Rewired Sober

In this raw solo episode of Rewired Sober, Kate celebrates eight years of sobriety while recording from New York City during her annual Fashion Week trip. This isn’t a highlight reel — it’s an honest reflection on self-trust, identity, boundaries, feminism, spirituality, grief, creativity, and what actually changes when you build a life you don’t need to escape from.Kate explores how sobriety reshaped everything: how she dresses, how she speaks up, how she chooses relationships, how she handles discomfort, and how she trusts herself more deeply than ever before. From tattoos and style as self-expression (not performance), to perfectionism, late blooming, public growth, financial stability, emotional resilience, and spiritual curiosity — this episode is about becoming more yourself with every year sober.If you’ve ever wondered who you’re becoming after you quit drinking, this one’s for you.In This Episode, Kate Talks About:• Celebrating 8 years sober in NYC during her annual Fashion Week trip• Self-trust as the real transformation of sobriety• Style, tattoos, and identity (no longer performing for approval)• Dressing for yourself, not the male gaze• Radical honesty and the peace of having nothing to hide• Realizing nobody is watching you as closely as you think• Building a sober life with structure, routines, and real energy• Outgrowing people, places, and identities naturally• Boundaries without guilt: “If it’s not fun sober, it’s not fun”• Emotional resilience and sitting with discomfort instead of numbing• Being wrong, evolving, and changing your mind publicly• Feminism, social awareness, and seeing the world more clearly in sobriety• Exploring spirituality without shame or self-abandonment• The concept of being both fully human and fully divine• Grieving the moments alcohol stole (vacations, concerts, presence)• Perfectionism, repression, and why rebellion softens when you choose yourself• Major life stressors navigated sober: loss, illness, financial strain, career upheaval• Building a bold, creative life after alcohol (business, podcast, public voice)• Late blooming, divine timing, and trusting your life’s unfolding• The financial clarity sobriety actually creates• Standing up for yourself professionally• Holding paradox: two things can be true at the same timeJoin my coaching program: Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/

In this solo episode, Kate goes deep into a part of recovery that rarely gets named — but quietly shapes everything: religious wounding, self-trust, and soul work.For years, Kate approached recovery through neuroscience alone — partly out of rebellion against rigid dogma and hierarchical systems that taught her she was broken, powerless, or unable to trust herself. But over time, both her own healing and her work with hundreds of women revealed something deeper:Many women aren’t just healing from alcohol.They’re healing from self-abandonment.From spiritual disconnection.From being taught not to trust themselves.This episode explores the powerful overlap between:Religious conditioningPatriarchal structuresRecovery dogmaNervous system dysregulationShame, perfectionism, and people-pleasingKate shares how discovering feminist theology — particularly the work of Meggan Watterson — helped repair deep spiritual and identity-level wounds. Through this lens, God is not an external authority or judging figure, but what Watterson calls “the Good” — love, wisdom, presence — something we are already connected to, not something we must earn.You’ll also hear Kate reflect on the reclamation of Mary Magdalene as a teacher, mystic, and leader rather than the distorted trope of a “fallen woman,” and how reconnecting with the divine feminine strengthened her confidence, softened her nervous system, and deepened her self-trust.At the heart of this episode is a redefinition of soul work — not as religion, but as:The practice of learning how to listen to your own inner knowingRebuilding trust in yourself after years of overrideConnecting with love rather than fearComing home to yourselfKate also unpacks how healing requires both science and soul, including:How the brain rewires after alcoholWhy emotions feel louder in early sobrietyHow stress, habit loops, and nervous system dysregulation drive behaviorWhy willpower burns people outWhy lasting change comes from safety + repetitionWhy healing must also include grief, identity work, emotional honesty, and self-trustThis episode is for anyone who has ever wondered:Why they struggle to trust themselvesWhy traditional recovery spaces felt shaming or disempoweringWhy spirituality felt wounding instead of supportiveWhether you can believe in neuroscience, intuition, feminism, and God all at once

