Podcast · Learning

Sober & Lit Podcast

by Ruby Williams · English · Learning

Are you worried you might be drinking too much? If you’ve tried cutting back your drinking, but can’t imagine your life without wine? This podcast is for you. Sober & Lit is the podcast for women in midlife who want encouragement, support, and real strategies to live their best life without al

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 34 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 26 minNew

Not Too Old, Not Too Late: Alcohol Freedom in Midlife / EP 144

What if the best chapter of your life hasn’t even started yet? Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or 70s, maybe you’re not winding down. Maybe you’re just getting going. Maybe you’re here because: The kids have flown the nestYou’re starting over after a divorceYou’ve spent decades looking after everyone else, building a career, or trying to get your health backSomewhere along the way, alcohol took up more space than you ever meant it toSo let me ask you: are you really living the life you ...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S3 · E143 · 6 Oct 2026 · 36 min
The Sober & Lit Plot Twist We Didn’t Expect / EP 143
After 143 episodes... Sober & Lit is changing. Today, we're turning back the clock... ✨ The moments that changed us ✨ The guests we'll never forget ✨ The laughs and behind-the-scenes memories ✨ What three years of talking about alcohol freedom taught us ✨ And why we're now choosing two different roads You'll hear what's next for Susan... What's next for me... [spoiler: I'll be back next week as the solo host] And, yes... what's next for Sober & Lit. Because this isn't really a goodbye...
S3 · E142 · 29 Sep 2026 · 49 min
Does Life Really Get Better? 20 Years Sober with Alysse Bryson / EP 142
Imagine meeting yourself... 20 years after your last drink. What would she tell you? That all your problems disappeared? Nope. Apparently... They get classier. Today we're talking with Alysse Bryson, founder of The Sober Curator, who's had a front-row seat to 20 years of sobriety AND the cultural revolution happening around it. We're getting into: Why sober life gets bigger, not perfectThe “whack-a-mole” of habits after alcoholWhy Hollywood still gets sobriety wrongReinventing yourself in mid...
S3 · E141 · 22 Sep 2026 · 30 min
You Love Wine... But Does Alcohol Love You Back? / EP 141
He seemed pretty great in the beginning. He helped you: Relax Have fun Feel confident Celebrate Forget your worries Then things changed. Suddenly he was: Wrecking your sleep Fueling your anxiety Taking more than he gave Leaving you with regrets If this were a man, your friends would probably say: “Why are you still with him?” Plot twist... We’re talking about alcohol. Today, we’re looking at the...
S3 · E140 · 15 Sep 2026 · 41 min
Is Alcohol Making You Choose the Wrong Person? Sober Dating with Krysia Shaw / EP 140
He’s attractive. ✔️ The chemistry is HOT. ✔️ You’re already imagining date number two. ✔️ But… --Do you actually LIKE him? --Do you trust him? --Are you compatible? Or did two glasses of wine and a whole lot of chemistry just make those questions harder to answer? Today, we're talking about dating alcohol-free with my own dating coach, Krysia Shaw. And we're getting into: ❤️ Why chemistry isn’t compatibility ❤️ The Head, Heart & Heat dating method ❤️ How alcohol can blur r...
S3 · E139 · 8 Sep 2026 · 46 min
What Happens to Your Sex Life When You Get Sober with Cindi Roberts / EP 139
What happens when wine wasn’t just part of date night... it was part of your sex life? Maybe it helped you: Relax Feel sexy Get out of your head Forget about your body And then you get sober and think... “Wait... how do I do THIS without alcohol?” Today, we’re asking the questions women often whisper, but rarely say out loud: 🔥 Where did my sex drive go? 🔥 How do I feel sexy without wine? 🔥 What if my partner still drinks? &n...
S3 · E138 · 1 Sep 2026 · 28 min
What If Sobriety Is Really About Self-Love? EP 138
I'll love myself when... ...I lose the weight. ...I stop drinking. ...I get my shit together. ...I finally become the woman I think I should be. Sound familiar? Here's the problem: What if you don't have to change first... to deserve your own love? This month on Sober & Lit, we're talking dating, sex, intimacy and relationships. But we're starting with the relationship underneath ALL of them: The one you have with yourself. In this episode we're getting curious about: Why we give everyon...
S3 · E137 · 25 Aug 2026 · 26 min
The Part of Sobriety We Don't Talk About Enough / EP 137
