Episode 68: What Happens When Women Tell the Truth About Drinking with Kerri Maher, Author of Summer of Love

Episode 69: Why Waiting Until After Summer to Quit Drinking Keeps You Stuck

🎟️ Reserve your free seat for Lindsay's live summer workshop series: Free Feel Good AF Summer Workshops [https://lindsayhennekey.ac-page.com/feel-good-af-fridays-with-lindsay-optin?utm_source=chatgpt.com] If you've ever found yourself waiting for "the perfect time" to quit drinking after summer, after the holidays, after the next vacation—this episode is for you. Lindsay gets personal in this solo episode, sharing why she spent years telling herself she'd deal with her drinking "later" and why that later never seemed to arrive. She unpacks the hidden relief that comes from postponing change, why life never actually settles down, and how confidence isn't something you have before you stop drinking, it's something you build by practicing in your real life. Through stories from her own journey, including her first alcohol-free vacation, Lindsay explains why waiting for the right moment only keeps you stuck and how small, intentional decisions become the foundation for lasting self-trust. You'll discover: *  Why "I'll start after summer" feels so convincing and why it keeps you stuck  *  The difference between temporary relief and genuine alignment with the life you want  *  Why life will never hand you a perfect, stress-free time to change your relationship with alcohol  *  How Lindsay's first alcohol-free vacation completely changed her perspective on sobriety  *  The hidden mental load of drinking, from constant negotiating to recovering and starting over  *  Lindsay's three-step framework for lasting change: Identity, Practice, and Self-Trust  *  Why practicing through real-life events, not avoiding them—is what builds lasting confidence  *  How support can help you navigate weddings, vacations, stressful workdays, and social pressure without relying on alcohol  If you've been waiting for the "right time" to stop drinking, this episode is a reminder that the life you want isn't waiting on a clear calendar, it's built one decision at a time, right in the middle of your real life. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/lindsayhennekey] Here's how you can stay connected:  * 🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call [https://lindsayhennekey.as.me/schedule/07ddf453/appointment/55133454/calendar/9028491?appointmentTypeIds[]=55133454] * 👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching [https://www.lindsayhennekey.com/coaching-programs] * 📱Follow along on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lindsay_hennekey/] * 📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletter [https://lindsayhennekey.activehosted.com/f/5] And remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

Episode 68: What Happens When Women Tell the Truth About Drinking with Kerri Maher, Author of Summer of Love

If you've ever devoured a book because the main character's struggle with alcohol felt a little too familiar, this episode is for you. Lindsay sits down with USA Today bestselling author Kerri Maher, the writer behind The Paris Bookseller, The Girl in White Gloves, and The Kennedy Debutante to talk about her brand-new novel, Summer of Love. The book weaves together two timelines: an older sister running the family vineyard in 1967 California, and her daughter quietly struggling with her drinking decades later, all while chasing the identity of an anonymous author whose books seem to know her family's secrets a little too well. Kerri is also four and a half years alcohol-free, and in this conversation she opens up about why she finally went public with her own sobriety, why fiction about drinking matters just as much as memoir, and how storytelling — hers and other women's becomes a quiet act of service for anyone still stuck in silence. You'll discover: * Why Kerri built a novel around alcohol without writing a memoir and why fiction can reach people memoir can't * How her own sobriety journey shaped Winnie, Miranda, and Dawn without any one of them being "her" * Why moderation was harder for Kerri to sustain than quitting altogether * How alcohol marketing quietly wrote itself into our idea of "the good life," and why that's so hard to unwind * What it's actually like to talk to your kids about being a sober parent and why Kerri sees it as the safest thing she can be for them * Why "no word is wasted," even the five unpublished novels sitting in her attic * Simple, low-pressure ways to normalize an alcohol-free life, even when your identity or your family's business is tied to alcohol If you've ever wished more of the books and shows you loved actually got drinking right, this conversation is a reminder of how powerful it is when they finally do. About Kerri Maher Kerri Maher is the USA Today bestselling author of The Paris Bookseller, The Girl in White Gloves, and The Kennedy Debutante. Writing as Kerri Majors, she is also the author of This Is Not a Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and lives with her daughter and dog in a leafy suburb west of Boston, Massachusetts. Her new novel, Summer of Love, releases July 7. Find Kerri Instagram: @kerrimaherwriter [https://instagram.com/kerrimaherwriter] Substack: Sandcastles with Kerri Maher and The Well-Resourced Parent (search "Kerri Maher" on Substack) Get the Book 📖 Summer of Love by Kerri Maher — Order here [https://amzlink.to/az0vVzwQc3Rz7] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/lindsayhennekey] Here's how you can stay connected:  * 🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call [https://lindsayhennekey.as.me/schedule/07ddf453/appointment/55133454/calendar/9028491?appointmentTypeIds[]=55133454] * 👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching [https://www.lindsayhennekey.com/coaching-programs] * 📱Follow along on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lindsay_hennekey/] * 📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletter [https://lindsayhennekey.activehosted.com/f/5] And remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

Episode 67: How Self Trust Gets You To Sobriety

If you've ever promised yourself, "Today's the day I stop drinking," only to find yourself pouring another glass that evening, this episode is for you. Lindsay breaks down why so many high-achieving women stay stuck in the stop-start cycle with alcohol and why the problem isn't a lack of discipline or willpower. The real issue? Self-trust. In this episode, you'll learn why lasting sobriety isn't built by trying harder, but by becoming someone you can consistently count on. Lindsay shares her Identity → Practice → Trust framework, explains why slips are valuable feedback (not failure), and offers practical ways to build confidence one decision at a time. You'll discover: * Why willpower isn't enough to change your relationship with alcohol * The hidden role self-trust plays in lasting sobriety * How to stop viewing slips as failure and start using them as information * Why practicing alcohol-free living matters more than consuming more information * How identity shifts make staying alcohol-free feel natural—not forced * Simple questions to help you identify whether you're struggling with identity, practice, or trust If you're tired of negotiating with yourself, breaking promises, and wondering why moderation never seems to stick, this conversation will help you approach sobriety in a completely different way. Remember: Information doesn't create transformation. Action does. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/lindsayhennekey] Here's how you can stay connected:  * 🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call [https://lindsayhennekey.as.me/schedule/07ddf453/appointment/55133454/calendar/9028491?appointmentTypeIds[]=55133454] * 👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching [https://www.lindsayhennekey.com/coaching-programs] * 📱Follow along on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lindsay_hennekey/] * 📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletter [https://lindsayhennekey.activehosted.com/f/5] And remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

Episode 66: Why Are We Afraid to Quit Drinking?

Why Perfectionism Keeps You Stuck in the Drinking Cycle In this episode, Lindsay Hennekey explores one of the biggest reasons high-achieving women stay trapped in the stop-start drinking cycle: the fear of failure. If you've ever told yourself you'll quit drinking after the next vacation, after the busy season at work, or once life calms down, this conversation will help you understand what's really keeping you stuck. Lindsay breaks down how perfectionism, fear of the unknown, and the pressure to "get it right" make alcohol feel safer than change—even when you know drinking is no longer serving you. You'll also learn why self-trust erodes with every broken promise, how alcohol becomes a default coping strategy, and what it takes to start building a life that feels good without relying on a drink at the end of the day. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why perfectionism and sobriety often collide * How fear of failure keeps you from fully committing to change * The connection between broken promises and lost self-trust * Why alcohol feels like relief—but actually prevents growth * How high-achieving women get stuck in the daily pressure-and-reward drinking loop * The science of loss aversion and why your brain resists giving up alcohol * Why quitting drinking is really an identity shift, not a willpower challenge * A simple strategy to interrupt cravings and create space for a different decision * How to start practicing life alcohol-free without focusing on perfection Key Takeaways Most women who struggle with drinking don't need more information. They already know the health risks, the benefits of sobriety, and the rules they've tried to follow countless times before. The real challenge isn't learning more—it's integrating what they already know and taking action despite the discomfort. Perfectionism creates an impossible standard where any slip feels like failure. When that happens, staying in the drinking cycle can feel safer than risking the uncertainty of change. But lasting freedom comes from approaching sobriety as a practice, not a performance. This episode is a reminder that you don't need to quit drinking perfectly. You simply need to start creating evidence that you can trust yourself again—one decision, one evening, and one experience at a time. If you're tired of negotiating with yourself every afternoon and wondering why moderation never seems to stick, this episode will help you understand what's happening beneath the surface and show you a different path forward. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/lindsayhennekey] Here's how you can stay connected:  * 🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call [https://lindsayhennekey.as.me/schedule/07ddf453/appointment/55133454/calendar/9028491?appointmentTypeIds[]=55133454] * 👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching [https://www.lindsayhennekey.com/coaching-programs] * 📱Follow along on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lindsay_hennekey/] * 📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletter [https://lindsayhennekey.activehosted.com/f/5] And remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

Episode 65: How to Quit Drinking and Still Have a Social Life with Jakee Zaccor

Presence Over Escape: How Jakee Zaccor Built an Alcohol-Free Life Worth Showing Up For In this episode, Lindsay Hennekey talks with Jakee Zaccor — creative director, yoga teacher, and founder of Shake Social Club — about what it really takes to quit drinking and build a life that feels good without alcohol. Jakee got sober at 28 after years of high-pressure tech culture, late nights in New York City, and a drinking habit that had quietly taken over her identity, her friendships, and her free time. Now 11 years alcohol-free, she runs a booze-free nightlife and wellness movement in Burlington, Vermont, proving that fun, connection, and community don't require a drink in your hand. If you've ever worried that quitting drinking will make your life smaller, this conversation will change your mind. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why a high-achieving, high-functioning life can hide a serious drinking problem * What it felt like to get sober at 28 when no one around you drinks * Why some people in your life will push back when you stop drinking and what that's really about * How replacing happy hour with movement changed everything in early sobriety * The exhausting mental gymnastics of monitoring your drinking around other people * What it means to find your identity after alcohol has taken up all the space * Why Jakee started Shake Social Club and what alcohol-free community can actually look like * How sobriety made Jakee's life bigger, not smaller Key takeaways: Quitting drinking isn't just about stopping. It's about discovering who you are without alcohol filling up your evenings, your weekends, and your sense of self. When you remove it, you get to find out what you actually like, who your real friends are, and what kind of life you want to build. The people around you may not always celebrate your decision to stop drinking especially if their own relationship with alcohol is something they haven't examined yet. That reaction isn't about you. It's a mirror. Jakee's story is proof that sobriety isn't a life sentence of missing out. It's an invitation to show up fully — to the dance floor, the yoga mat, the dinner table, and yourself. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/lindsayhennekey] Here's how you can stay connected:  * 🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call [https://lindsayhennekey.as.me/schedule/07ddf453/appointment/55133454/calendar/9028491?appointmentTypeIds[]=55133454] * 👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching [https://www.lindsayhennekey.com/coaching-programs] * 📱Follow along on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lindsay_hennekey/] * 📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletter [https://lindsayhennekey.activehosted.com/f/5] And remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.