Episodes

  • Releasing Guilt, Embracing Freedom | Alcohol Freedom Coaching | EP 899

    Releasing Guilt, Embracing Freedom | Alcohol Freedom Coaching | EP 899
    Apr 21 2026
    Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to grief and the loss of a child. What alcohol was really costing me was my peace, my presence, and a life that felt true and authentic. That's the realization both Michelle and Susan come to with the help of Coaches Hayley and Cole. Michelle just hit 30 days and is only now connecting the dots between what alcohol was really costing her and the fear, impatience, and disconnection she'd written off as just life. Susan is alcohol-free and sitting with a grief so deep she wonders if she deserves to feel better at all. This one is real, raw, and worth every minute. In Michelle’s session: Why wine still felt tempting even when she knew it was no longer serving her The link between drinking, marriage, routine, and end-of-day shutdown Creating new patterns, from different seats on the couch to different drinks at dinner Noticing how alcohol affects patience, sleep, stress, and health data Questioning the fear that changing her drinking could change her marriage Seeing what alcohol was really costing me in calm, clarity, and connection Letting go of future-tripping and staying present And more topics… In Susan’s session: Processing grief, guilt, and the heartbreak of losing her son Why self-compassion feels so hard after loss Looking back at drinking through a new lens Exploring whether guilt feels like a way to stay connected Realizing she was not 100% responsible for everything that happened Using writing and reflection to hold grief without picking up a drink And more… Hayley Scherders is a certified TNM Coach with training from the Canadian Addiction and Mental Health Association. Drawing from personal experiences, Hayley understands how tough change can be and provides a safe, compassionate, and judgment-free space where her clients can feel supported. She believes that with the right mindset, anyone can change their life at any time. Learn more about Coach Hayley: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/hayley-scherders/ Cole Harvey is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach. For years, he felt lost and used alcohol as a way to cope, until he decided to go alcohol-free and focus on finding his purpose. Through curiosity, self-compassion, and adventure, he transformed his life. As a habit change and mindset coach, Cole helps young men understand themselves, build better habits, and find meaning. Learn more about Coach Cole: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/ Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: Does Mom Guilt After Drinking Ever Go Away? - Reader Question - EP 650 – https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-650-readers-question-does-mom-guilt-after-drinking-ever-go-away/ Progress Over Perfection, Learn to Embrace Self-Compassion - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - EP 730 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-730-coaches-podcast-coach-ellie-with-lauri-m-tina-m/ What if my marriage is dependent on alcohol? - Reader Question - EP 222 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-222-reader-question-what-if-my-marriage-is-dependent-on-alcohol/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind Quince: get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked Shopify: Sign up for $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • How Alcohol-Free Living Improves Anxiety | Brooke's Naked Life | EP 898

    How Alcohol-Free Living Improves Anxiety | Brooke's Naked Life | EP 898
    Apr 18 2026
    What does it take to finally walk away from drinking when you love the party, love your people, and have never once thought of yourself as someone with a problem? Brooke was a high-functioning extrovert running a business and raising a family when a quiet voice in her head kept telling her something was off. Once she found The Path and started doing the real work, she discovered how alcohol-free living improved her anxiety in ways she never anticipated, and two and a half years later she has not looked back once. Brooke discusses: The brain scan that first linked her alcohol use to her health and sparked a decade-long journey toward change Taking 10 months alcohol-free, returning to drinking after a family trip, and why she never judged herself for it How COVID neighborhood happy hours quietly accelerated her relationship with alcohol Joining The Path in August 2023 and the hungover weekend trip that became her last Discovering she was an extrovert living with social anxiety and how that reframed everything she thought she knew about her drinking How alcohol-free living improved her anxiety by removing the daily double whammy of hangxiety and giving her space to actually feel and respond The shift from "I can't have it" to "I don't want it" and what real alcohol freedom looks and feels like Morning Pages, journaling, therapy, books, and other low-barrier tools that helped her most in the early days Why self-awareness and willingness are the two things that make every other tool actually work And more on identity, belonging, and building a life that feels the same on the inside as it looks on the outside... Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: What is the correlation between alcohol and anxiety? - Reader Question - EP 480 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-480-reader-question-what-is-the-correlation-between-alcohol-and-anxiety/ Anxiety, Overwhelm, and Alcohol: Tools to Find Calm and Confidence - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - EP 877- https://thisnakedmind.com/daily-practices-to-stay-alcohol-free-afc-e877/ Have I done permanent damage to my brain? - Reader Question - EP 350 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-350-reader-question-have-i-done-permanent-damage-to-my-brain/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind Quince: get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked Shopify: Sign up for $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind
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    41 mins
  • Emotions, Perfectionism, and the Courage to Feel Without Alcohol | Alcohol Freedom Coaching | EP 897

