I’ve never really shared the full story behind why I stopped drinking, but in this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain. It wasn’t a rock bottom moment or dramatic wake-up call—it was a quiet but certain knowing that alcohol just wasn’t part of who I wanted to be anymore. I talk about how booze impacts the brain, the sneaky ways it shaped my decisions, and the emotional fog it kept me in for years.

There’s also grief. Grief for the old version of me, for the connections and habits I had to leave behind. I get into the root of addiction, the habit loop we get stuck in, and the shame and co-dependency that can live underneath it all. This one’s honest, layered, and straight from the heart.

Here are the Highlights:

(01:28)-Why I went sober (from alcohol)

(07:30)-How alcohol affects the brain

(12:38)-Unpacking addiction and its root cause

(20:13)-The grief that comes with with sobriety

(28:02)-The habit loop in addictive behaviors

(31:19)-Shame and co-dependency

(33:05)-The relationship between drinking and suppressed emotions

Resources:

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press