This Naked Mind Podcast

Trigger Warning: This episode contains a reference to sexual assault.

Choosing freedom over fitting in. What if that one decision changed everything? Maxine grew up in an Irish culture where drinking was considered a vital piece of celebration, identity, and belonging, and for years she rode the exhausting cycle of stopping, starting, and negotiating with alcohol. Then she took on 75 Hard for her health, realized people were waiting for her to “be a drinker” again, and found herself craving something deeper than social approval: stability, clarity, and real joy. A sunrise on New Year’s Day became the moment she knew she was done for good. In this episode, Maxine joins Coach Cole to share how she stepped off the rollercoaster, stopped explaining herself, and built a life she genuinely loves—without alcohol.

In this episode, Coach Cole and Maxine discuss:

The cultural messages about alcohol that shaped Maxine’s early relationship with drinking

What it felt like to be able to “pause,” but not truly feel free

Why the mental load of alcohol was the most exhausting part

How 75 Hard became a socially acceptable “pass” to stop drinking

Choosing freedom over fitting in when people push back on your decision

The New Year’s Day sunrise moment that made her say, “I’m done”

Why she identifies as a “zero consumption” person and doesn’t romanticize moderation

How she handles parties now: honesty, boundaries, and bringing her own options

Playing it forward to dissolve cravings and protect her peace

And other topics…

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

Do other countries have as much of a problem with alcohol as we do in the U.S.? - Reader Question - EP 244 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-244-reader-question-do-other-countries-have-as-much-of-a-problem-with-alcohol-as-we-do-in-the-u-s/

 The Cost of Fitting In - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - EP 785 - https://thisnakedmind.com/the-cost-of-fitting-in-alcohol-freedom-coaching-e785/

Is it better to drink in moderation or not at all? - Reader Question - EP 574 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-574-readers-questions-is-it-better-to-drink-in-moderation-or-not-at-all/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at ⁠betterhelp.com/nakedmind⁠ . Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/naked⁠ . Shopify: Sign up for a $1 month trial at ⁠shopify.com/mind⁠

What happens when you're doing all the "right things" but still feel stuck? Coaches Cole and Soraya guide Audra and Scott through the messy middle of changing their relationship with alcohol. Audra's wrestling with pressure to be perfect while learning how to stop drinking when you're bored, and she’s seeing wins even when her brain tries to minimize them. Scott just moved, lost people he loved, and retired all at once, and he's realizing that what he called "boredom" was actually disconnection in disguise. Through heartfelt coaching, both discover that taking tiny steps and trusting the process is enough.

Audra’s Session:

Learning to view data points without harsh self-judgment

Shifting from drinking at home when bored to having occasional wine with dinner

Using exercise as a powerful tool to interrupt negative thought spirals

Why self-doubt is actually trying to protect you, not sabotage your progress

Learning how to stop drinking when you're bored by redirecting to healthier activities

Building trust in herself by stacking evidence of progress

And more...

Scott’s Session:

Changes in his first 10 days—better sleep, improved digestion, more patience

How retirement, relocation, & loss led to increased drinking

Recognizing that boredom often disguises deeper feelings of defeat and disconnection

Journaling to release heavy thoughts instead of carrying them around

Learning how to stop drinking when you're bored with genuine rewards

Navigating social situations like Oktoberfest with a club soda and lime

Plus more...

Cole Harvey is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach. For years, he felt lost and used alcohol as a way to cope, until he decided to go alcohol-free and focus on finding his purpose. Through curiosity, self-compassion, and adventure, he transformed his life. As a habit change and mindset coach, Cole helps young men understand themselves, build better habits, and find meaning.

Learn more about Coach Cole: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/

Soraya Odishoo is a compassionate Certified This Naked Mind Coach who blends somatic healing with therapeutic models to support recovery. She serves people who feel disconnected from their true selves and want freedom from substances or behaviors that no longer serve them. She takes a trauma-informed, heart-centered approach with a strong focus on accessibility for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Learn more about Coach Soraya: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/soraya-arjan-odishoo-alpc/

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

How Do I Overcome the Trigger of Boredom? - Reader Question - EP 32 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-32-reader-question-how-do-i-overcome-the-trigger-of-boredom/

 How Do I Stop Sabotaging My Attempts to Quit Drinking? - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - EP 829 - https://thisnakedmind.com/how-do-i-stop-sabotaging-my-attempts-to-quit-drinking-e829/

How Can I Gain Momentum In Becoming Alcohol Free? - Reader Question - EP 518 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-518-reader-question-how-can-i-gain-momentum-in-becoming-alcohol-free/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? 

Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at ⁠betterhelp.com/nakedmind⁠ . Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/naked⁠ . Shopify: Sign up for a $1 month trial at ⁠shopify.com/mind⁠

Can you really have more fun, deeper connections, and better adventures without alcohol? Elise wasn't sure. She'd spent her whole life watching alcohol take center stage at every party, every milestone, every celebration. Her mom always said it helped her relax. Her dad marked achievements with champagne. As a kid, Elise mixed the perfect gin and tonic every night. Fast forward to her high-powered corporate career, and alcohol had become her coping mechanism for the pressure, the travel, the constant performance in male-dominated spaces. The problem? She'd lost that magical off button other people seemed to have. Approaching 50, she felt anxious about where this was all heading. Would her dependency just keep growing? After joining The Path at 54, she stopped drinking within weeks and hasn't looked back. Over a year later, Elise realizes she's not missing out; she's gaining a life that feels fuller, brighter, and more peaceful. She even finds herself saying, with genuine surprise, why I don't miss alcohol anymore. She's got more energy, sleeps better, shows up fully in her relationships, and is genuinely excited about turning 60. Life isn't just manageable without alcohol. It's actually more joyful.

Coach Cole and Elise discuss:

Growing up as the family peacekeeper in a chaotic, alcohol-centered household

Learning that being the "good girl" brought rewards but losing yourself in the process

How alcohol became the crutch for surviving high-pressure corporate life

Losing the ability to find your "off button" with drinking as you get older

Understanding why I don't miss alcohol anymore after breaking the dependency cycle

Discovering that the science behind alcohol's effects changes everything

Navigating a five-week adventure with a drinking friend while staying joyfully alcohol free

Why taking back your power from alcohol opens up possibilities you never imagined

Finding genuine relaxation and stress relief without needing a drink

Approaching 60 with excitement instead of anxiety about the future

And more topics…

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

Why can some people stop at 1 or 2 drinks and others can’t? Reader Question - EP 538 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-538-reader-question-why-can-some-people-stop-at-1-or-2-drinks-and-others-cant/

How to avoid drinking at a boozy sales meeting? - Reader Question - EP 200 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-200-reader-question-how-to-avoid-drinking-at-a-boozy-sales-meeting/

Happy Days with Gabby Bernstein - Interview - EP 485 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-485-happy-days-with-gabby-bernstein/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? 

Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind . Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked . Shopify: Sign up for a $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind

What happens when you're crushing your break, feeling better than you have in years, but that little voice starts whispering, "Okay, but what about day 31?" In this episode, Coaches Soraya and Hayley help two Path members figure out exactly that. Christine opens up about her "Hellcat" pattern of achievement and escape, learning how to stay on track after a 30-day alcohol break by understanding the anxiety underneath it all. Alex discovers he doesn't need a task to check off—he can follow how good he feels as his GPS. These conversations get real about navigating life beyond the break, being with uncomfortable feelings, and building momentum that lasts.

