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What happens when you take on one of the most intense jobs in the world, working in medicine, without the socially accepted pressure valve of alcohol?

In this episode of The Sonder Effect, Alexa and Mariam sit down with a first-year surgery resident who made the bold decision to get sober while navigating the chaos of residency and applying to Emergency Medicine programs.

Together, they explore what led her to reevaluate her relationship with alcohol, how she coped with early sobriety in a culture where drinking is often normalized (and expected), and what she discovered about herself in the process.

This conversation dives into emotional regulation, identity shifts, social pressure, and the surprising clarity that can come from saying no to numbing. With raw honesty and powerful self-reflection, our guest offers insight into what it means to reclaim agency over your life, even in the most high-stress environments.

Whether you're questioning your own relationship with alcohol or simply curious about what sobriety can look like behind the scenes of a high-stakes career, this episode is a reminder that strength sometimes looks like slowing down, speaking up, and starting fresh.