As a fitness professional, Hollie Nicholson always kept alcohol out of her weekdays, but those weekends of drinking still took their toll until, in 2019, she started asking questions.

Despite embodying health in many aspects of her life, Hollie faced a personal challenge with alcohol—and one day, she decided she had enough.

Every weekend, amidst living a life filled with healthy habits, alcohol was still a part.

For the next six years, Hollie drank with the blinders off. She noticed how inconsistent moderation success could be, she learned about the true impacts that alcohol could have on her body and mind, and she felt how good she could feel through stints of sobriety. But still, a question remained: how could you live a full sober life? 

In May of 2024, shortly after she turned 40, Hollie woke up after a night of drinking with severe anxiety and she asked herself - what if she could live her next decade totally different than her last? At that moment, she had a lot of questions but she knew one thing - she was getting sober.

Inspired by the Sober Mom Life community, she embraced the idea that it’s entirely okay to let go of alcohol—no dramatic reasons needed.

The Cafe has given Hollie such a sense of support and community. She’s even experienced an incredible connection story with another member that she tells on the pod! 

Learn more about Hollie’s fitness program for women in mid-life on IG @hollienicholsonstrong or on her website. 

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!  For a limited time, get one week free! 

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat!

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

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Alcohol was an ever present part of Samantha’s childhood, so when she started drinking at fifteen she thought nothing of it. Her parents would allow her and her friends to drink at the house to avoid drunk driving. It all felt completely normal. 

Samantha’s drinking eventually took the form of weekend binge drinking. She met her husband at 20, and can look back and see all of the added drama that alcohol brought to their relationship during those years. 

In 2022, Samantha began to experience severe panic attacks. Her ‘hangxiety’ the day after drinking was the worst of all. After doing some personal work on anxiety, she began to attempt moderation. It took a lot of hard work and many failed attempts at moderating for her to wonder: should she give up alcohol for good? 

‘Will power’ wasn’t enough to get Samantha to stop drinking. She had to go deeper and work on her ‘desire’ to drink. She is now six months sober, and she finally feels free to figure out what she truly desires in life! She is now creating a career where she can help others with their sobriety and body positivity.

If you struggle with anxiety and body image, Samantha recommends Erin Treloar and Dr. Michele Kambolis’s Anxiety Toolkit and Raw Beauty Talks. 

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! 

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

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Today’s episode is all about social anxiety in sobriety - that anxiety you get before, during or after an interaction that can just be so hard to handle. Anxiety can be so overwhelming, but there’s good news! It is very treatable and you can find relief. 

My guest today is Courtney - a good friend, a Sober Mom Life Cafe member, and a therapist! She knows all about this social anxiety, both as a professional and as a person who experiences it regularly herself. 

You’ll learn what social anxiety is, how it differs from introversion, how to manage your fear of judgment, the importance of self compassion, and Lynn Lyon’s ‘Three Exes’ to manage your anxiety. 

Plus, Courtney will conclude by guiding us through a self compassion meditation! 

Resources Courtney recommends: 

Quiet by Susan Cain 

Lynn Lyons 

10% Happier with Dan Harris

Check out Courtney’s Real Sober Mom’s interview here! 

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! 

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

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Today’s Real Sober Mom, Laura, has given alcohol many ‘jobs’ throughout her life. Growing up with a mom in recovery, she was familiar with the fact that alcohol could be damaging, but she wasn’t clear on the 'how' or 'why'. In fact, as she invited alcohol into her own life, she believed it was helping her. As a teen, it helped her fit in. In college, it helped her feel independent. After a devastating sexual assault, it helped her forgot. And when she became a mom, she believed it would help make motherhood easier. 

That was not the case. Laura became a mom at the height of Covid. A combination of isolation and postpartum depression drove her to drink in a way that resulted in her concealing the truth about her consumption, and feeling deeper and deeper levels of shame. With the help of a therapist, she began to experiment with removing alcohol from her life to see how it was affecting her mental health. She went back and forth for months, and slowly a pattern started to become clear: Alcohol was not helping her. In fact, it was making her lose so much. 

