It's Not About the Alcohol
Would you like to reduce your alcohol consumption by about 80 percent? Become the version of you who can just "take it or leave it" so that you can enjoy drinking socially without relying on alcohol to manage your stress...
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- 🇺🇸United States · Mental HealthHOME#13394K to 2.1M
- 🇳🇬NG · Mental Health#66.0K to 32K
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- 🇮🇪Ireland · Mental Health#18025 to 131
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400K to 2.1M🎙 ~2x weekly·357 episodes·Last published 1w ago - Monthly Reach
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440K to 2.3M
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/14/26 |  EP359 The hidden reasons why you drink too much (and what really needs to change) | You've been negotiating new rules every time you break the old ones, and you still can't figure out why "just drink less" never sticks. The answer isn't in your glass. It's in your week. Three client stories show you exactly where the drinking is coming from, and the one question to ask instead of "what's wrong with me." What you'll learn: Why removing the one thing that gives you relief, in a week you haven't changed, backfires The unspoken rules you follow for everyone else and never apply to yourself Why you have plenty of motivation, it's just pointed in the wrong direction What self-care actually is, and why it isn't pedicures and prosecco The small, unimpressive changes that move the needle for high achieving women Join Colleen live for Get Happy, Not Sober on October 23, 24 and 25. [REGISTER HERE] If you'd rather talk to someone now, schedule a call with our enrollment team and they'll help you figure out where to start. Check out our new program options! Emotionalsobrietycoaching.com/programs | 34m 25s | ||||||
| 10/6/26 |  EP358 Why you need wine when you're stressed (and how to reduce cravings without whiteknuckling) with Sian Cook | You eat clean, you handle everything, and by five o'clock you still feel like you need a glass of wine to calm down. Sian Cook, a former client trained in medicine, explains what stress is draining from your brain, why wine feels like the fix, and where to start to change your relationship with alcohol. What you'll learn: Why stress burns through the nutrients your brain needs to feel calm Why wine makes you feel instantly better when you're stressed Why eating clean isn't always enough to give your brain what it needs What it looks like when wine shifts from a need to a want Click here to learn more about Vital Mind Serenity. Type "Colleen" in the discount field for 10% off. (Colleen has no affiliation. She just thinks it's worth knowing about.) Click here to join Colleen's next live Get Happy Not Sober event to uncover the real reasons why reducing your drinking feels harder than it should be. It's an ideal opportunity to work directly with Colleen without making a huge commitment. Referenced in this episode: It's Not About the Alcohol Episode 193: How to use amino acid supplements to fix neurotransmitter deficiences that trigger alcohol cravings | 38m 28s | ||||||
| 9/8/26 |  EP357: Your drinking isn't self-indulgent. It's self-denial. Here's the difference. | You've been telling yourself you drink too much because you love it too much. That's not what's happening. This episode shows you the rules you've been following since childhood that make you say yes to everyone else and no to yourself, and why the drink at the end of the day is the only thing you actually let yourself have. What you'll learn: Why the same rule that makes you reliable for everyone else makes you unavailable to yourself The difference between a Go rule and a No-Go rule, and how to spot both in one decisio Why "I'll just tough it out" costs you more bandwidth, patience and momentum than you think Why trying to reduce your drinking fails when the depletion underneath it doesn't change Get Happy, Not Sober is a live three-day event starting Friday, September 11. Day one, you'll measure the gap between what you'll do for other people and what you'll do for yourself, find the rule causing it, and walk away with one sentence that explains why your relationship with alcohol is out of balance. Day two is the mindful drinking experiment, live with Colleen for VIPs or on your own with the workbook. Day three is coaching and integration. Sessions are Friday and Saturday at 3pm Eastern, Sunday at noon Eastern. Plan on 90 minutes each. VIP spots are limited. [REGISTER HERE] | 23m 13s | ||||||
| 8/18/26 |  EP356 The real reason you can't follow through on your promise to "not drink" tonight | You have discipline in every other area of your life. You follow through, you deliver, you keep everything running. So why is it that the one night you tell yourself no drinking, you pour that first glass like that was the plan all along? This episode explains what's actually driving that, and why willpower can't make it stop. What you'll learn: Why "not drinking" feels harder than anything else on your list What your nervous system is actually reacting to when you sit still Why cutting back so you can get more done backfires every time Why three years of perfect abstinence didn't fix a damn thing The difference between acting like a woman who can take it or leave it and feeling like her Join Colleen this weekend, Aug 21-23 for Get Happy Not Sober, a live three-day event. [Click here to register now.] | 17m 25s | ||||||
