It's Hard

First, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. To all of you who have supported It's Hard over the past 4 years, I am forever grateful. In this episode, I explain why I made this difficult decision to move on from this chapter in my life. It wasn't an easy choice but I know it is what is best for me in the long run. In this transition, I am thrilled about my time being shifted toward...

Toxic relationships are heavy and hard to understand. Why me? Why would this happen? Did I deserve that? Today, I talk openly about my personal experience in a toxic relationship and how studies have shown the way alcoholism and addiction play a role. It is highly likely that you or someone you know has experienced or is experiencing abuse and toxicity in a relationship, you aren't alone.  SALT LA...

Do you often google: "How to know if I should stop drinking?" or "Do I have a problem with alcohol?" and come up with the same unhelpful results? This episode is centered around encouraging you to ask yourself the questions that will help you come to the conclusion of how alcohol plays a role in your life and what you want that to look like moving forward. I am not giving professional advice on ho...

We Talk About: What drinking was when she was young When/why/how she drank for the first time My Dad's struggle with alcohol + how it impacted her My drinking habits My decision to get sober + her thoughts on it It’s Hard Resources:  https://www.itshardpodcast.com Follow It's Hard on Instagram if you don't already! I share updates on the episodes, chats about mental health and other parts of my li...

How to accept your past with drinking. We all know we made mistakes, embarrassed ourselves, and failes miserably. How can we move forward and accept that part of our past?  Today I talk aboout: Remembering/Reflecting on what you did in your past. Who did it impact? Who might you have hurt? How and why? Forgive YOURSELF How to Apologize Properly Decide to put your best foot forward Show graditude t...

It’s Hard Resources:  https://www.itshardpodcast.com Follow It's Hard on Instagram if you don't already! I share updates on the episodes, chats about mental health and other parts of my life--go check out https://www.instagram.com/itshardpodcast/ Follow It's Hard on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itshardpodcast?_t=8U6RZblQ79X&_r=1 Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.app...

Emerson Hannon is an engineer turned full-time blogger/content creator based in Minneapolis, MN. She has been sober for over 6 years and she comes on the show to share her experience through choosing sobriety and enhancing her life through this choice.  What we talk about: Finding sobriety through trial and error Bachelorette Parties Blogger events How sobriety impacts health and wellness  Fun thi...

It's been nearly 2 years since my last drink, but I still crave the buzz of alcohol, getting drunk with friends, and the taste of a true IPA. In today's episode, I share what I do when I have those feelings.    It’s Hard Resources:  https://www.itshardpodcast.com Follow It's Hard on Instagram if you don't already! I share updates on the episodes, chats about mental health and other parts of my lif...

What did you grow up believing you couldn't talk about? My friend Sandy and I are starting a new series where we chat openly about the stuff we were all taught to keep quiet growing up. Today we talk openly about alcoholism.  Catch Sandy and I every first Thursday of each month for this new series! It’s Hard Resources:  https://www.itshardpodcast.com Follow It's Hard on Instagram if you don't alre...

Fiona Peterson joins the podcast today to share her story of choosing sobriety and becoming a new mom within the same year. Fiona understands her privlege of being able to CHOOSE sobriety. She got sober and found out she was pregnant just a few weeks later. Today, she shares her story of choosing sobriety while becoming a new mom and how it has impacted her life.    It’s Hard Resources:  https://w...

Answering your questions about sobriety!  Participating in holidays that are surrounded by alcohol?  Sober friends? Tips for a sober friend attending a bachelor/bachelorette party? Is it appropriate to ask someone if they will ever drink again? What to say if your friend says "I miss when you used to drink"?  It’s Hard Resources:  https://www.itshardpodcast.com Follow It's Hard on Instagram if you...

Adam Kirr is a non-alcoholic beverage advocate and recently sober. Today he shares his journey from blacking out in college, to drinking in moderation to being sober. He shares how reducing alcohol consumption can benefit our health, why dating is harder when you don't drink, and the BEST NA options in his opinion.  Adam Kirr Resources: https://www.instagram.com/charmcityadam/ It’s Hard Resources:...

Alex Zauner has been sober since 2014. Before the sober curious movement, before NA bars, before delicious NA options. The only option for her when getting sober was going to recovery. Today, she has created various modalities that help people on their journey of getting sober. She does 1 on 1 coaching, group coaching, and has started more than one sober community that meets weekly. In this episod...

