The Sober Mom Life

I just got home from a 3 day trip to Las Vegas. Even when I was a drinker I wasn't a Vegas girl, so I was curious what the experience would be like to be there sober.  Few places glamorize drinking as much as Sin City, and on this trip I saw that on full display. It was an important reminder, and it made me all the more grateful for my mocktails, my early nights in bed, and my lack of shame.  If you're preparing for your first sober vacation, whether it be to Vegas or anywhere else, check out this episode on how to prepare for your first sober vacation.  Here's my Sober in Vegas highlight reel!  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristi Tanner is a sober influencer, sober coach, the owner of Sober Social, a wonderful NA bottle shop in Madison, Wisconsin, and a meeting host inside the Sober Mom Life Cafe. It is a life path that she never could've predicted for herself and it required her to  search for the answer to a big question: who was she without alcohol?  Alcohol had become central to Kristi's perceived identity. By the time she hit rock bottom in 2019, the single mom of four believed that she could not find any other way to get relief from her pain and unhappiness. But after a divorce, stints in rehab, a psych ward, detox, two DUIs and a night in jail, she had a terrifying realization - if she didn't get sober she was going to lose her children, and she would deserve it.  Kristi remembered that she had loved living before she ever loved alcohol, and she had to find her way back to that feeling. It was then that she raised her white flag, accepted that she needed rehab, and began to search for who she was beneath the alcohol that was ruining her life.  Since that day in 2019 Kristi's life has been turned upside down in the most beautiful way. She is now over 5 years sober, she has learned that there are better ways to handle her pain, and she has regained access to her joy. She has been open and curious about life without alcohol and has deeply found herself within a sober life.  Learn more about Kristi's work:  Sober Social in Madison Wisconsin  Instagram @mocktailmommy Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  The Sober Mom Life Community is also available, for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Check out The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobrieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo and Reality TV!  This week we're diving deep into the return of The Valley, including Jesse and Michelle's ugly divorce and co-parenting proceedings and Jax and Brittany's navigation of substance abuse issues.  Plus - a check in on Southern Charm, which reality men Suzanne and Katie might've dated when they were younger, Love on the Spectrum, and a dash of true crime.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  The Sober Mom Life Community is also available, for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Check out The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the daughter of a high school principal, Jessica felt a lot of pressure to stay in line. She never drank in high school, and even abstained through her freshman year of college. As the persona of ‘principal's daughter' wore off, though, alcohol became a regular part of her life.  This became challenging when Jessica moved back to her hometown and took a job in education. Always worried about her public image, she kept her wits about her when drinking in public and began to prefer drinking at home. As she became a mom and shifted her career to work from home, drinking at home became a nightly habit.  Jessica and her husband moved to a lake home and began to throw regular parties. This ‘‘weekend warrior' phase felt so fun - until it wasn't. She increasingly found herself starting the week hungover and on the back foot.  It was at this moment that Instagram dropped one of Suzanne's videos onto Jessica's feed - a video simply telling her that she was allowed to not drink. This message hit on a feeling that Jessica hadn't been able to voice, and something within her began to shift.  On New Year's Eve it all came to a head and Jessica followed her instinct - she didn't want to drink that night. She felt more present with her family as they celebrated and made a big realization - sobriety was her new path. Sobriety has opened incredible new avenues for her! She is now a certified life coach and has begun to offer focused support to high achieving women interested in sobriety!  Jessica recommends the incredible Casey Davidson if you're looking for further sobriety support Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  The Sober Mom Life Community is also available, for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Check out The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alcohol wasn't present in Courtney's childhood, so when she was offered champagne by friends at a holiday when she was fifteen, she had no knowledge of how it would affect her. She only knew that it was ‘forbidden', and what 15 year old wouldn't want to try a forbidden thing? The cozy sense of warmth that overcame her was so appealing. After that day, alcohol easily slipped into her life.  Courtney experienced a series of red flags around her drinking through the years, but she ignored them. She clearly didn't have a ‘problem', so there was no reason to consider her relationship with alcohol too closely. Yet, as she became a mother, alcohol began to take up more and more space in her brain, and her relationship with it became more and more uncomfortable.  An unexpected third pregnancy that resulted in a miscarriage served as a wakeup call. She was given an opportunity to truly feel her emotions around alcohol, and to create new habits that required sobriety to enjoy. It felt so good, and she became fiercely protective of these new life choices. At that point, she began moderating and paying close attention to how alcohol made her feel until one day at a brewery it became completely clear: Alcohol was not serving her. In fact, alcohol was taking joy from her life. She was done.  Courtney has recently reached 100 days of sobriety!  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For women with a history of disordered eating, the first months of sobriety can often include an unwanted surge of challenging experiences around food. Registered Therapist and eating disorder specialist Liza Feilner joins Suzanne and Susan today to help us navigate this tricky issue. Liza has over two decades of experience supporting women with eating disorders, and she has also been sober since she was 23 years old! She'll share why food challenges and disordered eating can arise in sobriety, the importance of giving yourself grace as you navigate major life changes, and how to seek help if you are struggling in this way.  