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Welcome to the Alcohol Free Marriage & More Podcast! In today's episode, we discuss our almost rock bottom moments, social media alcohol debates and are NA drinks helping to keep us drinking? Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGet Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekLagunitas Hazy IPNAAtypique Mojito Watch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoCoach Amy on TikTokCoach Amy on InstagramGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Kristin Horstman is a certified Gray Area Drinking Master Coach, Health Coach, speaker, blogger, ZeroProof Experiences facilitator, and family support advocate dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate challenges related to alcohol use and anxiety. Since beginning her own sobriety journey in January 2021, Kristin has empowered others to overcome obstacles and create healthier, more fulfilling lives. Guided by her mantra, "For years I drank alcohol in the gray area, but my forever decision to stop is very black and white," her coaching focuses on building self-regulation techniques to heal and nourish the nervous system, helping clients regain balance, resilience, and clarity in their lives.Kristin's WebsiteKristin on Instagram Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGet Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekBest day brewing Electro LimeAthletic Mexican-Style CopperWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoCoach Amy on TikTokCoach Amy on InstagramGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
#380 When Joe Chura quit drinking during the 75 Hard challenge, he didn't just transform his health — he found his next business! In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, Joe shares how that personal decision sparked the launch of Go Brewing, a non-alcoholic beer company built from his garage that's now on track to hit $10 million in revenue. With a background in tech and automotive, Joe applied his digital marketing and DTC expertise to grow the brand online, sell to over 60,000 customers, and gather powerful customer data that helped him land 6,000 retail placements across 23 states. He explains why they built their own brewery instead of outsourcing, how they created a unique taproom experience, and what it takes to stand out in the emerging NA beverage space. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at building a fast-growing CPG brand from scratch, this episode is packed with insights! What we discuss with Joe: + Origin of Go Brewing during 75 Hard + Brewing beer from his garage + Scaling from 0 to 60,000 customers + Using DTC to gather customer data + 6,000 retail placements nationwide + Building a taproom for NA beverages + Strategic hiring and lean marketing + Challenges of beverage distribution + Differentiating in a growing NA market + Plans for THC and electrolyte drinks Thank you, Joe! Check out Go Brewing at GoBrewing.com. Follow Joe on Instagram and LinkedIn. Watch the video podcast of this episode! And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/millionaire. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From scaling an eight-figure tech company to brewing a better future—Joe Chura's entrepreneurial journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode, Joe shares how a personal health transformation led him to launch Go Brewing, a non-alcoholic beer brand built on innovation, resilience, and a deep passion for wellness. We dive into his path from "pixels to pints," why brewing their own beer (literally from scratch) was non-negotiable, and how digital marketing superpowers fueled Go Brewing's explosive DTC growth.Joe also unpacks the wild ride of building a physical product brand versus scaling software, from managing cost of goods to wrestling brewing machines that just won't cooperate. We hear the inside story of Go Brewing's creative expansion into functional beverages, partnerships with legends like Rich Roll, and a surprising look at why California remains the brand's "white whale" market.Plus, Joe drops some seriously gold entrepreneurial wisdom—why empowering your team matters, how brands should be built around feelings, and why the best way to create luck is to just GO. If you're ready for a crash course in gutsy decision-making, brand building, and beer that won't give you a hangover, you'll love this one TakeawaysCreate Your Own Luck: Entrepreneurship favors those who start moving even when the path isn't clear. Mood follows action.Brand from the Heart: Build your business around the feeling you want your customers to have—not just the product you sell.Resilience is the Real Superpower: From brewing setbacks to distribution hurdles, scaling a physical product demands a whole new level of patience, grit, and problem-solving.Direct-to-Consumer Wins Big: Strong online marketing and loyal audiences can fast-track even a niche product into massive growth.Team Empowerment is Key: Great leaders don't micromanage—they give the destination and let the team build the directions.
Welcome to the Alcohol Free Marriage & More Podcast! In today's episode, we discuss sober sex sats, the "I Get To" mindset and Coach Amy's new rolling 12 week program.Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGet Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekSir Inkwell's Yerba MateWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
In Episode 40 of Alcohol-Free Radio, we're joined by Joe Chura, Founder & CEO of Go Brewing, one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic craft breweries in the U.S. Joe's path is anything but typical—he started on the Ford assembly line, scaled and sold a tech company for $205M, and now leads Go Brewing's charge in redefining drinking culture.With distribution in over 6,000 retail locations, Go Brewing offers a variety of cutting-edge NA beers, hop waters, micro-dosed THC/CBD beverages, and electrolyte drinks—all crafted with wellness in mind. Joe is also the Co-founder of Craftsmith, a manufacturing platform for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage production.In this episode, we dive into:
In today's episode our guest is Susie Steelman, founder of Zero Proof Experiences and Sober in the City. Susie is the passionate founder of Zeroproof Experiences, an innovative venture creating memorable “Sober in the City” weekends which redefine the concept of fun without alcohol. With her unique perspective, Susie is dedicated to helping others discover the joy and freedom that come with an alcohol-free lifestyle. Through Zeroproof Experiences, she curates immersive events that celebrate life, connection and personal growth without the need for alcohol. Zero Proof Experiences Instagram zeroproofexperiences Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGet Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekOne of One WineWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
In today's episode our guest is Alaura Sicking, founder of Above, the new sober relationship app for friendship and dating.Alaura is 34 years old and has been proudly sober for five years. She currently resides in Texas with her husband and 16-month-old daughter. She is also the founder of "Above," a sober relationship app for friendship and dating. She designed the app to connect individuals who have embraced the sober lifestyle. In her free time she enjoys exploring art, visiting museums, and spending time outdoors.Signup for an Above profileDownload our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGet Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekDeschutes black butte porterWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
In today's episode, we interview Austin Karr to talk about his approach to his sobriety and what it's brought to his life. Austin Karr is a sobriety and happiness coach who believes happiness is the opposite of addiction. With over a decade of sobriety and years of coaching experience, he helps people move beyond just quitting drinking to build lives that feel exciting, fulfilling, and truly their own. Austin's WebsiteDownload our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGet Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekGo Brewing Bad Arse Irish Red Go Brewing Mañana Pancake Stout Watch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Welcome to the Alcohol Free Marriage & More Podcast! In today's episode, we discuss a new sober dating app, bills to allow under 21 drinking and how to celebrate each other in a relationship.Leave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGet Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekCherry Spiced Whiskey Fizz: fresh cherries Kentucky 74 spiced Ginger Lemon OlipopWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Episode 97 - Chris LaLanne, fitness coach and Jack LaLanne's great-nephew, joins me with Joe Chura, entrepreneur and founder of Go Brewing (non-alcoholic beer) and Easy Man (cannabis-infused brew). Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only. The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees. We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.