The Messy Middle Nobody tells you sobriety has a tough middle season. In this episode, Susan Larkin and Ruby Williams talk about what happens after the initial excitement fades and the real work begins. They normalize the awkward, discouraging stretch where progress is still happening even when it does not feel glamorous. They discuss why the messy middle is a normal part of alcohol-free life, how self-compassion helps more than shame, and why coaching can keep you moving when your brain want...
S3 · E136 · 18 Aug 2026 · 31 min
Stop Waiting to Feel Ready to Quit Drinking / EP 136
What if you're never going to feel completely ready to quit drinking? You keep waiting... After vacation. After the wedding. When work calms down. Next Monday. But here's the twist: Motivation doesn't create action. Action creates motivation. In this episode, we're sharing 3 ways to finally get fired up without rock bottom, more willpower, or beating yourself up: Make one decision from self-love.Borrow hope until you have your own.Replace pressure with curiosity.And Ruby shares the fascinati...
S3 · E135 · 11 Aug 2026 · 38 min
Alcohol Was Keeping Me Playing Small with Lorna Wilson / EP 135
Could the best years of your life still be ahead of you? Most women think going alcohol-free means giving something up... What if it's actually the beginning of becoming someone you've never met before? ✨ In this episode we sit down with Lorna Wilson, a life and alcohol-free coach from Canada whose journey into sobriety began in midlife. You'll discover: • Why alcohol often keeps women playing smaller than they're meant to. • How midlife can become the doorway to purpose, reinvention, and p...
S3 · E134 · 4 Aug 2026 · 30 min
Alcohol & Boredom: Why You Keep Drinking / EP 134
Ever notice how boredom seems to whisper... "Have a drink?" What if that urge has less to do with boredom... and more to do with how alcohol has trained your brain? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Ruby and Susan unpack why everyday life can feel dull after years of drinking... and why that's not your fault. Inside this conversation: • Why alcohol rewires your brain's reward system • The surprising upside of boredom • Coach Ruby's powerful 4 Boredom Buckets coaching tool • Simple ways to ...
S3 · E133 · 28 Jul 2026 · 42 min
When Doctors Struggle with Alcohol & Depression with Dr. Valerie Brooke / EP 133
What happens when the person everyone turns to for help is quietly falling apart? Doctors spend their lives caring for others... but who cares for them? In this powerful episode of Sober & Lit, we sit down with Dr. Valerie Brooke, who bravely shares the story she kept hidden for years. Together we explore: • The silent relationship between alcohol and depression • Why high achievers often struggle in secret • The fear of asking for help when your career is on the line • How honesty bec...
S3 · E132 · 21 Jul 2026 · 27 min
The Missing Step When Changing Your Drinking / EP 132
What if you're not stuck... just unheard? You know alcohol isn't helping. You've read the books. You've learned the science. You've tried to change. So why do the same patterns keep coming back? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Susan and Ruby explore the missing piece that many alcohol-free journeys overlook: Why knowing isn't always enoughThe hidden beliefs that quietly fuel drinkingHow self-compassion creates lasting changeA simple practice to soothe your inner critic instead of fighting...
S3 · E131 · 14 Jul 2026 · 38 min
Why Alcohol-Free Travel Changes Everything with Darci Murray / EP 131
What if your best vacation didn't include alcohol? If the thought of traveling without wine, cocktails, or all-inclusive drinks sounds impossible... this episode might surprise you. Join Susan and Ruby as they chat with Darci Murray, founder of Hooked Travel, about how going alcohol-free transformed the way she experiences the world. Together they explore: Why alcohol-free travel is more fun than you thinkHow to enjoy vacations without feeling like you're missing outFinding deeper conn...
S3 · E130 · 7 Jul 2026 · 28 min
Is Alcohol Causing Your Midlife Weight Gain? EP 130
You're eating better. Exercising more. Maybe you've even had bariatric surgery... so why is the scale still moving in the wrong direction? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Ruby and Susan uncover one of the most overlooked contributors to midlife weight gain... alcohol. Together, they explore how alcohol affects your metabolism, hormones, sleep, cravings, and recovery, and why it can quietly sabotage your health goals... even when you're doing everything else "right." You'll discover: Why a...