Learn more about Liza's practice: https://www.claritygroup.org/liza-feilner Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  The Sober Mom Life Community is also available, for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Check out The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria is back on the pod! When she was last here she was six months sober, and today she'll tell us about the changes, challenges, and wins she's had in her sobriety journey in the past year. You'll hear why Maria no longer counts days, the normalcy she now feels regarding her sobriety, and the immense benefit that sober community has had in her life as she's navigated through challenging times, such as an IVF transfer that didn't pan out and a lapsed experience with cannabis.  Check out Maria's first episode on the podcast here!  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie is nearing the end of her maternity leave and she has caught up on SO much TV while in the newborn bubble. So, we're back to dive into all of the great Bravo that's been on in the last few months!  Today, we'll recap the great last season of Traitors, Southern Charm's long awaited return, and how the new younger cast on Summer House has really changed the energy of the show.  Plus - Suzanne and Katie's thoughts on the second seasons of Severance and White Lotus, and Jax's interviews about rehab.   Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mom and I just got back from the latest Sober Mom Life retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it was absolutely fantastic! This retreat was such a breath of fresh air and really solidified my feelings that we're building an amazing community of caring, non-judgmental sober women.  You'll hear all about the event, from the meals to the sessions to the bonding and everything in between. Plus, you'll get the inside scoop on how to sign up for the next Sober Mom Life retreat if you'd like to join us in the fall!  Thank you to the wonderful companies that supported the retreat with their delightful gifts:  In My Sundays pajamas: https://www.inmysundays.com/ Adorn 512 Jewelry: https://www.adorn512.com/ Take the personality test Susan mentioned: https://viacharacter.org/ Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah believed a myth: Alcohol Makes Things Special. She believed that alcohol was a special ingredient to make things fun ever since middle school when she took her first drink at a slumber party. This belief followed her through college and into adulthood, and because she didn't experience intense hangovers or blackouts, she never gave the belief a second thought.  Once Sarah started having children, however, her experience of alcohol began to change. She noticed the sluggish, brain foggy nature of hangovers more than she ever had before. More worrisome for her, though, was her realization that drinking made her more aggressive. She wondered - did she like herself better when she was sober? Sobriety didn't seem like an option, though. How could she enjoy a sober life when alcohol was the ingredient that made things special? In 2022, Sarah tried Dry January and realized that something about sobriety worked for her. Thus began her two year journey of drinking with the blinders off, until she fully quit after having a surprising realization: She'd enjoyed her one sober night on her birthday trip more than any of the nights that she drank.  Slowly, Sarah started sharing her sobriety in public. The response was inspiring. So many women approached her wanting to know more, sharing their own worries about alcohol, and asking for advice. This fuels Sarah to live her sober life loudly!  At six months sober, Sarah's mom passed away unexpectedly. The experience rocked her world, and she was so grateful that her sobriety was well intact. It helped her truly sit in her grief instead of reaching for the distraction of alcohol.  Check out Sarah's article about sobriety on Indianapolis Moms! Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real Sober Mom Kim is three months sober! Today, she's giving us a peek into this extremely important phase of sobriety.  Kim experienced postpartum anxiety with her second child. During her recovery, her therapist recommended that a glass of wine a night was no big deal if it helped her wind down, and Kim's daily drinking began. Despite the fact that Kim was able to moderate, her life began to revolve around her nightly drink. The relief she found in the ritual eventually started to blot out other things in her life.  As a therapist, Kim knew she was using drinking was a coping mechanism. Recently, though, it became too much. She found herself intoxicated on the floor of her living room during a night with friends and she asked herself - how would she feel if her kids came home and found her like this? She did not like the answer, and that night, she decided to quit. The next day she joined the first meeting she could find online and her sobriety journey began. The meeting wasn't a perfect fit, but it was good enough to help support her and keep her going until she found the Cafe. She is so glad she went.  At 3 months sober, Kim's sobriety feels hard, but incredible! She shares about the unexpected anxiety she felt during her first sober month, how it dissipated, and the gorgeous glimmers that are now coming through in her sober life.  If you're struggling with early sobriety, Kim wants to encourage you to keep going!  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our resident scientist, Gill Tietz of SoberPowered, is back on the pod to help us understand the recent US Surgeon General's report on the link between cancer and alcohol consumption. This link is something that we in the sobriety space have known for a long time, but it is the first time that the government has publicly announced the connection.  We'll talk about how this report might change people's drinking habits, how alcohol and cancer are related, and even how your body heals as your years of sobriety progress.  Plus, Gill and I will share how our five year sober-versaries have felt for each of us!  To hear more from Gill, check out The SoberPowered Podcast!   Check out Gill's past episodes on The Sober Mom Life:  An Alcohol Reality Check  Your Dry January Dream Team The Sober October Roundtable It's Not You, it's the Alcohol Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a fitness professional, Hollie Nicholson always kept alcohol out of her weekdays, but those weekends of drinking still took their toll until, in 2019, she started asking questions. Despite embodying health in many aspects of her life, Hollie faced a personal challenge with alcohol—and one day, she decided she had enough. Every weekend, amidst living a life filled with healthy habits, alcohol was still a part. For the next six years, Hollie drank with the blinders off. She noticed how inconsistent moderation success could be, she learned about the true impacts that alcohol could have on her body and mind, and she felt how good she could feel through stints of sobriety. But still, a question remained: how could you live a full sober life?  In May of 2024, shortly after she turned 40, Hollie woke up after a night of drinking with severe anxiety and she asked herself - what if she could live her next decade totally different than her last? At that moment, she had a lot of questions but she knew one thing - she was getting sober. Inspired by the Sober Mom Life community, she embraced the idea that it's entirely okay to let go of alcohol—no dramatic reasons needed. The Cafe has given Hollie such a sense of support and community. She's even experienced an incredible connection story with another member that she tells on the pod!  