Welcome to the Alcohol Free Marriage & More Podcast! In today's episode, we talk about sugar cravings after quitting alcohol, our experience with the Lingo continuous glucose monitor and Coach Amy helps us get the LINT out of our brains. Leave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekDrink of the week - Michelob ULTRA Zero Untitled Art - Dark Chocolate BrewWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
We are back this week and David finishes out Dry January with two offerings from Go Brewing while Gary falls in love with Sunny D Vodka Seltzer.David drinks Tropical IPA and The Story Double IPA from Go Brewing. He has a very different opinion of each of the NA beers.Gary finally cracks open the Sunny D Vodka Seltzer that he's been dying to try, and let's just say that he's a fan.David's Ohio State Buckeyes won the college football national championship, and Gary's Philadelphia Eagles have a chance to win the Super Bowl. We talk about that plus these news stories:Moderate Beer Drinking Linked To Lower MortalityRebel Bourbon sponsoring Kyle Busch in select races during 2025 seasonWoodford Reserve's Limited-Edition Bourbon Is Now Available Nationwide. Here's How to Find It Buffalo Trace's New Experimental Release Is Geared Toward IPA LoversDomino's Pizza Just Unveiled a Red Wine That Connects to Your SmartphoneMake sure to visit Beers and Beards Podcast for a full list of our episodes.We have a brand new sponsor. Get a discount at Beer Drop by clicking here! Get your favorite beer delivered and choose from a wild selection of beers delivered right to your door!Get 10% off at BeardOctane.com with code BeersBeards10.Support us and get a free trial of Amazon Music by heading over to www.getamazonmusic.com/beersandbeards. Check out our full list of Craft Beer Reviews and Bourbon Reviews on our website. Want to grow a better beard and become a legend? Subscribe here to become a Producer of Beers and Beards. https://plus.acast.com/s/beers-and-beards-1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the Alcohol Free Marriage & More Podcast! In today's episode, we're tackling two vital topics: the U.S. Surgeon General's push for a cancer risk warning on alcohol and the science behind sobriety fatigue. Whether you're curious about the long-term health risks of alcohol or seeking tips to combat the exhaustion that comes with recovery, this episode has something for everyone.Leave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekBest Day Brewing: Galaxy Ripple Imperial IPAWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Lisa Dent is joined by Joe Chura, founder of Go Brewing in Naperville, who discusses Dry January and non-alcoholic beer. Listen in while Joe discuss what he thinks is behind the growing movement for non-alcoholic drinks and the want for a sober lifestyle.
Welcome to the Alcohol Free Marriage & More Podcast! In today's episode, we're exploring Dry January and how a one-time decision paired with daily commitment can lead to lasting change. From what to expect—like improved sleep and clearer skin—to practical tips like writing down your "why" or finding a sober buddy, we'll help you make this alcohol-free month a success!Leave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekAll The Bitter: Cherry Coffee Blast bitter and sodaWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Today Amy and Matt discuss how to navigate staying sober during holiday gatherings with friends and family. We talk about 5 tips that can help along with how to respond to the question "Would you like a drink?"Download the Alcohol Free Advent Calendar and Holiday TipsLeave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekSanta Clausthaler Giesen 0% Alcohol-free New Zealand Premium Red All The Bitter NA bittersWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
With over 40 years of experience as brewmaster at some of the world's most prestigious breweries, Grant Wood is passionately dedicated to the craftsmanship, tradition, and essence of brewing exceptional beer—what he affectionately refers to as "the beverage of friendship". His work on BERO non-alcoholic beer has been a true labor of love, characterized by continuous iterations and an unwavering commitment to refining the formula, much like perfecting a cherished recipe, to provide the utmost pleasure.Pickup some BERO for yourself: berobrewing.comDownload the Alcohol Free Advent Calendar and Holiday TipsLeave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekBEROWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Teresa is a wife to Jeremy for 17 years and mom to three active tween and teen boys: Eli, Ian, and Andrew. After moving around the U.S., they settled back in Central Illinois, where she grew up. Over 11 years ago, she launched Teresa Klokkenga Photography, specializing in Business Brand Photography and High School Senior Photography. Her passion is helping businesses and high school seniors shine a light on the purpose they were created for. Feeling like she was created for more, Teresa embraced an Alcohol-Free lifestyle over two years ago, and it's been one of the best decisions she has made. These days, she's all about BYOE—Bring Your Own Energy!Download the Alcohol Free Advent Calendar and Holiday TipsLeave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the week-Athletic Brewing Wit's Peak Giesen 0% Non-Alcoholic Sparkling BrutWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Hollie Carnahan is from San Antonio TX. She has been married to her wonderful husband for 29 years. She has 2 beautiful daughters, 25 and 22, and 2 awesome sons-in-law, and my precious granddaughter who is 21 months old. Hollie gave up alcohol almost 2 years ago and hasn't looked back!Download the Alcohol Free Advent Calendar and Holiday TipsLeave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekProxiesWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Send us a textIn this festive fall edition, hosts Kirk and Andy get together for their annual pumpkin-themed design review. With their signature wit and charm, the duo explores the bold, bizarre, and beautiful world of pumpkin-inspired product packaging and branding.From Andy's critique of a pumpkin-spiced spiked latte with questionable flavors but stellar design, to Kirk's enthusiasm for non-alcoholic craft beers with spooky seasonal vibes, this episode is packed with insightful design breakdowns. Listen as they:Celebrate standout packaging from brands like Go Brewing, Rogue, and Dunkin's innovative spiked latte line.Discuss the creative risks (or lack thereof) in the seasonal branding world.Highlight clever typography, textures, and storytelling elements in limited-time packaging.The conversation doesn't stop at beverages! Kirk and Andy also reflect on what makes seasonal designs resonate emotionally with consumers, the importance of nostalgia in marketing, and the missed opportunities of brands playing it too safe.Crack open your favorite fall drink (pumpkin or not) and join the fun!
Joe Chura, founder of the non alcoholic beer powerhouse Go Brewing, is here to talk about creating million-dollar ecommerce businesses and how to compete online. Joe built three successful businesses that all saw tens of millions in revenue. With SEO, ecommerce, and market positioning, he's been able to create companies that not only compete for clicks, but win over consumers for life. If you've ever thought it's impossible to compete in a crowded online market — think again. Resources:500 free business ideas: https://bit.ly/48QSU8ZEpisode 141: https://www.upflip.com/podcastConnect with Joe: https://www.instagram.com/gobrewingConnect with UpFlip: On Facebook On Instagram On Youtube @UpFlipOfficial on Twitter For more insights to start, build, or grow a business, check out the resources on UpFlip.com or head to the UpFlip YouTube channel to see more interviews with business owners and experts. Thanks for listening!
