I was interviewed by Annie Grace!!!
It was such an honor to be interviewed on Annie Grace’s podcast, “This Naked Mind.” Annie is a true pioneer in the alcohol-free movement, whose book has even out-sold the AA Big Book!
She interviewed me right after my father was killed by a drunk driver, so this is an emotional one! Here are a few highlights, and the links to listen are below.
In this episode, Annie and I discuss:
Late to the party: Sally didn’t start drinking until she was in her late teens, and her drinking habits didn’t become an issue until her 40s. She experimented with alcohol in college but didn’t drink heavily until she started working in the construction industry.
Shame and embarrassment around drinking: Throughout her life, Sally experienced embarrassing incidents related to her drinking. Although this shame led her to quit drinking multiple times, she tended to pick it back up again.
Self-medicating with alcohol: Sally openly admits that she used alcohol as a way to self-medicate and cope with stress. She describes herself as a “stress drinker” who relied on alcohol to deal with difficult situations.
Dry January and moderation: Sally participated in Dry January 2022 and This Naked Mind's Alcohol Experiment, initially attempting moderation. Like so many others, she found that moderation didn’t work for her and eventually embraced living alcohol-free.
Losing a loved one to drunk driving: Tragically, Sally’s father, who had been sober for more than 10 years, was recently killed by a drunk driver. This devastating loss has been a major challenge for Sally, but she remains committed to living alcohol-free and hopes to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.
Annie also shares her own experience with drunk driving and how she used a breathalyzer to avoid driving under the influence.
Adjusting to life alcohol-free: Sally has been sober for over 800 days and has seen many positive changes in her life all related to giving up alcohol. She realizes the new opportunities in her life wouldn’t have been possible if she were still drinking. Amazingly, her husband has also quit drinking, and several other family members are exploring their relationships with alcohol too.
Listen to the full This Naked Mind Episode 725 anywhere you listen to podcasts, or CLICK HERE.
