It's Not About the Alcohol
Episodes
EP141 BONUS! Mindful Drinking and Moderation with "Mostly Sober" author Susan Keller
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus episode, Colleen interviews Susan Keller, author of the new book Mostly Sober: A Love Story and a Road Trip. Susan shares her pe...
EP140 How perfectionism fuels emotional eating with Amber Romaniuk
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you tired of feeling trapped in a cycle of emotional eating and self-criticism? Many high-achieving women believe that if they just had more willp...
EP139 How to stop intrusive thoughts about alcohol
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you're trying to "not drink" but your brain keeps pestering you to "just have one?" Most of us put up a fight, trying to override...
EP138 Should you mend or end your marriage?--with divorce coach Karen McMahon
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Has your relationship with your partner become a significant source of stress? When you're unable to connect with the person who is supposed to be ...
EP137 The root cause of anxiety is not what you think
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is anxiety one of the main reasons why you crave alcohol? Because drinking is the simplest way to shut down your mind? The problem for most high ac...
EP136 What to do when you're approaching burnout
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you respond when you hear yourself say, "I can't keep doing this?" Most of us crack the whip and keep doing it. We beat ourselves up for bei...
EP135 Change how you respond to negative self-talk and evict the bully in your brain
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does your brain call bullshit on positive affirmations? Today's topic was inspired by a client who is struggling with negative self-talk. Whenever ...
EP134 Three easy habits to reduce anxiety and heal your relationship with yourself
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you respond when you're feeling overwhelmed and worried about everything happening in your life? Most high-achievers think that success come...
EP133 Control your drinking with the 7 core skills of emotional sobriety
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you're wondering whether or not it's really possible to become someone who has no desire to overdrink and therefore trusts herself completely with ...
EP132 The difference between behavior-based and identity-based changed
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How often do you pour a drink that you wish you had the willpower to resist? There's a big difference between knowing what you should do and having...
EP131 How to use the law of attraction to manifest a healthy relationship with alcohol with Michael Hunter
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a positive person feeling defeated by your drinking habit? It's hard to feel optimistic when you're struggling with intrusive thoughts and ...
EP130 Three skills to manage your mind so it works for you (instead of against you)
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
EP130 Three skills to manage your mind so it works for you (instead of against you) Are you tired of worrying about alcohol because no matter how h...
EP129 It's not about the money! Overcoming overspending with Paige Prichard
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have credit card debt or feel like you have to hide purchases from your partner? Feeling bad about spending money triggers cycles of shame, ...
Ep128 The 5 things I wish I'd known about life after divorce with Sadie Marie
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel stuck in your marriage and assume that life after divorce will only get worse? The only reason most of us stay in relationships that ha...
Ep127 Leaving the Church to find your truth with ex-good girl Sara Bybee Fisk
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Were you raised to believe that thoughts and feelings that don't align with your religious values are wrong and even "sinful?" Many of us who grew ...
EP126 How to reduce cravings, improve mood and feel naturally energetic with holistic hormone coach Leisha Drews
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you struggle to show up as your best self because you feel fat, tired and grumpy? Most high achieving women diagnose themselves as lazy or bitch...
EP125 The 5 biggest lies that keep you stuck in cycles of self-sabotage
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL WITH COLLEEN Are you looking for a mindful drinking coach instead of a sobriety program? I can help you reduce you...
EP124 The science of self-compassion in treating alcohol use disorder
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL WITH COLLEEN Are you looking for a mindful drinking coach instead of a sobriety program? I can help you reduce you...
EP123 The secret to weight loss is to love your body as it is
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL WITH COLLEEN Are you looking for a mindful drinking coach instead of a sobriety program? I can help you reduce you...
Ep122 Apply the 7 core skills of emotional sobriety to your next hangover
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL WITH COLLEEN Are you looking for a mindful drinking coach instead of a sobriety program? I can help you reduce you...
Ep121: The shocking and simple truth about why you're stuck with Danielle Lee Darling
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you scared of waking up in ten years and finding yourself in the exact same place…dealing with the exact same problems? It's so easy to get...
Ep120: Overcoming grief and PTSD with rapid resolution trauma therapy with Kristin Rivas
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you finding it hard to move forward in life because of a significant loss or trauma you've experienced? We can all agree there is no "right" wa...
Ep119: Is naltrexone effective in alcohol dependance?
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you considered using naltrexone or other medications to curb your alcohol cravings? As alcohol use disorder is technically a thinking problem,...
Ep118: Why you need a direct access primary care physician
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you worried about your ability to access high quality healthcare at a reasonable cost? Most of us are distracted by the politics of healthcare....
Ep:117 Five Mistakes that turn Normal Drinkers into OverDrinkers
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you worry about how much you drink? Health conscious, high achieving women who prioritize clean eating, exercise, anti-aging supplements and s...
Ep116: Why the ADHD brain is more susceptible to addiction with Eric Trivers
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you the type of person who tends to over-do it, because if one is good, ten is better? The inability to self-regulate is a hallmark symptom of ...
Ep115: Simple meditation practices that inhibit the urge to drink when you're stressed with Ann Swanson
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel pressure when you think about changing your relationship with alcohol? Like "good behavior" is just one more thing you have to work on? ...
Ep114: What to do when you can't sleep with Helen Sernett
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have insomnia or identify as a person who has trouble sleeping? For many people, feeling tired is a way of life. We think we "can't" sleep…...
Ep113: How alcohol influences the power struggle between breadwinner and homemaker
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Has your drinking intensified the power struggle in your marriage? Women who assume the role of "caregiver" to balance their partner's role as the ...
Ep112: The scientific approach to curbing excessive drinking with Alcohol Minimalist Molly Watts
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you considered that the reason it feels hard to drink in moderation might be that you're operating on bad information? The biggest mistake tha...
Ep#111 Simple mindfulness strategies that quickly restore your personal power with Michelle Maidenburg
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you rely on negative self-talk for motivation? Most high achieving perfectionists are unknowingly driven by a fear of failure. We think we have ...
Ep110: The difference between intuition and anxiety with Nicole Tsong
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does over-thinking and second-guessing yourself actually improve the quality of your decisions? Most of us assume that the perfect solution to a pr...
Ep109: The mindset mistakes that make sustainable weight loss impossible with Allan Misner
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you in the habit of "starting over" when it comes to losing weight? Most of us pair an ideal number on the scale with an end date on the calend...
Ep108: The secret to turning short-term sobriety into long-term happiness with Camille Kinzler
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you the victim of the all-or-nothing mindset when it comes to alcohol? Every time you try and fail to drink less (or not at all), the belief th...
Ep107: Learn how spiritual laws and universal principles can transform your life with Paul Quinton
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you clinging to strict religious or scientific beliefs that prevent you from embracing spiritual experiences? Societal institutions brainwash p...
Ep106: Best practices (and pitfalls) to stop over-drinking with James Swanwick
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you tried taking a break from alcohol so that you can reset your tolerance…only to fall back into default habits that leave you hungover? Th...
Ep105: Do you need a hangover whisperer?
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The secret to drinking like a normal person is not perfection. There is no "right" amount of alcohol that you should or shouldn't drink. The trut...
Ep104: The link between anxiety and inflammation with Carly Lucchesi
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If inflammation is the driving force of nearly every chronic disorder, what causes inflammation? Symptoms of inflammation can strike any part of th...
Ep103: What you need to know about the energy of pain with Dr. Lynn Carey
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you been searching for a medical explanation as to why you suffer with chronic pain and depression? We're taught to view pain, inflammation, a...
Ep102: Is your fear of being fat actually making you fat? with Kerry Tepedino
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does managing your weight feel like a stressful, full-time job? We've been programmed to believe that controlling our inner fat slob requires willp...
Ep101 | How to Help-Emergency Coaching Training for Parents.
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you the parent of an adult child who's struggling with substance use or other addictive patterns of behavior? Over the years, you've undoubtedl...
Ep100 | Boundaries for Burned Out People Pleasers with Cait Donovan
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you overwhelmed and exhausted by your everyday life…and also constantly worried because you're not doing "enough?" Most type-A, hyper-functio...
Ep99 | How EMDR therapy works to heal your trauma response-with Shelby John
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when it feels like your life is falling apart and your best efforts to practice self-care aren't enough? Feeling out of control is s...
Ep98 | Rediscover Joyful Eating with 5 Fundamental Habits--with Amy Lang
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed that the more you try to restrict your food or alcohol intake, the more obsessed you become with what you think you can't have? ...
Ep97: The real reason you can't sleep through the night (and how to become "well-rested") with Dr. Bijoy John
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you tired of being tired all of the time? Most of us think that insomnia is something we have to live with. We blame stress, hormones and snori...
Ep96: What smart-ass women need to know about ADHD with Tracy Otsuka
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you struggled with anxiety, depression, disordered eating and drinking, and a lack of purpose-driven joy in your life? The mistake most of us ...
Ep95: 7 Steps to transform stagnant emotions into positive energy and create the life you deserve (part 2) with Sherianna Boyle
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What if the primary reason you feel tired and stuck is that you're leaking energy due to overthinking and emotional distress? Most of us assume t...
Ep94: 7 Steps to transform stagnant emotions into positive energy and create the life you deserve (part 1) with Sherianna Boyle
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What if the primary reason you feel tired and stuck is that you're leaking energy due to overthinking and emotional distress? Most of us assume t...
Ep93 What you're getting wrong about being "healthy" (Part 2) with Sheryl Carroll
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you doing the best you can to stay healthy and be happy, but your body (and maybe your whole life) seems to be falling apart anyway? We search ...
