February 12, 2024 • 37 mins
Your hosts are excited to be back with you, after their long Winter break! We are starting off 2024 with reflecting back on some of our most memorable episodes. Come reminisce with us as we take a trip down memory lane. Although we found it hard to narrow down our favorites, we manage to come up with a list of 10 standouts with a few honorable mentions. Stay tuned until the end when we reveal what our most listen to episode has been. This is a perfect place for a new listeners to start or to share with your friends as we guide you through some great recommendations of what episodes to listen to next!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kelly (00:02):
Welcome to the LAF life podcast, a lifestyle podcast
based on living alcohol free anda booze soaked world.
My name is Kelly Evans andtogether with my friends, Tracey
Djordjevic, and Lindsay Harik.
We share uncensored.
Unscripted real conversationsabout what our lives have been
like since we ditched alcoholand how we got here by sharing
(00:24):
our individual stories.
We'll show you that there isn'tjust one way to do this, no
matter where you are on yourjourney from sober, curious to
years in recovery and everyonein between, you are welcome
here, no judgment and a ton ofsupport.
Tracey (00:41):
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the LAF Life
podcast.
Tonight, we are reconveningafter our long winter break.
Or so it seems.
It seems like I haven't seen yougirls forever.
Officially, tonight is episode11.
We're just gonna have a catch upand we thought it would be fun
to start off the new year.
With kind of a recap lookingback and reflecting on some of
(01:05):
our favorite episodes fromprevious seasons.
We're going to do a top 10 ofour favorite LAF Life episodes.
The ones that really stood outto us and some that we know have
been very popular with ourlisteners and maybe there'll be
some here that you guys canconsider listening to if you
haven't listened to already.
(01:26):
Hello, ladies.
How was your holidays?
Really good.
It's nice to see your beautifulfaces.
Kelly (01:34):
Good to be back on.
Yeah, it feels weird to be backon.
I miss it when we take thebreaks.
Tracey (01:39):
Yeah, me too.
It's just getting re energized,right?
Lindsey (01:44):
We've got some guests that are pretty interesting that
I'm super excited about comingup.
So
Tracey (01:50):
yeah, we have some guests too that I need to share
with you guys that I haven'ttold you about either that came
through randomly one that camethrough actually when I did the
post asking for guests and onethat came through our website.
So that's very exciting thatwe're getting some through our
website.
That's pretty awesome.
That is awesome.
I'm glad we have that option.
Kelly (02:11):
Do you guys have any alcohol related memorable things
happen during the holidays oranything?
One thing I wanted to mentionwas 1st, happy sober anniversary
to Kelly, which was just theother day,
Lindsey (02:26):
6 years, Kelly
Kelly (02:29):
years.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Tracey (02:32):
And on that note, I wanted to mention that my
brother and his fiance.
Actually, the day after Kellycelebrated their 2 year
anniversary as well, and I knowI'm super excited and proud of
them.
And I loved absolutely loved mysister in law's post.
Just to speak to that, I wantedto mention that I did have a
(02:56):
beautiful evening with my sisterin law for her birthday.
I took her on December 30th.
To you would have really enjoyedthis Kel yoga studio here.
They had a 2 hour session.
That was like a, reflect on theprevious year and make kind of
goals and aspirations for theyear to come.
(03:17):
They had a journaling exercisefor both as well as yoga.
And then they serve like a nicetea.
It was really nice.
Wine.
Now, no wine was great.
I love it.
And then we went out for anawesome dinner at a local
restaurant here that my sisterin law had never been to.
That's very good.
And we just had an amazingconversation.
(03:39):
About her and my brother'sjourney and how she had been
feeling and how grateful she isto be living.
alcohol free how much it'schanged her life It was just so
touching.
It was just a really amazingconversation.
That is definitely somethingthat stuck out to me.
That was a very feel goodmoment.
Kelly (04:00):
I love it.
Yeah, I love it.
So happy for them both.
Yeah, me too.
Yeah,
Lindsey (04:06):
I don't think I had anything that really stood out.
Just another.
Alcohol free Christmas and NewYear's and I just loved every
minute of it, not being hungover, not being under the
influence and just noticing thechange in people around me who
are also choosing not to drinkalcohol during these seasons.
So I don't know, I had a reallygood Christmas and a awesome New
(04:30):
Year's and yeah, I didn't needalcohol for any of it.
Kelly (04:33):
That's good.
Yeah.
