than simply "fine."
Show Notes HERE
If you've ever felt disconnected from your intuition after stepping away from alcohol, you're not alone.
In this solo episode, Teri explores what intuition actually is (hint: it's biological, not mystical), how alcohol dulls our internal signals, and why things can feel confusing or "loud" in early alcohol-free living.
You'll learn how your nervous system, brain, and body work together to create intuitive awareness—and how to gently rebuild trust in yourself through simple, everyday practices.
This is a conversation about coming back to yourself… one signal at a time.
SHOW NOTES HERE
In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, Teri sits down with award-winning actress Patricia Heaton to explore what really happens when alcohol is no longer part of your life—and what can take its place.
From subtle signs of "gray area drinking" to the moment that shifted everything, Patricia shares her personal journey to becoming alcohol-free. But what makes this conversation especially compelling is what came next.
Out of her own desire to preserve the ritual and enjoyment of wine—without the downsides—Patricia co-created Solubrae, a thoughtfully crafted alcohol-free wine designed to bring elegance, flavor, and intention back to the experience.
Together, Teri and Patricia explore identity, midlife reinvention, emotional resilience, and the beauty of creating something new—both in life and in the glass.
Show notes HERE (and a special coupon code for 20% of your own bottle of Solubrae)
What if your purpose isn't something you have to chase—but something you return to?
In this conversation, Teri sits down with Peggy Cooney and Brigitta Dau to explore the idea of your "North Star"—your internal compass rooted in your core values.
They unpack what happens after alcohol is out of the way, why alignment feels energizing (even when it's hard), and how to recognize when you're drifting off course.
This episode is a powerful reminder that you don't need a perfect plan—you just need to come back to what's true. Show Notes HERE
In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Yager to explore what's really underneath the behaviors we're trying to change—whether it's alcohol, food, or patterns we just can't seem to break.
We talk about the idea of "alchemy"—not as something mystical, but as the very real process of transforming our hardest experiences into something meaningful.
Deborah shares her personal story of addiction, identity, and transformation, and we explore how tools like neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), curiosity, and nervous system awareness can help us shift not just what we do—but who we believe ourselves to be.
This conversation moves beyond willpower and into something deeper:
👉 the patterns
👉 the language
👉 the identity
👉 and the parts of ourselves we've learned to judge
If you've ever felt stuck in a cycle—or wondered why behavior change can feel so hard—this one will open something up. SHOW NOTES HERE
In this solo episode of The Sober Edge, Teri shares a powerful story from Mark Nepo about a simple monkey trap: a coconut filled with rice that monkeys refuse to release, even when letting go would set them free.
It's a striking metaphor for many of the beliefs we hold about alcohol.
For many of us, alcohol begins as something that feels helpful—relief, belonging, confidence, a way to take the edge off life. But over time, what once felt like a gift can quietly become the thing that keeps us stuck. Often the hardest part isn't stopping the behavior; it's releasing the beliefs wrapped around it.
Teri explores why letting go can feel so difficult through the lens of neuroscience and nervous system safety. Our brains prefer familiar discomfort over unfamiliar freedom, which can make even healthy change feel risky.
This episode invites you to gently examine the "rice" you may still be gripping—whether that's alcohol, identity, perfectionism, or long-held beliefs about what life is supposed to look like.
Because sometimes freedom doesn't require force or discipline.
Sometimes it simply requires opening your hand.
What if the party was never in the glass?
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri Patterson is joined by Evan Cudworth—known as The Party Coach—for a refreshing and deeply honest conversation about fun, belonging, and identity in an alcohol-free life.
Together, they explore why so many of us associate alcohol with connection, confidence, and celebration—and what happens when we remove it. Evan shares his seven-stage framework for "finding the party within," a process that shifts us from consumption to creation, from armoring up to authentic presence.
This conversation challenges the idea that alcohol is the gateway to joy and offers a powerful reframe: connection, play, and even messiness are still available—without numbing or escaping.
If you've ever worried that life might get smaller without alcohol, this episode offers a very different possibility.
SHOW NOTES HERE
Olympians don't rely on willpower — they rely on training.
In this episode, Teri Patterson explores how elite athletes approach identity, discipline, recovery, and nervous system regulation — and why those same principles are essential for building a lasting alcohol-free life. Rather than pushing through cravings or "trying harder," alcohol-free living becomes a practice of conditioning the brain and body for safety, consistency, and long-term reward.
This episode reframes discomfort as part of healing, discipline as freedom, and recovery as the place where real transformation happens — offering a powerful new lens for anyone navigating life without alcohol.
SHOW NOTES
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri Patterson welcomes coach and Reiki master Brigitta Dau for a soulful conversation about what healing truly looks like after alcohol.
Rather than focusing only on behavior change, Brigitta invites us into a holistic model of recovery—one that integrates the mind, body, and soul. She explains how alcohol blocks intuition, disrupts nervous system safety, and disconnects us from our bodies, making it nearly impossible to trust ourselves.
Together, Teri and Brigitta explore how creativity, play, Reiki, and community act as powerful regulators of the nervous system. They discuss why crafting, knitting, gardening, and other tactile practices are not frivolous—but essential for completing the stress cycle and restoring emotional balance.
They also dive into trauma-informed healing, the neuroscience of play, co-regulation, intuition, and why your original "why" for quitting alcohol must evolve as your life expands.
This episode is a powerful reminder that alcohol-free living isn't about deprivation—it's about coming home to yourself. SHOW NOTES HERE
Episode 200 is a celebration — and a reflection.
In this milestone solo episode, Teri shares the distinction that has shaped her alcohol-free journey and her work with clients: the difference between becoming alcohol-free and living alcohol-free.
Drawing on her own 10-year journey, coaching experience, and hundreds of podcast conversations, Teri explores how the early stages of stopping drinking focus on tools and support — while the later stages invite us into deeper self-trust, emotional regulation, values-based living, and purpose.
This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered:
"Is this it?"
"Why does this still feel uncomfortable?"
"What comes next?"
The answer: life — fully lived.
SHOW NOTES HERE
December 31 carries a lot of pressure — to reset, resolve, and reinvent.
In this episode, Teri Patterson invites listeners to take a gentler, more grounded approach to the new year.
Through the lens of nervous system science and identity-based change, she explores why real transformation doesn't begin with a calendar date — and why becoming alcohol-free (and living alcohol-free) teaches us how to carry wisdom forward instead of starting over.
This episode is a reflection on roots, identity, and the quiet power of honoring who you already are as you step into what's next. SHOW NOTES HERE Join 26 for 26 - Free Community Event
What if you didn't have to climb your way to alcohol freedom — what if you were already there?
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri talks with Nigel Jones about the identity shift that makes alcohol-free living feel natural, expansive, and deeply aligned. Drawing on NLP, hypnotherapy, and lived experience, Nigel explains why changing how you see yourself changes everything — and why the mental battle disappears when identity leads the way.
This is a conversation about becoming, not depriving. About clarity, not control. And about what's possible when you stop negotiating and start living.
Show Notes HERE
What if you didn't have to climb your way to alcohol freedom — what if you were already there?
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri talks with Nigel Bruce about the identity shift that makes alcohol-free living feel natural, expansive, and deeply aligned. Drawing on NLP, hypnotherapy, and lived experience, Nigel explains why changing how you see yourself changes everything — and why the mental battle disappears when identity leads the way.
This is a conversation about becoming, not depriving. About clarity, not control. And about what's possible when you stop negotiating and start living.
Show Notes HERE
How to Calm the F Down (Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn)
In this candid and neuroscience-backed episode, Teri breaks down how to "Calm the F Down" by understanding the four core nervous system states—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—and how they influence behavior, urges, and emotional patterns in alcohol-free living. Drawing on her recent trauma-informed nervous system certification, she reveals how alcohol numbs dysregulation, why early AF life can feel overwhelming, and how simple body-based tools help restore safety, self-trust, and emotional clarity.
Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of their own patterns, why their nervous system reacts the way it does, and how to begin regulating from the inside out. This is essential listening for anyone wanting to move from hypervigilance, shutdown, or people-pleasing into grounded, confident alcohol-free living.
If you've ever said, "I don't know what happened—I just found myself drinking," this episode is for you! Shownotes HERE
In today's episode, Teri welcomes author Ian Fee to discuss his book Wild Ride to Sobriety—a raw, honest, and hopeful look at what it really means to take responsibility for your healing.
Together, they dive into:
- Ian's "wild ride" years and the moment he knew something needed to change
- The turning point where responsibility stopped feeling like blame and started feeling like liberation
- Why recovery isn't linear and the stages Ian now recognizes in hindsight
- How identity shifts happen over time (and why early sobriety often feels like a personality remodel)
- The brain science of change, including prediction error, rewards pathways, and rebuilding self-trust
- Why loving your sober life is not an accident—and the habits, community, and mindset that help
Show Notes Here
In this milestone episode of The Sober Edge Podcast, Teri Patterson, The Sober Nutritionist, celebrates her 10-year alcohol-free anniversary with a heartfelt reflection on the journey that changed everything.
She shares 3 promises she's made to herself, 2 changes that surprised her, and 5 lessons that continue to guide her life — blending personal story with practical wisdom.
From the way our brains learn safety and joy, to how community becomes the real secret ingredient, this episode is a love letter to growth, grace, and staying the course.
🎧 Listen to learn why healing is seasonal, how clarity becomes addictive in the best way, and why time — not alcohol — is the real luxury.
Full Show Notes HERE
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri sits down with Nancy McKay — certified Equus Coach, author, and creator of the BRAVE framework. Nancy shares how horses help us reconnect to truth and emotional honesty, guiding people in recovery to rediscover self-trust and empowerment.
Together, Teri and Nancy explore the five pillars of BRAVE— Belief, Resilience, Authenticity, Voice, and Empowerment — and how these qualities transform the way we live, lead, and love in sobriety.
Whether you're early in your alcohol-free journey or walking confidently in recovery, this conversation invites you to step into your authentic power — one brave choice at a time.
FULL SHOW NOTES HERE
We’ve all heard it: “If you’re drinking five nights a week, cut back to three.” It sounds like a reasonable step, but here’s the truth—your brain doesn’t heal from “just less.” In fact, even small amounts of alcohol keep your reward circuitry, stress hormones, and sleep disrupted.
In this episode, I dive into:
- How alcohol hijacks dopamine and why cutting back doesn’t restore balance
- The pain-pleasure seesaw (Dr. Anna Lembke’s research) and why even one drink tips it
- Why your stress, sleep, and mental clarity don’t truly improve until abstinence
- The powerful stats that prove there’s no safe level of drinking
- A reframe: how choosing alcohol-free is not deprivation but the gateway to freedom
I also talk about the word abstinence—why it can feel heavy, clinical, or judgment-laden, and how we might meet it with curiosity instead of resistance.
Whether you’re exploring your own alcohol-free path or supporting others, this episode gives you the science and the inspiration to see why “just one less” keeps us stuck.
Show Notes
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Adriana Marchione joins me to explore how art in all its forms can be a powerful tool for healing and recovery. Adriana shares her journey from movement and dance into formal training in Expressive Arts Therapy, and how creativity helps us reconnect with ourselves, regulate our nervous systems, and discover unexpected insights. We talk about the accessibility of creativity—even for those who don’t see themselves as “artists”—and how it can open a pathway to deeper healing in an alcohol-free life. Full Show Notes Here
On this episode of The Sober Edge, I’m joined by Amber Hollingsworth, a family recovery expert who has spent nearly 20 years helping loved ones find a path through the chaos of addiction. Amber is known for her refreshingly direct and practical approach—what she jokingly calls being “a little bossy.”
Instead of leaving families guessing at what to do or say, Amber offers clear, actionable guidance that can ease tension, reduce resentment, and create real change. We talk about how families can support their loved ones without losing themselves, why trying to “always say the right thing” can backfire, and what to do instead.
Amber also introduces her exciting new tool, Amber AI—a way for families to get her wisdom on demand, right when they need it most.
This is a conversation full of hope, honesty, and the kind of advice that meets families where they really are.
SHOW NOTES HERE
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri explores Mel Robbins’ viral Let Them Theory—a simple yet powerful mindset shift that can transform the way you navigate relationships, boundaries, and joy in your alcohol-free life.
Learn how letting go of control and other people’s opinions can bring more ease, excitement, and emotional freedom to your AF journey.
Show Notes Here
In this inspiring episode of The Sober Edge, I sit down with Sophia Graniela, founder of Her Journey Home, to explore two powerful pathways to self-reconnection: sober travel and EFT tapping. Sophia shares how her alcohol-free journey opened the door to deeper emotional healing and authentic exploration—both on the road and within. We discuss how travel becomes a mirror when done with intention, and how Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) helps regulate the nervous system, clear emotional blocks, and support us in returning to our true selves. Whether you're curious about tapping or dreaming of your next soul-nourishing adventure, this episode is your invitation to come home to who you really are. Show Notes Here
In this episode of The Sober Edge, we dive into the nervous system's survival responses—Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn—and explore how each one can unconsciously drive our alcohol use.
Teri breaks down what each state looks and feels like in everyday life, and how recognizing our default response can be the first step toward healing and true emotional regulation without reaching for a drink.
Tune in for the key to your own patterns, and, explore your healing journey. Show Notes HERE
What if trusting your gut started with feeding it better?
In this episode of The Sober Edge, host Teri Patterson takes listeners on a journey from the microbiome to mindfulness.
You'll discover how gut health directly impacts your ability to think clearly, regulate emotions, and even access intuition. Teri shares simple strategies for feeding your gut with food variety and fiber, and she connects the dots between physical nourishment and emotional insight—offering a whole-body perspective on self-trust and sobriety.
This episode is both science-based and soul-filled, perfect for anyone on the alcohol-free path ready to feel more grounded, clear, and connected.
Full Show Notes HERE
In this special solo episode, I share a behind-the-scenes update from my own alcohol-free journey and entrepreneurial life.
I reflect on my word of the year—flow—and how it continues to guide me through the messy middle of seeking balance, recalibrating priorities, and tuning in to what really matters.
Join me for a heart-to-heart check-in on rest, resistance, and finding a new rhythm that supports soul care, not just self-care.
Whether you're in a season of full steam ahead or slow integration, this episode is your gentle reminder: you’re not behind, you’re exactly where you need to be.
Full Show Notes Here
In this episode of The Sober Edge, host Teri Patterson explores the often-overlooked journey of rebuilding trust—starting with ourselves. With insights from Dr. Nicole LePera’s How To Meet Yourself, Teri explains how nervous system states influence our ability to feel safe and connected, and how learning to interpret bodily cues is the first step toward healing trust—both inward and outward. If you’ve ever struggled to know what’s “safe” in recovery, this episode is for you.
Show Notes HERE
In this episode, I’m sharing my experience attending Sober in the City, a vibrant alcohol-free weekend in Scottsdale, packed with friendship, fun, and deeply healing conversations. From nervous system regulation to trauma recovery, the event spotlighted powerful topics while offering the gift of true connection. Join me as I reflect on how these moments reinforce the joy and richness of living alcohol-free.
- My personal reflections from attending Sober in the City in Scottsdale
- The magic of meeting alcohol-free women in person
- Conversations on nervous system regulation, trauma, and community healing
- How events like this support us in rewiring our relationship to socializing
- The joy of experiencing laughter, dancing, and connection—without alcohol
- Why these gatherings matter for long-term alcohol-free living
Full Show Notes HERE
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri explores a powerful truth about the alcohol-free journey: after the chaos and drama of drinking, peace can feel... flat. Many people in early sobriety wonder if they’ve lost their spark or if boredom is the new normal. But what if this stillness is actually the foundation for something deeper — clarity, calm, and true contentment?
You’ll hear about:
- Why drinking creates a false sense of excitement
- How the nervous system reacts to calm after chronic overstimulation
- Why “boredom” might actually mean “discomfort with stillness”
- The mindset shift that reframes peace as powerful
- Tools for finding joy and purpose in a slower, steadier life
Whether you're just starting your alcohol-free path or supporting others on theirs, this conversation will help you embrace the quiet victories and reimagine what it means to feel alive — without chaos.
FULL SHOW NOTES
What happens after you remove alcohol — but you're still left wondering, Now what?
In this solo episode, Teri opens up about the unexpected truth of alcohol-free living: that quitting drinking doesn’t instantly solve everything... in fact, it often stirs up new (and better) questions.
From navigating discomfort to stepping outside your old comfort zone, Teri explores what it means to live into the questions — and why that’s actually where transformation begins.
If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t miss alcohol, but I’m still figuring me out,” this episode is for you. Tune in for a powerful, honest look at curiosity, growth, and asking the right questions on the other side of alcohol.
Topics covered:
- Why life after alcohol feels both clearer and more complicated
- The shift from numbing to noticing
- Getting outside your comfort zone (without white-knuckling)
- How to ask better questions for real growth
Show Notes Here
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What if the sober social group you're looking for doesn’t exist yet? Then it might be time to create it! In this episode, Teri chats with Sarah Showard, founder of the thriving Tucson Sober Girlfriends community. Together, they explore how Sarah went from craving connection to hosting alcohol-free events each month—and why IRL (in real life) meetups are a key part of long-term alcohol-free living.
Whether you're newly alcohol-free or just wishing you had a stronger support network in your city, this episode is packed with practical encouragement to help you take the first step. Teri and Sarah talk tools, mindset, and what happens when we stop waiting for the invitation and start creating community on our own terms. Full Show Notes Here
In this episode, we dive into the sneaky patterns that keep us stuck. What if it's not self-sabotage?
From resistance, which tells us we don’t need to change, to the pull of our comfort zone, where familiar patterns feel safer than growth, we uncover why breaking free can feel so hard.
We’ll also explore how fear of failure (or even success!) creates doubt, and why perfectionism convinces us that if we can’t do it perfectly, we shouldn’t do it at all.
Letting go, moving on and getting unstuck is possible when we rewrite the stories from our past.
Full Show Notes Here
In this episode of The Sober Edge Podcast, we explore how alcohol dulls our five senses—sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell—and what happens when we remove it from our lives.
From the rich flavors of food to the warmth of human connection, breaking free from alcohol allows us to experience the world in full color again.
Join host Teri Patterson as she delves into the science behind sensory impairment and shares inspiring insights on how we can rediscover joy, presence, and beauty in the everyday moments that make life extraordinary.
Full Show Notes Here
Emotions can feel overwhelming, especially when we’re no longer numbing them with alcohol. In this episode, we'll explore together how we can better understand and manage our emotions in this alcohol-free life. From self-awareness to self-regulation, we’ll discuss practical ways to move beyond reaction and into intentional response.
Whether you’re facing frustration, anxiety, or even joy, learning to process emotions in a healthy way is key to loving your AF life.
Join me as I share insights and tools to help you experience emotional freedom and navigate life’s ups and downs while feeling all those 'big sober feelings'!
Full Show Notes Here
The future of non-alcoholic beverages is bold, innovative, and—thanks to Focus by Be Honest Bev. Co.—packed with an extra boost. In this episode, I dive into the evolving world of NA drinks and where hemp-infused drinks fit into the mix. My guest, Michelle Houston, shares the surprising twists and challenges of creating a better, cleaner, and more intentional beverage. Could this be the new go-to for mindful drinkers? Tune in to find out!
Full Show Notes Here
Emotions, motivation and alcohol. When it comes to emotions, we need to understand a few things about alcohol and the connection between our feelings and our motivations.
There are four pillars of human motivation that overlap with emotions.
- Avoid pain: our natural inclination is to avoid pain. When it comes to being motivated to change our relationship with alcohol, avoiding pain can be a help or a barrier...
- Seek Pleasure: just as we want to avoid pain, we are also wired to seek pleasure. This is partly due to our old friend, dopamine, which is responsible for focus and motivation. Once again, we need to understand that 'seeking pleasure' can move us toward our goal or get in the way of us making sustained changes...
- Conserve Energy: how many of us use alcohol as a way to manage our energy? Knowing that our brain is focused on conserving energy can be helpful when we consider the 'energy drain' that comes with drinking and overdrinking...
- Prove itself right: our brains are prediction machines. We love to know the answer; we love to be right! When it comes to motivation for a sober-curious life, this default mode can get in the way...
Using this new awareness takes time and practice. See if you can catch yourself in one of these dynamics this week. Notice where you want to be right, or are focused on avoiding pain. Use the opportunity to explore how this new sense of understanding can keep you motivated to change!
Full Show Notes Here
Check out my new affiliation with Alcohol-Free Lifestyle; a place for high achievers to take a 90 day break from alcohol and discover more purpose, productivity and satisfaction!
Back again for an encore is my very special conversation with Amanda E. White. This is the most popular episode of The Sober Edge Podcast and I invite you to listen in to this important conversation about:
- Women's health
- Boundaries around drinking
- Making an empowered choice
Since our conversation in 2021, Amanda had continued to be a powerful voice and advocate for 'not drinking tonight'.
Full Show Notes Here
Getting a 'fresh start' or 'a new lease on life' might seem the perfect way to begin your alcohol-free journey.
But, what if we have some time away from alcohol, and then we go back to drinking, first just the occasional glass of wine, or beer on a hot summer's day. Gradually, (or maybe rapidly), we find ourselves drinking again every day. Now it's time to start again.