S3 · E129 · 30 Jun 2026 · 26 min
Embarrassed to Be Alcohol-Free? Here's How to Own It / EP 129
What if the hardest part about becoming alcohol-free isn't giving up alcohol... ...it's letting go of the identity that came with it? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Susan and Ruby answer a listener question that so many women quietly struggle with: "Why do I feel embarrassed to call myself alcohol-free?" Together they explore why our brains worry so much about fitting in, how limiting beliefs shape our identity, and why becoming alcohol-free is less about losing something... and more ab...
S3 · E128 · 23 Jun 2026 · 34 min
How Anxiety Accelerates Alcohol Use Disorder / EP 128
You have the career. The family. The responsibilities. So why does that glass of wine feel harder to say no to? In this episode of Sober & Lit, we're exploring the hidden connection between alcohol, anxiety, and women. You'll discover: Why anxiety can quietly increase drinkingHow alcohol becomes a coping habitThe surprising science behind "telescoping"Why this isn't a willpower problemSimple tools to calm anxiety without alcoholIf you've ever thought: "Why am I drinking more than I want t...
S3 · E127 · 16 Jun 2026 · 44 min
Alcohol, Menopause & Midlife Truths with Kathleen McDermott / EP 127
Midlife. Menopause. Alcohol cravings. Coincidence... or connected? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Susan and Ruby welcome Kathleen McDermott, registered nurse and menopause coach, for a conversation every woman deserves to hear. You'll discover: Why hormones can amplify alcohol cravingsHow menopause impacts your brain and nervous systemWhy willpower isn't the answerThe role of self-compassion in lasting changeSimple ways to feel more balanced and in controlIf you've ever thought: "Why is ...
S3 · E126 · 9 Jun 2026 · 22 min
Why Don't I Feel Better Sober? EP 126
You quit drinking expecting to feel amazing... but what if you're feeling worse before you feel better? So now you're wondering: "Shouldn't I feel better by now?" In this episode of Sober & Lit, Ruby and Susan unpack a little-known part of the alcohol-free journey: PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome). You'll discover: • Why recovery can feel harder than expected • Common symptoms of PAWS • How long healing may take • Signs your brain is actually recovering • Tools to stay encouraged a...
S3 · E125 · 2 Jun 2026 · 39 min
How Sobriety Fueled Success for Entrepreneur Deborah C. Smith / EP 125
What if sobriety gave you MORE... not less? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Susan and Ruby sit down with Deborah C. Smith... business coach, entrepreneur, and powerful example of what can happen when you stop using alcohol to cope and start reconnecting with yourself. Inside this conversation: • Deborah’s story • Alcohol, ambition + high stress entrepreneurship • The wake-up call that changed everything • Finding joy, creativity + relief without wine • Why sobriety became her superpow...
S3 · E124 · 26 May 2026 · 24 min
Building Sober Confidence: Why Summer Is Your Ideal Training Ground / EP 124
What if summer isn’t the problem... but actually the BEST time to explore alcohol free living? In this episode of Sober & Lit, Coach Susan and Coach Ruby unpack: Why summer drinking feels so automaticHow concerts, patios, vacations, and BBQs retrain your brainBuilding your alcohol-free “muscles” one event at a timeWhy nature can calm your nervous system naturallyThe mindset shift that changes everythingHow to stop “starting over” every fallPlus: Mocktail ideasReal client storiesNervous sy...
S3 · E123 · 19 May 2026 · 37 min
Alcohol-Free Wine Revolution with Tracy Sweeney / EP 123
What if you didn’t have to give up the wine ritual... to change your relationship with alcohol? In this episode of Sober & Lit, we sit down with Tracy Sweeney... longtime wine industry insider and co-founder of Tomorrow Cellars... to talk about the rise of sophisticated alcohol-free wine and why so many women are rethinking what’s in their glass. We talk about: • Can alcohol-free wine actually taste good? • Why are so many midlife women becoming sober curious? • Is it possible to keep ...
S3 · E122 · 12 May 2026 · 21 min
Sober Summer Experiment: Curious About Firsts? EP 122
What if this summer didn’t have to end the same way it always does? You start June saying, “I’m going to cut back.” Then come the vacations… the patio drinks… the girls trips… the BBQs… and suddenly it’s September and you’re exhausted, anxious, inflamed, and promising yourself you’ll “start again Monday.” But what if this summer became the one where you finally tried something different? In this episode of the Sober & Lit podcast, we’re talking about The Sober Summer Experiment... and wh...
