Sober & Lit Podcast

Have you ever looked in the mirror and whispered, “Why can’t I just stop drinking?” I’ve been there. I tried AA meetings, white-knuckling, and beating myself up with shame… but nothing seemed to stick. In this personal episode of Sober & Lit, I share what finally changed my relationship with alcohol and the inspiring story of my client Pam, who went from daily drinking to finding freedom from...

Have you ever stood at a party, drink in hand, and quietly wondered... "When did this stop being fun?" For Coach Ruby Williams, it was a Halloween night with the kids out trick-or-treating, the parents pouring wine, and a twisted ankle she laughed off for years. But underneath the funny story was a harder truth, and a cycle so many women know by heart. In this episode, you'll discov...

"I'll deal with my drinking in January." If that thought has already crossed your mind this fall, you're not alone. But here's the twist: that promise might be the very thing keeping you stuck. Because 'Future You', the one with all the willpower on January 1st? She's still you. In this episode, Ruby Williams, who spent 20 years selling wine before becoming...

What if the best chapter of your life hasn’t even started yet? Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or 70s, maybe you’re not winding down. Maybe you’re just getting going. Maybe you’re here because: The kids have flown the nest You’re starting over after a divorce You’ve spent decades looking after everyone else , building a career, or trying to get your health back Somewhere along the way, alcoh...

After 143 episodes... Sober & Lit is changing. Today, we're turning back the clock... ✨ The moments that changed us ✨ The guests we'll never forget ✨ The laughs and behind-the-scenes memories ✨ What three years of talking about alcohol freedom taught us ✨ And why we're now choosing two different roads You'll hear what's next for Susan... What's next for me......

Imagine meeting yourself... 20 years after your last drink. What would she tell you? That all your problems disappeared? Nope. Apparently... They get classier. Today we're talking with Alysse Bryson, founder of The Sober Curator, who's had a front-row seat to 20 years of sobriety AND the cultural revolution happening around it. We're getting into: Why sober life gets bigger, not per...

He seemed pretty great in the beginning. He helped you:  Relax   Have fun   Feel confident   Celebrate   Forget your worries  Then things changed. Suddenly he was:  Wrecking your sleep   Fueling your anxiety   Taking more than he gave   Leaving you with regrets  If this were a man, your friends would probably say: “Why are you still with him?” Plot twist... We’re talking about alcohol. Today, we’r...

He’s attractive. ✔️ The chemistry is HOT. ✔️ You’re already imagining date number two. ✔️ But… --Do you actually LIKE him? --Do you trust him? --Are you compatible? Or did two glasses of wine and a whole lot of chemistry just make those questions harder to answer? Today, we're talking about dating alcohol-free with my own dating coach, Krysia Shaw. And we're getting into: ❤️ Why chemistr...

What happens when wine wasn’t just part of date night...  it was part of your sex life? Maybe it helped you:  Relax   Feel sexy   Get out of your head   Forget about your body  And then you get sober and think... “Wait... how do I do THIS without alcohol?” Today, we’re asking the questions women often whisper, but rarely say out loud:  🔥 Where did my sex drive go?  🔥 How do I feel sexy without w...

I'll love myself when... ...I lose the weight. ...I stop drinking. ...I get my shit together. ...I finally become the woman I think I should be. Sound familiar? Here's the problem: What if you don't have to change first... to deserve your own love? This month on Sober & Lit, we're talking dating, sex, intimacy and relationships. But we're starting with the relationship...

The Messy Middle Nobody tells you sobriety has a tough middle season. In this episode, Susan Larkin and Ruby Williams talk about what happens after the initial excitement fades and the real work begins. They normalize the awkward, discouraging stretch where progress is still happening even when it does not feel glamorous. They discuss why the messy middle is a normal part of alcohol-free life, how...

What if you're never going to feel completely ready to quit drinking? You keep waiting... After vacation. After the wedding. When work calms down. Next Monday. But here's the twist: Motivation doesn't create action. Action creates motivation. In this episode, we're sharing 3 ways to finally get fired up without rock bottom, more willpower, or beating yourself up: Make one decis...