In this episode of The Sober Edge, I introduce you to a concept that sounds just slightly different from starting over but, in practice, is actually very different. Starting from where you are allows one to take the learning, the practice and wisdom that comes from taking a break from drinking and use it to create a vastly different experience. One that just might lead to permanent change.
Listen in to discover:
- The power of counting days
- What happens to our brains when we stay stuck in the cycle of stopping and starting?
- Why is it so difficult to get past Day 3?
The hidden beauty of this journey to freedom from alcohol is wrapped up in the lessons we learn from the path we take. Here's to making the path easier by shifting our minds.
Breaking news: Surgeon general calls for cancer warnings on alcohol. This headline generated a lot of messages and conversations with my family, clients and colleagues.
It's happening! Maybe...
It’s been nearly four decades since Congress approved the first government warning label on alcohol, the one that says pregnant women shouldn’t drink and warns about the dangers of driving while drinking. No updates have been made since then. Any effort to add a cancer warning label to alcohol would face significant push-back from a well-funded and powerful beverage industry, which spends nearly $30 million every year lobbying Congress.
In this episode of The Sober Edge Podcast, I share more about the New York Times article.
It will most likely take a long time for the outcry to result in changes in the labeling legislation. For cigarettes, it was 20 years after the first alarm bells were sounded before full labels warning of cancer were mandated. The good news is that this push may impact the guidelines about 'safe' drinking amounts, which are due to be reevaluated this year.
Full Show Notes Here
Happy 2025!
I love the energy of intention that comes with a new year. I no longer set resolutions, but I believe it is important to explore where we have been and what is ahead.
I have been enjoying hearing from other thought leaders and some of my mentors about how they embrace the new year.
In this episode of The Sober Edge Podcast, I share my own fondness for selecting a word of the year. This is a practice I have embraced for the past 5 years and one of my favorite ways to embrace the new year. I guess I am a sucker for rituals!
Here are a few other things I cover on the podcast:
- The neuroscience of goal-setting
- How to choose a word of the year
- Some 'dos and don'ts' that make this even more effective
Full Show Notes HERE
My life changed profoundly in 2015 when I decided I would give up alcohol. I knew I wanted something different, but I had no idea that this life would be better than my wildest dreams! I was simply ditching booze because I needed to change something. I had a sense it was alcohol that might be standing in the way of a more fulfilling life, but I didn't know for sure. Now I do.
My Christmas wish for all of you is to discover how much bigger and brighter and better life can be when we stop hiding and numbing and tamping down our true self. It's not that giving up alcohol in itself creates this change, but instead, it allows us to discover a part of ourselves that we have not yet met. A part that is vulnerable and messy and beautiful. A part that wants to be seen and wants to shine. This takes time and work - we will have to do hard things, but the reward is a bold and courageous life. A life where we can be fully ourselves, and we can learn to love ourselves again.
May we be brave enough to share the deepest parts of ourselves with one another so that we may be blessed by the human spirit within each of us.
Show Notes HERE
Zen, Coffee and Alcohol-free living I recently sat down with Billy Wynne, co-founder of Awake, one of the first sober bars in the U.S, and author of the upcoming book, The Empty Path.
Billy shares his personal journey of how he gave up alcohol and how all roads started with his Zen Buddhist practice. Billy recalls that initially, like many of us, he made up rules about his drinking, one of which was 'never drink alone'. This led him to acknowledge that drinking didn't really have a place in his life and, in fact, he felt liberated from alcohol vs. deprived.
He shares the story of Awake and his experience with opening one of the first sober bars in the U.S. Awake closed in 2022, but not before sparking new ideas for many.
Billy and I chat about his first book (available March 2025), The Empty Path: Finding Fullfillment through the Radical Art of Lessening.
We also chatted about:
- Equanimity and mindfulness meditation
- Presence-based coaching
- The art of Savoring
- Time, Parenting and Travel... and more!
Show Notes HERE
Compassion and Self-Compassion is critical for your AF journey.
One of the most important steps in our AF journey is learning how to move through life with more compassion and self-compassion. This one key shift can help us to broaden our perspective, let go of expectations and forgive ourselves.
In this episode of The Sober Edge podcast, I focus on three key areas:
- Compassion for Others
- Compassion for Self
- Compassion for the World
Compassion for ourselves can be the most difficult. We are so often our worst critics and while others may more easily forgive and forget, we might find ourselves ruminating on the past. With self-compassion, we can explore a softer and gentler approach.
And, don't forget compassion towards your new AF life. Check out the show notes for 7 Ways to Observe and Act on Compassion in an Alcohol-Free Life.
Show Notes Here
Language + Breath + Movement = Clarity
I love words - I believe they hold great power.
I also have come to respect the role that story plays in our lives, both the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we carry from others.
My post-alcohol life has also led me to realize that I am not just a thinking being but also a feeling and moving being.
My guest on the podcast this week is the developer of NLSE. Our conversation touches on all of these things; breath, story, brain and body, and perhaps most importantly, how we combine these elements and actions to create a new experience and a new understanding of oneself.
Kyle Smith is a Clarity Consultant and an 'accidentally sober' human. In this episode of The Sober Edge, we touch on the following topics (and more):
- How to declutter our racing thoughts
- Removing emotional clogs to open our heart
- The mindset gym for mental fitness
- Macronutrients of the mind
Full Show Notes HERE
Many of us struggle with the shame we feel about becoming addicted to alcohol. We can intellectually understand that alcohol is addictive, but we often feel that we should 'know better' or "it could never happen to me".
In my recent studies at Stanford University, where I completed a certificate in the Psychology of Addiction, Dr. Anna Lempke shared the reasons behind why people become addicted to alcohol (and other drugs).
In this episode of The Sober Edge podcast I break down what we know about genetics, the impact of our family of origin and the role that our neighborhood or culture plays in our risk factors for addiction.
Here are some of the highlights:
- The role of nature, nurture, neighborhood
- How advertisers use our emotional brain to trigger desires to drink
- Why we need to pay attention to dopamine when we are drinking and when we stop drinking
- The good news about alcohol addiction
Show Notes HERE
Do you recall what you loved to do when drinking was not part of the 'all-inclusive' package?
My guest on Episode 165 of the podcast is Darci Murray, who believes wholeheartedly in "Sensory Heightened Travel". Darci has been 'hooked' on travel since childhood, having grown up with a mom who was a travel agent and learning early on to love new adventures.
Darci is one of several travel agents who are newly focused on AF and sober travel, but she is doing things a little bit differently.
Hooked on travel is intentional about creating experiences that allow us to be fully immersed in the local culture, and allow us to explore the things that light us up. When we stop taking alcohol on vacation, we have the beautiful opportunity to experience a part of ourselves that we might have lost to booze.
Darci also has some unique offers, including traveling with 'sober locals', 'dry grad trips' and an invitation to our sober supportive friends and family!
Find out more in the Show Notes HERE
What if you had a road map to a sober life you love? What if it came in four simple steps? Does that sound easier than a lifetime of 'working on yourself'?
I know that life is not simple; humans are complex. We have emotions, backgrounds, circumstances, and it would be foolish to think that we could expect everyone's sober journey to look the same. But, after 5+ years of working with hundreds and hundreds of women on their AF journey, I have discovered a few things to help you move forward.
Having a framework is powerful; it allows our minds to focus in on the process and can help make change less overwhelming. The first two steps from last week are: know yourself and grow yourself. I have found that starting with these two explorations sets us up for the next two steps: love yourself and be yourself.
Let's unpack this together:
Love Your SELF: Learning to love ourselves is hard for most of us. Drinking can rob us of the ability to love ourselves fully. We often carry shame, guilt and regret about our drinking and over-drinking. When we put down the bottle, we can begin to practice loving thoughts and behaviors towards ourselves. This is the ultimate self-care; learning to care for ourselves with love and compassion.
Be Your SELF: As we learn the first three steps, we gradually start to feel more comfortable in our own skin. We feel more authentic, and we find ways to ask for more, and to give more. Learning to 'be' is the ultimate lesson in life, one that takes a lifetime to learn. When alcohol is present, we delay this beautiful evolution. When alcohol is removed, we start the great adventure of life!
Full Show Notes HERE
Want to know about The SELF Experience? Find out more HERE
Today, I share two areas that I am focused on and that I help clients explore when we ask, 'what now, what next?' on this alcohol-free journey.
The first place to start is to KNOW yourself. So many of us go through life without asking 'who are we?'. I love self-reflection and I love a good quiz, but trust me, finding out which Disney Princess you are is not the same as knowing yourself:)
It's not that we have purposefully gone through life without looking in the mirror, but women wear a lot of hats; wife, mother, employee, caregiver. It's no surprise that we often filter who we are by who we are with. And, for many of us, giving up alcohol allows us to start to explore who we are outside the roles we play, who we are on the inside.
The second step, I believe, on this path to living alcohol-free is to GROW yourself. When we leave alcohol behind, we are in a unique position of having more time, energy and clarity to devote to personal growth.
Here are a few takeaways from this episode:
- How to get to know yourself again
- What are core values, and why do they matter?
- Ways to grow into your AF life
- How to lead with curiosity
Show Notes HERE
If you would enjoy participating in a small group and having a guide, I invite you to check out The SELF Experience program where we spend time on these two important steps of not only living AF but thriving AF! The SELF Experience
Are you ready for a Good Mood Revolution? I know I am! I think we can all use a bit more joy and happiness in our daily lives.
I sat down with Matt O'Neill, author and podcast host of The Good Mood Revolution. We had an enlightening conversation about the 8 Negative Moods and the 8 Positive Moods. Matt is an expert at breaking down big concepts into bite-sized, actionable steps.
Here are some highlights from our chat:
- How to catch yourself doing something right
- The biggest myth about happiness
- Why you should focus on your negative thoughts
- Never complain again - your new superpower
Matt's book will be released in mid-December. What a perfect read for the New Year!
Show Notes HERE
Want to hear Matt talk about his book? He will be joining us in January in The Sober Edge Book Club as part of our Author Spotlight series. Find out how to join the club HERE
My journey continues beyond learning how to become AF and yours will too.
I think the most striking difference between becoming AF and living AF is the shift in focus and time. I have experienced and witnessed what is possible when alcohol is out of the way.
Time feels different now that I am living alcohol-free. The time I used to spend drinking, thinking about drinking and recovering from drinking is now ‘new time’. And, with a new sense of time, I have been able to explore this next chapter of my life. When I was drinking, time passed with me numbing out and with opportunities missed. Now, time is lived vs. passed. I create experiences vs. avoiding them.
I shared in Part 1 my journey through my first Sober Anniversary. In those first 12 months, so many things shifted for me, but I was still focusing a lot on behavior and those raw emotions. I spent that first year doing a few things that set me up for the next stage - living alcohol-free.
I didn’t have a road map or a guide for my AF journey (boy, do I wish I had!). I think I pushed my way through those first few months with force - I even used some of my anger to fuel my resolve. But, as I moved past year 1, my emotions started to level, and I began to feel excited and peaceful as I settled into my ‘new normal’.
(Listen in on this episode to hear more of my lessons, or go to the Show Notes)
The lessons continue. Just like happiness is a direction, not a destination, living AF is an expansive state of being, not a place where we arrive. If I had stopped at just ‘becoming alcohol-free’, I would have stayed in that place of focusing on my behavior and my emotions. I would have missed the place where I am now, a place where the adventure of life continues to unfold in new and surprising ways.
Cheers to LIVING Alcohol-Free!
Full Show Notes Here
The SELF Experience - find out more about living AF!
On October 18, 2015, I woke up with a slight hangover and a mountain of guilt. I had let myself down, again, but I had also let other people down. I felt like a horrible person, someone I didn't recognize. I had finally had enough - enough of letting alcohol be the most important relationship in my life.
After that one decision almost 9 years ago, my life has unfolded in ways I could only have imagined. While I felt in my gut that I was meant for more, I had spent so long tamping down my dreams and ideas that I had no idea what might lie ahead. I have always been a 'personal growth junkie' listening to Zig Ziglar on cassette tapes and joining several MLM's to rub shoulders with other dreamers. But my dreams were always plagued with doubts that I could do more and be more. I now recognize that alcohol was a way to soften the blow of an unfulfilled life.
This episode is a 'look back' at becoming AF, it's a glimpse into those early days. In this episode I share 4 things I have embraced by becoming AF.
Next week, I will follow up with 'Living Alcohol-Free' a glimpse into these past 8 years and I will share 5 more things I've learned along the way.
Show Notes Here
Empowered AF 5x Coaching Certification - the doors are closing! This is your chance to join and save $1000. If you have wondered, dreamed or imagined becoming a life coach and helping other's experience freedom from alcohol, this is an incredible offer. Use this link to find our more, apply and save $1000!
What if you stopped drinking and followed your passion for a new AF business? That's exactly what happened to Marlys Aspinwall and her husband Chuck.
In 2021, after she found herself drinking too much during COVID, Marlys decided to take a break. Her husband quickly followed her lead. Three months later, they opened a pop-up bottle shop.
Marlys shares in this episode of The Sober Edge podcast that at the time, they hadn't even decided that their break from alcohol was going to be permanent. But, after experiencing the connection and the opportunity to encourage their customers, they were hooked. Chuck began searching for a brick and mortar storefront where they could set up a bottle shop and a sober bar.
I asked Marlys to share some tips for starting an AF business and for working with your partner. Here's what she had to share:
- Divide the key aspects of the business based on what you are good at and love to do
- Get the community involved
- Ask for help
- ...and more!
Find the full show notes HERE, along with a coupon code for 15% off your first order!
Are you tired of talking about alcohol and drinking and not drinking? I get it, just as we can experience recovery fatigue, I believe we can also burn out by talking about alcohol too much.
Yep, I want to invite you to NOT talk about alcohol.
I have shared before my philosophy that 'behavior comes last'. A quick refresher: changing our behavior is only one part of changing our relationship with alcohol. We must also change our thoughts and beliefs about alcohol. We have to go beyond willpower and the outdated idea of not 'picking up' (as the solution) as they say in some recovery circles.
The reality is, with my coaching clients, we spend only a small percentage of our time talking about drinking and not drinking. What we talk about instead is the reasons behind our drinking. We focus on making alcohol small by building a bigger life, one we don't want to hide from.
In this podcast episode, I break down the steps of what to do instead and why this is the sweet spot to lasting change.
Full Show Notes HERE
Midlife is often a time of big transitions. Giving up alcohol can also create monumental shifts. As we move through these transitions, we sometimes leave parts of ourselves behind, and sometimes we leave others behind.
My friend and fellow coach Aimee Ames has been on her own transitional journey, including going back to school to become a Functional Nutritionist, redefining her relationship with alcohol and ending a 23-year marriage. Along the way, Aimee discovered that 'you are your one true partner'. I love this saying as it reminds me of what I came to recognize in my own path: the one person who will be with you at the end, is you.
I am excited to share this conversation with you. Aimee is an incredible human who shares her wisdom freely and shares the difficult parts as well.
Amy also talked about her work with the Somatica Institute, training as an intimacy coach and a sex and relationship coach.
Find out more in the Show Notes HERE
There's a saying, "You become like the 5 people you spend the most time with". The wisdom behind this statement is the urgency. We recognize that we have a limited amount of time to rub shoulders with people who inspire us and challenge us to grow. And, it can prompt us to choose our friends wisely. Spend time with negative people and we might find ourselves complaining more. Spend time with positive people and we suddenly feel more energy and hopefulness.
In this podcast episode, I break down the ways we can do a personal inventory and start noticing if the things we are allowing into our lives are bringing us 'up' or bringing us 'down'. This exercise requires intention and space; the exact things that we have access to when we put alcohol aside.
We can use our clarity of mind, our free time and our energy to engage in new ways. But, beyond just bringing new things in and filling our days haphazardly, this exercise invites you to notice what feels good, what lights you up, what sparks your curiosity and your passion.
This alcohol-free life is a catalyst to paying attention; this is your opportunity to build the life you want!
Full Show Notes HERE
The Sober Summit - get your free ticket HERE
What's on your bucket list? Chances are it includes at least one place you want to travel to. But traveling sober? Many of us are nervous and might even avoid the idea of planning a sober vacation. After all, if you are like most of us, travel and alcohol went together without question.
Meet my friend Michelle Plante. Michelle is the founder of Michelle Plante Travels and, since becoming alcohol-free at the very beginning of 2019, her travel plans always include fabulous adventures where no alcohol is needed.
In addition to taking her travel experiences to a whole new level, Michelle shares what else has changed since becoming AF:
- She found the courage to leave a corporate job she felt stuck in
- Being AF allows her to quickly know if something is a yes or a no
- ...and more!
After discovering the joys of AF travel, Michelle is now curating Wellness, Adventure and Luxe trips for sober women.
Check out Michelle's adventures to Costa Rica and India, and follow along with her special travel blogs: all links in Show Notes
Are you excited about The 2024 Sober Summit? Get your free ticket to 24 fabulous speakers - link in Show Notes
If you have ever wondered if other people talk to themselves, the answer is yes. In one form or another, everyone has a voice in their head. This voice has a lot to say, and we listen. According to Ethan Kross, author of 'Chatter', if you have ever replayed a conversation in your mind, or coached yourself through a problem or skill, you've used your inner voice. Most people rely on and benefit from theirs every day. But what happens when our inner coach turns into the inner critic?
The clients I work with often find themselves stuck in negative self-talk and turning the talk around is an important part of coaching. On the current episode of the podcast, I share several ways to bring awareness to the voice in our heads and make peace with it. There are practical tips that help us become the 'cheerleader' vs. the 'critic':
- How to bring awareness to the voice in your head
- How others can help
- The power of perspective, aka self-distancing
Find out more tips in the Show Notes
And you struggle with negative self-talk, I am offering a book study, starting at the end of September, that will feature Chatter by Ethan Kross. This series will provide practical steps to turn that voice into your on-call coach! Find out more HERE
Loneliness is possible even when we are surrounded by people. In today's culture, we have more opportunities than ever to connect - we can face a family member, catch up with a video chat or reach out with a text message. Yet we often feel disconnected from others.
My guest on the podcast this week is Nick Jonsson, an executive coach and alcohol-free coach who understands the impact of loneliness. In fact, he wrote a book on the subject, 'Executive Loneliness'. In 2018, Nick found himself stressed out, drinking too much and feeling disconnected from his family, his friends and from life. He decided to make a change and, with the help of a 12-step program, he started his sober journey. Because of the anonymity of his program, Nick recovered in secret and didn't share openly about his new lease on life. That changed in 2019 when a good friend committed suicide. Nick realized that he had no idea his friend was struggling, and he vowed to start a brave conversation about loneliness, mental health and recovery.
Visit the Show Notes page to learn more about Nick and his work
IAccording to a 2018 independent study by Drinkware, 60% of adults admit to using alcohol to cope with stress. If your stress is caused by burnout, alcohol is the worst possible solution.
In our conversation today, my guest Jamie Phillips, shared the signs of burnout:
- Living in fight or flight
- Never recovering from stress
- Adrenal fatigue/exhaustion
- Loss of agency
- Survival mode
- Brain fog
- Poor sleep
In addition to burnout and recovery, Jamie and I talked about how 'drinking was her favorite thing' and the prevalence of alcohol in the queer community. Jamie shares openly and honestly how she discovered a deeper layer of purpose behind alcohol.
You can find out more in the Show Notes
I am excited to dig deep into our belief system and how these conscious and sub-conscious beliefs can keep us stuck as we make changes in our relationship with alcohol and beyond.
First, let's talk about the three levels of belief - particularly relevant when we think about alcohol:
- Substance (what we believe about the liquid alcohol
- Society (what our culture, our family of origin and society tells us about alcohol that we have come to accept as the truth)
- Self (what we believe about ourselves that relates to alcohol)
These levels of belief are in order (1-3) intentionally. Challenging our belief system gets harder as we move from substance to society to self. (For more on this, and examples, listen to this week's podcast episode.)
So, how are beliefs formed, and how do we challenge the beliefs that no longer serve us?
Listen in to learn how beliefs are formed and the socratic method which can help you discern your own truth when it comes to alcohol.
More details in the SHOWNOTES
Women's Hormones - Menopause - Weight Gain - Alcohol - Fasting
In today's episode we talk about women's hormones and my guest helps break down what we can do to thrive no matter what stage of life we are in!
Meet my friend and fellow coach, Elly Young. Elly is a wealth of information when it comes to understanding how best to support our hormones. Elly is an expert in cycle-syncing, which is a fascinating practice of eating to support your hormones. And, if you are post-menopausal, you can learn to use metabolic-syncing to achieve the same results!
This episode is packed with great information to empower you to support your body as you age. Some of the subjects we cover:
- How increased cortisol from alcohol can impact our hormones (and contribute to breast cancer risk)
- The need to keep our liver healthy (goodbye alcohol) to help detox from estrogen - too much estrogen means hormone imbalance and also contributes to an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Why eating low-carb can create an imbalance in our hormones
- How to rebalance your hormones in just 30 days
- When Elly realized "I will never be skinny again"
Visit the Show Notes HERE
We all want to understand the meaning of life, and so do our mythical heroes. They often go on adventures to strange worlds, fight dark forces, and come back with new knowledge.
The hero’s journey explains this adventure by breaking it into stages. It shows how a hero faces and overcomes challenges to learn and grow.