Matthew Gay is a well-season Fitness Coach and Behavior Change Specialist accredited by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. His work in health and fitness has spanned over 13 years, permitting him the privilege of aiding 1000s, both online and in-person, toward lasting health transformation. Matthew is a happy husband to his wife of 13 years, Katielynne, and a proud father to his two children, Zyon and Moriah.Fit Church BookWork with MatthewFit Church Food Swap GuideLeave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekTostBravus Pumpkin DarkWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about how Airbnb and VRBO’s are impacting housing costs, how much people are spending on Halloween in 2024, and Target lowering the price of its Thanksgiving meal bundle. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Google opening its first […]
Register for the the Blessed Family Recovery SummitLeave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekBeroWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Register for the the Blessed Family Recovery SummitLeave a voicemail: (224) 225-9302Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekLagunitas Hoppy Refresher Stella ArtoisWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Tanya is a wife, mom, podcaster, and family recovery coach. Her journey with addiction includes encounters with cops, courts, and—believe it or not—chickens (a lot of chickens)! Many years ago, after tucking her two young boys into bed, she found herself surfing the internet in search of hope. She created the Blessed Family Recover Summit to offer that hope to other families who feel confused, alone, and afraid while navigating the chaos that addiction brings into their lives.Register for the the Blessed Family Recovery SummitDownload our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekAthletic Brewing Oktoberfest KULTOWE PROZDROWOTNE 0% Liquid Death Psycho CiderWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
October 2 is Non-Alcoholic Beer Day. Lisa Dent is joined by Joe Chura, founder of Go Brewing in Naperville, who discusses non-alcoholic beer, the styles the brewery offers, what is behind the growing movement for non-alcoholic drinks, and ‘Sober October.’
Joe Chura co-founded GO Brewing, a non-alcoholic beer brand based in Chicagoland. Joe joins the show to discuss the inspiration for his NA line and how he built his mindset and life after a start of poor decisions. You'll be inspired and challenged by Joe's story of perseverance and grit to have the success of building his first company (which was acquired) and this new venture into NA space. Take next steps with Joe by: Following him on Instagram or LinkedIn Check out GoBrewing to learn more about their line & order one for your fridge. ___________________ Continue building your Competitor Mindset after today's episode by clicking HERE.
Plus, our friends from Go Brewing stop by to tell us what they have going at Riot Fest! Chicago's best morning radio show now has a podcast! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and remember that the conversation always lives on the Q101 Facebook page. Brian & Kenzie are live every morning from 6a-10a on Q101. Subscribe to our channel HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@Q101 Like Q101 on Facebook HERE: https://www.facebook.com/q101chicago Follow Q101 on Twitter HERE: https://twitter.com/Q101Chicago Follow Q101 on Instagram HERE: https://www.instagram.com/q101chicago/?hl=en Follow Q101 on TikTok HERE: https://www.tiktok.com/@q101chicago?lang=enSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekTost Rose Single ServeGo Brewing OktoberfestWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
On the show this week, I'll have Haunted House from Allagash plus an Oktoberfest from Spiteful here in Illinois. Plus, all the news of the week and I have a code for you to save on some great NA beers from Go Brewing!Allagash Spiteful OddPods Media Promo: Grab ‘Em In The Brisket Go Brewing Use the code DAVE616 for a 15% discount
This week on the Alcohol Free Marriage and More Podcast, we talk about how to increase your mental fitness with Positive Intelligence training.Check out the Positive Intelligence programDownload our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekGruvi Dry SeccoBrew Dog - Easy StreetWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Why drink non-alcoholic beer if I don't have a drinking problem? Why are the most intentional people making the switch? Joe Chura, Founder of Go Brewing, shares his experience with alcohol and how it led to founding a non-alcoholic craft beer company with his wife. From starting in his garage and taking regular, incremental risks along the way, he's built his latest business dream from the ground up. KEY TOPICS Why people don't want to claim a “drinking problem.” Joe and Heather's decision to start a non-alcoholic brewing company. Making business decisions that prioritize quality over ease. Taking regular, incremental risks within your business. Recognizing the time to say “no” to new opportunities and ideas. CHAPTERS 00:00 Mission of Decidedly 00:44 4th of July Recap 4:45 Deciding to Stop Drinking 11:41 Non-Alcoholic Beer Changed My Life 14:26 Starting a Non-Alcoholic Brewing Company 16:23 “I don't have a drinking problem” 19:37 The Stigma Surrounding Alcoholism 25:24 The Growing Demand for Non-Alcoholic Beer 31:08 The Process of Brewing Non-Alcoholic Beer 32:33 Prioritizing Quality of the Product 35:19 Regulatory Loopholes 43:04 Knowing What's Next for Your Business 50:29 Taking Incremental Risks with Your Business 52:53 It's OK for Your Dreams to Change 1:00:28 Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 1:02:48 Key Takeaways 1:04:21 Producer Closing CONNECT WITH US www.decidedlypodcast.com Watch this episode on YouTube! Subscribe on YouTube Join us on Instagram: @decidedlypodcast Join us on Facebook Shawn's Instagram: @shawn_d_smith Sanger's Instagram: @sangersmith Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast. SANGER'S BOOK: A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact SHAWN'S BOOK: Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION? At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: www.decidedlywealth.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR CONNECT WITH JOE CHURA Website: https://gobrewing.com/ Instagram: @gobrewing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joechura/ Ep.32 I Joe Chura I Deciding You're Not Almost There: The Journey of Selling a Business: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gNIL46TUbTZAKGSLeSvui?si=IfHhsgvPQAi6xgkxF7IZ0Q Drinking was always part of Joe Chura's family life. As a teenager, he drank sporadically, sometimes just once a week, other times six or seven in a night, but never considered it a problem. That changed in his 40s during COVID. Joe and his wife, Heather, drank more, made poor dietary choices, and formed unhealthy habits to cope with the pandemic. Eventually, their health metrics indicated a change was needed. One hungover day, they pledged to stop drinking for 75 days. Initially tough, Joe's cravings gradually subsided. Some nights, though, he still craved a beer, leading him to non-alcoholic options that satisfied him. As the world reopened, Joe and Heather struggled to maintain their new habits in social settings dominated by alcohol. They enjoyed bars but missed non-alcoholic options. This sparked the idea of Go Brewing: non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beer with a taproom featuring great music and entertainment. In less than 18 months, Joe and Heather built an incredible team, created numerous recipes, and collaborated with top brewers and consultants. Now, they've opened their doors both online and at their taproom.
This week on the Alcohol Free Marriage and More Podcast, we discover the transformative power of God's love in your sobriety journey with Rose Ann Forte. Rose Ann shares her journey of overcoming alcohol addiction and finding hope and purpose in her faith. Rose Ann's SiteDownload our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekMingle MargaritaHofbräuhaus WoltersWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
The NA train continues to roll on Malt Couture and in this episode Alex and Stephen crack open NA beers recommended by Malt Mavens! NA beers from Brooklyn Brewery, Bravus Brewing Company, Notch Brewing, and Go Brewing get put through the Power Ranking treatment. In the Beer News, Alex and Stephen navigate a new segment called "Closing Time" as various long standing beer institutions, both from the brewing, retail, and media side, announce unfortunate closures. To get involved with the "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer. If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.
