Do you know how to discover your own personal core values?


Angie’s freedom from alcohol started the month before the pandemic started her 5th hospitalization due to her drinking. The pandemic put all her in-person programs on hold at 40 days of sobriety. 

She used a core values activity from graduate school to help her regain leadership in her sobriety. Angie shares the activity she does with others using a deck of values cards to help people truly gain clarity about their values.

In general, we take on the values of our family of origin and the addition of substances during adolescent development can stunt our ability to discern what belongs to us and what are others. The blessing of building emotional sobriety is the opportunity to understand values not only for yourself but with your partner, your family and your workplace.

Curiosity and clarity drew her to learn more about what led her to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. She dug into mindfulness, the enneagram and her behavior styles. Long-term sobriety is a growth opportunity to explore what the most important things in life are to you. 

Speaker, consultant, and author Angie Chaplin is the founder of Mindful Leadership, a woman-owned small business based in Iowa City. As a survivor of life-threatening alcohol use disorder, Angie's courageous journey epitomizes her values of integrity, curiosity, clarity, connection, and love. 

https://www.angiechaplin.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiechaplin
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MindfulLeadership2020
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_Mindful_Leadership_

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Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

Jess is the mom of two boys, she is sweet, honest and was a sucker for the mommy wine culture. It seemed normal to her.

Jess shared how she was hanging in the crowd that did everything with alcohol until she found This Naked Mind and started to become curious as sobriety.

The first year of sobriety for her was very much about survival, how can I get past the witching hour. And then she came to believe this was her new identity as a non-drinking in long-term sobriety. 

Jess focused on healing and being of service. She created a journal to help herself and others to build confidence, self-love and healing in sobriety. She found it so beneficial as a chance to be off the screens in front of her boys. 

Because of the modern sobriety movement, making this change wasn’t significantly difficult for her within her social circles. Having fun and non-alcoholic products helped her feel comfortable.

Jess is the host and founder of Decidedly Dry. She inspires 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.

https://decidedlydry.substack.com/
IG: @decidedlydry

Support the show

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Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

What if huge transformations in your life only take small changes done every day?


This is exactly what Michelle Smith did when she first got sober in order to prevent herself from turning to a drink.


Michelle was dealing with grief from the loss of her mom, her husband was deployed to war and she was suffering from postpartum depression. She struggled with shame and guilt and used alcohol to quiet the noise. 

Her parents died way sooner than they should have and she recognized that she was an adult orphan. Michelle realized that she was putting her children in the same position she was in. And she decided drinking was a nonnegotiable.

Michelle shared her experience of waking up after early sobriety and rediscovering her feelings and what she will do with those feelings. She discovered her true joy.

Michelle and I talked about basic habits that we started layering in this phase of long-term recovery. She shared how she started with drinking water, then walking, and listening to amazing podcasts. All of this went against her the old version of her life and drinking wasn’t fitting in the way that it did before.

Michelle’s perspective on life in long-term sobriety is so refreshing and real. She is a no-nonsense, strong and confident woman. She refuses to over-commit. She has healthy boundaries today to protect her own mental health. Michelle shared a practical tool she uses to help remind her of these things every day.

Michelle Smith is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the founder of Recovery is the New Black, a digital community for women living or exploring an alcohol-free life. Since getting sober in 2016, she has integrated both her personal and professional experience toward normalizing sobriety in our boozy culture.

www.recoveryisthenewblack.com
Instagram & Facebook: recoveryisthenewblack

Support the show

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Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

The journey from early sobriety to long-term recovery. 

Becky’s first 18 months of sobriety were all white knuckled and left her with a huge amount of rage. She was dry but not sober. Then she found her way into a 12-step program. 

She described her childhood exposure to alcohol like the movie Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. 

Becky talks about the difference between women in early sobriety and those in long-term recovery. We now have our full selves to deal with. And the goal becomes emotional sobriety. 

We dive into some of the principles that guide us in this phase of long-term recovery and her perspective on them. 

Becky Vollmer is an author, longtime yoga teacher, and creator of You Are Not Stuck, a movement that empowers people to pursue the lives they most deeply desire. She teaches the principles of empowerment and choice through popular workshops and retreats. Becky is also a woman in long-term recovery and she also is a leading voice in the sobriety community.

Website: https://www.youarenotstuck.com/ 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/YouAreNotStuck/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/youarenotstuck/ 

Book: Amazon or Bookshop.org 

Support the show

Support the show

Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

Amy has always been passionate about health and wants to help people change their lives using nutrition. Amy started drinking more heavily due to grief and realized she wanted to get sober. She is now a woman in long-term sobriety.

Amy talks about her process in working with women around building a healthy lifestyle. She knows that it is usually a big change so she starts with “ditching the bag” referring to processed foods. Her conversations are always about how you feel.

We shared about the importance of taking proper inventory of how much and what you are consuming since most of the time people are over or underestimating how much they are consuming. Building confidence in health as well as in long-term recovery takes persistence and understanding of the truth. 

Amy says we have to learn to get curious about our habits. To notice the data points along the way that inform our behavior. Write things down, reflect on them and the feelings from the decisions.

Amy Fox is on a mission to educate everyone about how our food choices affect our health and happiness. Amy holds a Master of Science in Food and Nutrition Sciences and is a Certified Functional Food Professional and founder of Food and Mood Lab. Learn more at foodandmoodlab.com.

Support the show

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Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

Have you ever been so exhausted you thought drinking was the solution to your problems? 

Meg is an ordinary mom 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.

Meg shares how she was sucked into what society told her was the solution to her problem which led her to a nightly wine habit. Sober curiosity finally led her to break up with alcohol. She is now enjoying her life on long-term sobriety.

Despite being sober for four years Meg shares how vulnerable we can still be when the epic moments of life show up. But instead of drinking, she has learned to allow the feelings, honor them and get curious about them. 

She shares the shift she had after the first year of sobriety. She woke up and began to do the work of emotional sobriety and truly manage our uncomfortable feelings. Meg began showing up for herself which made her more capable of showing up for her family.

As a truth-teller and best-selling author, Meg is changing the narrative on the mommy wine culture, the hustle culture, and our pro-drinking culture. In Meg’s award-winning 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 that we are enough.

Facebook: Intoxicating Lies: One Woman's Journey to Freedom from Gray Area Drinking
Instagram:  @intoxicatingliesbook
www.meggeisewite.com

Support the show

Support the show

Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

Are you an expert at taking breaks from alcohol?

Susie was an avid runner and fitness guru. She started to make the connection between her alcohol use and feeling bad during training so she had periods of time where she took a break from alcohol. She felt she became an expert at taking breaks from alcohol. This helped her accomplish things when she did.

She shares how the glamorization of alcohol in our society made her feel that becoming a nondrinker was not an option. She wanted to feel validated in her alcohol-free lifestyle. For Susie the alcohol-free beverage industry has been such a blessing and a complete game changer. 

Susie shared her experience with socializing in long-term sobriety and her frustration with not having aesthetically pleasing nonalcohol options when she was out in restaurants or in business environments. We shared some of the brands that are popping up now that are easily accessible now. 

The identity shift that occurs when someone becomes alcohol-free is a big transition. This can be a very big deal for some of us. Even in long-term sobriety you can encounter others who just don’t get why you aren’t drinking. Having adult, alcohol-free options really helps in these situations.

Susie is the Founder, Zeroproof Experiences - Sober in the City which are weekend experiences that redefine the concept of fun without alcohol.

With her unique perspective, Susie is dedicated to helping others discover the joy and freedom that come with an alcohol-free lifestyle.  Through Zeroproof Experiences, she curates immersive events that celebrate life, connection and personal growth without the need for alcohol.  

 www.zeroproofexperiences.com
@zeroproofexperiences

Here is the link to the Thriving in Long-Term Sobriety Workshop, mentioned in the Intro.

Support the show

Support the show

Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

Happy New Year!

Are you a resolution person?  I am not, and I explain more about this in the intro to this episode. I am a huge believer in sustainable change and we can decide at any time when we want to make a change, set a goal, or learn something new.

Life as an alcohol-free woman is filled with lies we tell ourselves, I bet you could name a few right now. Today I am kicking off the 2024 Confident Sober Women season by sharing my Tedx Style talk from May of 2023.

In this talk, I lay out the exact process I went through to learn how to THRIVE in long-term sobriety. I learned how to be confident and love myself, how to stand up for myself in relationships, create healthy boundaries and eliminate my negative thinking patterns.

You can hit the reset button in your sober life anytime you want. Whether it's a Thursday in January, a Tuesday evening in July or the first of the month. Anytime you want to make a sustainable change in your life you can. 

Please share this episode with a friend who would benefit. And if you can spare 30 seconds leave a rating and review, it helps a lot!

Support the show

Support the show

Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

This is a re-publishing of episode 115 from earlier this year but seems incredibly impactful at this point. I wanted to re-share our conversation but Dawn is doing incredible work and has inspired me with her organization, She Recovers.

So much so that I became a professional designee with She Recoers this year and I am proud to be part of their movement. 

Enjoy this conversation and look forward to new episodes in 2024!  Happy Holidays.

Support the show

Support the show

Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

This is the last episode of the 2023 season and I wanted to share a message with you about doing hard things.  As women in long-term sobriety, we have already done a whole lot of really hard things.

Life will never stop giving us challenges. They are always there for all of us. But the best way to handle it is to get better at hard things, instead of always seeking easy.  Sobriety affords you the ability to be present, to have clarity and choices today.

In thinking of the year ahead, what are some things you would like to do, see, make, and achieve? And more importantly, what is your plan for getting them?   I can't wait to meet all of you sober ladies right back here next year for so much more fun and conversations.

Be sure to share the show with a friend and binge-listen to all the episodes before this. Check out Episode 58 5 Ways To Have Fun Without Alcohol For The Holidays, and Episode 55 Healthy Boundaries For The Holidays.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and hey if you like it will you leave a rating and review it really helps to let others know we are here.  See you in the new year.

Support the show

Support the show

Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here!

If you aren't part of the Confident Sober Women Facebook group, it's a great place to be. There are over a thousand other sober women there building lives they don't want to escape from. Come on over and join us.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy today and maybe a second one for a friend. There is so much hope in recovery, and I shared my story so raw and vulnerable so that others would know they aren't alone and that there is a way to live well, manage relationships, parent your kids, and have a healthy body, all while staying sober. Grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.