Does this remind you of your own alcohol-free journey? In this episode of The Sober Edge Podcast, I share my take on an AF hero's journey.
The 12 steps outlined in the graphic are easy to adapt to our own journey to alcohol-freedom. Just like the heroes of mythology or your favorite Star Wars character, you are called to the adventure of a lifetime!
Full Show Notes HERE
Ready for your own AF Adventure?
Join The SELF Experience waitlist for women who are alcohol-free and looking for more
Join REFRESH, a program for women who are struggling to become or stay alcohol-free
I recently sat down with Betsy Frost, the CEO of Hoplark Brands to talk about drinking less, the NA industry, and why she believes hops are 'magic'.
Hoplark brings us the 'Yes And…' which is to say it brings the flavor and the complexity of hops to tea, sparkling water and 0.0 beverages. A range of products that have zero sugar, zero alcohol and zero calories!
Betsy shares that hops are a magical ingredient that has basically been ‘held hostage’ by the beer makers for hundreds of years. And, Hoplark is taking back hops and bringing the brewing aspect without the fermentation or malt into a new variety of beverages to delight the palate.
Frost describes the brewers at Hoplark as a ‘bunch of passionate 'hopheads’ who want to ‘free hops from beer’. But, the company philosophy goes beyond hops. Betsy shares in this episode of The Sober Edge Podcast that Hoplark Brands delivers a new way of thinking about alcohol-free beverages - beyond personal choice but offering new and inclusive options. She sees this class of beverages as less ‘anti-alcohol’ and more ‘pro-options’.
Tune in to hear more of our conversation, including:
- How Hoplark leaves out the fermentation to create a 0.0 option
- Her personal philosophy of 'yes and'...
- Why big beer companies getting into the NA game is a good thing
- And more...
Head to the Show Notes HERE to grab a 35% discount code to try Hoplark Teas, 0.0 and Sparkling Waters!
And, if you are ready to say 'no' to alcohol and 'yes' to a bigger, more flavorful life, grab a time on my calendar and let's chat! Free Discovery Call HERE
My friend and colleague Kristen Horstman is a certified Gray Area Drinking Coach with a specialty in helping clients learn how to nourish their nervous system.
We also touch on:
- Perfectionism
- Polyvagal Theory
- Focusing on the body brings us into the present
- Focusing on our thoughts leads us to the past or future
- How to recognize when we are regulated or deregulated
Kristen also has a passion for a non-profit organization, CMC, Foundation For Change. This organization helps support family members whose loved ones are dealing with substance use. She shares the philosophy of the CMS which is based on science and kindness. My favorite part is that CMC goes beyond offering support and actually teaches skills to help one feel empowered to care for their loved one. This program can help families let go of the outdated ‘tough love’ method and lead with connections.
Find out more about the work of CMC and Kristen in the Show Notes
Kristen and I also get to hang out together in The Sober Edge Book Club - if you are a sober curious or sober serious woman who loves books - please consider joining us! More Info HERE
Life's adventures come in many forms. My recent conversation with friend and colleague Racquel Reid brought this home.
We have the adventures we choose, the adventures thrust upon us and the adventures we let go.
When Racquel left on her travel adventure, she never imagined that she would end up in her current situation. Yet, somehow, Racquel has found a place of adventure and freedom even in the midst of hardship and struggles. Her journey of finding her 'wild and free' is inspiring and heartwarming.
In our conversation we touch on:
- How travel breeds self-trust, flexibility and leaning into new experiences
- Wherever you go, there you are!
- Finding her feet
- And more...
Visit the Show Notes for More
Stop Drinking Now, Even if You Are 50, 60 or beyond Midlife is the perfect time to take a break from alcohol. "Stop Drinking in Your 50's and Beyond" is created exclusively for midlife women. Get the tactical support and the key foundation in only 6 weeks. Simple, affordable, effective. Learn More
As an alcohol freedom coach, I emphasize the importance of community as we go through this monumental change. Traveling together means we get support, understanding and a shared sense of camaraderie that doesn't (always) happen in other places.
As an entrepreneur and business owner in this alcohol-free space, I wanted a community that supported my unique business. This is a mission-driven business for most of us. It is also a place where passion projects abound. All of us deserve a supportive place to hang out.
I met Maggie Klaassens at a Sober In The City event in Portland, ME last September. As we got to know one another, we realized we both had a burning desire to create a community for entrepreneurs just like us. And so, The Sober Hive was born!
The mission of The Sober Hive is aligned with these three principles:
- Community
- Connection
- Collaboration
Let's come together to grow this AF movement!
Find out more about The Sober Hive
Show Notes HERE
Challenge:
noun
A call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel
verb
Invite (someone) to engage in a contest
The idea of a contest involves a clear objective with a finish line. But, does the idea of a 'challenge' really work when it comes to changing our relationship with alcohol or food?
Just around the corner is 'Dry July', an opportunity to take 30 days off from drinking. While these types of challenges can help us get started, the really challenging part comes at the end of the month, or the 30 days.
Here are some ideas I share on the podcast
- Take the word challenge and change it to an experiment.
- Start at a random time, not the 1st of the month
- Set clear intentions at the beginning
- ...and more
Full Show Notes HERE
What if, instead of health, we decide to seek wellness? What if, beyond health, there is a beautiful place called 'wellness'? In our culture today we are often bombarded with wellness products and wellness lifestyles, but what does that really mean?
My guest on the podcast today, Megan Swan, has her own spin on wellness, and we talked about her modern approach to wellness that takes us beyond health (health has been defined as the opposite of disease) to a 360 degree approach.
Megan Swan Wellness is her brand, and she teaches the foundation of wellness to include strategic practices that are both sustainable and easy. I love this conversation because we touch on many of the foundations that I also believe create a beautiful and balanced state of well-being; i.e. wellness.
Here are some highlights:
- Her Eat, Pray, Love decision that landed her in Mexico for 15 years
- Yoga was her 'gateway drug' to wellness
- ....and more!
Show Notes HERE
Over 50% of families deal with addiction. If you have a family member who struggles, it can be challenging to walk the line between compassion and tough love, enabling and offering support. And, the closer the family member, the more challenging it can be to set healthy boundaries.
My guest on the podcast today is Dr. Brian Licuanan. Dr. Brian is an author, speaker, and board-certified psychologist practicing in Southern California. He specializes in family crisis interventions and has extensive experience working with highly acute clients struggling with substance abuse disorders and mental health conditions. He reached out to share his new book, "How to Get Your Resisting Loved One into Treatment: A Step-by-Step Guide for Mental Health and/or Addiction Crisis".
We talked about the processes Dr. Brian teaches and assists with as well as these highlights:
- Every family’s crisis looks different.
- The 'old' way of thinking about boundaries with a loved one
- Fatigue in helping a loved one - when is it time to take intervention to the next level?
- ...and more
I also ask Dr. Brian what if YOU are the one dealing with alcohol use disorder? Tune in to hear his answer.
SHOW NOTES HERE
For most of us, our relationship with alcohol, whether we are drinking or not, is complicated. When we find ourselves 'romanticizing' alcohol, it can feel confusing.
First, let's normalize these thoughts. Longing for the past, or feeling nostalgic, is a normal emotion. It is often tied to a longing for the way we used to be or the way we used to feel. I recently had a client share that 'nostalgia' is one of the reasons she drinks, that longing to feel a certain way or searching for a past version of herself can lead her to desire a drink.
In this episode of The Sober Edge Podcast, I break down nostalgia and how it can lead us to the exact place my client ended up: with a desire to drink, or to a memory where alcohol seems attractive.
Here is one definition of nostalgia from 'Atlas of The Heart' by Brené Brown: a yearning for the way things used to be in our often idealized and self-protective version of the past.
I also used an article from Psychology today (link in show notes) to further breakdown how nostalgia connects us to alcohol. You will hear 5 key points as you listen to the episode.
This trip down memory lane that is nostalgia is not without danger; enter cautiously and ask yourself these three questions:
- Am I making alcohol the 'star' of this memory?
- What emotion am I actually longing for? Is it a connection; is it a younger, more innocent version of myself? Don't give alcohol too much credit.
- Is this thought and reminiscing coming from a place of pain? If so, does that make me want to drink?
Head to the SHOWNOTES for the links to the TEDX Talk I mention as well as the Psychology Today article.
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While I love a good ‘self help’ book, I was completely fascinated by the title of my guests’ book: “Not Another Self Help Book”. How could I resist having her on the podcast to share her unique perspective on how to show up in the world when life is hard?
Lindsey Kane Leaverton is an author, songwriter, former minister and a financial wealth management expert. She also identifies as a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, a woman with ADHD, OCD and PTSD; as she shares, she has ‘all the adjectives’!
Lindsey wrote this book, "Not Another Self-Help Book" to highlight some of the most challenging things we experience as humans, and how we might find a gift in each of these challenges, such as pain, trauma, addiction and waiting. We also talk about how she lost everything when she came out as gay, her long journey with chronic pain, our equal dislike of the phrase “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle”. We cover a lot in today’s episode and have a lot of laughs along the way.
Here are some of my favorite parts:
- Her belief that “my Higher Power is not out to get me”
- How she gets out of her own head
- Her favorite chapter in the book
- Her long journey back from chronic pain
- How she credits a random encounter on an airplane with saving her life
- and more...
I hope you love this episode as much as I did!
Get all the details of how to connect with Lindsey and more in the SHOW NOTES
Interested in The Sober Edge Book Club? Check out our new pricing HERE!
*Lindsey does not identify as sober or alcohol-free but does share her deep respect and personal experience with Al-Anon. If you follow Lindsey on social media, you may see her with a drink in hand, but on today’s episode we do not talk about her drinking nor do we glorify the drinking of alcohol in any way.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a new friend. Constance Todd Smith is an alignment coach (I love this!) who has been on her own journey of exploration, which started 38 years ago when she decided to 'live on the bright' by choosing sobriety.
In addition to being an alignment coach, Constance is also a Yoga teacher, an Ecstatic Dance instructor, the founder of a Facebook group devoted to the teachings of Abraham Hicks and a sailor! She credits her break-up with alcohol as the start of her adventurous life.
She describes herself as a Hybrid of sorts - a rockin’ combination of a successful businesswoman and a spiritual/esoteric junkie. Her gifts, which she readily shares with her clients, include writing, meditation and manifesting. She is also hard at work on her latest project, your very own sober life guide - keep your eyes out for "A Sober Companion"!
To find out more about Constance and my new REFRESH program, visit the SHOW NOTES
How do you define abundance? It might be having more, or it might be desiring less. When it comes to creating space, having an abundant mindset can be key.
Creating space can manifest in many different ways; being open to opportunities means almost anything is possible. I have talked about creating space before, but I have recently been challenged to broaden my personal definition of how we create space. In my own life, creating space looks like removing something, be it emotional (a negative thought), physical (throw out the old blouse), or spiritual (exploring those biases). But, I now understand it doesn't look that way for everyone. For you, it might be picking up the ball that you dropped, or letting go of old fears that breed scarcity.
I recorded today's podcast episode to share more about space, scarcity, abundance and alcohol. I hope you will listen and perhaps be inspired or enlightened to explore your own 'space'.
ZPE Connect and The Sober Edge Book Club - Join us for a live event on May 20th from 6-8 PM in 4 different locations. Find out more HERE
SHOW NOTES HERE
"Everyone has a story or a struggle that will break your heart. And if we’re really paying attention, most people have a story that will bring us to our knees". Brene Brown shared this quote in a 2018 article. The other part of this truth is that sharing our stories can help us heal.
- Please be aware: this episode touches on suicide and suicidal ideation
I recently sat down with a new friend, certified recovery coach Jessica Duenas. Jessica offers writing and reading workshops to help those in recovery learn to tell their own story. She believes that storytelling is a way to help us heal and process our recovery journey. Jessica has her own healing story; she was the Kentucky State Teacher of The Year in 2019, but she was living a double life. Her alcohol addiction had become life-threatening, and she ended up in rehab multiple times in 2020.
Her 'break-free' moment came when she wrote a story for the local paper sharing her alcohol-use disorder with the public for the first time. Jessica admits it was a vulnerable move. She was unsure of how her story would be received and realized that, finally, it didn't matter what anyone else thought, it was time to share her truth.
To hear more of Jessica's story and the work she does in the world, visit the SHOW NOTES page HERE
Childless Not By Choice - my friend and colleague, Maureen Benkovich is offering support with those of us who might be struggling with the upcoming Mother's Day Holiday. This special event, United In Experience: A Mother's Day Alternative takes place on Thursday May 9th. You can register to attend HERE
If you have every felt tired of 'doing the work' (of getting sober, bettering yourself, growing as a human...) you are not alone.
In today's episode I share how to re-frame 'Recovery Fatigue' and gain back any lost momentum or motivation. If you are wondering how to 'keep going' on this journey to being AF and living AF, listen in for 4 tips on how to beat Recovery Fatigue!
Full Show Notes Here
Interested in a REFRESH? Small group video support, prompts and coaching. Apply HERE
This is an extra special episode of The Sober Edge Podcast - we are inviting ALL of you to meet author Laura Cathcart Robbins.
First, you will meet Laura in this special podcast episode. Robbins is the author of Stash: My Life In Hiding. This powerful book takes us on the emotional journey of Laura's addiction to sleeping medication and alcohol. I must share that I was riveted as I read her account of navigating being a Hollywood wife and mother and board president of the private school her children attended WITH sourcing extra refills of Ambien.
I know that many of us had a relationship with alcohol that included 'hiding', whether it was hiding the amount you drank, or the fact that you were drinking again. This is part of why Laura's story is so powerful. Her honest telling of her story includes the parts of her past that she was hiding from everyone in her life. 'My Life In Hiding' is about so much more than hiding one's addiction, it includes learning how to be honest with ourselves.
During this interview, Laura and I were careful not to divulge any 'spoilers' as the book is full of twists and turns. The one 'spoiler' is that we know Laura is ultimately triumphant over her addiction and, like many of us, her life looks completely different now. This book is ultimately a love story, with her children, a surprise relationship but, most importantly, with herself.
Laura Cathcart Robbins is the best-selling author of the Atria/Simon & Schuster memoir, Stash, My Life In Hiding, and host of the popular podcast, The Only One In The Room. She will be joining us in our Author Spotlight Special inside The Sober Edge Book Club.
Show Notes HERE
Register to attend our Author Spotlight and meet Laura HERE
When we stop drinking and over drinking we have so many possibilities.
Have you dreamed about what's next? Perhaps you have thought about writing a book? Starting a podcast? Or maybe you have a product in mind that you want to create and bring into the world to share with your AF community?
My podcast guest today, Tawny Lara, has done all of these things. I first met Tawny when she joined us in The Sober Edge Book Club to share her brand-new book: Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating and Hooking Up, Without the Booze. Tawny is known as 'the sober sexpert'. While the title of the book is meant to be provocative, the book is written as a recovery resource; a resource for sexual liberation, sexual empowerment, and empowering women to get to know their own bodies.It’s about communication and boundaries. There is even a chapter about sober breakups. Ultimately, it's about creating better relationships, especially with yourself.
Tawny is also the co-founder of (parentheses) a vinegar-based botanical beverage she produces with her husband, and the co-host of the Sobriety Rocks podcast.
Tawny shares her unique take on life and her creative style in this interview.
Learn more about Tawny's work in the Show Notes HERE
Do you believe that 'with sobriety anything is possible'? When you hear the story of Todd Crandell, you will. Todd is the founder of Racing for Recovery, a non-profit center to help people move away from addiction and towards recovery. Todd is the Original Sober Ironman and is also known as Sober Ultra Man on Instagram.
Todd is a living, breathing example of a sober life and lifestyle. He believes that exercise can be a big component of healing from addiction and, while some may consider his devotion to running (113 Ironman competitions on 6 different continents) to be an addiction to running, Todd doesn't see it that way. He believes that, for him, running is a healthy passion that leads to a vibrant and healthy life.
Highlights from our conversation include:
- What's missing in traditional recovery models
- How he discovered the Ironman triathlons
- A different kind of 'war story'
- Quitting drinking is like a pizza
- The communication menu
Full Show Notes
Have you ever felt 'stuck'? Chances are, the answer is yes. We can feel stuck in circumstances, situations that feel beyond our control. We can feel stuck when we are trying to manage other peoples feelings or reactions. Let's face it, feeling stuck can suck!
If you have ever asked yourself these questions, you are not alone. Becky Vollmer is the author of "You Are Not Stuck" and she shares on the podcast exactly how we move from feeling stuck to feeling empowered by choice.
Becky is more than an author; she is a yoga teacher, a retreat leader and a spiritual guide who coaches women to take back their power. Becky's mission is "... to empower people to pursue the lives they dream of instead of settling for the ones they feel stuck in..."
Our podcast conversation moves from the success of her book to her 'prescription' for moving from fear to freedom to her take on 'Thelma and Louise'ing it'!
Show Notes HERE (find out more about Becky; see previous podcast episodes and sign up for The Sober Nutritionist newsletter)
If you have ever considered rehab to help change your relationship with alcohol - there is good news. With these changing times and the possibility of telehealth and online therapy, there are more options than ever.
Most of us are familiar with the traditional models of treatment. Now, there is a new model that is available. My guest on the podcast this week is Robin McIntosh, co-founder of Workit Health, an alternative to the traditional form of rehab.
Workit Health addresses many of the barriers to entering treatment:
- Money - Workit Health is covered by most insurance and is a fraction of the cost because there is no facility for upkeep
- Stigma - Workit Health does not require that you meet with your HR department or share with extended family that you are entering treatment (you may choose to do so, but unlike leaving for 30 days, there is greater anonymity).
- Time - you don't have to leave for 30 + days. This can be a huge deterrent for some people
- Waiting - I have been on the frustrating end of trying to find a 'bed' for a treatment center. With online telehealth, there is no waiting period.
Workit Health has a combined approach which includes screening for medication assistance, harm reduction goals, and group therapy.
I am excited to know this option is out there - I am deeply invested in bringing you more tools, more choices and, ultimately, more freedom. I hope you will take a close look at online rehab and see if it might be the right for you or a loved one.
Full Show Notes HERE
My guest on the podcast today, Kim Ades has an executive coaching company called Frame of Mind Coaching. I love her philosophy around our frame of mind. Kim shares so many packed moments of inspiration and wisdom in this episode, including:
- Her mission of helping people live with more ease, fulfillment and joy
- How trading up our thoughts creates more alignment
- Her definition of emotional resilience
- Her ‘controversial’ ideas about empathy
- The first step to figuring out the question: “what do I want?”
- Why she is not interested in your “WHY”
Kim also shares a unique process she has created called “The Journal That Talks Back”. This is a process whereby your journal is read and responded to by a trained Frame of Mind Coach. Kim uses this process for young executives to access support as they grow into leaders. I find this unique offer fascinating and Kim and I explore a bit about how to use this process in our AF journey and well beyond alcohol!
Full Show Notes HERE
Learn more about The Sober Edge Book Club and join now for $5.00 off your first month!
One of the many gifts of becoming alcohol-free is the ability to explore our inner world.
In the podcast episode I share with Aundrea Sides, we dive into the extraordinary and psychic realm of possibility. This is an episode I want to invite you to listen to closely. Aundrea shares her experience and wisdom with unleashing our inner knowledge through frequency, vibration, intuition and imagination.
Aundrea shares the power of using your mind with your intuition and creating an open heart where we can all take inspired action. We also talk about the danger of 'leaky energy'. This is where we ask a lot of other people their opinion instead of tuning into our own intuition. Brene Brown talks about the dangers of 'polling'; when we find ourselves asking everyone around us what we should do. And, if you have experienced a new-found trust in yourself since ditching alcohol, you know exactly what we are talking about. There comes, with new awareness, or as Aundrea would say, cosmic clarity, a delight in knowing what is for us.
Full Show Notes HERE
Are you ready to be the leader of your AF life? My guest today is a expert on building winning teams and creating leadership pillars that work!
Toni Will is a Senior This Naked Mind Coach, General Manager of the Kalamazoo Wings and champion for women in pro sports. Toni is an amazing leader who has focused her career on creating and leading winning teams, both on and off the ice.
Here are some highlights from this episode:
- Toni's 6 leadership pillars
- The toxic work culture that changed her career path
- What it looks like to 'belly up to the bar' to cut business deals
- How to stick your neck out
- And more...
Find out more about Toni, The KWings and read the article she talks about: 'Glass Shattered and a Seat for Everyone'; more info in the Show Notes
Check out my YouTube channel and more of T.E.A. with Teri: here's the link
"I didn't believe it either" might be the sentiment that you feel about your alcohol-free journey. I often see posts from people who share their day count and express wonderment that they have reached this place of freedom.
My guest on the podcast today took that sentiment and wrote a book detailing the surprising lessons of living an alcohol-free life. Todd Kinney is a dad, a lawyer and a husband who shares how all of these areas were impacted by drinking and by not drinking.
Todd shared in his live talk and on the podcast, the challenge that many of us face with our long-time partners when they still drink and we stop. He came to recognize that he needed both connection and support and initially felt resentful when he wasn't getting those things from his wife. He shares that he was having many conversations about his needs, but only in his head! Tune into the podcast episode to learn how Todd finally shared his feelings and needs and that outcome that has worked for him and his wife.