This week on the Alcohol Free Marriage and More Podcast, we are talking Dry July and some pro tips from Coach Amy on how to make it a successful one!Download our FREE Marriage Meeting Guide HereGrab some of our merch!Get Our FREE Beyond Spirits: 7 Tips for Starting Your AF JourneyDrink of the weekBest Day Brewing Hazy IPA Monday Rum and Waterloo Pi No ColadaWatch the podcast on YouTube here: Alcohol Free Marriage Podcast VideoGet $5 off your first Go Brewing order!Our Website: AFMPodcast.comSchedule your free discovery coaching call with Amy
Episode 67 - Sue Williams, Australian Sports Hypnosis Performance and Recovery Specialist joins with Joe Chura, Entrepreneur and Founder of non-alcoholic beer ‘Go Brewing' and supporter of disabled athletes at Achilles International. Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only. The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees. We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.
On this episode, I'll talk to Jon Eggleton from N/ATION Beer. He has a great website and podcast devoted to the NA beer scene, and we had a good conversation over some beers from Go Brewing.N/ATION BeerGo BrewingWild Heaven Beer OddPods MediaPromo: Last Comic Shop
Episode 483 – NA Beers Today we have Tyler. He is 37 and lives in Phoenix, AZ. He took his last drink on November 28th, 2023. Recovery Elevator welcomes Danielle Marr to the team! She now writes the bi-monthly newsletter for RE which always has journalling prompts at the end. She taught our DTB writing course this last fall and does Instagram posts a couple days a week. She was also interviewed on episode 464. To subscribe to the Recovery Elevator newsletter, click here and wait for the box to pop up. Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [03:35] Thoughts from Paul Paul shares with us the history of NA beers and how they were created to pacify the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers campaign back in the 90's. The companies had zero intention of scaling this segment of their business and it has been said that the purposefully made the beer tasteless and bland. Those days are gone. Non-alcoholic beer sales have been growing every year by 30-40% since 2019. Many of the major beer brands are investing time and money into creating their own NA products and there are more breweries popping up that are 100% dedicated to making an AF craft beer. There is no need to explore the NA beer world in the early days of your alcohol-free life because it can be triggering. There is trace amount of alcohol in many of the NA beers (usually less than 0.5%) and you would have to drink 25-30 of them to reach the legal BAC. Check out this Instagram post where someone drinks several NA beers and stills blows zeros into a breathalyzer. What the AF beer world exploding shows is that people are waking up to the fact that alcohol is not good for you and big alcohol sales are reflecting that. The stigma around alcohol addiction is also crumbling. We as consumers decide every move a business makes – start asking for more AF options at restaurants and grocery stores. Start asking and you will receive. Go Brewing. Use the code ELEVATOR for 15% off. [09:58] Paul introduces Tyler: Tyler is 37 years old and lives in Phoenix, AZ and has a six-month-old daughter. He does maintenance for a homeowners association. Tyler is also a musician and enjoys performing, writing, and recording music. Tyler had his first drink when he was in high school as simply a fun thing to do with friends. A health scare which ended up with tumor removal drove Tyler to feel he needed to live life to the fullest. He says his drinking increased as it was associated with having fun, and he discovered his passion for being a musician. That found him romanticizing alcohol, drinking more after gigs, and acquiring DUIs. Since a lot of people he knew had DUIs, it was considered normal and wasn't taking seriously. When he lost a close family member to cancer, Tyler says his drinking evolved from good and bad to ugly. He and his girlfriend went out often, and his drinking became more frequent both while out and while at home. Tyler had a lot of anger that would come out while drinking. These issues eventually found Tyler and his girlfriend splitting up. Tyler started going to therapy and discovered that the loss of his aunt affected him more than he realized. He was able to process some of his anger and cut back on his drinking. He and his girlfriend got back together and six months ago their daughter was born. Tyler began to realize that his drinking was interfering with this new life and told his girlfriend he was ready to quit. At this time, he also reached out to a supportive cousin that has over 20 years in recovery. Tyler says AA didn't resonate with him, but books, podcasts and other peoples' stories have been very helpful. He believes in recovering out loud. Café RE – promo code OPPORTUNITY waives set up fee. RE merch Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator I love you guys. Go big because eventually we'll all go home.
Episode 481 - Collective Truths Today we have Susie. She is 52 and lives in Lubbock, TX and took her last drink on February 10th, 2024. Our alcohol-free retreat in Bozeman, MT on August 14th – 18th is currently sold out. But if you are interested in being put on the wait list, please email kmac@recoveryelevator.com Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [02:18] Thoughts from Paul: Paul's goal with the introductions each week is to find a topic that we can collectively resonate with. His goal is for as many of us as possible to say “yep” or to nod our heads while listening. There are many different types of listeners to the podcast. Some had already ditched the booze, some long ago and some more recently. Another group is still in the process of quitting drinking. We also have another group of listeners who are here to support a loved one who is struggling with alcohol. We are so glad you are here with us. Paul lists the many reasons why people listen and what they are looking for by doing so. Ultimately, we are all here to grow. Go Brewing. Use the code ELEVATOR for 15% off. [09:58] Paul introduces Susie: Susie is 52 and lives in Lubbock, TX with her husband of two years. She has been a hairstylist for many years and considers it her passion. Susie enjoys reading, exercise, enjoying the outdoors and attending sporting events. Susie first experimented with alcohol when she was in high school and didn't care for it. There was very little drinking for Susie throughout college and her 20's. In Susie's 30's, her husband and she began to drink socially on the weekends but his drinking increasingly got worse and eventually the divorced due to his anger issues and alcohol abuse. For a long time, Susie didn't use alcohol as a coping mechanism but had other issues that she feels were attempts to avoid her feelings such as an eating disorder and excessive exercise. Susie reflects that she didn't really have an off switch when she drank for events, but typically wouldn't drink for a while afterwards. Shortly after marrying her current husband, some issues started to arise in their relationship and Susie found herself beginning to use alcohol to cope. She says it wasn't much of an issue until she began to try and hide how much she was drinking. It started to create issues in her marriage and Susie would find her husband leaving her a few times, which created feelings of abandonment and rejection. After an event that led to Susie being hospitalized, she attended an IOP but left and continued drinking. Her husband asked her to go to inpatient rehab, so she did, but she continued to drink afterwards and ended up taking another trip to rehab a few months later. Her husband eventually ended up leaving, which was very eye-opening for Susie. She started attending a women's AA group which she enjoyed and learned a lot from. Going forward Susie plans to continue attending AA meetings when she can, and she just joined Café RE where she plans to be an active participant. She and her husband are separated now but are attending counseling and Susie feels hopeful about their future. Susie surrounds herself with positive people at work and has friends from rehab that she checks in with frequently. Things Susie has learned about herself on this journey: self-acceptance; loving yourself. No matter where you are, you're okay just the way you are. Susie's best sober moment: spending time with her husband going to sporting events sober. Susie's parting piece of guidance: don't ever give up on yourself, don't isolate yourself, always surround yourself with people. Café RE – promo code OPPORTUNITY waives set up fee. RE merch Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator You took the elevator down; you gotta take the stairs back up. You can do this. I love you guys.
