Episode 15: Breaking Free from Alcohol with Maureen Benkovich

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, Rebecca Snider sits down with Maureen Benkovich, a certified alcohol freedom and wellness coach, to explore the intersection of fitness, mental health, and sobriety. From the pressures of corporate drinking culture to discovering the truth about alcohol’s impact on brain chemistry, Maureen shares how understanding dopamine helped her find joy beyond drinking. She offers practical tools for breaking free from the detox/retox cycle and reclaiming a life of clarity and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Maureen Benkovich is a certified alcohol freedom and wellness coach.
• She transitioned from a corporate drinking culture to sobriety.
• The detox and retox cycle is common among health-conscious individuals.
• Alcohol disrupts dopamine and brain chemistry, impacting mental health.
• True empowerment comes from understanding what alcohol does to the body.
• Community and connection are vital in sustainable recovery.
• Nutrition plays a key role in mental and emotional balance.
• Self-awareness and spiritual grounding strengthen sobriety.
  
  

Timestamps:
00:00 — Introduction to Maureen Benkovich
02:04 — Maureen's Journey: From Fitness to Alcohol Freedom
10:56 — Detoxing and Retoxing: The Cycle of Alcohol Consumption
16:03 — Understanding Alcohol's Impact on Mental Health
24:01 — The Science Behind Alcohol: It’s Not Your Fault
29:56 — The Role of Coaching in Alcohol Recovery
32:45 — The Cycle of Alcohol and Mental Health
34:35 — Empowerment Through Knowledge and Choices
39:32 — Rebuilding Dopamine Production
46:50 — Finding Joy Beyond Alcohol

Resources & Links

• https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life.

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, host Karla Adkins sits down with Toni Will, the first female general manager of a professional hockey team. Together, they explore what it means to lead with authenticity, transform weaknesses into strengths, and redefine success in a male-dominated industry. Toni opens up about her decision to quit drinking, how it changed her sense of self, and the power of breaking the silence around alcohol. This episode is a powerful reminder that growth and empowerment often begin where fear and honesty meet.

Key Takeaways

• Quitting drinking can lead to deep personal empowerment.
• Women do not need to drink to succeed in their careers.
• Shame and silence can hold us back from authenticity.
• The 10x mindset fosters exponential personal growth.
• Setting boundaries is essential in challenging environments.
• Embracing individuality fuels both confidence and leadership.
• Cravings are normal. They don’t define your progress.
• Living alcohol-free opens the door to a fuller, freer life.

Timestamps
00:00 — Introduction to Toni Will and Her Journey
01:48 — Transforming Weaknesses into Strengths
05:22 — The Power of Quitting Drinking
10:39 — Navigating Challenges as a Woman in Sports
14:13 — The 10x Mindset and Personal Growth
20:47 — Embracing Change and Overcoming Doubts
23:45 — Normalizing Cravings and Thoughts
27:15 — Breaking the Silence Around Alcohol
30:15 — Women in Sports: Breaking Barriers and Telling Stories

Resources & Links

• https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life.

Episode 13: The Heartbreak of Broken Promises

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, host Karla Adkins explores the emotional weight of breaking promises around alcohol. She introduces the concept of fading effect bias and how it impacts memory, decision-making, and the pull of romanticizing past drinking experiences. With compassion and clarity, Karla helps listeners understand the triggers and habit loops that contribute to relapse and highlights the importance of accountability and self-forgiveness in recovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Breaking promises about drinking creates deep emotional pain.
  
  
• Fading effect bias can distort memories of alcohol use.
  
  
• Romanticizing past drinking experiences increases relapse risk.
  
  
• Triggers and habit loops are central to drinking behavior.
  
  
• Self-forgiveness and compassion are crucial for healing.
  
  
• Accountability builds strength and resilience in recovery.
  
  

Timestamps:
00:00 — Understanding the Struggle with Alcohol
02:53 — The Emotional Weight of Breaking Promises
05:45 — Fading Effect Bias: A Psychological Insight
09:05 — The Role of Memory in Alcohol Use
11:54 — Understanding Triggers and Habit Loops

Resources & Links

• https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life.

Reflection Prompts:

1. What led me to drink again?
   
   
   
   • What was I feeling just before the decision?
     
