This Naked Mind Podcast

Annie Grace answers real questions from real readers and listeners like you every week. Listen each week not just for advice but for the science, research, and knowledge that empower you to change how you feel about alcohol and ultimately change your relationship with it. This week Annie Grace dives into a topic that keeps many from exploring life with less alcohol in it - the fear that we can’t be happy after going alcohol-free. Find out what science and personal experience have to say about that idea! THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Leila experienced tragedy early in life and the way her family responded to it left her searching for connection and belonging. It seemed like she found what she was looking for when she started drinking in college. It was a way to feel accepted and a part of things. As she progressed through her own spiritual journey and as a parent she found that alcohol didn't line up with her beliefs and values so she joined AA and didn't drink socially again but it came with a feeling of disappointment in herself. Annie Grace and Leila discuss stopping social drinking, the empowerment we gain through science and knowledge, accepting that we all have a little something wrong with us, along with how the world would change if we all felt worthy and loved. THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Real answers to the real questions that keep you from creating a permanent change in your relationship with alcohol. Each week Annie Grace answers questions from readers and listeners all over the world and shares the science and real-life experiences that can empower and encourage you to shift your mindset and find your freedom from alcohol. This week Annie Grace sheds light, compassion, and science on if we need to commit to never drinking alcohol again, why our bodies and minds have such a  hard time with moderation, and if there is hope for lifelong drinkers that keep relapsing. THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Shirley’s first experience with blackout drinking came during her teen years. It began a cycle that saw her drinking increase and decrease over the years but she never felt in control. When she finally realized she didn’t even enjoy drinking anymore she decided she needed to change her relationship with alcohol. Annie Grace and Shirley dive into some deep conversations about blackout drinking and filling in the missing pieces, how knowledge creates the most amazing mindset shifts and you realize that you can do anything alcohol-free, and the impact of being alcohol-free on the relationships in our lives. THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

There are so many questions that come up when you decide to change your relationship with alcohol. Finding answers that are well-researched, unbiased, and non-judgmental can be a struggle. Every week Annie Grace sets out to provide guidance for those on this journey with compassion and hope. This week join Annie to learn more about whether it is better to drink in moderation or not at all along with the keys to staying positive on your journey when others are trying to use shame, blame, and fear to force change on you. THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Annie Grace joins Colin Boyd on The Expert Edge podcast for a role reversal where Annie is the one being interviewed and sharing her Naked Life story. Colin and Annie share how Annie’s book influenced Colin (and the reaction others in his circle have had to him living alcohol-free), how to choose self-compassion over shame and blame, how to use the three layers of brief to shift destructive behaviors, and so much more! How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol Wouldn’t it be great if our children never had to go through the pain and challenges we faced in our own relationship with alcohol?  This is my greatest wish for my own kids and it’s why I created the most important course I have ever offered — “How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol.” If you’ve struggled with alcohol and you’re not sure what to tell your kids about it…If you want to create a relationship with your children that is based upon mutual respect, mutual trust, and open communication…If you know that this conversation is the most important talk you’ll have with your children and it can’t wait any longer…Then this course is for you. It includes lifetime access to six video modules, a bonus recorded Q&A session where I answer questions from parents just like you, an interactive workbook, and our private and exclusive How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol online community where you can connect with others who are also navigating this important conversation. Visit TalkToYourKidsAboutAlcohol.com to learn more and enroll today. And as always, rate, review and subscribe to this podcast as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Sometimes it seems as if we’ve already answered every question possible when it comes to finding freedom from alcohol. But our readers are amazing and always manage to come back with new concerns from their own journeys. That’s why community and support are so important. It makes us realize that this journey might be individual and unique but it is easier when we share it with others! Today Annie Grace offers research and insight on how to stop cravings for alcohol, how to obtain the most accurate knowledge to find freedom from alcohol, and what to do to let go of shame and fear and choose self-compassion instead.  THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Bill is joining us as a very special guest bravely sharing his painful and traumatic journey. Bill’s story begins in his infancy dealing with a mother who had postpartum depression. This evolved into a life of trauma that spanned every type of abuse possible, while also dealing with conflicting sexual identity, substance abuse, and more. Bill gets real and raw and does not hold back on why he was a traumatic drinker. He and Annie discuss the difference science and self-compassion can make on this journey of healing, the incredible power of the pause, and the impact The PATH had on Bill’s journey. This podcast does touch on many issues dealing with the emotional, physical, sexual, and mental abuse that can be triggering to some individuals. Please proceed with caution if these issues cause you pain or strife. How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol Wouldn’t it be great if our children never had to go through the pain and challenges we faced in our own relationship with alcohol?  This is my greatest wish for my own kids and it’s why I created the most important course I have ever offered — “How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol.” If you’ve struggled with alcohol and you’re not sure what to tell your kids about it…If you want to create a relationship with your children that is based upon mutual respect, mutual trust, and open communication…If you know that this conversation is the most important talk you’ll have with your children and it can’t wait any longer…Then this course is for you. It includes lifetime access to six video modules, a bonus recorded Q&A session where I answer questions from parents just like you, an interactive workbook, and our private and exclusive How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol online community where you can connect with others who are also navigating this important conversation. Visit TalkToYourKidsAboutAlcohol.com to learn more and enroll today. And as always, rate, review and subscribe to this podcast as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