Episode 478 – Unlocking Curiosity Today we have Cyndi. She is 54 and lives in Denver, Colorado. She took her last drink on December 10th, 2023. Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [02:08] Thoughts from Kris: Kris shares how recovery has ignited his curiosity. While drinking, he didn't step out of his comfort zone very much and feels he was perfection driven to offset the dumpster fire that was happening with his drinking. He didn't feel safe not being good at things, so he never tried. Since in recovery, Kris has taken up a plethora of hobbies, most recently welding. His garage now houses evidence of his hobbies and creating new things rather than the massive amount of empties from when he isolated in there with alcohol. Kris now embraces his curiosity and lets himself fail as he learns new things. When asked what they like to do for fun, many interviewees respond that they are still trying to figure that out and that's normal as we can become immersed in the drinking life and it's hard to find time for anything else. What do you like to do for fun? What have you gotten back in sobriety? Or what would you like to be able to do? What's holding you back? If you're still in it, is there something that you could use as fuel or motivation? Go Brewing. Use the code ELEVATOR for 15% off. [8:56] Kris introduces Cyndi: Cyndi is 54 years old and lives in Denver with her husband, cat, and dog. She has worked in the dental industry for the last 35 years and enjoys playing outside with her dog, hiking, camping, and cooking. Cyndi's first real exposure to alcohol was when she was 15. She was at a party where she worked and drank a lot of beer trying to keep up with everyone. Even though she was sick a few days afterwards, she was not deterred and found drinking fun. Cyndi says she was “successful” at drinking for many years, but around 2019 she attended IOP but says it didn't stop her. Her drinking soon created issues in the marriage, finding them separating from each other for periods of time and trying to use different tools to help Cyndi quit. After a particularly rough time, she started going to AA. She would be able to get a few months at a time and finally was able to achieve two years. Cyndi's toxic job started taking over her life and she gradually stopped working on her sobriety which found her relapsing and starting the on again off again cycle again. The relapse happens long before the first drink, Cyndi feels. Work started replacing meetings. Her husband was noticing that she was more tired and unhappy, and she was starting to spend more time isolating herself from him because she was drinking again. Eventually her drinking would lead to Cyndi losing her job and found her husband working on divorce papers. They ended up having a long talk about their situations and Cyndi started working hard on recovery again. Cyndi ended up finding a much better job and she is now attending five meetings a week and has a new sponsor. This new job is much closer to where she lives and the meetings she likes to attend are on the same route as work. Cyndi has started therapy which she had never done before. Communication with her husband is better than it has ever been. Her faith is also stronger than it has ever been. Cyndi's plan in sobriety moving forward: to be proactive, have a check list of things that help her stay sober. Cyndi's parting piece of guidance: don't quit quitting. Acknowledge your problem and get help one way or the other and just keep going. [51:44] Outro: Kris shares a song that he came across recently: Hi Ren Whether we're fighting with ourselves, or others, when we're in that dark place we can't really win. BUT we can learn. We can find a way to be healthy and bring love and light into the world. Café RE – promo code OPPORTUNITY waives set up fee. RE merch Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator We're the only ones that can do this, but we don't have to do it alone I love you guys.
Episode 476 – Is Quitting Drinking Hard? Today we have Tonya. She is 50 and lives in St Paul, MN. She took his last drink on August 21st, 2021. Registration opens today for our annual retreat in the beautiful Rocky Mountains located outside of Bozeman, MT. This retreat is from Wednesday August 14th through Sunday August 18th, and it is going to be a blast! Click here for the full itinerary and to get pricing info. Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [02:30] Thoughts from Paul: Is quitting drinking hard? It can be, yes but if you have a drinking problem, quitting drinking is way easier than riding alcohol off into the sunset of self-destruction. Here are some reasons why it can be a challenge: 1) Your body has to detoxify itself form the chemical alcohol. 2) You are going to have to learn some new routines and make new habits. 3) You need to start building friendships where alcohol isn't the foundation. 4) Accept that boredom is a normal and healthy life experience. Here are some glorious truths about quitting drinking: 1) After 14-21 days you are going to get out of the brain fog and want more of the new “good-feeling” thing. 2) No more checking message to see what you said the night before, you'll remember the book you read, less sick days at work, and more money in your bank account. 3) Your dopamine system rebalances. 4) You are living life at face value and when we do that, we can start to build the life that no longer requires alcohol. Go Brewing. Use the code ELEVATOR for 15% off. [10:27] Kris introduces Tonya: Tonya has been married for 21 years and they have two children who both attend the University of Minnesota. She recently left the corporate world to be an in-home professional organizer. She enjoys her work as well as cooking, tending her plants and in recovery she is always up for trying new things. Tonya was born into a deeply religious family. They attended church daily along with going to school there. She says they were forced to pray for forgiveness everyday which left her feeling like a bad person. Tonya didn't drink until college because she didn't want to be like her father who was an alcoholic. There was typical college-age partying, but Tonya says she always went a little further than everyone else. Some of her behavior led to losing friends and being seen as a liability on their travels. As she got older and wanted to get married and have kids, she was able to slow the drinking down a bit, but still drank heavily while out of town for work. Having postpartum depression after her daughter was born, Tonya found she was using alcohol to cope with life. Over time her family started becoming concerned about her drinking, so she went to rehab for the first time. She didn't end up being able to quit and struggled with the AA program. She would attend rehab five more times and while she learned a lot about the psychology and science behind alcohol and addiction, she didn't actually quit. Shortly after her 2nd DWI, Tonya lost her job for reasons that didn't include alcohol although she admits she was physically addicted and drinking on the job. Unable to find another job she ended up sinking into her drinking and says she spent a year doing nothing else. After nearly ending her life, she realized that she didn't want to do that to her daughter. She was at the end of her rope and ready to give recovery and AA another try. Tonya started going to different AA meetings and got a sponsor. She is grateful that she found community because she knows she couldn't have done it on her own. Tonya's favorite resource in recovery: Everything AA app, the AA and RE communities. Tonya's parting piece of guidance: Time. Things will get better in time. One day at a time. Get involved in community. Café RE – promo code OPPORTUNITY waives set up fee. RE merch Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator We all go home so we might as well go big. I love you guys.
Episode 474 – If You're Serious About Change Today we have Nick. He is 36 years old from Grand Rapids, MI. He took his last drink on January 19th, 2021. In two weeks on April 1st, registration opens for our annual retreat in the beautiful Rocky Mountains located outside of Bozeman, MT. This retreat is from Wednesday August 14th through Sunday August 18th, and it is going to be a blast! Click here for the full itinerary and to get pricing info. Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [02:41] Thoughts from Paul: Paul likes Instagram because it's a platform for artists, for teachers, for musicians, for dancers, and more to showcase their talents. Paul shares with us audio from a video he found while on Instagram. Here's the scene: It's a busy city street at nightfall, when a gentlemen comes to a skidding halt on his electric motorbike wearing a microwave as a helmet. When his motorbike comes to a stop, he pushes the open microwave door button, and begins to speak. Check out the video here. If you are serious about change, there will be shitty times, but trust the process because in the long run you're going to be a better person. The biggest gift Paul gets while doing Recovery Elevator podcast is witnessing the change made daily. This change, added up over many days, months and even years, results in quite the transformation. Check out our sponsor Go Brewing. Use the code ELEVATOR for 15% off. [08:40] Kris introduces Nick: Nick is a real estate agent in Grand Rapids, MI. He enjoys outdoor activities in his free time. He has a boyfriend and a dog that he takes everywhere with him. Nick says he started drinking in high school when he and his friends would pillage the parents' liquor cabinets. He enjoyed alcohol because it freed his inhibitions. As someone who was coming to terms with being gay in a conservative city and kept it a secret for a while. The internal struggle drove Nick to enjoy checking out and alcohol was the way he chose to do that. In his late teens, Nick started working in the food and beverage industry. He felt very welcome at the gay bars he worked in but didn't have good role models. He knew in his early twenties that his drinking needed to eventually be addressed but wasn't ready at that time. Nick says he was very functional but drank daily. He feels he was just surviving at that point in time. Nick started thinking about quitting when he was in his early thirties. He says he was stuck there for a while trying to determine if he really had a problem. He started utilizing his ADHD medication to help him be able to drink more. The planning and rituals became exhausting. Drinking progressed beyond “only after the responsibilities are done” to finding reasons to start earlier. Nick's first stint at sobriety was in 2018 when he joined a local IOP and AA and was able to remain sober for about four months while learning a lot about addiction. His partner at the time drank heavily and eventually Nick gave up his sobriety. His rock bottom came when he was hiking with his dog hungover and realized how miserable he was and questioned if this was how he wanted to live his life. The next day he went back to AA. After working the steps with a sponsor, Nick felt empowered. He says he went on a quest for sobriety and tried out other modalities. When a sober travel trip to Costa Rica with RE coincided with his one-year milestone, he decided to go and feels he gained a lot from that trip. Within the past year Nick has changed careers and feels the best he has ever felt. Going forward, he plans to keep growing in his career and nurturing his sobriety. Nick's favorite resource in recovery: Recovery Elevator podcast Nick's parting piece of guidance: the harder you fight addiction, the more entangled you are so just let go. Café RE – promo code OPPORTUNITY waives set up fee. Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator Go big, because eventually we all go home. I love you guys.
Episode 472 – Shifting Seasons Today we have Erin. She is 45 and lives outside of Boston. She took her last drink on December 26th, 2021. Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [01:52] Thoughts from Kris: The transition out of winter is one of Kris' favorites. He sees it as an awakening. He took the cue from Mother Nature and paused this season. No big decisions or changes. Just time to reflect on things. Now that nature is starting to wake back up, he feels it's time for him to do the same. Kris reflects on his first spring in recovery and how the nice weather worried him. He started connecting with multiple recovery groups, discovering his triggers, digging into his whys and was able to feel connected to something bigger than himself. Being a part of a recovery community is cool that way... we see the reward in our own growth, but we're contributing to the growth of the whole as well. Wherever you are this spring, that's right where you're supposed to be. Where you go from here is up to you. What tools do you have that you're using? What tools aren't you using? Is this a season to pick something up, or one to let some things go? Only you can answer these questions for yourself. Check out our sponsor Go Brewing. Use the code ELEVATOR for 15% off. [09:08] Kris introduces Erin: Erin is 45 and lives about 13 miles outside of Boston. She works as a senior paralegal for a large corporation and works for Rover on the side where she takes care of other people's animals. Erin says her exposure to alcohol was limited to family drinking on holidays or special occasions, but she never tried drinking until she went away to college. What started as curiosity, ended up as binge drinking and partying multiple days of the week when she joined a sorority. After getting married, Erin says the drinking was more casual on the weekends or when out and about. After a tough breakup in her early thirties, Erin found herself living alone, working two jobs, and going back to finish college. During her second marriage, Erin says she and her husband drank a lot socially. Her husband was the life of the party when they were out, but home there was a very different scene that found Erin drinking in isolation to deal with it. She didn't feel she had a way out as she was financially dependent on her husband at the time. Eventually Erin was able to leave the relationship and started over single in a new town. She surrounded herself with people that drank like her, but deep down she knew she didn't drink like everyone else. Alcohol became her best friend and her drinking got worse during the pandemic as she was isolated and now didn't have the safety of working in the office. Returning to the office in early 2021 was helpful to her mental health, but she still knew she was drinking too much on the evenings and weekends. A cousin was sharing how great they felt at 60 days of sobriety which made her become sober curious. Planning to do Dry January with a friend, Erin found herself starting early after getting sick with COVID. In the early days, Erin continued to go to the bar where her friends were, but she recognized that wasn't good for her. Instead, she started walking more, listening to podcasts, and going to therapy. She was beginning to gain confidence and faith in herself. Erin's favorite resource in recovery: RE podcast, Wayne Dyer Erin's plan moving forward: continue therapy and connecting with others. Kris wants to hear from you, listeners! What are you looking forward to this spring? Do you feel something different this year compared to years past? Email kris@recoveryelevator.com and let him know what this spring has in store for your or what you hope to see from it. Café RE – promo code OPPORTUNITY waives set up fee. Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator We might as well go big RE, because eventually we all go home. I love you guys.