    Emotions, Perfectionism, and the Courage to Feel Without Alcohol | Alcohol Freedom Coaching | EP 897
    Apr 14 2026
    Ever reach for a drink because your feelings felt too big, too messy, or too hard? How often have you wondered what is the best way to feel your feelings without drinking? Coaches Soraya & Cole show that it isn't about white-knuckling through emotions; it's about letting them in. Dianne walked away from 15 alcohol-free years after her son's ultimatum broke her, and hasn't found her way back. Beth takes care of everyone around her but never lets anyone take care of her. In Dianne’s session: Fifteen years alcohol-free & what brought her back to drinking after leaving AA Why the "data point" approach still feels like failure in year two of The Path The family estrangement that cracked her open & how she’s been numbing it since The moment she realized every negative feeling about herself comes directly from drinking What is the best way to feel your feelings without drinking when the pain feels too big to face More on habit vs. craving, self-belief, & finding your way back to yourself. In Beth’s session: How alcohol-free days uncovered emotions she never knew she was carrying The habit of stuffing feelings down and why it kept her stuck drinking Learning emotions are not problems to fix, just experiences to witness and feel Why perfectionism and shame go hand in hand & how both fuel the urge to drink The fear of burdening others with her feelings and what that costs her An exercise in sitting with sadness & the surprising relief it brought More on journaling, self-compassion, & breaking perfectionism Soraya Odishoo is a compassionate Certified This Naked Mind Coach who blends somatic healing with therapeutic models to support recovery. She serves people who feel disconnected from their true selves and want freedom from substances or behaviors that no longer serve them. She takes a trauma-informed, heart-centered approach with a strong focus on accessibility for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Learn more about Coach Soraya: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/soraya-arjan-odishoo-alpc/ Cole Harvey is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach. For years, he felt lost and used alcohol as a way to cope, until he decided to go alcohol-free and focus on finding his purpose. Through curiosity, self-compassion, and adventure, he transformed his life. As a habit change and mindset coach, Cole helps young men understand themselves, build better habits, and find meaning. Learn more about Coach Cole: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/ Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: How To Stop Running Away from Life and Emotions - Reader Question - EP 632 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-630-readers-question-how-to-stop-running-away-from-life-and-emotions/ How Can I Prevent Relapse and Does All Sober Time Count? - Reader Question - EP 30 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-30-reader-question-how-can-i-prevent-relapse-and-does-all-sober-time-count/ How To Stop Numbing Your Feelings and Start Living - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - EP 859 - https://thisnakedmind.com/using-alcohol-to-numb-emotions-afc-e859/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind Quince: get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked Shopify: Sign up for $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind
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    58 mins
  • From Survival Mode to Thriving: My Alcohol-Free Life Transformation | Valerie's Naked Life | EP 896

    From Survival Mode to Thriving: My Alcohol-Free Life Transformation | Valerie's Naked Life | EP 896
    Apr 11 2026
    Trigger warning: This episode contains references to domestic violence, sexual assault, self-harm, disordered eating, substance use, and mental health crises. What does an alcohol-free life transformation actually look like from the inside? For Valerie, it looks like CrossFit at 4:30 AM, a flourishing marriage, a challenging career, and a self she genuinely loves for the first time at 36. But getting here meant surviving an abusive relationship, years of drinking as a survival tool, and a long search for belonging that took her to martial arts competitions in Korea, AA meetings, and finally a bookstore where Annie Grace's book changed everything. This is her story. Valerie and Coach Cole discuss: Growing up without consistent support and turning to alcohol as a survival tool from age 18 How a deeply abusive relationship pushed her drinking to its darkest point and left her searching for a way out The moment she put down her last drink without a plan and never looked back Why AA gave her community but not the alcohol-free life transformation she was truly looking for How Annie Grace's book found her in a bookstore and rewired the way she understood herself and alcohol Building her CrossFit community as the foundation of belonging, she had been searching for her whole life What spontaneous alcohol freedom feels like and why she has not had a single craving in 14 months Letting go of the need for family approval and turning compassion inward for the first time And more on healing, self-love, and the extraordinary life that opened up when she stopped drinking... Episode links: https://go.tnmprograms.com/start-here-quiz Related Episodes: Emotional Trauma Recovery with Dr. Melissa Kalt - Interview - EP 689 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-689-interview-with-dr-melissa-kalt/ Does Annie Grace think AA is wrong? - Reader Question - EP 324 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-324-reader-question-does-annie-grace-think-aa-is-wrong/ Overcoming Drinking Culture in Fitness - Where Are They Now? Molly - EP 695 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-695-naked-life-story-hayley-where-are-they-now-molly/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind Quince: get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked Shopify: Sign up for $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind
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    53 mins
  • How To Stop Drinking When You Feel Overwhelmed | Alcohol Freedom Coaching | EP 895

