Hey everyone, Will here. Today's episode is full relatable and practical conversation. I sat down with Jess Lopez, who's got 24 years sober and now helps others find their way to recovery. Her story starts like many of ours - first drink at 12, living a double life in high school, and trying to keep it all together until it fell apart.

What made this conversation powerful was how Jess opened up about stuff we all struggle with:

- That moment when withdrawal symptoms make you realize "this is real"

- Having to "cocoon" herself from the world to get sober

- Losing family to alcoholism and deciding to break that cycle

- Learning how to actually live life without the bottle

We get deep into:

- Why it's so hard to be vulnerable without alcohol

- The real challenges of early sobriety

- Finding joy after putting down the drink

- Why cookie-cutter recovery programs don't work for everyone

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jess Lopez

02:46 Early Experiences with Alcohol

06:30 High School and the Escalation of Drinking

09:37 Recognizing the Problem

14:34 The Turning Point

19:04 Cocooning and Self-Discovery

24:21 Supportive Relationships and New Beginnings

30:19 The Ongoing Journey of Sobriety

33:35 Navigating Vulnerability and Alcohol's Role

35:54 The Journey to Recovery Coaching

39:44 Building a Supportive Recovery Environment

43:36 Understanding Emotions in Sobriety

48:38 Finding Joy and Self-Compassion

52:18 The Shift Towards Openness in Recovery

56:39 Integrating Healing and Self-Discovery

01:01:39 The Importance of Individualized Approaches

01:11:34 Connecting with Jess Lopez and Resources

For those of you wondering if you can live a full life without alcohol, or if you're early in recovery and feeling lost - this episode is for you. Jess brings both personal experience and professional insight as a recovery coach.

Trust me, if you're anywhere on the recovery journey - whether just thinking about it or years in - you'll want to hear what Jess has to say about finding your way to a life beyond alcohol.

New episodes drop weekly. Hit subscribe so you don't miss the conversation that might just change your life.

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