Episode 470 – Why Alcoholics Don't Get Hangovers…? Today we have Lara. She is 40 years old and lives in Northwest Arkansas. She took her last drink on August 8th, 2019. We are putting a call out for early sobriety interviews. We want to hear from you guys. Please email info@recoveryelevator.com. Upcoming events: We start our six-week Ditching the Booze course, the what, the why and the how. This course is for Café RE members only and use the promo code “OPPORTUNITY” to waive the set-up fee if you are interested in joining us. Registration for our 6th annual retreat in Bozeman, Montana opens Monday April 1st. We come together as a group and we laugh, we heal, we eat blueberry pancakes, play kickball, and have a great time. Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [04:12] Thoughts from Paul: There was a great question during our Dry January class that asked “Why don't alcoholics get hangovers?” Paul did a YouTube video about this but wanted to share more here. Truth is, they do get hangovers, but they usually begin drinking before the full amount of alcohol can be metabolized in their system that they drank the day or night before. As tolerance develops with alcohol, the hangover gets pushed back later in the day the next day. A chronic drinker who drinks 10-15 drinks daily, won't begin the hangover cycle at 8am the next morning, but more likely, they will experience the worst of the withdrawal effects later that day or evening. Chronic drinkers are almost always experiencing a low to mid-grade hangover. In other words, they feel like shit all the time. First alcohol takes you to a place where you are no longer drinking to feel good, but to simply feel normal. They you are drinking to simply not feel like death. And then the worst place is when you are simply drinking not to die. *HUGE ASTERISK* Alcohol is the most dangerous substance to detox from. If you have been drinking 5-8 drinks daily, for months or years, then it's a very good idea to seek medical attention when detoxing. Go Brewing. Use the code ELEVATOR for 15% off. [09:26] Kris introduces Lara: Lara is married and they have two dogs. After teaching preschool for 12-13 years she now teaches Pilates. She enjoys going to concerts and spending time outdoors. Lara had limited exposure to alcohol until she went to college. While there, she found friends, and they drank regularly. What started out as being fun soon became a way for Lara to ignore her mental health issues that were creating a dark depression. After graduating and the issues getting worse, she ended up going to a psych ward for a few weeks and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She moved back home to live with her parents while she figured out what life was going to look like with the new diagnosis. She continued to drink in spite of the medications. Lara went to grad school in Colorado and was surrounded by friends and the drinking felt normal. She wasn't having major consequences until after getting married and she realized the drinking was happening all the time. Her husband ended up quitting drinking and while Lara supported him by quitting too, she didn't feel that she had a problem. Lara found herself reaching out to others to help support her as the spouse of someone quitting drinking. Over time she started realizing that recovery was her path as well. Lara says that she has learned that she knows how to ask for help if she needs it now. She and her husband share a sobriety date and their life has done a 180. Alcohol is no longer an issue, and they just enjoy living life. Lara's favorite resource in recovery: Holly Whitaker's book Quit Like a Woman. Lara's parting piece of guidance: Just find one person who you can talk to. Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator You're the only one that can do this, but you don't have to do it alone. I love you guys.
Episode 468 – A Day in the Life Today we have Amber. She is 41 years old and lives in San Luis Obispo. She took her last drink on May 26th, 2020. “First it is an intention; then a behavior; then a practice; then a habit; then second nature; then it is simply who you are". Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [03:04] Thoughts from Paul: Paul shares with us what a typical day in sobriety looks like for him. He starts his days with hydration, breathwork and/or stretching, reading and coffee. He takes time to connect with the universe and asks for guidance throughout the day. Paul likes to reflect on what he is thankful for either in a journal or he sits in a comfortable location outside facing the sun while he closes his eyes and gives thanks. Even on shit days, he makes a point to thank the universe. Reminding himself that the present moment is all that matters, spending time in nature, doing things that he enjoys, connecting with fellow sober peeps, and being creative are also very important to Paul. Go Brewing use the code elevator at checkout for 15% off. [12:13] Kris introduces Amber: Amber is 41 years old; she has two boys and a partner in crime. She works as a 2nd grade teacher, in addition to being a running and sobriety coach. They live in San Luis Obispo, CA and enjoys hiking, mountain biking, running, and swimming. Growing up, Amber says she was always shy and preferred to be in the background. She was introduced to alcohol in high school and discovered it helped her feel confident and have fun. She didn't really enjoy the taste, but she loved the way it made her feel and she and her friends drank every weekend. After going to college, Amber says her drinking only increased. She was recruited to be on the softball team with a full scholarship. The practice and academic schedule was challenging and her drinking increased from every weekend to nearly every day. She gained weight, she wasn't studying, and her grades were suffering. Her performance on the team found her on the bench often and eventually she was cut from the team and lost everything. Amber moved to San Diego and finished college there while working in restaurants. She says her drinking increased even more and she got a DUI a few years later. Shortly after that experience, Amber decided to join a teaching career and the stress of it found her relying on alcohol at the end of the day. Amber says a turning point came after getting married and having two children back-to-back. She had many roles to fill but was still drinking two bottles of wine a night. Finally figuring out that she wanted more for her life, Amber filed for divorce and started taking better care of herself. She started running as an outlet for her emotions and found herself meditating, which she feels helped her make decisions. She looked at her sobriety as a fresh start. Initially Amber was quiet about her recovery and felt she could figure it out on her own. Once she realized that wasn't working, she found Celebrate Recovery, got a sponsor, and started doing the work. Once she started meeting more and more people in recovery she stopped feeling alone. Amber left her teaching job and started her own business as a sober running coach. She started a sober running group Recovery Road Runners and they do a lot of fun things together and help other people stay sober. Amber encourages people to find physical activities that they enjoy doing, maybe things they did when they were kids. She also suggests vision boards to think about where you want to be in the future and goals you may have. Amber's biggest fear when she quit drinking: “That I would never have any fun again, total lie. I have way more fun now.” Café RE – use the code OPPORTUNITY to waive the setup fee. Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator We're the only ones that can do this, but we don't have to do it alone. I love you guys.
Episode 466 – What Should I Do Now? Today we have Rick. He is 46 years old and lives in New Hampshire. He took his last drink on September 9th, 2023. This Saturday, January 27th we start our six-week alcohol-free ukulele course. We meet for six weeks with a group of rock stars exploring life without alcohol, and who want to learn a new hobby in recovery. This course is brought to you by Kala Brand. If you need to pick up a ukulele, click the link and use the promo code ELEVATOR24 for a discount. The collaboration between Go Brewing and Recovery Elevator is here! Pick up your limited edition RE Sunbeam Pils, using the code elevator at checkout for 15% off and free shipping on orders overt $40. [02:45] Ponderings from Kris: For many of us on this journey, we start in a survival state of mind. The early days are filled with some basic life skills. How do I not drink when I get home from work? How do I handle conflict with people in my life? What do I do when I'm bored, stressed, sad, angry, or how am I supposed to celebrate? Kris reminds us that it is normal to focus on these things. After a while there is a shift to “what's next?”. Recovering people before us have figured out that in order to keep what we have found in recovery; we have to give it away. We have had our struggles, and some of us have been through some really challenging situations that led up to, or as a result of our alcohol usage, but we don't have to let that keep us down! Who is better equipped to talk to someone struggling with substance abuse than a peer that has been through the same thing? Kris feels that there is something beautiful about taking the dark parts of our lives and using it to bring light to someone in need. You are more than your story. You are more than the dark times. You are a walking example of hope. You are proof that the courage to change exists. Athletic Greens: https://www.athleticgreens.com/recovery [11:07] Kris introduces Rick: Rick is 46 and lives in New Hampshire. He has been married to his wife for 19 years and they have three daughters. He works for a family car business. He enjoys cooking, spending time with his kids, and playing games. Rick says his first experience drinking alcohol was when he was in France on a singing tour in high school. He recalls feeling very sick on the 7-hour bus ride across Europe the next day. Beyond a few other times at parties, Rick didn't really drink much after that until college. Having his first taste of freedom his freshman year, the focus was on partying and drinking. Rick says that after that it was the traditional drinking that is often part of the college experience. When Rick started working in the family business, that's when he says his drinking went from being on the weekends to drinking daily after work. Over time it progressed, and his wife would occasionally mention that it seemed like he was having a little too much. He would back off for a bit but never had the intention of quitting forever. He tried a lot of moderation techniques that didn't work, and he would end up feeling bad about himself. Over the last few years Rick has been listening to podcasts, quit lit and joined sobriety support pages online. He feels that listening to other people's stories has helped him a lot. After a comment from his wife that made him look differently at his drinking, he decided to try and quit again. Changing his perspective and sharing his recovery with his wife gave him a sense of relief. Finding connections in recovery communities and with a local friend that is in recovery as well, has solidified his resolve. Rick's plan for sobriety moving forward: Stay engaged in community, join Café RE chats and check in daily on the Stop Drinking subreddit. Maybe host a chat to give back. Rick's favorite resources in recovery: podcasts, audiobooks Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator We're the only ones that can do this RE, but we don't have to do it alone. I love you guys.