Highlights from the episode:
- Todd shares how he initially felt more comfortable sharing with women because he felt less risk of being judged.
- His thoughts about men and alcohol culture: "I gave up drinking. Am I even a 'real guy' anymore?"
- The chapter in his book titled "None Of The Bad Things Happened"
- ...and more
Episode Show Notes HERE
Interested in creating a midlife with intention and joy? Find out more HERE
Becoming alcohol-free was one of the hardest things I have ever done. In the beginning, figuring out how to live alcohol-free was also extremely difficult. This is true for most of my clients and the people I meet who have undertaken this journey. So, why do we keep going? How do we know it's going to be worth it in the end? What is at the 'heart' of sober living?
I experienced something recently that I think, at least for me, answers this question. I attended an event with 100+ women (and 2 men) where we experienced the joy of celebrating life as alcohol-free humans. Friendship, celebration, laughter, and learning have been a big part of my sober journey. Another very important part for me has been growing personally - learning to sit with my emotions, learning to express my needs, learning to really listen to other people and see beyond the veil.
The Sober In The City event in Tampa, Florida reminded me, in the best possible way, how important it is to be seen and heard and understood in this AF world. The things that matter to all humans also matter to us. We don't stop needing fun, or dance parties or new friends just because we don't drink alcohol!
This is what AF women want and deserve!
- Friendship
- Connection
- Fun
- Laughter
- Learning
- A Support System
- Practice socializing AF
- Understanding
- Inspiration
I hope you will feel inspired to keep reaching new heights as you experience more alcohol-free time. One thing that I have noticed, and I have also heard from so many of you, is that life keeps getting better and better. Why is that? I think it is because, for perhaps the first time, we are experiencing life without judging ourselves and others, instead we are exploring how to be more open, more compassionate and more authentic.
Full Show Notes HERE including where to find your OWN alcohol-free community!
To continue our conversation about aging and whether you should age gracefully or fight it all the way (!), I shared some additional thoughts about midlife on the podcast this week.
Here are a few highlights:
- Health span vs. Life span
- Postive Intelligence
- It's okay to feel some loss of identity and even grief as life unfolds.
- Where are the rituals of midlife?
- The Daring Dozen
Here's an idea; what if we took a 'gap year' or a 'sabbatical' to commemorate midlife? Imagine dedicating a full year to figuring out what we want to focus on in our 4th act. In his teaching about midlife, Chip Conley shares that we used to consider life as a 'three-part play'. Part 1 was birth to 21 years of age. Part 2, 22 -45 years of age and our final act was 46-65 when we would retire and die shortly after. Now, we are often living to 85, an entire extra act! I think that's pretty exciting. And, I think that if we want to live with vitality and a richness of friendship and purpose, we need to plan for it.
Full Show Notes Here (including a Daring Dozen assignment!)
Do you enjoy ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos? I am often amazed by photos I see of someone while drinking and then that same someone 60 or 90 days later. It’s incredible to see the dramatic changes that can occur.
I think it’s also true with midlife. Have you ever known someone who becomes softer and more present as they grow older? How about someone who embraces a new passion or writes a book at the age of 60+?
You’ve probably heard the saying “age is just a number”, which I agree with. However, I think age is also a mindset. Some say “60 is the new 40” but I don’t want to go back to 40. For me, so much of the beauty of midlife comes from embracing all the gifts of wisdom, experience and freedom that comes from growing older. In my 40s I was caught up in overdrinking and overthinking; in my 60s I am embracing space, curiosity and wonder!
How do we get through these hard times? I am discovering that having a safe place to share and a sense of curiosity (vs. judgment) are helping. I am also questioning everything I thought I knew about growing older.
Full Show Notes
Are you looking to upgrade your health this year? Perhaps it's time to cut back on processed foods and sugar but the nagging question is, 'how?'. If this is you, I invite you to take a look at my RESTART® program - Real Food, Real Learning, Real Solutions. We are getting started next week - only 5 weeks and value packed.
Learn more here: RESTART®
In the movie, The Matrix, there is a scene where the character realizes he is caught in an illusion. My guest on the podcast this week is Dustin Dunbar, who had his own matrix moment when he had an awakening dream that showed him the damage that alcohol was creating in his own life.
Dustin Dunbar grew up poor in Midwest America with an abusive, alcohol-addicted father and grandfather, and vowed to never be like them. And yet, like many of us, he found himself using alcohol to fit in, to hang with the guys and to make the deals on the golf course. When Dustin became alcohol-free four years ago, he knew he wanted to help other men overcome the lies that alcohol told him.
Here are some of the highlights from our conversation:
- Why Dustin doesn't use the word 'sober'
- How he talks to his children about alcohol
- Dustin calls out George Clooney; Teri calls out Snoop Dog.
- The book that changed his life
Find out more about Dustin, We are AFR and his mission to ban alcohol advertising by visiting the SHOW NOTES
Want to know more about the Build the Life You Want book study? Click HERE
Our relationship with food is a life-long relationship. My guest today, Ali Shapiro, reminds us that from conception, food is 'yoked' with attachment and belonging. Her work as a holistic nutritionist and behavior specialist gives Ali a unique understanding of diet culture, body positivity and modern medicine. In her words, each has their 'own flavor of crazy'.
Here are some of the powerful points that Ali and I discuss:
- How food issues hold us back from real life
- Food as medicine
- The backlash against 'wellness'
- Toxic diet culture (thin at all costs)
- Her philosophy of "loving my body is doing loving things"
- Food is the solution, not the problem.
- Option "C"
This conversation is so important, especially in this day and age where women continue to get pulled between body image and body positivity. Ali is a master at mindset and learning to love ourselves first. Her flagship program, Truce With Food, is now open for enrollment.
Full Show Notes HERE
including: links to Truce With Food
and The Happier Book Study
When we stop drinking, we often hope for better health. That's one of the top reasons people give me for wanting to cut back or stop drinking. Everyone hopes that they will feel better - sleep better, have lower blood pressure, lose weight. But, if our drinking has compromised our health, we may believe that stopping will simply delay the inevitable, that our only option is, as my podcast guest shares, "let the chips fall where they may".
When I set out to interview a variety of midlife women about their journey to stop drinking, one guest had an atypical story. Lisa Ryan, a fellow This Naked Mind coach and an Aussie, shares her dark and difficult journey from the brink of death to a life worth living and loving. Many of my podcast guests and many of my clients are gray area drinkers; those of us who haven't reached 'rock bottom' but choose to stop drinking simply because we want more out of life. Lisa's story is not one of gray area drinking. She shares that she had many Day 1's and a frank discussion with her doctor that alcohol might be the end for her. It was a scary time.
I am grateful to Lisa for sharing her story that it is never too late to start changing our relationship with alcohol, even when a happy ending is not guaranteed.
Also, I want to encourage you to try new tools in your own AF journey!
You can check out a different kind of tool, my revamped program "Stop Drinking in Your 50s and Beyond' HERE
Full Show Notes Here
One of the biggest issues with New Year’s resolutions is that they often revolve around huge changes like adjusting our eating habits, getting more sleep, or becoming fluent in a new language.
"Where we go wrong with New Year's resolutions is there's this idea that it's supposed to be some big, sweeping change, because that sounds kind of sexy. [But] as humans, we’re not wired to make big, sweeping changes.
TERRI BLY, LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
So, I propose we try something different. I borrowed heavily from the trifecta idea that Gretchen Rubin shares about 3 ways to embrace the new year: A One-Word Theme, A 24 for 24 Challenge and My 24 for 24 List.
In today's episode, I share these exercises as an alternative way to set your intention and create your life by design, not by default. There is no requirement implement all four ideas; feel free to pick and choose the ones that speak to you and spark your creativity!
Full Show Notes
Coffee Date Survey
As we turn the page to the New Year, I find it valuable to spend some time reflecting. I like to consider the good, the bad, the fun times and the challenges that each year brings.
In the podcast this week, I share some of these reflections and I hope you will be inspired to take your own look back.
Here are some of the highlights, challenges and lessons from 2023:
- My community grew by 700%. That means I get to help more people on their AF journey.
- We got a puppy!
- I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition mid-summer
- While addressing one health challenge, I have the opportunity to discover new ways to support my overall health.
- Connection continues to be the number one thing my audience and community are seeking
- It's never too late to make new friends!
and more in the episode and the shownotes!
Show Notes Here
Your invitation to '24 for 24' HERE
BONUS EPISODE!
This is a podcast I recorded for The Results without Restriction health podcast. My friend Laurie Mallon wanted to talk about Dry January. Here are some of the highlights
- How not to fall into the Jan. 31 - Feb. 1 trap
- The importance of community
- Why setting an intention is the first step
- Redefining success
Plus, I share my top 3 tips to embrace this Dry January.
My favorite community to spend January with? The Live Alcohol Experiment by This Naked Mind. Join by January 1st
Full Show Notes HERE
Much of this alcohol-free journey involves figuring out how to make it easier for us. After all, if becoming and staying aFree is completely miserable, will we really achieve lasting change? For many of us, the connection between food and alcohol is deeply embedded.
Dr. Brooke Scheller has the answer and the book to help you do just that. "How to Eat to Change How You Drink" lays out the nuts and bolts of using nutrition as an inside track to not only drink less (or not at all) but to feel your best while cutting back.
Dr. Brooke first appeared on the podcast in May 2022 where we talked about alcohol and nutrition. In this episode we go deeper, touching on:
- The holistic approach to sobriety
- Why supplements alone don't work
- The 'every day' effect of drinking alcohol
- And more...
Full Show Notes HERE
There's still time to join '24 for 24' a FREE community event to create your 2024 with fun and intention! Register HERE
The more I learn about the mind-body connection, the more I want to know about harnessing the power of bodywork to better serve my clients.
This is where my friend and fellow coach Brandi Babb comes in. She is currently a somatic experience therapist in training. This means she is in tune with how and where the body stores trauma and stress, and how releasing these trauma and stress responses, through bodywork, can help us toward peace and wholeness.
The most common and straightforward form of somatic therapy is known as somatic experience therapy. In this therapy, patients discuss their problems as in other forms of mental wellness therapy. Rather than just talk about them, somatic therapists guide patients to focus on their underlying physical sensations. From there, the mind-body exercises may include breath work, meditation, visualization, massage, grounding, dance, and/or sensation awareness work.
In this episode of the podcast, Brandi shares her personal journey with somatic therapy and the methodology she is learning through the work of Dr. Peter Levine.
We talked about:
- Who might benefit from this therapy?
- Nervous System Regulation
- Understanding the 'freeze state'
- How alcohol shows up as a 'state changer'
- Noticing our own bodily responses
- Self-regulation and self-resourcing: expanding capacity
- Her personal journey with an eating disorder
- The brain, safety and emotional regulation
Show Notes HERE
I wanted to take some time today to introduce myself, or re-introduce myself to all of you. As my business has evolved, I realize there are many of you who have jumped into the middle of my story while some of you have been here from the very beginning.
It struck me, as I was thinking about this, that we all have a 'sober evolution'. Just as we evolve throughout our lives, we grow as aFree humans. And, being an entrepreneur in this space, my business has its own 'evolution'. For some coaches and business owners in this sober space, they offer one thing. For me, I love to create new offers, try new things and think of new and creative ways to connect with all of you!
This episodes highlights some of the evolutions in my life and business since becoming aFree. I think it's fair to say that everything has changed. While I used to be wary of change, now I love the freedom to become more authentically me!
I believe living alcohol-free allows each of us to evolve and to continue to evolve as we embrace the possibilites of being fully alive!
Show Notes Here
Connect with Teri Here
Here come the holidays, ready or not!!
On the podcast today I share a few tips from my original "Navigating the Holidays Sober" guide. Tune in and then grab your copy of the guide.
Some tips include:
- Make your own plans: consider going late and leaving early. You may choose to stay in a hotel vs. with family. You are in charge - and you deserve to protect your energy (and your sobriety).
- Escape Hatch: ideas to remove yourself if things become hard to handle. And, what to do to come back into your body.
- Manage your thoughts: this is key to creating a flow and ease to any event. Reminder: ask for what you want, not what you don't want. Where our attention goes, energy flows.
Each of us will be in a different place this year. Honor your place. You might be just navigating the first few days without alcohol and using some willpower to get through; honor this. You might be a few months in and feeling solid, but the stress and familiarity of the holidays might hit a little hard - honor that.
Wherever you are, don't beat yourself up if you have a drinking thought. Your brain is likely trying to protect you by offering what used to be a balm. And, it's a relief to remember that 'thinking is not drinking'. Know that you are practicing how to navigate the holidays without booze. It will be easier each time you do it but the first time is likely not pretty. That's okay.
Your free Holiday Survival Guide HERE
Show Notes HERE
Sometimes, everything falls apart. We can be fraying at the edges for a long time, using alcohol as the 'duct tape' to hold everything together and one day, it's not enough.
My guest on the podcast today, Allison Barber, shares her story, which includes a debilitating injury, a crumbling marriage and a rocky relationship happening all at once. To find her way out, Allison chose one brave step. From this place, she began the work of healing from 'the inside out'. And today, she shares her message with others who are struggling with taking that first step toward healing.
Highlights from this episode:
- When your world gets smaller
- Our value is not tied to our struggles or our choices
- The freedom of choosing NOT to drink
- To stop drinking entirely was never the goal
- The decision to take 100% responsibility for self
- The pain of conflicting values
- Letting go of control
- No better time than midlife to stop drinking
Show Notes Here Stop Drinking Now HERE
Free month of book club HERE
Would you like to be 'better than before'? I think for many of us this is the appeal of an alcohol-free life; we want our circumstances to improve.
Today, I share the work of Gretchen Rubin who wrote the book, Better Than Before. This book is about habits but most importantly it's about knowing oneself better than before. Rubin makes a convincing point that in order to establish habits that last, we must build habits that are based on who we are now. I agree - when we try to adopt the habits of someone else, we often find it difficult. If we start with self-knowledge we are much more likely to succeed in creating lasting change.
In the podcast today, I share the Habit Manifesto that Rubin created and also offer real life examples of where these principles can help us create an alcohol-free life, and do it with more ease!
THANK YOU! This is gratitude season and I want to share how grateful I am for all of you and your support. As a gift, you are invited to join The Sober Edge Book Club (women only) for free for the month of December.
Show Notes
Book Club Offer and Code
I caught up with my friend and fellow coach Megan Webb on the podcast this week. We talked about her ‘Festival of Fifty’ as she celebrated her milestone birthday with friends and family. Megan shares how awkward she would have felt in the past having the attention focused on her and how amazed she was at enjoying Karaoke without a cocktail in hand. Megan also shares her excitement to be entering midlife knowing that she can now create a beautiful second act!
Megan also shared her very real struggle with speaking in public and how she used to use alcohol to overcome this phobia. Megan is honest about the level of anxiety she used to feel, and how the alcohol she thought was helping her get through it was actually creating more anxiety. Megan is passionate about helping women leave alcohol behind so they can speak their own truth.
With her coaching business and her new podcast “Not drinking today” Megan is helping women everywhere learn that no alcohol is required!
Show Notes HERE
When Amber Graziano stopped drinking she didn’t know anyone who didn’t drink. But, she did know she liked to run and that other runners might be non-drinkers, or other non-drinkers might want to try running. So she decided to start a sober running group.
On the podcast, Amber shares that the first 5 people who joined her Facebook group included her mom and best friend but gradually, through word of mouth, the group began to grow and today there are over 2000 members.
A powerful part of our after-alcohol journey is channeling our energy into new areas that help us grow - physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Amber believes that running and the Recovery Road Runners group helps with all of that, while also offering a recovery community.
Amber shares the gifts she has found by running in recovery, including: more confidence, letting go of excuses, and the mantra “one mile at a time”.
In addition to an in-person running group, a Facebook community, RRR also offers a non-profit foundation, coaching and retreats.
Sign up for The Sober Summit: Holiday Edition HERE
Full Show Notes HERE
When it comes to changing our relationship with alcohol, not knowing where to start can lead us to frustration, procrastination and stalling.
I know when I wanted to drink less, I got stuck in moderation because I didn’t know the options. I didn’t realize that I could stop drinking just because I wanted to…! And, when I started to consider NOT drinking, I had no idea where to start. Other than counting days and attending meetings, I was completely at a loss.
I want to help you build a roadmap, a place to start where you will have guideposts along the way. Imagine knowing what to do first! And, where to go after that? Having directions can take away the scary and confusing part of getting started. That’s why when we plan trips we have an itinerary, a map and a destination. Your alcohol-free journey will benefit from a guide, a map and some inside information (don’t stop there; definitely try this!).
In today’s podcast, I share the 3 steps to ‘Stop Drinking Now’.
Listen in to learn:
- Where to start
- What to do if you’re not ready
- What is IAF and what does it have to do with not drinking?
- How to build your own roadmap
In my coaching business, I have worked with so many women at the beginning of their journey. I understand how difficult it can be to get out of our own way and to take a step back and get that ‘bird’s eye’ view. This is why a roadmap is key. We can find our true north, see where we got lost and always re-orient ourselves.
Full Show Notes HERE
Stop Drinking in Your 50’s and Beyond HERE
I am passionate about summits. Summits offer a unique opportunity to learn from many different experts all at once. Since 2018, when I discovered This Naked Mind through a summit, I have signed up and attended many summits; some about business, some about health and wellness and some just for fun! But, until this year, there hasn’t been one about becoming and living an alcohol-free life.
Meet Maggie Klassens, the founder and presenter of The Sober Summit. I am so excited that someone is offering a summit that brings together many of the amazing voices in the AF and sober community. The first Sober Summit was in April of this year (2023), and now Maggie is bringing us The Sober Summit: Holiday Edition. And, just in time to help all of us thrive through the holiday season!
I met Maggie in Portland, Maine in September and I knew I had to have her on the podcast to share this amazing resource. Listen in as Maggie shares some of the topics and the incredible speakers that are in the lineup. William Porter, Andy Ramage, Victoria English, Chris Marshall and more will share everything from pairing NA beverages with your holiday meals to looking for glimmers, to understanding boundaries and staying active during the holidays.
The best part is that the series is free. You can listen each day at no cost and there is even a bonus replay weekend to enjoy anything you might miss during the summit. The speakers have incredible resources they will be sharing with those who attend the summit and you can purchase the recordings for a low one-time cost if you choose.
The doors to the summit open today (link below) and I encourage each of you to take advantage of this resource and to support Maggie’s mission to further the conversation about living and thriving in the sober world!
I think you will be impressed by the lineup Maggie has in store for you and by Maggie herself, who decided to take her passion for living AF and share it with all of us! What will you do with your ‘sober edge’?
The Sober Summit: Holiday Edition FREE Ticket
Show Notes HERE
I am celebrating my 8 years AF TODAY!
In today’s podcast episode I share eight things I have learned in my eight years. Most of them will not be a surprise - I think we all recognize that a lot changes when we choose to remove alcohol from our day to day.
I do find new delights that are part of the 'trickle down' effect of not drinking:
- Trusting my intuition has helped me taking more risks
- Seeing things without the veil of shame and guilt has allowed me to speak up for myself
- Setting boundaries, with myself and others, is a skill I am honing
- Connection - I am delighted to be finding so many new friends
- Vitality - this AF life is the best elixar! I think of aging in a whole new way, as a learning journey and one meant to be enjoyed
This podcast continues to be one of the highlights of living AF - the opportunity to connect with so many amazing individuals from coaches, entreprenuers and brave individuals just like you!
Show Notes Here
Stop Drinking In Your 50's and Beyond
Life is full of transitions; we move from grade school to middle school, onto high school and college. We fall in and out of love and often marry and have children. We may take on a mortgage or go back to school for a higher degree... the list goes on. As humans, we spend the first half of our life accumulating and acquiring things (spouses, houses, children, degrees, cars, boats, etc). Many of these early life transitions are 'self-imposed'; as we reach midlife we find that new transitions are often 'other imposed'. This can be a challenging place to navigate. We might feel frustrated, angry or even grief as children leave home, elderly parents fall ill and our job satisfaction goes down.
This is a place for women, that the pace of life, coupled with new hormone changes can feel especiallyt challenging. For many of us, alcohol use starts to ramp up. I often hear my clients share "I don't even want to drink anymore so why do I keep pouring that glass of wine?".
The three women featured today all stopped drinking in their 50's. Their stories highlight the dark times and the stories that can keep us stuck but also the beauty of life that is possible when we embrace the steps of living alcohol-free.
Show Notes Here
Have you ever thought you were too old to change? That old saying, "you can't teach an old dog a new trick" can have us doubting our ability to embrace this alcohol-free life.
Today, I want to introduce you to 3 ladies who have not only ditched booze but who have learned that the best years are our 'golden years'. And, living alcohol-free means true freedom; to embrace new beginnings, to explore deeper and more meaningful relationships and to challenge ourselves to live life to the fullest!
So, how do we face our biggest fears around NOT drinking and take those first steps forward? My guests today will share their own path to self-discovery and to changing their relationship with alcohol.
Michelle, Maryann and Angela get real about motherhood, caregiving, marital intimacy (yes, sober sex!), and discovering the beauty of an alcohol-free life!
Find out more about these amzazing women in the Show Notes HERE
My guest today, Chrissy Janiga, is a coach, a clinical social worker and an author. “Miranda learns the Art of Not Fitting In”, Chrissy’s first book, is a children’s book but as my guest and I discuss, it has implications into this alcohol-free lifestyle.
Abraham Maslow and Brene Brown both remind us that belonging is a basic human need. One of the challenges of becoming AF and living AF can be living outside of the accepted traditions of drinking. We face our own kind of 'not fitting in'. I love that we can teach our children this concept and then we can watch them model how we might apply these same principles to our AF life!
Chrissy Janiga is an alcohol freedom and mindset coach. Chrissy is a licensed clinical social worker and enjoys writing books in her free time. She has published her first children’s book and will soon publish her second children’s book. She is also working on a non-fiction book for adults, focusing on help with removing alcohol. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and helping children (and adults) dream big!
A special invitation: Join me in the Free Mini-Series, Ignite Your Sober Spark. I'll be going live next week, Oct. 2 - Oct. 5 . Grab a seat to attend live or receive the recorded replays. Come hang out with those of us who have learned the 'art of not fitting in'! Register for your seat HERE
Show Notes HERE
What if we focused on what we are doing RIGHT on this alcohol free journey? This is the question that my guest, Sally Magee and I explore on this podcast. Arthur Brooks created the framework for Clifton Strengths coaching and Sally is among the first to apply it to this alcohol-free journey.
We talk about:
- How to move from Self-Awarenss to Self-Appreciation
- How your top 5 Strengths differentiate you from others
- How Clifton Stengths can help you stop drinking with a custom approach
- Which stengths lend themselves to 'overdrinking'
- Understanding that our strengths are also our weaknesses
Sally Magee is a Gallup-Certified Strengths coach, certified Sobriety Coach and founder of Magee Coaching Solutons. For more than a decade, she’s been coaching leaders and executives using the CliftonStrengths® assessment as the basis for cultivating leadership potential.
As a sobriety coach, she is building on her experience as a coach and workshop facilitator, along with her 25 years of experience in the engineering and construcion industry, to inspire authentic leadership through sobriety.
She provides a judgment-free zone for high-achieving professionals to Reach New Heights by removing alcohol from their life’s equation.
Sally lives in Palm Springs, California with her husband, Mike and their chocolate lab, Tucker.
Full Show Notes Here
I believe birthdays can be a great time for looking forward. My daughter shared a birthday ritual with me a few years ago and I want to share it with you.
It involves setting a theme or intention for the year. I like to use a rhyme because it helps me choose a theme and it’s also fun! For example, last year when I turned 62 my intention was “ 62, try something new”. And, I am happy to report that I tried lots of new things during the year; a new puppy, traveling to meet sober friends, hosting a coaches retreat, growing my business to new levels…it’s been amazing! This year, at 63, I am still deciding: it could be ‘set yourself free’, or ‘focus on me’ but I am leaning towards “63, let it be”. As someone who struggles with hyper-productivity and restless saboteurs, this is an important focus area for me. Perhaps it would serve me well to let the things I have created, all the ‘new’ settle and grow.
I think birthdays can also be a time of reflection. If you missed last week, it was all about regret and reflection. My daughter also shared a ritual to look back over the decades - what was my life like 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 and so on. This can be a fun trip down memory lane and also help us celebrate our achievements and our growth.
Tune in for a short bit about boundaries and Bingo!
Full Show Notes Here
Bingo Card
Wait list for 'Stop Drinking in Your 50's and Beyond'
Regret is a tricky emotion. It can leave us with shame and guilt about things we have done or not done. Or, it might lead us to false bravado, thinking that we should live life with no regrets.
Listen in to today's episode to learn how to process regrets, the reason why living a life with no regrets is unhelpful and what to do about the shame brought on my our relationship with alcohol.
The truth is, (almost) every human experiences regrets; children under the age of 7 or people with a neurological disorder are the only people that don’t. That means that regret is a by-product of the human condition. It’s not that you have a moral failing or you can’t ever learn from your past. In fact, regret has a clear purpose in helping us grow.
Regret is often confused with disappointment. Brene Brown defines the difference this way: With disappointment, we often believe the outcome was out of our control. With regret, we believe the outcome was caused by our decisions or actions.
Regret also has a connection to vulnerability and shame. To acknowledge our regrets takes courage and vulnerability. It’s hard to process regret because it hurts a bit and we can even carry some shame about our behavior. But, when we can face regret with self-compassion, we can learn so much.
Regret is designed to help us clarify what really matters. When we have regrets, it gives us information about our values and teaches us to be bolder, braver and kinder.
Full Show Notes Here
I used to spend a lot of time thinking about drinking and I used to play the ‘maybe game’. Have you ever played the ‘maybe game’? My ‘maybe game’ was filled with scenarios that sounded good on paper, or seemed rational after a few drinks, but were really nothing more than excuses to stay in the exact same place. The place where I was stuck.
You see, I thought I was happier drinking. I thought I would be miserable not drinking and so my thoughts were filled with maybe’s:
...maybe I can learn to drink less
...maybe I can just drink wine and skip the hard stuff
...maybe I don’t really have a problem
...maybe I don’t even need to quit
...maybe I can convince my husband to stop with me
...maybe I will be miserable if I stop drinking
...maybe I will lose all my friends
...maybe I can take a month off and then I can prove I can take it or leave it
Maybe…
Maybe is defined as ‘the mere possibility’. It’s not definite, it’s not concrete and therefore our brain can create infinite possibilities out of ‘maybe’. I think of this as The Miserable Maybe.
The miserable part comes from the unmade decision. Maybe introduces the ‘mere possibility’ which means we are then faced with a decision. If we put off the decision, or pretend there is no decision that needs to be made, we live with the cost of this unmade decision.
So, what can you do if you are stuck in your own ‘miserable maybe’?
Listen in for the 3 steps to get out of The Miserable Maybe.
Full Show Notes HERE
Brand New Free Guide: Drinking Through the Decades; A targeted approach to stop drinking no matter your age!
Today I am releasing my 100th podcast episode! Whew! It's been an incredible experience thanks to all of YOU!
I did a bit of a 'mash up' for the episode today by choosing 5 diverse and popular interviews and conversation and sharing some clips from each of those episodes.
All of the links to the original episode are in the show notes so be sure and check out any that you might have missed.
I also share some stats such as:
- How many guests I interviewed
- How many solo episodes
- The only person to appear 2x on the podcast (any guesses?)
I would love to hear from you with a rating, a review, or any suggestions for topics or guests.
Show Notes
Download my new Guide: Drinking Through the Decades
You can join the waitlist for my new video course: "Stop Drinking in Your 50's and Beyond"
The short answer is Yes; drinking and over drinking can become habitual. And, that's good news because we can use the work of some of our habit thought leaders to help change our behavior.
In this episode, Teri shares the habit loop identified by Charles Duhigg and how to breakdown the cue, routine, reward to create the change we desire. She also references the work of Dr. Jud Brewer who specializes in the craving brain. It's important to recognize that 'high value' activities are what help create habits. And, Teri shares how we can 'lower the value' of drinking alcohol in order to assist making it small and irrelevant.
Listen in as Teri identifies some of the ways we can break a habit and other ways that alcohol keeps us stuck in a loop. AUD is complicated - let's explore answers together.
Full Show Notes Here
How to Stop Drinking in our 50's and Beyond: Join the waitlist for this new, low-ticket, DIY course
This solo episode addresses the tricky part of self-compassion and tough love. We know beating ourselves up doesn't work but can we rely too much on self-compassion?
Hightlights include:
- How to do know if the Pause is moving you forward
- Where self-compassion can lead to self-sabotage
- Building in accountability
- How to use tough love without breaking connection
If you feel stuck in your journey to freedom, I invite you to consider how to reevalue your tools as you gain new awareness. There is never just 'one way' to get sober!
If this episode was helpful, I invite you to share it with a friend and help them find their Sober Edge!
Show Notes Here
1:1 Coaching
Rock Bottom - defined as the lowest possible level. It’s fascinating to me that this is associated with drinking and even more accurately with not drinking.
The connection with ‘rock bottom’ and alcohol comes from the 12 step programs that suggest one must be at rock bottom in order to embrace change. I find this puzzling; where else do we wait for something to become unmanageable before we decide to take action? For example, do we wait for our car to break down before we decide to repair it? And, what is defined as ‘rock bottom’? Is it enough if someone has a DUI? What if someone loses their job? If a family member suggests there is a problem, is that ‘rock bottom’?
I find it much more helpful and positive to think about asking a different question: rather than ask “is my drinking bad enough for me to quit?”, we can ask “Is my drinking adding enough good things that I should continue?”. This takes the focus off reaching a level of behavior and puts it into the context of an empowered choice.
I share in the podcast today that I had people in life who didn’t think my level of drinking, or my issue with alcohol was ‘bad enough’ to quit, that I didn’t have a ‘problem’. I am grateful that I stopped drinking before it became obvious to others that I had a ‘problem’ but I also recognize that the idea of needing my drinking to reach a certain level before I stopped kept me trapped for a long time. Society tells us what ‘normal’ drinking should look like - I now realize there is nothing ‘normal’ about drinking a toxic and addictive substance on a regular basis.
We now have new language to help us define our alcohol use and it doesn’t have to include ‘rock bottom’. Instead, we can think about AUD, alcohol use disorder and about ‘gray area’ drinking which allows us to explore our level of drinking on a spectrum and to make an empowered choice about how alcohol fits into our life and the impact it might be having.
Show Notes Here
Book a Discovery Call Here
Brene Brown has a chart of how to cultivate ‘wholehearted’ living which has always intrigued me. It reads like a 'how-to' manual of living an intentional life.
Last week I had an incredible experience of being in a place that I think embraces wholehearted living in a holistic way. I believe living authentically requires us to pay attention to true wellness: Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual. As I experienced this special place, I was hyper-aware that not everyone has the means or the privilege to travel to a wellness resort. So, I wanted to share my biggest takeaways from Rancho La Puerta, and how I believe we can incorporate the spirit of “the Ranch” wherever we are!
This episode invites you into the world of play, rest, movement and more. Discover how food, community and music can play a part in true wellness. Then, see how you can incorporate these pricipals of whole-istic wellness in your everyday life. The teaching of the Ranch are the essence of living an intentional life!
If you would like to be a part of our community, I invite you to check out The Sober Edge Book Club where we bring in community, play and personal growth as we explore the fun of reading together!
Show Notes Here
Book Club Here
Airports, All-Inclusive Resorts, Family Reunions; Welcome to Summer Travel.
Looking forward to vacation can be one of the highlights of summer - but travel doesn't always go as planned and the ups and downs can derail even our best intentions.
Travel while alcohol-free or sober curious can be tricky, particularly if it's early days or our first AF travel experience.
Last spring I shared an episode with my friend and fellow coach Susan Larkins all about the 5 Keys to Sober Travel. As I get ready to travel myself, I thought this would be a great episode to share again. Perhaps you missed it the first, or perhaps it's time for a reminder!
Check out the SHOW NOTES for Susan's 5 steps to help with navigating a vacation or special event AF
If you have ever heard the phrase "Have an attitude of gratitude" then this 'mini' episode is for you!
I want to help all of us explore a deeper relationship with gratitude and a better understanding of why gratitude matters. Tune in for:
- The difference between Gratitude and Thankfullness
- The science behind why Gratitude is so important
- How Gratitude and Manifesting go together
I also share how to 'lower the bar' and 'go 3 layers deep' to amplify your gratitude practice.
Finally I share the how to use a new idea, "100 Things I Love" to increase your overall satisfaction of life!
Full Show Notes HERE
My guest today, Maureen Benkovich, reinvented herself as a ‘party girl’ in order to hide the pain of infertility. While her friends were getting pregnant and starting families, Maureen was experiencing the trauma of multiple miscarriages and a failed adoption. In our candid conversation, Maureen recounts the moment when she decided alcohol would keep her from being the ‘sad friend’ that others pitied; instead, she would be 'the fun friend' who was always up for a good time.
Maureen’s story is one of isolation and pain and by sharing her own darkness, she is helping other women step out from the shadows. Maureen is now alcohol-free, a certified This Naked Mind coach and is happily no longer struggling with anxiety or taking antidepressants!
Maureen Benkovich, also known as SoberFitChick is a compassionate life coach who helps individuals reevaluate their relationship with alcohol and break free from the cycle of guilt and shame.
With personal experience overcoming depression and the challenges of infertility, she knows firsthand the struggles and traps that can come with the drinking cycle. She is passionate about using her training as a TNM coach and her own journey to inspire and guide others towards lasting change.
Full Show Notes Here
Megan MacPherson has a new identity: Megan On The Wagon. Megan recently, very recently, started her alcohol free journey.
Megan was 30 when she reached a crossroads; continue down a destructive path with alcohol, or make a change. With the help of her family and loved ones, Megan decided to reach out for help.
What happened next is unique. Instead of hiding out or waiting to get comfortable with her new sobriety, Meghan began sharing her story, from Day 1 (she is now just over 100 days AF) in a blog she calls Megan On the Wagon. She realized that writing was the key to staying sober and she decided to go public.
Megan has always loved writing, so she started journaling about her first real attempt at going alcohol-free. Within a couple weeks, she decided to start a blog, Megan on the Wagon. She wanted to be open about sharing her struggle with alcohol and the freedom that quitting has brought her.
Like many of us, she is enjoying newly rekindled fun with running and biking and finding joy in physical activities. Megan also wants to continue to support other people in their journey toward freedom from alcohol and to build a career that honors her new ‘on the wagon’ lifestyle!
Full Show Notes Here
Follow Megan on IG @meganonthewagon
Last Call for The SELF Experience: Find out more HERE
Bonus Episode: Ignite Your Sober Spark is a live mini-series I shared with my audience last week. Because it was so well received, I wanted to share it with you in this special podcast episode. The idea for Ignite Your Sober Spark came from my desire to share some new concepts around how we grow in our after alcohol life.
When we stop drinking, everything changes. And, at first, it can feel uncomfortable, there are so many new emotions, new opportunities and changes to navigate. But, after a while, it can start to feel flat; the novelty is gone and life is just ho-hum. This can be a time where we might start to romanticize drinking, or drift back into old patterns that don’t serve us.
In this recording, I share the 4 key areas we focused on to help us discover, or rediscover, our sober spark:
Day 1 - Finding Your Purpose
Day 2 - Lasting Change
Day 3 - Design vs. Drift
Day 4 - Motivation & Momentum
I wanted to present this series to give my audience a glimpse into my signature program, The SELF Experience. There are many ways to engage in groups and many different programs, but I believe the SELF Experience is unique. It provides teaching, coaching and actionable steps to help us create an amazing life, once we don’t need or want to escape from!
The SELF Experience is a 16 week program for women who are have stopped drinking and are ready to start living! It’s not a done-for-you course or a bunch of pre-recorded videos. It is an immersive and interactive experience.
Full Show Notes
The SELF Experience Program
Becoming alcohol-free is a life-changing experience. And, becoming an entrepreneur is also a life-changing experience. Both of these paths can feel a bit lonely. Now, imagine becoming an business leader in the AF industry…that’s my friend Karolina. Karolina Rzadkowlolska has chosen to put her passion for living an AF life into a business that celebrates the choices that are possible on the other side of drinking.
Karolina was my business coach and has become a friend and an inspiration as I continue to grow my business. One of the most inspiring things about Karolina is how she invests in herself and her success and the incredible results she has created. She is a multiple 6-figure coach, she leads retreats around the world, she is a best selling author and she retired her husband to help her run her global empire!
This conversation that Karolina and I have, which was originally recorded for her podcast Euphoric AF, is all about what can happen when alcohol-free leaders come together to change the world!
This episode may seem a bit of a departure from my usual podcast episodes but I hope it inspires you to think about how you can amplify your own voice, wherever this journey may take you!
And, if you are a sober coach or a sober influencer, I invite you to join Karolina and me for a unique experience to grow your business and band together with us as we change the world - one person and one drink at a time!
Full Show Notes Here
AF Leaders Mastermind Weekend
Is there a difference between how men break up with alcohol and how women break up with alcohol?
In my podcast this week I catch up with Duncan Bhaskaran Brown, author of ‘Get Over Indulgence’ and the soon to be published book “Real Men Quit”.
Duncan has a delightful sense of humor and a powerful message to help us ‘stop chasing’ and start living. Duncan recounts his own lessons from 20 years of over indulging in smoking, drinking and eating fast food.
We cover topics ranging from the tactics he used to break free; how to think differently about problems and why men struggle with balancing a strong mind and body with their heart and emotions. And, Duncan answers the question, why do men struggle so much in getting help with alcohol use?
Follow Duncan on Instagram
And, for listeners of this podcast, Duncan is offering a free copy of his book 'Get Over Indulgence'. Simply follow him on IG, send him a DM and he will make sure you receive a copy of the book! (Tell him Teri sent you)
Full Show Notes
Ignite Your Sober Spark (free mini-series June 19-June22)
My guest for the podcast this week is Justin Morris, licensed therapist and This Naked Mind Coach.
Justin shares his personal story of growing up where alcohol was modeled as a ‘normal’ part of adult life and yet he also watched alcohol erode his parent’s marriage and create health issues for his grandfather. Justin found himself struggling with drinking in his late teens when he came out as queer at 17.
Heading off to college, Justin used alcohol as a sober ‘buffer’ to blend in and remain ‘unseen’. This drinking pattern continued into a high stress job as a social worker. Justin broke up with alcohol in September of 2020 and now helps others to break through to freedom.
Justin also invites us to explore a new coaching collective, 'Living Proud AF'. This collective is an offering from several This Naked Mind Coaches who identify as LGBTQIA++. Their motto is: Empowering LGBTQIA++ people to take control of alcohol and start . . .
Living Proud AF !
Full Show Notes HERE
Calling all women in midlife! This episodes focuses on helping us understand what is happening to our bodies and how to embrace living life to the fullest no matter our age!
Jacqui Garrison is a certified health coach who helps women explore aging with grace. Jacqui lived her life believing she was healthy and creating good health by doing all the right things. It wasn’t until she was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and told ‘this is just your lot in life’ that she started to explore what healthy really meant.
Jacqui realized that she had been naive and under educated about how to create optimal health. She set out to explore how to heal her body and along the way decided to share this new found knowledge with others. Jacqui now believes that good health means living with the ability to move your body, the ability to recover quickly and to play hard at any age!
Jacqui really shines when it comes to helping women move through menopause feeling lighter and brighter. She believes that women in middle life can embrace this season with a new found excitement about what’s next vs. now what?
Jacqui shares the 4 pillars of health and aging gracefully:
- Sleep
- Nutriton
- Mindfulness
- Movement
Full Show Notes HERE
Space: noun
- a continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied:
There are 3 kinds of space (to consider in this AF journey):
- Mental
- Physical
- Emotional
For me, when I was drinking I really struggled with my mental chatter. My brain was filled with thoughts of drinking, thoughts of not drinking and with beating myself up. There was no free space. When I put alcohol aside, I created so much mental space! Suddenly, there was space. Space that allowed me to ask my brain a different question: what’s next?
For many clients, it is important to create more physical space. This can be boxing up all the wine paraphernalia in your house (who knew we had this much?) or giving away the martini and margarita glasses.
Emotional space is a biggie.We often have no space in our lives to process our emotions. We fill our days with responsibilities and deadlines and then wonder why we fill so flat and depleted… Creating emotional space allows us to pause and respond vs. react.
I use the word ‘create’ or ‘creating’ intentionally because it is an action word. This process involves your participation and your willingness to explore a new way of being.
Full Show Notes HERE
Making a change around alcohol (or sugar or exercise) takes motivation. We get inspired or fed up and we feel highly motivated to make a change. For some of us, our alcohol-free journey started from a place of desperation which equaled motivation. You may have heard the saying “sick and tired of being sick and tired”, or “when the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change, we change”. But, while motivation gets us started, it isn’t enough. Motivation comes and goes.. We can all think of examples, personal or with others, that illustrate this phenomenon: the empty gyms on January 15th; the diet we will start on Monday; the half-finished closet clean out. Motivation is key to getting started but the real change agent is momentum.
Momentum is what keeps us in action. And, the beautiful part about momentum is that energy creates energy. So, being in momentum = more momentum. Let’s think about our AF journey: we start out motivated, either from a place of pain or a place of possibility. We take a step forward (read a quit-lit book, hire a coach, join a support program) and we are in momentum. We no longer have to rely on motivation because we are already moving forward. Motivation will come and go but momentum is always available. I never expect my clients to stay continually motivated as they go through this transformation, instead we work together to create routines, habits and thoughts that support momentum. This is key to creating lasting change.
If you have been frustrated by your inability to get started, stay motivated and create change, here’s what you need to know about motivation and momentum:
- Motivation is a feeling; momentum is an action.
- Motivation answers the WHY; momentum is the HOW.
- Motivation is fleeting; momentum is always available.
- Motivation helps us get started - use it!
- Momentum helps us continue the thing we started - use it!
Full SHOW NOTES Here
Get your Recipe Book (scroll to the bottom of the show notes to grab your copy) HERE
If you have ever thought “wouldn’t it be great if there was one place to find all things sober” look no further. Alysse Bryson is the creator of the online magazine The Sober Curator. She is also a woman in long-term recovery who recently celebrated 17 years of freedom from alcohol. Alysse shares her journey from the anonymous rooms of AA to ‘recovering out loud’ and becoming a spokesperson for all of us who are walking a similar path.