We see so many questions come in all of the time at This Naked Mind and they all have a common theme to them - why do I keep going back to drinking? Annie Grace dives into three questions that all relate to why we see ourselves drinking again. Annie offers answers on how and why we get stuck in a cycle of Day 1’s and multiple attempts to stop drinking, she explains the way our fears over physical withdrawal symptoms (or our experiences with them) can lead us to drink again, and also touches on the incredible impact our negative self-talk can have on going back to drinking again and again. THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Rachel’s early experiences with alcohol led to a lifelong feeling of shame and guilt around her drinking. Yet she kept drinking even though it always felt like she was just one step away from hitting rock bottom. It took the stress of navigating the pandemic and the worry over her ever-increasing blackouts for Rachel to decide she needed to change her drinking habits. Rachel and Annie Grace discuss why they would never have read a book about stopping drinking but learning how to control alcohol felt different, how shame and guilt can keep us stuck, and how getting through all the firsts alcohol-free completely changes you. How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol Wouldn’t it be great if our children never had to go through the pain and challenges we faced in our own relationship with alcohol?  This is my greatest wish for my own kids and it’s why I created the most important course I have ever offered — “How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol.” If you’ve struggled with alcohol and you’re not sure what to tell your kids about it…If you want to create a relationship with your children that is based upon mutual respect, mutual trust, and open communication…If you know that this conversation is the most important talk you’ll have with your children and it can’t wait any longer…Then this course is for you. It includes lifetime access to six video modules, a bonus recorded Q&A session where I answer questions from parents just like you, an interactive workbook, and our private and exclusive How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol online community where you can connect with others who are also navigating this important conversation. Visit TalkToYourKidsAboutAlcohol.com to learn more and enroll today. And as always, rate, review and subscribe to this podcast as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Often the hardest part of our journey, when we go alcohol-free, isn’t really our own path, it’s the journey others go on with us. Dealing with change is hard and that is also true for loved ones who we have always indulged before. And often that shows us pressure to drink from a loved one. Annie answers why we feel pressure to drink, and why it really isn’t about us and gives valuable advice on how to gracefully handle the situation while respecting your personal boundaries. THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Today, Jessica joins Annie Grace for a special Naked Life episode. Jessica didn’t initially find freedom from alcohol through This Naked Mind. When Jessica found herself battling alcoholic liver disease at 34 years old, she followed the only path she knew and sought out treatment facilities and 12 step programs to find control over alcohol. Fate stepped in when Jessica and Annie Grace crossed paths on Red Table Talk. For the first time Jessica realized there were 12 step alternatives and that she didn’t have to follow a program to stay free from alcohol. Annie and Jessica discuss how our outward success can contribute to and even hide our drinking issues, the serious health risks that are showing up in women from alcohol use, and they take a deep dive into the conflicting beliefs and messages we can get from 12 step programs and 12 step alternatives. How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol Wouldn’t it be great if our children never had to go through the pain and challenges we faced in our own relationship with alcohol?  This is my greatest wish for my own kids and it’s why I created the most important course I have ever offered — “How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol.” If you’ve struggled with alcohol and you’re not sure what to tell your kids about it…If you want to create a relationship with your children that is based upon mutual respect, mutual trust, and open communication…If you know that this conversation is the most important talk you’ll have with your children and it can’t wait any longer…Then this course is for you. It includes lifetime access to six video modules, a bonus recorded Q&A session where I answer questions from parents just like you, an interactive workbook, and our private and exclusive How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol online community where you can connect with others who are also navigating this important conversation. Visit TalkToYourKidsAboutAlcohol.com to learn more and enroll today. And as always, rate, review and subscribe to this podcast as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