| 8/11/26 |  EP355 How to be truly free from the desire to drink (without willpower) | You've done a lot of work and you've definitely improved. But you're still drinking more than you want. And there's a critical voice in your head that keeps insisting you should be doing more–working harder and changing faster. This episode explains why the desire to drink won't lift until you deal with the emotional patterns that are driving it, and what it actually feels like to be free. What you'll learn: Why the "not enough" feeling keeps coming back no matter how much you improve How to stop chasing the outcome and focus on the state of being you want to embody What it will feel like to be able to "take it or leave it" Two reflection questions to help clarify what really needs to change Take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is running your nervous system, so you know exactly which version of "not enough" you're working with. [Take the Quiz Here] Book a free discovery call with Colleen's team so you can walk away with a new goal (that has nothing to do with alcohol). [Book Your Discovery Call with One of Our Certified Coaches] | 28m 09s | ||||||
| 8/4/26 |  EP354: If it feels like your drinking hasn't changed, track this metric instead | You're still drinking more than you should, and you want to know if real change actually is a slow process, or if you're just making excuses so you don't have to quit. Here's the honest answer, plus a reliable metric to track so that you can feel more confident about your progress. What you'll learn: Why your drinking is usually the last thing to change, not the first Why counting drinks is counterproductive to your progress Why you lose motivation to "drink less," and the perspective shift that helps you stay consistent What to do when you wake up and realize you "did it again" How to tell whether your discomfort is a sign that you're failing or growing Nervous system regulation is the missing puzzle piece for most high-performing women. Register for the free masterclass, The Science Behind Take It or Leave It: Why Some Women Can and How You Can Too. [Watch the Masterclass Here] One conversation won't change your drinking. But it can change your perspective on what you need to focus on. If you want to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be, book a free discovery call. [Book Your Discovery Call Here] | 26m 15s | ||||||
| 7/28/26 |  EP353: Your brain talks you into drinking. Here's how to talk back. | You wake up asking the same question you asked yesterday. What the hell is wrong with me? But you've already decided the answer is that you're drinking is out of control. This episode shows you how the story you keep telling yourself becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, and gives you three moves to shift your perspective of what's going on (and what really needs to change). What you'll learn: Why the way you describe your drinking becomes the reality you live in The difference between a real threat and a false alarm Why trying to control or quit drinking backfires, and what actually causes change The three moves that rewrite the story that keeps you stuck in the cycle of overdrinking There are four types of drinkers. Take the free 3-minute quiz to find out which language pattern is running your habit. [Take the Quiz Here] Ready to change your drinking without labeling it a drinking "problem?" Book a free discovery call with one of Colleen's certified coaches to find out if this approach can work for you. [Book Your Discovery Call Here] | 23m 32s | ||||||
| 7/21/26 |  EP352: Drinking turns off your brain. Planning to quit turns it back on. Here's how to break the cycle. | You wake up feeling rough and decide, "I'm not drinking tonight." For a few hours, that plan feels solid. But evening comes and you pour one anyway. And now your brain has even more evidence that you're not in control. Which makes you less motivated to try again (because what's the point?) This episode shows you why planning to "not drink" often backfires and what to do instead. What you'll learn: Why high achieving "planners" also tend to drink too much How planning to control your drinking builds pressure in your nervous system The one-word pattern-interrupt that shifts you from "planning for later" into action (right now) How to figure out what you really need (it's never a drink) [Click Here] for the Take it or Leave it Roadmap Series. Before you can change your drinking, you have to understand how it's actually helping you. These 5 videos walk you through the whole process of change, starting with why your drinking makes perfect sense. Watch one a day or binge all five in under an hour. [Click Here] to book a free discovery call with Colleen's enrollment team if you know you need guidance, support and accountability. You'll leave with a clear action plan for giving yourself more of what you need, whether you end up working with us or not. | 44m 43s | ||||||
| 7/14/26 |  EP351: Why joy is key to drinking less (not discipline) | You've been telling yourself that if you were more disciplined, then you wouldn't drink as much as you do. But the problem isn't that you need more control. It's that giving yourself permission to relax means that you're wasting time or falling behind. Which is why you need alcohol. This episode explains why expanding your capacity for peace and joy is what actually reduces alcohol cravings, and gives you one small goal to help you get started. What you'll learn: Why GLP1 drugs reduce alcohol cravings (and how to get the same effect on your own) Why motivating yourself with shame and fear makes cravings worse The difference between wanting more from yourself and wanting more for yourself What to do when peace and joy aren't available to you (yet) Not sure why you drink the way you do? Take the quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is running your patterns. [Take the Quiz Now] Ready to stop figuring this out alone? Schedule a free discovery call with the enrollment team. You'll walk away with a customized action plan, your patterns named, and the specific skills you need to build. [Book Your DC Here] | 32m 08s | ||||||
| 7/7/26 |  EP350: How to tell the difference between self-care and self-sabotage (before your next drink) | You set a plan to take a break from drinking and made it a few days. Then you blew it. And now you're trying to figure out why you keep breaking promises to yourself when it comes to alcohol. This episode gives you a step by step strategy (based on curiosity and self-compassion instead of judgment) to help you reduce your drinking. What you'll learn: Why taking a break from drinking isn't about proving you can go without it The five questions to ask after a setback (instead of "what's wrong with me") Why the same glass of wine is self-care one night and self-sabotage the next How to follow your intuition instead of arbitrary rules you're going to break anyway Want to know if this approach can actually work for you? Book a free discovery call with Colleen's enrollment team. It's free, there's no pressure, and you'll leave knowing exactly where you stand. [Book Your Discovery Call Here] Find out what type of drinker you are. Because before you can change HOW you drink, you have to understand WHY you drink. [Click here to take the free quiz]. | 33m 40s | ||||||
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| 6/30/26 |  EP349 Why you can't say no to wine at night (it's a capacity problem, not a willpower problem) | You keep telling yourself you'll take the night off, or at least stop at two glasses. But then you drain the entire bottle (as usual). This episode shows you why that's not a willpower problem, and walks you through Colleen's Capacity Audit so you can see exactly what's draining you. What you'll learn: Why you reach for wine to relax after work even though you know that's not what you really need Why you can't stop at one glass even when you planned to Why willpower won't help you drink less, and what actually does How to calm your nervous system in three minutes, no drink required The five-category capacity audit that shows you where you're leaking energy Realizing your drinking is a lack of capacity (not willpower) means you've found the problem. If you're looking for the solution, click here to schedule a discovery call. [Book Your Discovery Call] Resources mentioned: It's Not About the Alcohol EP335 I was drinking every night again. Here's how I stopped. And EP337 Why drinking every night destroys your confidence (and how to stop) | 38m 46s | ||||||
| 6/23/26 |  EP348: Why wondering if you're an alcoholic makes you drink more (and a better question to ponder) | If you're an alcoholic, how is it possible that you can get more done before breakfast than most people do in a week? And yet, you still know that you drink too much. So you Google your questions, maybe take the online quizzes, which don't help. This episode gives you a better way to look at your drinking and one specific question that has a much more clear and productive answer. What you'll learn: Why no one can actually tell you whether you're an alcoholic The belief that quietly makes your drinking harder to control How three out of four people who are dependent on alcohol change their drinking without rehab or AA What your nervous system is really asking for when you pour the wine The question to ask instead of "am I an alcoholic?" Want insight into the emotional patterns that are driving your drinking? Take the 3-minute quiz to find out what type of drinker you are. [Take the Quiz Here] Want to know if the "take it or leave it" methodology can work for you? Schedule a discovery call and find out. [Book Your Discovery Call Now] | 30m 15s | ||||||
| 6/16/26 |  EP347: Why you can drink a whole bottle and not feel "drunk" (and how to retrain your brain) | You've always been a little proud of your high tolerance. You can drink grown men under the table and still walk and talk like a rockstar in four inch heels. But lately it scares you. How is it even possible to drink that much and not even feel it? This episode answers that, and shows you how to "feel" the signals in your body that you've trained yourself to ignore. What you'll learn: Why a high tolerance isn't a sign of superior liver function, and what it's actually hiding Why it's actually quite normal for busy and high-functioning women to over-drink How to tell the difference between buzzed and intoxicated (without a breathalyzer) The hangover reflection I teach my clients to retrain their brain so they can learn from their mistakes (and stop repeating them) Are you ready to change? Book a free 20-minute discovery call with one of Colleen's certified coaches for an honest conversation about where you are, where you want to be, and what it will actually take to get there. Take the Quiz to find out what type of drinker you are. Because you have to see the pattern before you can break the pattern. | 34m 05s | ||||||
| 6/9/26 |  EP346: How to cope with conflict in your relationship without drinking with Karen McMahon | You've been drinking more lately because of your partner. Their mood is the problem. Their lack of effort. Their inability to have an honest conversation. But if this is their problem, why are you stuck? My interview with high conflict divorce coach Karen McMahon will show you how to take your power back instead of drowning it with alcohol. What you'll learn: Why drinking feels safer than conflict (and what's actually happening in your nervous system) The seven levels of emotional energy and how drinking keeps you on the lower end How to shift your focus from what your partner needs to change to what you need to change Why your boundaries keep getting plowed and what to do about it Three somatic tools you can use mid-conflict to stop reaching for the wine If you're ready to take full responsibility for where you are and where you want to be, the first step is identifying the pattern that's running you. Take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is driving your pattern and get the Take It or Leave It Roadmap. [Take Quiz Here] Ready to stop figuring this out alone? Book a free discovery call. The call isn't about figuring out what's wrong with you. It's about figuring out what kind of support you actually need. [Book Your Discovery Call] Resources: Karen McMahon: Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast Free Guide: Understanding and Managing Your Emotional Energy journeybeyonddivorce.com | 47m 04s | ||||||
| 6/2/26 |  EP345: The KNOW-DO Gap: Why you keep drinking when you know you shouldn't. | You know you should be drinking less, but you can't follow through. You promise and plan to do something different and then repeat the same mistakes over and over. This episode explains the gap between knowing what you should be doing and actually doing it. And gives you the perspective shift that you need to make to close it. What you'll learn: The two reasons "knowing" doesn't translate to doing Why your "celebration drinking" is often stress drinking in a party dress The perspective shift that turns your dopamine back on What actually has to change before your drinking can change Quiz: Take the free 3-minute quiz to find out why YOU can't just take it or leave it: [Take the quiz here] Ready to stop trying to figure this out alone? Book a free 20-minute discovery call with one of Colleen's certified coaches. You'll leave with clarity about where you are, where you want to be, and what's standing in your way. No pressure, no sales pitch. [Book your Discovery Call here] | 37m 26s | ||||||
| 5/26/26 |  EP344: The Hidden Hormone Imbalance Making You Drink Too Much (And The Labs Your Doctor Isn't Running) | You've been blaming yourself for drinking too much. You assume the brain fog, the fatigue, the weight you can't shift, the way you can't stick to your plan, all of it, is because you drink. But what if the reason you're drinking so much is that your hormones are off? This episode walks you through what to test for and what to do when your doctor tells you everything looks "normal." What you'll learn: The symptoms most women blame on their drinking that are actually hormone imbalances The specific labs your doctor probably isn't running (and what they should cost) Why your labs can come back "normal" while you still feel like crap How nervous system dysregulation creates the cascade that keeps you stuck Why hormone support is a foundation, not a fix, for changing your drinking Take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is running your nervous system, and get a roadmap tailored to your specific pattern. [Take Quiz Now] Ready to do the other piece? [Book a free discovery call] Resources: Amber Romaniuk: amberapproved.ca The No Sugarcoating Podcast with Amber Romaniuk | 48m 36s | ||||||
| 5/19/26 |  EP343: Why drinking to relax anxiety makes it's worse (and what to do instead) | You've been searching for something to take the edge off. Some tool or strategy that can help you relax so you don't feel like you need to drink so much. CBD. THC gummies. A sleepy-time tea. The anti-anxiety medication your doctor offered. This episode explains why nothing you've tried works as well as alcohol, and what your nervous system really needs. What you'll learn: Why alcohol helps you relax in the short term (and how that traps you in dependancy) The two parts of anxiety your doctor doesn't understand Why willpower isn't the issue here Three practices that change your relationship with anxiety for good Before you can break the pattern, you have to see it. After coaching thousands of very successful, professional women, Colleen has identified four specific types of drinkers. Each requires a unique approach. Take the free 3-minute quiz to find out what type of drinker you are and get the Take it or Leave it Roadmap Series built for your specific pattern. If you'd like to have a private conversation with a certified coach about which Emotional Sobriety Coaching program would be the best fit for you, click here to schedule a free discovery call. Resources mentioned: The Anxiety Rx by Dr. Russell Kennedy EP190: Interview with Dr. Russell Kennedy Can you Take it or Leave it? Take the quiz to discover what type of drinker you are so you can understand what's behind your biological urge to drink. Click here to take the quiz. Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc | 32m 18s | ||||||
