I’ve never really shared the full story behind why I stopped drinking, but in this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain. It wasn’t a rock bottom moment or dramatic wake-up call—it was a quiet but certain knowing that alcohol just wasn’t part of who I wanted to be anymore. I talk about how booze impacts the brain, the sneaky ways it shaped my decisions, and the emotional fog it kept me in for years.

There’s also grief. Grief for the old version of me, for the connections and habits I had to leave behind. I get into the root of addiction, the habit loop we get stuck in, and the shame and co-dependency that can live underneath it all. This one’s honest, layered, and straight from the heart.

Here are the Highlights:

(01:28)-Why I went sober (from alcohol)

(07:30)-How alcohol affects the brain

(12:38)-Unpacking addiction and its root cause 

(20:13)-The grief that comes with with sobriety 

(28:02)-The habit loop in addictive behaviors 

(31:19)-Shame and co-dependency 

(33:05)-The relationship between drinking and suppressed emotions

For more information on sobriety, follow LHP Author, Kaitlin Henry’s podcast, Step Zero HERE

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
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• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio