A Different Way of Letting Go
Sober Edge
In this solo episode of The Sober Edge, Teri shares a powerful story from Mark Nepo about a simple monkey trap: a coconut filled with rice that monkeys refuse to release, even when letting go would set them free. It’s a striking metaphor for many of the beliefs we hold about alcohol. For many of us, alcohol begins as something that feels helpful—relief, belonging, confidence, a way to take the edge off life. But over time, what once felt like a gift can quietly become the thing that keeps us stuck. Often the hardest part isn’t stopping the behavior; it’s releasing the beliefs wrapped...
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Finding Fun with The Party Coach Evan Cudworth
Sober Edge
What if the party was never in the glass? In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri Patterson is joined by Evan Cudworth—known as The Party Coach—for a refreshing and deeply honest conversation about fun, belonging, and identity in an alcohol-free life. Together, they explore why so many of us associate alcohol with connection, confidence, and celebration—and what happens when we remove it. Evan shares his seven-stage framework for “finding the party within,” a process that shifts us from consumption to creation, from armoring up to authentic presence. This conversation challenges the...
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Elite Training for an Alcohol-Free Life
Sober Edge
Olympians don’t rely on willpower — they rely on training. In this episode, Teri Patterson explores how elite athletes approach identity, discipline, recovery, and nervous system regulation — and why those same principles are essential for building a lasting alcohol-free life. Rather than pushing through cravings or “trying harder,” alcohol-free living becomes a practice of conditioning the brain and body for safety, consistency, and long-term reward. This episode reframes discomfort as part of healing, discipline as freedom, and recovery as the place where real transformation...
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Crafting an Alcohol Free Life with Brigitta Dau
Sober Edge
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri Patterson welcomes coach and Reiki master Brigitta Dau for a soulful conversation about what healing truly looks like after alcohol. Rather than focusing only on behavior change, Brigitta invites us into a holistic model of recovery—one that integrates the mind, body, and soul. She explains how alcohol blocks intuition, disrupts nervous system safety, and disconnects us from our bodies, making it nearly impossible to trust ourselves. Together, Teri and Brigitta explore how creativity, play, Reiki, and community act as powerful regulators of the nervous...
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Alive Without Alcohol: Lessons from 200 Episodes of The Sober Edge
Sober Edge
Episode 200 is a celebration — and a reflection. In this milestone solo episode, Teri shares the distinction that has shaped her alcohol-free journey and her work with clients: the difference between becoming alcohol-free and living alcohol-free. Drawing on her own 10-year journey, coaching experience, and hundreds of podcast conversations, Teri explores how the early stages of stopping drinking focus on tools and support — while the later stages invite us into deeper self-trust, emotional regulation, values-based living, and purpose. This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered: “Is...
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What We Really Bring Into the New Year
Sober Edge
December 31 carries a lot of pressure — to reset, resolve, and reinvent. In this episode, Teri Patterson invites listeners to take a gentler, more grounded approach to the new year. Through the lens of nervous system science and identity-based change, she explores why real transformation doesn’t begin with a calendar date — and why becoming alcohol-free (and living alcohol-free) teaches us how to carry wisdom forward instead of starting over. This episode is a reflection on roots, identity, and the quiet power of honoring who you already are as you step into what’s next. SHOW NOTES...
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Walking Back to Happiness with Nigel Jones
Sober Edge
What if you didn’t have to climb your way to alcohol freedom — what if you were already there? In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri talks with Nigel Jones about the identity shift that makes alcohol-free living feel natural, expansive, and deeply aligned. Drawing on NLP, hypnotherapy, and lived experience, Nigel explains why changing how you see yourself changes everything — and why the mental battle disappears when identity leads the way. This is a conversation about becoming, not depriving. About clarity, not control. And about what’s possible when you stop negotiating and start...
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Walking Back to Happiness with Nigel Bruce
Sober Edge
What if you didn’t have to climb your way to alcohol freedom — what if you were already there? In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri talks with Nigel Bruce about the identity shift that makes alcohol-free living feel natural, expansive, and deeply aligned. Drawing on NLP, hypnotherapy, and lived experience, Nigel explains why changing how you see yourself changes everything — and why the mental battle disappears when identity leads the way. This is a conversation about becoming, not depriving. About clarity, not control. And about what’s possible when you stop negotiating and start...
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How to Calm the F Down
Sober Edge
How to Calm the F Down (Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn) In this candid and neuroscience-backed episode, Teri breaks down how to “Calm the F Down” by understanding the four core nervous system states—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—and how they influence behavior, urges, and emotional patterns in alcohol-free living. Drawing on her recent trauma-informed nervous system certification, she reveals how alcohol numbs dysregulation, why early AF life can feel overwhelming, and how simple body-based tools help restore safety, self-trust, and emotional clarity. Listeners will walk away with...
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From Wild Ride to Solid Ground: Living AF with Ian Fee
Sober Edge
In today’s episode, Teri welcomes author Ian Fee to discuss his book Wild Ride to Sobriety—a raw, honest, and hopeful look at what it really means to take responsibility for your healing. Together, they dive into: Ian’s “wild ride” years and the moment he knew something needed to change The turning point where responsibility stopped feeling like blame and started feeling like liberation Why recovery isn’t linear and the stages Ian now recognizes in hindsight How identity shifts happen over time (and why early sobriety often feels like a personality remodel) The brain...
info_outlineOlympians don’t rely on willpower — they rely on training.
In this episode, Teri Patterson explores how elite athletes approach identity, discipline, recovery, and nervous system regulation — and why those same principles are essential for building a lasting alcohol-free life. Rather than pushing through cravings or “trying harder,” alcohol-free living becomes a practice of conditioning the brain and body for safety, consistency, and long-term reward.
This episode reframes discomfort as part of healing, discipline as freedom, and recovery as the place where real transformation happens — offering a powerful new lens for anyone navigating life without alcohol.
SHOW NOTES