Boozeless Bookclub: What Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed Taught Us About Emotional Sobriety

Why Your Evolution Will Make People Uncomfortable — And That's Okay

Have you ever caught yourself getting dressed up to go to the doctor so you'd be believed? Amy, Anne Marie, and Dr. Sarah dive deep into Florence Given's "Women Don't Owe You Pretty" in this month's Boozeless Book Club. What starts as a book discussion becomes a powerful exploration of how sobriety creates space for questioning everything — from why we automatically move aside for men on sidewalks to the emotional labor we carry without realizing it. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Your evolution will make people uncomfortable, and that's not your responsibility to manage - Sobriety creates the cognitive capacity to examine patriarchal conditioning we've internalized - Women often perform "presentability" without questioning who it's really for - Safety concerns shape women's daily decisions in ways men rarely consider - The witch wound — how women have been conditioned to compete rather than support each other - Medical settings often require women to advocate more assertively for their needs - Generational change is happening as younger people learn about consent and boundaries NOTABLE QUOTE "After years of being objectified, nothing feels sexier than feeling safe." — Florence Given If this conversation reminded you to slow down and breathe, share it with a friend who needs that same permission. Then subscribe to Eternally Amy for more truth-telling, laughter, and light. Eternally Amy is hosted by Amy Liz Harrison — author, memoir coach, sober mom of eight, and spiritual storyteller. Join her each week for honest conversations about recovery, motherhood, and meaning. Visit amylizharrison.com [https://amylizharrison.com] for books, coaching, and resources.

The Hidden Gender Gap in Healthcare That's Literally Blinding Us

Have you ever felt dismissed by a doctor who couldn't figure out what was wrong with you?   Amy and Dr. Sarah dive deep into the disturbing reality of gender bias in healthcare, sparked by Amy's two-year medical nightmare that ended with 14 contact lenses being removed from her eye. Through their discussion of "Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado Perez, they uncover how the entire medical system has been built around male-centered care, leaving women misdiagnosed, undertreated, and sometimes fighting for their lives.   KEY TAKEAWAYS * Women are routinely dismissed in medical settings, with pain often attributed to anxiety or being labeled as "whiny women" in medical charts * Medical research predominantly uses male subjects, then applies those results to women despite significant biological differences * Heart attack symptoms present differently in women but are still diagnosed based on male presentations * The cost of advocating for yourself in healthcare goes far beyond money — it's about quality of life and sometimes survival * Learning to trust your instincts and speak up for yourself isn't being difficult — it's being responsible for your own health * Gender bias extends far beyond medicine into design, engineering, and everyday products that assume a male default   NOTABLE QUOTE "The bottom line is being female in a medical setting can mean receiving less accurate diagnosis, less effective treatment, and less attentive care because the entire system has been based on male centered care. This isn't just inconvenient, it's life threatening." — Dr. Sarah Michaud   If this conversation reminded you to slow down and breathe, share it with a friend who needs that same permission. Then subscribe to Eternally Amy for more truth-telling, laughter, and light.   Eternally Amy is hosted by Amy Liz Harrison — author, memoir coach, sober mom of eight, and spiritual storyteller. Join her each week for honest conversations about recovery, motherhood, and meaning. Visit amylizharrison.com [https://amylizharrison.com] for books, coaching, and resources.   LINKS & RESOURCES Book: "Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado Perez Dr. Mary Claire Haver on menopause and medical bias

Boozeless Bookclub: What Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed Taught Us About Emotional Sobriety

The Boozeless Book Club: Brave Enough, Grief, and Learning to Play the Hand You're Dealt What if the loneliness you feel isn't proof you're broken — just proof you're human? Amy and Dr. Sarah Michelle return for another episode of The Boozeless Book Club, this time diving into Cheryl Strayed's Brave Enough — a slim collection of quotes that packs a serious emotional punch. From the danger of "gathering receipts" to prove you're an outcast to the necessity of saying your feelings out loud even when it feels like vomiting, this conversation is raw, relatable, and real. They talk about codependency, compassion, courage in close relationships, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is grieve what didn't happen so you can finally move forward. If you've ever felt too messy, too much, or too alone — this one's for you. Key Takeaways * Loneliness and feeling like an outcast are often self-created stories — and saying them out loud breaks the spell * "You're only as sick as your secrets" — vulnerability is the spark of human connection * Not everything will be okay, and that's okay — acceptance is a small, quiet room * Don't own other people's crap — their unkindness is usually about them, not you * Grief is about time, feeling your feelings, and eventually realizing you're okay * You have to be brave enough to tell the truth in close relationships — even when it's uncomfortable * Sometimes healing means moving forward even when it still hurts Guest Bio Dr. Sarah Michelle is a psychologist, recovery advocate, and co-host of The Boozeless Book Club with Amy. She brings decades of clinical experience, spiritual curiosity, and a healthy dose of Gen X wit to every conversation. Episode Resources Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed Notable Quote "We know we're telling the truth when we feel like vomiting." — Dr. Sarah Michelle Connect with Amy Amy Liz Harrison: amylizharrison.com | @amylizharrison Amy's Books: amylizharrison.com/books Memoir Coaching & Courses: amylizharrison.com/services-7 Eternally Amy is hosted by bestselling author Amy Liz Harrison — a sober mom of eight sharing her journey from jail to joy with humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom. Each episode blends raw storytelling, spiritual insights, and the kind of honesty that makes you feel less alone. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. This podcast shares personal stories and spiritual insights. It is not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or addiction treatment. If you're struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional.

