Episode 312 

I got behind the mic this week to reflect openly on alcohol to encourage you to leave it in 2024 if you're tired of what alcohol brings into your life. 

As we wrap up 2024, I want you to know that if you're living alcohol-free, I'm celebrating with you.

If you're working on freeing yourself from alcohol, I'm inspired by your perseverance. 

And if you're at that crossroads wondering which way to turn, just know that questioning your relationship with alcohol is the first step to change.

You can do this. I'm with you. 

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your road to alcohol freedom. I'm sending you a big hug!

Here's to choosing ourselves in 2025.

Reach out if you would like to work with me privately by sending an email to [email protected]. 

To enroll in Team Alcohol-Free during January enrollment, go here. 

I will be back on 1/14/25 with new episodes. 

Peace. 

xo

Lori

Want more? Check out these popular episodes:

What Are You Waiting For? A Compassionate Approach

The Alcohol-Free Lifestyle with Lindsay Sutherland Boal

The Hardest Part of Getting Sober

When you are ready to take a drink break, you should explore different tools to see what works for you.

I appreciate innovative approaches to lifestyle changes, which is why I invited Silvia Subirana, today's guest, to share her expertise. As a clinical psychologist and Head of Content Development at MyDry30, Silvia brings a unique perspective to transforming our relationship with alcohol.

During her university years in Spain, unlike many of her peers who were embracing the typical college party culture, Silvia made the conscious decision to quit drinking.

This early experience gave her valuable insights into the personal growth that comes with changing your relationship with alcohol.

Her sobriety has deeply influenced her approach to helping others through MyDry30, where she combines her professional expertise with a firsthand understanding of the challenges and rewards of making significant lifestyle changes.

In this episode, you will hear:

• What hypnotherapy really is and how it can help you relax deeply

• Why taking a 30-day break from alcohol can improve your sleep, energy, and mental clarity

• How to approach change one day at a time instead of getting stuck in "forever" thinking

• The unexpected benefits people experience beyond just drinking less

• Simple tools and practices you can use when you feel triggered or stressed

• Why building new habits slowly leads to lasting change

Resources Mentioned

• Visit MyDry30's website to learn more about their innovative approach: https://mydry30.com

• Follow MyDry30 on Instagram for daily inspiration and tips: @mydry30app

• Special offer for listeners: Get 20% off the MyDry30 program by entering code: MyDryJanuary

   

 

Let me help you make living alcohol-free in midlife a better experience!

📩Join my email community to stay connected to the podcast and tips, insights, and inspiration to help you stay alcohol-free.

🧰Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit a trusted companion that helps you stay focused on being alcohol-free today. Not forever.

🩷Go and stay alcohol-free with lifetime access to practical solutions, resources just for midlife gals, and LIVE weekly coaching in my “only for midlife women” coaching community Team Alcohol-Free

🤝Team up with me 1:1 to get the attention and support you deserve through my Plan A 12-Week Private Coaching package

Do you enjoy the podcast? Help me spread the word! There is another option besides drinking in midlife.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to take a few minutes to support the podcast, I want to encourage you to leave a positive rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

So many women out there don’t know there is an “alcohol-free” option and are struggling with their drinking.

Your support will help these women find the podcast this week and learn about an alcohol-free lifestyle later in life.

➡️Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”

I read my reviews and will hug you when I see yours.

Make sure to “follow” To 50 and Beyond to get all of the wonderful episodes coming your way. If you don’t click “follow," you will miss hearing what’s coming up.

Thank you!

Episode 310 

What Are You Waiting For? A question and episode that comes with a compassionate approach and encouragement to help you get a clear understanding of what is holding you back from going alcohol-free.

Asking this question isn’t about the urgency to hurry things up and stop drinking. It’s about being honest with yourself and easing your mind if you’re worried about your drinking and pressuring yourself to quit.

I share what I was waiting for: a “normal” relationship with alcohol. When I realized this didn’t exist, I chose to stop drinking.

It’s not an easy choice to make. I'm with you. 

To read this episode's full show notes, click here. 

Thank you for listening! 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Team Alcohol-Free enrollment coming soon

• Private coaching enrollment

 

Let me help you make living alcohol-free in midlife a better experience!

📩Join my email community to stay connected to the podcast and tips, insights, and inspiration to help you stay alcohol-free.

🧰Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit a trusted companion that helps you stay focused on being alcohol-free today. Not forever.

🩷Go and stay alcohol-free with lifetime access to practical solutions, resources just for midlife gals, and LIVE weekly coaching in my “only for midlife women” coaching community Team Alcohol-Free

🤝Team up with me 1:1 to get the attention and support you deserve through my Plan A 12-Week Private Coaching package

 

Do you enjoy the podcast? Help me spread the word! There is another option besides drinking in midlife.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to take a few minutes to support the podcast, I want to encourage you to leave a positive rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

So many women out there don’t know there is an “alcohol-free” option and are struggling with their drinking.

Your support will help these women find the podcast this week and learn about an alcohol-free lifestyle later in life.

➡️Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”

I read my reviews and will hug you when I see yours.

Make sure to “follow” To 50 and Beyond to get all of the wonderful episodes coming your way. If you don’t click “follow," you will miss hearing what’s coming up.

Thank you!

 

Episode 309 Is living alcohol-free for you?

My guest in episode 309 is Lindsay Sutherland Boal, a trailblazer in the sobriety community who shares insights into the meaning of an alcohol-free lifestyle and what it takes and doesn’t take to create a lifestyle that alcohol can’t touch.

You will love this episode if you are on the fence about going alcohol-free. 

Lindsay Sutherland Boal is the visionary founder of The Uncovery App, a groundbreaking platform that redefines how women approach changing their relationship with alcohol.

Unlike traditional sobriety resources, Lindsay's work challenges the myth that one must hit "rock bottom" to make meaningful life changes. 

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why you don't need to hit "rock bottom" to make meaningful changes in your relationship with alcohol - and how to listen to those early whispers of change
• The vital role of community and women-only spaces in providing judgment-free support and authentic connections
• How radical accountability and asking powerful questions like "What am I waiting for?" can uncover deeper motivations
• Why there's no "perfect" time to begin your alcohol-free journey - and how uncertainty is a natural part of the process
• The importance of empowering language in shifting perspective from what you're giving up to what you're gaining
• Understanding the distinct phases of the alcohol-free journey - from initial curiosity to active lifestyle changes

To learn more about Lindsay and this episode go here. 

Thank you for listening today! 

Resources Mentioned

• The Uncovery App

• She Walks Canada

• Lindsay’s website

• Episode 186 with Lindsay

 

Let me help you make living alcohol-free in midlife a better experience!

📩Join my email community to stay connected to the podcast and tips, insights, and inspiration to help you stay alcohol-free.

🧰Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit a trusted companion that helps you stay focused on being alcohol-free today. Not forever.

🩷Go and stay alcohol-free with lifetime access to practical solutions, resources just for midlife gals, and LIVE weekly coaching in my “only for midlife women” coaching community Team Alcohol-Free

🤝Team up with me 1:1 to get the attention and support you deserve through my Plan A 12-Week Private Coaching package

Do you enjoy the podcast? Help me spread the word! There is another option besides drinking in midlife.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to take a few minutes to support the podcast, I want to encourage you to leave a positive rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

So many women out there don’t know there is an “alcohol-free” option and are struggling with their drinking.

Your support will help these women find the podcast this week and learn about an alcohol-free lifestyle later in life.

➡️Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”

I read my reviews and will hug you when I see yours.

Make sure to “follow” To 50 and Beyond to get all of the wonderful episodes coming your way. If you don’t click “follow," you will miss hearing what’s coming up.

Thank you!

In this episode, I share a heartfelt message on staying alcohol-free during the holidays. 

I know it's not an easy thing to do, which makes you a bada** in my eyes. 

From my personal experience of quitting drinking in 2013, I discuss how to handle holiday triggers, create new associations, and honor your choice to stay alcohol-free. Whether this is your first sober holiday or you're beyond that, you'll learn practical strategies to navigate celebrations while staying true to yourself.

Key topics covered:

• Understanding and preparing for holiday triggers
• Creating a simple plan to manage challenging moments
• The importance of self-protection and avoiding unnecessary testing
• How to treat yourself and create new holiday traditions
• Building self-pride and staying committed to your choice

You deserve to stay alcohol-free - not just for the holidays, but for yourself and why you want to be alcohol-free. 

I'm with you. 

I'm proud of you! 

Let me help you make living alcohol-free in midlife a better experience!

📩Join my email community to stay connected to the podcast and tips, insights, and inspiration to help you stay alcohol-free.

🧰Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit a trusted companion that helps you stay focused on being alcohol-free today. Not forever.

🩷Go and stay alcohol-free with lifetime access to practical solutions, resources just for midlife gals, and LIVE weekly coaching in my “only for midlife women” coaching community Team Alcohol-Free

🤝Team up with me 1:1 to get the attention and support you deserve through my Plan A 12-Week Private Coaching package

Do you enjoy the podcast? Help me spread the word! There is another option besides drinking in midlife.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to take a few minutes to support the podcast, I want to encourage you to leave a positive rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

So many women out there don’t know there is an “alcohol-free” option and are struggling with their drinking.

