It's Not About the Alcohol

Today's episode is a must-listen for any woman navigating midlife hormonal changes and struggling with overdrinking.  Colleen sits down with Bria Gadd—the Period Whisperer—to talk about the real reason so many high-achieving women hit a wall in their 30s and 40s. This is an honest conversation about how to hear your body's whispers before they become screams, and why pushing through your exhaustio...

In today's episode, Colleen shares a simple and powerful practice that can shift your energy in seconds—and help you stop carrying what your body is desperate to let go of. If you've ever felt like you should stop drinking, overworking, or people-pleasing—but you keep doing it anyway—this episode will show you why resistance doesn't work, and how to reconnect with the wisdom of your body instead....

Today's episode is all about emotional flow—how energy moves through your body and what to do when it gets stuck. Colleen explains how your thoughts can block the natural upward movement of desire, inspiration, and curiosity—reversing the flow and creating emotional heaviness, anxiety, and burnout. You'll learn why it's not always necessary to unpack your childhood or analyze every emotion. Someti...

In this episode, Dr. Aimee joins Colleen to explain what it really means to have "stored trauma" in the body—and why unresolved trauma often shows up not as flashbacks, but as fatigue, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and habits like nightly drinking. You'll hear how trauma is stored at the cellular level, why cognitive awareness isn't enough to heal it, and what it really takes to feel safe in you...

Today's episode is all about the practice of being okay no matter what . Colleen shares the mindset shift that changed everything for her—especially while growing her business on TikTok—and how you can apply the same concept to anything in your life. Whether it's tech glitches, traffic, or your partner's tone of voice, there's always an invitation to be bothered—or an opportunity to practice emoti...

In today's episode, Colleen shares a powerful mindset shift that can make changing any habit feel easier, faster, and more sustainable: stop trying to "get it right" — just focus on getting it better. Inspired by the concept of the iterative mindset from Dr. Kira Bobinet's research, Colleen explains why the old black-and-white idea of relapse and failure doesn't belong in habit change—and how a si...

On today's episode, Colleen answers a question from a listener who's successfully changed her own drinking habits—but finds herself frustrated by her husband's drinking. If you've ever felt like someone else's behavior is sabotaging your progress, this episode will help you take back your emotional power. Colleen walks through her framework for emotional ownership and teaches how to release the be...

In this episode, Colleen invites you to take your emotional temperature and ask a powerful question that could change everything: How can I make this fun and easy? Whether you're racing through your day with a nervous system stuck in overdrive or stuck in bed with your to-do list haunting you, the solution isn't more hustle—it's ease. But ease isn't a circumstance. It's an emotional state. And you...

In today's episode, Colleen shares a raw and relatable story about frustration, tech fails, and the moment she remembered one of the most powerful tools she teaches: making friends with your feelings. You'll hear how a seemingly small trigger (a broken download link before a long workday) became the perfect opportunity to practice emotional sobriety. She walks you through how to recognize emotiona...

Colleen answers a listener question from a woman who's done incredible work reducing her drinking—but still finds herself overdoing it when she's with her best friend. Sound familiar? Whether it's wine with your ride-or-die or happy hour with the same old crew, this episode gives you the tools to enjoy yourself and feel good the next morning. Colleen breaks down how to stop waiting for your friend...

In today's episode, Colleen breaks down how the language you use— especially when it seems neutral or logical —can silently sabotage your ability to change. You'll hear why  "I just need to stop drinking" is actually a negative thought (and how it keeps your brain stuck in the problem instead of moving toward the solution). She explains how to recognize these mental error codes, shift into a more...

In today's episode, Colleen shares a personal reflection she recorded nearly a year ago—but it's just as relevant now, especially if you're feeling stuck, off-balance, or like a hot mess who should be further along by now.  This episode isn't about getting it all together—it's about what to do when you don't. You'll hear how she used the exact tools from the program to navigate the emotional chaos...

