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I Kissed Alcohol Goodbye: Let’s Break Up With Booze Together!

I Kissed Alcohol Goodbye: Let’s Break Up With Booze Together!

By Dana Michael Krull

The podcast for newly sober people learning to love ourselves instead of booze. Join Dana & Owl K. Hawlfree to meet your Sober Family here!
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S2, Ep9: "Do What Brings You Joy!" w/Karyn Cain (Collingswood, NJ) ***Buti Yogi & Sober 6.5 Years***

I Kissed Alcohol Goodbye: Let’s Break Up With Booze Together!Aug 01, 2022

00:00
44:25
S2, Ep9: "Do What Brings You Joy!" w/Karyn Cain (Collingswood, NJ) ***Buti Yogi & Sober 6.5 Years***

S2, Ep9: "Do What Brings You Joy!" w/Karyn Cain (Collingswood, NJ) ***Buti Yogi & Sober 6.5 Years***

In her mid-40s, Karyn Cain found herself pursuing spiritual enlightenment while simultaneously destroying her body with alcohol.

After one rock bottom after another -- the lowest of them all being alone on Christmas by the tree with only a bottle to keep her company -- Karyn said goodbye to booze forever on New Year's Day 2016. 

As a certified life coach, a religious science practitioner and a buti yogi instructor, Karyn says she "takes a holistic approach to freeing people from the shit in their head." :-)

You'll leave this episode energized and encouraged by Karyn's story -- and better equipped to continue your sober journey with joy for life.

Connect with Karyn on Instagram @karyncain!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Aug 01, 202244:25
S2, Ep8: "Post-Traumatic Purpose" w/Adam Carroll (Vancouver, BC) *Former Drug Dealer, Sober 9 Years*

S2, Ep8: "Post-Traumatic Purpose" w/Adam Carroll (Vancouver, BC) *Former Drug Dealer, Sober 9 Years*

Clubbed in the head, abducted, and tortured: this is the stuff of Hollywood stories, but it was all too real for Adam Carroll.  

Even crazier: it all happened before he was able to legally buy a beer.  

At the age of 15, Adam was kicked out of high school for dealing everyday drugs, but it didn't take long for him to get in way over his head.    

You'll only believe what happens over the next several years because Adam has such a huge, genuine heart.  

After getting sober the day after his 21st birthday,  he spent time healing physically, mentally and spiritually throughout his twenties.  

Adam emerged from many diagnoses including PTSD (a "disorder") into what he calls "post-traumatic purpose," which in his case means a calling to help others learn the tremendous benefits of breathwork, an approach to breathing that refocuses your body and mind on stable, steady living.

By hearing Adam's harrowing life story, you'll leave this episode encouraged to persevere in your sober journey -- but you'll also have a practical example of breathwork to add to your sober toolkit for all sorts of issues from cravings to anxiety, depression, or any challenging life situation.    

Connect with Adam on Instagram @theaddict2athletemethod if you'd like to have a free, no-obligation breath work session to try it out via Zoom.   

While you're at it, hit up Dana & Owl with a message @ikissedalcoholgoodbye so we can add you to an Instagram chat group with other audience members -- share your ideas for the show with us and be encouraged by fellow travelers on the countercultural sober path!    

***p.s. I apologize to Adam and all of you for my video failing to record properly. (Wtf, smh!)***

Jul 27, 202246:01
S2, Ep7: "Sober & Funky" w/Paigeeey! (NYC) ***Funky Since 1989, Sober Since 2015!***

S2, Ep7: "Sober & Funky" w/Paigeeey! (NYC) ***Funky Since 1989, Sober Since 2015!***

Paige is a party in a pair of pants originally from Pennsylvania, but for the past 10 years she has lived and worked in Manhattan, where she owned a bar at age 24!

She loved interacting with patrons and being the life of the party, not only through her overnight shifts but well into the next day.

Paige's experience there capped a half-a-lifetime career of consuming alcohol and drugs -- she had started at age 13 and continued daily through high school and college.

In November 2015, she finally realized that alcohol was destroying her life and so she made some big decisions to strike out on a new path.

ADHD has been a huge part of Paige's story, and Dana also struggles with this neurodivergent condition on a daily basis -- both agree that their drinking was worse because of it.

This wasn't a heavy chat, though -- listen in on their goofy and lighthearted conversation about our ability to more fully enjoy life and embrace our inner "funky" when we keep an open mind to the small things in life and stop boozing ourselves to death.

