Creative Sobriety

Hey y'all!! Welcome back to the podcast I am so excited to be bringing you new episodes! This is a special one, I have not one, but two sober guests doing great work in Nashville who happen to also be brother and sister. 

Today I'm speaking with Stephanie Styll who is the founder/owner of Killjoy, Nashville's first non-alcoholic bottle shop and all around badass sober woman. Her sobriety date is 10/3/20 and she talks about how her young son was one of the biggest catalysts for her choice to go alcohol free. She's passionate about bringing the NA beverage market to Nashville (something I'm personally SO grateful for!) and creating a community for those looking to reevaluate their relationship with booze. 

Brandon Styll is an executive in the Nashville hospitality industry as well as the host of the podcast "Nashville Restaurant Radio." His sober date is 10/28/19 and Brandon shares his story with us with so much honesty and vulnerability. His decision came after a rock bottom moment led him to an AA meeting. He credits the 12 steps and the support of his family and community for his success in sobriety. Brandon also mentions a wonderful resource for sober professionals in the food and beverage industry called "Ben's Friends" follow them and find meetings @bensfriendshope

Their sober journeys are very different in so many ways, but the way these two support and encourage each other is so inspiring to me. I know you're going to love this conversation!

Follow Stephanie and her shop @killjoy_nash 
Follow Brandon @brandon_nrr and his podcast @nashville_restaurant_radio

Thanks for listening and as always please follow and connect with me, Kristen! @creativesobriety 

Onward we go. 

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co

Hey, y'all!! I wanted to let the podcast fam know that I am hosting a retreat in Costa Rica this fall!

OCT. 25-30th we will be visiting La Fortuna and Tamarindo! I've done the leg work to ensure we have a good mix of exploration and relaxation. Join me and other sober, curious, like-minded souls as we connect, support, and create memories!

I'm offering the presale link here exclusively for friends of the podcast! It launches for the public sale tomorrow morning (4/19) and there are only 20 spots! Check my Instagram highlights for more info, feel free to drop a DM!

Reach out with any questions, hope to see you there!

xo
Kristen

https://trovatrip.com/trip/central-america/costa-rica/costa-rica-with-kristen-bear-oct-2023?earlyBird=true

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co

Hey, ya'll! I'm so glad to be back! I have been so excited about getting back on the microphone and chatting it up again about all things sobriety. 

As those who follow me on Instagram may know, I lost my mom late last year and took an extended break from the podcast. I appreciate all of your support and will be releasing an episode about my experiences with that at some point in the future. 

For today, I've brought back one of my original guests, Andi Marie, who's become one of my most trusted friends. I thought it would be a great way to get back in the swing of things to just hop on the mic with her and record what is pretty much just a normal conversation between us! No intro, no outro, just two sober buds shooting the stuff. (We do use quite a bit of adult language, fair warning.)

We talk about everything from Joni Mitchell (our queen), to regrets we have about drinking days, to some of the addictive behaviors we worry we may still be carrying with us, to advice for anyone struggling to get sober or fighting a relapse. Come ponder, laugh, grieve, and cope with us!!

I'm so glad you're here. Onward we go. 

Love, 
K

@creativesobriety
@kristencaroljeane

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co

In this episode we hear from Gabby who is a dating coach living in Chicago, IL with a sober date of 7/12/19. Gabby talks about her journey with alcohol and why she decided to quit drinking. She describes alcohol as something she used as a crutch in social situations and romantic relationships and tells us about the differences she's seen now that she no longer drinks. Kristen and Gabby discuss dating sober and sober sex as well as learning to socialize without alcohol in the beginning of sobriety. Connect with Gabby on IG @gabriellevaldes and visit her website and blog www.gabriellevaldes.com 

Gabby mentions the following resources:
Nomo (app)
"This Naked Mind" (a book by Annie Grace)
Joe Rogan Experience (Episode featuring Mathew Walker)
Tempest (an online sobriety support group and information resource)

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co

In the season 2 premiere we hear from the host of The Creative Sobriety Podcast, Kristen. Kristen is an actor and creative artist, living in Nashville, and her sober date is 2/26/20.  After struggling with her mental health, self-esteem, and personal life Kristen decided to quit drinking for good. She used podcasts, quit-lit, and the online sober community to stay connected and find inspiration. 
Kristen works in the fashion and entertainment industries and shares how "Creative Sobriety" became one of the biggest components of maintaining her own sobriety. 
Connect with Kristen online @creativesobriety and @kristencaroljeane

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co

Pete is 33 years young and lives in Minneapolis, MN. His sober date is 4/8/20.
Pete shares his sobriety journey with us as well as his creative passions and goals for the future. 
Pete is a single dad who is proud to be writing the story his son will tell about him one day, a story of a man who picked himself up when things got hard and wasn't angry or bitter about it, but motivated to be better. 
Pete's energy is contagious and he has a wonderful ability to articulate himself in a way that is relatable and inspiring to others. 
Connect with Pete on instagram @pete_heibrid and visit his website www.peteheidorn.com

Pete's favorite Audiobooks

"The Obstacle Is The Way" Ryan Holiday
"Can't Hurt Me" David Goggins
"The Four Agreements" Don Miguel Ruiz
"Atomic Habits" James Clear
"Anything" Malcolm Gladwell

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co

TW: sober-curious

Abigail is 30 years old and lives in Nashville, TN. She talks about her journey with alcohol and how she's slowly coming to the realization that alcohol doesn't have a place in her life. After a terrible hangover around the end of 2020 and recognizing that alcohol was holding her back from fully pursuing her dreams as a songwriter and model, Abigail decided to cut alcohol out of her life while still leaving room for the option in the future. She experimented with having a few sips of wine on occasion and didn't see the need or like the way it made her feel. 
Kristen and Abi discuss the need for conversations surrounding a sober-curious lifestyle and how for some people the term "sober" isn't helpful when removing a substance from your life. Abigail shares with us the huge difference cutting out booze has had on her creativity and overall happiness in life. She encourages others to examine why they are drinking and to question if you're drinking for the wrong reasons. 
There is room in the recovery community for shades of gray and no one size fits all when it comes to getting sober. 
Connect with Abi and check out her work as a singer/songwriter and model on Instagram @abigailolin 

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co

Jess is 31 years old and lives in Austin, TX. Her sober date is 7/2/18. Jessica shares with us how the overwhelming grief she felt after losing her mother fueled her over-drinking. As a super sensitive person, Jess says the weight of it all was too much and she didn't want to deal with the emotions so drinking was a coping mechanism. After two DWI'S her sister stepped in and made Jess promise to turn her life around and quit drinking so her mom could rest in peace, knowing she was safe. 
Jess never looked back. Not only is she thriving in a new city working as a successful hair stylist, she also hosts sober socials in Austin. She is such a bright and positive woman and now uses what she's learned to support others both online and in her community. 
Connect with Jess on Instagram @sobergirlatx for sobriety support and @rosestudiosalon for hair services in ATX.

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co

TW: marijuana use/harm reduction
Tiana is 31 years old and lives in Los Angeles, CA. Their sober date is 12/13/20. 
Tiana is open about their decision to keep weed in their life as an effective form of harm reduction from alcohol and cocaine. Kristen and Tiana discuss harm reduction and how remaining nonjudgmental of others' recovery journey helps save lives. 
Tiana was born with Tuberous Sclerosis and describes how they struggled with insecurity and self-esteem as a teenager, wishing they could change how they looked, and turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism. 
After a few attempts, Tiana quit drinking for good and now hopes to inspire others to find their own unique path to health and confidence.  
Tiana is an all-around creative, using their platform to push for representation for all in the modeling and fashion world. They describe the difference going alcohol free has made in their life and give advice to others wishing to ditch the booze. 
Connect with Tiana on IG @_themmefatale and on TikTok @_themme.fatale

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co

Missing Mei is a DJ, writer, podcaster, and sober creative originally from Hawaii and now based near Seattle, WA. Mei's sober date is July 1, 2019. 
Mei talks to us about two stints in sobriety, the first being 5 years long and how this time is different because now they trust the universe and listen to their intuition. 
Mei is an overall creative person with interests across the board in writing, music, podcasting and more. They are open and candid about the ups and downs of their drinking and sobriety stories and hope to inspire others to reach out for support and learn to trust their own inner guides as to what path is right for them. 
Connect with Mei on Instagram @thecreativesober and find The Creative Sober Podcast on all major platforms. 

Connect with me on IG @creativesobriety and please follow along and subscribe to my Substack newsletter www.kristenbear.substack.com where you will also find The Creative Sobriety Method video workshop series!

Stay up to date with all upcoming events and offerings www.creativesobriety.co