    How To Stop Drinking When You Feel Overwhelmed | Alcohol Freedom Coaching | EP 895
    Apr 7 2026
    Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to PTSD, depression, loss, and self-harm. What if the thing you've never tried, not once in your whole life, turned out to be the answer? Beverlee is fresh out of eight years of isolation, finally learning how to stop drinking when you feel overwhelmed by caregiving, grief, and years of putting herself last. Steve is 75, alcohol-free since July, and sitting with something brand new: the idea that he doesn't have to fix everything. Coaches Cole and Soraya guide both of them in discovering what it means to show up for themselves. In Beverlee’s session: Years of isolation, caregiving, and a demoralizing environment, and what finally started to shift The moment Beverlee recognized she'd been hiding her drinking, and herself, for most of her life A profound inner child healing exercise that brought tears, release, and a long-overdue reunion What self-compassion actually feels like in your body, and how to locate it when you've only ever given it away Why curiosity can open the door to compassion when compassion feels completely out of reach And more on the other side of hiding… In Steve’s session: How Steve found his "why" at age 75 and has been alcohol-free since July Why adult children carrying old wounds don't have to define you or your peace How to stop drinking when you feel overwhelmed by family tension and unresolved grief The Groundhog Day cycle of drinking The shift from waiting for your kids to love you to walking in with love for yourself first And more on belonging to yourself and trusting the process Cole Harvey is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach. For years, he felt lost and used alcohol as a way to cope, until he decided to go alcohol-free and focus on finding his purpose. Through curiosity, self-compassion, and adventure, he transformed his life. As a habit change and mindset coach, Cole helps young men understand themselves, build better habits, and find meaning. Learn more about Coach Cole:⁠ https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/⁠ Soraya Odishoo is a compassionate Certified This Naked Mind Coach who blends somatic healing with therapeutic models to support recovery. She serves people who feel disconnected from their true selves and want freedom from substances or behaviors that no longer serve them. She takes a trauma-informed, heart-centered approach with a strong focus on accessibility for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Learn more about Coach Soraya: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/soraya-arjan-odishoo-alpc/ Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: Finding Hope for Longtime Drinkers - Reader Question - EP 600 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-600-reader-question-finding-hope-for-long-time-drinkers/ Progress Over Perfection, Learn to Embrace Self-Compassion - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - EP 730 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-730-coaches-podcast-coach-ellie-with-lauri-m-tina-m/ Self-Love is the Key - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - EP 736 - https://thisnakedmind.com/self-love-is-the-key-alcohol-freedom-coaching-e736/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind Quince: get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked Shopify: Sign up for $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind
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    58 mins
  • What Happens When You Choose Yourself for the Very First Time | Shannon's Naked Life | EP 894

    What Happens When You Choose Yourself for the Very First Time | Shannon's Naked Life | EP 894
    Apr 4 2026
    Breaking the nightly drinking habit can feel impossible when alcohol has been “normal” your whole life—so what happens when you finally decide to choose you? Shannon grew up with alcohol in the background, avoided drinking for years, and then slowly found herself becoming the “drinking buddy” in a marriage where beer was everywhere. When the boys moved out and her drinking escalated, she hit a gut-check moment that made her realize she felt trapped—and she wanted out. In this episode, Shannon shares how a TNM masterclass sparked hope, how she signed up for support on a day she truly didn’t want to go home, and what it looked like to rebuild her evenings without white-knuckling. She also opens up about the quiet kind of pride that comes from learning you can count on yourself again—and how she’s navigating boundaries and communication with a partner who still drinks. Shannon discusses: What it’s like to grow up around alcohol—and not realize how much it shaped you Why Shannon didn’t drink much early on, and what changed later in life When “just beer” turns into a nightly routine you can’t ignore Breaking the nightly drinking habit when cravings feel automatic after work How shame keeps people stuck—and how awareness helps you get free What surprised Shannon after she stopped drinking Building self-trust one choice at a time—without needing a dramatic moment Holding boundaries at home while staying connected in a relationship Why worry can feel like love—and what it costs you Learning to approach hard conversations with more safety and less panic And other topics… Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: Overcoming Shame and Embarrassment After Drinking - Reader’s Question - EP 722 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-722-readers-question-overcoming-shame-and-embarrassment-after-drinking/ Using Alcohol for Stress Relief - Naked Life Story – Allison B. - EP 715 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-715-naked-life-story-allison-b/ Learning to Trust Yourself Again - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E746 - https://thisnakedmind.com/learning-to-trust-yourself-again-alcohol-freedom-coaching-e746/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind Quince: get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked Shopify: Sign up for $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind
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    41 mins
  • How to Deal With Stress Without Alcohol | Alcohol Freedom Coaching | EP 893

