Let’s name it. You stopped drinking.
You felt amazing.
Then somehow… you started again.

Why?

Today we’re pulling back the curtain on the stop-start cycle — and it’s not about weakness.

Here’s what we unpack:
-- Why your brain romanticizes “just one”
-- The neural pathway + fading effect bias trap
-- The “drinking train” effect (why it gets harder each time)
-- How stress hijacks your nervous system
-- Body-based tools to interrupt the craving loop
-- How to stay stopped — without white-knuckling it

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

• Why do I keep starting over?
• Why does alcohol still pull me?
• How do I make this stick for good?

This episode is your reset. Short. Real. Science-backed. Compassion-filled.

Press play — and let’s break the cycle.

If you loved these tips and want more, Susan shares free tools and resources in her newsletter community each week!I

f you want to dig deeper into Fading Affect Bias (FAB), listen to Episode 17 for more on the “not-so-fabulous” FAB!

We Love Hearing From You

Don't forget to follow and subscribe and leave a review! It helps to get the word out that living sober is lit!

Listeners have said that our podcast has helped them get alcohol free!
Join our private community!

Connect with the Podcast Hosts:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/contact
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever asked:
How do I sit with pain without pouring a glass?
What comes after sobriety?
Can I feel whole again?

Today’s episode is a gentle, powerful invitation to feel—without numbing.
We’re joined by Brandi Babb, certified coach + somatic experiencing practitioner, in a real conversation with hosts Susan Larkin and Ruby Williams about grief, sobriety, and learning to stay present when life hurts.

Here’s what unfolds:

• Brandi’s journey to living alcohol free—shaped by loss, love, and listening to her body
• How grief can deepen drinking (and how somatic work helps you move through it)
• Nervous system tools for overwhelm, urges, and emotional waves
• What it really looks like to heal after you put down the drink
• How to feel “lit” even when life isn’t easy

Press play for an honest, heart-centered conversation about presence, resilience, and finding your way back to yourself—one breath at a time. 🧡

________

Guest Resources for Brandi Babb of Little Big Leap Coaching-
Website: https://www.brandibabb.com
Podcast: https://pod.link/1819859867
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb
The Zero Proof Life: https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/

We Love Hearing From You

Don't forget to follow and subscribe and leave a review! It helps to get the word out that living sober is lit!

Listeners have said that our podcast has helped them get alcohol free!
Join our private community!

Connect with the Podcast Hosts:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/contact
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.

Ever freeze when someone offers you a drink?
Wonder how to stay alcohol-free and feel connected?

In this Sober & Lit episode, Ruby and Susan get real about what’s actually happening in those moments — and how to move through them with confidence instead of white-knuckling it.

Inside this conversation:

1. Why saying no isn’t about willpower (it’s about wiring + people-pleasing)
2. Simple ways to prepare before events so you don’t panic in the moment
3. Go-to phrases that feel natural (not awkward or rehearsed)
4. Why bringing your own alcohol-free drink can be a game changer
5. How to honor yourself and belong — at the same time

This episode is equal parts heart, honesty, and practical tools you can use tonight.

Coach Ruby's powerful worksheet to help you feel grounded, prepared, and truly ready the next time a drink is offered.

🧡Get the worksheet here: https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/how-to-say-no-to-a-drink

We Love Hearing From You

Don't forget to follow and subscribe and leave a review! It helps to get the word out that living sober is lit!

Listeners have said that our podcast has helped them get alcohol free!
Join our private community!

Connect with the Podcast Hosts:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/contact
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.