In this episode of Mindful Sobriety: The Podcast, Jane is welcomes back a beloved returning guest, Colleen Clifford—binge-drinking survivor, commercial fisherwoman, and alcohol-free & health coach.

Jane and Colleen recorded their first conversation almost exactly a year ago, and since then Jane has reached 1,000 days alcohol-free and Colleen has continued to build a beautiful, full life in her 60s—anchored in sobriety, service, and deep connection.

Together they dive into the realities of binge drinking, the terror and science of blackouts, the language we use around suicide, and the courage it takes to ask for help. Colleen shares about her late husband’s death by suicide, her ongoing healing, and how her upcoming book Life Beyond Binge Drinking is part love letter, part wake-up call for anyone caught in the binge cycle. They also talk about Bali retreats, horses, inner child joy, and why life can actually feel more vibrant, playful, and hopeful without alcohol.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• A podcast & sobriety milestone
  • Jane celebrates 1,000 days alcohol-free on the summer solstice
  • How growth and self-discovery keep unfolding well beyond the first sober year
• Colleen’s story: from binge drinking to “life beyond”
  • Her 40-year relationship with alcohol and why she calls herself a “binge drinking survivor”
  • The moment she woke up after driving home drunk with one eye closed—and knew something had to change
  • Why the 2% of the time she couldn’t moderate kept her stuck for years
• Blackouts & the brain
  • What actually happens in the brain during a blackout
  • Why those memories truly are not recoverable
  • How blackouts fuel denial, shame, and confusion for drinkers and loved ones
• Talking honestly about suicide & alcohol
  • Why Colleen uses the language “died by suicide” instead of “committed suicide”
  • How binge drinking can push someone over the edge, especially with underlying mental health struggles
  • The compassion of seeing suicide as a tragic outcome of illness, not a moral failing
• Asking for help when you’re the “strong one”
  • Colleen’s struggle with independence, pride, and the belief that she had to do everything alone
  • How hard it can be to receive support when you’re used to being the helper
  • Reframing asking for help as an act of courage and a compliment to the people you trust
• Life at 62: full-hearted, alcohol-free, and evolving
  • Why Colleen is genuinely excited about aging
  • Redefining success beyond income: impact, connection, and legacy moments people “never forget”
  • Volunteering with hippotherapy, horses, and the healing power of animal connection
• Inner child joy & alcohol-free living
  • How sobriety reopens space for play, creativity, and nature
  • Bali retreat memories, laughing in the water, flowers, animals, and letting the inner child lead
  • Giving yourself permission to be a beginner again and follow what lights you up
• Practical hope for anyone stuck in a binge cycle
  • The shame spiral of “I know better, so why can’t I stop?”
  • Gentle first steps: lurking in online groups, turning camera off in meetings, or simply listening
  • How coaches, communities, and peer support can help you untangle your “ball of yarn” and take one tiny step forward

Resources Mentioned

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) – Call or text 988 for 24/7 confidential support if you or someone you love is in emotional distress or thinking about suicide.
• Women for Sobriety – A free, women-centered recovery community and meeting platform.
• Recovery communities & support options (examples you can link):
  • Recovery Dharma
  • SMART Recovery
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  • Al-Anon (for loved ones of those struggling with addiction)
• Online alcohol-free communities – Facebook groups and online forums where you can start by simply reading and noticing what resonates.

Connect with Colleen

• Email: Colleen@purepotential.health
• Website: purepotential.health
• Instagram: @purepotentialhealth
• LinkedIn: Search “Pure Potential Health – Colleen Clifford”

Connect with Jane & Mindful Sobriety

• Instagram: @janeballardwellness
• Podcast: Mindful Sobriety: The Podcast (wherever you listen)
• Website: www.janewballard.com 

If You’re Struggling Right Now

If binge drinking, grief, or any kind of binge behavior is weighing on you, you are not alone—and there is real hope. Your first step doesn’t have to be perfect or public. It might be:

• Listening quietly to an online meeting
• Creeping in a Facebook group and reading others’ stories
• Sending a short email to a coach or therapist
• Telling one trusted person, “I think I need some help”

Tiny steps count.

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Your support truly helps this message reach more people who are quietly struggling and reminds them that a beautiful, alcohol-free life is absolutely possible. 💛