On today’s episode, Annie Grace talks with Meade, a Certified Naked Mind Coach who once used alcohol as a crutch for the tough seasons of life. Growing up believing people either drank or they went to AA or rehab, Meade always thought her drinking looked like everyone else’s. She thrived on people pleasing and found herself sleepwalking through her own life just to meet the needs of others. Stuck between the decision to continue drinking miserably or become miserable trying not to drink, Meade f...
Dec 11, 2020•58 min
What do you do if you have been drinking every day and want to stop? Is it safe to take away something your body is used to having all the time? Who should consult with a doctor before quitting? In today’s episode, Annie Grace talks about how people who stop their daily drinking routine can experience physical effects from nothing at all to a few withdrawal symptoms to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Let me ask you a question. What is better than change? Lasting change, of course. If y...
Dec 05, 2020•11 min
Leigh’s first experience with alcohol was in college where she became a binge drinker. She drank less as she transitioned to a career but after getting married and having kids, Leigh noticed her glass of wine at the end of the day turned into a bottle every night. After the death of her father, she found herself day drinking. At the same time, Leigh was also able to go for long periods of time without having any alcohol. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, with no rules for anything and the increase...
Dec 04, 2020•34 min
Over the years, there have been varying schools of thought when it comes to drinking after childbirth. Some doctors have been known to recommend a drink or two to help with milk production. Others discourage consuming alcohol altogether. And, of course, mommy wine culture, marketing, and social media memes all encourage moms to drink to relax and decompress. In today’s episode, Annie Grace shares some of her own story and her thoughts about drinking as the mother of an infant. Hi, it's Annie Gra...
Nov 28, 2020•14 min
In this month’s coaching episode, This Naked Mind head coach Scott Pinyard is joined by Certified Naked Mind Coach Wendy McCallum who specializes in burnout and balance. Wendy shares some of her drinking story and talks about burnout - how we define it and what are the most common symptoms. Then, the coaches answer two questions: one from someone who is using alcohol to cope with stress, knowing it’s hurting but also feeling like it’s helping, and wondering how to handle the stress without alcoh...
Nov 27, 2020•51 min
In today’s episode, Annie Grace answers a question from a reader feeling judged by her boyfriend who doesn’t want her to refer to herself as “sober.” What is the definition of sober and who decides what we call ourselves? Can’t anyone who doesn’t drink identify as sober? Or, are there prerequisites for using the label? Annie shares her take on labels such as sobriety and recovery. Are you looking to connect with like-minded people? Sometimes maybe you feel like you have all this information from...
Nov 21, 2020•12 min
As a drinker, Ella lived a loud life in which she offended others with her political views, felt shame and regret after one night stands, broke mirrors, and more. She drank to alleviate the stress she felt as a secondary school French teacher. Ella describes herself as a boozehound, a big drinker, the life and soul of the party. Until one afternoon, in the middle of a Prosecco-soaked bridal shower, she walked away. Ella talks with Annie Grace about everything from how being awake has helped her ...
Nov 20, 2020•53 min
Today, Annie Grace answers a question from a senior in college for whom alcohol has dominated fun since their first sip at the age of 14. How can college students rid alcohol from their lives? How can they have fun when everyone else is drinking? How can this binge drinker get out of a dark place and become happy and curious about the world again? Did you miss This Naked Mind Live? Do you maybe have a little bit of FOMO? Don't worry. I've got you covered. In fact, I had the entire event professi...
Nov 14, 2020•16 min
Ruby didn’t care for alcohol after her first experience with it in high school. It wasn’t until she started working in the wine industry 20 years ago that Ruby really discovered drinking as it quickly became ingrained in every part of her life and felt like an identity. Following bariatric surgery, Ruby’s drinking became problematic as the euphoric feeling alcohol used to deliver became harder to hold onto. Reading This Naked Mind helped her begin her alcohol free journey and the Aha moments sta...
Nov 13, 2020•40 min
Regardless of your relationship with alcohol, going off antidepressants is no simple task and something you definitely need to do under medical supervision. In answering a reader’s question, Annie Grace shares her personal journey, including what led her to begin taking medication in the first place as well as three key things that helped her not only as she eliminated prescription medication but as she continues actively caring for her mental health today. Let me ask you a question. What is bet...
Nov 07, 2020•17 min
Today’s episode is a special one and a very fun listen as Annie Grace shares her interview from another podcast, “Stars Like Us: Astrology with Aliza Kelly.” Fellow Virgo, celebrity astrologer, and author Aliza Kelly digs into the mythology of Annie’s life -- who she is and why she does what she does -- and ventures into parts of the story Annie hasn’t really shared, especially about her childhood and upbringing. Are you ready for a deep dive into truly lasting change? If so, you might consider ...
Nov 06, 2020•1 hr 2 min
We get duped into thinking we need alcohol to survive, convinced it’s the elixir of life and solves all our problems. Once referred to as “the anti-alcohol evangelist,” Annie Grace is passionate about sharing the truth about alcohol. It steals memories and self-respect. It makes us physically ill. And, there are heart-wrenching statistics about being directly linked to child abuse and suicide. So, does Annie actually hate the substance that for a long time kept her stuck in a very dark place? I'...
Oct 31, 2020•11 min
In this month’s coaching episode, This Naked Mind head coach Scott Pinyard changes things up a bit and welcomes Karla Adkins, one of our incredible certified senior coaches. Karla shares about her own journey to find freedom from alcohol, what inspired her to become a coach, and the specialized work she does with people struggling with anxiety. Then, from anxiety to liver health, Scott and Karla answer a few coaching questions together. I'm so excited you guys, because we are just about to start...
Oct 30, 2020•44 min
What is it that makes your confidence skyrocket when you stop drinking? Is it something in your brain? Something else? If alcohol chips away at confidence, how do you get it back? On today’s episode, Annie Grace dives into these questions and shares her thoughts on what’s behind the confidence boost - from the science to the physical elements. I'm so excited you guys, because we are just about to start another live alcohol experiment. If you do not know about the alcohol experiment, you need to ...
Oct 24, 2020•12 min
Growing up in Louisiana, Jenny experienced a boozy culture every day. She comes from a long line of storytellers and brings her own wonderful narrative skill to this podcast episode. Jenny’s first experience with beer as a high school freshman at the varsity soccer team initiation party made her feel at home in her own skin for the very first time. From there, her relationship with alcohol was on and off - she drank to fit in when she hung out with the “cool” crowd and she abstained to fit in wh...
Oct 23, 2020•54 min
It’s a controversial question, one Annie Grace gets asked a lot. Does she think AA is wrong? In today’s episode, Annie shares her feelings about and experience with Alcoholics Anonymous, what AA members said to try to keep her from publishing her book, the label “alcoholic,” and what she thinks is the right way to get sober. Are you looking to connect with like-minded people? Sometimes maybe you feel like you have all this information from doing This Naked Mind or The Alcohol Experiment, but you...
Oct 17, 2020•18 min
Laura had her first drink at 16. Flunked out of college due to partying. Saw firsthand the effects of drinking in her father’s alcoholic girlfriend. Got stuck in the server/bartender lifestyle, spending many mornings “gut rot hungover.” Yet, Laura’s goal was never to stop drinking. She just wanted to make her life better. From getting sober behind a bar to starting a business to discovering her sexual truth, Laura shares the details of her journey out of a life that was no longer serving her. Ha...
Oct 16, 2020•44 min
How do you balance your desire to remain private about your decision not to drink with the openness you know will bring you freedom? Is there any way to honor your need for privacy and still participate in online support communities for motivation, inspiration, and accountability? And, can the label alcoholic actually empower you? Annie Grace explores all these questions. Did you miss This Naked Mind Live? Do you maybe have a little bit of FOMO? Don't worry. I've got you covered. In fact, I had ...
Oct 10, 2020•11 min
On today’s episode, Annie Grace welcomes Rob Bell, New York Times bestselling author and named by TIME Magazine in 2011 one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. They talk about Bell’s deeply profound and personal new book EVERYTHING IS SPIRITUAL: Who We Are and What We’re Doing Here in which he explores the endless dynamic questions and connections that have shaped his life, providing powerful insight into understanding one's purpose and place in the world. From our world-class numbi...
Oct 09, 2020•1 hr 5 min
The term “pink cloud” is generally used to describe a state in which a someone abstaining from drugs or alcohol manifests euphoria, overconfidence, and a false sense of wellbeing, therefore making them more vulnerable to relapse. However, there has been very little scientific research done on the pink cloud. On today’s episode, Annie Grace explores what happens to the brain and the body when you stop drinking alcohol and where that euphoric feeling might come from. Hi. Super exciting news. So Th...
Oct 03, 2020•20 min
Emily never had a problem giving up alcohol during her pregnancies. However, each time she started drinking again, she noticed she drank more than she used to. She made rules for herself and broke them. Again and again. Then she began having health issues and was arrested for driving drunk. Having to explain the breathalyzer in the car to her five children and answer their questions about her drinking was a turning point for Emily and she began her journey in AA. Today, Emily is a This Naked Min...
Oct 02, 2020•28 min
Today’s question is simple but has a lot of depth to it. A reader asks: How do you manage angry family members when you’ve had a setback? In her answer, Annie Grace explains her process for achieving the outcome you desire, shares the five stages of feeling an emotion, and describes a gutsy move to help manage the relationship moving forward. I'm so excited you guys, because we are just about to start another live alcohol experiment. If you do not know about the alcohol experiment, you need to l...
Sep 26, 2020•13 min
In this month’s coaching episode, This Naked Mind head coach Scott Pinyard answers four amazing questions: 1) Why do really happy occasions trigger my need for alcohol? 2) I'm waking up with some really unsettling dreams that feel true to life and freak me out before I realized it was just a dream. Any thoughts? 3) What are your opinions on alcohol-free wines and beers? 4) I feel like I'm obsessing about not drinking; I find myself reminding myself about all the negatives about drinking so that ...
Sep 25, 2020•26 min
Today’s question from a mom is near and dear to Annie Grace’s heart. Even if we raise our kids differently than our parents raised us, teaching them lessons about alcohol we wish our parents had taught us, how do we navigate the inevitable years where they will rebel and experiment with alcohol and make mistakes. As a mom of three herself, Annie often thinks about what her kids’ experiences with alcohol will be like. Listen as she shares her thoughts. I'm so excited you guys, because we are just...
Sep 19, 2020•19 min
As a kid, Kelly watched her mom struggle with alcohol. There was physical and emotional abuse. Although her own relationship with alcohol started out “just like everyone else’s” and she was well aware of what alcohol could do to a person, Kelly found herself drinking to manage emotional waves and blackout. Though Kelly never missed work or got a DUI, red flags popped up as she tried to moderate and set rules around her drinking. Today, she has taken back her power, made alcohol small, and broken...
Sep 18, 2020•40 min
On today’s episode, a reader who has been alcohol free for three weeks is struggling to cope with a stressful situation and wondering how to avoid relaxing with a glass of wine. What really happens when you use alcohol to relax? Do you feel better? How long does that feeling last? What are some other ways to manage your emotions in super difficult times? Annie Grace explains. Let me ask you a question. What is better than change? Lasting change, of course. If you've had trouble making change sti...
Sep 12, 2020•13 min
Amy didn’t pick up alcohol until college. After graduation, she put it down again. People often found it curious that she didn’t drink. However, when she became a parent to special needs children, everything changed. Though well-intentioned, the moms with whom Amy connected supported one another by encouraging drinking and she began using alcohol to cope with life’s stresses. The logic that drinking wouldn’t change anything never worked on Amy; the fact things were never going to change was the ...
Sep 11, 2020•45 min
Annie Grace answers a phenomenal question today. A reader asks, “Now that I know the truth about alcohol, how do I not force it on others who are doing the same thing I was?” When you have removed alcohol from your life and learned so much from your experience and you’re watching people you love continue doing something that’s harmful to them, how do you reconcile those things? What can you do to get people to take your advice? If you asked me about the one thing that makes This Naked Mind so di...
Sep 05, 2020•24 min
When she began the process of deciding whether to try to moderate her drinking or completely remove alcohol from her life, Victoria took a quiz to figure out her core values. The results didn’t tell her anything new - she was already aware of her core values. However, what she realized is that when she had alcohol in her system, she was not living with integrity. From anxiety to marriage to divorce to marriage to motherhood (times four) to a cancer diagnosis and treatment to finding freedom from...
Sep 04, 2020•52 min
It is very common for us to believe alcohol makes us more creative. But, does it really? Is there any scientific proof? In this episode, Annie Grace explains the one thing alcohol does to make us think we’re more creative when we drink, and how we can find creativity without alcohol. I'm so excited you guys, because we are just about to start another live alcohol experiment. If you do not know about the alcohol experiment, you need to literally drop everything right now and go to thisnakedmind.c...
Aug 29, 2020•11 min
