The Sober Mom Life

I posted a reel this week about drinking and kids events that pissed off a few people on the internet. One comment in particular really stuck with me:  “My son’s first birthday is at a winery with a pumpkin patch. They need to learn a responsible, respectful relationship with alcohol so they don’t have to be sober one day.”  This is almost exactly what I would’ve thought before I experie...

The summer Bravo drought is over! Courtney is back on the show with her copious notes to tackle all of the new developments in the Bravosphere. We’ll talk all about whether it’s time to end The OC, the fan gift of Ultimate Girl’s Trip, why Real Housewives of Salt Lake is Bravo at it’s best, and how this season of Real Housewives of New York is so worth a watch after the past couple of lackluster s...

I had a new sober first this week: I got pulled over for speeding. And I’m grateful it happened. Why? Because of the sweet relief that overcame me when I realized that I had zero chance of getting a DUI. It was such a wonderful feeling to know that the worst possible outcome was just a speeding ticket, and nothing more.  If you’re in early sobriety, just remember - the freedom of sobriety wil...

Recovery coach Stephanie Hazard is full of sober wisdom at 26 years sober, and she is now the author of the excellent new book Making Sobriety Stick: A Recovery Coach’s Guide of Sustainable Change .  Today, Stephanie will share what early sobriety looked like for her as a 36-year old single mom in 1999. We’ll talk about how to navigate loneliness in early sobriety and how connection and commu...

Every time I’m on a podcast I get asked ‘what’s next?’. I never know how to answer this question, because the truth is I don’t have a grand plan for what’s coming next in my life.   If you’re feeling a similar pressure in sobriety, let me take that feeling off of your shoulders: It’s okay if you don’t know what’s next, or even if you don’t know what’s coming tomorrow. You don’t have to h...

My book, The Sober Shift: A Modern Day Guide to Living an Abundant Sober Life , is now available in paperback! Curious about the book? Tune in, because today I’m sharing a sneak peek of the introduction.  To celebrate the paperback release, I’m going on a mini book tour! If you’re in Denver or Nashville, please come say hi!  10/6 at 6pm MT in Denver, CO at The Tattered Cover Bookstore -...

Sober October has officially arrived, and if you’re giving it a try, I’ve got you. Today I’ll share my own Sober October experience, and my tips for getting the most out of Sober October.  Community is truly the secret sauce of sobriety success, so I have created a special place for you as you enter Sober October! Join my Substack, Sober For Good , for access to a daily chat thread where you...

This episode is a little different, and I’m so excited to share it with you. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being a guest on my new friend Robin Lane’s podcast, How We Love . Robin, a 92 year old practicing psychotherapist, is an absolute inspiration, and I wanted to bring our conversation to you!  You’ll hear about my personal story with alcohol and how it led me to write The Sober Sh...

Have you seen the viral ESPN clip this week from The San Francisco Giants game that was titled ‘Mom of The Year Award’? Check it out here . Let’s talk about it.  This woman’s experience is one that so many mothers face. We don’t need an ‘award’ for our overwhelm. What we need is help. Moms are overtaxed with everything we’re carrying in this world, literally and figuratively… and it makes us...

It feels like talk about perimenopause is everywhere these days, but I have so many questions. What is perimenopause, actually? How does it differ from menopause? Is hormone replacement therapy safe and effective? How do we find a doctor who will actually help us with our perimenopausal symptoms and not just tell us it’s ‘normal’ to feel this way? Is there any way for us to feel well in midlife?!&...

Early sobriety is like cleaning out your closet. It feels so great when you’re getting started, but once you find yourself surrounded by every little thing that was shoved in there? It can definitely begin to feel overwhelming.  Keep going. I promise you will not always be surrounded by the unboxed emotions that alcohol was masking. You will move through them. And if you need support? Join ou...

My mom is back! As many of you know, my mom, Susan, is a retired therapist. Today we’re taking questions from the community to get her take on topics that come up a lot as we’re learning how to really live within sobriety.  You’ll hear about if people actually change in therapy, how to split the bill when you’re sober and your friends aren’t, the main drivers for why people drink, and how to...