pisode NotesThis is a bonus episode about staying sober in a world that feels like it’s on fire.I talk about capacity — not as a moral issue, but as a real limit — and why newly sober people do not owe the world constant engagement, takes, or emotional mastery.We cover:Why sobriety doesn’t mean being “above it”How self-abandonment masquerades as responsibilityThe difference between caring and burning yourself downWhy staying sober right now is infrastructure, not avoidanceWhen silence is regulation, not complicityJournaling as record-keeping, not self-helpThis episode is for anyone who is heartbroken, angry, overwhelmed — and still choosing to stay upright.No platitudes.No spiritual bypassing.Just honesty about what it takes to remain sober and intact when the world is heavy.Bookmark what you can’t hold yet.You’ll come back when you have the capacity.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/

What happens when the very system that’s supposed to support healing starts to feel controlling, fear-based, or limiting?In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Tara Grace the host of the Recovery Rebellion podcast, who openly identifies as a “12-step dogma survivor” and advocates for a more nuanced, compassionate, and person-centered approach to recovery.We explore the darker side of the recovery world that many people are afraid to name out loud — including rigid ideology, shame-based messaging, and the ways people are often discouraged from trusting their own intuition.This episode is not about tearing down what helps people. It’s about expanding the conversation to include the many people who felt harmed, silenced, or dismissed within traditional recovery systems.In this episode, we discuss:The recovery industrial complex and how “heads in the beds” can sometimes matter more than individualized careWhat people mean when they talk about surviving 12-step dogmaHow rigid recovery models can become authoritarian, condescending, and psychologically unsafeThe problem with fear-based messaging like “you’ll die if you leave”How the disease model of addiction can be both helpful and limiting — and why it doesn’t tell the whole storyWhy many people experience real healing through natural recovery (without formal programs)The difference between support vs. control, accountability vs. complianceWhy harm reduction is often misunderstood — and who it actually servesThe emotional impact of being told your thinking is defective, your intuition is dangerous, or your questioning is “denial”How recovery can (and should) support self-trust, autonomy, and nervous system safetyWhy leaving AA or structured recovery spaces does not equal failureWhat compassionate, flexible, modern recovery could look like insteadThis episode is for you if:You’ve ever felt shamed, silenced, or patronized in recovery spacesYou’ve been told you were “in denial” simply for asking questionsYou were warned you would die if you left AA and felt terrified but also constrainedYou’re sober curious and hesitant to engage with traditional programsYou believe healing should feel empowering, not diminishingYou want a more expansive conversation about addiction recovery, neuroscience, agency, and choiceThis...

For decades, addiction has been widely defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease — a framework adopted by the medical system, treatment centers, and many recovery programs, including Alcoholics Anonymous.In this episode, Kate explores why that definition — while historically important — often falls short, especially for women who don’t experience their relationship with alcohol as a lifelong disease state.This conversation isn’t anti-recovery or anti-help. It’s about discernment, nuance, and intellectual honesty.Kate unpacks how the disease model became the dominant narrative, why it’s convenient for institutions, and how questioning it is often framed — particularly in 12-step spaces — as a symptom rather than a legitimate inquiry.In this episode, we cover:Why the “chronic, relapsing brain disease” definition became the gold standardHow medical and treatment systems benefit from a single, fixed narrativeThe difference between reducing shame and reinforcing permanent pathologyHow disagreement with the disease model is often labeled as “denial”Why pathologizing questions can shut down curiosity, autonomy, and growthThe psychological impact of being told your insight is evidence you’re sickWhy many women don’t see themselves reflected in traditional recovery explanationsHow authority-based recovery models discourage nuance and self-trustKate also discusses the cultural dynamics inside recovery spaces where questioning foundational beliefs can be interpreted as resistance, ego, or lack of willingness — rather than a thoughtful response to lived experience.The core message:Questioning a model is not denial. It’s discernment.Recovery should expand self-trust — not require surrendering your ability to think critically about your own experience.This episode is for women who:Feel uneasy with being labeled “chronically ill”Have been told their doubts are symptomsWant recovery without losing their voiceAre seeking a more nuanced, adult conversation about addictionYou’re allowed to ask questions. And asking them doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.