Learn more about Hollie's fitness program for women in mid-life on IG @hollienicholsonstrong or on her website.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For a limited time, get one week free!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alcohol was an ever present part of Samantha's childhood, so when she started drinking at fifteen she thought nothing of it. Her parents would allow her and her friends to drink at the house to avoid drunk driving. It all felt completely normal.  Samantha's drinking eventually took the form of weekend binge drinking. She met her husband at 20, and can look back and see all of the added drama that alcohol brought to their relationship during those years.  In 2022, Samantha began to experience severe panic attacks. Her ‘hangxiety' the day after drinking was the worst of all. After doing some personal work on anxiety, she began to attempt moderation. It took a lot of hard work and many failed attempts at moderating for her to wonder: should she give up alcohol for good?  ‘Will power' wasn't enough to get Samantha to stop drinking. She had to go deeper and work on her ‘desire' to drink. She is now six months sober, and she finally feels free to figure out what she truly desires in life! She is now creating a career where she can help others with their sobriety and body positivity. If you struggle with anxiety and body image, Samantha recommends Erin Treloar and Dr. Michele Kambolis's Anxiety Toolkit and Raw Beauty Talks.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is all about social anxiety in sobriety - that anxiety you get before, during or after an interaction that can just be so hard to handle. Anxiety can be so overwhelming, but there's good news! It is very treatable and you can find relief.  My guest today is Courtney - a good friend, a Sober Mom Life Cafe member, and a therapist! She knows all about this social anxiety, both as a professional and as a person who experiences it regularly herself.  You'll learn what social anxiety is, how it differs from introversion, how to manage your fear of judgment, the importance of self compassion, and Lynn Lyon's ‘Three Exes' to manage your anxiety.  Plus, Courtney will conclude by guiding us through a self compassion meditation!  Resources Courtney recommends:  Quiet by Susan Cain  Lynn Lyons  10% Happier with Dan Harris Check out Courtney's Real Sober Mom's interview here!  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's Real Sober Mom, Laura, has given alcohol many ‘jobs' throughout her life. Growing up with a mom in recovery, she was familiar with the fact that alcohol could be damaging, but she wasn't clear on the 'how' or 'why'. In fact, as she invited alcohol into her own life, she believed it was helping her. As a teen, it helped her fit in. In college, it helped her feel independent. After a devastating sexual assault, it helped her forgot. And when she became a mom, she believed it would help make motherhood easier.  That was not the case. Laura became a mom at the height of Covid. A combination of isolation and postpartum depression drove her to drink in a way that resulted in her concealing the truth about her consumption, and feeling deeper and deeper levels of shame. With the help of a therapist, she began to experiment with removing alcohol from her life to see how it was affecting her mental health. She went back and forth for months, and slowly a pattern started to become clear: Alcohol was not helping her. In fact, it was making her lose so much.  Sobriety has helped Laura experience more joy as a mother, show up better at work, and strengthen her relationship with herself. She feels so grateful to be sober!  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a big day - I've now been sober for five years! To celebrate this milestone, we're turning the tables. I'm in the hot seat and my mom is interviewing me!  You'll hear about my past with alcohol, how I found my path in sobriety, why I took my personal sobriety journey public, my vision for where I want to take this platform in the future, and the things I've been most grateful for during these past five years of sobriety.  Only one spot is still available for our February retreat! If you're feeling called to join us, now is the time to sign up. We'll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. Book your spot here.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alcohol was at the center of the world that Gillian grew up in, and the things she witnessed made her feel very unsafe. That lack of safety stayed with her into adulthood and ultimately became the main driver of her own drinking. Gillian's first drink at 13 gave her a sense of cozy warm peace that she desperately craved, and from that moment she was hooked.  After over a decade of being the life of the party, Gillian's first break from alcohol came during pregnancy. That taste of sobriety felt so surprisingly good that she fleetingly considered quitting after she gave birth. It was a thought that only lasted two hours into the birth of her son when someone brought champagne to her hospital room.  For years, Gillian was able to push aside any thought that her drinking was problematic. She ‘didn't have a problem'. She could still show up for her life, her fitness and her family! Yet, as she aged, these things started to change. Hangovers and blackouts upended her once manageable lifestyle, and with it cracks began to appear in her work and her family.  One day, Gillian accidentally listened to a podcast about the benefits of going alcohol-free, and she had a shocking epiphany: Alcohol was the source of all of her problems. Yet, sobriety felt terrifying. She didn't know who she was without alcohol. It seemed central to her entire personality. Despite it all, though, she found the courage to try.  Gillian is now 9 ½ months sober and has experienced a full transformation. She doesn't even recognize the person that she was anymore. She is now out and proud about her sobriety. She's found so much meaning in influencing others (including her mom!) to stop drinking. She encourages you to share your sobriety journey too!  Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you're invited! We'll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you're looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alcohol moved into Claire's life at a snail's pace. She thought that beer tasted horrible as a teen, and her work responsibilities in college held her back from diving too deeply into the college party lifestyle. Yet, as an adult, alcohol seemed everywhere and it slowly found its way into her life.   Though she rarely overdid it, every once in a while she would spin out of control. As the years progressed, those random nights began to occur every few months. Then… every month. Claire became aware of the progression and she knew that she couldn't let alcohol take over her life to the point where she was struggling every week. So, she committed to moderation.  