Have you ever caught yourself thinking… “Maybe my brain chemistry is just messed up.”

You’re not alone. Many women who struggle with alcohol believe their brain is broken. But what if that’s not true? What if the real story is that alcohol has been quietly hijacking your brain’s reward system all along?

In this episode of Sober & Lit, Ruby and Susan take a deep dive into dopamine, the brain chemical responsible for learning, motivation, pleasure, and feeling good.

✅ Why does alcohol create powerful dopamine spikes?
✅ Why do people feel “blah” in early sobriety?
✅ And most importantly… what becomes possible when you give your brain the space to reset?

If you’ve ever wondered why quitting drinking can feel hard at first, and why real joy eventually returns, this episode will change the way you understand your brain.

If a small part of you wonders what life might feel like with alcohol taking up less space, my door is open. I offer private 1:1 coaching with real support and a plan shaped around you. You’re welcome to book a clarity chat here and see what feels right. 🧡

Here's the link to schedule a call with Coach Ruby:
https://calendly.com/williams-ruby/discovery-call

We Love Hearing From You

Don't forget to follow and subscribe and leave a review! It helps to get the word out that living sober is lit!

Listeners have said that our podcast has helped them get alcohol free!
Join our private community!

Connect with the Podcast Hosts:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/contact
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.

Question:
What if you could relax, socialize, and unwind… without alcohol?

No hangover.
No brain fog.
No regret.

So what are people drinking instead?

👉 Kava.

In this episode, Ruby and Susan sit down with Morgan Smith, founder of Kalm with Kava, to explore the ancient South Pacific drink that’s quietly becoming a modern alcohol-free ritual.

Inside this conversation:

• What kava actually is (and why it’s trending)
• The fascinating roots of kava culture in the South Pacific
• How kava relaxes the nervous system—without alcohol
• Why kava bars are popping up across the U.S.
• Morgan’s journey from tech burnout to running a kava farm in Hawaii
• What to know about sourcing, safety, and preparation

Curious about new ways to unwind alcohol-free?
Wondering what sober socializing could look like in the future?

This episode might introduce you to your next favorite ritual.

So grab your favorite AF drink…
press play… and let’s get Sober & Lit.
________

Guest Resources for Morgan Smith-
Website: http://kalmwithkava.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KalmwithKava
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalm_with_kava/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXxMvt3K38LTjFfcHSLRufudfsZAtgi6U

We Love Hearing From You

Don't forget to follow and subscribe and leave a review! It helps to get the word out that living sober is lit!

Listeners have said that our podcast has helped them get alcohol free!
Join our private community!

Connect with the Podcast Hosts:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/contact
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.

Let’s name it. You stopped drinking.
You felt amazing.
Then somehow… you started again.

Why?

Today we’re pulling back the curtain on the stop-start cycle — and it’s not about weakness.

Here’s what we unpack:
-- Why your brain romanticizes “just one”
-- The neural pathway + fading effect bias trap
-- The “drinking train” effect (why it gets harder each time)
-- How stress hijacks your nervous system
-- Body-based tools to interrupt the craving loop
-- How to stay stopped — without white-knuckling it

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

• Why do I keep starting over?
• Why does alcohol still pull me?
• How do I make this stick for good?

This episode is your reset. Short. Real. Science-backed. Compassion-filled.

Press play — and let’s break the cycle.

If you loved these tips and want more, Susan shares free tools and resources in her newsletter community each week!I

f you want to dig deeper into Fading Affect Bias (FAB), listen to Episode 17 for more on the “not-so-fabulous” FAB!

We Love Hearing From You

Don't forget to follow and subscribe and leave a review! It helps to get the word out that living sober is lit!

Listeners have said that our podcast has helped them get alcohol free!
Join our private community!

Connect with the Podcast Hosts:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/contact
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.