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What happens when the party girl, the anxious college overachiever, the overwhelmed stay-at-home mom, and the wine-loving suburban wife all live in the same body… and then God whispers, “Are you done yet?”
In this episode of Sex, Drugs, & Soul, Kristin sits down with her longtime classmate Emily Bonds — now a sober mom of two, pageant titleholder, and outspoken advocate for breaking the stigma around addiction, alcohol, and mental health.
Emily shares:
- How anxiety, perfectionism, and pressure to “belong” led her to start drinking in college
- The slow slide from “weekend warrior” to drinking 6–8 drinks a day as a new mom
- The night in a Denver hotel when she woke up glued to a bathroom floor and heard God clearly speak: “Are you done yet?”
- Why sobriety didn’t magically make life easy — grief, mental health breaks, and big emotions still came
- How pageants became an unlikely tool for healing, confidence, and amplifying her message of recovery and hope
We talk about body image, “iPad kids,” mom guilt, faith, shame, the marketing of Big Alcohol, and what it actually looks like to rebuild your life after you decide you’re done.
Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just questioning your relationship with alcohol, this conversation is a gentle but honest mirror.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
- Sobriety as a spiritual experience, not just a “bad habit” you quit
- Using faith and friendship instead of wine to cope
- Parenting differently when you grew up with yelling, pressure, and fear
- Pageants as a platform for purpose (and not just pretty dresses)
- How to support a friend who decides to stop drinking
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Jump to the mic drop moments....
0:00 Intro
5:46 Navigating Emotions and Mental Health
17:02 The Impact of Alcohol on Life
24:49 Navigating Early Life and College Challenges
30:50 The Impact of COVID-19 on Drinking Habits
41:57 Finding Support and Resources for Recovery
50:55 Transformations in Personal Relationships and Self-Perception
#sobriety, #sobermom, #soberjourney, #alcoholrecovery, #addictionrecovery, #mentalhealth, #faithandmentalhealth, #christianrecovery, #womensstories, #pageantqueen, #healingjourney, #sexdrugsandsoul
Connect with Emily:
Instagram: @emilycbonds
Website: emilycbonds.com
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