The Fizzy and Free Show: How to Quit Drinking as a Mom

This week’s episode is a mix of real mom moments and real talk about what actually happens when you stop drinking.

Ashley kicks off with a hilarious behind-the-scenes glimpse into a St. Patrick’s Day morning meltdown with her daughter—proof that motherhood doesn't pause just because you’re trying to stay sober. Then, she dives into the side effects of early sobriety, sharing both the common and the unexpected ones she experienced herself, including:

• Anxiety, fatigue, and those infamous sugar cravings 🍦

• Vivid dreams (wait until you hear the deadly tick one 🐞)

• Feeling "meh" and missing the dopamine highs

• Extreme tiredness and next-level irritability

• How she handled those moments without turning back to alcohol

You’ll also get Ashley’s top tips for making the transition smoother, from clearing your schedule and journaling (even if you think it’s woo-woo) to having non-alcoholic drinks and treats ready to go.

If you’re stuck in the day one cycle or just starting out, this episode is your gentle reminder that you're not crazy, you're not alone—and it will get better. 💛

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠Grab it here!⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠Join the waitlist here⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: @fizzyandfree
👩‍💻Website & Resources: www.fizzyandfree.com

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕

🚀 Fizzy and Free is BACK! In this episode, I’m officially announcing the relaunch of the podcast and sharing my journey—how I went from casually questioning my drinking habits to building a supportive community for moms looking to rethink their relationship with alcohol.

I’m opening up about my own struggles, from college binge drinking to mommy wine culture, and the wake-up call that finally led me to quit for good. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of drinking, questioning whether alcohol is serving you, or wondering what life could look like without it—you’re in the right place.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why I originally started Fizzy and Free (and why I took a break)

• My personal journey with alcohol, from college to motherhood

• The pivotal moment that led me to quit drinking for good

• Why Fizzy and Free is more than just about quitting alcohol—it’s about filling that void with something better

• How my new membership, Flourish, will help moms connect, grow, and thrive together

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠⁠Grab it here!⁠⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here⁠⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: ⁠@fizzyandfree⁠

👩‍💻 Website & Resources: ⁠www.fizzyandfree.com⁠

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕

You made it through Dry January—maybe you feel better, maybe you’re still figuring it out. But now what? Do you go back to drinking? Try moderation? Keep going alcohol-free?

In this episode of Fizzy and Free, I walk you through what to do after Dry January, how to process what you learned, and how to decide your next steps—especially if you're a casual drinker, stuck in mommy wine culture, or tired of white knuckling sobriety.

🔑 In this episode, we explore:

• The physical and mental health benefits of taking a break from alcohol

• How alcohol impacts anxiety, energy, sleep, and emotional exhaustion

• What it means to explore emotional sobriety as a mom

• Tips for making a decision that aligns with your values and goals—not pressure from others

✨ Whether you're considering moderation, long-term sobriety, or just want to stop starting over, this episode will help you get clear and confident about your next move.

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠⁠Grab it here!⁠⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here⁠⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: ⁠@fizzyandfree⁠

👩‍💻Website & Resources: ⁠www.fizzyandfree.com⁠

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕

Do you ever feel more anxious after drinking—even if it seemed like it helped in the moment? You’re not imagining it. There’s a reason alcohol makes anxiety worse—and understanding that is key to breaking free.

In this episode of Fizzy and Free, I reflect on a personal experience and how my anxiety has changed since I stopped drinking. I also share insights from a Cleveland Clinic article that explains how alcohol contributes to anxiety, emotional hangovers, and even depression.

If you’re a casual drinker, stuck in white knuckling sobriety, or just tired of the emotional rollercoaster, this episode is for you.

🔑 What you’ll learn:

• The connection between alcohol and anxiety (backed by science)

• Why alcohol creates emotional withdrawal—even after one night

• How my mental health started to shift when I quit drinking

• Simple mindset shifts to help you move toward emotional sobriety

✨ You’re not crazy, dramatic, or broken—your body is reacting exactly as it should. And you don’t have to keep living in that cycle.

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠⁠Grab it here!⁠⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here⁠⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: ⁠@fizzyandfree⁠

👩‍💻Website & Resources: ⁠www.fizzyandfree.com⁠

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕

📖 Referenced article: Cleveland Clinic – Emotional Hangover

Sometimes the wake-up call is louder than we expect. For me, it came in the form of a pancreatitis diagnosis—a moment that forced me to take a hard look at my relationship with alcohol and my health.

In this deeply personal episode of Fizzy and Free, I’m sharing a real-time journal entry written during my recovery. Whether you’re a casual drinker, navigating alcohol withdrawal exhaustion, or reflecting on your own journey toward emotional sobriety, this honest glimpse into my story is here to remind you: healing is possible.

🔑 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How I processed my diagnosis through journaling

• The emotional rollercoaster of early sobriety

• How alcohol impacted my body and mental health

• Why I’m grateful I documented the moment I decided to change

✨ Your story matters—even the hard parts. Especially the hard parts.

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠⁠Grab it here!⁠⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here⁠⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: ⁠@fizzyandfree

👩‍💻Website & Resources: ⁠www.fizzyandfree.com⁠

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕

In motherhood, it’s easy to feel isolated, overwhelmed, and stuck in survival mode—especially when alcohol has been your go-to way to cope. But what if you didn’t have to rely on mommy wine culture to feel connected?

In this episode of Fizzy and Free, I’m sharing how I shifted out of victim mentality and started creating my own emotional connections—without numbing out with alcohol. Whether you’re a casual drinker, navigating white knuckling in early sobriety, or simply craving something deeper than surface-level scrolls and sips, this episode is for you.

🔑 Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why alcohol keeps moms feeling disconnected and emotionally depleted

• The link between alcohol and depression in motherhood

• How to build real connection without relying on drinking culture

• A powerful mindset shift to take back your power and stop waiting to be “rescued”

✨ Emotional sobriety isn’t just about removing alcohol—it’s about reconnecting with yourself and others in a way that actually feels good.

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠⁠Grab it here!⁠⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here⁠⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: ⁠@fizzyandfree⁠

👩‍💻Website & Resources: ⁠www.fizzyandfree.com⁠

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕

We know alcohol is everywhere in motherhood—from mommy wine memes to girls’ nights out—but do we actually understand what it is and what it’s doing to our bodies?

In this eye-opening episode of Fizzy and Free, I’m joined by Registered Dietitian Emily Tills of Nourished with Emily to break down what alcohol really is, how it affects your body, and why it often leaves moms feeling anxious, exhausted, and stuck in a cycle of guilt and shame.

Whether you're a casual drinker, sober curious, or navigating the emotional toll of white knuckling through early sobriety, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t hear in mainstream wellness spaces.

🔑 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What alcohol actually is (spoiler: it’s not harmless)

• How alcohol affects your metabolism, hormones, and mental health

• The connection between alcohol and depression, anxiety, and burnout

• Why understanding alcohol is a game-changer for moms trying to cut back or quit

✨ Knowledge is power—and this episode will help you make informed, empowered choices about what you’re putting in your body.

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠⁠Grab it here!⁠⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here⁠⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: ⁠@fizzyandfree⁠

👩‍💻Website & Resources: ⁠www.fizzyandfree.com⁠

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕

How many times have you said, “I’m fine,” when you were actually exhausted, anxious, or one sip away from pouring another glass of wine? For so many moms, “fine” is code for burnout, overwhelm, or emotional numbness—especially when alcohol is involved.

In this episode of Fizzy and Free, I’m unpacking the real meaning behind “I’m fine” and sharing one of my favorite alcohol-free emotional tools: the Feelings Wheel. Whether you’re a casual drinker, stuck in white knuckling sobriety, or just tired of pretending everything’s okay, this tool can help you reconnect with your emotions—and yourself.

🔑 In this episode, we explore:

• Why “I’m fine” often masks anxiety, sadness, and alcohol-related depression

• How wine culture encourages moms to ignore their feelings

• How to use the Feelings Wheel to check in emotionally (instead of checking out with a drink)

• A simple way to teach emotional intelligence to your kids, too

✨ Emotional sobriety isn’t just about quitting alcohol—it’s about learning how to actually feel again. And that starts with getting honest.

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠⁠Grab it here!⁠⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here⁠⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: ⁠@fizzyandfree⁠

👩‍💻Website & Resources: ⁠www.fizzyandfree.com⁠

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕

If you’ve ever poured a drink to take the edge off—only to feel worse later—you’re not alone. Whether you consider yourself a casual drinker, feel stuck in the cycle of white knuckling sobriety, or just want to be more mindful, this episode introduces a powerful mindset tool to help you pause, reflect, and make a different choice.

In this episode of Fizzy and Free, I share the “Play the Movie Forward” technique—one of my favorite tools for reducing alcohol use, staying grounded, and even helping kids build emotional awareness and self-regulation.

🔑 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How this simple technique can help you say no to that next drink

• Why it’s especially helpful during moments of stress, overwhelm, or mom guilt

• How alcohol often worsens anxiety, depression, and burnout

• Why this is a tool worth passing on to your kids as part of emotional sobriety

✨ This is more than a sobriety trick—it’s a mindset shift that supports long-term change, clarity, and peace.

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠⁠Grab it here!⁠⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here⁠⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: ⁠@fizzyandfree⁠

👩‍💻Website & Resources: ⁠www.fizzyandfree.com⁠

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕

Feeling stretched thin this holiday season? If you usually reach for a glass of wine to cope with the chaos, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: there are better ways to fill your cup—and actually feel better.

In this episode of Fizzy and Free, I’m sharing simple, powerful ways to recharge without alcohol, so you can show up for your family without falling into the cycle of mommy wine culture, burnout, or emotional exhaustion.

Whether you're a casual drinker, sober curious, or navigating alcohol withdrawal exhaustion, this episode will help you stay grounded and present through the holidays.

✨ You deserve a holiday that nourishes you—mind, body, and soul. Let’s ditch the mommy wine and make space for real joy.

💌 Ready to take your first step? Grab my free 3-Day Video Series: Why You Keep Going Back to Day One (and How to Break the Cycle) — perfect for overwhelmed moms looking for clarity and support.👉 ⁠⁠Grab it here!⁠⁠

💌 Ready to go a step further?

Join the waitlist for Flourish, my monthly membership for moms who are ditching the wine and finding their way back to joy, calm, and connection—without the overwhelm. You don’t have to do this alone. 💛 ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here⁠⁠

💬 Let’s Connect: Instagram: ⁠@fizzyandfree⁠

👩‍💻Website & Resources: ⁠www.fizzyandfree.com⁠

⭐ Rate + Review: If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or just helped you take one step forward, please take a second to rate and review the show. Your words help more moms find this podcast and start their own journey. 💕