It's Not About the Alcohol

EP241 Minisode: The POINT Of Feeling Your Feelings

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen walks us through a deceptively simple question that came up on a recent coaching call: How do I actually feel my feelings?...

EP240: How naltrexone and the Sinclair Method helped me stop binge drinking with Thrive Recovery's Katie Lain

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube! If you've ever wondered whether medication could help you drink less — or you've tried naltrexone and f...

EP239 Minisode: Somebody put a vape in my car

19 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a personal and refreshingly honest story about her relationship with nicotine—and how emotional sobriety has shif...

EP238 Minisode: How To Get Unworried

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen lifts the veil on a common self-sabotage mechanism that often flies under the radar: worry. What begins as a moment of ge...

EP237 Why sobriety programs don't work (and what to do instead)

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to watch on YouTube! If you've ever done an alcohol free challenge for 30, 60 or 90 days, maybe even a year, only to fall back into old hab...

EP236 Minisode: The Litmus Test For Your Truth

12 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen peels back the curtain on one of the most radical shifts we can make: recognizing that we are not our thoughts—we're the...

EP235 Minisode: The Solution To Every Problem Is To Own It

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen walks us through a high-stakes moment with one of her clients—standing at the emotional fork in the road between old hab...

EP234 The Silent Collapse of a High Performer: Mike Hardenbrook's story

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to register for the neural rewrite masterclass! How to escape your negative self-talk. Click here to watch this episode on YouTube!  What...

EP233 Minisode: Becoming The Master Of Your Own Attention And Focus

05 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a real-life moment of emotional sobriety in action—when an old blog post, a rogue email, and a morning scroll tri...

EP232 Minisode: Healing Emotionally Abusive Thinking Habits

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen reveals the sneaky way our own thoughts quietly become emotional abuse—and how to interrupt the habit of thinking things...

EP231 Here's 5 science-based strategies to reduce your drinking TONIGHT

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to register for the Rewrite Neural Pathways to Escape Negative Self-Talk Workshop on July 12th Click here to watch this episode on YouTube...

EP230 Minisode: Processing The Background Alarm

28 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen unpacks why your background alarm is going off—and how to finally turn it off. You're not lazy. You're not broken. And y...

EP229 Minisode: The Black Mirror

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You've probably heard me say the common phrase "the call is coming from inside the house" — but what if every judgment you make about someone else i...

EP228 "I've become the person I've always wanted to be" –Carley's recovery story (part 2)

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to watch the full interview with Carley on YouTube In Part 2 of Carley's story, we dive into the healing that began once she joined the pr...

EP 227 Minisode: The Upper Limit Problem

21 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most women don't realize how uncomfortable they are with feeling good—until things start going too well. That's when the sabotage creeps in. A snap...

EP226 Minisode: Becoming Unfuckwithable instead of resentful

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a powerful one-on-one coaching conversation with a client who was dreading a weekend trip with her judgmental, high...

EP225 The journey from daily binge drinking to normal drinking–Carley's recovery story (part 1)

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to watch the full interview with Carley on YouTube In this raw and relatable conversation, I'm joined by one of my incredible clients, Carl...

EP224 Minisode: Feeling rushed is not a fact

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen unpacks a subtle but powerful mindset that can completely shift how you experience stress, pressure, and time. Whether it'...

EP223 How to fix your "lack of time" problem

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you're drinking more than you want to, but every time you try to cut back it feels like one more thing to do… this episode is for you. Today, I'm...

EP222 Minisode: Stop Chasing The Highs

07 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a personal reflection on what it means to stay emotionally sober when things are going really well. When the busine...

EP221 Minisode: How to actually feel your feelings

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Colleen breaks down the difference between thinking your feelings and actually feeling them—and why most high-achieving women g...

EP220 How to heal your nervous system 3 minutes at a time—with Somatic Coach Laurie James

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is for the woman who's doing everything right—and still feels like she's falling apart.   Colleen sits down with Laurie James, soma...

EP219 Minisode: Anxiety is an alarm

31 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us see anxiety as a personal flaw—something to fix, medicate, or avoid. But what if anxiety isn't the problem at all? What if it's the invit...

EP218 Minisode: Reducing Anxiety is the Anti-Goal

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen dismantles one of the most common mindset traps she see's in her clients: the belief that anxiety is something to get rid ...

EP217 What it really means when old habits resurface

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After 10 months of consistent progress, one of my clients recently found herself drinking every day for two weeks. In this episode, I walk you through...

EP216 Minisode: Pursuing Purpose Instead Of "Less Alcohol"

24 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, you'll hear a deeply personal story about the night Colleen's college-age kids brought home a big bottle of vodka—and invited he...

EP215 Minisode: This is the woo-woo part

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If the solution to alcohol use disorder isn't a behavior, but a feeling— HOW THE HELL DO YOU PRACTICE A FEELING? In today's episode, Colleen breaks...

EP214 Histamines and hormones: why alcohol hits differently at certain times of the month with Dr. Meg Mill

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most women assume their drinking habit is a willpower issue. But what if your body is actually sounding an alarm?   In today's episode, Colleen sits ...

EP213 Minisode:Small Emotions Have Big CONsequences

17 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a story about a client who unsubscribed from her email list—and how that one glitch almost triggered a cascade of...

EP212 Minisode: It's not where you are... it's how you respond

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares the most powerful skill you can develop on your emotional sobriety journey: how you respond to yourself when you sl...

EP211 Are you drinking because your hormones are in survival mode? with Period Whisperer Bria Gadd

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is a must-listen for any woman navigating midlife hormonal changes and struggling with overdrinking.  Colleen sits down with Bria Ga...

EP210 Minisode: Simple Technique For Letting Go

10 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a simple and powerful practice that can shift your energy in seconds—and help you stop carrying what your body is...

EP209 Minisode: Controlling your energy flow

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is all about emotional flow—how energy moves through your body and what to do when it gets stuck. Colleen explains how your thoughts...

EP208 Feelings actually are facts! The Biology of Trauma with Dr. Aimee Apigian

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dr. Aimee joins Colleen to explain what it really means to have "stored trauma" in the body—and why unresolved trauma often shows u...

EP207 Minisode: Accept the invitation to be okay no matter what

03 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is all about the practice of being okay no matter what. Colleen shares the mindset shift that changed everything for her—especially ...

EP206 Minisode: Don't try to do it "right," just do better

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a powerful mindset shift that can make changing any habit feel easier, faster, and more sustainable: stop trying to...

EP205 Q&A: When you're trying to change but your partner still drinks too much

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, Colleen answers a question from a listener who's successfully changed her own drinking habits—but finds herself frustrated by he...

EP204 Minisode: How can I make this easy and fun?

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Colleen invites you to take your emotional temperature and ask a powerful question that could change everything: How can I make this ...

EP203 Minisode: Make friends with the feeling

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a raw and relatable story about frustration, tech fails, and the moment she remembered one of the most powerful too...

EP202 Q&A: Tend to get over-served by your friends?

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Colleen answers a listener question from a woman who's done incredible work reducing her drinking—but still finds herself overdoing it when she's wi...

EP201 Minisode: Negative thinking generates error codes in your brain

19 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen breaks down how the language you use—especially when it seems neutral or logical—can silently sabotage your ability to...

EP200 Minisode: How to soothe your "HOT MESS"

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a personal reflection she recorded nearly a year ago—but it's just as relevant now, especially if you're feeling ...

EP199 The 3 invisible gaps that sabotage your ability to change your drinking habits

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Stop saying that you want to stay sober or drink in moderation. Because what you really want is to feel calm, capable, and in control." Colleen Freel...

EP 198 Minisode: How to manifest a healthy relationship with alcohol

12 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, we're flipping the script on what it means to "manifest change" when it comes to your relationship with alcohol. Every habit you h...

EP197 Minisode: What happened at our 1st virtual mindful drinking meetup

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, we explore a powerful lightbulb moment from inside the Next Chapter program—one that's helping women actually enjoy the mindful ...

EP196 The day I took off my wedding ring and the 3 resilience skills that helped me save myself

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On December 6th, 2023, I made the scariest—and most transformative—decision of my life. I chose to believe in myself. Not in a "feel-good" kind of...

EP195 Minisode: How your fears alter your behavior

05 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, you'll explore one of the most common patterns that keeps high-achieving women stuck: worrying about what other people might think...

EP194 Minisode: Making friends with my brain fog

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this reflective episode, Colleen shares a personal moment from a particularly full chapter in her life—a season of growth, transition, and pushin...

EP193 How to use amino acid supplements to fix neurotransmitter deficiencies that trigger alcohol cravings

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scroll down to find the supplement protocols and link to my curated list on Amazon for easy shopping.   If you're a daily drinker and want a highly e...

EP192 Minisode: Be more full of yourself

29 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Colleen reflects on a quote that's been echoing in her mind for weeks: "Yes, I'm full of myself. Who else am I supposed to be full o...