What actually happens when two women, two coaches, and two very different styles sit down to talk about Dry January, habit change, and why New Year’s resolutions so often fall apart?In this episode, I’m joined by Casey Davidson, host of the Hello Someday Podcast—one of today’s top mental health podcasts—and a nationally recognized voice in the sober-curious space who’s been featured across major media outlets.Together, we have a real, funny, unfiltered conversation about sobriety curiosity, consistency, and what actually helps people change—without dieting, white-knuckling, or pretending willpower is the solution.We talk about why most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions (spoiler: it’s not a discipline problem), how habit change really works, and why stacking consistent sober days matters far more than dabbling in on-again/off-again drinking.Casey also shares why she intentionally extends Dry January into a 100-day New Year program—because 30 days is often just enough time to start feeling better, but not long enough to truly feel the difference of life without alcohol. We explore what happens when people give themselves enough time to stabilize, build momentum, and experience the mental clarity, emotional steadiness, and confidence that only come with sustained time alcohol-free.This isn’t a Dry January hype episode.And it’s definitely not a “fix your life in 30 days” pitch.It’s an honest conversation between two coaches who approach this work differently—but agree on what actually supports sustainable change. We also unpack the quiet pressure of January: the urge to reset everything at once, optimize your life, and emerge transformed by February—and why that mindset often backfires when alcohol is involved.Expect laughter, nuance, and the kind of conversation you only get when two women trust each other enough to tell the truth.In This Episode, We Cover:Why New Year’s resolutions fail (and what actually helps habits stick)The difference between dabbling in sobriety and building real momentumWhy consistent sober days matter more than “just cutting back”Why 30 days can feel good—but 100 days can feel transformativeHow diet culture sneaks into early sobriety—and how to opt outWhat Dry January can be when framed as curiosity instead of punishmentHow two coaches with different styles still land on the same fundamentalsAbout the GuestCasey Davidson is the host of the Hello Someday Podcast, one of the top mental health podcasts today, and a leading voice in the sober-curious movement. Her work has been featured in major national media outlets, and she’s known for helping high-achieving women rethink their relationship with alcohol in a way that’s practical, compassionate, and grounded in real life. She’s also the creator of a 100-day New Year program designed to help people move beyond short-term challenges and into lasting change.Who This Episode Is ForAnyone who’s tried Dry January—or quitting—more than oncePeople who are sober-curious and tired of starting overli...

The Devil We Know: Why Sobriety Feels Uncomfortable Before It Feels FreeIn this episode of Rewired Sober, Kate explores one of the most misunderstood parts of sobriety: liminal spaces — the in-between seasons where the old way no longer fits, but the new way hasn’t fully formed yet.These are the moments when you know you made the right choice…but your nervous system still craves the relief of certainty.Using both neuroscience and lived experience, Kate unpacks why the brain prefers the “devil we know” — familiar patterns, predictable outcomes, even familiar pain — over the uncertainty that comes with real change.This episode also includes a live teaching pulled directly from Kate’s Rewired Sober group, where she speaks candidly about:wanting to want sobrietywhy early sobriety can feel strangely effortfuland why feeling unsettled doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrongIf you’ve ever thought “Why does this still feel weird?” — this conversation will land.This episode is for you if:You’re outgrowing alcohol but don’t feel fully at home without it yetYou find yourself wanting answers instead of wanting to sit in the unknownYou feel frustrated that sobriety still requires intentionYou’re in a transition season and questioning whether you’re “behind”In this episode, Kate explores:What liminal spaces are and why they’re unavoidable in sobrietyWhy the nervous system values predictability over freedomHow familiar habits create a false sense of safetyThe urge to rush certainty — and why it’s a stress responseWhy repetition, regulation, and time are what actually rewire the brainHow staying in the middle is not weakness, but integrationKey takeaway:Transformation doesn’t happen in the decision.It happens in the middle.You don’t rush liminal spaces. You listen in them.They are where your nervous system learns how to live in truth — without anesthesia.If sobriety feels right and unfamiliar at the same time, this episode will help you understand why — and remind you that this phase isn’t something to escape. It’s something to move through.About Rewired Sober:Rewired Sober is a science- and soul-based recovery space for women who are ready to understand their brain, trust themselves, and build a sober life that actually fits.Learn more about Kate’s group coaching, courses, and resources at the links in the show notes.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll...