Alysse discovered that there was not ‘one version’ of recovery. She lived her alcohol-free life quietly but found that she was often a sought after resource for friends and family. Then, during the pandemic, she made a shift from protecting her own story to ‘recovering out loud’. She credits her time and experience in sobriety to allowing her to identify ‘when she could be helpful’ and why moving front and center was the next right move.
With her background in media and print, Alysse launched The Sober Curator in August of 2020. The Sober Curator is an online magazine that features a variety of contributing writers and a content library that includes: Lifestyle, Entertainment, Happy Every Hour, Travel and The Spiritual Gangster. This pandemic baby recently placed in the top 15 recovery blogs and the top 10 recovery magazines in the world.
Full Show Notes Here
Zero Proof Experiences Portalnd, ME information
My Sober Girlfriends' Book Club
What do you want to know how becoming alcohol-free? It turns out, most of you have these top 5 questions in common:
- Do I have to stop drinking ‘forever’?
- Is it possible to moderate?
- How do I help my body heal?
- Help - how do I socialize without alcohol?
- Who am I if I don’t drink?
On the podcast, I share why I think these questions pop up, how I answer them, and why it’s so important to keep asking questions. Head over to the show notes for more about what's behind these 5 questions!
FULL SHOW NOTES HERE
This is a solo episode where I share a new take on an old thought.
For many of us, the end of something feels final. The very definition is “the final part of something”. So, when we have this thought and we live with this definition, it can be challenging to decide to ‘end’ something.
Let’s look at our relationship with alcohol. Many people are reluctant to say ‘forever’ and make a permanent decision about alcohol. The idea feels daunting and ‘too’ final. Instead, we hear phrases such as ‘one day at a time’, or ‘never say never’. It’s become popular to say ‘you don’t have to say forever, just say for right now’. And, while I understand the reasoning, I believe this can keep us stuck. So many people I coach express that they want to learn to moderate, to drink occasionally. The idea of ‘making a clean break’ feels impossible.
But, what if we changed our thought around endings? What if we saw it not as an ending but as a new beginning? The definition of begin is ‘to start or initiate something’. I have realized on this journey of self-exploration, which started after I stopped drinking, that every ending is really a new beginning, and that what used to feel like an ending now feels like a transition. I have found that shifting my mind just slightly, to embrace the end of something as the beginning of something else has helped with any transition in my life.
This thought process works whether you are the one who chooses the transition or if it is forced upon you - a job loss, a relationship change, a death.
In this episode I share my personal ending and what it has meant to me to be at the new beginning.
I also share 5 steps to move through your own transition from ending to beginning.
Full Show Notes HERE
Today I am hanging out with an actual Iron Man!
Buck Robinson has laced up his shoes and will be participating in Iron Man Coeur-d'alene and he will be sponsored by Athletic Brewing. None of this would have been possible just a few years ago when he found himself using alcohol instead of exercise as a way to blow off steam at the end of the day.
Buck shares his story on the podcast, including how becoming a parent led to his drinking more and putting fitness on the back burner. During his drinking years, Buck found himself ‘romanticizing’ alcohol and he even considered himself a beer connoisseur.
When Buck turned 49, the universe delivered a harsh message: he found out his birth father had suffered from heart disease and his biological grandfather had died at 49. At the same time, he received a warning from his doctor that his labs indicated he was ‘pre’ everything; pre-diabetic, pre-obese, prehypertension, pre-cirrhosis.
Since embracing an alcohol-free lifestyle, Buck has returned to fitness, including running, training for an Iron Man and doing some intense fitness challenges, such as running 52 miles for his 52nd birthday! A sober friend, who had been watching his journey, suggested he connect with Athletic Brewing about becoming an ambassador. Not only did they offer him the ambassadorship, but Athletic Brewing is sponsoring him in the Coeur-d'alene Iron Man this summer!
Here are some of the highlights: Romanticizing Alcohol The self-sabotage of the ‘detox to retox’ cycle Not a fad but a revolution The physical changes are the smallest reward
Full Show Notes Here (including a 20% off link to Athletic Brewing!)
Sponsor: My Sober Girlfriends' Book Club HERE
The Power of Books. I think we have all been transformed by a book - transported to a make-believe world or moved by powerful history.
I believe in the power of books because books allow me to explore a life that might look wildly different than mine and also because they show me what is possible in my own life. And, books can be powerful connectors, showing us in big and small ways how we are humans having a human experience and not so different after all.
On this alcohol-free journey many books have been written about the science of addiction, and so many memoirs have been authored that a new genre, 'quit-lit' , has emerged. That is the power of books!
In this podcast episode, I share some thoughts about what books mean to me and I chat with my friend and partner, Sarah Showard about our new offer: My Sober Girlfriends' Book Club.
We are excited to create a book club that is focused on all of the things women love about book clubs with none of the booze. Fun, Friendship, Reading, Growth and Connection - join us for a new twist on your old book club!
Full Show Notes Here
My Sober Girlfriends' Book Club details
What happens when the doctors can’t help? My guest, Amy Stein spent countless hours and thousands of dollars searching for answers to her mysterious illneses. Doctors treated her symptoms but she continued to get sicker.
Finally, when one doctor told her the answer was chemotherapy (just kill off your immune system and start over), Amy knew she needed a different path. Out of desperation came the healing Amy was searching for; she fired all her doctors and began using the ancient wisdom of plant medicine, food and somatic therapy.
Amy now uses her knowledge and training to help others on an alternative healing journey including addressing trauma through breathwork, plant medicine and energy healing.
On today’s podcast we talk about:
- The last straw
- Feeling safe in your body (what does that mean?)
- The importance of going slow to speed up
- Not all somatic therapies are the same
- How modern day medicine is catching up to the ancient healing wisdom from 5000 years ago
- We all have the ability to heal
- Amy’s 5 tips for Whole Body Healing
Amy’s mission is to educate and empower those who are struggling with their health on how to live in harmony with their bodies and environments in a natural way.
FULL SHOW NOTES HERE
What does it mean to be seen and known? My guest today is Joy Porter, a commercial photographer and lifestyle brand creative. Joy is a friend as well as my photographer and is someone I admire because she models what it is to find your purpose and live it with passion.
Joy tells the story of the first time she held a camera and her discovery of seeing the world in a different way. Joy has taken this idea of discovery into her work as a brand and lifestyle photographer and she helps people discover how to show their true selves to the world. Joy shares her innate curiosity and her delight at ‘peeking in windows’. She also shares the story of how she answered a calling to travel to Africa and how this experience now means that her ‘heart lives in two places’.
Joy was recently named in the top 1% of commercial photographers in the nation and credits her love of people and her deep desire for connection as the reason for her success.
Full Show Notes Here
Megan Johnson McCullough believes every body can be fit.
Dr. Megan shares about her mom’s struggle with alcohol and how losing her mom to AUD fueled her own passion to work with those who suffer from addiction. Megan has used her love of fitness and her commitment to recovery to create a fitness and recovery app, write 6 books and win back to back championships as a Natural Fitness Model.
*This conversation touches on eating disorders, perfectionism and exercise addiction. While Megan admits she doesn’t have it all figured out, she is committed to researching and developing more offers to highlight how exercise and nutrition can be a healthy part of overcoming any addiction.
Dr. Megan Johnson McCullough, EdD, owner of Every BODY’s Fit in Oceanside, CA, is an elite NASM Master Trainer. She’s a world champion natural bodybuilder, fitness model, and author of 6 book . She has a cell phone app called Fit PACE for persons in addiction recovery using fitness in their program. She holds an MA in Physical Education and Health Science and is certified from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association. She is a Drug & Alcohol Recovery Fitness Specialist, Fitness Nutrition Specialist and Senior Fitness Specialist.
*this conversation touches on addiction, overdose and eating disorders
FULL SHOW NOTES HERE
Interested in 1:1 coaching with me? Book a call HERE
- This episode may be inappropriate for younger listeners due to the nature of the subject.
Yes - we really do talk about sex and sober sex in this episode. Sarah Olsen is a fellow coach who believes it is important to open up this conversation about what happens in the bedroom when we stop drinking. Like all areas of our lives, when we make a change around alcohol, how we view sex and how we have sex may change. Relationships evolve, priorities shift and many times we also find a shift in how we are showing up sexually.
We might have bought into the ‘story’ that alcohol is a ‘sexual lubricant’ that helps us loosen up. Or, we might actually have a partner who expresses “you were more fun when you were drinking”. We might feel completely in our head and find it hard to connect with our body in a way that makes sex feel natural and fulfilling.
Sarah helps us explore communication as the number one tool to better sex; how to reframe losing our virginity all over again; and why you should focus on what draws you to your partner vs. what you find sexually attractive.
This conversation touches on many important parts of this subject:
- What is my partner thinking?
- The physical affects of alcohol on our bodies and the sex act
- Why the brain is an important part of intimacy
- How to respond when someone says “you were more fun when you were drinking”.
Full Show Notes Here
Over 40% of couples get divorced. For many who divorce, there can be complicated feelings of guilt and sorrow, regret and anger. For couples with children, these feelings and emotions can be even more complicated. It makes sense that one might need support navigating this emotional minefield.
Enter Scott Pinyard, coach, father and successful coparent. You might remember Scott from our podcast together about This Naked Mind and alcohol. Today, we talk about how to use similar tools to navigate coparenting. Scott has created Modern Coparent as a way to help individuals move from discord and anger to peace. And, the beautiful part is that it only takes ONE parent to start this process. Scott shares his own journey from a hostile and anxious relationship with his coparent, to one of respect and human connection.
Highlights:
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- Using our thoughts, emotions and actions as a guide
- Which comes first - working on our relationship with our coparent or working on our relationship with alcohol?
- Why he doesn’t use the word ‘ex’
- Teri also shares information about The SELF Experience Program for women after alcohol to gain confidence, have fun and design their vibrant life! Registration is open now!
Full Show Notes Here
The SELF Experience
As a nutritionist, I have been interested in the use of CBD as a way to turn on, or tune into, our cannabinoid receptors. As an alcohol-freedom coach, I have been interested in how CBD might be effective in regulating our nervous system and lessen the dependency on alcohol in relaxation, sleep, etc. I recently connected with Jake Crossman, a nutritionist and the creator of a USA Medical, a brand of CBD and CBG products to help ‘empower individuals to take control of their health and reach their full potential through a unique blend of modern science and traditional wisdom.’
I invited Jake and his business partner Richard Gibson to join me on the podcast and tell us more about how CBD and CBG products interact with our body and the many potential benefits. We also have a candid conversation about the psycho-active properties of THC and the difference between CBD and THC. Jake shares that products are now available that have zero THC. You will hear in the podcast from Richard who shares that his use of CBG brought no sensation of a ‘buzz’ or ‘getting high’ experience. After learning more about these products and the effect on the nervous system, (CBD) and the potential to impact our inflammatory response (CBG) I am intrigued about how this might add one more tool to our AF toolbox!
Full Show Notes Here
The SELF Experience Program Here
The Doctor is In The House!
This episode I am pleased to introduce Dr. Annie Savage. Annie specializes in women’s health and is know as the period doctor. Today we talk about the myth of hormones and women’s health, how we can go from hating our body to trusting our body and why ‘watching’ is not ‘doing’.
Annie also shares her 4 pillars of women’s health and her own sober dating experiences. Dr. Savage also answers the very important question: “how do I know I haven’t done permanent damage to my body by drinking so much for so long?”.
Dr. Annie Savage is a naturopathic doctor with a focus on women’s health. She helps women heal their digestion, balance their hormones and live without the most common hormonal symptoms. She is the co-founder of The Symptom Free Period System, an online program for women to achieve hormone balance.
Full Show Notes Here
The SELF Experience exclusively for women after alcohol who are ready to experience the joy and wonder of living alcohol-free with confidence and fun!
Who Do You Think You Are?
Digging into who you are - your IDENTITY is a powerful way to call out that negative voice in our head and acknowledge our value.
Identity is about who we are being, our sense of self and purpose or mission in life. Values support our identity as they are the reason why we feel the way we do. They are what motivates us to behave the way we do, make the decisions and choices we do.
I share two outlines during this episode so be sure to head to the show notes to find out more.
The exercise (of 'who do you think you are') is never really completed as we constantly acquire new information and experiences. The discovery and evolution of identity has no end. And that is the wonder of you!
Full Show Notes Here
Sign up for the waitlist for The SELF Experience here
Bonus: how many times does Teri say the word Powerful??
What happens at one year alcohol-free? I am delighted to share a special conversation with my friend Natasha Zygaczenko who recently celebrated 365 days without alcohol. Natasha shares her personal health journey and her realization last year that her life might be better without drinking. Natasha highlights her spiritual awakening and the beauty of coming back to herself. From The Feisty Kitchen to the nature loving alcohol-free rebel, Natasha has truly created a feisty life!
Natasha is a creative rebel who uses photography as her medium of choice. She has enjoyed traveling the globe while exploring her passions. . She currently lives in Humboldt County in Northern California where she enjoys hiking in the Redwood forests, beach walks and exploring the abundant beauty of nature all around. She recently celebrated 1 year alcohol-free.
Full Show Notes Here
The Self Experience Link
Meditation - Mindfulness - Peace - Suffering. My guest today, Ramananda John Welshon's has practiced meditation for over 50 years and shares his personal journey that led him to studying religion and meditation as his life's work.
Highlights include:
- His healing journey
- A miraculous moment
- His rememberance of Ram Dass and Stephen Levine
- The difference between mindfulness and meditation
- What meditation means to him
I loved this conversation and the peace I felt being in the presence of someone grounded in love. I hope it will delight you as well!
JOHN E. WELSHONS (“Ramananda”) is a contemporary spiritual teacher and meditation teacher whose teachings weave together the world’s great mystical and contemplative traditions.
He lectures and leads workshops, classes, and retreats across North America. He was a close associate of Ram Dass and Stephen Levine, and trained - in 1976 - with Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. He has traveled and studied extensively in India - spending time at the ashrams of Meher Baba and Neem Karoli Baba.
He is the author of three critically-acclaimed books: One Soul, One Love, One Heart; When Prayers Aren’t Answered; and Awakening From Grief .
Full Show Notes
My guest today is fellow coach Jeanine Grayson. Jeanine is a mindset and confidence coach who specializes in helping women overcome limiting beliefs and unlock their full potential. Jeanine shares her own journey from a toxic relationship and cancer diagnosis to a woman who now lives an empowered life.
We discuss the impact of perfectionism, the importance of clarity and how we can use boundaries as a way to advocate for ourselves. Jeanine also shares 3 tips to grow your confidence:
- Uncovering our limiting beliefs
- Reframing our thoughts
- Taking Action
As a Certified Life Coach and NASM Behavior Change Specialist, Jeanine helps individuals shed their self-doubt, identify limiting beliefs, reframe new thoughts and take empowered action in their lives.
Full Show Notes Here
We all know that lasting change comes not just from changing our behavior but also from changing our thoughts. So, the question becomes, how do we uncover our thoughts and get ‘unstuck’? My guest today, Sheri Cutter, is trained as a Neuro Linguistic Programer. She believes that in order to make changes, you have to access the subconscious mind. Neuro refers to the mind; Linguistic to language and Programming to our underlying thought patterns. Sherri describes NLP as a way to ‘marry’ the conscious mind with the subconscious mind. NLP has been around since the 1970’s, helping practitioners use language to uncover our hidden stories and thoughts and has informed the work of Annie Grace and David Gray (Liminal Thinking). For those of us that have been on an alcohol-free journey, we can see that having more access to our thought patterns and more awareness of our subconscious mind is a huge benefit. But, Sheri also shares that NLP can help us in all areas of growth, from negative thinking, to limiting beliefs to our core identity. Here are some highlights from today’s episode:
- The Mind/Body Connection
- Our Underlying Values
- Dr. John Sarno’s work
- Unmet Needs
- Hypnotherapy
- Reticular Activating System
- How to stop using unhealthy resources
Sheri Cutter has been in the field of health and healing since 1991, as a physical therapist, Pilates instructor, Franklin Method Educator and is currently a trainer and practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming, hypnotherapy and empowerment coaching. She is a sought after coach and consultant for both personal and business environments. With her emphasis and experience in true mind-body wellness, she has assisted many in overcoming both physical and emotional barriers. Sheri offers compassionate coaching using life changing skills for mindset and positive, realistic forward movement.
Full Show Notes Here
As the Sober Nutritionist I talk about sobriety a lot - today, I want to take you into the nutrition side of my practice and share a bit about 'food as medicine' and my own philosophy when working with clients. I also share some actionable steps for you to get started on your own nutritional journey and find your way to 'true wellness'.
I talk about:
- The power of the Food Journal
- Food, Mood, Poop
- The importance of blood sugar and the impact of artificial sugar
- Why digestion is key
- How to find the best diet for you
I am also highlighting an opportunity for you to participate in a scientific study in partnership with The University of Washington, The University of Florida and Alcohol Free Lifestyle. This 90 day study will follow participants as they engage in Project 90, run by Alcohol Free Lifestyle. As a part-time coach with Alcohol Free Lifestyle I can vouch for the quality of the program and their commitment to their clients. If you are still working to break free from alcohol, I invite you to check out this special opportunity and Get Sober For Science!
Alcohol Free Lifestyle Study
Show Notes Here
We are in the beginning of Dry January and one of the things we know is that socializing without drinking can be challenging. My guest on the podcast this week, Susie Streelman, took the challenge of creating an inclusive event for socializing while AF and has created a MOVEMENT. Susie shares her own journey from ‘professional breaker’ to the founder of Zero Proof Experiences. The mission of ZPE is confidence and empowerment for those of us who 'drink differently'. This conversation highlights the beauty of inclusion and how we can create our own 'movement' by learning to trust ourselves and step forward.
Susie Streelman is the founder of ZeroProof Experiences and creator of Sober in the City, a national traveling event. She lives in Long Beach with her husband of 31 years and has two boys in their mid twenties. Susie admits to falling down the zero proof rabbit hole and strives to promote the alcohol free social experience. She believes that one day soon, “It will be easy to obtain an elegant, alcohol free option when out!”
Full Show Notes Here
The end of the year is often a time for reflection, special memories and, let’s face it, regret. We live in a hustle and grind culture and if we buy into it, the changing of the calendar on December 31st can bring a list of all the things we didn’t accomplish this year and an even longer list of goals for the New Year.
A Year In Review; Goal Setting; Business Strategies; there is nothing wrong with any of these reflections or practices. However, what if there is a better way that allows us to celebrate and reflect while leaving the guilt and regret behind?
In my end of the year podcast episode I share a few ways to wrap up 2022 and welcome 2023. This process is rooted in Reflection, Celebration and Intention. Listen in as I share my process along with tips and takeaways from several of my mentors and friends.
I also want to share my deep gratitude to have you as a listener this past year. I love what I do and I love to share it with all of you! Thank you!
And, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter because I am going to introduce you to a new family member!
Full Show Notes Here
As a Nutritionist, I recognize that the weeks leading up to our Winter Holiday season are packed with opportunities for eating, overeating and unhealthy eating! In this episode I share 8 tips to stop overconsuming sugar this season. Food For Thought is really about the thoughts that lead to consuming too many sweets or eating on autopilot. You know how to Boss Your Brain around (Episode 57), which is key to breaking the holiday cycle of 'just one more', or 'I never eat sweets expect during ......' I also share the ways that overdrinking and overeating OVERLAP.
In today's intro I hightlight my friend Chris Engen's program "7 Nutritional Foundations for a Balanced Brain". This program is available in a year-long format through the end of 2022. (Beginning in 2023 the course will include 12 weeks of support). Chris holds an Advanced Certification as a Recovery Nutrition Coach (CRNC2) for Nutritional Therapy / Amino Acid Therapy from The Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition. Chris joined me on the podcast earlier this year to talk about the importance of cravings, a balanced brain and nutrition on the journey toward alcohol-freedom. This course includes live group coaching, a hippa compliant message board and a money back guarantee. I hope you will check it out in the show notes!
Show Notes
Blog: 8 tips to stop overeating sugar this season!
Becoming Alcohol-free is not easy; it is a journey that takes us to unexpected places such as redefining relationships, perusing mocktail recipes and figuring out what to do with an extra 2 to 5 hours a night. But, along the way, we get to find ourselves again. We get to venture deeper into our thoughts, emotions and behaviors. We start to trust ourselves and we slowly start to believe that everything is not only going to be alright, it’s actually going to be better.
Meet my friend Cheryl Hendry. Cheryl was several months along on her AF journey, challenging herself and learning lots of tools to navigate these new thoughts and emotions. And then she got sick. At first, Cheryl thought it was her gallbladder. A series of tests led to more tests and then a routine CT scan. Later that day, Cheryl received a call from her doctor: Cancer.
In our interview today, Cheryl shares her journey fighting Hodgkin's Lymphoma. We talk about the support she found from her alcohol-free community, her firm foundation, and her doctor’s question that prompted an outpouring of gratitude. Cheryl also tackles the question, Is Cancer A Gift?.
