This Naked Mind Podcast

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses childhood trauma, parental abandonment, domestic abuse, substance use, and mental health topics. Have you ever realized you're doing to someone you love exactly what hurt you most as a child? That gut-wrenching moment hit Heather hard when she recognized she was neglecting her son the same way her alcohol dependent father neglected her. Growing up, she watch...

Is your struggle with alcohol secretly a struggle for your true self? This powerful dual-coaching session with Coaches Zoe and Cole brings you inside The Path to witness the transformation of Jason and Jim. Jason is 50 days alcohol-free but still tormented by the idea that he’s lost his place in his social circle, grappling with the fear of sacrificing his identity as he removes the "existential g...

Losing the fear of not drinking can feel impossible, can’t it? For Lindsey, alcohol was woven into every milestone: sixth-grade sleepovers, college weekends, early marriage, and long workweeks that ended with “just one more” drink on the couch. Drinking wasn’t just a habit; it was how she fit in, turned off the noise, and chased that first rush of feeling totally okay for a moment. Over time, the...

Why is it so hard to close the gap between knowing you should stop drinking and actually stopping? In this episode, we feature powerful sessions with Coach Cole and Sabine, and Coach Zoe and Mary. Coach Cole validates Sabine’s frustration, helping her realize that her goal isn't to get rid of the inner critic, but to listen to and validate all her internal "parts" so they can work together. These...

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “If you felt what I feel, you’d drink too”? Chuck gets that. For years, a combination of work stress, long commutes, and intense back pain had him pouring more than he ever planned. Drinks became his “off switch” at the end of the day and then his go-to whenever his body flared. Eventually, the pain calmed down and the stressful job shifted, but the habit of...

Ever catch yourself thinking, “Why does this feel so weird without a drink?” You’re not alone. In this episode, Coach Cole walks with Sally through the swirl of social pressure at kids’ sporting events and helps her spot the doors that open when the “alcohol door” closes. Coach Soraya sits with Ava, who’s noticing a growing gap between her knowledge and her actions. Together they explore sensitivi...

Are you ready to step into the new year feeling empowered instead of empty? The Joy Edit's final episode brings Coaches Pam, Zoe, and Haley together to reflect on what makes an alcohol-free New Year's Eve not just survivable, but genuinely joyful. Coach Zoe remembers her first sober midnight with burnt homemade pizza, fancy fizzy drinks, and the startling realization: "Oh, there you are"—that mome...

What if the very events that bring you the most joy are also your biggest source of fear when it comes to staying alcohol-free? Chris struggles with drinking at family celebrations and sports games, while T returns to The Path after two years alcohol-free that felt emotionally flat, wondering how to enjoy life without alcohol and still feel excitement and relaxation. Coach Cole helps Chris use vis...

Will the holidays be the same without drinking, or can they become more magical than you ever imagined? Coach Zoe explores that idea this week on The Joy Edit. We’re unwrapping what the holidays truly feel like when you remove alcohol and find something extraordinary waiting underneath. Your first alcohol-free holiday season might feel uncomfortable at first—like being the new kid in school—but yo...

This episode contains a discussion of childhood trauma, abuse, & emotional neglect. What if the key to your alcohol freedom lies in a past you've been trying to outrun? In this powerful episode, Path members Sian and Darci face the past. Darci shares her journey of drinking to escape memories of abuse while Coach Soraya helps unburden her inner child. Coach Zoe guides Sian through emotional suppre...

Ever walk into a holiday party and immediately feel like you need to explain yourself before anyone even asks? Reality check: you don't. Not even a little bit.  In this episode, Coach Hayley shares her own messy, beautiful journey through her first alcohol-free holidays. She talks about feeling like she was under a microscope (spoiler: she wasn't), worrying everyone was judging her (they were most...

Have you ever felt like your reactions are out of your control? Today, Rosie and Tamara explore the roots of self-judgment and shame with Coaches Cole and Hayley, Alcohol Freedom Guides for The Path. Rosie is working to reframe her reactive responses to stress and anxiety, which she realizes are tied to a childhood feeling of being "shut down." Tamara uncovers her core belief that she isn’t "good...