Connect with Paige on Instagram @soberandfunky or https://linktr.ee/soberandfunky. (psst: She has promo codes for lots of great NA drinks!)

And while you're at it, hit up Dana & Owl @ikissedalcoholgoodbye to be added to an Instagram chat group with other listeners of the show -- let's support each other in our sober journey and keep breaking up with booze together!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jul 22, 202238:50
S2, Ep6: "From Russian Wine Roulette to Loving Sober Life" w/Kate Taylor (UK) *Sober Since 12/20/21*

S2, Ep6: "From Russian Wine Roulette to Loving Sober Life" w/Kate Taylor (UK) *Sober Since 12/20/21*

Kate Taylor is a wife, mother of two and freelance writer in the UK who was steeped in a sophisticated drinking culture from an early age. 

This led her down a gray-area path towards addiction to the most widely-accepted drug of choice -- not to mention the most bragged-about substance that is abused worldwide. 

Kate says she never knew what she was going to be like when she drank, and in a society that is so saturated with booze, it wasn't hard for her to have an excuse to have a drink and see what would happen. 

For a self-described ordinary lady, Kate has some pretty harrowing stories of near-misses involving too much alcohol (and even a knitting club incident that ended in an unexpected way)! 

You'll enjoy hearing Kate discuss drinking culture in England as well as her thoughts on Western society as a whole when it comes to booze.  

Connect with Kate on Instagram @walking_the_straight_line (a.k.a. "Loving the Sober Life"). 

Also reach out to Dana on Facebook if you'd like to be added to the IKAGB Secret Squirrel Audience Chat group to find closer community, no matter where you are on your sober journey!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jul 17, 202246:33
S2, Ep5: "Life of the Party?" Mocktail Hour w/Lisseth (NY), Vonda & Jenn (NJ) *Fun Sober Ladies!* :)

S2, Ep5: "Life of the Party?" Mocktail Hour w/Lisseth (NY), Vonda & Jenn (NJ) *Fun Sober Ladies!* :)

“Sober at a party...really?! Why bother going? That would be so boring!"

Maybe you or someone in your life has expressed something like this when you told them you plan on not drinking at an event...and this can bother us, even if we know deep down that it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks.

We’re all just middle-schoolers at heart, aren’t we? Why do we place so much value on what we think other people think about our beverages?

Welcome to the Mocktail Party! By the end of this episode, you’ll not only have some great mocktail ideas from three newly sober ladies, you’ll also gain a greater confidence about experiencing the life of the party to the fullest with that refreshing AF drink in your hand.

Connect with these ladies on Instagram (Lisseth: @hazim389, Jenn: @jennifermulroy, Vonda: @xo_vonda)...you can also message Dana on Facebook ("Dana Krull") to be added to the secret-squirrel IKAGB audience chat group and connect with fellow travelers on the sober path!

p.s. Here is Vonda’s “Mockarita” recipe...enjoy!

3 ounces Ginger Tea (see below)

3 ounces lime seltzer

1 ounce Ritual Tequila

1/2 lime squeezed

Coconut stevia (Kal) to taste

Garnish with frozen raspberries

---

Ginger Tea:

350 grams fresh ginger- rough chopped NOT peeled

1 gallon of water

Pressure cook for 25 minutes or low boil for 50 minutes

Strain and pour into glass containers if you have them. If not, plastic is ok.

Store in refrigerator

---

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jul 13, 202249:04
S2, Ep4: "Maybe When We're 80?" w/Kerry Hooper (New Hampshire) ***Sober 88 Days!***

S2, Ep4: "Maybe When We're 80?" w/Kerry Hooper (New Hampshire) ***Sober 88 Days!***

How in the world can we wrap our minds around the concept of "I'm not drinking ever again" when we can't even conceptualize getting through the next year/month/week/day/hour? 

We know it's theoretically possible, but the reality...?!

Kerry and I break down the challenges of early sobriety and the essential role of community in sustaining us through the "one day at a time" life of getting and staying sober. We can do it, but "we" is the most important word in that sentence!

To that end, message "Dana Michael Krull" on Facebook so he can add you to the brand new private FB Chat Group for IKAGB Audience members. 

You can also connect with Kerry on Instagram at @khooper1030! :-)

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jul 08, 202253:02
S2, Ep3: "The Alcohol Matrix" w/Elmer Velasco (Chicago) ***Proud Papa of 2 Sons & Sober 6 Months!***

S2, Ep3: "The Alcohol Matrix" w/Elmer Velasco (Chicago) ***Proud Papa of 2 Sons & Sober 6 Months!***

Elmer Velasco is a 43 year old El Salvadoran immigrant who came to the U.S. at the age of 12 with his mother. 

