Sober in the City: Connection, Community & Alcohol-Free Friendship
Sober Edge
In this episode, I’m sharing my experience attending Sober in the City, a vibrant alcohol-free weekend in Scottsdale, packed with friendship, fun, and deeply healing conversations. From nervous system regulation to trauma recovery, the event spotlighted powerful topics while offering the gift of true connection. Join me as I reflect on how these moments reinforce the joy and richness of living alcohol-free. My personal reflections from attending Sober in the City in Scottsdale The magic of meeting alcohol-free women in person Conversations on nervous system regulation, trauma, and...
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From Chaos to Calm: The Sober Truth
Sober Edge
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri explores a powerful truth about the alcohol-free journey: after the chaos and drama of drinking, peace can feel... flat. Many people in early sobriety wonder if they’ve lost their spark or if boredom is the new normal. But what if this stillness is actually the foundation for something deeper — clarity, calm, and true contentment? You’ll hear about: Why drinking creates a false sense of excitement How the nervous system reacts to calm after chronic overstimulation Why “boredom” might actually mean “discomfort with stillness” The mindset...
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Beyond Booze: The Bigger Questions
Sober Edge
What happens after you remove alcohol — but you're still left wondering, Now what? In this solo episode, Teri opens up about the unexpected truth of alcohol-free living: that quitting drinking doesn’t instantly solve everything... in fact, it often stirs up new (and better) questions. From navigating discomfort to stepping outside your old comfort zone, Teri explores what it means to live into the questions — and why that’s actually where transformation begins. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t miss alcohol, but I’m still figuring me out,” this episode is for you. Tune in for...
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Don’t Wait! Create Your Own Sober Meet Up with Sarah Showard
Sober Edge
What if the sober social group you're looking for doesn’t exist yet? Then it might be time to create it! In this episode, Teri chats with Sarah Showard, founder of the thriving Tucson Sober Girlfriends community. Together, they explore how Sarah went from craving connection to hosting alcohol-free events each month—and why IRL (in real life) meetups are a key part of long-term alcohol-free living. Whether you're newly alcohol-free or just wishing you had a stronger support network in your city, this episode is packed with practical encouragement to help you take the first step. Teri and...
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Is It Really Self-Sabotage? A New Perspective on Growth and Change
Sober Edge
In this episode, we dive into the sneaky patterns that keep us stuck. What if it's not self-sabotage? From resistance, which tells us we don’t need to change, to the pull of our comfort zone, where familiar patterns feel safer than growth, we uncover why breaking free can feel so hard. We’ll also explore how fear of failure (or even success!) creates doubt, and why perfectionism convinces us that if we can’t do it perfectly, we shouldn’t do it at all. Letting go, moving on and getting unstuck is possible when we rewrite the stories from our past.
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Coming To Our Senses - Alcohol-Free
Sober Edge
In this episode of The Sober Edge Podcast, we explore how alcohol dulls our five senses—sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell—and what happens when we remove it from our lives. From the rich flavors of food to the warmth of human connection, breaking free from alcohol allows us to experience the world in full color again. Join host Teri Patterson as she delves into the science behind sensory impairment and shares inspiring insights on how we can rediscover joy, presence, and beauty in the everyday moments that make life extraordinary.
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My Big Sober Feelings
Sober Edge
Emotions can feel overwhelming, especially when we’re no longer numbing them with alcohol. In this episode, we'll explore together how we can better understand and manage our emotions in this alcohol-free life. From self-awareness to self-regulation, we’ll discuss practical ways to move beyond reaction and into intentional response. Whether you’re facing frustration, anxiety, or even joy, learning to process emotions in a healthy way is key to loving your AF life. Join me as I share insights and tools to help you experience emotional freedom and navigate life’s ups and downs while...
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Finding Focus Alcohol-Free with Michelle Houston
Sober Edge
The future of non-alcoholic beverages is bold, innovative, and—thanks to Focus by Be Honest Bev. Co.—packed with an extra boost. In this episode, I dive into the evolving world of NA drinks and where hemp-infused drinks fit into the mix. My guest, Michelle Houston, shares the surprising twists and challenges of creating a better, cleaner, and more intentional beverage. Could this be the new go-to for mindful drinkers? Tune in to find out!
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Emotions, Motivation and Alcohol
Sober Edge
Emotions, motivation and alcohol. When it comes to emotions, we need to understand a few things about alcohol and the connection between our feelings and our motivations. There are four pillars of human motivation that overlap with emotions. Avoid pain: our natural inclination is to avoid pain. When it comes to being motivated to change our relationship with alcohol, avoiding pain can be a help or a barrier... Seek Pleasure: just as we want to avoid pain, we are also wired to seek pleasure. This is partly due to our old friend, dopamine, which is responsible for...
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Encore: Not Drinking Tonight with Amanda E. White
Sober Edge
Back again for an encore is my very special conversation with Amanda E. White. This is the most popular episode of The Sober Edge Podcast and I invite you to listen in to this important conversation about: Women's health Boundaries around drinking Making an empowered choice Since our conversation in 2021, Amanda had continued to be a powerful voice and advocate for 'not drinking tonight'.
info_outlineMy journey continues beyond learning how to become AF and yours will too.
I think the most striking difference between becoming AF and living AF is the shift in focus and time. I have experienced and witnessed what is possible when alcohol is out of the way.
Time feels different now that I am living alcohol-free. The time I used to spend drinking, thinking about drinking and recovering from drinking is now ‘new time’. And, with a new sense of time, I have been able to explore this next chapter of my life. When I was drinking, time passed with me numbing out and with opportunities missed. Now, time is lived vs. passed. I create experiences vs. avoiding them.
I shared in Part 1 my journey through my first Sober Anniversary. In those first 12 months, so many things shifted for me, but I was still focusing a lot on behavior and those raw emotions. I spent that first year doing a few things that set me up for the next stage - living alcohol-free.
I didn’t have a road map or a guide for my AF journey (boy, do I wish I had!). I think I pushed my way through those first few months with force - I even used some of my anger to fuel my resolve. But, as I moved past year 1, my emotions started to level, and I began to feel excited and peaceful as I settled into my ‘new normal’.
(Listen in on this episode to hear more of my lessons, or go to the Show Notes)
The lessons continue. Just like happiness is a direction, not a destination, living AF is an expansive state of being, not a place where we arrive. If I had stopped at just ‘becoming alcohol-free’, I would have stayed in that place of focusing on my behavior and my emotions. I would have missed the place where I am now, a place where the adventure of life continues to unfold in new and surprising ways.
Cheers to LIVING Alcohol-Free!
Full Show Notes Here
The SELF Experience - find out more about living AF!