EP191 Minisode: A story for when you are feeling overwhelmed or defeated

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a powerful fable that illustrates what it really means to rise in the face of difficulty—and why your response to...

EP190 The truth about alcohol, anxiety and the science of self-regulation with Dr. Russell Kennedy

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to feel truly relaxed and content in the evenings–without needing a drink to get there?   If you rely ...

EP189 Minisode: Are you attracting friends who make you better?

22 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen dives into the balancing act of self-awareness and how it shapes not just our choices, but our fulfillment. She shares her...

EP188 Minisode: My happy hangover story

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a powerful perspective shift that can change everything about how you experience drinking—without focusing on dri...

EP187 The Secret to Self-Control (It's Not Willpower)

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How many times have you woken up with a nasty hangover and sworn that you'll never make that mistake again?   But as soon as the pain goes away, so d...

EP186 Minisode: Planning to drink... what if i want more?

15 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen unpacks a common fear for those trying to reduce their drinking: What if I want more? If you've ever found yourself preocc...

EP 185 Minisode: How to access upstream willpower

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen breaks down why willpower is an exhausting and unsustainable way to change your behavior. If you've ever tried to "power t...

EP184 The connection between chronic pain and emotional stress with SIRPA founder Georgie Oldfield

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you experienced lingering pain after an injury that doesn't go away even though you've done everything you can to heal?   Most of us assume that...

EP183 Minisode: How to escape negative thinking

08 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen dives into the power of setting a central guiding intention—one that helps rewire limiting beliefs, quiet overthinking, ...

EP182 Minisode: Finding your zone of genius

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen unpacks the hidden ways we keep ourselves stuck—whether it's staying in a comfort zone that no longer serves us, running...

EP181 Million-Dollar Mindset: Your genius deserves a bigger payday with Kay Allison

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you capable of earning more than you do?   A lot of brilliant women fall into the trap of doing their best work for someone else. Because the ide...

EP180 Minisode: Comfort zone vs. window of tolerance

01 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen breaks down the difference between your comfort zone and your window of tolerance. She explains that while your comfort zo...

EP179 Minisode: How to handle the fear of "going back"

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Colleen shares her thoughts on the common fear of reverting to old habits—even when you're making positive changes. Instead of figh...

EP178 How to raise your vibration and transform your life with breathwork coach Kurtis Lee Thomas

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you tired of trying so hard because the changes you make never seem to last?   Most people invest their energy in external problems. They focus ...

EP177 Minisode: Becoming the master of your own attention and focus

22 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a real-life moment of emotional sobriety in action—how a simple email first thing in the morning nearly hijacked ...

EP176 Minisode: You are the creator of time

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen reveals a surprising connection between your perception of time and your drinking habits. If you constantly feel rushed, o...

EP175 Escape the shame spiral: a new approach to drinking less with Ella Lucas Averett

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the secret to drinking less has nothing to do with willpower?   If you've noticed that you tend to boomerang back into old habits after a suc...

EP174 Minisode: Stop working on yourself- you're not broken

15 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen explores a common challenge: the struggle to maintain consistent effort in self-care and personal growth. She uncovers the...

EP173 Minisode: What type of person are you?

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen reveals a powerful strategy for creating lasting change by shifting your identity instead of relying on willpower or disci...

EP172 Here's why your drinking habits aren't changing as fast as you want

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If the reason you want to drink less is because you're afraid of future health problems, you'll likely find it hard to change your habits.   Thinking...

EP171 Minisode: Uncovering deeply rooted limiting beliefs

08 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen introduces a transformative exercise to uncover the deeply rooted beliefs that might be holding you back from achieving yo...

EP170 Minisode: Try some crazy talk today

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen challenges you to radically shift how you dialogue with yourself by treating yourself as a trusted friend and cherished co...

EP169 How to change your all-or-nothing relationship with alcohol with Kathi Rueter of Do Life Big

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does your all-or-nothing attitude towards alcohol make you feel like you have multiple personality disorder?    Thinking you have to choose between ...

EP168 Minisode: Why haven't I been reading?

01 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Colleen shares how our habitual thoughts are often attempts to solve emotional problems and regulate our nervous systems. She dives i...

EP167 Minisode: Radical change is 1 percent improvement

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Colleen shares a powerful mindset shift inspired by James Clear's philosophy: meaningful change doesn't require radical transformatio...

EP166 Four reasons you should stop trying to quit drinking

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you noticed that the more you try to control your drinking, the harder it feels to control?   It's assumed that the only way to prevent over-dri...

EP165 Minisode: Why change feels so HARD

25 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen dives into the importance of setting realistic and achievable goals when it comes to detoxing or taking a break from alcoh...

EP164 Minisode: Learning to tolerate uncertainty

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen unpacks a profound quote from Mark Manson and explores how the pursuit of positive experiences often leads to stress and d...

EP163 Is drinking every day a "problem?"

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you think it's wrong to drink every day even if it's not causing problems and you truly enjoy it?   Alcohol use disorder is not defined by how muc...

EP162 Minisode: Why you're manifesting what you don't want

18 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Colleen dives deep into how shifting your focus from what you don't want to what you truly desire can transform your mindset and your...

EP161 Minisode: Actually, your feelings are facts!

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Colleen shares a personal story about navigating a tense encounter with a neighbor who demanded drastic action after a minor incid...

EP160 How to motivate yourself to drink less without shame, fear and guilt

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

NEW! Colleen's doing Q&A episodes! Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question. Your nam...

EP159 Minisode: Processing the shame of past mistakes

11 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL. If you're ready to fully commit to your personal growth and do the work to get emotionally sober (side effects in...

EP158 Minisode: How to Manifest a Healthy Relationship with Alcohol

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL. If you're ready to fully commit to your personal growth and do the work to get emotionally sober (side effects in...

EP157 How to break the habit of self-sabotage with Ella Lucas Averett

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a disciplined, ambitious grown-ass woman who still battles self-sabotaging urges?   That's normal if you're living in survival mode. When you...

EP156 Simple spending strategies that generate wealth and abundance with Money Mom Rachel Coons

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel like it's impossible to get ahead financially because life always seems to cost more than you actually have?   If you're living in surviv...

EP155 Finding purpose and pleasure in your career with Gail Taylor

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you dismiss your heart-felt ambitions because going after what you really want feels impossible?   It's easy to go for broke when you have nothing...

EP154: Practical manifestation tips to make the Law of Attraction work for you instead of against you with Alleah Friedrichs

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you constantly doing "the work" to improve yourself and wondering when you'll go from being "almost there" to feeling like you've actually arrived...

EP153 The cure for anxiety with Dr. Russell Kennedy

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How much time, energy and money have you spent on talk-therapy and medications trying to deal with your anxiety?   Most people (doctors included) thi...

EP152 Why your motivation is unreliable and how neuroscience can help you change with Unstoppable Brain author Dr. Kyra Bobinet

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like you know exactly what you should be doing but you just can't get yourself to do it?   Most of us have learned to get what we wa...

EP151 Exploring the Uses of Psilocybin and Naltrexone for Alcohol Use Disorder with Amy Devenny

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you curious to know if plant medicines like psilocybin and pharmaceuticals like naltrexone can reduce your cravings for alcohol?   For women who ...

EP150 The first step to overcome alcohol use disorder is not "drinking less"

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do you feel about yourself when you wake up and realize you did it again?   If you get hangxiety and shameovers after drinking, it's not your rel...

EP149 How to recognize symptoms of trauma

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you considered that the inability to self-correct your drinking habits could be a sign of trauma?   Most high achieving professional women assoc...

EP148 How to find the courage to switch careers mid-life with ADHD coach Brooke Schnittman

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you stuck in a job that doesn't fulfill you–but the thought of making a big career change feels impossible?   When your career isn't meeting yo...

EP147 The connection between personal power and financial independence with Julie Danielson

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do your beliefs about money impact your sense of personal power?   When your life appears to be limited by finances, it's easy to blame your disc...

EP146 Is your scale making you fat?-with Max Lowery

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does the number on your scale have the power to make or break your day?   Most people think weighing themselves on a daily basis is the best way to h...

EP145 How to resist the urge to keep drinking (while you're drinking)

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How often do you decide to have a single drink to take the edge off and end up getting completely wasted?   It sounds like a good idea because you're...

EP144 Are you more comfortable with chaos than peace? with ADHD coach Lynne Edris

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why is it that sometimes we can be hyper-focused and productive, yet at other times, the simplest tasks feel impossible?    High-achievers tend to f...

EP143 The connection between panic attacks and staying in an unhealthy relationship with Andrea Rappaport

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you put on a brave face when you're struggling– conducting business as usual while juggling a million things even though you know something is de...

EP142: Three ways your brain is blocking your motivation to drink less

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do you make sense of the fact that, even though you really do want to drink less, you keep making the same mistakes?   You know what you should d...