Sobriety has helped Laura experience more joy as a mother, show up better at work, and strengthen her relationship with herself. She feels so grateful to be sober! 

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! 

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

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It’s a big day - I’ve now been sober for five years! To celebrate this milestone, we’re turning the tables. I’m in the hot seat and my mom is interviewing me! 

You’ll hear about my past with alcohol, how I found my path in sobriety, why I took my personal sobriety journey public, my vision for where I want to take this platform in the future, and the things I’ve been most grateful for during these past five years of sobriety. 

Only one spot is still available for our February retreat! If you’re feeling called to join us, now is the time to sign up. We’ll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. Book your spot here. 

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! 

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

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Alcohol was at the center of the world that Gillian grew up in, and the things she witnessed made her feel very unsafe. That lack of safety stayed with her into adulthood and ultimately became the main driver of her own drinking. Gillian’s first drink at 13 gave her a sense of cozy warm peace that she desperately craved, and from that moment she was hooked. 

After over a decade of being the life of the party, Gillian’s first break from alcohol came during pregnancy. That taste of sobriety felt so surprisingly good that she fleetingly considered quitting after she gave birth. It was a thought that only lasted two hours into the birth of her son when someone brought champagne to her hospital room. 

For years, Gillian was able to push aside any thought that her drinking was problematic. She ‘didn’t have a problem’. She could still show up for her life, her fitness and her family! Yet, as she aged, these things started to change. Hangovers and blackouts upended her once manageable lifestyle, and with it cracks began to appear in her work and her family. 

One day, Gillian accidentally listened to a podcast about the benefits of going alcohol-free, and she had a shocking epiphany: Alcohol was the source of all of her problems. Yet, sobriety felt terrifying. She didn’t know who she was without alcohol. It seemed central to her entire personality. Despite it all, though, she found the courage to try. 

Gillian is now 9 ½ months sober and has experienced a full transformation. She doesn’t even recognize the person that she was anymore. She is now out and proud about her sobriety. She’s found so much meaning in influencing others (including her mom!) to stop drinking. She encourages you to share your sobriety journey too! 

Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you’re invited! We’ll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you’re looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here. 

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! 

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

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Alcohol moved into Claire's life at a snail’s pace. She thought that beer tasted horrible as a teen, and her work responsibilities in college held her back from diving too deeply into the college party lifestyle. Yet, as an adult, alcohol seemed everywhere and it slowly found its way into her life.  

Though she rarely overdid it, every once in a while she would spin out of control. As the years progressed, those random nights began to occur every few months. Then… every month. Claire became aware of the progression and she knew that she couldn’t let alcohol take over her life to the point where she was struggling every week. So, she committed to moderation. 

For the most part, Claire really felt like she was ‘almost’ succeeding at moderation. She even did a dedicated Dry January every year for a decade. However, though moderation was often working, the effort to do it took so much of her brain power. Finally, she found herself asking ‘why?’ What was she getting out of this? 

It was then that Claire began to attempt sobriety more often. After a few experiences with sobriety and going back to drinking, she was ready to say goodbye to alcohol. So, she planned her own personal two-night goodbye party - one night to say goodbye to the ‘ugly’ side of alcohol, and one night to say goodbye to the ‘beautiful’ side of alcohol. Claire is so happy that she intentionally gave herself those final nights. She feels completely committed to her newfound sober life and she is now six months sober! 

Claire was one of our first participants in the Fresh 30! If you’re ready to start your new year off with Dry January and a supportive and intimate sober community, join us in the Fresh 30! 

Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you’re invited! We’ll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you’re looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here. 

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! 

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

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I love taking a look back at the end of each year, so today I’ve compiled some of my favorite moments from this year’s episodes to share with you! Get ready to hear some standout moments from all of our fantastic guests in 2024.