For the most part, Claire really felt like she was ‘almost' succeeding at moderation. She even did a dedicated Dry January every year for a decade. However, though moderation was often working, the effort to do it took so much of her brain power. Finally, she found herself asking ‘why?' What was she getting out of this?  It was then that Claire began to attempt sobriety more often. After a few experiences with sobriety and going back to drinking, she was ready to say goodbye to alcohol. So, she planned her own personal two-night goodbye party - one night to say goodbye to the ‘ugly' side of alcohol, and one night to say goodbye to the ‘beautiful' side of alcohol. Claire is so happy that she intentionally gave herself those final nights. She feels completely committed to her newfound sober life and she is now six months sober!  Claire was one of our first participants in the Fresh 30! If you're ready to start your new year off with Dry January and a supportive and intimate sober community, join us in the Fresh 30!  Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you're invited! We'll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you're looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I love taking a look back at the end of each year, so today I've compiled some of my favorite moments from this year's episodes to share with you! Get ready to hear some standout moments from all of our fantastic guests in 2024. If you'd like to go deeper into any of these conversations, be sure to visit the full episodes! In this episode you'll hear from: 5:55 - Casey Davidson (Episode 129) 6:45 - Stefanie Wilder-Taylor (Episode 131) 7:40 -  Jenna Dillulio (Episode 133) 9:25 - Michaela Horvathova (Episode 139) 10:20 - Mallory Irvin (Episode 141) 11:20 - Hailey Conroy (Episode 143) 12:20 - Dr. Kara Pepper (Episode 145) 15:25 - Susan Knower (Episode 147) 16:35 - Rachel Paula Abrahamson (Episode 151) 17:40 - Erinn O'Neill (Episode 153) 19:05 - Morgan Matkovic (Episode 155) 20:40 - Emily Ley (Episode 159) 21:45 - Annie Grace (Episode 163) 23:15 - Madeline Campbell (Episode 165) 24:15 - Kristen Beckett (Episode 169) 26:00 - Julia Dzafic (Episode 173) 27:30 - Suzanne & Audrey (Episode 175) 28:25 - Emily (Belden) Bond (Episode 179) 29:45 - Gill Tietz (Episode 181) 31:00 - Suzanne & Audrey (Episode 183) 32:20 - My husband, Russell Wayre (Episode 187) 33:20 - Kate Taylor (Episode 191) 34:20 - Rehab with Jen (Episode 195) 36:15 - Katy Rexing (Episode 197) 38:00 - Susan Knower (Episode 211) 39:45 - Jaana of @thismomsgonnasnap (Episode 213) 41:35 - Hilary Phelps (Episode 215) 43:15 - Suzanne & Audrey (Episode 217) 44:15 - Laura Wiese (Episode 221) If you're ready to start your new year off with Dry January and a support sober community, join us in the Fresh 30!  Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you're invited! We'll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you're looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colleen had what seemed like a ‘perfect' childhood - with a sober mom and a dad who rarely drank. Such an idyllic upbringing, however, didn't guarantee smooth sailing for her. High expectations and perfectionism had begun to weigh on her by the time she left for college, and her newfound college freedom quickly led her to a life of heavy partying.  Colleen's new lifestyle was rife with alcohol and other substances, and it resulted in some challenging experiences. First, she was kicked out of her dorms, and then she was kicked out of her college entirely. As she moved into adulthood, she knew that her drug use was problematic, but despite attempts to begin a new chapter, substances stayed in her life. After marriage, her drug challenges became so clear that she ended up in rehab.  It's now been 10 years since Colleen has touched drugs, but she saw no reason at the time to give up alcohol. As a person with a high tolerance and no hangovers, drinking didn't seem as though it was negatively affecting her life. Plus, she'd found it easy to quit during pregnancy or during times when she was working toward major fitness goals.  However, it eventually became clear that while alcohol didn't feel like it had negative effects on her physically, it did have negative effects on her choices. After a series of destructive decisions put her marriage in jeopardy, Colleen started to question if alcohol actually was a problem. It was then that she found The Sober Mom Life podcast and community!  Colleen is now 90 days sober and she's become deeply committed to doing the hard work through therapy. For Colleen, it feels good to say ‘forever'. She is never going back!    Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you're invited! We'll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you're looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobrieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo and Reality TV! And oh boy, is there a lot to talk about in this installment.  We'll jump right into our thoughts about the amazing new season of Southern Charm, including JT's ill conceived gift, Shep's moderation game, and Whitney's odd role on the show.  Then we'll tackle The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with thoughts about Dorit's new F-it energy, Kathy and Kyle's emotionally toxic family, and Jennifer Tilly's debut.  And finally, we'll get to the cream of the crop, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake! We'll breakdown Meredith's incredible Bat Mitzvah episode, Angie's ‘high body count hair' comment, how well Bronwyn is fitting into the show, and Mary and her son's meaningful connection over his addiction. Plus: Katie's review of Sonja Morgan's live cabaret show, how Potomac dredged up Suzanne's religious trauma, the evolution of alcohol on reality shows, the home stretch of Katie's pregnancy, and the end of an era on Vanderpump!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $40/month, you get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a meta moment - The Sober Mom Life podcast's editor, Laura Wiese, is on the show. Today, the woman behind the curtain who shines up the podcast is here to tell her own sobriety story, with the centerpiece being that she herself was raised by a sober mom.  Laura will share how having a very vocal sober mom gave her clear guardrails once alcohol came into her life, why she has always felt a strong correlation between safety and sobriety, and the challenges she's had navigating the social contract that so many of us feel around drinking.  You can learn more about Laura at her website!  Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you're invited! We'll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you're looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alcohol was a normalized part of Renee's early life. Going back and forth between her mom's and dad's homes, she was regularly around drinking in ways that never felt dangerous at the time. So, it seemed natural to start drinking in her teens.  