     
     
   • Was it stress, loneliness, social pressure, celebration, or overwhelm?
     
     
2. What did I hope alcohol would help me feel—or help me avoid?
   
   
   
3. What positive memories did I recall in that moment that may have influenced me?
   
   
   
   • Were they accurate… or softened by Fading Affect Bias?
     
     
     
   • What parts of those past drinking experiences do I tend to forget?
     
     
     
4. What was the full truth of this experience?
   
   
   
   • Emotionally, physically, mentally—what actually happened after I drank?
     
     
5. If I were to tell the full story—not the edited memory—how would it go?
   (Write it like you're explaining it to your future self.)
   
   
   
6. What “job” did alcohol try to do for me in that moment—and what else might have helped?
   
   
   
7. What’s one thing I learned about myself through this experience that I didn’t know before?

Reframing Statement:

“This moment isn’t a reset. It’s a window into what I truly need—and how I can better support myself next time.”

Write your own version of this statement.

A Note on Cravings vs. Cues

These acronyms can help you recognize when what feels like an alcohol craving…
might actuall

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, host Carolyn Bennett sits down with alcohol freedom coach Allison Barber to reflect on her five-year milestone of living alcohol-free. Together, they explore the lessons Allison has learned on her journey, from finding clarity and confidence to navigating life’s transitions with emotional resilience. This conversation highlights how personal growth not only transforms the self but ripples outward to positively impact relationships and community.

Key Takeaways

• Five years of alcohol freedom is a milestone worth celebrating.
  
  
• Alcohol can negatively affect relationships and self-worth.
  
  
• Clarity after quitting alcohol opens new perspectives.
  
  
• Emotional resilience helps us navigate transitions with strength.
  
  
• Personal growth benefits not only ourselves but those around us.
  
  
• Life after alcohol can be joyful, confident, and clear.
  
  

Timestamps
00:00 — Celebrating Five Years of Alcohol Freedom
03:26 — The Journey to Self-Discovery
06:17 — Understanding the Role of Alcohol
09:36 — Finding Clarity and Confidence
12:18 — Navigating Life’s Transitions
15:30 — The Impact of Alcohol on Relationships
18:22 — Embracing Change and New Perspectives
21:09 — The Power of Emotional Resilience
24:34 — Creating a Life Beyond Alcohol
27:20 — The Ripple Effect of Personal Growth
36:46 — Outro

Resources & Links

Allison’s Information:

Hello! I’m Allison Barber from St. Louis, MO. My Christian faith, discovered in high school, began shaping how I viewed myself and life. I then competed in collegiate gymnastics where alcohol made a small but impressionable appearance. By 30, I married my high school sweetheart, and we had three daughters. I played supportive roles not only at home but also working for my mother’s business. Slowly my reliance on wine increased as I used it to cope with life's stress. After a cervical surgery and a difficult marriage, I discovered Annie Grace’s This Naked Mind. Through her Path program, I transformed from a nightly drinker to a non-drinker by June 2020, gaining lasting freedom. As a certified This Naked Mind coach, I help others find the same freedom from alcohol—from The Inside Out.

Website:

www.theinsideoutfreedom.com

IG Link:

@InsideOutFreedom

Facebook Link:

@Inside.Out.Freedom

Join the Zero Proof Life Community → https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription

Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/

Follow the coaches:

Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)

Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)

Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)

Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)

If today’s conversation sparked your own inner nudge, we’d love to hear from you! Be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen.

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, Carolyn Bennett explores the deep connection between alcohol, relationships, and emotional health. She unpacks how drinking can mute our true feelings, create cycles of avoidance, and ultimately block genuine communication. Carolyn shares how sobriety brings healing, clarity, and the courage to express what really matters in our connections with others.

Key Takeaways

• Alcohol affects not just our bodies, but also our relationships
• Drinking can act as a protest against unspoken emotions.
• Alcohol creates a false sense of ease while intensifying stress over time.
• Emotional numbness often fuels cycles of frustration and avoidance.
• Our childhood experiences can shape how we relate to alcohol.
• Removing alcohol opens the door to clarity and authentic self-expression.
• Sobriety rebuilds relationships from a place of truth.
• Some relationships may fade, while others grow stronger in sobriety.
• Your voice is essential and deserves to be heard.
• Healing begins by acknowledging what needs care in our connections.
  
  
  

Timestamps

• 00:00 — The Impact of Alcohol on Relationships
  
  
• 05:34 — Healing and Self-Expression in Sobriety
  
  
• 08:30 — Embracing Change in Relationships
  
  
• 09:18 — Closing Reflections

Resources & Links

• Join the Zero Proof Life Community → https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)
    
    
    

If today’s conversation sparked your own inner nudge, we’d love to hear from you! Be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen.

Brandi Babb opens up about her 30-day alcohol experiment and the transformation it sparked. From the physical shifts in the first week to the emotional realizations that followed, Brandi shares how giving herself permission to step away from alcohol created space for self-discovery, resilience, and hope. She highlights the power of community support and invites others to find their own unique path to sobriety.

Key Takeaways

• There’s no single way to quit drinking.
  
  
• Permission to step away can be the first breakthrough.
  
  
• A 30-day challenge is a powerful container for self-discovery.
  
  
• The early days may feel difficult, but hope grows quickly.
  
  
• Community support makes the journey sustainable.
  
  
• Emotional awareness emerges when alcohol is removed.
  
  
• Extending the challenge can create lasting transformation.
  
  
  

Timestamps

00:00 — Introduction to the Zero Proof Life Podcast

01:20 — Brandi's Personal Journey with Alcohol

03:15 — The 30-Day Alcohol Experiment

09:04 — Challenges and Insights During the Experiment

15:17 — The Transformation Beyond 30 Days

17:39 — Encouragement to Join the Challenge

Resources & Links

• Join the Zero Proof Life Community → https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @brandi.babb (https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)
    
    

If today’s conversation sparked your own inner nudge, we’d love to hear from you! Be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen.

Episode 09: Navigating Emotional Triggers

Becca Snider explores the role of triggers in shaping our behaviors and emotions, especially in the context of an alcohol-free journey. She shares practical ways to identify personal triggers, understand their roots, and build mindful strategies that replace harmful reactions with healthy, empowering choices.

Key Takeaways

• Triggers can be people, places, or experiences that spark emotional reactions.
  
  
• Identifying and understanding triggers is essential for personal growth.
  
  
• Emotional awareness helps interrupt old patterns and create space for new choices.
• Mindfulness offers tools for managing reactions before they escalate.
  
  
• Replacing negative cues with positive ones fosters long-term change.
  
  
• Taking responsibility for how we respond strengthens self-trust.
  
  
• The pause between trigger and reaction is the most powerful place for transformation.
  
  
• Knowing what genuinely makes you happy supports resilience and recovery.
  
  
  

Timestamps

00:00 — Understanding Triggers in Our Lives

10:42 — The Importance of Acknowledging Triggers

20:54 — Strategies for Managing Triggers

Resources & Links

• Join the Zero Proof Life Community → https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)
    
    
    

If today’s conversation sparked your own inner nudge, we’d love to hear from you! Be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen.

Episode 08: Transforming Setbacks into Learning Opportunities

In this powerful conversation, Karla Adkins dives deep into the transformative concepts of data points and resilience data points within the recovery journey from alcohol. Karla encourages reframing setbacks not as failures, but as invaluable learning moments free from shame. By embracing discomfort and harnessing neuroplasticity, listeners are guided toward meaningful personal growth and empowered to continue their alcohol-free journey with resilience.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience data points guide learning from moments of discomfort.
• Self-reflection deeply enhances personal growth.
• Shame hinders rather than helps the recovery journey.
• Building resilience is essential for long-term sobriety.
• Neuroplasticity supports changing drinking behaviors.
• Self-reflection can uncover profound insights.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Introduction to the Zero Proof Life Podcast

00:57 — Understanding Data Points in Recovery

08:21 — Introducing Resilience Data Points

14:20 — The Importance of Resilience in Recovery

20:04 — The Journey Beyond Alcohol: Learning and Growth

Resources & links

• Download the Resilience Data Point Journal Prompts → https://mailchi.mp/thezeroprooflife/resilience-prompts

• Join the Zero Proof Life Community → https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)

If today’s conversation sparked your own inner nudge, we’d love to hear from you! Be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen.