The First Time Without Is The Hardest One

The First Time Without Is The Hardest One

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562590/fan_mail/new] Staring down your first sober wedding, birthday, holiday, or night out and thinking, “There’s no way I can do this without alcohol”? In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan Ball and Ellen Biggs break down “Freaking First Times” (FFTs): the first time you do something alcohol free that has always been paired with drinking. We talk about why these moments feel so big, how exceptions keep you stuck, and how to approach your firsts with curiosity, a plan, and self kindness. If you keep telling yourself, “I’ll start after this event,” this conversation is for you. In this video, you’ll learn: - Why sober firsts matter more than “perfect streaks” - The exception trap that blocks real momentum - How to handle birthdays, holidays, dates, and weekends away - Why the first time can feel awkward, and why it gets easier fast - How to collect evidence that alcohol is not required for fun - What to do when you discover you do not even like the thing anymore - How to choose the right “difficulty level” so you do not get discouraged Quick takeaway: Nobody can prove to you that your birthday, holiday, or anniversary is better without alcohol. You have to run the experiment and gather your own evidence. Tiny FAQ: Q: What if my first time is not fun? A: That is still a win. You collected data and built a rep. The next time is easier, and you get to tweak the plan. Q: What if I mess up? A: Be kind, learn from it, and come back. Treat it like a data point, not a verdict. Connect with us: Email: thealcoholmyth@gmail.com Jonathan: https://livecreativeaf.com/ Ellen: https://ellenbiggscoaching.com/ Subscribe for more episodes pulling back the curtain on the alcohol myth. Chapters 0:00 “You have to try it for yourself” (birthday belief) 1:10 What are Freaking First Times (FFTs) and why they matter 2:19 The “special occasion” trap and why we keep exceptions 4:09 “There will always be an excuse” to delay change 5:20 Dry January: helpful, but not the full skill set 6:43 Freedom vs white knuckling: building a life you actually want 8:35 The best mindset for firsts: curiosity and not knowing 9:29 The “evidence buckets” that shape your beliefs 10:11 When you quit and realize you do not like the thing 11:22 Reimagining the holiday instead of suffering through it 13:48 Your first sober hang with a drinking buddy 15:23 Jonathan’s FFT: the Renaissance Festival alcohol math 19:05 First try without alcohol: why it felt miserable 20:48 Second try with the right tools: night and day difference 23:28 The real “lack of inhibition” without alcohol 30:56 Ellen’s cautionary FFT: the oyster bar at the bar top 33:09 Build reps, do not start in the deep end 37:30 Closing advice: commit, stay curious, be kind #SoberFirsts #AlcoholFree #SoberCurious #QuitDrinking #AlcoholMythPodcast #ThisNakedMind #HabitChange

The Discomfort You’re Avoiding Was Created (Not Solved) by Alcohol

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562590/fan_mail/new] Do you reach for a drink to avoid discomfort? In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan Ball and Ellen Biggs unpack a sneaky belief: “Alcohol helps me handle discomfort.” We talk about why that feels true in the moment, how alcohol creates its own discomfort loop (the 5 PM itch, the anxiety before the first sip, the hangover shame), and what changes when you stop using alcohol as your built-in off ramp. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} You’ll also hear practical, usable tools: how to get curious about what you’re feeling, how to build trust that you can withstand hard moments, and why discomfort is often the indicator light that growth is happening. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}  In this video, you’ll learn: - Why alcohol “relief” is often solving a problem alcohol created - What your body is actually doing behind the scenes (even when your mind feels soothed) - Why quitting does remove alcohol discomfort, but life still has discomfort - How to reframe discomfort as an invitation instead of an emergency - The power of emotional literacy (naming the real feeling) - Why you cannot numb selectively, and what you get back when you stop trying Quick takeaway: Discomfort is not proof you’re failing. It’s often proof you’re changing.  Tiny FAQ: Q: Why does it feel harder at first when I stop drinking? A: Because you removed your default tool, and now you have to build new skills. That is uncomfortable, and it is also where growth starts. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} Q: What do I do instead of drinking? A: Start with curiosity. Ask: “What am I feeling?” and “What do I need?” Then run a quick resource audit (food, water, rest, movement, connection, support). :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} Connect with us: Email: thealcoholmyth@gmail.com Jonathan: https://livecreativeaf.com/ Ellen: https://ellenbiggscoaching.com/ Subscribe for more episodes on pulling back the curtain on the alcohol myth. Chapters 0:00 The myth: alcohol helps me avoid discomfort :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} 0:40 What we’re unpacking today (and what’s on the other side) :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8} 1:43 The discomfort we ignore: hangovers, shame, regret, 5 PM anxiety :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9} 3:18 The loop: alcohol “solves” the problem it created :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10} 5:33 What your body is doing while your mind feels soothed :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11} 10:50 The brain basics: seek pleasure, avoid pain, conserve energy :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12} 13:44 Quitting removes alcohol discomfort, but life is still uncomfortable :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13} 16:39 The shift: discomfort as invitation (not emergency) :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14} 18:36 Building self trust: “I can withstand this” :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15} 22:36 Emotional literacy: use the feelings wheel, name the real feeling :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16} 30:25 You can’t numb selectively (and what you get back) :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17} 35:18 Practical tools: curiosity + a resource audit :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18} 40:13 Growth requires discomfort (plus the butterfly metaphor)  42:05 Closing: “What are you here to teach me?”  #QuitDrinking #SoberCurious #AlcoholFree #AlcoholMythPodcast #SelfCompassion #Anxiety #HabitChange #EmotionalHealth