Ep92: What you're getting wrong about being healthy
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you doing the best you can to stay healthy and be happy, but your body (and maybe your whole life) seems to be falling apart anyway? We search ...
Ep91: How to heal (instead of cope with) emotional triggers (Part 2) with Ruth Fearnow
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you cope with panic attacks, mood swings, eruptions of rage or other illogical reactions that feel out of proportion to the situation? Many ...
Ep 90: How to heal (instead of cope with) emotional triggers (Part 1) with Ruth Fearnow
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you cope with panic attacks, mood swings, eruptions of rage and other illogical reactions that feel out of proportion to the situation? Many...
Ep 89: The link between gut health and alcohol use disorder (Part 2) with Josh Dech
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed that the more medications you take, the more you seem to need? We were given antibiotics as kids. Allergy and acne medication...
Ep 88: The link between gut health and alcohol use disorder (part 1) with Josh Dech
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed that the more medications you take, the more you seem to need? We were given antibiotics as kids. Allergy and acne medication...
Ep 87: Tapping into emotional release from tension and intrusive thoughts (part 2) with Ann Hince
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when your emotions don't make sense–even to you? Most of us do our best to stifle the urge to "freak out" or "go off" on other peo...
Ep 86: Tapping into emotional release from tension and intrusive thoughts (part 1) with Ann Hince
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you sometimes feel like a crazy shrew? Because even though you do your best to ignore the intrusive thoughts that are holding court in your head, y...
Ep 85: How brain training can reverse "character defects"-with Mary Lou Rodriguez
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Does your desire to quit drinking, lose weight or start a new career feel unattainable? The mistake most of us make when we want something to chang...
Are you ready to do "the work?"--Black Friday sale
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you taken a break from alcohol to reset your tolerance only to slide back into the cycle of over-drinking? If you want your next period of sobrie...
Ep 84 Resolving Ambivalence (Part 5) The invisible obstacle you must overcome to enjoy being sober
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you feel when you see people on television sharing a flask around a roaring campfire, enjoying a bottle of red wine with a 5-course meal, or ...
Ep 83 Resolving Ambivalence (Part 4) How to break your emotional attachments to alcohol so drinking loses it's appeal
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How much time do you think someone needs to stay sober once the physical addiction to alcohol has been broken? Most people quit drinking with a goa...
Ep 82 Resolving Ambivalence (Part 3) The mistakes you're making that trap you in the cycle of over-drinking
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you think is the hardest part of quitting drinking? Most of us assume that declining the invitation to drink requires massive amounts of wi...
Ep 81: Resolving Ambivalence (Part 2) The secret to curing alcohol use disorder
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why do you think that it's so hard to stick with your intentions to "drink like a normal" person?" You may assume that your "off-switch" is broken ...
Ep 80 Resolving Ambivalence (Part 1) Why you still want to drink and also want to stop
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you handle the emotional whiplash of knowing you should stay sober for a while but also feeling like that's unrealistic? Ambivalence feels l...
Sneak Peak at Resolving Ambivalence Mini-Series--available Tuesday Nov 14
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Want a sneak peak into the five-part mini-series on Resolving Ambivalence? (Includes a 10-page bonus companion guide so you don't even have to take no...
Ep77 | What you don't know about alcohol and stress
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you associate alcohol with stress reduction? We often think of alcohol as medicinal... drinking is a socially acceptable way to "take the edge...
Are you my people?
04 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a Boozie Barbie living in your head who stays up too late drinking because she wants ME time ... and then complains all day about being ex...
Is your addiction really doing push-ups in the parking lot? With Allison Marie Conway
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you believe that a "healthy fear" of alcohol will keep you safe from future screw-ups? Fear elicits a stress response. And when your nervous sys...
Don't miss the free gifts and prizes for my Podsquad
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you think more people need to listen to this podcast? On November 13th, I'm relaunching as It's Not About the Alcohol: Holistic Recovery & Emotiona...
Get your Plan B for Square One
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's the first thought in your head when you wake up and realize you "did it again?" Beating yourself up and thinking that you're back at "square...
Is your subconscious sabotaging your ability to change?--with Megan Blacksmith
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you have a (mostly) normal childhood and now feel frustated because you have no explanation as to why you ended up with an addictive personality t...
Use this Jedi mind-trick to deal with the fear of "going back" to over-drinking
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a secret fear that no matter how good it feels to stay sober, you won't stick with it? The fear may arise with a random alcohol craving...
The secret to maintain muscle mass and metabolism in menopause–with Cam Allen
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you think is required to maintain your fitness after fifty? If you struggle to stay consistent with a strict workout routine, don't assume ...
Turn procrastination into progress with Dr. Christine Li
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you tell yourself things will be different as soon as you get "caught up?" The root cause of procrastination is the perception that you don't ha...
