The Alcohol Myth Podcast

Alcohol Was My Coping Strategy. Here’s What Replaced It

If you’ve been using alcohol to cope… you’re not broken. You’re human. In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan Ball and Ellen Biggs talk about alcohol as a coping strategy: why it feels like a multi-purpose tool for stress, boredom, anxiety, celebration, and hard emotions, and why it eventually starts to create the very problems it promised to solve. We unpack the “handyman” trap (alcohol as the always-available fix), why quitting can feel raw at first (because life is still lifey), and how real confidence is built: curiosity first, then competence, then confidence. In this video, you’ll learn: - Why alcohol works as a coping strategy at first (and why that matters) - The “handyman” effect: one tool for everything, even when it fits nothing well - Why alcohol crowds out other coping options and becomes “indispensable” - What happens when you stop drinking and the problems are still there - The biology behind the pull: seek pleasure, avoid pain, conserve energy - The key skill: asking “What do I really need right now?” without judgment - How clarity and presence return, and why that changes everything Quick takeaway: Alcohol can give temporary relief. Real coping gives you your life back. Tiny FAQ: Q: Why does it feel harder when I stop drinking? A: Because you’re confronting the same life stressors without the quick numbing tool. That’s not failure. That’s the start of building real skills. Q: What do I do instead of drinking? A: Pause, get curious, and identify the real need: rest, food, water, connection, movement, solitude, or honest conversation. 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 Alcohol as your hobby and personality 1:12 Today’s topic: alcohol as a coping strategy 2:07 The “big stuff” and the “small stuff” alcohol covered over 3:06 Ellen’s “handyman” metaphor (and why it clicked) 4:20 Alcohol as the multi-tool that starts ruining your life 5:07 How alcohol crowds out other coping options 5:55 Why we used it: it worked… until it didn’t 8:39 When you stop drinking and life is still lifey 9:55 Confidence comes last (curiosity → competence → confidence) 11:00 The mindset shift: burden vs opportunity 12:22 The biology: pleasure, pain avoidance, energy conservation 13:16 “Why is this so hard?” It’s brain wiring 14:13 Neural pathways: “problem → drink” 15:39 Time slows down when you get present again 16:27 The 7–10 day physical shift and what changes after 17:14 The upward spiral: handling hard things builds belief 19:25 Giving alcohol credit for what was in you 21:32 Real example: anxiety, busyness, and the cortisol loop 24:05 The practice: ask what you really need (and don’t judge it) 27:22 Reintroducing yourself to yourself 28:12 Ellen’s example: finishing what alcohol kept stalling 30:55 High achiever energy: hustle vs ease and purpose 32:01 Practical advice: curiosity, compassion, and staying on the path 34:10 Closing and invitation to share #AlcoholMythPodcast #QuitDrinking #SoberCurious #AlcoholFree #Anxiety #Stress #HabitChange #SelfCompassion #ThisNakedMind