After decades of programming which told him that alcohol is simply a part of male adulthood, he realized while raising his own boys that he had been seeing things all wrong. 

In this candid and heartfelt episode, Elmer breaks down his approach to navigating the "Alcohol Matrix" -- there are few people I've met in my sober journey so far with bigger hearts (or smiles) than this fantastic human. 

His genuine, joyful shares on our recovery app's daily check-in calls were key to sustaining my motivation in my first month sober. 

I'm confident you'll enjoy this discussion and I hope you'll connect with Elmer on Instagram @yoursalvifriend!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jul 03, 202250:34
S2, Ep2: "All About Hangovers" w/Aurelie Davis (Los Angeles) ***Photographer, Music Video Director & Sober since 12/1/21!***

S2, Ep2: "All About Hangovers" w/Aurelie Davis (Los Angeles) ***Photographer, Music Video Director & Sober since 12/1/21!***

Hangovers suck, so why in the world did we (or do we still) choose to keep drinking way too much? 

My guest today was Aurelie (R-*L*-E) Davis who lives in Silver Lake and works in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. 

Among the glitz and glam of Hollywood shoots, she found herself drinking way too much and after more hangovers than she cared to remember, she decided that enough was enough.

Our conversation focused not so much on how bad hangovers are, but how much better life is without them -- and even without alcohol itself. 

Instead of numbing our feelings and fuzzing the picture around us, Aurelie beautifully describes how we can live in HD by more fully experiencing all of the incredible things we encounter in our everyday lives, both the good and the bad. 

You'll enjoy listening to all of her stories -- especially the one about Snoop Dogg!

Connect with Aurelie on Instagram @aurelie_davis to view her amazing photographs and @sobrenity to follow her sober journey.

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jun 30, 202250:60
S2, Ep1: "Shit Sucks, Don't Drink Over It" w/Katie MACK (NYC) of Award-Winning Fucking Sober Podcast

S2, Ep1: "Shit Sucks, Don't Drink Over It" w/Katie MACK (NYC) of Award-Winning Fucking Sober Podcast

Creator of the 2021 Webby Award winning podcast "Fucking Sober: The First 90 Days," Katie Mack (who goes by MACK) joined me for a candid discussion about American society and sobriety just hours after Roe v. Wade was overturned. 

Her story and insight are inspiring: MACK persevered through six relapses in alcohol recovery over the past decade to finally make it stick. You'll be lifted up by her effusive joy for life -- yes, even sober life, and *especially* sober life. 

We also get to learn how she found a way to look herself in the eyes and genuinely like who she sees. 

Finally, MACK gives us the latest scoop on Seasons 2-4 of "Fucking Sober" which I and many others absolutely cannot wait to hear!

*** You can find MACK's work and connect with her at: @mackersnyc -- for her life journal on Instagram or @fckingsober90_podcast www.mackstage.com 

-- for her full artistic portfolio https://vimeo.com/showcase/7948192/video/686976749 

-- for #breakupcontent, her brilliant original one-woman show on stage 

Also, you may have noticed that MACK's t-shirt in the episode says "Sober is Dope" -- please visit https://soberisdope.net to get your own gear, and while you're at it give Pop Buchanan's podcast of the same name a follow @soberisdope on Instagram! 

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jun 25, 202201:01:42
Season 2 Trailer! 🎉 ***Let's Break Up With Booze Together***

Season 2 Trailer! 🎉 ***Let's Break Up With Booze Together***

That's right, SoberFam, Season 1 is officially in the history books!

This little show wouldn't be where it is without all of y'all -- look for some big changes this summer to take things to the next level. 

That starts with S2 Ep1 this Saturday when my interview with Katie MACK of the award-winning "Fucking Sober" podcast drops for your listening and viewing pleasure! 

#fuckyoualcohol #af #sober #letsbreakupwithboozetogether

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jun 23, 202203:04
S1, Ep19: "Upcycling My Life" w/Sam Carse (Cambridgeshire, UK) ***Sober Since New Year's 2022!***

S1, Ep19: "Upcycling My Life" w/Sam Carse (Cambridgeshire, UK) ***Sober Since New Year's 2022!***

Sam Carse decided on New Year's Eve 2022 that she was done with booze after many years of "gray-area" drinking (somewhere in the mainstream well between total wino and teetotaler). 

Be inspired by her newfound joy for upcycling furniture while she is upcycling her life by living alcohol-free! 