As an adult, alcohol continued its regular place in her life, but she slowly began to experience its dark side. Her husband's drinking had gotten out of control. After two hospitalizations for acute pancreatitis, her husband's doctor was clear: he had to quit drinking for his health. While he wasn't happy about the news, he did get sober. He's now been so for nine years.  From there, Renee's drinking felt well contained, but she still saw beer as a reward at the end of the day. After her father's death in 2022, which was hastened by a lifetime of heavy drinking, her own drinking began to ramp up until she was often drinking a 12-pack a night. The escalation felt worrisome and her peace of mind and body were suffering. It took a bit of time, but something began to click: she was ready to quit.  Renee committed herself to a big perspective shift. She was no longer going to see alcohol as a ‘reward'. Instead, she learned about rock bottoms and interventions in order to help her visualize the rock bottom that she was trying to avoid for herself.  Renee feels so much more calm and inner peace in sobriety! Within six months she was able to get off of her anxiety meds. She now commits herself to sharing her story in hopes that it helps others find the courage to quit.  Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you're invited! We'll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you're looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cristina never gave a single thought to alcohol before her first drink during her junior year of highschool, but from the moment it entered her life, she welcomed the feeling it brought her. Alcohol became something to lean on as she entered college in order to make friends, feel ‘normal', and block out her confusion regarding her sexuality. Later, as an occupational therapist, Cristina worked with many patients who struggled with alcoholism. These stark cases, though, only reassured her that her own relationship with alcohol wasn't that bad in comparison. Her wife, though, was worried, and urged Cristina to address her relationship with alcohol. In 2010, Cristina began a decade+ long cycle of taking breaks from alcohol, but it would always creep back in until she found herself in blackout territory yet again.  In 2022, with a new baby at home, Cristina experienced a blackout that resulted in her wife giving her an ultimatum: if Cristina didn't get her drinking under control, her wife was going to leave. This spurred Cristina to commit to the change. Her first year of sobriety was a big challenge, but as she looks back, now almost three years sober, she can't help but be so incredibly grateful for the hard work she put in to find her own path and motivation for sobriety.  These days, Cristina feels more authentic and she likes herself so much more. She's found deep meaning in helping other women make the change to sobriety in their lives!  Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you're invited! We'll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you're looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audrey and I are here to help you answer the dreaded question: “Why aren't you drinking?”  Right in time for the holidays, we're supplying you with 50+ answers to this question. No matter who asks you or what your reasons are, you'll walk away from this episode with clear options to confidently tackle this question.  Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you're invited! We'll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you're looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here.  Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $40/month, you'll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobrieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo and Reality TV!  Today's show is all about the Real Housewives! First, we'll talk about the great (and too short!) season of Real Housewives of Orange County that just wrapped, the big storylines on Real Housewives of Salt Lake, why both The Real Housewives of Potomoc and The Real Housewives of New York are falling flat this season, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills trailer.  Plus - the best hot mic moments, What What Crappens, and the Southern Charm trailer  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $40/month, you get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I recently asked on Instagram “What is better sober?” and SO many of you said sex. So, light the candles ladies, because we're going there. Hilary Phelps is back on the pod today for a chat all about the beauty of sober sex!  We'll talk about the ways in which sobriety leads to intimacy, how greater self-awareness can lead to connection, how to approach sober sex and handle feelings of awkwardness if the experience is new for you, and why you deserve to feel empowered about your sexual wants and needs.  For more about Hilary's story, check out her first episode on the Sober Mom Life.  Learn more about Hilary Phelps here!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $40/month, you get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back from the Sober Mom Life retreat! There were so many beautiful moments of connection, emotion, and fun throughout the weekend and today Audrey and I are here to tell you all about it.  If you're interested in joining us on a future retreat, stay tuned! We'll be elevating the experience and opening the doors to the public. We'll share the details right here on the pod as they become available!  We were so lucky to have some AMAZING sponsors for this retreat, from the softest pajamas in the world to so many delicious NA beverages. Learn more about them here:  In My Sundays  Parch Go Brewing (use code SML15 for 15% off) StudioNull Kit NA Brewing Grüvi Spiritless NON If you've been on the fence about joining the Sober Mom Life Cafe, now is the time! Get locked in at the current $25/month rate before the price jumps to $40/month on November 1st. In addition to daily peer support meetings, you'll get access to the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts!  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Exciting changes are coming to the Cafe and the podcast, starting November 1st!  Today, I'll share with you why I'll only be releasing new episodes on Mondays starting in November, and what that means for the Real Sober Moms series (Don't worry! They're not going away!).  Then, I'll give you a sneak peek into some exciting changes that will be coming to the Sober Mom Life Cafe starting November 1st. (Hint: there will be so many more weekly support meeting options, and a new monthly Bravo call!)   If you've been on the fence about joining the Sober Mom Life Cafe, now is the time! Get locked in at the current $25/month rate before the price jumps to $40/month on November 1st. In addition to daily peer support meetings, you'll get access to the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts!  And finally, I'll share a bit about what to expect at the next Sober Mom Life retreat, including the exciting news that you won't need to be a Cafe member to sign up!