07: Finding Freedom in the Alcohol-Free Everyday

In this heartfelt episode of The Zero Proof Life, Karla Adkins and Becca Snider get real about how alcohol once shaped their holidays, habits, and headspace. From the pressure to plan around drinks to the exhaustion that came with it, they share what life looks like on the other side — lighter, clearer, and more joyful. This conversation is a gentle, honest invitation to rethink your relationship with alcohol and discover what’s waiting for you in sobriety.

Key Takeaways

• Alcohol consumed more mental energy than expected
  
  
• Sobriety leads to deeper sleep and more presence
  
  
• Even small tasks felt harder while drinking
  
  
• You don’t need a “rock bottom” to reimagine your life
  
  
• Holidays can be truly joyful — without the booze
  
  
• Community and shared stories make the journey easier
  
  
• Letting go of alcohol often brings unexpected joys (like dessert!)
  
  
• Shame thrives in silence — honesty breaks the cycle

Timestamps

00:00 — Introduction to Zero Proof Life
01:23 — Reflections on Alcohol and Holidays
03:24 — The Burden of Alcohol on Daily Life
06:24 — The Impact of Alcohol on Sleep and Mental Clarity
09:25 — Navigating Life Without Alcohol
12:34 — Embracing New Joys and Experiences
13:55 — Conclusion and Call to Action

Resources & links

• Join the Zero Proof Life Community → https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)

If today’s conversation sparked your own inner nudge, we’d love to hear from you! Be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen.

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, Karla Adkins and Carolyn Bennett dive into one of the trickiest parts of a sober or sober-curious journey: talking about it.

Whether you're newly alcohol-free or deep into your sobriety, figuring out how (and if) to talk about it with friends, family, or colleagues can be overwhelming. Karla and Carolyn explore the societal pressures that make these conversations so loaded, and offer grounded, heartfelt guidance on how to share your story in a way that honors your experience.

They remind us that it’s okay to take your time, to stay private, and to choose your confidants carefully. The big takeaway? You don’t owe anyone an explanation — and your story is yours to protect.

Key Takeaways

• Talking about not drinking can feel complicated — and that’s normal.
  
  
• You get to choose who hears your story (and when).
  
  
• Privacy is a valid and healthy part of the process.
  
  
• Society’s drinking norms can make these conversations harder.
  
  
• Responses to your sobriety may vary — and that’s not about you.
  
  
• Trust your instincts when deciding what to share.
  
  
• The cultural narrative around alcohol is evolving — you're not alone.
  
  

Timestamps

03:23 — Navigating Conversations About Not Drinking
06:25 — Understanding Personal Relationships with Alcohol
09:27 — Overcoming Fear and Societal Expectations
12:23 — Empowering Authenticity in Sharing Your Story
15:27 — Tools for Effective Communication
18:18 — Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Resources & links

• Join the Zero Proof Life Community → https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)
    
    
    

If today’s conversation sparked your own inner nudge, we’d love to hear from you! Be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen.

A single lap around the block turned into a six-year journey. Coach Becca Snider explains how daily movement, family support, and lifelong learning keep sobriety vibrant.

Co-hosts Karla Adkins and Becca Snider trace Becca’s path from “quiet nightly wine” to six-and-a-half years of alcohol freedom. Becca recalls the inner tug-of-war no one else could see, the moment she simply started walking, and why Pilates now anchors both her mood and her coaching practice. They dig into research showing exercise lowers cravings and lifts anxiety, talk about the game-changing role her husband and kids played, and share first steps for anyone who feels caught between curiosity and change.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro to Becca Snider
03:24 – Alcohol’s impact on movement & presence
06:24 – The first 30-day experiment
09:33 – The invisible internal struggle
12:17 – Family support & new identity
15:22 – Finding courage to change
18:17 – From student to coach
21:37 – “Just start”: advice for day 1
24:35 – Living life fully after alcohol
26:16 – New chapter & wrap-up

Resources & links

• Article: “Exercise as Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder” (NIH) pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  
  
• Study: Pilates reduces depression & anxiety pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  
  
• Family-support research review pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  
  
• Join the Zero Proof Life Community → https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)
    
    

If today’s conversation sparked your own inner nudge, we’d love to hear from you! Be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen.