This Naked Mind Podcast

Isn’t it interesting that we have to feel bad about saying no to a drink? But since that’s just the way it is, what are some tips on how to say no gracefully when offered alcohol? Find out what kinds of things Annie has done to help dodge the uncomfortable game of “20 questions” when opting for something NA.

Is it hard for you to imagine going to your lake home for the weekend or the Fourth of July and not drinking? Cruising on the pontoon with only bottled water and lemonade in the cooler? For Monica, she doesn’t have to imagine it – this is her reality – and her choice. Today, Annie and Monica discuss the emotional, physical, and mental benefits of choosing a life without drinking. Find out why sett...

Often times when we give up a bad habit (like drinking), support groups and online forums can be extremely helpful….until they’re not. Can they eventually keep us stuck and drag us down? Annie answers this question from a personal perspective and shares her thoughts with us on this topic.

Born into an alcoholic home, Annie’s guest, Jordan, shares with us what life was like growing up in Sin City.  Parties that started at midnight; surviving one hangover just to suffer another; and endless bottles of liquor finally led Jordan to break away from her unhealthy lifestyle. Find out if Jordan stayed sober and what life looks like for her now. Did what happened in Vegas stay in Vegas?

With our alcohol-infatuated culture and society, it seems inevitable that we will need to discuss the topic of drinking with our kids. But is that the right thing to do? If so, what’s the best way to do this? How? And at what age? As a mom of three, Annie can relate….Find out what’s on Annie’s list of “do’s” and also what’s on her list of “don’ts” when discussing alcohol with your kids.

Scott Pinyard, head coach at This Naked Mind, is BACK! In today’s episode, Scott tackles another batch of commonly asked questions – 4 to be exact! Scott answers these with so much great insight, information, and personal experience, that you won’t want to miss what he has to say. Scott responds with his top tips on how to manage your way through changing your relationship with drinking.

Perhaps one of the most difficult parts of giving up drinking is the part where we “come out” to our friends and family. While this isn’t a big deal for everyone, it’s a real fear for some. Find out the 3 different methods Annie used when she was faced with this same circumstance.

We’ve heard Annie discuss the drinking culture in New York City, but what about the west coast? Those California beaches, the vineyards, and all that sunshine! Meet Michael from Orange County, CA, who shares his Naked Life story with us . Find out what tools he used to make the transition from a weekend binger to a sober life a bit easier. Michael shares inspiring ideas that might just make changi...

Is dreaming about drinking normal? And does it mean that I still want to be drinking? Is it possible to wake up “hungover” after a dream like this? While not an expert on the science of dreams, Annie does share her opinion on this question and explains some of her own personal experiences in dreaming of drinking. Episode Links: HOME podcast with Laura McKowen 

In today’s podcast, Annie introduces Jacqueline from the Netherlands, where drinking is part of the culture, as it is in many parts of the world. But something was different for Jacqueline. When her husband had a heart attack at age 41, she decided she could no longer continue this way. Excluded, lonely, and judged…..it wasn’t always easy to stay the course. Don’t miss Jacqueline’s story that we c...

Imagine this - a powder white beach, crystal blue water, and a balmy 85 degrees….finally a much-deserved vacation and some R&R. The only thing missing from this picture is the classic umbrella drink. So what happens when I give up drinking? No more foo foo drinks and all-inclusive, bottomless champagne with dinner? Annie gives us guidance for dealing with this question and shares how she enjoyed a...

In today’s episode, Annie welcomes Carrie, who shares a complicated story of how she went from a naïve high school girl to a sorority party girl in college. Carrie gets real about her difficulties with friendships, an abusive ex-husband, single motherhood, and loss. The common denominator in how she dealt with all of this was alcohol…until now. Join Carrie as she reveals what finally enabled her t...

Have you ever wondered if alcohol is as dangerous as some say it is? And if so, then why does our society support it so much? Annie Grace shares facts and statistics that may or may not surprise you. Learn about the tricks and secrets that the marketing and advertising industry uses to fool you into thinking drinking will make you sexy.

Welcome to this month’s Q&A episode with This Naked Mind’s head coach, Scott Pinyard,. Today, Scott discusses one of the most powerful thought processes that impacts our overall health. In this episode, Scott gives you the answer to the top 2 most frequently asked coaching questions. Scott discusses journaling, the power of visualization, and how to manage cognitive dissonance related to drinking....

Have you ever wondered if addiction is truly genetic in nature? If it is, are we doomed to become an alcoholic if there is alcoholism in our family history? Annie discusses genetic influence, susceptibility, and long term exposure.  Annie use research from a variety of sources to answer this age-old question of ‘is addiction genetic’? Links: The Addicted Brain by Professor Thad A. Polk  

Ready to meet someone super cool? Annie Grace chats it up with Taryn Strong – one of the founders of She Recovers – an organization aimed at connecting, supporting, and empowering women. Taryn takes us back to her first drink at 12 years old and walks us through her hard-partying past of alcohol and cocaine. Find out how Taryn took her recovery experience and used it to help others through a varie...

Annie recently answered a question regarding alcohol and stress. But today, she addresses what exactly she does to relax after a long, stressful day. When reaching for a drink is no longer an option, then what could possibly be as effective? Annie gives us some ideas and pointers on what works for her! Episode Links: 10% Happier by Dan Harris  

Today, Annie welcomes Karolina, who was a gray area drinker for many years.  Karolina went from being a college party girl to a weekend binge drinker to now being alcohol free. But when work, marriage, and weight gain forced her to use boundaries with her drinking, she began to cram all of her drinking into the weekends. Eventually she got tired of the ‘detox to retox’ lifestyle and gave up drinki...

What defines binge drinking? If we drink heavily on the weekends and then take a few days off only to repeat the cycle, does that make me a binge drinker? Find out what Annie says about the difference between being a daily drinker and a binge drinker and where to find support for each.

This Naked Mind and Annie Grace welcome Tricia, the host of Recovery Happy Hour podcast.  Tricia was a self-proclaimed, overachieving, co-dependent alcoholic until she finally decided that her luck was bound to run out. Tricia shares what was the hardest part of the process for her – deciding that her problem was big enough to address. After all, it’s difficult to admit you have a problem if you d...

Is it odd to miss something we never really had? When sugar isn’t something that we really had a lot of BEFORE quitting alcohol, then why the insane craving AFTER quitting? Annie leads us to an understanding of the physiological reason we actually do experience that need for something sweet.

Most of us have some sort of drinking history from college, but not Kerry – today’s guest.  Annie highlights Kerry’s naked life story today.  Kerry is a hard-working, southern gentleman who found himself using alcohol to numb the pain of losing a close loved one. He shares how he came to decide that enough was enough and now leads a happy, alcohol-free, healthy life!

We’ve heard that drinking is becoming a problem for an unsuspecting age group – those over 50.  Is this true?  And if it IS true, what explains it?  Annie answers this inquiry by confirming that yes – the demographic statistics of problematic drinking is not limited to those in college or their 20’s or 30’s, etc.  Annie shares a few of the theories surrounding this and sheds light on the physiolog...

Scott Pinyard – head coach at This Naked Mind – comes on podcast with us today to answer frequently asked questions. Scott fields a question about how to handle the temptations during an important business meeting and gives us tips on how to successfully remain alcohol free despite the pressure. He also digs into how to deal with a spouse who doesn’t want to quit drinking and the difficulties surr...

This Naked Mind is such an interesting name. What exactly does it mean?  Find out what inspired Annie to use this unique name for her book and what exactly it means to have a ‘naked mind’.