In this episode of Rewired Sober™, we’re going straight for the jugular: pop culture, body image, drunkorexia, and the weaponized shame that’s kept women small, hungry, distracted, and drinking for decades.I break down how Sophie Gilbert’s Girl on Girl exposes the pressure cooker women have lived in for the last 20 years — the beauty standards, the public scrutiny, the Kardashian-era body illusions, the return of heroin-chic, the Jessica Simpson mom-jean debacle — and how all of it shaped not just how women see themselves… but how women cope.Then I bring in Caroline Knapp’s Appetites and her concept of “the real hungers” — the soul-level needs women are taught to starve. Not food. Not jeans sizes. But belonging, rest, connection, desire, meaning, permission to take up space. We talk about what happens when those needs get rerouted into dieting, perfectionism, and eventually, drinking.We get honest about drunkorexia — the collision between diet culture and drinking culture — and why it’s not a quirky college fad, but a symptom of patriarchy’s oldest trick: keep women underfed, self-conscious, tipsy, ashamed, and too exhausted to revolt.We cover:How pop culture trained women to hate their bodiesWhy women’s binge drinking nearly doubled in the last two decadesHow shame becomes internalized and fuels the drinking loopWhy wine culture and diet culture are sistersThe neuroscience behind hungry brains + alcoholHow patriarchy profits when women are distracted by self-maintenanceAnd why sobriety is, at its core, a feminist act of resistanceIf you’ve ever felt like you had to be thin, quiet, good, small, or “fine”… this episode will hit you right in the truth.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/#fuckheroinchic blog post https://thesobercurator.com/fuckheroinchic-a-flashback-to-1997/

In this unfiltered, real-as-hell episode, Kate sits down —makeup-free and bra-free, with her messy podcast editing skills — to talk about something she sees in nearly every woman she coaches:The Overachiever Wound.If you grew up being compared, dismissed, or made to feel less-than… your nervous system learned that safety comes from performance.So you overachieved, excelled, got the degrees, the gold stars, the promotions, the “good girl” identity — all because your body believed: “If I achieve, I’m safe. If I slow down, I’m exposed.”Kate breaks down why high-achieving women struggle to rest, why the goalpost keeps moving, and why no amount of success ever feels like enough. Spoiler: it’s not because you’re broken — it’s because your brain is still protecting a younger version of you.Inside this episode: The exact childhood moment most women learn to prove their worth Why your brain ties safety to doing The feminist and generational conditioning behind female overachievement Why rest feels terrifying for women who have been performing their whole lives What you are really avoiding by staying busy The neuroscience of "being seen" by other women How to start unwinding the proving pattern without burning down your lifeThis episode is messy, vulnerable, unfiltered… and exactly the medicine so many women need.If you’re tired of hustling for your existence — this one’s for you.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/