"Stop saying that you want to stay sober or drink in moderation. Because what you really want is to feel calm, capable, and in control." Colleen Freeland Kachmann   There are 3 invisible, unmet needs that keep high-achieving women from easily changing their drinking habits: a lack of connection, direction and feedback.   If you've ever wondered "Why am I doing this to myself?"—this episode will ch...

In today's episode, we're flipping the script on what it means to "manifest change" when it comes to your relationship with alcohol. Every habit you have was built through attention, repetition, and belief. You already know how to manifest. You've done it before. The question is: can you do it on purpose? If you've ever told yourself "I know better and won't do that again", but you keep doing it a...

In today's episode, we explore a powerful lightbulb moment from inside the Next Chapter program—one that's helping women actually enjoy the mindful drinking experiment and finally feel real momentum. This is for you if you've meant to try mindful drinking but skipped it, overdid it, or didn't enjoy the process. That's not a failure—it's a sign you were missing one critical piece: community support...

On December 6th, 2023, I made the scariest—and most transformative—decision of my life. I chose to believe in myself. Not in a "feel-good" kind of way, but in a way that demanded action before certainty and courage before confidence. This episode is a personal snapshot from that turning point—a moment when I faced fear, financial dependence, and self-doubt… and decided to move forward anyway.   To...

In today's episode, you'll explore one of the most common patterns that keeps high-achieving women stuck: worrying about what other people might think.  Colleen breaks down how the fear of being misunderstood, judged, or perceived a certain way can quietly derail your growth, your boundaries, and your goals. You'll learn why managing other people's emotions never works—and what to do instead when...

In this reflective episode, Colleen shares a personal moment from a particularly full chapter in her life—a season of growth, transition, and pushing hard to bring her program to life. What began as a weekend packed with work turned into a deeper realization about brain fog, creative blocks, and the quiet wisdom of the body. If you've ever tried to think your way through exhaustion or override you...

Scroll down to find the supplement protocols and link to my curated list on Amazon for easy shopping.   If you're a daily drinker and want a highly effective tool that can quickly and easily help you break the habit, this episode is for you.    Most people don't understand that the urge to eat, drink or use a drug to help you function or feel better is biological. Your brain is not producing adequ...

In this episode, Colleen reflects on a quote that's been echoing in her mind for weeks:  "Yes, I'm full of myself. Who else am I supposed to be full of?" — a line from none other than Matthew McConaughey. It's not just cheeky—it's powerful. Because for so many women, being "full of yourself" has been cast as a flaw, a risk, or something to avoid. Colleen shares how a recent, painful experience of...

In today's episode, Colleen shares a powerful fable that illustrates what it really means to rise in the face of difficulty—and why your response to a moment matters more than the moment itself. Whether it's a tech failure, a relapse, a hard conversation, or a sudden life disruption, what defines your trajectory isn't the challenge—it's how you choose to relate to it. Through personal stories of r...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to feel truly relaxed and content in the evenings–without needing a drink to get there?   If you rely on a glass (or a bottle) of wine to relax after work, you're not alone. Using alcohol to cope with stress is a habit that many women fall into–especially those who feel like they never get a break.   But too much alcohol leaves you feeling overwhelmed a...

In today's episode, Colleen dives into the balancing act of self-awareness and how it shapes not just our choices, but our fulfillment. She shares her raw personal journey of realizing that she had built a life that  looked great on the outside—checking all the right boxes—but left her feeling empty. Instead of blaming external circumstances, she started asking better questions: Am I actually inte...

In today's episode, Colleen shares a powerful perspective shift that can change everything about how you experience drinking—without focusing on drinking at all. Instead of obsessing over how much you drink, the real work is learning how to respond to yourself after you drink. She walks through a personal experience of having a hangover without guilt, shame, or frustration—just curiosity, self-car...

How many times have you woken up with a nasty hangover and sworn that you'll never make that mistake again?   But as soon as the pain goes away, so does the motivation to keep your promise.    In this episode, I teach you how to create an emergency hangover kit. So you are prepared to see your inevitable setbacks as opportunities for growth instead of shameful failures.   Hangovers serve an essent...