Your support will help these women find the podcast this week and learn about an alcohol-free lifestyle later in life.

➡️Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”

I read my reviews and will hug you when I see yours.

Make sure to “follow” To 50 and Beyond to get all of the wonderful episodes coming your way. If you don’t click “follow," you will miss hearing what’s coming up.

Thank you!

Episode 307

As a lifelong people pleaser who frequently works with many women—many of whom also tend to please others and drink as a way to cope with their feelings—I reached out to Karen after discovering her insightful book, When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable: How to Break the Pattern of People Pleasing and Confidently Live Your Life.

Karen Ehman is a New York Times bestselling author, a Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker, a contributing writer for Encouragement for Today online devotions, and a teacher in the First 5 Bible study app which has over 2 million daily users. She has written 19 books and Bible studies, including Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All, and the 2020 ECPA devotional book of the year, Settle My Soul: 100 Quiet Moments to Meet with Jesus.

Karen shares what she realized about certain friendships after she made the decision to spend her “necessary and no” summer and the freedom she felt in having more time for herself. Her reflections highlight a crucial truth: every need is not necessarily your call, and it’s not our responsibility to make others happy. As she aptly states, “You don’t need anyone’s permission to do God’s will.”

Karen encourages us to be patient with ourselves as we learn to set boundaries and overcome people-pleasing tendencies.

To read this episode's full show notes, click here. 

Thank you for listening! 

Looking for resources to go alcohol-free?

📩Join my email community to stay connected to the podcast and tips, insights, and inspiration to help you stay alcohol-free.

🧰Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit a trusted companion that helps you stay focused on being alcohol-free today. Not forever.

🩷Enrollment opening 1/6/25: Go and stay alcohol-free with lifetime access to practical solutions, resources just for midlife gals, and LIVE weekly coaching in my “only for midlife women” coaching community Team Alcohol-Free 

🤝Team up with me 1:1 to get the attention and support you deserve through my Plan A 12-Week Private Coaching package

 

Episode 306

Hello there. I'm happy you're here. 

I'm cheering for you always. 

In this episode, I help you navigate the often dreaded question: Why aren't you drinking?

Here are some key points to help you handle this situation with confidence:

1. Recognize and validate your fear or discomfort about being asked this question.

2. Stay focused on your reasons for not drinking. Your why-power is stronger than any awkwardness you might feel.

3. Before attending an event, consider if it aligns with your values and if you truly want to go.

4. Practice your response: Prepare a simple, honest answer that feels comfortable for you.

5. One option as a response is: "I'm taking a break."

6. Set boundaries: If someone pushes the issue, it's okay to change the subject or walk away.

7. Communicate with close friends/family: Let supportive people know about your choice beforehand.

8. Stay true to yourself: Remember, your choice not to drink matters most. You don't owe anyone an explanation.

Wherever you are on this road to alcohol freedom, I'm with you. 

To read the show notes for this episode with the resources mentioned, click here. 

To enroll in Team Alcohol-Free, click here. 

 

Episode 305 

Hello friend! 

I'm so happy you're here. Thank you for listening to To 50 and Beyond. 

Do you remember the Calgon commercial from the 1970s? In it, the gal was stressed at the end of her day and said, "Calgon, take me away!" 

This episode is about our desire to escape from daily life stressors. It's a natural human experience. If we don't practice escaping, we let our stressors fester, which can lead to drinking alcohol. 

In this episode, I share my thoughts on "creating a life you don't need to escape" and why it's essential to have an "escape plan" that helps you lose yourself in self-care—not in alcohol. 

You can read the full show notes with links to resources mentioned here. 

 

Don't miss out on enrollment for The 2024 Team! 

Go and stay alcohol-free with lifetime access to practical solutions, resources just for midlife gals, and LIVE weekly coaching in my “only for midlife women” coaching community Team Alcohol-Free

📩Join my email community to stay connected to the podcast and tips, insights, and inspiration to help you stay alcohol-free.

🧰Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit a trusted companion that helps you stay focused on being alcohol-free today. Not forever.

🤝Team up with me 1:1 to get the attention and support you deserve through my Plan A 12-Week Private Coaching package

 

Episode 304

Hello! I'm glad you're here. 

Today, we're diving into a topic that's been on my mind for a while - the realizations women have after they stop drinking. This isn't just about the good stuff, though. We're going to talk about the hard parts too.

I want to give you a peek inside what it's really like to go alcohol-free later in life. It's not always easy, and it's not always fun. But it's real, and it's important. Whether you're struggling to stay alcohol-free or finding life without alcohol to be a mix of rewarding and awkward, you're not alone. 

The realizations...