S3 · E121 · 5 May 2026 · 34 min
Burnout, Wine, Repeat with Lauren Baptiste / EP 121
Are you stuck in the loop of stress, wine, and starting over tomorrow? In this guest episode, with Lauren Baptiste, we’re getting real about burnout, alcohol, and the pressure high-achieving women carry… We explore: • Why “doing it all” feels so exhausting • The hidden link between burnout + drinking • The moment your body says… enough • How alcohol keeps the cycle going • Small shifts that actually create change This is the conversation behind the scenes: -- You’re successful… but ti...
S3 · E120 · 28 Apr 2026 · 36 min
Alcohol-free Vacations- 3 Mistakes to Avoid/ EP 120
Thinking about your first alcohol-free vacation and already feeling nervous? What if your next vacation became the trip where you felt the most free... not the one that pulled you back into the drinking cycle? Because let’s be honest… vacation can sound like: • airport wine • beach cocktails • girls’ trip pressure • “I deserve it” thoughts In this episode, Susan and Ruby unpack: ✨ The biggest mistakes women make on sober vacations ✨ How t...
S3 · E119 · 21 Apr 2026 · 39 min
Alcohol-Free Events Are the Future with Laura Nelson / EP 119
What if the thing making you feel awkward at events… isn’t you… it’s the alcohol? • Ever grabbed a drink just to feel normal? • Ever thought… “my drinking isn’t that bad”? • Ever wondered what real connection would feel like without it? This episode is that conversation. We sit down with Laura Nelson of Sober Rocks… and her story will hit home. From gray area drinking to creating a movement around alcohol-free, inclusive events, Laura shares the moment everything shifted… and what became poss...
S3 · E118 · 14 Apr 2026 · 21 min
#1 Alcohol Craving Hack: SNAP / EP 118
✨ Discover The Ultimate Alcohol-Free Decision Tool ✨ Ever notice how fast cravings happen? That moment… “I need a glass of wine”… and suddenly you’re already pouring it. What if you could catch it… right there? In this episode, we break it down: • what’s really happening in your brain during a craving • why it feels automatic (it’s not just you) • how to interrupt it in seconds with the SNAP tool • and how to come back to you before the habit takes over Because here’s the truth: It’s not abo...
S3 · E117 · 7 Apr 2026 · 42 min
Why High-Achieving Women Quit Drinking with Sue Willoughby / EP 117
Okay… quick real talk, friend: What if burnout isn’t the problem… it’s the wake-up call? In this episode of Sober & Lit, we sit down with Sue Willoughby… equus coach, entrepreneur, and total midlife badass… who shares how she went from burnout, overachieving, and emotional exhaustion… to a life that actually feels aligned, powerful, and free. We talk about: • “normal” drinking that isn’t working anymore • high-achieving women feeling stuck • and the question… is this really it? And yes… ...
S3 · E116 · 31 Mar 2026 · 25 min
My Drinking Isn't That Bad / EP 116
What if the thought keeping you stuck… sounds totally normal? “My drinking isn’t that bad.” We hear this all the time. Maybe you’ve said it too. But what if that one thought is the thing quietly keeping you… • tired • stuck • not quite living at your full potential In this episode of Sober & Lit, we go there...gently, honestly, no shame. We talk about: • the gray area most women live in • the comparison trap (“at least I’m not that bad…”) • those sneaky permission-giving thoughts • why yo...
S3 · E115 · 24 Mar 2026 · 43 min
Sober Courage Meets Cold Joy with Libby DeLana / EP 115
Cold water. Big feelings. Real joy. In this episode of Sober & Lit, we sit down with Libby DeLana, author of Cold Joy, who shares how something as simple as stepping into cold water helped her move through loss, rebuild herself, and feel truly alive again. We talk about the surprising parallels between cold plunging and sobriety… why community changes everything… and what happens when you stop numbing and start feeling. What if discomfort isn’t something to avoid but...

About Sober & Lit Podcast

Sober & Lit Podcast is a English learning podcast from Ruby Williams. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Ruby Williams
Language: English
Category: Learning
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 34 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1723773456

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