Paige shares easy ways to tell people you are sober, sober curious, you aren't drinking or you don't drink. She also talks about the sad truth that people will bully you about it and full blown not support your decision. How do you overcome that, how do you set boundaries with those people? It’s Hard Resources:  https://www.itshardpodcast.com Follow It's Hard on Instagram if you don't already! I s...

Do you serve alcohol? What do you do at your bachelorette? How does sobriety and being a bride work? Will your partner drink? It’s Hard Resources:  https://www.itshardpodcast.com Follow It's Hard on Instagram if you don't already! I share updates on the episodes, chats about mental health and other parts of my life--go check out https://www.instagram.com/itshardpodcast/ Follow It's Hard on TikTok:...

EPISODE RE-RELEASE - This episode is from May 2022 when I was one year sober.  TW : This episode contains mention of suicidal ideation + alcoholism. I got sober one year ago today. In this episode, I talk about why I got sober and what the journey has looked like ever since. Sobirety has impacted my mental health in ways that I never would have imagined. What better way to kick off Mental Health A...

Lets talk about sex! Disclaimer: my journey to overcoming my sexual trauma is still underway. Another disclaimer: I don't go into any unneccesary detail, this episode is focused on mindset, mental health, and overcoming trauma.  Sex while sober can be hard. Add trauma from past sexual experiences on top of that, it is a doozy. I am here to share my personal experience as I work through sexual trau...

Dry January is coming to a close, and with that is the thought of "what does drinking look like now?". Are you going back to how it was before? Are you making small changes? Is sobriety in your future? I am here to talk you through alllllll these feelings you might have in these final days of an alcohol free month!   It’s Hard Resources:  https://www.itshardpodcast.com Follow It's Hard on Instagra...

The #1 question I get asked is "what do you do if your partner drinks??". I thought, who better to bring on than MY partner to talk openly about this dynamic.  What we talk about: His thoughts when I decided to get sober Boundaries with alcohol My insecurities when I got sober What he wants as a partner How to meet each other where we are at Communication  Triggers It’s Hard Resources:  https://ww...

Chelsey is sharing the voice recording of her having a live mental breakdown in a foreign country. She talks about the honesty of feelings, contemplating checking yourself into a hospital, considering drinking again after more than a year of sobriety, and MORE. We listen to the whole recording, it is raw, vulnerable and so honest.  Chelsey's Resources: BUY HER BOOK: https://i-like-you-minneapolis....

Being sober while dealing with emotions is HARD. If you have drank, you know the feeling of needing a glass of wine after a long day. Taking the edge off makes things a bit easier. So what happens when you decide to stop drinking? How tf do you deal with emotions? Well, it is hard, and I am still figuring it out. The one thing I can promise, is that you will feel everything, which is a blessing an...

One of the biggest fears I had when I decided to stop drinking at 22 years old was...am I not going to be fun anymore? In this episode I talk about how I am finding that my "fun factor" is up to ME! How fun we are is not determined by society's measure of fun but rather how we see ourselves and what we enjoy.  What I talk about in this episode: My fears going into sobriety Will I be enough? Will p...

Dry January? Damp January? How can you experiment with life without alcohol? What I Talk About: How 2022 shifted the sober curious movement What is Dry January? How to do Dry January with purpose and intention What happens if you have a craving for alcohol? How can you shift it to damp january? Sober Curious vs Sober vs Zero-Proof Forward vs Mindful Drinking How important is alcohol to you? Can yo...

This episode is a perfect depiction of the entirety of this show. Relateable and all over the place. Thank you for listening for 100 episodes -- wtf??? Today we talk about: Random shit Embarassing stories (ours and YOURS) Insecurity of not being athletic  Being driven by childhood passions Basic things that are hard Gruvi is doing a giveaway for my 100th episode! Go to @itshardpodcast on instagram...

The New Year is coming up and if you are anything like me, you don't realllyyy stress about jumping into a new year. However, it is a good time to reflect, level set, and create a vision for the next year of your life. I deeply believe in doing everything with intention. If you want your life to be a certain way, you have the capacity to create the life you desire. You just have to do the WORK. In...