In today's episode, Kate goes deep into why women’s drinking has never been a personal failure and why sobriety is, at its core, a feminist act. Drawing from neuroscience, history, spirituality, and lived experience, she unpacks how women were conditioned to numb themselves instead of trust themselves and why quitting alcohol often becomes the first moment a woman stops being manageable and starts becoming sovereign.This episode challenges patriarchy, recovery dogma, spiritual gatekeeping, and the idea that women need to humble themselves even more than they already have.In this episode, Kate dives into:Why women drink to numb the emotional and labor load they were never meant to carryHow sobriety leads to boundaries, agency, and personal freedomThe ways alcohol has been marketed to women as empowerment and rewardWhy women metabolize alcohol differently and get sicker fasterHow midlife hormones intensify alcohol’s impact on womenWhy sobriety often awakens feminist consciousnessThe truth about AA being written by men, for men, and why that matters for womenHow humility and ego language gets weaponized against women in recoveryWhy women rarely drink because of ego and more often drink from exhaustion and self abandonmentThe difference between intellectual knowing and soul knowingWhy trusting your intuition is radical and necessaryHow sobriety restores spiritual authority, voice, and self trustWomen do not drink because they are broken. They drink because they were taught to silence themselves. Sobriety is the moment when a woman stops being manageable and becomes sovereign.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/

In today's episode, Kate sits down with Amy Liz Harrison, a sobriety and recovery mentor who spent years feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, and stuck in patterns that kept her exhausted. Amy shares how she slowly lost herself inside motherhood, marriage, people pleasing, and perfectionism, and how alcohol became the nightly escape valve she used to cope with stress she didn’t know how to name.Amy opens up about her moment of reckoning, her early sober days, and the emotional unraveling that came when she finally stopped drinking and had to face herself honestly for the first time in years. Together, she and Kate talk about the messy middle of sobriety, the awakening that happens in midlife, and how Amy rebuilt her sense of identity from the ground up.If you have ever wondered where your spark went or felt like everyone else in your life came first, this episode will hit you right in the heart.Kate and Amy discuss:The moment she admitted she could not keep going the way she wasWhy early sobriety felt both freeing and terrifyingReturning to your body after decades of running from yourselfMidlife shifts and why so many women wake up to their truth at fortyMotherhood, resentment, and the unspoken fears women carryHow Amy rebuilt her confidence, community, and identityWhat she teaches now inside her recovery work with womenAmy reminds us that sobriety is not about losing something. It is about remembering who you were before the world convinced you to shrink. Her story is a powerful invitation to come home to yourself, trust your intuition, and start building a life that feels aligned at every level.Amy Liz Harrison is a memoir coach, author of 20+ books, and the CEO of A-Team Press, where she helps people in sobriety write and publish their stories with clarity, courage, and zero shame. A proudly sober mom of eight, Amy brings big-heart energy, irreverent Gen Z humor, and deep compassion to her work. She's the host of Eternally Amy, where she holds space for the messy, the meaningful, and the magical parts of recovery—and reminds us that telling the truth is the most healing thing we can do.Connect with Amy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amylizharrison/Website: https://www.amylizharrison.com/Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/

In today's episode, Kate pulls apart one of the biggest topics showing up in women’s recovery circles right now: ADHD in women, late diagnoses, masking, and why so many sober women suddenly “realize” they weren’t anxious or lazy. They were neurodivergent.Kate breaks it all down with her signature mix of neuroscience, honesty, and unapologetic feminist fire.She dives into:Why ADHD in women has exploded in awareness and why it is not a trend.How ADHD presents internally for women and why that led to decades of misdiagnosis.The neuroscience behind dopamine, executive function, and why alcohol felt like magic until it wasn’t.The overlap between ADHD symptoms and drinking behavior.How masking, perfectionism, and people pleasing become survival strategies for neurodivergent girls.Why midlife, perimenopause, and sobriety unmask symptoms women have been carrying since childhood.How cultural expectations and patriarchy keep women invisible in diagnostic spaces.Why many sober women finally receive an ADHD diagnosis.The impact of estrogen, dopamine and hormonal changes on ADHD symptoms.What ADHD women actually need instead of shame.How recovery tools like structure, community support and nervous system regulation help you rewire.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Mentioned in this episode:Rewired Sober Group Coaching Programhttps://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-program

Why do so many sober women still struggle with people pleasing and codependency, even after years of recovery?In this powerful episode, Kate sits down with Dr. Sarah Michaud, clinical psychologist, author of Co-Crazy, and more than four decades sober, for a brutally honest conversation about the invisible emotional patterns that quietly drive addiction. Together, they explore the fears, childhood wounds, and survival strategies that keep women trapped in the cycle of pleasing, fawning, shutting down, and drinking to cope.Dr. Sarah brings compassion, science, and humor to this massive topic, breaking down why codependency isn’t what you think it is and why it shows up even for women with long-term sobriety and successful careers. This episode is a masterclass in emotional literacy, nervous system regulation, and taking your power back.In this episode, they discuss:The real definition of codependencyWhy women are conditioned to people please and fear disappointing othersHow childhood dynamics shape adult relationshipsThe link between codependency, resentment, and drinkingThe shutdown, fawn, and freeze responsesHow to recognize your interpersonal fears in real timeWhy identifying your needs feels impossible for so many womenHow to get back into your body during conflictPractical steps for speaking up, setting boundaries, and choosing yourselfWhy anger can be a healthy and necessary part of recoveryDr. Sarah’s wisdom reminds us that recovery starts long before the drink and continues long after. The work is learning to come home to yourself.Her Bio:Dr. Sarah Michaud is a clinical psychologist, author, and co-host of Leaving CrazyTown. For more than thirty years, she has worked in the field of addiction and codependency recovery, blending professional expertise with the hard-earned lessons of her own journey. Sober from alcohol and cocaine since 1984, she knows firsthand the pain of addiction—and the freedom that comes with recovery.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Connect with today's guest Dr. Sarah Michaudwebsite: https://drsarahmichaud.com/Mentioned in this episode:Rewired Sober Group Coaching Programhttps://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-program

What happens when your public self looks polished and high-functioning, but your private life is quietly unraveling?In this vulnerable and insight-packed guest episode, Kate sits down with Jennifer Mathieu, award-winning author of Moxie and The Faculty Lounge, longtime educator, and sober mom. Jennifer opens up about her ten-year spiral into “problematic drinking,” how alcohol became her nightly form of fake self-care, and the moment she became more curious than afraid about getting sober.Drawing parallels between teaching and nursing, Kate and Jennifer explore the emotional weight of public-facing professions, the pressure to perform, and the resentment cycle that leads so many women to drink in secret. Jennifer shares how sobriety reshaped her identity as a teacher, a writer, a mom, and a woman who finally learned to stop setting herself on fire to keep everyone else warm.In this episode, Kate and Jennifer talk about:What it feels like to live a double life in a public-facing careerThe ten-year buildup to Jennifer’s sobrietyWhy breaking a promise to her husband was the turning pointThe sneaky ways alcohol hides inside burnout, resentment, and people pleasingHow alcohol became her nightly coping tool after motherhoodThe power of seeing sober women thriving on social mediaLearning to set real boundaries at work and at homeReclaiming identity outside of teaching, writing, and caregivingSobriety as a “power boost” to years of therapy and personal workWhy midlife is often the breaking point and the breakthroughReferenced in this episode:Jennifer’s novels including Moxie (now a Netflix film) and The Faculty LoungeSober Mom Collective meetings, where Jennifer is a weekly group leaderRewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Connect with today's guest Jennifer Mathieuhttps://www.jennifermathieu.com/Mentioned in this episode:Rewired Sober Group Coaching Programhttps://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-program

In this powerful Veterans Day episode, Kate sits down with her husband, Phillip, a 20-year Army veteran and nearly four years sober, for an unfiltered conversation about PTSD, moral injury, institutional betrayal, and healing through recovery.Together, they unpack what really happens inside the brain and body after trauma, how hypervigilance, anxiety, and moral conflict can take root long after the uniform or scrubs come off, and why alcohol often becomes the coping tool of choice for soldiers, nurses, and first responders alike.Blending lived experience with neuroscience, Kate and Phillip explore what healing looks like for both veterans and civilians: self-compassion, connection, movement, and sobriety. This episode is both a love letter to those who serve and a reminder that trauma recovery isn’t about being broken, it’s about learning to rewire your nervous system and reclaim your life.In this episode, they talk about:What PTSD really is (and what it isn’t)The concept of moral injury and why it hits soldiers, nurses, and first responders so deeplyHow trauma rewires the brain and how sobriety helps rewire it backThe reality of institutional betrayal in military and healthcare systemsThe connection between trauma, alcohol, and survival mechanismsHow they each healed through therapy, connection, and movementWhy sobriety is the foundation of their recovery and marriageReferenced in this episode:The Mankind Project (for men’s emotional healing and connection): mankindproject.orgWhether you’ve served, supported someone who has, or just know what it’s like to live with unhealed trauma, this episode offers compassion, education, and hope.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Connect with Today's Guest Phillip Vitelahttps://www.instagram.com/a13photography/SMART Recovery Meeting Finderhttps://smartrecovery.org/meetingMentioned in this episode:Rewired Sober Group Coaching Programhttps://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-program

Ever find yourself sober and wondering, is this it?In this refreshingly honest solo episode, Kate dives into one of recovery’s least talked about stages: boredom. Through personal stories, neuroscience, and real talk, she explores why life can feel flat in early sobriety and how that “blah” feeling isn’t failure—it’s your brain and nervous system recalibrating after years of artificial stimulation.Kate shares what happens when dopamine levels drop, why we confuse stillness for boredom, and how to rebuild a sense of excitement, identity, and curiosity without reaching for the old quick hits. With humor and heart, she reminds us that sometimes healing looks like sitting in your messy diaper—the unglamorous, in-between stage where growth quietly begins.In this episode, Kate dives into:Why boredom in sobriety is actually your brain healingDopamine depletion and the science of “recalibration”The identity gap between who you were and who you’re becomingHow to rediscover curiosity and joy in everyday lifeBuilding real friendships and connection in recoveryWhy stillness isn’t punishmentKate closes the episode by reminding listeners that sobriety doesn’t take away your joy—it just gives you access to the real kind. And sometimes, the most powerful transformation starts in the stillness.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Mentioned in this episode:Rewired Sober Group Coaching Programhttps://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-program

What happens when a word that once saved you stops fitting?In this raw and deeply personal solo episode, Kate opens up about one of the most controversial topics in recovery: why she no longer calls herself an alcoholic. After years in 12-step rooms and studying addiction as a psychiatric nurse, she’s unpacked what this label means medically, psychologically, and spiritually, and why it no longer reflects who she is today.Kate explores the evolution of her own recovery, the science behind addiction and neuroplasticity, and how healing changes not just your habits but your identity. This episode challenges old narratives while holding space for every path that keeps people sober, reminding listeners that recovery is personal and growth means you get to change your mind.In this episode, Kate talks about:Why she no longer identifies with the word alcoholicWhat neuroscience reveals about addiction and recoveryHow sobriety evolves from survival to self-trustThe role of language and identity in long-term healingWhy we must respect all recovery paths, even when they differ from our ownKate reminds us that sobriety isn’t about the label you wear. It’s about the life you build beyond it.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Mentioned in this episode:Rewired Sober Group Coaching Programhttps://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-program

Can being too high-functioning actually keep you stuck in your drinking?In this episode, Kate sits down with Rachel Mack Martin, author of Functional: A High Performer’s Guide to Freedom from Alcohol, to talk about what it really means to look like you “have it all together” while quietly struggling with alcohol.Rachel, a director in financial services with an MBA and a life that appeared picture-perfect from the outside, opens up about how intelligence, success, and achievement can become tools of denial. Together, she and Kate unpack the hidden costs of being “functional,” why rock bottoms are overrated, and how letting go of perfection makes room for healing.In this episode, Kate and Rachel talk about:What it means to be a “functional drinker”Why intelligence can keep us stuck in denialThe myth of moderation and why it’s so seductiveHow Rachel’s 30-day break turned into 7 years of freedomNavigating relationships and social circles after quittingFinding support outside of traditional recovery pathsThe unexpected gifts of living alcohol-freeRachel’s story is proof that you don’t need to lose everything to change everything — and that being smart isn’t what saves you from addiction, it’s what helps you rewrite your story once you’re ready to see it clearly.Rachel Mack Martin is a director in financial services and holds an MBA, bringing an inquisitive mind to everything she does, including writing. Rachel lives in Minnesota with her husband and their three unpredictable cats. When not working or writing, you can find her drinking a strong cup of black coffee with at least one feline on her lap. Functional is her first book.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Connect with Today's Guest: Rachel Mack MartinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_mack_martin/Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/5EUckcAMentioned in this episode:Rewired Sober Group Coaching Programhttps://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-program

What happens when one person in the family gets sober? The whole system shifts.In this solo episode, Kate unpacks what really goes down when you walk into family gatherings clear-headed for the first time. From side-eyes at the dinner table to Aunt Linda clutching her Riesling like an emotional support animal, Kate blends humor, compassion, and psychology to help you understand why your family reacts the way they do, and how to stay grounded through it.She explores family systems theory, the emotional minefield of the holidays, and how to set boundaries without losing your sense of self. Whether you’re one month or eight years sober, this conversation will help you find peace (and maybe a laugh) in the chaos.In this episode, Kate dives into:Why your sobriety “threatens” the family systemHow to handle guilt trips, silence, and side commentsWhy anger is information, not failureThe power of self-compassion in healing family woundsHow to create your own grounded rituals during the holidaysWhy your sobriety will always ripple farther than you realizeSobriety doesn’t just change you. It changes the whole dance. And even if your family never claps for you, you’re already rewriting the story.Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Mentioned in this episode:Rewired Sober Group Coaching Programhttps://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-program

What if getting sober didn’t just change your habits, but changed the entire life you thought you wanted?In this episode, Kate sits down with Kathryn Sabella, a divorced mom of two, recovery leader, and co-facilitator of The Sober Mom Collective. Kathryn shares how removing alcohol brought not only clarity but the courage to face the truth about her marriage and herself. Together, they unpack what it means to trust your intuition, navigate change, and choose self-love even when it disrupts everything around you.In this episode, you’ll hear:How sobriety gave Kathryn the clarity to confront hard truths about her marriageWhy intuition and self-trust become louder when alcohol is goneHow motherhood and people-pleasing can keep women stuck in “good enough” relationshipsThe difference between doing the next right thing and the next loving thingWhat it means to make peace with divorce and create two happy homesWhy giving up alcohol might be the first true act of self-loveKathryn’s story is a reminder that sobriety doesn’t cause change, it reveals what’s been waiting for you all along. When the numbing stops, your truth has space to rise.Kathryn is a divorced mother of two girls and has been living an alcohol-free life since September 26, 2019. Kathryn works a 12 step recovery program but also frequents several online sober communities and is one of the leaders of the Sober Mom Collective, an online space designed by moms for moms navigating sobriety. Based on her lived experience, she is most passionate about helping women navigate relationship changes in sobriety, including divorce.  Rewired Sober Group Coaching Space Is Now Open: Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance designed for women in sobriety. You’ll get instant access to the full program, plus weekly live coaching sessions to help you rewire your brain, heal old patterns, and stay consistent. Enroll here: https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-programConnect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platformsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Connect with Today's Guest Kathryn Sabella:Instagram: @kathryn.authenticaf