Connect with Sam on Instagram @gettrollied_upcycled!

During the episode, she also mentions the "Happy Without the Hooch" site for locating sober events in the UK (https://sobersocials.co.uk/)...

...and I mentioned the Cuppa community which can link you with other sober people in your corner of the globe (https://cuppa.community).

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jun 18, 202252:38
S1, Ep18 LIVE: "Sober Grandma Road Trip" w/Lynn King ***68 years young and Sober 1 year!***

S1, Ep18 LIVE: "Sober Grandma Road Trip" w/Lynn King ***68 years young and Sober 1 year!***

It's the Finn & Lynn show! Our family fat-cat Finn joined Owl and me to host a half hour live conversation with Lynn King, better known on IG as @thesobergrandmaroadtrip.

If you need to hear some inspiration from a vivacious overcomer, this is your Lady right here.

Thank you, Lynn, for sharing your story and your heart with all of us so that together we can live as #soberbadasses. ❤️👏💥 

Above all, let's follow Lynn's lead in "learning to let go" of the bad in our lives and giving ourselves the grace & compassion we freely give to others.

During the episode, Lynn mentioned Dillian & Aubrey on @thesobergaypodcast, Annie Grace and the @thealcoholexperiment, plus her church's Pastor Lisa (@revlisad) as the key sources of her own inspiration. 

Near the end, I also shouted out @valorfitnessclothing for my new snapback hat which I love (...I'm not a paid influencer, I just love their sober brand, so please support them if you're able!).

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jun 15, 202231:44
S1, Ep17.5 LIVE: "Heavy Adulting" (Talk Sober To Me: Impromptu IG Live from the Family Treehouse)

S1, Ep17.5 LIVE: "Heavy Adulting" (Talk Sober To Me: Impromptu IG Live from the Family Treehouse)

Community is so important for sobriety, but also for life in general -- especially when you're having a gloomy day. 

Thank you to the 19 folks who joined me at some point on this IG Live from our family's treehouse so that it wasn't a total monologue. 

We discussed a range of topics that came up, from summer cravings to how we can deal with "heavy adulting" life transitions.

 Please subscribe, like, rate & review this show so that more people can be encouraged! Thank you for being my audience, but more importantly, my family. I love you all! 

p.s. I just realized I completely forgot to take Owl K. Hawlfree with me to the treehouse. Epic fail!!! :-(

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jun 07, 202242:37
S1, Ep17: “Itty Bitty Shitty Committee” Series (3 of 3) ***Seamus, aka the Chairman of Shame***

S1, Ep17: “Itty Bitty Shitty Committee” Series (3 of 3) ***Seamus, aka the Chairman of Shame***

After Barry records the Embarrassment and Gil stockpiles all of that shit into the Guilt bin, here comes the Chairman to convene the Committee. 

This asshole not only tells you that you screwed up (embarrassing moment), and far beyond the necessity of you regretting your repeated actions (wallowing in the "guilt bin"), but Seamus is here to tell you that you're actually a worthless person (shame). 

These guys are douchebags. After the bittersweet announcement that Austen has decided to leave the show to focus on the many more essential things she has going on --most of all her mental health -- Dana gives you a far more in-depth summary of Seamus's impact on his adult life. 

You'll hear some repeated personal narratives from previous episodes, but this time Dana opens up about his biggest mistakes and how ashamed he has felt about them. 

SoberFam, you're cordially invited to join Dana in saying: "Dear IBSC, You're not just itty-bitty, you're nothing. STFU and GTFO. Drops the mic." 

p.s. If you want to stay in touch with Austen, please follow her on IG @sober.asa and read her blog via linktr.ee/sober.asa. We love you, Sister!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jun 04, 202201:03:54
S1, Ep16: "Itty Bitty Shitty Committee" Series (2 of 3) ***Gil, aka the Treasurer of Guilt***

S1, Ep16: "Itty Bitty Shitty Committee" Series (2 of 3) ***Gil, aka the Treasurer of Guilt***

Here's the next installment of the series on the three-person Committee of duplicitous scheming bastards in our head: Barry (Embarrassment), Gil (Guilt) and Seamus (Shame). 

After the entry-level bullshit from Barry, who as Secretary of the Committee diligently records all the embarrassing individual things we've ever done, Gil takes it to the next level by compiling them all in a neural treasury of guilt and throwing the book at us with the very-convincing lies that it'll all just go away if we just have one more drink. 

Lather, rinse, repeat the vicious cycle.