The Vacation Trap: Hungover in Paradise

Ever notice how alcohol can make even the most beautiful place feel weirdly… the same? In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan Ball and Ellen Biggs talk about alcohol and travel, and the big lie most of us believed: that drinking makes trips more fun, more romantic, and more special. In reality, alcohol has a superpower, it turns your vacation into the same loop you run at home, just with different scenery. We unpack free wine on flights, the 5 PM countdown, drinking-focused itineraries, the sneaky “me time” pattern, resentment on family trips, and why alcohol-free travel can feel like a total upgrade once you actually try it. In this video, you’ll learn: - Why alcohol makes every place feel the same - The “free wine on the flight” trap and what it costs you - How travel can expose the hidden routines of overdrinking - Why alcohol-free travel often feels calmer, clearer, and more joyful - How to spend the alcohol budget on experiences you actually remember - A simple plan for your first alcohol-free trip (without white knuckling) - Why treats matter: do not remove alcohol and go treatless Quick takeaway: If you want travel to feel new again, remove the thing that makes every day predictable. Tiny FAQ: Q: What if I’m scared my trip will be less fun without alcohol? A: Run a smaller experiment. Pick the first 1–3 days alcohol-free, plan one fun activity, and collect real evidence. Q: What should I drink instead? A: Anything that feels like a treat. Mocktails, alcohol-free beer, sparkling drinks, special coffee, dessert. Build it in on purpose. 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 travel lie: “it makes it special” 1:22 What we’re talking about today: alcohol + travel 2:04 Free wine on flights and the fear of sober travel 3:31 “Best kept secret”: what changes when you travel alcohol-free 4:20 A ticking clock to 5 PM: planning your day around drinking 6:23 Work travel as “me time” and drinking alone 8:33 Disney, Epcot, and making alcohol the mission 9:11 Alcohol’s superpower: making everywhere feel the same 10:22 The patio fantasy, and why it’s not different than home 11:36 Spend the alcohol money on real experiences (Cape Cod) 12:57 Ads sell the highlight reel, not the 3 AM wakeups 15:22 The mind noise disappears: travel gets easier 16:26 Resentment on family trips and hiding behavior 19:45 Travel disrupts your routine, and shame shows up 22:19 The “two glasses of water” moment that busted the pattern 25:00 Alcohol isolates you, even in a crowd 26:34 The mask: “fun party person” vs how you actually feel 28:41 Safe spaces: practice taking the mask off in community 32:39 Practical plan: pick a target, plan fun, stay curious 35:01 Travel tip: do not start your trip in withdrawal 37:19 Future casting for success (airport treats, museums, plans) 38:42 Build treats on purpose and explore alcohol-free options 40:13 Closing and invitation to share the episode #AlcoholFreeTravel #SoberTravel #QuitDrinking #SoberCurious #AlcoholMythPodcast #ThisNakedMind #Mocktails #HabitChange

Why Quitting Feels Like Losing a Friend

Have you ever thought of alcohol as your “most reliable friend”? In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan Ball and Ellen Biggs unpack a surprisingly common belief: alcohol as the dependable, always-there friend. We talk about why that story feels true, what it is masking underneath (needs, loneliness, celebration, comfort), and how alcohol becomes a predictable substitute for real connection. This is an episode about self-trust, self-compassion, and learning how to be there for yourself, especially when life gets hard. In this video, you’ll learn: - Why quitting can feel like leaving a friend behind - “Reliable” vs “predictable”: what alcohol actually does every time - How alcohol becomes the Swiss Army knife solution for emotions and events - Why celebration gets hijacked by alcohol and what you actually want instead - The control trap: why alcohol feels safer than real relationships - How distraction keeps you from knowing what you need - A practical exercise: define “best friend,” then compare it to alcohol Quick takeaway: Alcohol can be predictable, but it cannot be a friend. If you want real support, you build it through self-knowledge, quiet, and connection with people who can meet you there. Tiny FAQ: Q: What if alcohol really is the only thing that helps me relax? A: That is a common belief. This episode is about running a new experiment and building other sources of relief and connection. Q: What do I do when I feel a blank space without it? A: Start small. Replace the ritual with podcasts, quit lit, and community while you build real support. 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 When the noise of alcohol goes quiet 1:12 Why quitting feels like leaving a friend behind 2:01 “How do I be my own best friend?” 3:39 Alcohol as the always-there “friend” 5:05 The Swiss Army knife myth: drink for everything 6:24 “Reliable” vs “predictable” 7:30 Celebration without alcohol: what do you actually want? 10:39 Outsourcing connection to a substance 12:22 Vulnerability and the “safer” option 14:23 Stop letting yourself down: learning self-support 17:44 The Stoic takeaway: what is truly yours to steward? 23:47 Distraction and avoiding being with yourself 25:35 Discernment: turning inward and learning to love what’s there 35:31 Going against the grain in a culture that sells numbness 38:10 The influence of your environment and the people closest to you 39:48 Finding replacements: quit lit, podcasts, and community 41:58 The Best Friend Test: write it down and compare it to alcohol 43:23 Practical close: try quiet, then get curious #AlcoholFree #SoberCurious #QuitDrinking #AlcoholMythPodcast #ThisNakedMind #SelfCompassion #HabitChange #PersonalGrowth