I’ve heard stories from so many moms about the surprising drinking culture that has grown around youth sports (especially travel sports), and I feel like as parents we need to have a challenging conversation about it. So that’s what I’m diving into on today’s Friday mini-episode.  This conversation isn’t about judgment at all, but about examining what really deserves the spotlight when it com...

Lindsay Brooke was delivered into the porn industry at just 15 years old, and nineteen when she signed the first contract herself. Narcotics quickly became Lindsay’s most trusted escape mechanism to help her handle the realities of the job. And when those stopped being enough? Alcohol found its way into the mix.  As a mother of three, Lindsay tried to leave the adult entertainment indust...

This statement made the internet try to eat me alive last week! Today I’ll share why this joke (yes, it was a joke!) comes with a kernel of honest truth about the importance of perspective shifts in sobriety. Because when you stop seeing sobriety as a punishment and start seeing it as freedom from the substance that has stolen so much from you, a joyful new reality can flourish.  Join me on m...

In this replay of one of the most downloaded episodes of The Sober Mom Life, you’ll meet Real Sober Mom Lauren. Texas born Lauren knew how to operate without alcohol. Though she was a heavy drinker in high school, she learned early on through her mother’s cancer journey that sometimes sobriety was necessary in order to attend to life’s challenges. It wasn’t until she was a mom of two that alcohol...

I’ve been glued to The Lindsay Clancy Trial for weeks, and for me it feels personal. As a new mom, I was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety/OCD. As I listen to the testimonies of this trial all I can think is - thank god my help worked .  The Lindsay Clancy Trial is laying bare how much our system downplays the challenges of postpartum women. In today’s episode, I’ll share a bit of my own stor...

One of the biggest worries that newly sober women have is how it will affect their friendships. We’re often told that the friendships that ‘matter’ will withstand our shift to an alcohol-free lifestyle. And the drinking buddies? Yes, they might fade away.   But honestly? It’s not that simple. Friendships are tricky, and sobriety can bring a lot of friendship challenges to the surface.&nb...

If this is your first sober summer I just want to say - I am so proud of you! Summer delivers so many sober firsts, and it can be very overwhelming. You’ve done an amazing job!  No matter where you are on your sober journey, the end of summer is a great time to check in with yourself. So get out a journal, because today I’ll be asking you seven questions that will help you reflect on what you...

Courtney is back! We’ve arranged our impossible summer schedules to do one of our favorite things - talk about Bravo and reality TV.  We’ll dive deep into our newest obsession - Married at First Sight - by sharing our thoughts on each couple. Plus, we’ll get into the latest developments on The Valley, from ‘Danny Darko’ to Kristen’s extremely relatable postpartum experience.  Plus - Is B...

You guys, I can’t believe it - we’re reaching the end of summer! It’s very possible that all of your trips and barbecues and family events have now passed. You might be taking stock of how this summer of sobriety has gone for you. Yet, there’s one thing that trips up so many sober moms that most don’t see coming… the boredom that lurks within the dog days of summer.  Boredom can often feel tr...

USA Today Bestselling novelist and parenting coach Kerri Maher joins me to talk about her latest book Summer of Love , an absolutely beautiful novel that tackles addiction and sobriety, and her most personal novel yet.  Today, Kerri shares how her own sobriety journey played out over the course of a decade, the transformative importance community had on her sobriety, and the perspective shift...

If this is your first sober summer, you might be starting to feel the ground beneath your feet. But… getting ready to spend time with your family of origin might make you feel thrown off your axis.  Maybe it’s an alcohol-soaked family reunion. Maybe you’re meeting your extended family at the cabin. Maybe you’re going back to your hometown. Whatever the details, these experiences can shake you...

Today’s Real Sober Mom Gina never thought she’d live life as a sober woman. Now, at six months sober she looks back and asks herself: “What was I doing?” Gina had no idea that sobriety could feel so good. She didn’t know she would feel so much more present as a mom. She didn’t know she could still ‘have fun and be fun’ without alcohol, and she didn’t know how much self forgiveness she would be abl...

I just had my 46th birthday, and as I reflect on my goals for this year, to be ‘happy’ isn’t one of them. For me, happiness now seems unsustainable, fleeting, and performative. I’m seeking different feelings entirely in this year of my life - contentment, gratitude and joy.  If you’re preparing for your first sober birthday and you don’t feel happy at the moment, don’t let that mean anything...