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When my online friend Jaana, the awesome woman behind @thismomsgonnasnap, told me that she didn't have her first drink until she was 32 years old, I had to know more!  Today, Jaana shares with us how her Mormon upbringing kept her sober well into adulthood, how easy it was for her drinking to become habitual when she finally ‘broke the seal' and allowed alcohol into her life, and why she chose to step away from the Mormon faith. Plus! She'll give her viewpoint on the representation of mormons on reality TV shows like Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives!   Be sure to check out Jaana on Instagram @thismomsgonnasnap where she shares an refreshingly unvarnished view on mom life.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm bringing back one of my favorite episodes! There comes a time in every woman's sobriety journey when she feels called to proudly own sobriety and leave the shame behind. ‘Coming out' as sober to your family, friends, or even publicly can feel scary! So today, Audrey and I are here to help you think through how to handle these conversations and announcements when you're ready.  We chat about tactics and phrases for sharing your sobriety story, tackling fears of rejection, how to handle the dreaded ‘forever' question, and the importance of building new relationships that are rooted in sobriety.  If you haven't heard Audrey's sobriety story, check it out here!  https://mykindofsweet.com/2023/08/lesson-from-one-year-of-sobriety/ Announcing the Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $15/month, join other sober moms inside the cafe for weekly meetings, bonus episodes, a Discord chat, a monthly book club, the option to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and so much more! Learn all about it here: https://mykindofsweet.com/sober-mom-life-cafe/ If you're looking for a community of wonderful sober moms to support you while you build your own sober life, join us inside The Sober Mom Life Facebook group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542852942745657 We have merch!!!! Check it out here! Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Love this show? Let me know by rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perfectionism is one of the most common topics we talk about inside of the Sober Mom Life Cafe. An overwhelming need to be ‘perfect' can feel suffocating, and can be a major driving factor for drinking. Today my therapist mom, Susan, is here to help us understand what perfectionism is, how it is related to drinking, and what to do if you are struggling with perfectionist tendencies.  We'll talk about the diagnostic criteria for OCPD (Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder), how it differs from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), how perfectionism can affect your life and the lives of those you love, and the first steps you can take to release yourself from the expectation of perfectionism.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Content warning: In this episode we talk about sexual assault.  Young Amanda struggled with social skills and felt like partying was not for her, but as she reached the end of high school she started getting attention from boys, and she wondered… could partying be enjoyable? Her first drink felt like a revelation - socializing felt so much easier.  After college and a couple of rough breakups, Amanda found herself lonely and without a social circle, so she leaned into the party scene with her coworkers. What resulted was a traumatic situation where she became the victim of sexual assault and stalking at the hands of a senior coworker. Feeling panicked and like she needed to flee, she followed a new boyfriend when he moved for work. Amanda found herself unable to face the trauma she had endured, and she began to turn to wine at home to cope. In the years that followed, Amanda got a new job, got married and started having children - but the sense that something was very wrong did not go away. She began to suffer from immense shame. It felt like she wasn't just failing herself, she was also now failing her family.  Amanda began to worry about her drinking, but she thought she was just drinking ‘wrong'. She set up a strict set of moderation rules, and she stuck to them, but the shame continued to mount all the same. Her mental health continued to spiral until one day she became afraid for her safety, and at that moment she knew that she had to be done. That day, Amanda signed up for the Cafe and internally committed to 100 days of sobriety. 100 days became a year, and as she neared a year she realized she was ready for her sobriety to be permanent!  Sobriety has allowed Amanda the space to face her trauma. She is so grateful to the Cafe for giving her invaluable community support. She wants you to know: If you have anxiety, give yourself a few months without alcohol to see how that helps. It can make a world of difference!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audrey is here for part two of our chat. Today we'll talk about my book and Audrey's recent sober vacation to Hawaii!  Writing a book has been so similar to sobriety in that I've had to take the process one day at a time. I'll share what that was like, and why I was confident that I would successfully reach the finish line. Then, Audrey will tell us all about her recent sober vacation to Hawaii! She had a lot of insights and realizations on the trip, and she'll share them here.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audrey is back for a 2-part episode! This conversation was so wide ranging that we're breaking it into two parts. Today we'll cover Sober October and how sobriety can aid us in the midst of natural disasters.  Asheville, NC, which is the location of our upcoming retreat, was hit with devastating flooding by Hurricane Helene. Audrey will share her personal experience with natural disaster recovery, and specifically how her sobriety vastly altered how deeply she could show up for her family. Then, we'll dive into Sober October to help you frame your perspective on this month of sobriety if this is something you're participating in.  Tune in Monday for part two of this conversation where we'll talk about Suzanne's experience finishing the draft of her book and Audrey's recent sober trip to Hawaii!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobrieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Reality TV!  The recent Bravo drought allowed us to expand our horizons into other reality content, so today we're diving into Chimp Crazy and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Then, we'll share our thoughts on new cast members Brittany and Bronwyn on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake, and chat about Shannon and Tamara's drinking on The Real Housewives of Orange County.   Plus - Sober October, Jessica Simpson's October sobriety story, Suzanne's circus past, What's coming next on Bravo, and The Golden Bachelorette.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's Real Sober Mom Keri is 30 days sober and she's ready to share her story!  Being social always felt like a challenge for shy introverted Keri, so when she found alcohol as a teenager it became a central piece of her social life. Like so many of us, this continued through her teens and twenties, and by her mid twenties she started to notice that her ‘off switch' with alcohol was disappearing. It was becoming harder and harder to control.  After getting married and quickly becoming pregnant, Keri noticed something: She felt so much better pregnant. It was clear to her that the absence of alcohol was the reason why, so after giving birth she was slow to drink again, but it did slowly creep its way back into her life. During Covid, Keri found that it was easy to give up alcohol since the pressures of a social life had been diminished. In 2021, she cut out alcohol for 14 months! But as social engagements started to pick back up, alcohol slipped back in.  Keri has had many ‘Day 1s' since then, and she hasn't felt until now like she had the tools to maintain her sobriety long term. Sober community has proven to be a major part of Keri's toolkit! Now, at 30 days sober, she feels ready to make sobriety a permanent part of her life.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These past few months have been a lot, and today I'm here for a little vent session to get it off my chest. It's so important to find a community that will support you when you just need to vent, because sometimes a little venting is all you need to put things into perspective. Thanks for being that community for me today!  I'll talk about how life has been ‘lifing' lately, why it's felt like I've been failing in so many ways, the perspective shift I experienced when I realized that everything is actually pretty great, and how that moment never would've happened if I was still drinking.  Are you searching for a community to support you in your sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heather grew up in a party house, so it seemed completely natural to her when she started drinking and became a party girl herself. There were short moments when she questioned her drinking throughout her teens and twenties, but they never lasted long.  Life started to become intense as Heather entered her late twenties and got married. A five year journey to become a mother, followed by intense postpartum depression and skin cancer that took 75% of her ear had her leaning on wine as a means of support. At 38, Heather found herself unexpectedly pregnant with her second child during a very intense moment in her professional life. This all culminated into a period of chronic stress and a diagnosis of Crohn's. She was still drinking, but it was becoming clear that something needed to change.  Throughout the following years, Heather began to make those changes - she left her job and got certified in a new career path. Then, when her son ended up in the hospital at the beginning of 2024 she took it to the next step - she sought more help for her depression and began her journey toward sobriety.  Heather is now 120 days sober! Quit Like a Woman and the Sober Mom Life Cafe have both been such major supports for her. After 90 days it was clear - she never sees herself going back to alcohol.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am so excited to finally be able to share the news: I'm writing a book! This is a childhood dream come true, and I can't wait to share it with you.  Audrey's here today to ask me all of your book related questions. We'll talk about how the idea for the book came to be, the steps I took to get a book deal, how the writing process has been, and what you can expect from the book when it comes out in October 2025!  This book could not be possible without the incredible community of women inside of The Sober Mom Life Cafe. You can join us for just $25/month. You'll get access to daily peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up, Julia possessed a wise intuition. After quickly realizing that alcohol wasn't for her, she cast herself as her friend group's designated driver and had a great time as the sober one of the bunch. She was always comfortable saying ‘no', and she surrounded herself with friends who would respect that and back her up.   As Julia got older and the drinking around her took on a more ‘sophisticated' energy, she started to enjoy it for the first time. Slowly, it became a part of her life and she began to rely on drinking to make new friends. The tables fully turned when she met her husband, who was sober for medical reasons. He was happy to be the DD, so Julia let herself loosen her boundaries a bit.  Motherhood presented Julia with a new type of drinking - mommy wine culture. Between social events and an end of the day glass of wine at home, alcohol became pretty common in her life. A ‘crummy' feeling also became common in her life, but she didn't connect the dots until she stumbled upon this podcast.  The Sober Mom Life and Sober Powered made her question if alcohol was the source of the problem. Julia went back and forth between sobriety and drinking a few times before it became crystal clear - alcohol was the problem. She's now almost 6 months sober and so grateful she made the change!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My Mom Susan, our resident therapist, is back this week to educate us on cross-addictions. If you've ditched alcohol only to find yourself developing an addiction to something new, whether that be shopping, gambling, marijuana, or many other things, then this episode is for you.  Susan will explain the differences between a habit, a compulsion, and an addiction. Then, we'll talk about how to identify and navigate the emotional elements that lie at the source of distressing compulsions or addictions. As you're navigating cross-addictions, make sure that you ask the big question - is this thing helping me come home to myself? Or is it helping me escape myself? As you explore, be sure to practice self-compassion! And always remember - there is a community ready to support you.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meghan's relationship with alcohol seemed ‘normal' to her for years. Life as ICU nurse with young children kept her drinking to a minimum. But as her kids got older and she changed careers, alcohol crept into her weeknights until she often found herself hungover or even blacking out.  After one such night with family in 2019, she received a call from her dad. He had a message -  clean up your act. The shame from this call led her to quit drinking that very day, and she stopped for almost a year. During this sober year, Meghan felt amazing!  But then, Covid happened, and at one year sober Meghan felt safe to try moderation. Though it started out alright, Meghan's drinking eventually snowballed until alcohol became the centerpiece of her life. She started experiencing intense anxiety, unaware of its connection to alcohol, and was prescribed anti-anxiety medication. The meds seemed to shut off the part of her brain that felt shame for drinking, so her drinking progressed. After weaning off the medicine, her shame returned and it all became clear - her drinking was out of control.  