Dana flew solo on this episode because Austen was under the weather, but we wanted to get this guilty mess started with an initial monologue from our resident Chatty Cathy. 

p.s. Dana spent several minutes on this episode discussing the darkest places where Guilt can take us -- so if you are in suicidal crisis, PLEASE call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. 

p.p.s. If you want to buy the t-shirt Dana was rocking on this episode, message Rodolfo on IG @hairlesslion1 -- and if you want another great podcast to binge in honor of Pride Month, search for "The Sober Gay Podcast" or Mark Schulz's (Ep.15) new show called "Gangly Flamingo." They're both available on your favorite streaming platform and YouTube...and they're both absolutely fabulous!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Jun 01, 202250:12
S1, Ep15.5: "Memorial Day Sunrise" (Dana's 101st Morning Sober)

S1, Ep15.5: "Memorial Day Sunrise" (Dana's 101st Morning Sober)

Austen and I have had another hell of a week, including me checking myself into the VA to seek inpatient treatment for PTSD for a few days. 

In this brief bonus episode (which is taking place on Memorial Day weekend), I reflect on a variety of topics from a drunk golfer who donated booze to our sons' backyard golf ball fundraiser to military trauma and whatever else came to mind while the birds chirped and the sun came up. 

This episode is dedicated to all the "Screaming Eagles" of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), with whom I had the honor of deploying to Iraq as an infantry officer and to Afghanistan as a chaplain. 

The episode closes abruptly when my phone's alarm went off to tell me it's time to head to our son's soccer tournament.

Stay tuned for Ep16, which will hopefully be coming this week -- Austen and I will get back to the second installment of the "Itty Bitty Shitty Committee" -- this time it's that bastard Gil, a.k.a. the Treasurer of the Committee who stores up all the guilt from the stupid shit we did before, during and after drinking.

Thanks for being our Sober Family!

With Love,
Dana

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

May 28, 202217:33
S1, Ep15: "Mental Gangles" w/Mark Schulz (NYC) Host of Gangly Flamingo Pod **Sober Almost 90 Days!**
May 22, 202201:14:42
S1, Ep14: "Itty Bitty Shitty Committee" Series (1 of 3) ***Barry, aka Secretary of Embarrassment***

S1, Ep14: "Itty Bitty Shitty Committee" Series (1 of 3) ***Barry, aka Secretary of Embarrassment***

Austen & Dana dive deep into pools of embarrassment (including puddles of pee on bar room floors and Owl K. Hawlfree's "gaping plastic ass"...yep, the drunk stories go there...) in order to start unpacking the relationships among the three members of the "Itty Bitty Shitty Committee" in our heads. 

They are Barry, the Secretary who records all of the embarrassing things we think, say and do; Gil, the Treasurer who stores up all the guilt from said thoughts, words and actions; and Seamus, the Chairman who presides over the entire shit show by ensuring the Committee stays focused on long-term debilitating shame. 

There are some truly hilarious stories in this introductory conversation, but underlying them all is the sense that we can't share these things out loud because admitting them would be far too embarrassing. 

But your PodPartners will see your awful memory and raise it with verbatim anecdotes shared anonymously from our IG chat group...including drunken vignettes like this nugget: "My husband and I went to a strip club. Either arrived smashed or got more drunk there. I walked him to the lap dance room, started to undress while giving him a dance 🤣🤣🤣 all the dancers were just laughing at us. Security came over and guess what? GOT THROWN OUT! Geez was there a place I did not get thrown out of? But I think we ran out before security got to us. Those big burly guys!"

Alcohol abuse, of course, isn't funny because it can kill us (and others too). 

But if we're going to get sober and stay that way, we have to be able to come to terms with all of the stories in our past so that we can face the future with only sober moments of embarrassment. 

That's right: we're *supposed* to feel the feels, even the bad ones. 

That's the bad news. 

The good news, however, is that we can feel them together, and in the process, realize we've never been alone.

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

May 18, 202259:43
S1, Ep13: "Mental Health & Sobriety, Part 1" w/Podpartners Austen & Dana

S1, Ep13: "Mental Health & Sobriety, Part 1" w/Podpartners Austen & Dana

This time, your AF PodPartners had a raw, real discussion about our own mental health histories, including the adverse impacts of self-medicating to deal with trauma and drama while taking our actual medications. 

Conversely, we also highlighted how getting sober has allowed us to actually start to feel things and let our prescriptions do what they were designed to do, i.e. to truly help us without the "assistance" of alcohol. 

The conversation wasn't all gloom and doom, as you can see from the thumbnail, so we hope you enjoy this first installment of what will no doubt become a series of discussions with each other and among our future guests.

If you're looking for mental health support and don't know where to start, email us at ikissedalcoholgoodbye@gmail.com or message us on IG @ikissedalcoholgoodbye or Twitter @ikagbpod so we can help you research how to get linked up with a program or provider in your area. 

If you're in crisis, then PLEASE call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255 where you can speak with someone right now. If you haven't heard today that you're loved, then hear it from us: we love you, and that's not some woo-woo bullshit. 

You matter to us!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

May 13, 202201:04:13
S1, Ep12: "Beyond Recovery: Living Your Best Life" w/Matt Gardiner (Edmonton, AB) **Sober 3 Years!**

S1, Ep12: "Beyond Recovery: Living Your Best Life" w/Matt Gardiner (Edmonton, AB) **Sober 3 Years!**

Austen Washington (Eps 7, 10.5, and 11; @sober.asa on Instagram) joins the show as cohost in this very special episode with our friend up North, Matt Gardiner, who is hitting his stride in sobriety and finding ways to thrive in it. 

As the title of his podcast indicates, he is taking his alcohol-free life to the next level by moving "Beyond Recovery" and into deeper and more meaningful levels of allowing himself to be his truest self. 

Our conversation centered around Matt's forays into the world of plant medicine as a powerful tool in his midlife recovery process. 

If you're not familiar with psychedelics, please give this episode a listen anyway: you'll learn a lot from Matt's experiences and Austen's studies into this world which is increasingly gaining mainstream acceptance in Western society. 

Connect with Matt on Instagram @recoveryroadmap.me!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

May 07, 202201:21:38
S1, Ep11: Millennial Women's Roundtable on Sobriety w/Anna (Boston) and Austen (SW Florida)

S1, Ep11: Millennial Women's Roundtable on Sobriety w/Anna (Boston) and Austen (SW Florida)

Anna, a business professional who just turned 30 (and was about to hit 1,000 hours AF when we recorded this live episode) was joined by Austen, 24, my guest from Ep7, who is a former stripper and current college student (and sober almost 60 days). 

We discussed why so many Millennials drink in order to get totally wasted -- sometimes even so far as drinking with the intention to black out -- as well as the unique pressures which today's young women face in everyday culture. 

My internet was trash again in spite of running ethernet cable, so my audio isn't great, but the ladies' words are crystal clear, and they're the ones that mattered. 

I am willing to bet just about anything that you will not regret listening to this episode. 

You won't want to miss Anna's 27 seconds of magic in the 49th minute. 

Please, listen to what both of these ladies have to say to all of us, regardless of our age, gender, or anything else!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

May 03, 202257:53
S1, Ep10.5 LIVE: "Talk Sober to Me" (IG Pop-up Pod) ***Following up with Austen, Brittany & Erin!***

S1, Ep10.5 LIVE: "Talk Sober to Me" (IG Pop-up Pod) ***Following up with Austen, Brittany & Erin!***

On a whim I hopped on IG Live with my main man #owlkhawlfree to see what would happen if I did an impromptu episode -- Austen (Ep.7 guest) joined me for most of the call and we took questions in the chat from Brittany (Ep.4) and Erin (Ep.10). 

Topics ranged from meds to spirit animals to the influence which the Army had on my drinking career. 

This experiment was a lot of fun -- I plan to do it again soon! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. :-)

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Apr 29, 202253:04
S1, Ep10 LIVE: GenX Women's Roundtable on Sobriety w/Erin (CA), Shannon (OH) and Kerry (NH)

S1, Ep10 LIVE: GenX Women's Roundtable on Sobriety w/Erin (CA), Shannon (OH) and Kerry (NH)

Erin from SoCal, Shannon from Ohio, and Kerry from New Hampshire joined me to discuss the unique challenges women face in getting and staying sober, including the pressures of motherhood, working, caring for others, and somehow trying to care for themselves.

You'll gain a lot from these three awesome ladies who share their midlife challenges and how they've shifted their mindsets and routines to make sober life possible and enjoyable. 

 ***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Apr 25, 202201:09:30
S1, Ep9: "The Slippery Slope: Booze to Pills" w/Travis Church (McConnelsville, OH) Clean Since 2016!

S1, Ep9: "The Slippery Slope: Booze to Pills" w/Travis Church (McConnelsville, OH) Clean Since 2016!

Alcohol in our teens can lead us down a slippery slope toward even greater threats -- Travis, my beloved brother-in-law, struggled for years before finally escaping the deadly vortex of pill addiction. 