| 5/12/26 |  EP342 Change THIS if you want to drink like a normal person again | You've been told that the best way to stop drinking too much is to stop drinking entirely. This episode shows you why that advice usually doesn't work for high-achieving women. Dr. Tammie Kennedy is here to share her experience as one of my students in The Next Chapter. She'll tell you the truth about not only what's changed for her, but also what hasn't changed after nearly a year in the program. What you'll learn: Why the women who try the hardest are often the slowest to change their drinking What changes first when you stop trying to fix the drinking The shame loop that keeps high-achieving women stuck in restriction-and-rebound cycles What really stops most women from being able to change Click here to take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is running your nervous system. Do you need to speak with someone? Click here to schedule a free discovery call with Colleen or one of her certified coaches. Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc | 31m 16s | ||||||
| 5/5/26 |  EP341: Why You Need Alcohol To Go To Sleep (And how to break the pattern) | You can't fall asleep without a few drinks. Every time you've tried going to bed without it, you end up back on the couch an hour later pouring a glass because your brain wouldn't shut down. This episode explains what's happening in your nervous system and gives you three practices to rebuild your desire (and ability) to go to sleep without alcohol. What you'll learn: Why trying to "not drink" leads to drinking earlier to "knock yourself out" The difference between alcohol-induced sedation and sleep on your emotional well-being How to get back to sleep when you wake up at 3 a.m. The importance of letting yourself feel tired The best morning and evening practices to reset your circadian rhythm Wand to know why can't YOU just take it or leave it? Click here to take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker patterns is running your nervous system. You'll get your results plus my new Take It or Leave It Roadmap series that's built for your drinker type delivered to your inbox. Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc | 30m 51s | ||||||
| 4/28/26 |  EP340: Why your drinking makes perfect sense (and how to actually rewire your brain) | You've been kicking yourself for finishing the bottle (again) when you promised it was going to be just one glass. This episode explains why trying harder isn't working, and gives you three principles of self-directed neuroplasticity that actually rewire your brain so drinking less stops feeling like you're fighting your own instincts. What you'll learn: Why over-drinking isn't a willpower failure. It's a survival strategy your nervous system built to keep up with your life How to stop setting goals your brain can't work with, and start pointing it at what you actually want The four drinking patterns running high-achieving women, and why you can't see the one running you Why fighting old habits reinforces them, and what to build instead The low bar goal that keeps you consistent when your stretch goal isn't realistic Not sure why you drink the way you do? Click here to take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is running your nervous system. You'll get your results plus my new Take It or Leave It Roadmap Series delivered to your inbox. Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc | 35m 24s | ||||||
| 4/21/26 |  EP339: The 3 Hidden Patterns Behind Overdrinking in Busy and Successful Women | You're not a woman who needs more information. You read the books. You follow the sober curious accounts. You've done Dry January. You've downloaded Sunnyside or Reframe. Every Sunday morning you promise yourself this week is going to be different. And here you are, still on the hamster wheel. There's nothing wrong with you. You're just trying to solve the wrong problem. This week Colleen walks through three blindspots that keep busy, successful women stuck in cycles of overdrinking. Why your identity is running the show without you knowing it. Why your refusal to slow down feels like strength. And why you can't criticize or out-think your way out of a pattern you can't see. Plus the story of teaching yoga from a chair while on bedrest with her fourth pregnancy, pushing a double jog stroller a mile and a half to the pool with four kids, and why none of this was ever actually about the alcohol. If you want a raw, real, honest conversation about what's actually going on, book a free discovery call. It's not about what's wrong with you. It's about figuring out what kind of support you actually need. Those are very different conversations. If you see the benefit in having a private conversation with a certified coach, Click Here To Schedule A Free Discovery Call Watch The Free 45 Minute Masterclass: The science behind take it or leave it–why some women can and how you can too. Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc | 21m 42s | ||||||
| 4/17/26 |  EP338 Minisode: Why You Can Explain Your Drinking But Still Can't Change It | In this episode, Colleen pulls apart something that sounds right, but quietly keeps women stuck: thinking about your feelings instead of actually feeling them. Because most women in this space aren't avoiding the work. They're doing a ton of it. They can explain their patterns. They understand their triggers. They know why they drink. And yet… nothing really shifts. Colleen walks through the difference between intellectual processing and physical release, and why emotional energy that doesn't move doesn't disappear… it stays in the body. That's where the tension, the anxiety, the shutdown, and yes... the cravings, come from. This isn't about more insight. It's about learning how to actually let something move through you instead of managing it in your head. And for most women, that's the part they've never been taught. 🔑 Key Takeaways ~Why understanding your emotions isn't the same as processing them ~How emotional energy gets "stuck" in the body ~Why overthinking creates anxiety, tension, and cravings ~The cultural conditioning that teaches women to suppress expression ~What it actually looks like to release an emotion (not just label it) ~Why you can't selectively numb pain without numbing joy ~A simple 3-step emotional release practice to start reconnecting with your body This episode isn't asking you to figure anything out. It's asking you to stop trying. Because the shift isn't in your thinking… it's in your willingness to feel what's already there. If you'd like to learn more about our Emotional Sobriety Coaching programs: ---> Click here to schedule a discovery call ---> Watch The FREE Masterclass Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc | 30m 57s | ||||||
| 4/14/26 |  EP337: Why drinking every night destroys your confidence (and how to stop) | Now that I'm on the other side of my recent slip back into drinking every night, I can see exactly what happened—and more importantly, I can explain the mechanism that makes this so dangerous for high-achieving women. In this episode, I'm breaking down why nightly drinking doesn't just affect your health—it systematically destroys your confidence, your self-trust, and your sense of who you are. And I'm giving you the exact framework for how to stop. In this episode: Why the belief "I'll feel better when things calm down" is actually a symptom, not wisdom The mind virus that makes your brain blame everything wrong in your life on alcohol How shame disguises itself as "personal accountability" and "radical honesty" in high achieving women The reason you can't think your way out of a thinking problem (which is what this is) What actually shifted for me—and why I don't need willpower to stay sober during the week Ready to do the work? If you'd like to to have a private conversation with a certified coach, Click Here To Schedule A Free Discovery Call Watch The Free 45 Minute Masterclass: The science behind take it or leave it–why some women can and how you can too. Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc | 53m 47s | ||||||
| 4/10/26 |  EP336 Minisode: Why Giving Yourself Permission To Drink Actually Helps You Drink Less | In this episode, Colleen revisits one of the hardest ideas to trust at first: that before your drinking changes, you have to stop making your drinking the enemy. And yes… that can feel dangerous. Because the moment you stop restricting, judging, and trying to control yourself, your brain often swings the other direction. It sees a loophole. It tests the boundaries. It acts like the rebellious teenager who just got told there's no curfew. But Colleen explains why that doesn't mean the work isn't working. It means you're finally coming face to face with the internal conflict that's been there all along. She breaks down how restriction backfires, how your body knows when you're lying to yourself, and why the real work of emotional sobriety isn't about forcing better behavior. It's about learning how to feel the whole truth, question your programming, and rebuild trust with yourself one urge at a time. 🔑 Key Takeaways ~Why giving yourself permission can make drinking spike at first ~How restriction fuels rebellion, self-sabotage, and binge behavior ~Why your body is a better truth detector than your thoughts ~The difference between your urge and the meaning you assign to it ~Three tools to use before giving in to an urge This episode is a reminder that the goal isn't to become someone who never wants a drink, but to become someone who stops abandoning herself in the process of wanting one. If you'd like to learn more about our available coaching programs, Click Here To Apply For A Discovery Call! Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc | 28m 40s | ||||||
| 4/7/26 |  EP335: I was drinking every night again. Here's how I stopped. | Colleen gets really personal in this episode. She shares the hard winter that (at one point) sent her back to nightly drinking, financial stress, the loss of her dog, feeling stuck in a house that no longer feels like home, and walks through exactly how she got out. In this episode: Why going back to an old drinking pattern is not evidence you failed. It's data. The rat study that proves hope creates more persistence than willpower or skill ever could Why focusing on your drinking makes the pattern worse, not better Upstream thinking: what it actually looks like to increase your capacity instead of restricting your behavior The breathwork class that broke something open. And the brutal Sunday morning that followed. Observer consciousness: the difference between being in the storm and watching it Why stopping drinking didn't fix Colleen's anxiety, sleep, or low energy. And what that means for you. Do you need help? We're ready to talk to you! If you'd like to learn more about our Emotional Sobriety Coaching programs. Click here to schedule a discovery call Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter): @NotAboutTheAlc | 39m 01s | ||||||
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Chart history for It's Not About the Alcohol
Peaked at #6 in NG, top 10 in 1 of 7 tracked markets, currently #6 in NG.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NG | — | #6 | #6 | — |
| NG | — | #11 | #11 | — |
| United States | — | #13 | #13 | — |
| United States | — | #42 | #42 | — |
| IS | — | #84 | #84 | — |
| Ireland | — | #180 | #180 | — |
| Canada | — | #183 | #183 | — |
Chart Positions
7 placements across 5 markets.
Chart Positions
7 placements across 5 markets.