In the show notes, you can find Cheryl's list "6 reasons I No Longer Drink" and a link to my free guide "5 Healthy Reasons To Take A Break" so you can start building your firm foundation.
Show Notes Here
Your Guide 5 Healthy Reasons To Take A Break
Practical spirituality. Innate health. The journey from numbing and escaping life to becoming present offers insight into how we live our lives.
My guest today, Sam Goldfinch has been on this journey for many years. In this episode he shares wisdom gathered from his own spiritual journey and the teaching of several of his spiritual mentors. We talk about the difference between pleasure and joy; the distinction between desire and craving and my personal favorite, how to let go of ‘seeking’ and embrace ‘finding’. This is a deep conversation with someone whose knowledge is vast and whose heart is even bigger! I consider this entire conversation a gift from Sam to me and to you; I hope you enjoy it!
Sam Goldfinch is a sobriety coach who helps people to release addictions and discover their innate health, without using willpower or missing out on life. Having left a damaging relationship with alcohol behind 7 years ago, Sam understands it is insight, not 'information', that will lead people home to the truth of who they really are and to true freedom.
Full Show Notes Here
Many people go through a stage in their alcohol-free journey where the idea of drinking surfaces. This can show up as romanticizing alcohol, or flirting with the idea of moderation. In today’s episode, I address the possibility of PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome) and FAB (Fading Affect Bias). One or both of these symptoms can show up after a few months without drinking and they can catch us by surprise. I also break down the different stages we go through when we first stop drinking:
- Uncomfortable Emotions
- New Coping Mechanisms
- Feeling Flat (is it worth it?)
- Grief: the 4 stages
This episode shares how to recognize and counteract both PAWS and FAB and where and when to get support.
And finally, it's important to remember that 'thinking is not drinking'. Try meeting these thoughts with curiosity and letting go of self-critisism and judgement .
Full Show Notes Here
Concerned about navigating the holidays without drinking? Grab my free guide here
Complaining, Venting, Whining...whatever we call it we all do it! Complaining is never helpful and often annoying. It can be an energy drain mentally, physically and spiritually. So how do we stop complaining? In today's episode I am going to share 3 steps to breaking the cycle of complaining:
- Awareness
- Antitode
- Practice
I also share about my brand new free guide: How to Navigate the Holidays Sober! Whether you are 1 day alcohol-free, 1000 days alcohol-free or simply sober curious, this is an opportunity to discover a practical guide that will have you leaving behind FOMO and embracing JOMO!
Your Holiday Survival Guide Here
Full Show Notes Here
This episode highlights one woman’s journey through AA and beyond. During the course of this conversation, my guest, Racquel Reid will share her story of recovery and the benefits and, for her, pitfalls of a traditional 12-step program.
Racquel shares openly about the four years where she lived most of her life in the recovery rooms as an AA Poster Girl. Racquel quietly discovered that the longer she stayed in the program, the more disempowered she felt. She lost trust with herself and found herself simply existing vs. living. When Racquel decided she was craving fulfillment, she started a small group to support women getting outside of the walls of AA and into nature. That led to a deep dive into mediation and eventually to discovering the work of Annie Grace and This Naked Mind. A TNM coach since 2021, Racquel has continued to stretch her sense of adventure and curiosity and in early 2023 Racquel will leave her permanent home behind and travel the world, connecting with people, cultures and adventure! She will continue to offer 1:1 coaching for women who are excited about finding their own passion for growth.
Full Show Notes Here
What can a 24 year old teach us about not drinking - plenty! Emily Powell shares her sober curious journey with the fresh perspective of a recent college graduate and a clinical mental health therapist. We talk about what it’s like to stop drinking when you’re young and how to navigate the unexpected challenges that come up, not matter your age. She lists energy, confidence and time as the top benefits to living her life alcohol-free. Emily walks us through her decision to reframe what being social means and why she believes this empowering decision doesn’t have to be extreme.
Emily (she/her/hers) is a compassionate, empathic, and dedicated mental health therapist and advocate. Emily is the owner and director of a therapy private practice and works with teens and young adults. She identifies as a psychodynamic and feminist therapist. Emily has been “sober curious” since May of this year and shares that not drinking has been “one of the best gifts I could have given myself.”
Full Show Notes
Is it possible to Boss Your Brain Around? Absolutely! I do it all the time. And, I want to share with you why it is so important and how you can do it too! In today's podcast I will share some stories from my own life and some examples from my clients (anonymous of course), that demonstrate just how powerful this tool can be.
Here are 4 things I want to share when it comes to the how:
- Awareness - what is your brain saying to you? Tune into that elevator music. Tools to bring awareness: meditation and mindfulness.
- Don’t believe everything you think. Some of the thoughts aren’t even yours. We hear a statement over and over and after a while we accept it as truth. And, as you tune into some of your thoughts, notice how many you don’t consider acting on? It’s the same with drinking. Just notice and move on.
- Lighten up! I like to remind myself that my brain is just doing what it is supposed to and I am not a freak or anomaly, I’m just human!
- Get curious and ask questions. When we have a thought that creates fear, anxiety or stress, we need to know that we can explore that thought using curiosity. Let’s take the drinking thought for example, if your brain says “Oh, a glass of Chardonnay sounds so good”, rather than pushing it away we can explore it with curiosity. “How interesting that my brain just said that… I wonder why? Do I really think wine sounds good? And, maybe, but does that mean I have to drink, or want to drink?”
I also share on the podcast a little bit more about my brand new program, The SELF Experience where we get to practice 'bossing our brain around' along with a lot of other pretty cool things!
The doors are now open, and you can find out all about it here:
The SELF Experience
Full Show Notes Here
If you have ever tried to make a change, whether it is a habit or a routine or a change around alcohol, one key component is laying the foundation. Having that solid foundation is the difference between trying to balance on a stool with two legs vs a stool with three legs; in other words, there is a huge difference.My guest today, Molly Desch, has created an offering in the AF space that focuses on what to do first. Together we explore what it takes to make a lasting change, why behavior comes last and how to set yourself up for success.
Molly is a Certified Life Coach with a degree in Psychology. She works with middle-aged working moms who are ready to take back the reins of their lives, who are open to new ways of achieving real results, and just need a little help along the way. The Alcohol-Free Foundations Program builds a level of confidence that will allow women to say goodbye to the control alcohol has over their lives, while restoring time and energy to live free.
Full Show Notes Here
The SELF Experience Waitlist
Dannielle is a former client and a current friend! She is the first person that I coached who was on the 'other side of drinking' and she is part of the inspiration for my new SELF program. Dannielle shares her journey to uncovering the false stories and exchanging the weight of her covering for a cloak of power! We talked about the work she did and the ways in which she grew during our time together, from exploring a beginner's mindset to recognizing and embracing the transitional seasons of this journey. Dannielle is a gifted storyteller, a wise leader and an inspiring guest!
Don't miss the end of the episode where her and I take turns sharing "What piece of the puzzle we are picking up". We invite you to play along!
Full Show Notes HERE
The SELF Experience Waitlist
This episode is inspired by all of you! And, it’s an episode that is very near and dear to my heart because I love to talk about the ‘after alcohol’ part of this journey. My own path was forged by exploring what is possible on the other side, this podcast was created to focus on inspiration for alcohol-free living, and now I have a program designed exclusively for women to discover more after leaving alcohol behind. It seems to me that we place a lot of focus on the drinking to not drinking part of becoming alcohol-free and not nearly enough time on how to live once we are alcohol-free. I love to help others explore the place we arrive once we have ditched the drink and started to truly live. It reminds me a bit of pregnancy, where the entire focus is on delivering the baby and very little focus on how to raise a child! As a brand new mama at 23, with no younger siblings, I needed a manual! Of course it was brutiful (thank you Glennon) and messy and incredible all at once. And, I think there are a lot of similarities to this AF journey. Lots of focus on breaking up with booze and very little focus on our AF life. Once again, we are mostly left to figuring it out as we go, often feeling a bit lost and lonely as we step into a place of infinite possibilities.
What if we did have a guide? And a manual? And a tour group? That sounds way more fun! That’s what the SELF Experience, coming in November is all about! Let’s do the AF life together, in community, so we can discover our true and beautiful SELF.
FULL SHOW NOTES HERE
The SELF Waitlist HERE
Shelby John is a therapist, life coach and mom of 3 who specializes in helping women gain confidence after sobriety. This is an important conversation about an important topic. The many women I coach both in a group and individually are often looking for a way to grow more comfortable in their new ‘sober skin’. Shelby has a podcast and a Facebook group that addresses the needs of women 1-5 years into recovery who still feel like something is missing.
Shelby has 20 years in recovery and recently published her first book, Recovering in Recovery. She also spent her early years of recovery in AA and we have a refreshing conversation about 12 step programs and living beyond 12 step programs. We also talk candidly about the challenges of raising teenagers, connecting authentically with other woman and how to keep growing in recovery.
Shelby is a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice where she specializes in trauma, addiction, and anxiety. With years of experience in the field, she founded Shelby John Coaching and is the happy host of the Confident Sober Women podcast. After getting sober she became a fresh, authentic voice in the sobriety space, showing women how to build confidence and love their lives beyond recovery. Shelby is the mother to three, the wife to one loving man, and has been sober since July 1, 2002.
Full Show Notes Here
The SELF Experience waitlist HERE
Today I am delighted to introduce you to a new friend, Matt Gardiner. The work of becoming alcohol-free and staying alcohol-free looks different for everyone. For many, spiritual work plays a big part. Matt has a background and training in the healing modalities of story work, sound therapy and breathwork. These are three components of his roadmap based on his own healing journey. In this episode Matt shares his work as a sound therapist and his practical tips for using our own stories to bring about healing and recovery.
Matt Gardiner is a passionate and empathetic Recovery Coach & Life Coach who has helped numerous people get out of their 'stuck stories' and move towards the life of their dreams.
Check out The Sober Edge Coaches Academy here!
Full Show Notes
Earlier this year I was fortunate to work with a talented group of future This Naked Mind Coaches. These individuals came to TNM from a variety of backgrounds but they had one thing in common: their desire to help people find freedom from alcohol. For 6 months they learned valuable coaching skills including the methodology of This Naked Mind to create results for their future clients. During these 6 months I also worked with a handful of them as their chosen 1:1 coach. During these sessions we worked on business skills, mindset, coaching and limiting beliefs. After the formal training for TNM ended, I invited future coaches to join me in a 6-part workshop series to further their confidence and skill set. Fourteen of them have joined me for the last three months to continue to hone their skills and increase their marketing and messaging to reach clients and build a successful and dynamic business. During these months I realized that working with new coaches in the sober space is an incredible way to impact more people than ever. I have thoroughly enjoyed the enthusiasm and creativity in working with people who are passionate and driven to create real change. And, I realize I don’t want to stop working with new coaches!
So, I am pleased to announce The Sober Edge Coaches Academy! This is a robust offering including hands-on workshops, weekly office hours, a coaches community and practice coaching sessions. If you are a newer life coach, health coach, or sober coach I invite you to explore the Academy and sign up for the wait list. Door open in early October!
Full Show Notes Here
With every alcohol-free journey there is a story. Despair, loss and pain; some stories darker than others. Then there is the rising, the knowing and the triumphant coming back to oneself. Authors have told their stories in the popular genre of ‘Quit Lit’ books and recovery memoirs. But there is another way to share this story - through poetry. Today’s guest, Skye Nicholson has written a beautiful offering that tells the story of her journey through the healing power of alchemy. Alchemy, Skye shares in her book, is the process of transmutation, requiring a good serving of magic, faith and backbreaking conviction. Exactly like our journey to freedom on the other side of alcohol
I loved this episode with Skye which includes her reading two poems from her book: Unexpected Alchemy, Poems of Addiction and Awakening.
Skye Nicholson is a certified This Naked Mind Empowerment Coach, and founded Soul’s Truth Coaching in 2021.
Full Show Notes Here
Imagine if you could elevate your mood, kick cravings to the curb and break the cycle of overdrinking forever! My guest today specializes in using Amino Acid Therapy to help those with alcohol use disorder get off the roller coaster of stopping and starting when it comes to drinking.
Chris Engen is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition (BCHN ™) and holds a Nutrition Consultant Certificate (NC) from Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts. She also holds an Advanced Certification as a Recovery Nutrition Coach (CRNC2) for Nutritional Therapy / Amino Acid Therapy from The Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition.I really enjoyed this conversation and I learned so much about neuro transmitters and the importance of balancing our brains. This episode goes deep on the science and highlights the importance of getting the individualized support we need on this journey to living our best and healthiest lives.
FULL SHOW NOTES HERE
Christy Wynne first appeared on the podcast in October 2021, episode #2. When she and her husband Billy pressed pause on AWAKE, Denver, I knew it was time for an update. Listen in as Christy shares her hopes and plans for AWAKE 2.0 and the gift it has been to create this safe and beautiful alcohol-free space. We also talk about her recent travels to Spain, her upcoming 50th birthday and the challenge and joy of embracing simplicity. This update is followed by the original episode that aired on October 27, 2021.
FULL SHOW NOTES HERE
Karla Adkins is a Senior This Naked Mind Coach, wife, mother, dog-mom and she is also the face of the dark and dangerous side of drinking. In 2014, Karla found herself in the hospital fighting for her life as her liver was failing. Her drinking to quell her panic attacks had resulted in the terrifying diagnosis of cirrhosis. Karla discovered first hand the shame and stigma associated with this disease and is passionate about opening up the conversation between patient and provider. Her first book “And She Came Tumbling Down” is available for pre-order and will be released on September 7th.
This conversation is raw and real, heartbreaking and triumphant. Karla, by sharing her personal story is breaking the silence that surrounds this disease. Her courage is paving the way for each of us to question our own relationship with alcohol and to open our hearts to others who are struggling for their own freedom.
Full Show Notes
My guest today is Christy Osborne, the creator of the wildly popular lovelifesobewithChristy Instagram account. Christy is an expat living in London where she has created resources for other moms around drinking and learning to live in a foreign country. Christy shares her own story of changing her relationship with alcohol and the joy she has found in being fully present with her family and children. Christy shares her take on the mommy wine culture and how she chooses to see the word ‘sober’ as a proud declaration of choosing a bigger, better and brighter life!
Full Show Notes Here
Kimberly Pittman-Schultz describes herself as a poet and a human. Kimberly is also a Grief Mentor. We had an incredibly powerful conversation where Kimberly shares the deep work that she does in helping people reimagine and recreate their lives so they can hold on to their loved ones in a new way, move into the future with a sense of purpose, and experience joy again.
Kimberly Pittman-Shultz is the author of two books: Grieving Us: A Field Guide for Living with Loss Without Losing Yourself and Mosslight a poetry book. Her gift is addressing the special needs of those grieving a beloved companion; implementing mindfulness & sensory healing; writing—poetry, personal storytelling & journaling.
Full Show Notes
Jennifer Salzman considered herself a ‘normal’ drinker until her divorce in 2012. Gradually she started drinking more and more, believing the lies of the alcohol industry that alcohol was the answer to all the pain and loneliness. After 8 long years of struggling to drink less, Jennifer decided to make a change. She spent 8 months without drinking alternating between misery and willpower. After discovering This Naked Mind, Jennifer joined the Path and began her journey to freedom. Along the way, Jennifer began to see herself through the eyes of her fellow pathmates as someone whole and worthy. She discovered how to live happily as a non-drinker and that the biggest act of rebellion was NOT drinking! Jennifer’s new confidence and joy led her to train as a This Naked Mind Coach. Jennifer is newly certified and specializes in helping people claim their inner rebel and ditch booze for something better!
Full Show Notes
Catching Your Breath with Cancer Survivor Victoria English Martin
Victoria is a This Naked Mind Senior Coach and a personal friend. She is also a breast cancer survivor. This episode is about her journey through cancer and the strength and beauty that she found on the other side. Her story is emotional, painful and so inspirational. From her early days of drinking to quell panic attacks, to finding herself drinking again after a brutal battle with cancer, Victoria opens up her heart to show what is possible when we give up our armor and allow our hearts to break wide open.
Victoria English Martin is a mother of four, integrative nutritionist, alcohol coach, best-selling author, podcast host and breast cancer survivor. She began misusing alcohol in her 30’s. Today, Victoria strives to help people reframe their relationship with drinking while finding empowerment in all areas of life.
Full Show Notes Here
Moderation is a subject that comes up all the time in my alcohol-free coaching. This topic is surrounded by a lot of emotion and when someone is considering changing their relationship with alcohol, it often seems that moderation is the perfect answer, the ‘golden ticket’. “If I could just have one”, “If I could just drink like normal people, take it or leave it”, are sentiments that I hear a lot in the coaching programs where I work. And I get it. That was me. I wanted to moderate because I could not imagine a life without alcohol. I also wanted to still drink occasionally because giving up alcohol forever would mean I had a problem with alcohol (was I an alcoholic?) and I wasn’t ready to admit that to anyone, even myself. On the podcast, I share three reasons that make moderation so difficult including the science behind tolerance. Think moderation is the easy way out? Let’s explore together!
Full Show Notes Here
Bigger Than Alcohol with Joshua James
Josh is a career bartender who decided to take a year off of drinking to see what would happen. Along the way he began exploring AF beverage options and decided to record 50 YouTube reviews of NA products. Now 3 years into this project and his own alcohol-free life,, Josh has opened Ocean Beach Cafe, the largest NA bottle shop on the West Coast and one of the only brick and mortar sober bars in the United States. Ocean Beach Cafe serves as home base while Josh continues to explore the more than 300 NA beverages from around the world that have hit the market in recent years. Josh takes his passion to the streets with sober meet ups and teaching people how to rebrand sobriety. Follow him on IG at Josh the non-alcoholic and be sure and check out Ocean Beach Cafe when you visit SF!
Full Show Notes Here
Playing to your strenghts
I’m a sucker for a quiz or assessment; Enneagram, Meyers-Brigg, DISC, all of them. I particularly love the framework of The Four Tendencies, created by author Gretchen Rubin. If you have ever wondered about the why some people find it so easy to create a new habit and others find it nearly impossible - this is the quiz for you. Find out if you are an Obliger, Upholder, Questioner or Rebel and discover how to ‘play to your strengths’. When it comes to taking control and following through, whether it’s alcohol, sugar or exercise, understanding yourself better is key!
Full Show Notes Here
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you changed everything? Meet Amy Hill my guest this week. Amy shares how trusting her intuition led her to explore living alcohol-free which led to a radical departure from the life she had been leading.
Amy shares her passion for adventure and personal growth which led her to leaving her job, moving out of the country and taking her AF journey to the next level!
Full Show Notes Here
Have you experienced an alcohol-free vacation? After my recent trip I wanted to reflect on the power of gratitude, cerveza sin alcohol, and sticking to your morning routine! I also touch on what comes up with a 'digital detox' and the joys of traveling with toddlers. Bon Voyage!
Full Show Notes Here
Matt and Amy Edwards have been dating for 25 years and married for almost 23 years. Together, they have two kids, 21 & 17 and a sweet Corgi named Oreo. Amy stopped drinking first and Matt followed a few months later. The experience and learnings from navigating this journey inspired them to start a podcast, The Alcohol Free Marriage. The AFM showcases the fun and joy a couple can have without drinking and hopefully inspires others to take out the booze but leave the fun! Full Show Notes
Fit Recovery and the Missing Links with Chris Scott
This episode is for my wellness enthusiasts! I had an amazing time learning from Chris Scott, the founder of Fit Recovery. We talk about everything from nutrition and gray area drinking, to the importance of bio chemistry on the road to recovery. Chris shares how his own trial of supplements and fitness allowed him to hack his own recovery and discover how to teach this to others. If you have ever doubted the importance of nutrition on this journey back to health, Chris will make you a believer!
Chris Scott founded Fit Recovery to help people from around the world transcend alcohol and optimize their health. He has been addiction-free since 2014. He is the author of Drinking Sucks!, creator of online course & support community Total Alcohol Recovery 2.0, and cohost of the Elevation Recovery Podcast with Matt Finch.
Full Show Notes Here
What happens when you show up to life without alcohol? Eliza Desch shares her transformation from surviving to thriving on the Path and beyond! Eliza and I talk about her decision to take a break from drinking that led her to join This Naked Mind’s Path program where we met in December 2020. Eliza showed up two months AF and spent a year honing her alcohol-free muscles, creating new experiences and fostering deep connections with other newly sober friends. Along the way Eliza rediscovered her joy for living and learned to prioritize her own well-being. In addition to living AF, Eliza shares her health journey that ultimately led to her losing 40+ pounds! She has also become an fierce advocate of the NA (non-alcoholic) beverage industry and has watched her confidence and business soar. Eliza Desch is one of the Bay Area’s most in-demand hair and makeup artists with over a decade of experience creating flawless, customized looks for brides, special and professional occasions, and a host of respected brands and editorial clients.
Chronic Pain & Alcohol with Annie Miller
This is your brain, this is your brain on pain. For those enduring chronic pain, there is a new method to ease suffering and improve quality of life. My guest, Annie Miller introduces us to the new field of Pain Reprocessing Therapy. Annie shares the key to changing the way your brain interprets pain and the neuroscience of how pain and the brain work together. We also touch on her expertise in CBTI (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) and the role alcohol plays in both sleep and pain. This episode is packed with practical tips to manage insomnia and chronic pain and brings a message of hope to those struggling with chronic pain.
