This conversation is raw, honest, and deeply human. I’m joined by Gary, the voice behind Sober and Sound, and we talk about what sobriety really looks like when it’s not wrapped up in labels, rules, or dramatic rock bottom stories.

This is about choosing to stop digging before everything collapses, and learning how to sit with yourself when the noise fades.

We talk emotional sobriety, identity, nervous system regulation, and the quiet bravery it takes to feel instead of numb.

Gary shares his journey, what actually helped him stay sober long term, and why curiosity, honesty, and connection matter more than perfection.

If you’ve ever felt a quiet knowing that something needs to change, this episode will meet you right there.

Highlights:

(02:05) Why you don’t need a dramatic rock bottom to choose sobriety

(09:31) How alcohol quietly shapes identity and emotional regulation

(16:01) The moment everything changed and the last drink

(24:20) Emotional sobriety, solitude, and learning to feel again

(31:05) Building a new identity without numbing

(44:50) Why sobriety isn’t boring, it’s expansive

Connect with Gary:

https://www.instagram.com/sobernsound/?hl=en

Connect with Kaitlin:

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I’m sitting down with comedian, actor, and writer Dustin Ybarra, and this one is funny, raw, and unexpectedly tender.

We talk about what “progressive” alcoholism looked like for him, how it snuck in through comedy culture, and the slow slide from “I’m fine” to consequences he couldn’t outwork anymore.

Dustin shares the reality of trying to get sober while still using, the shame cycle that kept pulling him back, and the moment everything cracked open, including a seizure at a meeting that became the turning point.

We also get into what stayed the same (his heart) and what changed completely, his relationships, his career, and what it means to put sobriety first even when the opportunity of a lifetime is on the table.

Highlights:

(03:28) Meeting through sobriety, and the “whole new world” that opens up without alcohol

(07:27) The first beer in New York, and realizing it made fear disappear

(10:00) When blackouts started hitting the stage, and someone finally said “you might be an alcoholic”

(20:00) The seizure at a meeting, and the line that changed everything: “This is gonna be the best day of your life”

(31:58) Saying no to a TV role to stay in rehab, and how it came back bigger later

(46:08) The 180 shift, amends, relationships healing, and how sobriety ripples out to everyone around you

Connect with Dustin:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dustinybarra7?lang=en

Website: https://weenietips.com

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

X (Twitter): https://x.com/Dustin_Ybarra

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DustinYbarra

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/dustinybarra

Connect with Kaitlin:

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In this episode I sit down with John, known online as The Sober Dad, for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about recovery, fatherhood and the emotional work that happens once you put the drink down.

John shares his story with such clarity and humility, and I talk about the moments in my own sobriety when the holidays felt overwhelming and why this season feels different now. Together, we explore what it means to break generational patterns, repair relationships and learn how to show up as the parent you always wanted to be.

We also talk about emotional sobriety, identity shifts and the simple but brave daily actions that keep recovery steady. John’s story is raw and moving, and his commitment to helping others is felt in every word.

My hope is that this conversation gives you strength, hope and a reminder that you do not have to hit rock bottom to decide you are ready for a different life.

Highlights:

(01:42) Introducing John, The Sober Dad, and his story of emotional sobriety

(04:15) The progression of drinking and the moment John saw the truth

(08:52) Why willpower alone was never going to work

(12:40) The relapse that became a turning point in his recovery

(17:18) Fatherhood, identity and the version of you your kids grow up with

(22:55) How John built community, purpose and a sober life that works

Connect with John:

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[email protected]

Connect with Kaitlin:

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In this episode, I revisit one of the most powerful conversations I have ever recorded about staying sober through the holidays. I share what my drinking used to look like this time of year, how tightly I tied alcohol to celebration, and what it felt like to break a habit I had repeated for decades.

I talk openly about my first sober Thanksgiving, the nerves, the awkwardness, the surprises, and the pride I felt the next morning when I woke up clear and present for the first time in years.

I also walk you through how I approach the holidays now, nearly six years into sobriety. From planning mocktails to setting boundaries to giving myself permission to leave early or take breaks, these tools have helped me feel grounded even when everyone around me is drinking.

My hope is that my story helps you feel less alone and reminds you that you never regret not drinking the next day. Staying sober through the holidays is not easy, but it is absolutely possible, and it can be one of the most meaningful gifts you give yourself.

Highlights:

(01:10) Why alcohol and celebration always felt intertwined for me

(04:22) My first sober holiday season and the anxiety that came with it

(07:15) The small wins that helped me trust I was on the right path

(10:48) Hosting, parties and learning that no one cares what is in my glass

(13:55) My go to strategies for staying sober at holiday events

(17:22) How six years of sobriety changed the way I show up for family and joy

Connect with Kaitlin:

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This episode with Sarah Siegel Kolodziejski is for anyone who has ever thought, this just is not working anymore, even if everything appears fine on the outside. 

Sarah is the founder of Pure Clarity and a certified alcohol free and mindset coach who chose to stop drinking in her late 40s, guided not by a dramatic rock bottom but by a quiet, steady inner voice. 

Today she supports women 35 and up who want to break the toxic cycle of alcohol and create a life that feels aligned, intentional and emotionally grounded. Sarah shares the private moments that pushed her toward change, the fear of imagining life without alcohol and the emotional spaciousness she discovered once she said enough. 

We explore mindful living, wellness practices, the rise of sober curiosity and why alcohol free lifestyles are becoming a cultural shift rather than a passing trend. 

If you have been questioning your relationship with alcohol, this conversation offers both understanding and encouragement.

Highlights:

(01:52) The private despair that friends never noticed

(04:26) Why the quiet inner knowing is often the turning point

(07:58) The July Fourth moment that changed everything

(10:33) Finding support when no one seems to understand

(14:50) What sobriety feels like when emotions finally rise

(18:45) Creating Pure Clarity and building a mindful, alcohol free community

connect with Sarah:

www.pureclaritynow.com

Instagram: @pureclaritynow

$500 off any coaching service: https://www.pureclaritynow.com/services-1

Promo code: Stepzero500

Connect with Kaitlin:

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In this episode, Kristin Key joins me with the honesty, humor, and heart that make her such a magnetic presence on stage and in life. 

Kristin, a nationally touring comedian and viral musical storyteller, opens up about the years she spent drinking to survive pain she did not yet have language for, and the emotional rock bottom that finally changed everything.

She shares how sobriety reshaped her creativity, her confidence, and her career, and why laughter, spirituality, and community have become grounding forces in her life. 

This conversation is full of vulnerability, ridiculous stories, and the kind of truth that helps us feel less alone.

Highlights:

(01:41) How Kristin’s comedy career and identity intersected in early life

(07:53) The growing consequences that signaled drinking was becoming a problem

(15:03) Kristin’s emotional rock bottom and the morning everything changed

(18:26) Walking into her first meeting terrified and hopeful

(23:58) Creativity in early sobriety and the unexpected projects that saved her sanity

(32:44) The pandemic moment that shifted her entire sense of purpose

Connect with Kristin:

https://kristinkey.com/

If Feelings Were Crayons: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTrPPHMah/

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristinkeycomedy?_r=1&_t=ZT-91vGq8gsBbb

Connect with Kaitlin:

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This conversation is such a powerful reminder that healing isn’t linear, and sobriety isn’t about willpower, it’s about understanding yourself. 

In this episode, Allie shares her journey from high functioning drinking and Xanax use to medical detox, rehab and eight and a half years of continuous sobriety. She talks about the childhood trauma she didn’t have words for, the moment alcohol shifted from “fun” to “medicinal”, and the terrifying withdrawal that showed her she couldn’t keep going the way she was. 

Her honesty is grounding, generous and incredibly validating.

We also dig into complex PTSD, the rules we grow up with, the shame so many women carry and the tools that help regulate a dysregulated nervous system. 

Allie’s story shows what becomes possible when you stop forcing sobriety and start understanding your why. It’s emotional, uplifting and full of hope for anyone who’s sober curious or feeling stuck in old coping patterns.

Highlights:

(01:52) When alcohol shifted from social to medicinal

(12:35) The moment grief and drinking collided

(24:20) Withdrawal, fear and the breaking point that changed everything

(31:38) Detox, relief and the first glimpse of real support

(43:02) How AA built early stability and community

(50:46) Complex PTSD, inner parts work and the tools that actually help

Allie’s Instagram: @soberdreamteam

Connect with Kaitlin:

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I loved this conversation with Mikey, because his story is the perfect blend of honesty, purpose, and those goose bump moments that make you rethink what is possible for your own life. 

We talk about gambling addiction, nervous system healing, conscious community, and how he walked away from a corporate identity that was slowly burning him out. Now he is leading one of the most powerful wellness movements in Las Vegas, and trust me, you will feel the energy through this episode.

What I especially love about Mikey is how grounded he is. He is not selling perfection or a rigid routine. He is showing people what it looks like to build a life that truly feels good, one cold plunge and conscious breath at a time. 

If you have ever wondered whether you could rewrite your story before everything falls apart, this conversation will hit home.

Highlights:

(01:44) How Mikey realized his corporate path was turning toxic

(05:51) The moment he chose change before losing everything

(12:15) What makes Etho events feel safe for sober or sober curious people

(19:10) The power of regulating your nervous system as a community

(27:17) What wellness looks like in real life, not on social media

(31:48) The unforgettable moment a guest had a breakthrough in the ice bath

Connect with Mikey:

https://www.instagram.com/justlikemikey/?hl=en

https://www.ethoclub.com/

Connect with Kaitlin:

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This one’s a powerful story of rock bottom turned renaissance. Rafael McMaster shares about sobriety, self-awareness, and a mission to help the next generation live consciously. 

We talk about how art became his medicine, how he built a creative community that heals, and why emotional tools like acceptance and gratitude should be taught in schools.

You’ll hear how his nonprofit, Indivisible Arts, is giving kids the tools to handle life’s hard stuff through creativity and mindfulness - and how that healing ripples outward. 

It’s a reminder that recovery isn’t about perfection, it’s about purpose.

Highlights:

(02:10) – The moment Raphael knew something had to change

(06:50) – How prescription drugs led to hidden addiction

(10:25) – The “Big Three” tools that changed everything

(16:45) – How art and sobriety became a life mission

(26:40) – Inside the creative lab helping kids heal through art

(42:30) – Wisdom Seekers: circles, connection, and conscious youth

Connect with Rafael:

https://www.indivisiblearts.org/

https://www.rafaelmcmaster.com/

Fundamental Life Tools Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/bCmCT3N

Rafael McMaster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcmaster.peace?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Rsin Laboratory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rsn_lab?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Connect with Kaitlin:

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In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Karolina Rzadkowolska, best-selling author of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You. 

We talk about what really happens when you choose yourself and step into the woman you were always meant to be - not through perfection or pressure, but through courage and clarity. 

Karolina shares her powerful story of transformation, and the ripple effect that comes when one woman decides she’s done playing small.

It’s an honest, soulful exchange about emotional sobriety, purpose, and how freedom begins the moment you stop hiding from your own potential.

Highlights:

(02:15) – Karolina’s first wake-up call and how she decided to take her first real break from alcohol

(08:55) – The moment she realized “normal adults drink” was just a belief — not a truth

(13:50) – Flipping social drinking on its head and walking into parties with confidence

(20:10) – Why alcohol blocks your intuition and how to reconnect with your purpose

(33:15) – Experiencing a true spiritual awakening after giving up drinking

(47:00) – The ripple effect of women choosing themselves and creating lasting change

Connect with Karolina:

www.euphoricaf.com

www.euphoricaf.com/certification

www.instagram.com/euphoric.af

www.euphoricbook.com

Connect with Kaitlin:

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TIKTOK