The Weekend Sober
By Kim Kearns and Kezia Haynes
The Weekend SoberDec 02, 2022
99. Sober Girls Trips
Kim and Jen debrief on their Sober in the Suburbs Retreat to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. These ladies have had their fair share of wild girls trips in the past, back when they used to drink, resulting in literal black eyes and endless blackouts. Those trips used to require a vacation from the vacation. We have all been there, right?
The retreat these ladies hosted at the Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa was anything but stressful. They hosted 11 women for a weekend of total rejuvenation, relaxation and personal exploration. They discovered new friendships as well as complete inner joy and peace.
98. It's Super Bowl Weekend!
Kezia welcomes back Katherine Rhadans again to chat all about the Super Bowl and what it's like in Kansas City this weekend.
97. Dry January is over, now what do I do?
Kim & Kezia talk with Kate Bee from The Sober School about what to do once Dry January ends.
Growing up in the era of Sex and the City and Bridget Jones, Kate Bee believed her drinking was simply what successful, independent women did. After all, she was a journalist and TV producer for the BBC - drinking after work was how people socialized. Except she was tired of feeling hungover and ashamed about what felt like more drinking than was healthy.
When Kate decided to get sober, she was disappointed to find the only real support was through AA. She attended a few meetings, but left feeling like she didn’t fit in because she was getting sober before her drinking had negatively impacted her work or relationships. But, there was no middle ground - it seemed like you either didn’t have a real problem or you had to be a full-blown alcoholic to get help.
That’s why Kate founded The Sober School, a coaching program that helps women feel inspired and empowered by their decision to quit drinking. She helps women who are ready to start living their best life learn how to do it without a glass of wine in hand. Kate’s course helps women understand why they really drink, so they can change their relationship with alcohol for good.
Kate lives near Manchester in the UK.
Instagram: @thesoberschool
BONUS: Jen's Story Part 2: Rehab
Jen Eastwood's story continues. She decides to send herself to rehab, but she isn't fully committed to going the distance once she returns home. Then things completely unravel even more.
96. Extreme Athlete Matt Scoletti's Breakthrough
Matt Scoletti joins us to tell his story of sobriety. From 21 marathons in 21 days & Navy Seals training camp, he shares his incredible journey.
BONUS: Jen's Story: Part 1: Recovering from childhood trauma and breaking the cycle
Jen Eastwood's story is one of strength, resilience and inner knowing. It is unique yet you will find yourself nodding along in understanding. A recovered people pleaser, she continues to work on being a master of imperfection and no longer a perfectionist. Listen to her honest account from childhood to adulthood of how she realized she was struggling and learned to ask for help.
95. The Best Decision We Ever Made with Vanessa McDonald
94. Talking to Actor and Director Brian Whisenant
BONUS: Karen's story: from tragedy to hope and possibility after one year of sobriety
Sober in the Suburbs member Karen Dionne vulnerably shares her remarkable story of sobriety.
It takes courage to let others in. As Brene Brown says, “You don’t measure vulnerability by the amount of disclosure. You measure it by the amount of courage to show up and be seen when you can’t control the outcome.”
93. Booze, Babies & Botox with Katherine Rhadans
Kim and Kezia are joined by Katherine Rhadans, from @nowineinthecarpoolline on Instagram. The ladies break it down and have a real chat about all things motherhood. Tune in for a hilarious conversation with a seriously fun lady!
Katherine Rhadans is a writer and mother of 5 from Kansas City Missouri. Having been alcohol free for almost a decade, Katherine’s goal is to spread a message of hope to those still suffering, as well as awareness and understanding to the issues associated with alcohol use disorder. She’s been there.
BONUS: Meghan's story: Dry January, doing the work and reframing her perspective on alcohol
Meghan Jones attempted Dry January last year in 2023. She felt compelled to learn all about the changes in her body and mind during the month, digging in and listening to podcasts and reading all the quitlit. She felt so good she continued for another 60 days after the month ended, only to try to moderate after the 90 days were up. You know how the story goes, she fell back into her old ways, but then eventually gave up drinking for good later in May. Hear all about her journey, as she celebrates 7 months of sobriety! You will absolutely relate to this mother's story.
92. Our Year in Review
Kim and Kezia review their year and how they are feeling at the end of 2023. They discuss some of their accomplishments and goals after hitting three years of sobriety, as well as some of the intentions they have for 2024.
91. Managing the Post Holiday Blues
Do you feel let down after the holidays? Did you ever binge drink the week in between Christmas and New Years? Is the end of the year a tough time for you in terms of your sobriety? Join Kim and Kezia as they chat with Jen Hirst about how to end the year on a high note and enter the new year with a strong mindset!
Empowering women to thrive in sobriety, Jen Hirst has been on her own transformative journey since April 24, 2013. As a dedicated sober coach, Jen boosts women's confidence by integrating simple, effective habits from day one to help them feel their best and make sobriety stick.
Her sold-out group coaching programs have helped hundreds of women from across the world own their sobriety with a GET TO mentality and a supportive community of women rooting for them every step of the way.
90. What's it like to never have drank at all?
Kim and Kezia speak with lifelong teetotaler and Tilden co-founder Mariah Hilton Wood. As a lifelong non-drinker, Mariah brings a fresh perspective to the sober community. Her positive approach to life is nothing but infectious. She's a brand new mom, super fun and one of the sweetest people we have ever met!
Mariah Hilton Wood is Co-Founder and COO of Tilden, an award-winning non-alcoholic cocktail company. She launched the company out of Harvard Business School with friend and co-founder, Vanessa Royle, after realizing the lack of sophisticated options for non-drinkers at cocktail occasions. Mariah grew up in Las Vegas, and attended UNLV and BYU for her undergrad. Prior to HBS, Mariah spent five years in consulting with PwC, helping Fortune 500 clients improve their supply chain and operations. She's an adventure seeker; from paragliding, to flying trapeze, to summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, she loves to try new things. Mariah is a craft chocolate connoisseur, having consulted more than one chocolate company over the years on product development and sourcing.
BONUS: Steve's Story: Former Days of Our Lives Star Moves on from AA and finds a new path
Kim interviews former Days of our Lives star, Steve Blackwood. Steve had 30 years of sobriety under his belt after living in LA for most of his life, until one day her relapsed. Hear his remarkable story of finding his new path towards sobriety by how Steve earning to embrace Annie Grace's philosophy of This Naked Mind and how things finally clicked for him once and for all. Steve Blackwood currently lives in Newburyport, MA. He is a Producer/Director/Writer/Actor. Steve Blackwood’s (MACHINE GUN PREACHER DAYS OF OUR LIVES) work include comedies ( including the couples therapy mock-umentaryI FEEL/ MEET THE AUTHOR/ STUCK) that have been adapted into screenplays co-written with award winning Maine writer David Susman). Professor Blackwood (adjunct HILLSDALE and OAKLAND UNIVERSITY) is also the author of the acting book THE STEVE BLACKWOOD SESSIONS (AMAZON) that chronicles what he learned as an acting student with mentor Uta Hagen at HB STUDIOS in NY.
89. A Conversation about Preventing Youth Substance Use
Kezia and Kim welcome Angi McDonald, who is a member of Sober in the Suburbs. Angi has been sober for 28 years. She is a Program Coordinator in the Needham Public Health Division and shares about working in youth substance use prevention.
Reference:
Check HERE to see if YOUR town or county has a youth substance use prevention coalition.
88. Sober Traveling with Kathleen Ramon
Kim has the unique opportunity to chat with the lovely Kathleen Ramon from www.sobertraveling.com all about her upcoming project that debuts this month in December.
Kathleen, or Kat to her friends, is not just a sober travel coach; she's a storyteller, an educator, and a true comedian in the journey of sober fun! Her background as a teacher and Behavioral Specialist, combined with her nearly 15-year-long triumph over alcoholism, gives her a unique perspective on how to travel the world with courage and with purpose.
Kim and Kat discuss her new online show, curated by Kat. It is a buffet of experiences, insights, and real-world strategies set up like an advent calendar getting people through the holidays with one inspirational video emailed out each day. They talk all about how she is building our alcohol-free community with as much inclusion as possible!
Stay Sober While Traveling features over 20 experts from across the globe (Kim included!) who share not just their knowledge, but their hearts, offering practical strategies, inspiring tales, and a community of support. It's a rare opportunity to learn from people who have walked the path and now light the way for others. These experts include awarded authors, some having been featured in USA Today, Time Magazine, National Geographic, Frommer’s Guides, and The New York Times just to name a few. It also features prestigious coaches, podcasters, travel agents, health care providers, safari guides, spiritualists, comedians, musicians, and even a hypnotist all focused on staying sober while traveling!
It isn't just an online show; it's a movement towards embracing travel as a rich, exciting, alcohol-free adventure!
Starting on December 5th, check out this transformative experience. It's more than learning how to travel sober; it's about changing the narrative of your life's journey, one sober step at a time, and transforming into a better version of yourself through traveling. To quote Kat,"Travel heals trauma".
Register now for free and be part of this super unique event. <> https://sobertraveling.com/kimberlykearns
87. Are You Trapped in the Cycle of Drinking to Cure Your Hangover?
Kezia and Kim chat with Hadley Sorensen about her sober journey. All three women found themselves caught on the hamster wheel of drinking by the end, the epitome of being trapped in alcohol addiction. They also were each drowning in the mommy wine culture, duped by the Instagram memes, false advertising and lies of Big Alcohol. Hadley tells the ladies how she faced her truth and came out on the other side.
Hadley Sorensen is a mom of 3 boys, a lifelong runner, and a writer working on publishing her first book. Her relationship with alcohol was always toxic. It wasn't about how much or how often she drank, but how she felt when she did. Just over two years ago, she woke up with her last hangover, her heart screaming that sobriety was the right choice. She had no idea that a whole new, beautiful life was about to unfold. Now, she loves to tell her story with the hopes it will reach someone struggling as she was.
Instagram: @hadley_sorensen
86. Social Anxiety & the Holidays with Kristen McAvoy
The ladies talk with Kristen McAvoy about how to prepare for the holidays when you have social anxiety. What can you do when you have a holiday work party that you need to attend but you are newly sober? How do you deal with the family this year when you are used to getting blackout drunk in the past?
Kristen shares her incredible sober story and how she was able to work through her addictions and come to terms with her social anxiety. She is a breath of fresh air and exudes a kindness that you can't help but want to emulate.
"My name is Kristen and I battled with a dual addiction to alcohol and Xanax for years. I suffered in silence while trying to make everything look perfect on the outside. I drank a bottle or more of wine multiple nights a week, and started abusing my Xanax prescription to try to numb out my anxiety and reality. This took me down a dark path and I became an entirely different person. My family had an intervention with me and I agreed to go to rehab.
Unfortunately, I didn't take it seriously and hit an even bigger rock bottom once I got out. In March 2021, I finally got the help I needed and lived in a women's recovery house & attended narcotics anonymous meetings. I have been sober now for 2 years and 8 months. Sobriety has allowed me to become the woman I always knew I could be."
Instagram: @sobergirltribe
85. Gray Area Drinking with Todd Kinney
Kim and Kezia chat with former gray area drinker, Todd Kinney this week, all about his journey and transformation.
Todd is an attorney who lives in Omaha, NE with his wife, four kids and two wiener dogs. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, golf, hanging out with his family (when they let him) and spending an unhealthy amount of time and money supporting the Iowa Hawkeyes. He quit drinking in 2019 and considers it the best thing he’s ever done for himself and his family. His memoir, I Didn’t Believe It Either, is due out in December.
Todd was a classic gray area drinker who looked like he had it all together on the outside. But on the inside, he was tormented by his relationship with alcohol. He loved drinking and being the life of the party, yet there was so much about drinking he didn’t like: the control it had on him, how it consumed his every thought and how he felt after drinking too much.
He spent six years evaluating his relationship with alcohol and employing every moderation hack in the book. Some of them worked, but it was exhausting and the victories were always short
lived.
By 2019, Todd was growing tired of fighting his internal battle. He was worn down by the constant negotiating and obsessing, and he was sick of the torment, shame and regret. Then in the fall of that year, his wife whispered something into his ear that would end up changing his life forever. He decided to quit drinking.
Giving up alcohol was scary and overwhelming. Even though Todd knew it was the right decision, he also thought life without alcohol would be a little dull and boring, a bit like a prison sentence for not being able to “drink like a normal person.”
What he discovered, however, was that giving it up was the farthest thing from a prison sentence.
I Didn’t Believe it Either is the raw, honest, vulnerable and sometimes funny story of Todd’s journey to quitting the one thing he thought he couldn’t live without and his discovery that sobriety is better than he ever imagined.
Bonus: Allison's Story
A new series: member's of Sober in the Suburbs share their personal stories with our audience. Allison Deraney tells us about her path to sobriety. Visit her substack: Dare To Be Dry: https://allisonderaney.substack.com/
84. Identifying the Brain Chemicals that Cause Addiction with Dr. Evelyn Higgins
Kim and Kezia speak with addictionologist Dr. Evelyn Higgins from Wired for Addiction.
Dr. Higgins is an expert in the epidemiology of addiction. If you could identify the brain chemicals that cause alcohol or drug addiction in your brain, then what would be the next step? What if you could start at a young age by creating different habits if you had the scientific knowledge to prepare you to do so? What gets a person to that place of addiction? If you actually knew that you didn't have to stay in that dark place, would you? If you could have had your DNA tested at a young age to see if you were predisposed to substance use disorder, would you have done so? If you knew what lay ahead, what would you have done differently?
"Does your DNA predispose you to substance abuse? New research suggests that addiction is a biological condition. How would knowing your risk for alcohol or drug dependency impact your choices? Dr. Evelyn Higgins, CEO & Founder of Wired For Addiction®, is an international expert in the epidemiology of addiction. She believes the way we perceive, treat, and manage mental health and substance use disorders needs to evolve to reflect what we now know about human physiology. Technological advances have given us the genetic tools to identify the biomarkers of addiction. So why aren't we using that knowledge to improve treatment protocols? We can change the lens through which society views addiction by acknowledging its biological components and promoting science-based solutions."
Founder and CEO of Wired For Addiction®, Dr. Evelyn Higgins is a recognized international expert in the epidemiology of addiction. As a Certified Addictionologist, Diplomate of the American College of Addictionology and Compulsive Disorders, and Diplomate of the American Board of Disability Analysts specializing in pain management, Dr. Higgins has had the honor of advising the U.S. Surgeon General, producing and hosting a Gracie Award winning nationally syndicated health and wellness terrestrial radio program, and serving as a 1996 Olympic Team Doctor and Olympic torch bearer. With 35 years in clinical practice, Dr. Higgins has designated over 16 years to Research and Development in the science of addiction recovery. A TEDx Speaker (her TEDx Talk can be found here), panelist at the 2022 International Society of Substance Use Professionals Annual Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the 2022 International Gambling Conference in Auckland, New Zealand, and a 2021 Nominee for Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Innovators in Healthcare, Dr. Higgins finds herself at the nexus of epigenetics, neuroscience, and addiction.
https://www.wiredforaddiction.com/
https://www.ted.com/talks/evelyn_higgins_am_i_wired_for_addiction
83. Kim's Retreat Hangover: All About Laura McKowen's Weekend at Kripalu
Kim, Suzanne and Audrey (from The Sober Mom Life) return from Laura McKowen's Push Off From Here wellness retreat at Kripalu in the Berkshires. It was a wonderful weekend, and they share with Kezia all about their incredible, transformative experiences. The ladies describe the entire weekend, and also all about how the retreat hangover is legit a real thing.
Read about it here!
82. How do non-alcoholic drinks fit into your sober life?
Kim and Kezia talk with Vanessa Royle, the co-founder of Tilden, a non-alcoholic drink company. The ladies discuss how the company came to be, Vanessa's journey with sobriety and how the evolution of the N/A industry has evolved over the last few years.
81. Buzzword: What is a Glimmer?
Kim and Kezia chat about one of their favorite buzzwords: the "Glimmer." Most people understand what a "trigger" is, but not many people look for the opposite - a glimmer. A glimmer is a tiny moment in your day to day life that takes you by surprise and it can bring about feelings of joy or peace.
Do you experience glimmers? How do impact your sobriety? Let us know!
Don't forget to like and follow us on instagram: @theweekendsoberpodcast @thesoberelephantchronicles @asoberandstrongmom ... and subscribe to our podcast on @spotifypodcast or @applepodcast
Feel free to give us a review as well!
80. Mommy Wine Culture with Dr. Rachel Sayko Adams
Kim and Kezia interview Dr. Rachel Sayko Adams who shares all about her studies in alcohol research.
Rachel Sayko Adams, PhD, MPH is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Health Law, Policy & Management at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). She is a proud alum of BUSPH where she completed her Master in Public Health in Health Policy & Management followed by a PhD in Social Policy at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Dr. Adams is a health services researcher with expertise studying substance use, disparities in treatment, and morbidity and mortality outcomes in high-risk populations (e.g., military/Veterans, persons with traumatic brain injury, women).
https://www.bu.edu/sph/profile/rachel-adams/
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-06-23/binge-drinking-in-middle-age-has-wine-mom-culture-gone-too-far
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2023/women-without-children-at-age-35-are-at-highest-risk-of-binge-drinking-alcohol-use-disorder/
79. How do you express gratitude?
How do you express gratitude?
Jen started her quest for a sober life in August 2021. After a few hiccups and a couple stays at rehab (which she loved by the way! ) she stuck her sober landing in December 2021. She lives in Virginia with her husband, four kids and dogs. And when not gladly (happily maybe!) attending the plethora of children’s events she has on the calendar, she has she loves to travel the world with her family.
Notes:
The Pivot Year https://a.co/d/b1NHcp3
78. A glimpse into the mind of a 9 year old
Get ready for a candid, honest and unfiltered conversation with this little girl.
Kids don't hold back and this girl is no different. She will always tell you like it is! Enjoy.
77. Welcome Back to Season Three
Welcome to season 3! We are back after our summer break. We are ready for a whole new round of interviews, random chatter and lots of hysterical moments.
This week, we hear from Kezia all about Tristan's wonderful birth story. Kim also shares about her summer with her three kids, which was not quite as eventful as Kezia's.
The ladies both commiserate over how they feel as if they are stuck in a childhood mentality at times. As moms, they struggle alongside their own children to just get through the day.
How is sobriety like being a child for you? Do you find yourself relearning some basic concepts and fundamental people skills you should have mastered years ago?
Kezia and Kim sometimes just feel like little kids.
Send us DMs on instagram and shares your own personal stories! @asoberandstrongmom @thesoberelephantchronicles
76. Final Episode of Season 2: Hello Summer
Kim and Kezia talk about the final weeks of Kecia's pregnancy and reminisce about the early days of motherhood when they were drinking. They discuss the triggers of summer and why they are grateful once again for their sobriety. Thank you for following along with them for season 2. Thank you also to our guests who have shared their stories and wisdom! See you back here in September. We can't wait!
75. Interview with Hayley Matches from This Unwasted Life
Kim and Kezia talk about all the things with Hayley, from early sobriety, to friendship to social media.
Hayley Matches resides in Vancouver, BC, with her partner Jonas and their dog Lou. She is the founder of This Unwasted Life, a company focused on promoting an alcohol-free lifestyle through personalized 1-1 coaching, in-person events and virtual community. Through her work, Hayley aims to inspire others to make conscious choices around alcohol consumption and to create meaningful connections with themselves and others. You can find her on Instagram at @thisunwastedlife and through her website at www.thisunwastedlife.com
74. Interview with Betsey Weintraub: A Fresh Perspective on the Early Days of the Alcohol Free Journey
Betsey Weintraub stopped drinking on March 31, 2023. She and Kim met at the first gathering of Sober in the Suburbs, at the end of May. They live in neighboring towns outside of Boston, and they recently discovered that their stories are quite similar. Betsey courageously and vulnerably opens up about the road that brought her to the end of her drinking days. Tune into a raw, hilarious and heartwarming account about the early days of sobriety, as Betsey shares her story for the very first time publicly.
Instagram: @betsyweintraub
73. What Are the Biggest Changes We Notice in Ourselves Now That We Are Sober?
Kim and Kezia discuss the most significant changes they have noticed in themselves both physically, mentally and emotionally over the last 2.5 years. This is one of the biggest questions they both still continue to receive from people on a regular basis, and it is something that continues to evolve for them both personally.
72. The Mocktail Mom: Deb Podlogar
Kim and Kezia welcome Deb Podlogar, AKA Mocktail Mom™️. Deb is a regular mom who broke up with Chardonnay and began discovering delicious things to drink that didn't include alcohol. She hosts a podcast, Thriving Alcohol-Free with Mocktail Mom, and a private membership for women that want to be encouraged that the fun isn't over and there are still good things to drink without alcohol. Her membership does not require sobriety, but Deb loves encouraging members that an alcohol-free lifestyle is more exciting than you imagine.
Deb can be found on Instagram sharing recipes, tips & tricks @Mocktail.Mom
Her website is MocktailMom.com; click on Membership for more details about her community.
71. Sober in the Suburbs: A Boston Sobriety Support Group
Kim shares about her upcoming group: Sober in the Suburbs, a new in person sobriety support group that is open to all in or outside of Boston. Kim talks about her inspiration behind the idea and how it organically came to be. Are you living in the Boston area and interested in checking it out? Email Kim: kbkearns@gmail.com for more information.
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Sober in the Suburbs:
A community of women, leaving all notions of judgement and pressure behind...
Located in Needham, MA
For more information about scheduled gatherings and events, please email: kbkearns@gmail.com
Do you question whether alcohol is having a negative impact on your life?
Do you wonder if you might benefit from drinking a bit less?
Do you think to yourself, do I really need this glass of wine?
Do you look forward to that 5:00 hour - that relief in a cocktail after a long day at work or at home with the kids?
Do you sometimes have one too many and wake up the next day with a headache, riddled with shame and guilt?
Do you lay awake in the middle of the night after one too many drinks unable to sleep?
Do you ever forget conversations you had when drinking?
Do you ever obsess over taking days off from the booze only to then count down the days when the weekend can "begin" again?
Do you convince yourself you’re doing fine because everyone else is "doing it" too?
Do you feel stuck in a vicious cycle of trying to moderate or control your drinking?
Do you have lived experience in recovery but you have not yet found an in person community?
You are not alone. You may not see yourself as “addicted” to alcohol, but you do know that it has more power over your life than you’d like it to at this point. You may be curious about taking a step back from this thing that has become so normalized as the one acceptable way to socialize in our society. But how do you do it? Come see what it's all about. We strive to embrace compassion as we foster authentic connections and encourage thoughtful discussion. We aim to connect, learn and inspire one another as we experience the joy of this alcohol free world.
Do you live in or outside of Boston?
We currently meet in Metro-west but we welcome friends from all over.
We are fully inclusive and we do not focus on any particular type of recovery. We are a group aimed at building community, providing support and finding friendship.
Most of our members are from the surrounding communities: Needham, Wellesley, Natick, Dedham, Westwood, Newton, Dover, Sherborn, Medfield
70. Social Media and Sober Milestones with Jess Steitzer
Kim and Kezia welcome guest Jess Steitzer from the Decidedly Dry Podcast. The ladies discuss a variety of topics from social media burnout to holiday milestones. Jess shares a particularly hilarious experience that happened to her this Mother's Day. Tune in for a candid and honest chat between these three moms.
Jess is the host and founder of Decidedly Dry. She’s an inspiration to the ever-growing sober community and believes it is her calling to help women embrace a sober lifestyle. She’s the mom of two active, adventurous and loving boys, and resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Contact/Links:
Email: decidedlydry@gmail.com
69. Are you hosting a party at your house?
Kim and Kezia checkin with one another.
Kim shares her experiences with a recent dinner party she hosted in her home and Kezia talks about her upcoming baby shower. They discuss how they once allowed alcohol to impact their self-confidence to the point of self-sabotage when it came to social events such as these. Social anxiety was so crippling for them both and they each believed the only solution to survive these things for many years was alcohol.
Today, they both have the confidence and strength to understand that the alcohol was only causing more hurt and damage to them all along.
68. Kezia shares about her pregnancy journey
In this week’s episode, Kim and Kezia have a vulnerable conversation about Kezia’s pregnancy journey. From a heartbreaking miscarriage in 2021, to myriad of medical setbacks, and wondering whether they would ever be able to conceive, Kezia shares her view of the similarities between her current path, and the one she’s travelled in sobriety. She stands firm in her belief that the tools she’s learned in sobriety continue to carry her through one of the most demanding periods of her adult life. This episode will bring hope to anyone who believes they need alcohol to cope with life’s challenges. Baby boy Calvert is set to arrive this July!
67. Talk with Holistic Nutritionist and Sober Mom Taylor Cole
"It made the thing that I love the most hard - being a mom." - Taylor Cole
Kim and Kezia talk with Taylor about being a sober mom. She shares about her sober journey from heavy binge drinking, blacking out and drinking to soothe her social anxiety. She talks about all that sobriety means to her now as a mom of three young child and through the lens of a practicing nutritionist. Taylor discusses how her relationship to her husband, Kevin, was rooted in drinking as a young college aged couple together, and how she is learning to move past it. She shares how she has begun to work on rediscovering ways to exist in a world that focuses so much on alcohol.
66. Sober Vacations vs. Boozie Getaways
When you were drinking, did you ever feel like you needed a vacation from your vacation when you got home?
Kim and Kezia talk about what it is like to experience a sober vacation. They also reflect back on some trips they took with their families before they got sober, and how they felt as if they were missing out on so much joy back then.
The ladies discuss the necessary mindfulness required to get the most out of getting away and how to find the fun in each day. Kim also shares about her recent trip to Disney with her husband and three children.
Tune in for some stories and tips from the Weekend Sober ladies!
65. Challenging Generational Patterns of Alcohol Substance Use
64. Sundays with Kim and Kezia: How to Escape Without the Booze
Kezia and Kim are coming at you every weekend sober, every Sunday morning!
This weekend, the ladies discuss their recent parenting woes and their exhausting, chaotic weeks at home with their kids. They each share how they cope with the daily stresses they face and how they have learned how not to turn to alcohol at the end of the day. They discuss how to escape without the bottle with their love of reading and writing.
Check out some of the books they recommend:
The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power
63. Gray Area Drinking and Intoxicating Lies with Meg Geisewite
Kim and Kezia welcome Meg Geisewite to discuss gray area. Meg wrote Intoxicating Lies: One Woman's Journey to Freedom from Gray Area Drinking
So what is a gray area drinker?
"Gray area drinkers do not have a physical dependency on alcohol; they drink because they want to, not to avoid withdrawal symptoms. They don’t identify as having alcohol use disorder, so they wouldn’t be comfortable in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and they can stop anytime they want to. The problem is that they either question why they should bother stopping in the first place, knowing they’re not dependent on it, or they often do stop only to pick it up again. Gray area drinkers once thought of themselves as social drinkers but are questioning how “social” drinking is when not in a social setting or when home alone. They also aren’t suffering severe consequences or life-altering effects, so identifying their drinking as problematic doesn’t happen automatically. For this reason, gray area drinking is not a subject being talked about among friends and family and is often a hidden matter, left to one’s own assessment."
Meg Geisewite's Bio:
Meg is an ordinary mom who found herself trapped in the mommy wine culture. She began her sober curious journey in November of 2019 where her love of science led her to discover the real truth about alcohol and its seductive lies.As a best-selling author and speaker, Meg is changing the narrative on the mommy wine culture, the hustle culture, and our pro-drinking culture. In Meg’s debut book, Intoxicating Lies: One Woman's Journey to Freedom from Gray Area Drinking, Meg flips the script on the five most intoxicating lies we tell ourselves about alcohol and the lies we tell ourselves about our worth.Meg resides in Delaware with her husband and two teenage children. Her family has been her rock throughout her alcohol-free journey. You can often find Meg enjoying nature on the beautiful biking and hiking trails of Delaware.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: Intoxicating Lies: One Woman's Journey to Freedom from Gray Area Drinking | Facebook
Instagram: Meg Geisewite (@intoxicatingliesbook) • Instagram photos and videos
Website: Home | Meg Geisewite | Intoxicating Lies
Free Downloadable PDF for the audience: 5 Common Lies | Meggeisewite (intoxicatinglies.com)
62. SEX and INTIMACY with the Sober SEXpert Tawny Lara
SEX, SEX, and more SEX!! Join Kim, Catherine, Kezia as they talk to Sober Sexpert, Tawny Lara all about sex and intimacy. The group covers all types of taboo and salacious topics such as masturbation, first time sober sexual experiences, dating sober, gender identity and sexual trauma. They even do a deep dive discussion on the ladies of Sex and the City! Tawny also shares about her upcoming book, Dry Humping, set to release this fall. Pre-order Dry Humping today!
Tawny Lara is an NYC-based millennial, also known as The Sober Sexpert. Her book, Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without Booze, comes out September 19th, 2023. She co-hosts the Signal Award-winning “Best Buddy” podcast, Recovery Rocks, and is mom to a one-eyed cat named Meg White.
Her writing is featured in Playboy, Men’s Health, Huffington Post, and two essay collections: Sex and the Single Woman and The Addiction Diaries.
References:
Masturbation/meditation podcasts:
https://podtail.com/en/podcast/masturbation-sex-guides-guided-meditation-for-mind/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-39-masturbation-meditation/id1434015288?i=1000437912941
61. Guest Ben Tuff: "Swim Tuff: How I Swam my Way Out of the Bottle"
Kim and Kezia welcome guest Ben Tuff to share his unique story of recovery. He eloquently shares his belief of quality over quantity, friendships and his perspective on overcoming adversity.
Instagram:@ben.tuff
Ben Tuff grew up splitting his time between Atlanta, GA and Jamestown, RI. He attended
Colby College where he met his now wife, Gretchen and treasured his times working at a sailing
instructor and boat captain in the British Virgin Islands. Between Jamestown and the BVI, Ben
developed a lifelong appreciation for the ocean. Ben is a lifelong educator and has had the
privilege of working with hundreds of boarding students from across the world. In 2012, Ben
made the life-altering decision to break free of the hold that the addiction to alcohol had on
him. Despite not knowing how to swim, the sport of triathlon arrived quickly in his life. After
seven years of competitive triathlon, Ben made the switch to marathon swimming. After many
crossings from Newport, RI to Jamestown, RI on Save the Bay Swims, Ben throttled it up with
the 12.5 Mile FKCC Swim Around Key West. After that, he couldn’t stop and completed a 21-
mile swim around Jamestown, a 19-mile swim from Block Island to Jamestown, and most
recently swimming the length of Narragansett Bay by swimming 24 miles from Providence, RI to
Jamestown, RI. Esteemed producer, Matt Corliss, chronicled Ben’s journey to sobriety and the
parallels of his recent swim. The film, “Swim Tuff: How I Swam my Way Out of the Bottle” is
projected to be released Spring 2023.
60. Sober Curious with Guest Lemonstripes: Julia Dzafic
Julia Dzafic from the blog www.lemonstripes.com and Instagram @lemonstripes joins Kim for an intimate chat about early sobriety. Julia never had a rock bottom nor did she struggle with any serious addiction, but she recently decided that alcohol no longer served her. The ladies discuss their personal experiences with anxiety, the drinking culture they find themselves in on a regular basis and the evolution of friendships and alcohol. Julia shares her story with drinking and talks about how her relationship with alcohol began to get complicated during the early pandemic. She started to realize, like most, that her drinking was escalating as she was spending more time at home. If you are sober curious and looking to make an adjustment to your drinking routine, then this episode is for you! Check out Julia's blog, where she writes all about her experiences.
59. Kim and Kezia Checkin with Each Other
58. Dating in Sobriety with Guest Madeline Forrest
Instagram: @happiestsober
The Happiest Sober Podcast
57. Guest Dina Hannigan: Empowering Women Through Our Stories
Kim and Catherine welcome Dina Hannigan, Needham Youth Field Hockey Coach, from Needham, MA. Dina shares her personal connection to recovery and her family's story of addiction. Tune in for a truly moving interview.