When it comes to deciding to live alcohol-free, many of us are convinced there are certain rules we need to follow and things we need to do. We get caught up in the shoulds and they can hold us back from freedom. Annie Grace dives into some hot topics including whether we need to count days and why she never found any benefits to counting days herself. She also shares what she thinks about being labeled as an alcoholic. THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

For Kyle, drinking was always something he did together. Together with friends, together with family, and finally together with his wife. Through the ups and downs of relationships, establishing and maintaining careers, and then adjusting to the demands of parenting alcohol seemed to be the glue that held him together. Until it stopped doing that, Kyle and Annie Grace discuss what led Kyle and his wife to stop drinking together, the tools they used to empower themselves on this journey, all the ways life improves once you’re in control of alcohol, and so much more! How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol Wouldn’t it be great if our children never had to go through the pain and challenges we faced in our own relationship with alcohol?  This is my greatest wish for my own kids and it’s why I created the most important course I have ever offered — “How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol.” If you’ve struggled with alcohol and you’re not sure what to tell your kids about it…If you want to create a relationship with your children that is based upon mutual respect, mutual trust, and open communication…If you know that this conversation is the most important talk you’ll have with your children and it can’t wait any longer…Then this course is for you. It includes lifetime access to six video modules, a bonus recorded Q&A session where I answer questions from parents just like you, an interactive workbook, and our private and exclusive How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol online community where you can connect with others who are also navigating this important conversation. Visit TalkToYourKidsAboutAlcohol.com to learn more and enroll today. And as always, rate, review and subscribe to this podcast as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

The vast majority of us find that we’ve been using alcohol to numb emotional pain. In this very special podcast episode, Annie Grace takes us through an actual live coaching session where she helps a PATH member to understand how to navigate the journey of beginning to heal from using alcohol to numb emotional pain. Annie shares why we should celebrate becoming aware of our feelings, the power behind realizing our problems were always there, and the importance of managing expectations. THE PATH: FREEDOM ACCELERATED I am so excited to announce our newly recalibrated signature program - The PATH: Freedom Accelerated. This 90-day program is designed to make freedom from alcohol quicker, more accessible, and more affordable than ever before. Imagine if just 90-days from now you discover a new freedom without feeling like you’re hanging onto willpower by your fingernails, without feeling deprived or like you are missing out, and without shame, guilt and blame.  The PATH: Freedom Accelerated provides a guided, almost hypnotic, sequence of content that speaks not only to your conscious mind but also to your subconscious - actually changing your desire for a drink. Plus, you will receive daily accountability and support from our coaches and our community. If you feel like you have lost control of your drinking, there is a solution - One that’s easier than you might think, and doesn’t involve rules, missing out, or deprivation. I would love for you to join us. Go to NakedMindPath.com to learn more. And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Alcohol was such a small part of Suzanne’s personal life for so long. Throughout her teens, 20’s and even her 30s Suzanne had so many other priorities and challenges in her life that alcohol just didn’t factor in. In her 40’s something shifted and she found herself trading bulimia for alcohol addiction. Listen in as Suzanne and Annie discuss how avoidance and hiding from emotions can lead us to an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, how alcohol can quickly go from being insignificant to an issue, moving past the shame that keeps us stuck, and how relationships can evolve and grow through this journey. THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Dealing with stage anxiety, or anxiety in general, can seem daunting when you go alcohol-free. So many of us relied on liquid courage to get us through any sort of anxiety that came up in our lives. Annie Grace shares insight on why we have trouble dealing with issues on our own, the power of coaching, and two tips that helped her in dealing with stage anxiety.  THE PATH: FREEDOM ACCELERATED I am so excited to announce our newly recalibrated signature program - The PATH: Freedom Accelerated. This 90-day program is designed to make freedom from alcohol quicker, more accessible, and more affordable than ever before. Imagine if just 90-days from now you discover a new freedom without feeling like you’re hanging onto willpower by your fingernails, without feeling deprived or like you are missing out, and without shame, guilt and blame.  The PATH: Freedom Accelerated provides a guided, almost hypnotic, sequence of content that speaks not only to your conscious mind but also to your subconscious - actually changing your desire for a drink. Plus, you will receive daily accountability and support from our coaches and our community. If you feel like you have lost control of your drinking, there is a solution - One that’s easier than you might think, and doesn’t involve rules, missing out, or deprivation. I would love for you to join us. Go to NakedMindPath.com to learn more. And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Ben’s relationship with alcohol was complicated from the beginning. He dropped out of college due to his drinking which led to a career with the United States Air Force. His military career meant he kept a handle on his drinking but after retiring and losing his dad due to alcohol and cancer, the rails came off. Listen as Ben tells Annie not once but numerous times why he says “I almost died from alcohol poisoning”, what his experience with delirium tremors was like, how This Naked Mind helped him following multiple times in rehab, and what allowed him to release the shame and guilt around his drinking.  THE PATH: FREEDOM ACCELERATED I am so excited to announce our newly recalibrated signature program - The PATH: Freedom Accelerated. This 90-day program is designed to make freedom from alcohol quicker, more accessible, and more affordable than ever before. Imagine if just 90-days from now you discover a new freedom without feeling like you’re hanging onto willpower by your fingernails, without feeling deprived or like you are missing out, and without shame, guilt and blame.  The PATH: Freedom Accelerated provides a guided, almost hypnotic, sequence of content that speaks not only to your conscious mind but also to your subconscious - actually changing your desire for a drink. Plus, you will receive daily accountability and support from our coaches and our community. If you feel like you have lost control of your drinking, there is a solution - One that’s easier than you might think, and doesn’t involve rules, missing out, or deprivation. I would love for you to join us. Go to NakedMindPath.com to learn more. And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Staying sober in the service industry can be a challenge. We get questions about it from readers and listeners all of the time. It’s so hard to work every day in a field where you are not only exposed to your triggers but also handling them and often being offered them. In this podcast, Annie Grace offers hope and valuable tips for those committed to staying sober in the service industry. HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT ALCOHOL Wouldn’t it be great if our children never had to go through the pain and challenges we faced in our own relationship with alcohol?  This is my greatest wish for my own kids and it’s why I created the most important course I have ever offered — “How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol.” If you’ve struggled with alcohol and you’re not sure what to tell your kids about it…If you want to create a relationship with your children that is based upon mutual respect, mutual trust, and open communication…If you know that this conversation is the most important talk you’ll have with your children and it can’t wait any longer…Then this course is for you. It includes lifetime access to six video modules, a bonus recorded Q&A session where I answer questions from parents just like you, an interactive workbook, and our private and exclusive How To Talk To Your Kids About Alcohol online community where you can connect with others who are also navigating this important conversation. Visit TalkToYourKidsAboutAlcohol.com to learn more and enroll today. And as always, rate, review and subscribe to this podcast as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

Toni wasn’t much of a drinker in her teens or twenties. In fact, it took a major lifestyle change - a divorce, shared custody, dating, and a career change - to change how she drank. Toni tried AA, Intensive Outpatient Rehab, moderation and so much more to control her drinking but never felt connected - until she discovered This Naked Mind and The Alcohol Experiment. Annie Grace and Toni discuss how daily drinking becomes normal, the irony of people being more interested in living caffeine free rather than alcohol free, along with the rewards found in helping other people change their relationships with alcohol. THE ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT Have you tried The Alcohol Experiment? Okay, if not, drop everything and go to AlcoholExperiment.com. This free 30-day challenge is designed to interrupt your patterns and put you back in touch with the best version of you. You remember, it was that version of you that’s living your most joyful life, the version that doesn’t need alcohol to relax or to have a good time, and is having more fun than ever. Again, this is a totally free challenge that will change everything for you. So learn more and join me 100% free at AlcoholExperiment.com.  And as always, rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.