If you’d like to go deeper into any of these conversations, be sure to visit the full episodes! In this episode you'll hear from:

5:55 - Casey Davidson (Episode 129)

6:45 - Stefanie Wilder-Taylor (Episode 131)

7:40 -  Jenna Dillulio (Episode 133)

9:25 - Michaela Horvathova (Episode 139)

10:20 - Mallory Irvin (Episode 141)

11:20 - Hailey Conroy (Episode 143)

12:20 - Dr. Kara Pepper (Episode 145)

15:25 - Susan Knower (Episode 147)

16:35 - Rachel Paula Abrahamson (Episode 151)

17:40 - Erinn O’Neill (Episode 153)

19:05 - Morgan Matkovic (Episode 155)

20:40 - Emily Ley (Episode 159)

21:45 - Annie Grace (Episode 163)

23:15 - Madeline Campbell (Episode 165)

24:15 - Kristen Beckett (Episode 169)

26:00 - Julia Dzafic (Episode 173)

27:30 - Suzanne & Audrey (Episode 175)

28:25 - Emily (Belden) Bond (Episode 179)

29:45 - Gill Tietz (Episode 181)

31:00 - Suzanne & Audrey (Episode 183)

32:20 - My husband, Russell Wayre (Episode 187)

33:20 - Kate Taylor (Episode 191)

34:20 - Rehab with Jen (Episode 195)

36:15 - Katy Rexing (Episode 197)

38:00 - Susan Knower (Episode 211)

39:45 - Jaana of @thismomsgonnasnap (Episode 213)

41:35 - Hilary Phelps (Episode 215)

43:15 - Suzanne & Audrey (Episode 217)

44:15 - Laura Wiese (Episode 221)

If you’re ready to start your new year off with Dry January and a support sober community, join us in the Fresh 30! 

Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you’re invited! We’ll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you’re looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here. 

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! 

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colleen had what seemed like a ‘perfect’ childhood - with a sober mom and a dad who rarely drank. Such an idyllic upbringing, however, didn’t guarantee smooth sailing for her. High expectations and perfectionism had begun to weigh on her by the time she left for college, and her newfound college freedom quickly led her to a life of heavy partying. 

Colleen’s new lifestyle was rife with alcohol and other substances, and it resulted in some challenging experiences. First, she was kicked out of her dorms, and then she was kicked out of her college entirely. As she moved into adulthood, she knew that her drug use was problematic, but despite attempts to begin a new chapter, substances stayed in her life. After marriage, her drug challenges became so clear that she ended up in rehab. 

It’s now been 10 years since Colleen has touched drugs, but she saw no reason at the time to give up alcohol. As a person with a high tolerance and no hangovers, drinking didn’t seem as though it was negatively affecting her life. Plus, she’d found it easy to quit during pregnancy or during times when she was working toward major fitness goals. 

However, it eventually became clear that while alcohol didn’t feel like it had negative effects on her physically, it did have negative effects on her choices. After a series of destructive decisions put her marriage in jeopardy, Colleen started to question if alcohol actually was a problem. It was then that she found The Sober Mom Life podcast and community! 

Colleen is now 90 days sober and she’s become deeply committed to doing the hard work through therapy. For Colleen, it feels good to say ‘forever’. She is never going back! 

Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you’re invited! We’ll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you’re looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here. 

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! 

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobrieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo and Reality TV! And oh boy, is there a lot to talk about in this installment. 

We’ll jump right into our thoughts about the amazing new season of Southern Charm, including JT’s ill conceived gift, Shep’s moderation game, and Whitney’s odd role on the show. 

Then we’ll tackle The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with thoughts about Dorit’s new F-it energy, Kathy and Kyle’s emotionally toxic family, and Jennifer Tilly’s debut. 

And finally, we’ll get to the cream of the crop, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake! We’ll breakdown Meredith’s incredible Bat Mitzvah episode, Angie’s ‘high body count hair’ comment, how well Bronwyn is fitting into the show, and Mary and her son’s meaningful connection over his addiction.

Plus: Katie’s review of Sonja Morgan’s live cabaret show, how Potomac dredged up Suzanne’s religious trauma, the evolution of alcohol on reality shows, the home stretch of Katie’s pregnancy, and the end of an era on Vanderpump! 

Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $40/month, you get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 

My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

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