Ep68: What contempt really means about your marriage
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2020, fierce contempt for my selfish jackass of a husband motivated me to quit drinking. I wanted to be above reproach when I filed for divorce. To...
Break your night-time eating habits for good--with hypnotherapist Rita Black
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hypnotherapist Rita Black is returning to the show to address the difficult issue many of us encounter when we take a break from drinking--Night Time ...
Recovering from anger--with Kim Roy
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kim Roy has never had a drinking problem. And yet, she identifies as a woman in recovery–from anger. Friends referred to her as "spicy Kim" bec...
The only question you need to answer before you drink again–with Angela Mascenik
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is a raw and candid conversation with Angela Mascenik, the host of the Stop Over-Drinking and Start Living Podcast. We discuss th...
The bridge between deprivation and liberation--with. Mary Wagstaff
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us quit drinking because it's not working for us anymore. We feel depleted and deprived. Which is why periods of sobriety can feel like such...
Ep63 | Trauma and the secret lessons of shame
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Trauma is ANY experience that leaves a physical or emotional wound. Which means, we ALL have trauma. Trauma is a learning process in the brain…it...
The Perfectionist's Guide to Nervous System Regulation with Michelle Grosser
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you pride yourself on your ability to "tuck your crazy?" Would you rather boil in rage or drown in overwhelm than be exposed as a Drama Queen? We'r...
Let's talk about drinking alcohol in recovery
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The sober community promotes the idea that alcohol reduces your ability to control yourself. And that alcoholism is an incurable disease that can only...
The role childhood trauma plays in addiction--interview with Jess
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our sense of safety as children was dependent on our caregivers. We needed to make the adults around us happy. We let our parents tell us what to thin...
Ep60: HOW to improve your relationship with yourself
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you struggle with anxiety and depression, or are trying to escape the alcohol trap, you are well aware that life would be better if you were nicer ...
Dealing with Drinker's Regret
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After years of living in denial, it's normal to have a regret hangover in early sobriety. Just saying "I'm sober" can feel shameful. Because you'...
Ep58: How to reclaim your personal power without being a bitch
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Personal power is when you stop placing conditions on when you will and won't be okay. Okayness is a feeling, not a fact. It's a story you're tel...
Ep57 | The naked truth about emotionally sober sex
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Emotional sobriety requires prioritizing self care. You don't need permission or approval to set boundaries with your body. But that feels compli...
Ep56| Can alcoholism be cured?
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we think about whether or not alcoholism can be cured, realize we're only asking people who identify as alcoholics. There are many people who ...
Reset your nervous system with breathwork
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a yogi, I thought I knew what breathwork was (calming but not exactly "powerful"). And then I did a breathwork session with Victoria Lee Starr. The...
Ep54 | How to stop sugar cravings in sobriety
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to Einstein, you can't solve a problem with the same perspective that sees the problem. Which is why the first step towards a solution often...
Is anger helpful when you need to be honest?
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we lose our sh*t when we have to stand in our truth? Honesty is painful. Which is why we tend to rely on anger as a medium to defend our truth....
Ep 52| How addiction hacks your brain and how to hack it back
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dopamine is our primary source of motivation. It triggers us to move our ass towards whatever we think we want. The more you use external crutches to ...
How to deal with subconscious guilt
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Guilt is a feeling, not a fact. Feeling "bad" about taking care of yourself is an imaginary obstacle. In reality, your needs are just as important as ...
Ep 50: Letting go of your divorce story
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Divorce is traumatizing. But the story you tell yourself about your ex-partner can do far more damage--to you--than the actual events. Long-term suf...
The difference between people who change and people who don't
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You know that sinking feeling when you're staying sober or eating clean or making it to the gym–and you suddenly realize it's not going to last? I h...
Ep48 | Are you motivated by shame?
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shame is a big motivator for high-functioning drinkers and perfectionists. Feeling like you have to prove yourself, or earn the right to relax, comes ...
The willpower work-around
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of white-knuckling (or caving into) cravings for alcohol, comfort food and other self-defeating behaviors? Want to know what to do when you want...
How hypnosis unlocks the power of your subconscious mind--with Rita Black
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rita Black is a clinical hypnotherapist and leading expert in both the arenas of smoking cessation and weight loss. She is the author of the best sell...
Ep 45| How to fix your dopamine deficit
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alcohol temporarily spikes your dopamine. Which is why you think, "this feels good and I want more." But what goes up must come down. Consistent use (...
Are sobriety meetings helpful?
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Community is the foundation of recovery. We don't recover alone! But the ideas you're exposed to in early sobriety have significant impact on your rec...
How we get it together by falling apart--with Whitney Durmick
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whitney Durmick is author of Half Wild: A prayer for a generation of roaming malcontents. The book takes an uncompromising look at her self-destructiv...