Episode 465 – Drink Responsibly? Today we have Kevin. He is 44 years old and lives in Cleveland, OH. He took his last drink on April 28th, 2018. I want to give a shout out to our DRY January REstore cohort. We're 1/2 way there, you all are doing a fantastic job, I'll see you all tonight. On January 27th we start our six-week alcohol-free ukelele course. This course is brought to you by Kala Brand. Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored [03:09] Thoughts from Paul: One of the main goals at Recovery Elevator is to soften the stigma surrounding alcohol addiction and recovery. Another goal is to give listeners permission to shred the shame and recover our authentic selves along the way. The phrase “Drink Responsibly” is such a cop out and doesn't do anything but place blame on the drinker. Alcohol is the most addictive drug on the planet, and you won't see other drugs proclaiming that you use the substance responsibly. We can do the “Drink Responsibly” thing way better and at the same time bring more people together in community from both sides of the aisle to heal. A favorite NA beverage company of Paul's, GO Brewing and Recovery Elevator have partnered up to release 180 six packs of their award-winning Sunbeam Pilsner. GO Brewing was started by a fellow member in the recovery space, Joe Chura. This is two companies who have a similar goal, uniting, in attempts to shred the shame around alcohol addiction. Pick up your limited edition RE Sunbeam Pils, use the code elevator at checkout for 15% off and free shipping on orders over $40. Andrew Huberman – What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20 [10:20] Paul introduces Kevin: Kevin is 44 years old and lives in Cleveland area, he is the head of coaching for the Reframe app and a former accountant. Kevin is married and for fun he enjoys attending his daughter's sporting events, reading and just relaxing when he isn't working. Kevin says his drinking began in college where he was in a fraternity and played sports. His drinking transferred into his career where there was a lot of stress, happy hours, and deadline parties where binge drinking was a way to socialize. Kevin and his wife got married when he was 23 and had their daughter when he was 27. His drinking increased as a way to cope with the high stress of his career. After some blood work found him diagnosed with fatty liver, he tried moderation and different attempts at taking breaks from alcohol. Without much success at controlling his drinking on his own, Kevin eventually decided to look into therapy with his wife's support. He developed a journaling practice and would talk with his therapist while working on quitting and made it 60 days. Several work and life events found Kevin trying to moderate the drinking again. He made the decision to commit to 61 days and then continued to extend the timeline. Kevin was reading a lot and listening to podcasts. His therapist helped him a lot as well. He started an Instagram page for himself, but after some time decided to go public and share more. He got a lot of positive feedback which fueled him to try and start recovery coaching. He became involved with Reframe app soon after. Kevin's best sober moment: his first sober concert with his daughter. Kevin's parting piece of guidance: practice. Find a platform that resonates with you and keep practicing. Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator Go big, because eventually we all go home. I love you guys.
Episode 463 – Addicted to not Being Addicted Today we have Zach. He is 34 years old and lives in Richmond, VA. He took his last drink on July 18th, 2023. Our Dry January course RESTORE starts tonight, so get your register on, and join us at 8 PM EST for our first live session later this evening. On January 27th we start our six-week alcohol-free ukelele course. This course is brought to you by Kala Brand. Check out our sponsor Go Brewing. Use the code ELEVATOR for 15% off. [04:14] Thoughts from Paul: Today we are talking about change. Research suggests that only 9% of people that make New Years resolutions complete them. Many quit well before February even starts. The main reason that these resolutions fail is our energies swing all the way to one side of the spectrum. In other words, we are out of balance. With drinking, we find ourselves addicted to alcohol. Then the mind comes up with the idea that we need to not be addicted to alcohol, then we become addicted to the idea of not being addicted. This is equally out of balance. So that's the word I want to plant with you today as we begin the new year is balance. On our sobriety journey, we cannot fight, or go to battle with an alcohol addiction. So, in terms of quitting drinking and not going overboard in the theatre of war against yourself, let's keep it simple. All you have to today is one thing, that is not pick up a drink. Are we quitting for a lifetime? God no. That would be out of balance. We are only quitting for today. Café RE - Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY to waive the set-up fee [10:36] Paul introduces Zach: Zach was originally from California but currently lives in Richmond, VA. He has two sons who live nearby with their mother. He is a technical writer for the federal government. He enjoys the gym and spending time outdoors. Zach grew up in a home where alcohol wasn't very present. He attended a small college where it wasn't very prevalent either. He took his first drink after finishing college and was a normal drinker throughout his 20's. Drinking didn't become a problem for Zach until he was laid off of a job and his mental health started suffering. He was processing things from childhood and started having panic attacks and his sleep was an issue. He started drinking to help him sleep but over time it progressed to a daily habit. Zach says he got a wake-up call when he and his wife split up. He was able to get a few months of sobriety, but he ended up back drinking after the divorce was finalized. He had relocated for a new job and didn't know anyone. He had too much free time to drink heavily when he wasn't spending time with his kids. Zach was drinking at work and ended up having a meeting with HR where he finally told someone he had a problem. While he felt relieved to share this, he still struggled to quit and eventually lost the job. After his lease was up, he moved out of state to stay with some friends that were going to help him get back on his feet. When he relapsed while the friends were out of town, Zach ended up trying Antabuse to help him quit drinking once and for all. He attended rehab and then went to sober living. After a while he decided he needed to move back closer to his kids and was able to find a place in Richmond with the help of a friend in recovery. Zach tried a few different recovery modalities, but AA ended up working best for him. He got a sponsor who he has spoken to every day since they met. His sponsor has helped him realize that he cannot return to drinking. Zach is starting to see the benefits of not drinking, both physically and mentally. Community has been vital to Zach and his recovery. Zach's favorite resources: an app called The Big Book, and the RE podcast while at the gym. Zach's strategy to beat a craving: a walk and a phone call. Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes Recovery Elevator It all starts from the inside out. I love you guys.