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In this deeply personal and transformative episode of Friday Feelings, host Jenelle Friday sits down with Jay Nathan, a respected tech leader and founder of Baloa Solutions, to explore a rarely discussed topic in the professional world: the emotional roots of alcohol dependency.

Jay vulnerably shares his story of giving up alcohol, not for a challenge or a cleanse, but to reclaim his peace, identity, and purpose. What started as a glass to take the edge off evolved into a daily crutch that masked anxiety, insecurity, and a deeper emotional disconnect. Together, Jay and Jenelle unpack how vices often stem from unmet emotional needs and what happens when we stop avoiding and start healing.

This episode is a raw look at what it means to step away from numbing and step into emotional intelligence, radical self-awareness, and sustainable life change.

Key Takeaways:

• Why dependency is often a symptom of deeper emotional wounds
• How business culture normalizes drinking and how to opt out without shame
• Jay’s tactical tools: therapy, consistency, habit stacking, and coaching
• The role of identity, faith, and community in long-term change

Resources:

• Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: 
• Jay’s Newsletter: chiefcustomerofficer.io

Resources Mentioned:

• Program: Celebrate Recovery: https://celebraterecovery.com/
• Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://a.co/d/e3o7e2Q
• Book: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: https://a.co/d/fYOZW4w

Trigger Warning: This episode includes sensitive content related to addiction and mental health.