Life After the Stage: Lauren Anderson’s 15 Years Alcohol-Free Ep 15

What happens when one of America’s most celebrated ballerinas—someone who reached the absolute peak of her craft—finds herself starting over? In this episode, Lauren Anderson, the first Black principal dancer at the Houston Ballet, gets real about the highs of performance, the crash of addiction, and the discipline it takes to rebuild from the ground up.

Episode Summary:
Lauren joins Anne and Chris for a powerful conversation about life after sport, recovery, and the freedom that comes from surrender. She shares how she went from performing on the world’s biggest stages to sitting in a courtroom, facing herself for the first time—and how that moment changed everything. This is a story about grace, grit, and the kind of discipline that outlasts talent.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• How high-performing athletes and artists can hide addiction behind “success”
• The moment that forced Lauren to get honest and ask for help
• Why discipline and accountability are key to long-term recovery
• How “joyful rigor” and community keep her grounded after 15 years sober
• What it means to find identity and purpose beyond performance

Listen now to hear how Lauren Anderson turned her lowest moment into a life of purpose, presence, and freedom.

Resources & Links:
• Follow Lauren on Instagram: @LaurenAndersonOfficial
• Learn more about the Houston Ballet: houstonballet.org