In Christine's session:

Understanding binge drinking cycles as responses to anxiety and perfectionism

Learning how to stay on track after a 30 day alcohol break by addressing underlying emotions

Why seeking worthiness through external validation fuels the urge to escape

The "Hellcat" pattern of going full speed then crashing with alcohol to decompress

Discovering anxiety isn't the enemy—it's a signal asking for attention and care

Tools for being with uncomfortable emotions instead of numbing or escaping them

How transforming your relationship with anxiety breaks the drinking cycle

And more breakthroughs about worthiness, self-compassion, and finding calm...

In Alex’s Session:

Why day 31 feels more uncertain than day 30 when the break structure ends

Practical strategies for how to stay on track after a 30 day alcohol break using emotion-based goals

The difference between completing tasks versus building a life you don't want to escape from

How lengthening your break can provide vital feedback and create new goals

Reframing potential setbacks from disappointment to curiosity and valuable data points

Choosing "renewed" over "horrible" and why emotional shifts drive lasting change

And more insights...

Soraya Odishoo is a compassionate Certified This Naked Mind Coach who blends somatic healing with therapeutic models to support recovery. She serves people who feel disconnected from their true selves and want freedom from substances or behaviors that no longer serve them. She takes a trauma-informed, heart-centered approach with a strong focus on accessibility for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Learn more about Coach Soraya: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/soraya-arjan-odishoo-alpc/

Hayley Scherders is a Senior Coach with This Naked Mind with training from the Canadian Addiction and Mental Health Association. Drawing from personal experience, Hayley provides a safe, compassionate, judgment-free space where clients feel supported. She believes that with the right mindset, anyone can change at any time.

Learn more about Coach Hayley:⁠ http://thisnakedmind.com/coach/hayley-scherders/⁠

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

How do I go back to normal life after The Alcohol Experiment? - Reader Question - E508 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-508-reader-question-how-do-i-go-back-to-normal-life-after-the-alcohol-experiment/

What is a data point? - Reader Question - E520 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-520-reader-question-what-is-a-data-point/

How To Stop Numbing Your Feelings and Start Living - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E859 - https://thisnakedmind.com/using-alcohol-to-numb-emotions-afc-e859/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? 

Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind . Quince: get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked . Shopify: Sign up for a $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of divorce and loss of a loved one to cancer.

Have you ever wondered why life changes can make old habits suddenly feel louder? Jan never imagined retirement would lead her here. She had done everything “right”—worked hard, raised her kids, showed up for everyone else. Alcohol had always felt manageable. Until it didn’t. When retirement, relocation, and COVID collided, Jan found herself drinking more to fill the long afternoons and quiet evenings. Drinking more after retirement felt normal at first, even expected. What she didn’t expect was how disconnected, anxious, and unlike herself she began to feel. In this warm, honest conversation with Coach Cole, Jan shares how she began questioning not just her drinking, but the lifelong pattern of putting herself last. Through This Naked Mind and The Path, she learned that nothing was wrong with her—and that alcohol had simply become a stand-in for rest, relief, and emotional safety.

Coach Cole and Jan discuss:

Growing up in a dysfunctional home with two alcohol dependent parents and learning to shut down emotionally

Moving to Colorado during COVID and experiencing the perfect storm of retirement, isolation, and empty nest syndrome

Drinking more after retirement and how it escalated from afternoon drinking to morning drinking

The terrifying fall down the stairs that led to hospitalization and overwhelming shame

Why AA meetings didn't feel like the right fit and how finding Annie's book changed everything

Joining The Path in April 2024 and celebrating 20 months alcohol-free

Navigating divorce after 35 years of marriage and her sister's death from cancer—all without alcohol

Learning to put herself first after a lifetime of taking care of everyone else

Starting over at nearly 70 and believing the best is yet to come

And more topics…

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

Alcohol & Older Adults, What We Need To Know - Reader Question - E152 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-152-reader-question-alcohol-and-older-adults-2/

Alcohol Over 60 - Coaching Questions - E418 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-418-coaching-questions-with-scott-pinyard/

Alcohol Free at 83 - Barbara’s Naked Life - E307 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-307-naked-life-story-barbara/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

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