The Functional Cantina

In this episode of The Functional Cantina , I'm talking about how alcohol became part of my life long before I ever questioned it. For me, drinking started in high school and progressed in college, like it does for so many people. At the time, it felt normal. It was around friends, parties, celebrations, stress, fun, connection, and growing up. It was just something people did. But looking back no...

In this episode, I share the part of the story that still catches in my throat. I talk about my mother-in-law and the night that changed everything. I talk about what it means to love a man who has had to carry something unimaginable. About how grief doesn't just live in the past, it shows up at holidays, in quiet moments, in the empty spaces at the table. We talk about guilt. About resilience. Ab...

Some stories don't begin with us but they still shape who we become. In this first episode of The Functional Cantina , Kandice shares the moment that quietly changed the way she views alcohol forever. A story rooted in trauma, survival, and the long-lasting ripple effects of one night that occurred long before she ever entered her husband's life. This isn't a story about addiction or recovery it's...