What Happens After You Quit Drinking? The Part Nobody Talks About

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562590/fan_mail/new] What happens after you stop drinking… and suddenly have all this empty space in your life? In this episode of the Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan and Ellen explore one of the most overlooked parts of changing your relationship with alcohol: figuring out what comes next. They introduce the powerful idea of “seeds and switches”: Switches help you get through difficult moments without drinking. Seeds are the long-term practices, passions, and relationships that slowly build a meaningful alcohol-free life. From yoga and journaling to creativity, fitness, purpose, and rediscovering who you are without alcohol, this conversation dives deep into the uncomfortable but beautiful transition that happens when alcohol is no longer the center of your life. If you've ever wondered: “What do I even do without drinking?” “Who am I without alcohol?” “Why does sobriety feel empty sometimes?” “How do I build a fulfilling alcohol-free life?” …this episode is for you. In this conversation: ✔ Why alcohol-free life can feel strange at first ✔ The “garden” metaphor for recovery and growth ✔ How to rediscover interests and passions ✔ Why experimentation and play matter in sobriety ✔ The danger of outcome-focused living ✔ How alcohol blocks personal growth ✔ The importance of compassion and patience in recovery ✔ Why “seeds and switches” work together The Alcohol Myth Podcast helps people rethink alcohol without shame, labels, or rock bottom narratives. We believe freedom starts with understanding what alcohol is really doing in your life. 📩 Reach out with questions, stories, or future episode ideas: thealcoholmyth@gmail.com Connect with us: Email: thealcoholmyth@gmail.com Jonathan: https://livecreativeaf.com/ Ellen: https://ellenbiggscoaching.com/ Subscribe for more episodes on pulling back the curtain on the alcohol myth. #Sobriety #AlcoholFree #QuitDrinking #RecoveryJourney #SoberLife #ThisNakedMind #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #MindsetShift #AlcoholAwareness Chapters 00:00 The hardest part of rediscovering yourself 00:41 Why the world treats alcohol like the answer 01:20 What happens after the early days of quitting 02:08 “What do I do with all this time?” 03:06 The garden metaphor for alcohol-free life 05:05 Seeds vs. switches explained 05:41 Ellen’s first alcohol-free “seeds” 07:41 “Who am I without alcohol?” 09:17 Creativity, drawing, and learning to play again 11:33 Why adults stop experimenting and exploring 13:24 What were you really cultivating while drinking? 15:04 Dreams that finally grew after alcohol 17:12 Watering your garden with alcohol vs. growth 19:08 Why seeds and switches must work together 20:51 Be patient and compassionate with yourself 21:47 Practical advice for building your alcohol-free life

The 10-Minute Trick That Can Break a Craving

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562590/fan_mail/new] When an alcohol craving hits, it can feel like your brain is screaming, “I need a drink.” But what if that craving is not really a command? What if it is discomfort in the body, a nervous system response, or an old autopilot pattern asking for relief? In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan and Ellen unpack why alcohol so often becomes the go-to “switch” for changing your mood, calming anxiety, easing boredom, or getting through the 5 PM trigger. They share practical, in-the-moment tools for creating space between the urge and the drink so you can make a conscious choice instead of reacting on autopilot. You’ll learn simple strategies like splashing cold water on your face, moving your body, going for a walk, practicing HALT, using the WAIT acronym, replacing the ritual with an alcohol-free option, and riding out a craving long enough to discover that it does pass. If you are questioning your relationship with alcohol, taking a break from drinking, exploring alcohol-free living, or trying to understand why cravings feel so powerful, this conversation will help you feel less powerless and more equipped in the moment. In this episode: Why cravings can feel physical, urgent, and inevitable How alcohol becomes a “mood switch” The power of creating space between stimulus and response Practical craving tools that work in real life Why cravings rise, peak, and eventually fade How alcohol-free drinks or mocktails can help replace the ritual What to do when the 5 PM trigger hits Have a question, story, or idea for a future episode? Email us at thealcoholmyth@gmail.com — we read every message. Connect with us: Email: thealcoholmyth@gmail.com Jonathan: https://livecreativeaf.com/ Ellen: https://ellenbiggscoaching.com/ Subscribe for more episodes on pulling back the curtain on the alcohol myth. #AlcoholFree #SoberCurious #QuitDrinking #AlcoholCravings #ThisNakedMind #AlcoholMythPodcast #MindfulDrinking #AlcoholFreeLife #StopDrinking #SoberSupport Chapters 0:00 Alcohol cravings may be body discomfort, not a command 0:47 Welcome to The Alcohol Myth Podcast 1:27 Debunking the myths alcohol feeds us 2:06 Alcohol as the go-to mood switch 3:15 Creating space between stimulus and response 5:04 The power of a tiny pause 6:20 Cravings as a runaway train 7:05 Physical interruption tools for cravings 8:47 Why cravings speak through the body 10:35 Responding to the body with the body 11:33 Switches vs. seeds 12:53 Listening to what your body actually needs 13:43 Using HALT: hungry, angry, lonely, tired 14:17 Challenging the belief that cravings mean game over 16:26 Sitting with a craving and learning from it 17:45 Cravings rise, peak, and fall 19:33 Realizing you are not powerless over cravings 20:53 Ellen’s early alcohol-free beer story 23:06 Replacing the substance, not the ritual 24:38 Alcohol-free drinks as a support tool 26:04 Practical takeaway: keep the ritual, change the drink 27:40 Movement, breath, and physical state changes 28:50 Exercise and natural dopamine 29:42 Walking through a craving 31:19 WAIT: What am I thinking? 31:56 Final tools: WAIT, HALT, move, experiment 32:22 Send questions and stories to the podcast

Alcohol Promises Connection. But Builds Isolation

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562590/fan_mail/new] Does alcohol really help us open up, or does it quietly build a wall between us and the connection we’re looking for? In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, we unpack one of alcohol’s most convincing stories: the belief that we need a drink to be vulnerable, have deep conversations, and feel close to other people. Ellen and Jonathan talk about heartfelt wine-fueled conversations, brownouts, shame, drinking buddies, emotional armor, social isolation, liquid courage, and what it actually takes to build honest connection without alcohol. You’ll hear why alcohol can make vulnerability feel easier in the moment while also blurring boundaries, lowering our ability to discern who is safe, and sometimes leaving us feeling even more disconnected afterward. We also explore emotional safety, reciprocity, and how to practice real connection from a clear-headed place. If you’ve ever believed alcohol made you more open, more social, or more connected, this conversation will help you look at that myth with curiosity and compassion. #AlcoholMythPodcast #AlcoholFreedom #SoberCurious #AlcoholFree #vulnerability  Connect with us: Email: thealcoholmyth@gmail.com Jonathan: https://livecreativeaf.com/ Ellen: https://ellenbiggscoaching.com/ Subscribe for more episodes on pulling back the curtain on the alcohol myth. Chapters 00:00 Cold Open and Podcast Intro 01:01 The Myth: Alcohol Helps Me Open Up 03:12 When Alcohol Creates the Opposite of Connection 04:51 Drinking Buddies, Shame, and Emotional Armor 06:18 From Social Drinking to Isolation 08:11 Stop Outsourcing Connection to Alcohol 12:38 Vulnerability, Belonging, and Trustworthy People 16:38 How Alcohol Dilutes Real Openness 21:55 The “Ante Up” Model for Deeper Conversations 25:06 Choosing Safe People for Vulnerability 27:36 Internal Courage Without Liquid Courage 29:14 Practicing Vulnerability in Safe Community 33:41 Practical Ways to Connect Without Drinking 39:44 Awareness, Reciprocity, and Curiosity