The Sober Edge

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: 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: 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: 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: ​ 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: 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! 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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