Mommy Wine Culture Almost Broke Me: Ellen's Story

What if the hardest part is not quitting alcohol… it’s telling the truth about how much you’re struggling? In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, Jonathan interviews co-host Ellen Biggs and she shares her full story: the “good girl” beginnings, the slow escalation, the secret rules and hiding, the loneliness of feeling like the only one, and the moment she finally found a path that worked. If you’ve been functioning on the outside but quietly unraveling on the inside, this episode will feel painfully familiar, and genuinely hopeful. In this video, you’ll learn: - How drinking can start as belonging and slowly become secrecy - Why “looking responsible” can keep you stuck for years - The rule making cycle: weekends only, switching drinks, bargaining, and backsliding - Why the idea of quitting can feel terrifying when your whole social world drinks - How community and coaching helped Ellen build real momentum - A practical mindset shift: experiment, gather data, and keep going Quick takeaway: You do not need a rock bottom. You need support, new tools, and honest evidence that life can feel better without alcohol. Tiny FAQ: Q: What if I want to drink less, not quit? A: That is where many people start. The key is experimenting long enough to get honest data about how alcohol is actually affecting your life. Q: What if I’m scared people will judge me? A: That fear makes sense. This episode is a reminder that secrecy is heavy, and community is often the first real antidote. 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 0:07 The secret: “I didn’t tell anyone” 1:09 Today’s episode: Ellen shares her story 2:09 High school: drinking as belonging 5:12 Spain: daily drinking becomes normal 7:40 Early 20s: drinking at anger, boredom, fear 8:34 Grad school: “work hard, play hard” and control as identity 11:06 Motherhood and the stay-at-home pivot 12:45 Expat life in Seoul: loneliness, community, and escalation 14:40 The first midnight wake-up: “this is out of control” 16:32 The hidden years: rules, shame, and isolation 20:36 “I just want to drink less” and why AA felt like the only option 22:05 Mommy wine culture and confirmation bias 23:00 Hiding books and searching in secret 24:06 The turning point: seeing Sober Sis on Instagram 25:14 The first real streak: 21 days alcohol-free 26:27 Annie Grace and the 90-day Path program 26:36 First alcohol-free Thanksgiving and Christmas 28:45 Year-long Path: the last drink and staying alcohol-free 31:05 The last drink that wasn’t meant to be the last 33:49 The belief shift: what alcohol was getting credit for 39:21 Did family notice? How Ellen navigated it quietly 41:28 The 100-day truth: telling her husband the real amount 43:37 Masks off: how honesty changed relationships 48:11 Coaching: purpose, training, and the fear of telling the story 53:26 Who Ellen coaches and what it’s like to work with her 56:50 Message to past Ellen: there is hope, and it’s worth it 59:42 Closing and how to reach out #AlcoholMythPodcast #QuitDrinking #SoberCurious #AlcoholFree #MommyWineCulture #ThisNakedMind #HabitChange #Recovery

Sober Summer: How To Have Fun Without Drinking

Worried that summer will not feel “right” without an icy cold drink? In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan Ball and Ellen Biggs tackle one of the biggest seasonal fear stories: “My perfect summer won’t be perfect if I don’t drink.” From grilling and lake days to golf, weddings, vacations, and patio happy hours, we break down why it feels so daunting, and how to build real confidence through first times, simple planning, and self-compassion. If you keep telling yourself, “I’ll do it after this event,” this conversation is for you. In this video, you’ll learn: - Why there will always be a reason to drink if you wait for the “perfect time” - How to handle summer rituals: grilling, beach days, golf rounds, weddings - Why first times feel weird, and how new neural pathways form fast - How to reframe the experience: what you are allowing, not what you are losing - A practical experiment: try one event alcohol-free and record what you learn - How mocktails and alcohol-free options can keep the ritual without the aftermath 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 Stop waiting for a “quiet season” 1:36 The summer myth: “I need a drink for this” 2:46 Why summer feels like a boogeyman 6:15 The key realization: there will always be events 8:13 Busy seasons can build your sober muscles faster 9:52 First times and new neural pathways 13:27 The golf example: disentangling the fun from the beer 19:20 Glamour vs reality: alcohol math, dehydration, distraction 22:13 Try it without booze: camping and beach trips 29:37 Plan ahead: fun summer drinks without alcohol 35:16 Practical takeaway: pick one challenge, bring an alternative, journal the results 38:08 Compassion, curiosity, and email us your “summer fear list” #SoberSummer #QuitDrinking #AlcoholFree #SoberCurious #AlcoholMythPodcast #ThisNakedMind #Mocktails #HabitChange