Our conversation focused on addiction in general, but also how alcohol plays such a significant role in our adult formation. 

Travis ultimately credits his recovery to the unconditional love of his family, no matter how bad things got (...and they got worse than I realized).

Please share this episode with anyone you know who is struggling with any kind of addiction. 

And while you're at it, give it a rating and/or review on your favorite platform! THANKS :-D

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Apr 22, 202201:14:25
S1, Ep8: My Sober Story (Dana Krull, Groveport, OH) ***Former Army Chaplain, IKAGB on 2/16/2022)***😊

S1, Ep8: My Sober Story (Dana Krull, Groveport, OH) ***Former Army Chaplain, IKAGB on 2/16/2022)***😊

Over my first several episodes, subscribers and listeners have started getting to know me through bits and pieces I've shared in my interviews of others. 

Ashley Hasson (@namaste_sobersoul on Instagram) was my second guest on IKAGB and after the interview, she invited me to come on her own show, "Sober Girl Podcast" -- please follow her on IG or at https://anchor.fm/ashley-hasson and check out her latest episode, "I Kissed Alcohol Goodbye...Again." 

It was a great chance to share my story in a more coherent way and I hope it will help you as my awesome subscribers to get to know me better. 

Thank you, Ashley, for the opportunity to talk about my increasingly toxic relationship with alcohol and why my new attempt at sobriety feels different this time -- and thank you to the core people who have encouraged me through my first bumpy month as a podcaster (and, more importantly, made my first two months of sobriety go a hell of a lot smoother)!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***


Apr 19, 202200:43
S1, Ep7 LIVE: "From Stripper to Sober" w/Austen "Asa" Washington (SW Florida) ***Sober Six Weeks!***

S1, Ep7 LIVE: "From Stripper to Sober" w/Austen "Asa" Washington (SW Florida) ***Sober Six Weeks!***

Lucky Episode #7 features a clean audio/video feed for a very special guest, Asa (@sober.asa on Instagram), a 24 year old woman who exchanged a career of exotic dancing, drinking and drugs for a new world of sober living exactly six weeks ago. 

Listen to her riveting account of what it was like to work in an industry thoroughly saturated in booze, and how she encourages sex workers about their self-worth and dignity. 

Thanks to those of you who joined the conversation LIVE on YouTube (I Kissed Alcohol Goodbye channel) and Twitter @IKAGBpod! 

Thanks also to my good buddy and new cohost, Owl K. Hawlfree for joining me to celebrate 2 months of sobriety and 1 month of podcasting with this special episode!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Apr 17, 202201:00:00
S1, Ep6 LIVE: "Alcohol & Masculinity" Roundtable w/Beau (Idaho), Rodolfo (Texas) & Dan (Ohio)

S1, Ep6 LIVE: "Alcohol & Masculinity" Roundtable w/Beau (Idaho), Rodolfo (Texas) & Dan (Ohio)

Why do so many men drink, and why do we drink so much? 

How is it possible to choose an alcohol-free life in a culture that is thoroughly soaked in booze? 

These three "traditionally-masculine/macho-muscular" men joined me to explore the reasons. 

Our discussion originally aired live on YouTube and you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K0v7J0fWAM 

We rehearsed the stream beforehand and the audio was perfect -- then it went to shit again during the actual call, so thank you all once again for bearing with these glitches. The typing sounds will go away after I realized that issue. 

I'm a perfectionist and hate that this is so unpolished, but I'm learning how to accept myself and my podcast as we are -- works in progress -- and publishing it anyway because I promise the words of wisdom these guys share are worth the listen. 

Additionally, Dan's internet died (...I have this effect on electronics, even from afar...) so we unfortunately didn't get to hear his additional insights, but thankfully you can still listen to his phenomenal story on Episode #5.

While this panel is exclusively middle-aged males of European ancestry, we represent a variety of experiences from childhood to adult life -- and I'm biased as the host of course, but I think Beau and Rodolfo absolutely crushed this conversation so please tell me if you feel like this is a wasted hour of your life! 

Also, huge shout-out to all of the YouTube livestream viewers who commented and asked questions.

For regular listeners and new ones alike, please know that my goal is to provide a highly diverse range of guests in the coming weeks and months from as many demographic and geographic areas as possible. 

If you're interested in being a guest, please reach out to me on Instagram @ikissedalcoholgoodbye or email me at ikissedalcoholgoodbye@gmail.com. 