After one night of heavy drinking, Meghan awoke at 3am and knew she'd had enough. She texted her sister and cousin and admitted that she had to stop. Those texts kept her committed - she's now four months sober!  Meghan is so thankful for the support and community she's found in the Cafe, and she wants you to know that you're not alone! You just have to find your community.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm bringing back one of my favorite episodes. We'll be talking all about the mental gymnastics of moderation. If you've ever struggled with moderation or wondered if sobriety could really be the easier choice, this episode is for you. Moderation can be exhausting and terribly shame-inducing. It puts all of the pressure on you to control the situation, while overlooking the fact that alcohol is a highly addictive substance. What if you consider a path where you truly are in control: sobriety. It might feel like a dramatic change, but if you shift your perspective away from ‘losing' alcohol, and toward what could be waiting for you on the other side, you'll very possibly find a path to true freedom.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Melinda's career as a prosecuting attorney, alcohol felt like a necessary way of life. From college on, every professional event centered around alcohol. As time passed, Melinda felt helpless - it felt like it would be career suicide if she stopped drinking.  Melinda's drinking tipped from social to personal when she left her husband, and it accelerated to an alarming degree after her father's unexpected death. Eventually, Melinda found herself in a dangerous spiral of hiding her drinking from her new partner, her family, and her friends, until she realized she needed help.  But help was hard to come by. Due to her public profile, the local treatment center sought to treat her secretly, away from the rest of the patients. It confirmed her worst fear - that her career was in jeopardy if she chose sobriety. Eventually, her drinking led to a break up, and she realized - she couldn't quit just for her partner. She had to quit for herself. So, one day she decided to commit, and she hasn't touched a drink since!  Melinda is now 2 years sober and she has completely changed her life. She patched up her relationship, changed careers, and developed a healthy routine that has radically shifted her mental and physical health. She also started her own podcast! Check out Women's Work: A Sober Perspective for professional women who want to stop drinking.  Melinda wants you to know: There's no shame in saving your own life!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My very first guest, Katy Rexing, is back on the show! Check out her first episode here. Today, Katy gives us a big life update. She'll talk about what it was like to follow her gut and move her family to California, despite experiencing intense fear every step of the way. She'll share how her husband has followed her into embracing a sober life. Plus, we'll talk in depth about what everyone in our family gains when we choose sobriety as parents. Katy wants you to know that nothing within you is ‘broken'. You are already whole. You just need to find a way to accept it. If you are interested in exploring meditation in an easy going way, join Katy for weekly meditation! You can learn more at https://katyrexing.com/. Follow her on Instagram at @katyrexing Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's real sober mom, Erin, grew up in an Irish Catholic family, and drinking just seemed like a way of life for the adults around her. In highschool, the drinking culture felt much the same, though she didn't partake much because of athletics. Alcohol was waiting for her in college, though. Feeling young and socially awkward, Erin turned to alcohol as a shoulder to lean on whenever she felt social anxiety.  Once alcohol had cemented its place in Erin's life, it was along for the ride for all of her milestones, and she didn't question it. After becoming a mom and settling into her career as a trial lawyer, though, life got so packed and overwhelming that she began to grow resentful of her lifestyle. Drinking then became the way that she quieted the noise in her mind.  After the birth of her second daughter, Erin began to search for ways to feel better in her life, and she wondered - could ditching alcohol be part of the equation? It took many years for her to make the leap, but in the summer of 2022 she began to muster the courage to try some big changes in her life, no matter what others thought of her. Erin is now one year sober! She wants you to know - It's your life. You deserve to live the life that you want, no matter what anyone else might think.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if we saw rehab as an opportunity instead of sign of failure? Jen is here today to help you make that perspective shift! Jen is a major part of the Sober Mom Life Cafe, and she shared her story on The Real Sober Moms last fall! Be sure to check out that episode for a deep dive on her story. Today, Jen details her two separate experiences in rehab, and how a different mindset going into each stint made all of the difference in the world. She wants you to know - rehab doesn't have to be seen as a black mark on your life! It can be seen as a launching pad for starting the life you want to live.  If rehab isn't an option for you, that's okay! Just make sure to find somewhere where you can share your truth and shed your shame, whether that be with family, a trusted friend, a therapist, or a community of like minded people going through the same things as you.  The Sober Mom Life Cafe is a place where you can do that! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo and reality TV. We've got a lot to talk about this week!  We're diving deep into the role that alcohol plays in the lives of The Real Housewives of Orange County, from the false dichotomy of ‘alcoholism' to how alcohol has exposed the cracks in the friendships between the women.  Plus: the new sober bar Carl is opening in Brooklyn (in partnership with multiple past guests of our show!), the upcoming Love Island reunion, and the bar fights Katie and Suzanne got in during their drinking days.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meg Fee from You Don't Have to Drink is back on the show! Check out her first episode on the show here. Something has changed in Meg's life since she was last here - she's now a mom to a 4 month old little girl!  Today, Meg shares how sobriety has impacted her experience of early motherhood, her personal opinion on ‘if pregnancy counts' in sobriety, and her journey with giving up THC. We'll chat about the dangers of marketing THC beverages as ‘non-alcoholic' alternatives, and why Meg began to feel like THC was becoming a barrier to her sobriety.  For more about Meg, visit her at @youdonthavetodrink on Instagram!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you'll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed' is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices