Alcohol Free Superpowers

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Ever thought about what it means to truly let go? 

Join us as we explore the journey of recovery and the challenges of leaving behind old habits. Our guest Kat Hartvigsen shares her personal journey with alcohol, detailing her early experiences, struggles with sobriety, and the transformative moments that led her to seek help. She discusses the importance of community support and her aspirations to help others navigate their own paths to recovery. Kat emphasizes the enriching aspects of life without alcohol and the significance of self-reflection in maintaining her sobriety.

Kat's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of recovery. Her journey reminds us that while the road to sobriety may be fraught with difficulties, it is also filled with opportunities for growth and connection. 

In This Episode, We Explore:

• Life after sobriety has been fulfilling, with new opportunities and personal growth.
• How building a supportive community impacts sobriety
• The importance of self-reflection and accountability in sobriety
• How life without alcohol is enriching and fulfilling

Connect with Kat

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soberwithkat/?hl=en

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In this episode of Alcohol-Free Superpowers, we sit down with Hadley Sorensen, Author of The Dirty Truth On Social Drinking, to talk about her story with social drinking to sobriety. 

Hadley shares her personal journey with alcohol, detailing her experiences from her first drink at age 14 to her decision to quit at 41. She discusses the societal pressures of drinking, the challenges of navigating sobriety, and the unexpected benefits she has experienced since quitting. Hadley emphasizes the importance of open communication with her family about her sobriety and the positive impact it has had on her life. She also touches on her writing journey and the motivation behind her book, aiming to reach others who may be struggling with their relationship with alcohol.

This conversation is honest about realizing when social drinking is too much. It is motivation for any one questioning their own habits. 

In this episode, we explore:

• Relying on alcohol to fit in during teenage years. 
• How open communication with her family about her sobriety has been crucial. 
• The importance of exploring one's relationship with alcohol.
• Learning to appreciate her introverted nature after quitting drinking. 
• How Hadley's journey inspired her to write a book to help others. 

Connect with Hadley Sorensen

• Website: https://www.hadleysorensen.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hadley_sorensen/
• Hadley Sorensen's book: The Dirty Truth On Social Drinking: https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Truth-Social-Drinking-Everything/dp/1945962623/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LOWNZQO6VHLK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HNvemLcH0xII-u7mCrtREp9YlfmvFlinQLUF9VMgmdlZJplp6G1kvu_7ATC8p2M-7du-u0CgqaMFCAEQZ8uZmXj5I0Y7-s0t5t_52-EFrAeNjADLId2tf5HE4dN6kypwJL1IPADSF1T8xs3103X2jdWdfuQTrbrhFgmWGiudlY7dZ2Tnr86CBvL8z9qC3TsF0fKSlTYfVZZADJMSJic9rq_cOhPWz6WBhnWzQsIx3oM.6VVqY_RCCrDdyW-Cb0XfAIXynGNc4-JW9IIY5J612Fw&dib_tag=se&keywords=hadley+sorensen&qid=1715606715&s=audible&sprefix=%2Caudible%2C231&sr=1-1-catcorr

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What if choosing an alcohol-free life didn’t require a dramatic rock bottom, but simply the courage to listen when something no longer feels right?

In this episode of Alcohol‑Free Superpowers, we sit down with Paula Devine, founder of The Happiest Hour, a concierge sobriety practice supporting women who are questioning their relationship with alcohol.

Paula shares her deeply honest journey from socially accepted drinking and even working in the liquor industry, to recognizing that alcohol was slowly eroding her presence, her parenting, and her sense of self. Like many high-functioning women, her turning point wasn’t chaos, but clarity. A realization that staying the same had become heavier than the fear of change.

We talk about motherhood as a catalyst for transformation, rebuilding trust with her kids, navigating marriage when alcohol was once the primary way to connect, and why community is often the missing piece in sobriety. Paula also shares how a small, private neighborhood group grew into a thriving in-person and virtual support model rooted in confidentiality, self-love, and real connection.

This conversation is grounding, compassionate, and deeply reassuring for anyone sober-curious, newly alcohol-free, or wondering if it’s “bad enough” to make a change.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• How Paula’s relationship with alcohol evolved over time
• Why many women experience a “slow burn” instead of a rock bottom
• Motherhood, trust, and choosing presence before it’s too late
• The fear of giving up alcohol and what actually happens on the other side
• Why community can be more powerful than willpower
• Navigating marriage and social life when alcohol was once the connector
• Building confidence, habits, and self-love in sobriety
• How sobriety creates freedom, space, and deeper relationships
• Why alcohol-free life feels expansive, not restrictive

Connect with Paula Devine

• Website: https://happiesthouraf.com/
•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happiest_houraf/

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•  Instagram

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What if going alcohol-free wasn’t about deprivation, but about creating richer experiences, deeper connections, and a life that actually feels expansive?

In this episode of Alcohol Free Superpowers, we sit down with Susie Streelman, founder of Zero Proof Experiences and Sober in the City, to talk about her journey from socially accepted wine culture to creating elevated, alcohol-free events across the country.

Susie shares how her relationship with alcohol evolved slowly over time, how health scares and constant “taking breaks” led to deeper reflection, and why mindset made all the difference. Like many high-functioning women, she didn’t hit a dramatic rock bottom. Instead, she reached a point where alcohol took up too much mental energy and no longer aligned with the life she wanted.

We talk about navigating social pressure, identity shifts, and the fear of being “different,” plus how Susie built a thriving alcohol-free community without having all the answers at the beginning. From hosting elegant zero-proof dinner parties to large-scale weekend experiences, Susie is redefining what connection and celebration can look like without alcohol.

This conversation is honest, grounding, and deeply encouraging for anyone sober-curious, alcohol-free, or craving community that doesn’t revolve around drinking.

In This Episode, We Explore

• How Susie’s relationship with alcohol evolved over time
• High-functioning drinking and why it often flies under the radar
• Why taking “breaks” can feel like punishment when mindset isn’t aligned
• The mental energy alcohol takes up, even when consumption feels moderate
• Navigating social situations, friendships, and identity shifts without alcohol
• Why you don’t need a rock bottom to choose something different
• Building confidence and community in midlife
• The inspiration behind Sober in the City and Zero Proof Experiences
• What alcohol-free events can look like when they’re elevated, inclusive, and fun
• How life feels less “muffled” without alcohol

Connect with Susie Streelman

Zero Proof Experiences
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroproofexperiences/

Sober in the City Events
Website: https://zeroproofexperiences.com

Upcoming Event:
📍 Colorado Springs
🗓️ May 15–17, 2026

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•  Website 
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What if changing your relationship with alcohol isn’t about willpower — but about nourishment, awareness, and identity?

In this episode of Alcohol Free Superpowers, we sit down with Dr. Brooke Scheller, a doctor of clinical nutrition, author, and one of the leading voices in the sober-curious and alcohol-free space.

Dr. Brooke shares her personal journey with alcohol, which began at age 13 and continued through her teens, college years, and into her early thirties. Like many high-functioning women, alcohol became deeply intertwined with her routines, stress relief, and sense of identity.

What makes this conversation so powerful is how relatable it is.

There was no dramatic rock bottom. No moment where everything fell apart. Instead, there was a growing realization that alcohol had become something she relied on — and that letting it go could create a healthier, more aligned life, even when it felt uncomfortable at first.

We also explore the core ideas behind her book, How to Eat to Change to Change How You Drink, including how nutrition, brain chemistry, blood sugar, and nervous system health influence cravings, mood, and alcohol use.

This episode is grounded, compassionate, and deeply empowering. It’s for anyone who has questioned their drinking, never felt “bad enough” to quit, or wants a science-backed, shame-free approach to change.

In this episode, we explore:

• Starting to drink young and how early patterns shape adulthood
• High-functioning drinking and why it often goes unnoticed
• Why you don’t need rock bottom to change your relationship with alcohol
• The identity shift that can come with letting alcohol go
• How nutrition affects cravings, stress, and emotional regulation
• Key insights from How to Eat to Change the Way You Drink
• Why life often expands when alcohol is no longer the default
• How a sober-curious approach can lead to lasting change

Connect with Dr. Brooke Scheller

• Website: https://www.brookescheller.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbrookescheller
• Dr. Brooke's Best Selling Book:  How to Eat to Change How You Drink

Connect with AF Superpowers:

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•  Instagram

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What happens when you quit drinking without rock bottom  and your whole identity shifts overnight?

In this episode of AF Superpowers, we sit down with Mel Burbank, founder of Alcohol-Free Females, to explore her 27-year binge drinking pattern, the moment it ended (in the least glamorous way possible), and the surprising science behind what’s called spontaneous remission.

Mel grew up in New Orleans where drinking is baked into culture, connection, and celebration. She wasn’t an everyday drinker, but when she drank, she drank hard — blackouts, “just one glass” turning into chaos, and the kind of high-functioning overdrinking that can hide in plain sight for decades.

Then something shifted.

A plastic cup of warm Chardonnay in a New Jersey airport became the moment her body and brain said, “I’m done.” No meetings. No rehab. No long goodbye tour.

We talk about why so many women never hit a dramatic rock bottom, why the “wino” identity is more damaging than people realize, and how Mel teaches identity-based change — not white-knuckling — so women can become the kind of person who doesn’t need alcohol.

This conversation is honest, funny, science-backed, and deeply freeing. It’s for anyone who has questioned their drinking, never felt “bad enough” to quit, or wants to stop making alcohol part of their identity.

In this episode, we explore:

• Growing up in a culture where drinking is the norm (New Orleans)
• Binge drinking patterns and “high-functioning” overdrinking
• The myth that you need rock bottom to quit
• The warm Chardonnay moment and what “spontaneous sobriety” looks like
• What spontaneous remission is and why we rarely hear about it
• Why identity shift is the root of lasting behavior change
• The difference between “I’m trying not to drink” vs “I don’t drink”
• Mel’s biggest unexpected sobriety benefit: an “endless abyss of patience”
• Simple scripts for handling social pressure without making it a big deal

Connect with Mel

Website: alcoholfreefemales.com
 Instagram: @alcoholfreefemales

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Connect with AF Superpowers:

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What happens when alcohol is no longer the problem — but the patterns remain?

In this episode of AF Superpowers, we sit down with Lauren Fay, alcohol-free empowerment coach and author of BLURRED LINES: Reclamation After Addiction, to talk about what really happens after you stop drinking.

Lauren shares her deeply honest story of growing up around alcohol, high-functioning addiction, and using drinking as a way to cope, escape, and manage pressure. She opens up about treatment, relapse, identity loss, and the moment she realized that removing alcohol was only the beginning of the work.

Together, we explore what comes next when the substance is gone but the habits, beliefs, and coping patterns still linger. Lauren explains why “managing it” didn’t work, how spirituality and self-inquiry supported her healing, and how sobriety ultimately led her to purpose, authorship, and a life rooted in freedom rather than control.

This conversation is grounded, honest, and deeply human. It’s for anyone who has stopped drinking (or is thinking about it) and realized the deeper work begins underneath the behavior.

In this episode, we explore:

• Growing up around alcohol and early identity formation
• High-functioning addiction and living a double life
• Treatment, relapse, and the long road to clarity
• Why quitting alcohol alone doesn’t “fix everything”
• Identity loss and rebuilding after sobriety
• The emotional work that follows stopping drinking
• Recovery beyond black-and-white thinking
• Compassion, self-trust, and reclaiming personal power
• Writing Blurred Lines and turning lived experience into service
• Building sober community rooted in connection and freedom

About the Book

BLURRED LINES: Reclamation After Addiction is Lauren Fay’s deeply personal memoir about addiction, recovery, identity, and reclaiming your power. Through storytelling and reflection, Lauren explores what happens after substances are removed — and how healing, meaning, and purpose are built from the inside out.

👉 Get the book here:
 https://www.amazon.com/BLURRED-LINES-Reclamation-Addiction-Powerless/dp/1997765047/

More Info About the Book: https://laurenfay.co/book

Connect with Lauren Fay

• Website: https://laurenfaycoaching.com
•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenfaycoaching

Lauren offers one-on-one coaching, group experiences, speaking engagements, and resources for women who want to live alcohol-free with clarity, purpose, and self-trust.

Connect with AF Superpowers:

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What happens when alcohol is no longer the problem — but the patterns remain?

In this episode of AF Superpowers, we sit down with Bobbie Malatesta, founder of 3-21 No Kiddin, to explore her recovery journey from both alcohol and gambling addiction — and the concept she calls alchitude.

Bobbie uses addictude to describe how old addictive behaviors, reactions, and coping patterns can show up even after the substances are gone. Through her story, she shares how escape evolved over time, why managing addiction didn’t work, and what shifted when she stopped numbing and started paying attention.

We talk about high-functioning addiction, treatment and relapse, the rule that changed everything (“I can’t drink to cope”), and how sobriety reshaped her relationship with time, awareness, and choice. Bobbie also shares why she’s building a new kind of sober community through 3•21 No Kiddin — one centered on connection, play, and freedom.

This conversation is honest, nuanced, and grounded. It’s for anyone who’s stopped drinking or escaping — and realized the deeper work comes next.

In this episode, we explore:

• Growing up around addiction and early exposure to alcohol
• High-functioning drinking and compulsive gambling
• Treatment, relapse, and the long road to clarity
• What alchitude really means
• Why “managing it” didn’t work
• Recovery beyond black-and-white thinking
• Building sober community without shame or stereotypes

Connect with Bobbie

• Website: 321nokiddin.com
• Instagram: @321nokiddinsoberclub
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbiemalatesta

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Connect with AF Superpowers:

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“What happens when the life you’ve been holding together finally collapses — and surrender becomes the only way forward?”

In this AF Superpowers episode, Sober Coach of the Year Jen Hirst (@jenleehirst) shares the deeply honest story behind her 12 years of sobriety. Jen takes us inside the slow progression from social drinking to secret use, the quiet escalation no one saw coming, and the final day she realized alcohol was going to take her life if she didn’t stop.

She opens up about detox, treatment, rebuilding trust, and the steady work of piecing together a life she actually wanted to live. Jen also reflects on becoming a mom in early sobriety, coming out of the “sober closet,” and why she created Lighthouse Sobriety, a community for women who need somewhere soft to land.

🎧 This episode is for anyone who wonders if surrender is failure. Jen’s story proves it can be the beginning of everything.

We explore:
• How alcohol quietly became self-medication
• The hidden reality of high-functioning dependence
• Mouthwash, withdrawal, and the detox that saved her life
• Rebuilding after consequences and broken trust
• Finding her voice outside the “sober closet”
• Creating Lighthouse Sobriety and the power of community
• The unexpected gifts of long-term sobriety

Connect with Jen:
Website: https://joinlighthousesobriety.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenleehirst/

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Connect with AF Superpowers:

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What happens after the moment you finally surrender — when the denial breaks, the truth shows up, and you decide you can’t do it alone anymore?”

In this week’s AF Superpowers episode, Coach Allie Clark (@soberdreamteam) shares Part 2 of her powerful sobriety story.

If Part 1 ended with the intervention in the closet, Part 2 picks up at the moment everything changed.

Allie takes us through her final drink, the medical detox that saved her life, and the humbling realization that detoxing at home could have killed her. She talks about crisis calls, choosing treatment, finding community, and the moment she felt home when she arrived at Harmony Recovery.

We explore the fear, the humor, the surrender, and the deep healing that followed. Allie opens up about inpatient treatment, trauma work, rebuilding trust with her husband, repairing her relationship with her kids, and the unexpected peace she now feels — the kind she never thought was possible.

Today Allie is 8 years sober, a trauma-informed sober coach, and living proof that it’s never too late to heal what hurt you.

🎧 This episode is the continuation of last week’s story  and the one that reminds you that recovery is possible even when it feels like you’re the problem.
 Spoiler: you’re not.

We explore:

• Why detoxing at home can be life-threatening
• The final drink and the moment she walked into detox
• Meeting people who had detoxed seven times… and what that taught her
• How inpatient treatment helped her reconnect to herself
• The mountain moment that changed everything
• AA, 90 meetings in 90 days, and building a foundation
• Trauma therapy, nervous system healing, and IFS
• Rebuilding her marriage after broken trust
• How she now shows up for her kids as a safe, grounded parent
• The surprising gifts of sobriety she never expected
• Becoming a sober coach and recovering out loud

Key Moments

00:00 — The moment that saved her: “No one can replace me.”
 01:02 — The discovery of hidden wine boxes and the intervention
 02:28 — Surrender and agreeing to medical detox
 02:58 — The truth about alcohol and benzo detox
 03:52 — Calling the crisis line
 05:24 — First day in detox and meeting Jordan
 06:40 — Why treatment mattered
 07:05 — Arriving at Harmony Recovery
 08:29 — The mountain moment that changed her belief
 09:53 — 90 meetings in 90 days
 10:50 — Trauma therapy (IFS, somatic experiencing, CBT)
 11:48 — Navigating recovery communities
 12:52 — Coming out of the “sober closet”
 13:42 — Rebuilding trust in her marriage
 17:13 — Parenting as a sober, regulated mom
 18:23 — Kids remembering past chaos
 20:36 — The surprising benefit: slowing the aging process
 21:31 — The internal glow of alignment
 22:45 — Living as her authentic self
 23:52 — Becoming a sober coach
 25:07 — Trauma and addiction: the real connection
 26:12 — “Not defective — something happened to you.”

Connect with Allie:

Instagram: @soberdreamteam

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