How do you handle holiday triggers without alcohol when every gathering feels like a test? The clinking glasses, "just one won't hurt" comments, and family dynamics can overwhelm anyone navigating an alcohol-free holiday season. Coach Zoe has a game-changing perspective: triggers aren't your enemy—they're messengers pointing to what you actually need. In this powerful Joy Edit episode, you'll disc...

Using alcohol to numb emotions—does it really keep you safe, or just keep you stuck in old patterns? For Ann, alcohol became the shortcut to avoid conflict and silence emotions she’d been told to keep hidden since childhood. For Mandy, the urge to drink after work felt like the only way to shut off stress and self-criticism. In this powerful coaching session, Coach Zoe invites both women to explor...

Ever catch yourself wondering why the holidays—meant to be joyful—can feel so overwhelming? In this first episode of The Joy Edit, Coach Pam and Coach Hayley explore exactly that. They walk alongside you through the rush of traditions, emotions, expectations, and memories that make the season both beautiful and complicated. Hayley opens up about her first alcohol-free holiday after losing her mom,...

What if the feeling you’re trying to avoid is actually pointing to what you need most? In this episode, Coach Cole and Coach Hayley guide T and Jean through compassionate exploration of the urges driving their drinking. T describes anticipation, ritual, and the itchy “deprivation sweater” she feels when she skips a drink. Jean shares how isolation and social anxiety feed her belief that she’s “not...

How do you learn how to get over drunken mistakes when the same patterns keep repeating? Jennifer spent years convincing herself that each catastrophic night was just an isolated incident—until she couldn't ignore the data points anymore. Raised to suppress her emotions in a predominantly white neighborhood as a Salvadorian, she developed an identity crisis early on that followed her into adulthoo...

What if the shift from mindless to mindful drinking could change everything? In this episode, Coach Cole sits down with Rhoda and Wendi to share what coaching inside The Path really looks like—compassionate, practical, and doable. Together, they uncover the small, repeatable steps that turn autopilot drinking into a conscious choice. From creating space in the middle of urges to redefining success...

Why does alcohol feel like the only way to quiet your mind? Drinking to deal with sensory overload and overwhelming 'white noise' was a daily necessity for Scot. After growing up surrounded by generational alcohol use, he turned to alcohol early in life, finding it was the only thing that allowed him to overcome shyness and function socially. It wasn't until later in life, after receiving a diagno...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains conversations about verbal abuse, family dysfunction, and childhood trauma. Please listen with care. Healing relationships damaged by alcohol—where do you even begin? In this candid, hope-filled episode, Coach Soraya and Coach Zoe sit down with Sherri and Kevin to give listeners a front-row peek at how The Path works—and the breakthroughs that happen inside e...

What does it really mean to be the life of the party when you can't remember the conversations you had? Tiffany grew up in a family where alcohol was as normal as water, present at every meal. Working on cruise ships and yachts, she became the person who never wanted to go home, always chasing the next bar until sunrise. Many people wonder do I need to give up partying when considering change, and...

What if cravings and emotions weren’t problems to fight but signals to listen to? That’s exactly what Jody and Lauren explore in their coaching sessions with Coach Cole. Jody asks the honest question so many of us do: “Why can’t I get rid of alcohol cravings?” Lauren opens up about how uncomfortable it feels to face her emotions instead of numbing with wine. With Coach Cole’s guidance, they begin...

Are you struggling with learning how to cope as a special needs parent when alcohol has been your go-to for years? Amy once felt the same way—thinking wine was the only way to take the edge off. But during a 30-day alcohol experiment, she uncovered something surprising: her drinking had less to do with parenting challenges and more to do with old coping patterns she’d carried for years. In this Wh...

Are you struggling to silence the inner voice that gives you a "permission slip" to drink? In this episode, Coaches Haley and Soraya offer an inside look at the breakthroughs, support, and compassion available inside The Path every day. Cara feels like she's treading water, while Michelle grapples with feeling like a failure, but they both learn valuable lessons about how to stop giving yourself p...

What if the thing holding you back from feeling better was so normal you couldn't even see it? Michael spent years as a weekend drinker—never missing work, rarely getting truly hungover, and thinking his Friday-Saturday routine was just part of life. But beneath the surface, he was gaining weight, feeling disconnected, and living in a fog he didn't know existed. When he finally calculated the calo...