Boozeless Bookclub: Grief Isn’t Just Death: The Losses We Don’t Talk About | The Grief Recovery Handbook by John W. James

Grief isn’t just about death. In this deeply honest Boozeless Bookclub conversation, Amy, Dr. Sarah, and Erin unpack The Grief Recovery Handbook by John James and Russell Friedman — and what surprised them most about grief. Spoiler alert: It’s everywhere. From friendship breakups to miscarriages. From career shifts to empty nests. From childhood wounds to identity loss. If you’ve ever said, “I don’t really have anything to grieve,” this episode might gently prove you wrong. In This Episode, We Discuss: * Why grief isn’t limited to death and divorce * How unresolved grief can show up as addiction, busyness, anger, or depression * The friendship wounds that still live in us decades later * Miscarriage and pregnancy loss as invisible grief * Parenting transitions and empty nest emotions * Sexual trauma and identity loss * The surprising power of writing a completion letter * How grief can shape our triggers * Why our culture makes no space for grief * Teaching our kids how to process loss early Book Featured The Grief Recovery Handbook By John James & Russell Friedman An action-based guide for processing grief beyond death, divorce, and other losses. Key Takeaways * Grief is cumulative — and most of us are carrying more than we realize. * Many of us were taught: Don’t feel bad. Replace the loss. Just give it time. * Avoiding grief often shows up as addiction, overworking, shutting down, or relationship patterns. * Grief isn’t linear. * Completion doesn’t mean forgetting — it means releasing emotional charge. * Making meaning out of loss can transform pain into growth. * Curiosity toward your triggers is more powerful than self-judgment. A Powerful Reminder “All human beings experience grief — and yet our culture makes no space for it.” So this episode is your space. Connect with Amy Amy Liz Harrison is a bestselling author, speaker, 12-step coach, meditation teacher, and mental health advocate. amy lizharrison.com Follow @AmyLizHarrison on all platforms If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and review. It truly helps.

Heart Surgery, Letting Go, and Finding the Center Within

Five days before heart surgery, Amy Liz Harrison opens her heart—literally and spiritually. In this intimate solo episode, Amy reflects on mortality, fear, surrender, and the surprising peace found by going inward. Drawing from Christian mysticism, neuroscience, meditation, and lived recovery, she explores what it means to stop striving, let go of outcomes, and find the calm center within—even when everything feels uncertain. This episode isn’t about answers. It’s about presence. About the heart as both a physical organ and the seat of the soul. And about learning how to do hard things scared. Key Takeaways * Why heart illness carries a unique emotional weight—and how it mirrors vulnerability itself * How Christian mysticism and The Interior Castle reframe spiritual transformation * The difference between emotional regulation and emotional suppression * Why surrender isn’t passive—it’s courageous * How meditation and the parasympathetic nervous system support healing and peace Key Timestamps * [02:40] — Facing heart surgery and the loss of control * [05:20] — Why heart illness feels different than any other diagnosis * [08:45] — St. Teresa of Avila and The Interior Castle * [13:30] — The nervous system, fear, and emotional regulation * [17:05] — Meditation, ADHD, and 175 days of showing up * [22:15] — The defibrillator, resentment, and letting go of outcome * [27:40] — “Doing it scared” and finding the true center Notable Resources & Mentions * The Interior Castle — St. Teresa of Avila * Father Richard Rohr — Falling Upward & Immortal Diamond * HeartMath Institute * Insight Timer (Amy as meditation teacher) If this episode resonated, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating uncertainty, recovery, or a health journey of their own. Thank you so much for listening to Eternally Amy, a mom of eight’s journey from jail to joy. Amy Liz Harrison is a bestselling author, speaker, meditation teacher, and recovery advocate. To learn more, visit www.amylizharrison.com [www.amylizharrison.com] and follow @amylizharrison on all platforms.