Rewired Sober

EP 44. Being a "Functional" Drinker & Hiding Behind it with Rachel Mack Martin


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Can being too high-functioning actually keep you stuck in your drinking?

In this episode, Kate sits down with Rachel Mack Martin, author of Functional: A High Performer’s Guide to Freedom from Alcohol, to talk about what it really means to look like you “have it all together” while quietly struggling with alcohol.

Rachel, a director in financial services with an MBA and a life that appeared picture-perfect from the outside, opens up about how intelligence, success, and achievement can become tools of denial. Together, she and Kate unpack the hidden costs of being “functional,” why rock bottoms are overrated, and how letting go of perfection makes room for healing.

In this episode, Kate and Rachel talk about:

  • What it means to be a “functional drinker”
  • Why intelligence can keep us stuck in denial
  • The myth of moderation and why it’s so seductive
  • How Rachel’s 30-day break turned into 7 years of freedom
  • Navigating relationships and social circles after quitting
  • Finding support outside of traditional recovery paths
  • The unexpected gifts of living alcohol-free

Rachel’s story is proof that you don’t need to lose everything to change everything — and that being smart isn’t what saves you from addiction, it’s what helps you rewrite your story once you’re ready to see it clearly.

Rachel Mack Martin is a director in financial services and holds an MBA, bringing an inquisitive mind to everything she does, including writing. Rachel lives in Minnesota with her husband and their three unpredictable cats. When not working or writing, you can find her drinking a strong cup of black coffee with at least one feline on her lap. Functional is her first book.

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Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Today's Guest: Rachel Mack Martin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_mack_martin/

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/5EUckcA

Mentioned in this episode:

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Rewired SoberBy Kate Vitela