The Alcohol-Free Rebellion

Joe Sheehey went from NASA engineer to wellness entrepreneur after a wild wake-up call forced him to rethink everything. We talk partying, mental health, sobriety, and how plant wellness helped him build a new path—and a new purpose—with CURED Nutrition. This episode contains discussions about suicide. If you are feeling suicidal or if this topic is particularly sensitive for you, please proceed w...

Get ready for a very special episode! I’m joined by my sober besties, Jess and Ale — the brilliant minds behind Mocksicated — who I had the absolute joy of meeting at a sober retreat. In this conversation, we dive into their incredible journeys: the highs, the lows, the lessons, and the major wins along the way. One of the most powerful parts of hearing someone else's story is realizing how mu...

In this episode of The Alcohol-Free Rebellion , host Abby Calabrese sits down with Jess Smith—a former school principal turned life coach—for a powerful conversation about redefining success, sobriety, and self-worth. Jess shares her personal journey from "responsible drinking" to realizing alcohol was masking deeper struggles, and how stepping away from it became a gateway to radical se...

In this episode of The Alcohol-Free Rebellion , I’m joined by the fabulous Rachel — better known as Sober in Central Park . Rachel shares her powerful and refreshingly honest journey to sobriety, what it’s like navigating alcohol-free life in New York City, and how going sober led her to a whole new world — including working with Bravo's, Carl Radke. We also get into her time on Summer House ,...

In this episode, I sit down with Kezia to unpack her deeply personal and inspiring alcohol-free journey. From drinking and dating while living abroad to navigating the emotional rollercoaster of relationships, Kezia opens up about the patterns she had to break, the lessons she learned along the way, and the moment she finally chose peace over chaos. We talk about the emotional toll of seeking vali...

For years, we believed the lie—alcohol made us more confident, more social, more fun. But what if that wasn’t true? In this episode of The Alcohol-Free Rebellion , we’re busting the myth that booze ever gave us real confidence. We’ll unpack how alcohol actually dulls our true personalities, why genuine self-assurance comes from within, and how going alcohol-free reveals the most authentic, magneti...

"Mommy needs wine" culture is everywhere—but what happens when you decide to step away from it? In this episode, I’m diving into how quitting drinking has transformed my experience as a mom, helped me break generational patterns, and made me more present for my kids. We’ll explore the pressures of alcohol in motherhood, how sobriety creates a healthier family dynamic, and why taking care...

In this episode, I’m diving deep into what it’s like to rediscover yourself after quitting alcohol — and trust me, it’s not as simple as it sounds. When you start drinking in adolescence, your personal and social development can hit pause . Alcohol becomes a crutch, so you never really figure out who you are, what you like, or what you actually find fun. But once you remove alcohol? It’s like you’...

Why is quitting drinking so hard—especially when our entire social world seems built around it? In this episode, I dive into the unspoken rules of drinking culture, from the pressure to “have just one” to the way elite drinking is romanticized with fancy cocktails and expensive wines. No one bats an eye when you’re hungover, but the moment you say, “I’m not drinking,” you become the outsider. Who...

What if your relationship with alcohol isn’t just about the drink itself—but something deeper? In this episode, I dive into the hidden connection between childhood trauma, perfectionism, and alcohol use , sharing how my own experiences shaped my need for control and how alcohol played a deceptive role in my life. We’ll also explore the science behind dopamine, drinking, and why alcohol tricks your...

Sobriety isn’t one-size-fits-all, and in this episode, we dive into the spectrum of what sober curious living looks like. I share what’s been working for me, explore the growing sober curious movement, and reflect on a fabulous sober event I attended—complete with Bravoleb sightings! To wrap things up, we switch gears and chat about the drama unfolding on Real Housewives of Potomac this season. Fr...

In this debut episode, I dive deep into my personal history with drinking and share the pivotal moments that led me to choose an alcohol-free lifestyle. After 437 days sober, I reflect on the highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way. Plus, because I can’t resist a little Bravo drama, I sprinkle in my thoughts on the season finale of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City . Join me as I open u...

Welcome to The Alcohol-Free Coterie Podcast ! I’m Abby Calabrese, an alcohol-free coach, wife, and mom navigating life one year sober. Join me as I share my journey, lessons learned, and struggles with sobriety—all with a dose of humor and reality TV gossip. We’ll tackle tricky topics like redefining “sober” and navigating awkward drinking conversations. Let’s talk openly about the ups and downs o...