Send us a text

In this episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, Nadine sits down with Kristen Bear, founder of Creative Sobriety, for a powerful conversation about recovery, self-expression, and the creative rebirth that often follows getting sober.

Kristen opens up about her journey from the chaotic party scenes of LA and NYC to a spiritual awakening in February 2020 that marked the start of her alcohol-free life. She shares how the lockdown became a sacred period for healing—rediscovering hobbies, reconnecting with nature, and expressing herself through writing and creativity.

Together, Nadine and Kristen explore what it means to pursue a creative life in sobriety, moving beyond traditional recovery narratives, and empowering women to live authentically. Kristen also talks about her upcoming memoir, building her shipping-container tiny home, and the mission behind Creative Sobriety. A fun rapid-fire Q&A closes the episode with inspiration for anyone embracing a sober-curious or alcohol-free lifestyle.

Follow Kristen:
📸 Instagram: @creativesobriety
📝 Substack: https://kristenbear.substack.com/

Resources Mentioned 

Book:  Women Who Run With Wolves 

Medium Article: Heroes of The Addiction Crisis: How Kristen Bear of Creative Sobriety Is Helping To Battle One of Our Most Serious Epidemics 

Sponsor

📚 Audible – Get lost in a new book (or re-listen to your fave self-improvement reads). Try Audible FREE for 30 days and get a free audiobook with your trial.

https://www.audible.com/ep/creator?source_code=PDTGBPD060314004R&irclickid=XazzdNSVsxyKWoq11KRoTXGDUksyjuXPtRPo2w0&irgwc=1

Connect with The Sober Butterfly 🦋

• Follow Nadine on Instagram @the.soberbutterfly @soberbutterflypodcast
• Leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
• Join our newsletter 💌  for sober travel, tips, and updates

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

Send us a text

In this intimate and unfiltered episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, host Nadine Mulvina opens up about her journey of celibacy in sobriety — from chaotic, alcohol-fueled hookups to a life anchored in self-respect, clarity, and peace.

Before getting sober, sex often felt like a search for connection that always ended in disconnection. Nadine reflects on how alcohol served as a social lubricant, helping her lower inhibitions while deepening her emotional void. She dives into her two distinct hoe phases — from college party culture to navigating machismo in Mexico City — and how those experiences shaped her understanding of intimacy, self-worth, and addiction to limerence.

Now, nearly a year into her second celibacy era, Nadine shares the unexpected benefits of celibacy in sobriety — including heightened clarity, confidence, creativity, and spiritual grounding. With humor and honesty, she explores what happens when you stop seeking validation through sex and start nurturing a genuine relationship with yourself.

This episode is for anyone who’s re-evaluating their relationship with love, lust, or loneliness — and wants to rediscover intimacy beyond the physical.

💫 Episode Highlights

00:00 — Introduction: The Sex List Revelation
00:33 — Celibacy in Sobriety: A New Journey
01:06 — Sex Before Sobriety: Chaos and Alcohol
04:33 — The Hoe Phase: Reclaiming Self
06:08 — Heartbreak and the Hoe Phase
06:49 — College and Party Life
09:45 — Mexico City: Machismo and Heartbreak
16:57 — Therapy and Realizations
18:45 — The First Year of Sobriety
21:36 — Second Celibacy Era
24:07 — Breaking Patterns and Embracing Sobriety
25:42 — Building a Sober Toolbox
26:17 — Contentment and Self-Discovery
27:21 — Navigating Relationships and Self-Worth
35:24 — The Benefits of Celibacy in Sobriety
46:37 — Final Thoughts and Reflections

🧠 Key Takeaways

• How alcohol shaped unhealthy sexual patterns and emotional dependency
• The cultural influence of machismo in Mexico City on dating and self-esteem
• Why celibacy can be an empowering choice for those in recovery
• How to recognize and break addictive relationship patterns (limerence)
• The surprising benefits of celibacy in sobriety: clarity, confidence, creativity, and peace
• Relearning intimacy through self-connection rather than external validation

🔗 Resources Mentioned

🎥 YouTube Video: Sober Sexpert Tawny Lara on Sex in Sobriety

🦋 Connect with Nadine & The Sober Butterfly

🎧 Listen to more episodes: thesoberbutterfly.com/podcast

💌 Subscribe on Substack for behind-the-scenes reflections: thesoberbutterfly.substack.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: @the.soberbutterflypodcast

💬 Join the conversation using #CelibacyInSobriety #TheSoberButterflyPodcast #SoberWellness

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

Send us a text

It’s fantasy football season (…allegedly), but here on The Sober Butterfly, we’re drafting something better: the ultimate Sober Girl Fantasy Team for November. 🍂✨

In this cozy, funny, and totally relatable solo episode, host Nadine Mulvina builds her dream lineup of sober-life MVPs: from the best mocktail brands and cozy self-care rituals, to celebrity inspirations and the sober trends that did not make the team.

November might be the “in-between” month — not quite fall, not yet holidays — but that doesn’t mean it can’t be your glow-up season. Nadine breaks down how to romanticize your sober life, reset your routines, and stay grounded when the seasonal blues start creeping in.

🏈 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• 🕯️ Fantasy Draft Pick #1: The Cozy Reset Hour — Why cleaning your apartment can actually be spiritual.
• 🍸 Top Sober Brands — Mocktail Club takes the crown (and why supporting a Black woman-owned NA brand matters).
• 🌟 Celebrity MVP: Naomi Campbell — elegant, disciplined, and thriving in her sober era.
• 🧣 Bonus Rounds: Cozy rituals, main character moments, and the real sober girl essentials of November.

🦋 Connect & Share Your Picks:

Tag @thesoberbutterfly on Instagram with your #SoberGirlFantasyDraft:
✨ Best sober snack
🍸 Favorite NA brand
🌟 Sober celebrity icon
😴 Most overrated sober trend

💌 If You Loved This Episode:

• Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps other sober-curious listeners find the show!
• Share this episode with a friend who’s ready to romanticize their November (and their sobriety).

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

Send us a text

In this spooky-fun Halloween episode of The Sober Butterfly, host Nadine Mulvina takes listeners on a chilling (and hilarious) journey through her dating graveyard: revisiting The Vampire, The Magician, and The Mummy 👻. Each “monster” represents an ex from her drinking days who drained her energy, disappeared behind illusions, or stayed emotionally wrapped up in his past.

Now, four years sober, Nadine reflects on what each toxic relationship taught her about self-worth, healing, and the importance of boundaries in sobriety.

✨ What You’ll Hear:

• 🧛‍♀️ The Vampire – The ex who drained her confidence and energy.
• 🎩 The Magician – The smooth talker who made her boundaries disappear.
• 🧻 The Mummy – The emotionally unavailable one who couldn’t unwrap his feelings.
• 💞 Nadine’s new sober crush from Chicago (and how she’s dating differently now).
• 💫 How sobriety gives you the ultimate spellbook for protecting your peace and energy.

Resources Mentioned:

2024 Sober Dating Wrapped

MEN-ventory

🦋 Connect with Nadine

🎧 Follow the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen
 📸 Instagram: @the.soberbutterfly
📬 Contact: [email protected]
💻 Website: thesoberbutterfly.com

Sponsor:
Classpass
https://classpass.com/refer/MQ30HIPH11
exclusive free trial (with 20 bonus credits!)

✨ Share your “Trick or Treat: Love Edition” story using #SoberTrickOrTreat

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

Send us a text

In this episode of The Sober Butterfly, host Nadine Mulvina returns with full energy and fresh perspective after her “silent girl summer.” She opens up about how she’s ending 2025 with intention by taking on the 75 Hard Challenge — a mental toughness program designed to build discipline, confidence, and consistency.

Nadine shares how she’s not doing 75 Hard to lose weight but rather to reset her mind and body after struggling with burnout and sugar cravings. She dives into her relationship with sugar after sobriety, explaining how alcohol metabolizes into sugar and why many sober people turn to sweets after quitting drinking.

Throughout the episode, Nadine breaks down each of the 75 Hard rules, explains how she’s modifying the challenge to fit her sober lifestyle, and opens up about her personal “why” — preventing diabetes, improving her mental health, and proving to herself that she can do hard things.

Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or simply craving a lifestyle reset, this episode will inspire you to finish the year strong with structure, purpose, and self-accountability.

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• What the 75 Hard Challenge is and how to make it work for you
• How sugar addiction often replaces alcohol cravings in sobriety
• The science behind alcohol and sugar metabolism
• How Nadine is following the challenge (no added sugar + gallon of water a day)
• Tips for building discipline, structure, and consistency
• Why ending 2025 with intention can shift your mindset going into the new year

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• 75 Hard Challenge Rules:
  1. Follow a structured diet (Nadine’s rule: no added sugar)
  2. Complete two 45-minute workouts per day (one outdoors)
  3. Drink one gallon of water daily
  4. Read 10 pages of a non-fiction/self-improvement book
  5. Take a daily progress photo
  6. No alcohol, no cheat meals
• Order Mallary’s Book:
  ➡️ Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery
  Order here: https://amzn.to/40caUI6
• Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/slip-eating-disorder-recovery-sobriety-the-middle/id1633341419?i=1000716887674&l=en-GB
• Follow Nadine’s 75 Hard journey on Instagram → @the.soberbutterfly

🦋 Connect with The Sober Butterfly

🎧 Follow the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen
 📸 Instagram: @the.soberbutterfly
📬 Contact: [email protected]
💻 Website: thesoberbutterfly.com

Sponsor:
Classpass
https://classpass.com/refer/MQ30HIPH11
exclusive free trial (with 20 bonus credits!)

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

Send us a text

Return of the Sober Butterfly- Nadine's Life Updates, Summer Adventures, and Starting 75 Hard

Watch the full episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/aoJZ0Igm08o

In this episode, Nadine returns after a two-month hiatus to provide life updates and catch listeners up on her summer experiences. She discusses her high-functioning depression, a challenging summer job, and a rigorous but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to become a Pilates instructor. Nadine also shares details about her adventurous trek in the Andes Mountains of Peru, the challenges she faced, and how it provided her with clarity. She concludes the episode by announcing her plan to finish the year strong by undertaking the 75 Hard challenge. Listeners are invited to join her journey and follow her updates on Instagram.

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
00:38 Life Updates and Sobriety Journey
03:04 Dealing with Depression and Burnout
06:49 Summer Job and Overcommitment
09:11 Pilates Training Struggles
16:57 Vacation in Peru
20:02 Altitude Sickness and Rainbow Mountain
30:21 Struggles of the First Night
31:29 Meeting the Group and Guide
32:10 Facing Physical Challenges
33:56 Bathroom Woes and Remedies
35:49 Unexpected Companions
37:47 Reaching the Mountain Peak
42:44 The Journey Continues
49:18 Reflecting on the Trek
51:12 Post-Trek Adventures
54:45 Planning for the Future

🦋 Let’s Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Sober Butterfly podcast
• Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review if this episode resonated
• Follow Nadine on Instagram: @thesoberbutterfly

Sponsor:
Classpass
https://classpass.com/refer/MQ30HIPH11
exclusive free trial (with 20 bonus credits!)

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

Send us a text

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, host Nadine sits down with journalism professor and author Mallary Tenore Tarpley to discuss the nuanced realities of eating disorder recovery—and its often-overlooked intersection with sobriety.

Mallary’s forthcoming book, Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery, explores the idea of the “middle place”—that in-between space where you’re no longer in crisis, but not yet fully healed. Together, Nadine and Mallary unpack their personal struggles with body dysmorphia, disordered eating, drunkorexia, and the pressure to appear “recovered.”

🔔 Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, body image, and co-occurring substance use. Please listen with care.

🔍 In This Episode:

• What it means to live in the “middle place” of recovery
• The overlap between eating disorders and substance abuse (aka “drunkorexia”)
• Social media’s impact on body image and recovery
• The difference between disordered eating and a clinical eating disorder
• How to practice self-compassion in non-linear healing journeys
• Nadine’s personal reflections on sobriety, mental health, and her recent sobriety anniversary
• Why recovery is ongoing—and that “slipping” doesn’t mean failing

📚 Pre-Order Mallary’s Book:

➡️ Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery
Pre-order here: https://amzn.to/40caUI6

Follow Mallary on Instagram

@mallarytenoretarpley

🦋 Let’s Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to The Sober Butterfly podcast
• Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review if this episode resonated
• Follow Nadine on Instagram: @thesoberbutterfly

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

Send us a text

Welcome to summer, Butterflies! ☀️ In this solo episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, host Nadine kicks off the season with a fun and empowering guide to having your best summer yet—without alcohol. From movement routines to mocktail orders, Nadine shares her Hot Girl Sober Summer Essentials List—10 intentional, joy-filled tools to help you feel confident, grounded, and free all summer long.

You’ll hear:
 ✨ The 10 Essentials for a Hot Girl Sober Summer
 🥂 How to craft your go-to non-alcoholic drink order
 🎶 Why every sober girl needs a mood-boosting playlist
 🧘🏾‍♀️ The power of routines, movement, and mindful spending
 🧡 A reminder that you don’t need alcohol to have a beautiful summer
👯‍♀️ Details on the upcoming Hot Girl Sober Summer in Central Park event happening July 20th!

🎵 Hot Girl Sober Summer Playlist → Listen on Spotify 

🗓️ Join us IRL!
Save your spot for the Hot Girl Sober Summer event in Central Park with Nadine, Kat (@soberfitgirl), and Rachel (@soberincentralpark) – tickets available here!

🔗 Resources & Links:

• 🎶 Playlist: Hot Girl Sober Summer – Spotify
• 🎟️ Event Tickets: Hot Girl Sober Summer in Central Park
• 💌 Connect: Follow Nadine on Instagram @the.soberbutterfly

💬 If you enjoyed this episode:

✔️ Rate & review the show
 ✔️ Share it with a sober bestie
 ✔️ Tag @the.soberbutterfly in your Hot Girl Sober Summer moments!

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

Send us a text

In this raw and powerful episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, host Nadine sits down with Sarah from She Stays Sober for a deeply personal conversation about what sobriety really looks like behind the highlight reels.

Sarah shares her journey to sobriety—getting sober in March 2020 at the height of the pandemic, a time when many people’s drinking escalated. We explore what life looked like in her drinking days, what triggered her decision to stop, and how her recovery has evolved.

This episode also gets honest about mental health in sobriety. Both Nadine and Sarah open up about living with depression—even while sober—and the hard truth that recovery doesn't magically erase mental illness. They also dive into the stigma around taking prescribed medications or controlled substances for mental health, especially within the sober community.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing recovery wrong because I’m still struggling?”—this conversation is for you.

✨ In this episode, we discuss:

• Sarah’s unique journey to sobriety during the pandemic
• What life looked like before sobriety
• Living with depression in sobriety
• The stigma around taking medication for mental health
• The importance of nuance, compassion, and staying open
• Reframing what “being sober” really means
• Finding community and sharing the messy middle of healing

🎧 Tune in now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Don’t forget to rate, review, and share the episode to help others discover the show.

Follow the guests & resources mentioned:
@shesstayssober
@the.soberbutterfly @soberbutterflypodcast

Resources Mentioned in the Episode 📘

• Alan Carr's Easy Way To Quit Smoking

Partners

🌿  Sakara –Use Code TSBHEALTHSAKARA for a 20% off your first order Check it out  

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.

Send us a text

Nadine drops three confessions that prove sobriety is not a linear path, it’s a lifelong journey of self-awareness, accountability, and grace.

📢 Trigger warning: This episode discusses mental health, relapse, and addiction in a raw, unfiltered way.

This episode is an invitation to get real about the messy, nonlinear truth of recovery. Sobriety doesn’t make you perfect, but it gives you the clarity and courage to own your sh*t, forgive yourself, and start again.

What You’ll Hear:

• How addictive thoughts can sneak in quietly...even in the most random places
• Why therapy plateaus can signal deeper shifts in your healing journey
• The complicated feelings around relapse, shame, and recommitting to change
• A reminder that progress, not perfection is the real goal

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube!

Connect with TSB 🦋

• Follow Nadine on Instagram @the.soberbutterfly @soberbutterflypodcast

Resources Mentioned in the Episode 📘

• Alan Carr's Easy Way To Quit Smoking

✨ If it resonates, share with a friend, and don’t forget to rate and review to help us grow the sober community.

Support the show

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services refereed to in this episode.