Could the best years of your life still be ahead of you? Most women think going alcohol-free means giving something up... What if it's actually the beginning of becoming someone you've never met before? ✨ In this episode we sit down with Lorna Wilson , a life and alcohol-free coach from Canada whose journey into sobriety began in midlife. You'll discover: • Why alcohol often keeps...

Ever notice how boredom seems to whisper... "Have a drink?" What if that urge has less to do with boredom... and more to do with how alcohol has trained your brain? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Ruby and Susan unpack why everyday life can feel dull after years of drinking... and why that's not your fault. Inside this conversation: • Why alcohol rewires your brain's reward...

What happens when the person everyone turns to for help is quietly falling apart? Doctors spend their lives caring for others... but who cares for them? In this powerful episode of Sober & Lit, we sit down with Dr. Valerie Brooke, who bravely shares the story she kept hidden for years . Together we explore: • The silent relationship between alcohol and depression • Why high achievers often str...

What if you're not stuck... just unheard? You know alcohol isn't helping. You've read the books. You've learned the science. You've tried to change. So why do the same patterns keep coming back? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Susan and Ruby explore the missing piece that many alcohol-free journeys overlook : Why knowing isn't always enough The hidden beliefs that...

What if your best vacation didn't include alcohol? If the thought of traveling without wine, cocktails, or all-inclusive drinks sounds impossible... this episode might surprise you. Join Susan and Ruby as they chat with Darci Murray, founder of Hooked Travel , about how going alcohol-free transformed the way she experiences the world.  Together they explore: Why alcohol-free travel is more fu...

You're eating better. Exercising more. Maybe you've even had bariatric surgery... so why is the scale still moving in the wrong direction? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Ruby and Susan uncover one of the most overlooked contributors to midlife weight gain... alcohol. Together, they explore how alcohol affects your metabolism, hormones, sleep, cravings, and recovery, and why it can q...

What if the hardest part about becoming alcohol-free isn't giving up alcohol... ...it's letting go of the identity that came with it? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Susan and Ruby answer a listener question that so many women quietly struggle with: "Why do I feel embarrassed to call myself alcohol-free?" Together they explore why our brains worry so much about fitting in,...

You have the career. The family. The responsibilities. So why does that glass of wine feel harder to say no to? In this episode of Sober & Lit, we're exploring the hidden connection between alcohol, anxiety, and women. You'll discover: Why anxiety can quietly increase drinking How alcohol becomes a coping habit The surprising science behind "telescoping" Why this isn't...

Midlife. Menopause. Alcohol cravings. Coincidence... or connected? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Susan and Ruby welcome Kathleen McDermott, registered nurse and menopause coach , for a conversation every woman deserves to hear. You'll discover: Why hormones can amplify alcohol cravings How menopause impacts your brain and nervous system Why willpower isn't the answer The role of se...

You quit drinking expecting to feel amazing... but what if you're feeling worse before you feel better? So now you're wondering: "Shouldn't I feel better by now?" In this episode of Sober & Lit, Ruby and Susan unpack a little-known part of the alcohol-free journey: PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome). You'll discover: • Why recovery can feel harder than expected...

What if sobriety gave you MORE... not less? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Susan and Ruby sit down with Deborah C. Smith... business coach, entrepreneur, and powerful example of what can happen when you stop using alcohol to cope and start reconnecting with yourself. Inside this conversation: • Deborah’s story • Alcohol, ambition + high stress entrepreneurship • The wake-up call that changed...

What if summer isn’t the problem... but actually the BEST time to explore alcohol free living? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Coach Susan and Coach Ruby unpack: Why summer drinking feels so automatic How concerts, patios, vacations, and BBQs retrain your brain Building your alcohol-free “muscles” one event at a time Why nature can calm your nervous system naturally The mindset shift that chan...

What if you didn’t have to give up the wine ritual... to change your relationship with alcohol? In this episode of Sober & Lit, we sit down with Tracy Sweeney... longtime wine industry insider and co-founder of Tomorrow Cellars ... to talk about the rise of sophisticated alcohol-free wine and why so many women are rethinking what’s in their glass. We talk about: • Can alcohol-free wine actuall...