• It's tougher or easier than expected: Some find it harder, others more manageable than anticipated.
• Time is crucial: Many realize they need more time to work through the hard parts, especially in the first few months.
• Cravings pass: With time, women learn they can work through urges without giving in.
• Emotional rollercoaster: Feelings of sadness, moodiness, and grief for their drinking self are common, especially in the first 90 days.
• It doesn't fix everything: Quitting alcohol makes life more manageable but isn't a cure-all for life's problems.
• Not everyone drinks the same: Many realize their drinking habits are different from others.
• Others don't care as much: Most people aren't as concerned about your drinking status as you might think.
• Relationships change: Some relationships take time to adjust, while others might not survive the transition.
• Improved connections: Many experience better relationships with family and friends.
• Identity shift: Realizing their identity was wrapped up in alcohol (e.g., being the party girl).
• Less anxiety: While still present, anxiety levels often decrease without alcohol.
• Boredom and fulfillment: Some feel bored or unfulfilled initially, but this often passes with time.
• Better choices: Many make improved decisions about food, exercise, and productivity.
• Unexpected support: Some are surprised to find others who don't drink or are curious about quitting.

You can find the full show notes here. 

Thank you for listening! 

Mentioned in this episode:

Outgrowing Yourself in Midlife episode #301

Enroll in my coaching community:

Learn how to go and stay alcohol-free with lifetime access to practical solutions, resources just for midlife gals, and LIVE weekly coaching in my “only for midlife women” coaching community Team Alcohol-Free

 

Let me help you make living alcohol-free in midlife a better experience!

📩Join my email community to stay connected to the podcast and tips, insights, and inspiration to help you stay alcohol-free.

🧰Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit a trusted companion that helps you stay focused on being alcohol-free today. Not forever.

🤝Team up with me 1:1 to get the attention and support you deserve through my Plan A 12-Week Private Coaching package

 

Do you enjoy the podcast? Help me spread the word! There is another option besides drinking in midlife.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to take a few minutes to support the podcast, I want to encourage you to leave a positive rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

So many women out there don’t know there is an “alcohol-free” option and are struggling with their drinking.

Your support will help these women find the podcast this week and learn about an alcohol-free lifestyle later in life.

➡️Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”

I read my reviews and will hug you when I see yours.

Make sure to “follow” To 50 and Beyond to get all of the wonderful episodes coming your way. If you don’t click “follow," you will miss hearing what’s coming up.

Thank you!

Episode 303

Hello there! 

Are you halfway through a 30-day break from alcohol and feeling like you need a reset? You're not alone! 

In this episode, I'll share encouragement and practical tips to help you refocus and make the most of the remaining 15 days.

We'll explore the importance of self-compassion, reconnecting with your 'why', and strategies to overcome common challenges.

Plus, I'll guide you through a heart-storming exercise to reignite your motivation and clarify your goals.

Whether you're participating in Sober October or taking a personal break, this episode is designed to support and inspire you on your alcohol-free journey.

I’m PROUD of you for getting to a point where you are on a break. That’s a big deal!

In this episode, you will hear:

• The signs that you deserve to hit the reset button mid-month are.

• The challenges of losing steam from day one to day 15 and how to overcome them. 

• How to make the most of the 15 days left in the month by resetting using a “heart-storming” session with eight prompts to help you reflect on where you are and where you want to be.

This RESET is about aligning with your heart and soul. It's an opportunity to reconnect with your reasons for taking this break and to focus on what truly matters to you.

To view the prompts and full show notes, please click here. 

Thank you for listening. 

I'm rooting for you!

xo 

Lori

 

Let me help you make living alcohol-free in midlife a better experience!

📩Join my email community to stay connected to the podcast and tips, insights, and inspiration to help you stay alcohol-free.

🧰Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit a trusted companion that helps you stay focused on being alcohol-free today. Not forever.

🩷Go and stay alcohol-free with lifetime access to practical solutions, resources just for midlife gals, and LIVE weekly coaching in my “only for midlife women” coaching community Team Alcohol-Free

🤝Team up with me 1:1 to get the attention and support you deserve through my Plan A 12-Week Private Coaching package

 

Do you enjoy the podcast? Help me spread the word! There is another option besides drinking in midlife.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to take a few minutes to support the podcast, I want to encourage you to leave a positive rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

So many women out there don’t know there is an “alcohol-free” option and are struggling with their drinking.

Your support will help these women find the podcast this week and learn about an alcohol-free lifestyle later in life.

➡️Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”

I read my reviews and will hug you when I see yours.

Make sure to “follow” To 50 and Beyond to get all of the wonderful episodes coming your way. If you don’t click “follow," you will miss hearing what’s coming up.

Thank you!