Annie Miller is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in the Washington DC area. She is the owner and founder of DC Metro Sleep and Psychotherapy.
Annie specializes in working with sleep disorders, chronic pain, and trauma. Annie uses a variety of evidence-based techniques including CBT-i for insomnia, EMDR for trauma, CBT for anxiety disorders, and PRT (pain reprocessing therapy) for chronic pain.
Full Show Notes Here
Dr. Brooke Scheller is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, Certified Nutrition Specialist and an expert in nutrition and the effects of alcohol use on gut and brain health. She combines her clinical background with a passion for health-tech and innovation in the food, supplement and personalized wellness industry. Dr. Brooke offers online courses and individual programs that use cutting-edge nutritional practices to change your relationship with alcohol and repair the body from long-term alcohol use. I am so excited to have Dr. Brooke Scheller on the podcast - we ‘geek out’ on nutrition, gut health, brain health and the impacts of alcohol.
I ask Dr. Brooke the exact questions you would: what about supplements; how do I support my body after alcohol, and more!
FULL SHOWNOTES HERE
Today’s conversation with Starla Wine founder Dawn Maire is all about JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). When Dawn stopped drinking, she didn’t want to stop enjoying wine. So, she took her passion for wine and her love of cooking into the kitchen and began exploring how to create a wine, without alcohol, that brought the same taste sensation she had previously enjoyed. The result is Starla Wine.
Founded by Dawn Maire and Jamie Coulter, Starla alcohol removed wine is deliciously and passionately produced for wine lovers who cannot or choose not to drink wine with alcohol. A combination of winemaking artistry and the finest quality botanicals and aromatics results in a luscious, full bodied wine without the hangover.
Starla is low calorie, low carb, and has zero added sugars. It pairs with pesto chicken, cheese boards, and 6am boxing. Starla’s trio of premium varietals, including Sauvignon Blanc, Red Blend and Sparkling Rosé, are available online at StarlaWines.com and specialty retailers nationwide.
Get Your coupon code for 20% off by visiting the show notes!
Full Show Notes Here
Stress - we have a complicated relationship with stress. We find ourselves avoiding stress, blaming stress and creating stress. Today, I want to share two new ideas with you: 1. Stress is not all bad. 2. There is a way to let go of stress. The first idea is all about hormetic stress. This is where we find small exposure to stress, ones where we return quickly back to baseline (homeostasis) are actually beneficial in building up resilience. The second teaching point is about letting go of stress with something called ‘completing the stress cycle’. In this episode I share 9 ways to let go of stress as a proactive way of lowering our anxiety and creating more peace, clarity and joy. I created an info graph about these 9 steps so be sure to grab your copy in the show notes page of this episode.
Full Show Notes Here
Life coaching; what is it and how do I know if I need it? Today, I am delighted to introduce you to my life coach, Lorna Wilson.
Lorna shares the in’s and out’s of what life coaching is designed to do (it’s not therapy and it’s not giving advice); how to find the right coach and she shares some of the tools she uses to move her clients forward. Lorna and I also get personal as we share our own Life Purpose statements.
In my own coaching practice, The Sober Nutritionist, I offer life coaching in freedom from alcohol, after alcohol and building a sober coaching business. I currently have two spots open to work with 1:1 clients. If you are interested, visit the show notes to connect.
Full Show Notes Here
My guest today is Angie Chaplin. Founder and owner of Mindful Leadership + Recovery, Angie Chaplin is a speaker, facilitator, educator and author with more than 20 years of work in human resources and organizational development. Leveraging her own journey from alcohol addictionto business owner, Angie guides leaders to live, love, and lead extraordinary lives of their own design.
In this episode, Angie walks us through the principles of leadership and how to apply them to Personal Leadership. Her Value Mapping Model teaches us to use our own values as a guide to living AF. Angie shares her framework for change based on the 4 pt. Behavioral change model and shares how to create a WRAP a wellness recovery action plan. . This episode is chock full of practical tools and practical steps. As Angie says, life after alcohol is a ‘choose your own adventure’.
Full Show Notes Here
Your 60, 90 days alcohol-free. You feel solid and happy….at home. But, what happens when your first vacation rolls around? Or, the boozy work convention? Susan Larkin is a This Naked Mind Coach who shares her 5 key steps to learning how to manage our mind and discover the joy and beauty of sober travel! Susan shares her own discovery about the pitfalls of travel and how to navigate landmines using a variety of tactics and tools so that you can have the vacation of your dreams - without alcohol!
Susan’s mission is to help professional women discover how to get their drinking under control and become free and create a life they want to wake up to! She knows first-hand what it’s like to feel stuck, knowing alcohol did not work for her, but also not being able to let go.
Susan is passionate about helping women take back their power of choice, and create an amazing and vibrant life!
Full Show Notes Here
Intentional Growth. This alcohol-free journey is one of the most intense periods of self-development and personal growth that one might ever experience. Many of us, me included, come to appreciate and even enjoy the intense learning phase. So, if you don't want to fixate on alcohol but you want to keep growing and learning, what comes next?
This episode is a bit of a departure as Teri shares how she does ‘the work’ to keep learning and growing on the other side of drinking. This is Part 2 of a two-part series where Teri shares resources and tips to help you stay connected and centered as you create this alcohol-free life!
Part 2 focuses on community - where can you find and engage with those with others who are also focused on personal growth? Teri shares her own mastermind experience and how she created an 'intentional' book club to escape the 'wine and whine' club she had been a part of for several years.
Are you also looking for community support? Are you looking for lasting change and a place to share your journey? I invite you to take a quick survey. It is anonymous and there are only 3 questions. Quick Community Survey
Your After Alcohol Guide Teri’s guide to creating your best life after alcohol!
Grab your resource list: Teri’s Guide to Intentional Growth
Quick Community Survey: quick and easy 3 question survey
Come behind the scenes as Teri shares in this special 2-part episode how to keep growing and learning on the other side of drinking.
Full Show Notes
Your After Alcohol Guide here
This conversation with Jodi Cohen, founder of Vibrant Blue Oils has helped me recognize the power that is in oils. I have been curious for a while if essential oils could offer any support during the detox and repair phase after we stop drinking, so I reached out my fellow FNTP (Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner) Jodi Cohen. Why? Essential Oils harness the power of plants that have been used for centuries for their healing properties. One of the reasons that oils work vs. supplements is that essential oils can cross the blood-brain barrier through our olfactory system, or sense of smell, without having to breakdown through our digestive system and other organs. This can mean a direct path to healing. In particular, we talk about using essential oils to help stimulate the Vagus Nerve and help us reduce anxiety on our journey to regulate our nervous system while removing alcohol.
Full Show Notes Here
Your After Alcohol Guide (free download)
For Bitter For Worse What happens when you get hit with a job loss and a health crisis all at once? If you are like my podcast guest this week, Shelley Elkovich, you do what you love - create a cocktail ‘made with love, not alcohol’. We have a rich and fascinating conversation about taking a leap of faith, and turning your passion into your full time business. Shelley shares the inspiration behind her cocktail company, For Bitter For Worse, what it means to ‘reverse bootleg’ and how to become a social pollinator.
Full Show Notes Here
Your After Alcohol Guide Here
Congratulations! You’ve made it 30, 60, 100 days without drinking! You feel amazing, powerful, rested, restored, and….terrified.
There is so much emphasis on not drinking and how to stop and support around taking a break, but, what happens when we have stopped? Where is the support and guidance to stay stopped?
And so, in todays episode, I share how I focus on the ‘after alcohol’ piece in my coaching. And I outline some practical steps to help you navigate what comes next.
Full Show Notes Here
One of my favorite things in this Alcohol-free space is discovering new and delightful offerings that are without alcohol. Today, I invite you to get to know Rightside Brewing and Owner and Founder Emree Woods. Since opening operations in January of 2020, Rightside Brewing and Emree have been on an incredible journey, sharing their NA beer at festivals, Atlanta’s first pop-up NA bar and throughout the South East. Rightside Brewing is a true labor of love for Emree and her team and her passion for her craft and her mission are evident in this interview. I enjoyed hearing about her inspiration for Rightside, the origin of the name, and how she is proud of the example she is setting for her two small children. Full Show Notes Here
Week 4 of the Coaches Series: Debi Talbert is a Tiny Habits coach as well as a This Naked Mind Senior coach who specializes in helping us understand more about the connection between our thoughts, emotions and behavior. We had so much fun talking about habit ‘recipes’, how to troubleshoot when a habit is not working and we even created a habit recipe around drinking more water! She also answers questions from listeners about how many habits can we tackle at once, and why are some people better at creating habits than others?
Full Show Notes Here
In our 3rd episode of Coaches Series, Teri talks with fellow This Naked Mind Coach Ruby Williams. Ruby has newly certified as a Sleep Coach and they share a fascinating conversation about the impact of alcohol on sleep, the importance of sleep hygiene and the all important question: “When will I start sleeping again?”
Full Show Notes here
My friend Martha Wright has created an alcohol-free life on the other side of owning a winery! And, she has done it with a sense of excitement, fun and adventure. She shares how to redefine hospitality, and how to enjoy wineries and other venues without missing out. She also has a unique approach that helps us shift our mindset from taking a 30 day break as a place of deprivation, an ‘alcohol time-out’, to a place of taking 30 days off as a playful treat and the ultimate self-care experience.
Martha Wright is a New Orleans-born wine industry veteran turned sobriety/mindful drinking coach. She works in small groups and 1:1 in her own practice, Clear Power Coaching, as well as coaching hundreds of people within This Naked Mind (founded by best-selling author Annie Grace) where she is a Senior Coach. She offers a path to regain control that focuses on understanding the neuroscience of habits, uncovering unconscious beliefs, honing coping tools, and cultivating fun and play. You can download her free guide, You Can Enjoy Wine Country Alcohol-Free and 4 Other Crazy Things No One Told Me About Sobriety
Full Show Notes Here
Welcome to our Coaches Series. I will be sharing some phenomenal guests who happen to be This Naked Mind Coaches. I am so excited to bring their expertise to the podcast. Today, we are kicking off with WENDY McCALLUM, LLB, a Burnout Coach & Wellness Expert and the host of the Bite-Sized Balance Podcast.
Wendy teaches busy professionals (who are often approaching burnout and using alcohol to cope) how to reclaim time for themselves, reduce stress, build healthier habits, and increase their daily joy.
No stranger to burnout, Wendy spent 12+ years working as a lawyer, then partner, in Calgary. As a busy litigator and mom of two young children, she struggled to find her “work-life” balance. In 2008, she left law to create a life she didn’t need to escape from.
Alcohol-free since January 2018, Wendy is also a Certified Naked Mind Alcohol Coach.
Full Show Notes Here
The Sober Nutritionist meets Sober Yoga Girl! Alex and I discuss the courage it took to move abroad at a young age, the physic who changed everything and how the yoga mat is a metaphor for life.
When Alex became sober in 2019, yoga played a key role in her sober journey. In 2020, Alex founded the Mindful Life Practice Community and Sober Curious Yoga, an online yoga community with participants from all over the world who are changing their relationship with alcohol using mindfulness techniques such as yoga, meditation, community and journaling.
Find the Full Shownotes Here
Peggi Cooney is the author of This Side of Alcohol, a raw and compelling account of her journey from shame, guilt, and anger into self-compassion, self-discovery, and forgiveness. She is also the founder of the Facebook community This Side of Alcohol and a vocal and courageous voice in the alcohol-free space. We talk about her ‘on her knees’ moment that changed everything and what she did to get and stay sober. Check out the show notes link to find Peggi's book and Facebook group and the other resources mentioned in today's episode.
*warning - there is some explicit language and reference to physical fighting.
Full Show notes here
Wonder why only 8% of people keep New Year’s resolutions? What if you are actually self-sabotaging? Today, Teri shares why January could be the worst time to start a new habit, how making bold declarations could lead to drop out and how to make small changes stick. Also, if you want to practice this concept, check out two new offerings of RESTART®, where you can start by noticing how what you eat can change how you feel!
Full Show Notes Here
Grab my free guide Here
Have you ever wondered if alcohol is getting in the way of your creativity? Today I talk with Will, a Creative Director, Graphic Designer, and serial entrepreneur who has launched three creative design studios during his 20+ year career. Even though Will had a successful career, he shares that letting go of alcohol sparked a creative energy and exponential learning that made him feel superhuman! He has also reignited his love for learning, and discovered Pickleball and the power of play. Will shares a breakthrough moment when he wrote a post titled “Alcohol is a Liar, a Thief and an A–hole.” Will broke free from alcohol the night of June 1, 2020 when he finished his last drink. His life has never been quite the same, and each day presents him with another hidden gift that reminds him how lucky he is.
Full Show Notes Here
Laura Whitesel shares her alcohol-free journey and how it led to her break up with sugar. She shares the tools she learned from This Naked Mind and the work with Molly Carmel and how she now has regained her health and has created a life style that she is proud to say makes her feel unstoppable!
Full Show Notes Here
SUGAR!!! It's a thing, and it's EVERYWHERE. Whether we're alcohol free or not, navigating the world of food is just not possible without sugar playing some part. The things is... there's 'added' sugar, 'healthy sugar', 'hidden sugar' (the list goes on) so how on earth do we figure this stuff out? We get a guide, that's how! And today's guest is just that. This Naked Mind coach and functional nutritionist Teri Patterson is here to save the day!
See Full Show Notes here
Jeff Graham turned to alcohol to cope with crippling anxiety, decades later he discovered that alcohol was adding fuel to the fire. When he stopped drinking, Jeff was able to find freedom from anxiety and the power of community. Since becoming alcohol free 2 years ago, Jeff has found a joy and purpose in helping others discover their own freedom through his sober community, Getting BAC 2 Zero. Jeff brings honesty, humor and passion into today's episode.
Full Show Notes Here
In today’s episode, Teri interviews her friend and fellow FNTP, Aimee Ames. Aimee opens up about her wellness journey and how becoming alcohol-free was a key part of discovering joy. If you have ever wondered what will happen to your relationships, Aimee talks in depth about the power of connection and what friendship means now. This rich conversation includes Aimee’s story about drinking and not drinking during Covid, her work with midlife women and the role alcohol plays, and the beauty and courage of breaking generational trauma.
Full Show Notes Here
Scott Pinyard is a rock star in the alcohol-free community and as the Head Coach of This Naked Mind he has been responsible for creating and sharing programs that have impacted thousands of individuals. In this episode Scott shares his journey from an unfulfilled career as an engineer to finding meaning and mission in helping others. Scott talks about tips to help us on our own journey, including the importance of micro commitments, how important our thoughts are, and he shares and exercise you can try at home!
Full Show Notes Here
It’s my Six-Year Soberversary! In this episode I am sharing some of what I have learned along the way, including what has changed in my business, my health and my relationships. I feel a deep sense of gratitude as I reflect on all that has opened up for me on the other side of drinking.
I also have a special invitation for you to join This Naked Mind and a free 5 day Virtual Event. I will be one of the coaches and I would love to have you join in the fun! The link is in the show notes.
Full Show notes here
Shelly is a certified accountant and a part-time real estate agent living in the Seattle area. When Shelly recognized her drinking was interfering with living a whole and healthy life. she joined the Path, a This Naked Mind membership program. Shelly could not believe there was a program that started with ‘not trying to stop drinking’. That was the beginning of Shelly’s new life where her 14 months of alcohol freedom have shown her how to live in alignment with her values and created an internal peace she didn’t know she was craving. In this episode, Shelly and Teri talk about the very personal reason why she decided to change her relationship with alcohol and how she didn't know her last drink was her last.
Find full show notes here
Growth mindset or fixed mindset? Tune in while Teri shares the work of Carol Dweck and how her groundbreaking work opens up the world of growth mindset. Teri explores how to let go of blame, criticism and doubt and allow new emotions to fuel our alcohol-free journey. Find the full show notes here.
Full Show notes available here: Episode 6
Amanda E. White is a licensed therapist, retired party girl and the creator of the popular instagram account @therapyforwomen. She is the author of the book “Not Drinking Tonight”. She is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Therapy for Women Center, based in Philadelphia serving clients across the country. In this episode, Amanda shares her decision to let go of 'cool' and embrace not drinking. She talks about her decision to live an intentional life and the popularity of her Instagram account, which allows her to help women set boundaries vs. rules and normalize not drinking. She shares about her upcoming book "Not Drinking Tonight" and how hopeful she feels that real change is on the horizon. Find the full show notes and links here: https://tlynn.kartra.com/page/podcastep5
Shellie Iossa grew up as an Army brat, living both in the U.S. and abroad (Berlin, Germany and Seoul, South Korea) with her family. After graduating with a degree in Communications in Jacksonville University, she pursued a career that included working in public relations and special events planning. In 2003, she took time to be a stay-at-home mom after a painful years-long struggle to become pregnant. While enjoying the life of busy mom and volunteer, she experienced the challenge of unwanted weight gain in her 40’s that decreased her self confidence and increased her love of wine. In 2016, she sought out resources to lose weight that led to her becoming a Coach for WW (Weight Watchers), the learnings from which helped her to ultimately take control of both her wellness and drinking in September 2020. She is at home in Bernardsville, NJ with her husband and two kids who are in high school. In today’s episode, Shellie shares how her decision to take a short 30 day break from drinking turned into a new sober lifestyle. As a weight loss coach, Shellie was shocked to discover the impact of drinking on all areas of wellness including our hunger hormones. During the 30 day Live Alcohol Experiment with This Naked Mind, Shellie began to feel better and look better and decided to keep going and recently celebrated 1year of alcohol freedom. Shellie shares about her relationship with her teenage daughter, how important it is to Act As If and how she now feels bulletproof! Time Stamp: Joining the Live Alcohol Experiment 3:29 The Science that made the difference 7:57 Becoming ‘bulletproof’ 17:05 Setting a new example for her daughter 19:44 Looking forward 27:42 Act As If 39:00 Resources mentioned: The Live Alcohol Experiment (Nov. 2021) https://start.livealcoholexperiment.com/live-tae-fp-detail?affiliate_id=2106752 Shellie's IG account: wwcoach_shellie WW (Weight Watchers) https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/ Interested in finding Shellie on WW: go to Coach Shellie I For an exclusive discount use codehttp://ww.com/joinme/388ACA3000
In today’s episode, Teri shares more about her journey to alcohol freedom and how understanding decision fatigue helped her change her mindset about flirting with moderation. Decision fatigue and moderating go hand in hand; having to decide every day whether today is a day to drink, a day to not drink or a day to start again means we must constantly use resources that are finite. What happens when we run out of decision making energy? Listen in as Teri shares her journey through moderation and how making one firm decision changed everything! 2:41 Questioning my drinking 3:36 No answers 4:30 Our brain on pain 5:12 My moderation ‘rules’ 8:29 F.E.A.R. 11:16 Forever 14:55 Practice making a firm decision The November Live Alcohol Experiment: https://join.nakedmindpath.com/hp-std-path-program-detail?affiliate_id=2106752
What does it mean to become fully awake? Our guest, Christy Wynne shares her story on today’s podcast. Christy has a background practicing integrative medicine as a physician assistant, with a strong interest in hormonal health, nutrition, nervous system regulation/neuroscience, mindfulness, trauma and radical self care. She believes in taking a holistic approach to uncover the root cause of any disease or behavior. Christy decided to become free from alcohol in 2018 and is now a senior coach with This Naked Mind. She is the co-founder of Awake, the nation's first full service alcohol free bar in Denver. Christy lives in Colorado with her husband, two kids, two dogs and a cat, where she enjoys all of the amenities of mountain living, when she's not pursuing her main passion of world travel. In our conversation, Christy shares how she and her husband stopped drinking while living abroad and how Europe became the inspiration for their alcohol-free bar, Awake, Denver. She talks about the power of community and where she has found connection and inspiration through new friends and sober retreats. Christy tells us more about the founding of Awake, Denver and the impact it is having on the local population and the larger alcohol-free community. Christy shares her secrets to finding freedom and how learning to trust ourselves is the most important part. Letting go of alcohol while living in Provence, France 3:40 Her biggest fear about becoming AF 7:00 Creating Community and shedding friends 11:58 What’s happening at Awake, Denver 19:50 Awake, Denver https://awakedenver.com/ Christy’s website: https://www.danceyourselfcleancoaching.com/
Welcome to The Sober Edge - this is a place to be motivated, inspired and astounded by life on the other side of drinking! Listen in to your host Teri Patterson, Functional Nutritionist and This Naked Mind Senior Coach as she shares her passion about living life alcohol free. Whether you are sober curious, living an alcohol-free life or wondering if there is more to life than just going through the motions, this is the podcast for you. Discover practical tools to level up your life; explore tactics to drink less and live more; be inspired by real men and women sharing their stories of ditching booze and gaining a whole new life. Teri brings her experience from coaching thousands of people looking to make a change and wisdom gained from her own sober journey to help you create the life you truly want, where anything is possible! Details about the Podcast 1:55 The ‘missing piece’ 3:32 Teri’s Alcohol-free story 4:41 Keys to Making a change 7:40 The Sober Nutritionist website https://www.thesobernutritionist.com/ Free Guide: 5 Healthy Reasons to Take A Break https://www.thesobernutritionist.com/alcohol-free-guide