    How to Deal With Stress Without Alcohol | Alcohol Freedom Coaching | EP 893
    Mar 31 2026
    Ever notice how the craving doesn’t wait til you get home? How it shows up the second the day gets heavy? Coaches Cole and Hayley sit down with Beth and Patrick to unpack what’s really happening under the urge to drink, and how to respond with support instead of self-criticism. Along the way, they answer a question so many of us have asked: What is the best way to deal with stress without alcohol? Beth learns a new way to understand her cravings, and Patrick builds momentum with small, realistic steps that stick. In Beth's session: Why work stress makes weekday cravings feel so intense The firefighter analogy: seeing the part of you that reaches for alcohol as a protector, not an enemy Replacing "control" with "connection" as a new way to approach cravings A somatic exercise to sit with difficult emotions How setting a check-in timer throughout the day can prevent cravings from building up Building confidence by stacking small wins and evidence that you can ride out tough moments Learning the best way to deal with stress without alcohol when panic hits at work And more… In Patrick's session: Why retirement unexpectedly led to more drinking and weight gain The difference between behavior-based and emotion-based goals How micro commitments create lasting change without overwhelm Experimenting with yoga, pickleball, martial arts, and guitar as alcohol-free alternatives Using the "closer or farther" question as a pattern interruption before happy hour The best way to deal with stress without alcohol, when boredom and habit take over And more… Cole Harvey is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach. For years, he felt lost and used alcohol as a way to cope, until he decided to go alcohol-free and focus on finding his purpose. Through curiosity, self-compassion, and adventure, he transformed his life. As a habit change and mindset coach, Cole helps men understand themselves, build better habits, and find meaning. Learn more about Coach Cole: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/ Hayley Scherders is a certified TNM Coach with training from the CAMH. Drawing from personal experiences, Hayley understands how tough change can be and provides a safe, compassionate, and judgment-free space where her clients can feel supported. She believes that with the right mindset, anyone can change their life at any time. Learn more about Coach Hayley: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/hayley-scherders/ Episode links:nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: Alcohol After 60 - Coaching Questions - EP 418 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-418-coaching-questions-with-scott-pinyard/ Can You Stop Drinking Due To Work Stress - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - EP 803 - https://thisnakedmind.com/drinking-because-of-work-stress-e803/ Why do I end up drinking by myself whenever I am bored or stressed? - Reader Question - EP 594 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-594-reader-question-why-do-i-end-up-drinking-by-myself-whenever-i-am-bored-or-stressed/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind Quince: get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked Shopify: Sign up for $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Letting Go of Wine Culture | Sherri’s Naked Life | EP 892

    Letting Go of Wine Culture | Sherri’s Naked Life | EP 892
    Mar 28 2026
    TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of substance use, parental substance abuse, blackouts, and trauma-related behaviors. Letting go of wine culture—what if it’s not about losing something… but getting you back? Sherri grew up in a world where partying was normal, alcohol was everywhere, and being “the fun one” felt like her role. Over time, that same “fun” turned into nightly wine autopilot, constant bargaining (“just one,” “only certain days”), and the kind of loneliness that sneaks up on you when drinking starts shrinking your life. Then one Saturday, Sherri wandered into a library and found The Alcohol Experiment—and the experiment mindset finally gave her a way to step out of the shame spiral and into curiosity. Today, Sherri has become an integral part of The Alcohol Experiment Facebook group—her honest, funny, real posts continue to encourage people on day one, day thirty, or year six. Honestly? She’s the unofficial TAE mascot. In this episode, Coach Cole and Sherri talk about what changes when you stop fighting yourself and start choosing yourself. Sherri and Coach Cole discuss: Sherri’s early years: when partying was “normal” and alcohol was everywhere How wine turned into identity (“I can’t imagine me without it”) The exhausting moderation loop: rules, resets, bargaining, repeat Why drinking slowly shifted from social to isolating Blackouts, staying home to “be safe,” and the loneliness that followed The library moment that introduced Sherri to The Alcohol Experiment Letting go of wine culture without shame—using curiosity instead The power of community + accountability inside the TAE Facebook group Why Sherri has become an integral part of the group (and the unofficial TAE mascot!) What changes over time: cravings as passing thoughts, confidence as a new normal And more… Episode links: alcoholexperiment.com Related Episodes: Should I Try Moderation - Reader Question - EP 370 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-370-reader-question-should-i-try-moderation/ How do I go back to normal life after The Alcohol Experiment?- Reader Question - EP 508 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-508-reader-question-how-do-i-go-back-to-normal-life-after-the-alcohol-experiment/ Who Am I Without Wine?: Identity & Sophistication - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - EP 801 - https://thisnakedmind.com/creating-a-new-identity-after-quitting-drinking-alcohol-freedom-freedom-coaching-e801/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at ⁠betterhelp.com/nakedmind⁠ . Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/naked⁠ . Shopify: Sign up for a $1 month trial at ⁠shopify.com/mind⁠
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    47 mins