You want to stop drinking, but words like “alcoholic,” “sober,” or “in recovery” just don't feel like you. Do you have to use them?

Matt and Dave join Julie and Steve for an honest (and sometimes spicy) conversation about how we describe our drinking and our decision to stop. We explore why a label can help one person recognize they need help while making someone else feel ashamed, boxed in, or like they don't belong.

We don’t all use the same words - or agree on what they mean. From “functional alcoholic” to “sober curious,” we share the experiences behind our opinions and how our language has changed over time.

In this episode: • How “functional alcoholic” can become a reason to keep drinking • Why some people embrace the alcoholic label and others resist it • Whether you have to identify as “in recovery” forever • The different meanings we attach to “sober” and “alcohol-free” • Counting days, drinking again, and whether progress gets erased • Finding connection and useful support even when the language doesn’t fit

If you’ve ever thought, “I just want to stop drinking - do I have to call myself something?” this conversation makes room for you.

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Self forgiveness after quitting drinking can feel impossible when you still regret the people you hurt, the risks you took, and the moments you missed. How do you live with what happened without punishing yourself forever?

Amber and Janice join Julie and Steve for an honest conversation about facing the past and learning to treat yourself with compassion. We share the regrets that were hardest to sit with - and how trying to make up for them sometimes led to isolation, overpromising, and impossible expectations.

We talk about:

• Recognizing the difference between taking responsibility and punishing yourself
• Rebuilding trust through small, consistent actions
• Finding safe people to share the things you're ashamed of
• Understanding old patterns and practicing kinder self-talk
• Making different choices, even when old memories still hurt

Self forgiveness takes time. You can acknowledge the harm you caused, keep learning, and begin building a life you're proud to be present for.

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“I miss alcohol - even though I’m glad I quit.” If you’ve had that thought and then felt guilty, confused, or started doubting your decision, this conversation is for you.

Maybe you miss the fun, the friendships, the escape, or the version of yourself who seemed to relax a little easier. You can appreciate your life without alcohol and still grieve parts of the life you left behind.

Julie and Steve join Teresa McLellan and Martin Lockett for an honest conversation about missing alcohol, letting go of an old identity, and remembering why you chose to quit. We also explore how those same feelings show up when you leave a relationship, a job, or a future you hoped you’d have.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Acknowledging the good parts without forgetting what drinking cost you
• Missing the confidence, comfort, and connection you associated with alcohol
• Figuring out who you are without drinking
• Recognizing when good memories turn into romanticizing alcohol
• Letting go of the wish that you could drink without the consequences
• Finding support and meeting the needs underneath the sadness

You don’t have to pretend you hated every part of drinking to stand by your decision to quit. Missing something doesn’t have to decide where you go next.

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