Samantha dives into her childhood memories of alcohol normalization and her tumultuous relationship with drinking. Panic attacks led her to reconsider her alcohol use, pushing her towards sobriety after struggles with moderation. The conversation highlights the emotional toll alcoholism took on relationships and identity. Samantha shares the profound transformation she's experienced in rediscovering her desires and building a career to help others find freedom in sobriety. Her inspiring journey emphasizes the importance of community and self-awareness in facing anxiety and addiction.

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

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

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

Gillian shares her journey from a chaotic childhood surrounded by alcohol to realizing its grip on her identity as an adult. She reflects on her first drink at 13 and the years spent underestimating her drinking habits. Personal stories reveal the emotional struggles tied to alcohol, including the wake-up call she experienced during pregnancy. Embracing sobriety opened her eyes to transformation and the strength found in shared narratives, particularly among women. This journey highlights the empowerment that comes from acknowledging and overcoming the challenges of alcohol.

Discover Claire's journey from casual drinking to embracing sobriety. She reflects on her struggle with alcohol and the pressures that led to unintentional overindulgence. Humorous anecdotes about physical affection and introversion add depth to her experiences. Claire shares crucial moments, including a heartfelt goodbye to alcohol, and emphasizes the importance of self-compassion in overcoming shame. With six months of sobriety under her belt, she highlights how community support and shared experiences can foster a positive outlook on this transformative path.

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

It’s a meta moment - The Sober Mom Life podcast’s editor, Laura Wiese, is on the show. Today, the woman behind the curtain who shines up the podcast is here to tell her own sobriety story, with the centerpiece being that she herself was raised by a sober mom. Laura will share how having a very vocal sober mom gave her clear guardrails once alcohol came into her life, why she has always felt a strong correlation between safety and sobriety, and the challenges she’s had navigating the social contract that so many of us feel around drinking. You can learn more about Laura at her website! 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