I'm look forward to meeting more of my long-lost SoberFam worldwide!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Apr 14, 202201:18:57
S1, Ep5: "Sober Father Fitness" w/Dan "Leonidas" Larrick (Mason, OH) ***Sober Since 6/24/17!***

S1, Ep5: "Sober Father Fitness" w/Dan "Leonidas" Larrick (Mason, OH) ***Sober Since 6/24/17!***

Dan "Leonidas" Larrick is the owner of Larrick Fitness, a garage-based gym in Mason, OH, which helps people of all ages to improve their physical and mental fitness, both in person and remotely. 

We discussed his alcohol addiction which nearly destroyed his marriage in his 20s, and how he kicked it into the pit ("THIS IS MASON!!!" lol) to give his family new life. 

As the father of two awesome kids, he speaks candidly about how he wasn't showing up for his family, but how he was able to turn things around. 

Thank you, Dan, for inspiring us and being so open and honest about your struggles! Connect with Dan on IG @larrick_fitness.

*** 

Shout-out to this episode's theme music, once again, called "Electrobass music loop M1" by frankum. It’s marked with Creative Commons License 3.0. There is no copyright and I claim no rights to these badass beats — and Creative Commons does not endorse IKAGB or any of my statements or views. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/?ref=openverse.

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Apr 11, 202239:22
S1, Ep4: "Sober Bartender?!" w/Brittany Ginsburg (Boston, MA) ***Booze-Free for 14 Months!***

S1, Ep4: "Sober Bartender?!" w/Brittany Ginsburg (Boston, MA) ***Booze-Free for 14 Months!***

Apr 08, 202259:57
S1, Ep3: "It's Just Like This For Now" w/Nikita Mehta (San Francisco) ***Sober 2 Years!***

S1, Ep3: "It's Just Like This For Now" w/Nikita Mehta (San Francisco) ***Sober 2 Years!***

This was one of the more incredible hours of my life...seriously! 

Nikita Mehta is a recovery coach on the Reframe app (@reframe_app on Instagram). 

Her vivacious, inspirational and loving approach to an alcohol-free life is simply infectious. 

I will be shocked if you're not inspired by Nikita's story of coming back from what was nearly alcohol-induced death into what is a beautiful, authentic and inspirational life. 

Connect with her on IG @nikitakmehta!

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Apr 01, 202250:38
S1, Ep2: "Sober Girl Podcast" w/Ashley Hasson (Norwich, CT) ***Sober 3 Years!***

S1, Ep2: "Sober Girl Podcast" w/Ashley Hasson (Norwich, CT) ***Sober 3 Years!***

Ashley hosts the brilliant "Sober Girl Podcast" and she is also the IG the moderator for @soberinconnecticut. 

Her story of trauma and recovery will inspire you to persevere, no matter how dark things seem. 

Thank you so much Ashley for your bold and selfless determination to care for yourself and pay it forward for so many others! 

Please follow her on IG @namaste_sobersoul, check out her podcast at https://anchor.fm/ashley-hasson/ and browse the beautiful handmade goods in her Etsy store at https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHassonShop?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1130553207.

***If you like what you hear, please consider supporting this fledgling podcast for as little as $1/month at https://patreon.com/ikissedalcoholgoodbye***

Mar 24, 202201:06:04
S1, Ep1 LIVE: "The Spark I Needed" w/Rae Wood (Hoboken, NJ) ***Sober 6 Weeks!***

S1, Ep1 LIVE: "The Spark I Needed" w/Rae Wood (Hoboken, NJ) ***Sober 6 Weeks!***

Worth the listen, I promise! Apologies for my noob podcaster A/V problems including the issues with Vonda's audio...she is absolute dynamite! 

Her sober glow is unmistakable and her candid, heartfelt shares on the Reframe app daily Zoom check-ins were the final push I needed to stop the madness of my seven-month relapse. 

I'm convinced you'll find Vonda as inspiring as I do! Connect with her on IG @xo_vonda. 

(p.s. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel by the same name.)

Mar 23, 202255:11
Season 1 Trailer: Meet Your Host Dana ***IKAGB: Interviews w/Inspirational Sober People Worldwide***

Season 1 Trailer: Meet Your Host Dana ***IKAGB: Interviews w/Inspirational Sober People Worldwide***

Introducing the "why" behind this podcast and the "how" of what's ahead. You can also watch this brief trailer on my YouTube channel "I Kissed Alcohol Goodbye" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz-sATGve4o&t=7s. Thanks for listening! :-)
Mar 23, 202202:19