I noticed, I think after thefact, I was just reflecting on
all the things that I did overthe holidays and I was at three
different events where themajority of the people were not
drinking.
Wow.
So I thought that was prettysignificant.
Like we talk about, we've talkedabout it on the podcast about
(04:53):
how, the people that you'remeant to be around, they start
to pop up and pop into yourlife.
And then also how things arechanging and people are more and
more people are quitting.
So I'm hoping it's like acombination of both of those
things that was part of myexperience, but I thought that
was really cool.
To be in those situations andnot be, surrounded by alcohol,
(05:15):
it's really nice.
This to you girls off camera, Ithink on our previous episode,
how I had connected with someonelocally here who opened up a
boutique gym and the gyms calledFree2B wellness.
in alignment with meeting peoplewhen you're on your journey.
(05:36):
That kind of align with whereyou're going.
I really connected with theowner of that establishment
right off the hop because weinstantly got into a
conversation about the fact thatI did a podcast and then she
asked me what it was about.
And I told her it was aboutliving.
alcohol free and then she sharedwith me that she had given up
alcohol during COVID as well.
(05:56):
And hadn't been drinking for thelast couple of years.
So that is another cool thing Idid just a couple of weeks ago.
Actually, I did a talk thereabout living alcohol free,
talking a bit about the podcastand how it came about, but also
giving people some tips on howto tackle a dry 30.
Oh, based on the episode that wehad before the winter break
(06:20):
there and the tips that we gaveout to our listeners on social
media.
So that was really good.
It was a really goodconversation and well received
and yeah, that was great.
That's so good.
I love it.
Yeah.
Do you guys want to dive intosome episodes?
Yeah.
(06:40):
Yeah.
Whoever wants to go first, goahead.
So one of my very favorite, so Ipicked kind of three, but then I
have two, so really five, butvery favorite topic episode that
we did.
It was in season one, episodefive, real self care.
Ooh.
Yes.
I loved the conversation that wehad about that.
(07:02):
I wanna go back and listen to itagain.
But I think that helped a lot ofpeople because self care, people
think, oh, you self care.
You take time at the end of theday after the kids go to bed and
have a glass of wine.
And we had a real conversationabout that and that's not what
it is.
Yeah, I loved that episode.
Tracey (07:19):
You know what?
That episode, and we did thatself care challenge, that has
inspired me in many other areasof my life.
And it's something actually thatI brought up in the talk with
the people at the gym, was thatthey could actually utilize
something like that for a dry30.
(07:39):
Instead of having your wineevery day, do One of those self
care items on that challenge andreplace that with your wine and
make it really about self carefor the 30 days.
And it's actually also somethingthat I implemented with my team
for the month of December,because it's our busiest month
(07:59):
of the year and with Christmasand everything else going on it
also is a very stressful timefor people personally.
And it's a time where peopledon't take the time to take care
of themselves.
So I actually did a 30 day selfcare challenge for my team with
an advent calendar.
Oh, that's so cute.
It was really cool online.
(08:20):
So every day they had a calendarthing to open.
And then every day there was arecommended thing to do for
themselves.
Yeah, There was a self careprize at the end of it for
everybody who participated inand did the most days.
So they absolutely loved it andit was really well received.
I love it.
(08:40):
Yeah.
So I think it's interesting thatyou picked that up.
So it was a great one.
Kelly (08:45):
I think, the self care thing in the beginning, you
definitely, like you said,trace, have replacements for
those things over time.
And being six years in now, Isee that I've created a life
where.
There isn't a lot of things Ineed to wind down from like I
had to before and stuff likethat, but that's a long process
and it's like recreating yourlife.
(09:05):
But yeah, to have those, you'renot going to eliminate all the
stress from your life ever.
I don't think anybody can but tohave those replacements of
healthy ways to.
Wind down or reward yourselfyeah, to start, I think, yeah,
it's very important.
And you're right Kel over timeyou're just in a different place
emotionally to manage stressanyways.
(09:25):
Even when the stress comes,you're just in a better place of
managing it.
And you're not using alcohol toignore it.
I think in general, you just.
Can balance things out a lotquicker and bounce back from
those stressful times andnavigate them better.
Yeah, it's not like the stressgoes away, right?
(09:47):
We all have stress in our lives,right?
Okay, Linds, do you want tothrow one of yours?
Lindsey (09:52):
Okay, so Mommy Wine Culture episode 9, yeah, that
was a really good one because Iremember chatting about how
women have this pressure to beit all and do it all and then,
unwind at the end of every oneof those very stressful days
where you We're super hard onyourself because you didn't meet
all these unrealisticexpectations on how you're
(10:14):
supposed to mother and look andwork and take care of the house
and then you drown it all andnumb out with wine.
We had a really good chat.
I think that was just an episodewith just us.
If I recall, I don't think wehad a guest on that one, but
yeah, we had some really goodconversations about that.
And I got some good feedbackfrom listeners friends who
(10:35):
listened to the episode thatwere like, Oh my God, this is so
relatable because yeah, I thinkit's one of those things that
affects, every aspect of yourlife.
You wake up the next day andyou're exhausted.
Why?
Cause you're hung over.
You didn't sleep well.
And then it just compounds.
Tracey (10:53):
That episode, I think personally really spoke to Kelly
and I, because we felt we weredefinitely caught up in that.
Kelly (11:01):
It was like ingrained in me.
This is just how we do it.
Like
Tracey (11:04):
the traveler going to do whatever with our kids, trick or
treating, walking aroundDisneyland, fireworks at the
park.
Kelly (11:16):
Yeah, it's normalized.
We laugh about it now, butreally, that makes me so sad
that, I wasn't present.
And that was my, it was such anobsession for me that I wouldn't
do anything unless I could havemy little Traveler
Lindsey (11:31):
and all the memes and stuff about wine and the throw
pillows with the sayings on themand the socks.
If you can read this, bring memore wine.
Yes.
Yes.
You know what I mean?
Like it's everywhere,
Kelly (11:42):
but they don't do it.
Those cigarettes.
They don't.
Oh,
Tracey (11:45):
I had those.
Socks
Kelly (11:45):
But they don't do that with cigarettes.
How come?
I hate to admit that, but I did.
How come cigarettes aren'tglamorized like that?
Lindsey (11:53):
You can read this.
Give me a cigarette.
Give me, bring me my smokes.
Yes.
Yeah, no kidding.
It should be the same.
That's my opinion.
But it's changing.
Tracey (12:04):
I had that conversation with someone over the holidays
too.
It's the only drug that'spromoted, right?
Or you're shamed for not doingnobody would do that with a line
of Coke.
I've had that conversation onhere too.
Yeah.
Lindsey (12:17):
Somebody was saying like, stop showcasing your
drinks on social media.
Stop posing with them.
Yeah, I was like, oh, thatreally made me go.
Oh, my God, because I totallyused to do that.
So did I literally take apicture of my champagne and be
like, yeah, I'm on vacation orwhatever.
Tracey (12:36):
Still makes me sad because I still see a lot of
people and know people that are.
Doing still there.
Yeah, enjoying that.
Yeah.
Okay.
I have season one, episodeseven, the socials.
Oh, yeah.
And I remember being so proud ofus at the end of that episode,
(12:57):
just because remind us about thesocial stigmas.
We really dove into the stigmasthat are around, not drinking
and drinking, like all thelabels and stuff like that, that
came out of that episode.
Speaking of how, we really needto stop labeling things and
Lindsey (13:20):
yeah, that was a good one.
That was
Kelly (13:22):
social.
Yeah, I remember having, one ofthose just wow moments
afterwards, right?
Lindsey (13:28):
If you guys haven't listened to it, you know what
you need to do after this.
Season one, episode seven.
Seven.
Yes.
Kelly (13:34):
And Real Self Care is season one, episode five.
And do you know which 1 years isLinds?
Did you say,
Lindsey (13:42):
let me see here.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
It's episode 9.
Okay.
Season 1.
Yeah.
Tracey (13:49):
Okay.
That was a good 1.
Okay.
Kel
Kelly (13:52):
season 2.
You want me to season 2 next.
Tracey (13:56):
I feel like this one is gonna be the same for all of us.
Kelly (13:59):
I know.
Martin.
What a beautiful human story ofjust an overcomer.
Humble.
And, yeah.
Yeah, I still get goosebumpswhen I think about him.
Tracey (14:13):
Shockingly realistic.
Lindsey (14:16):
Yeah, that's what I was gonna say.
It could happen.
It could have happened.
To
Tracey (14:20):
anyone.
Yes.
That's the part that got me.
Same here.
And then just like theperseverance and resilience he's
had.
For anybody out there, go lookat his social media and all the
things that he's doing becausehe's doing some amazing things
and
Kelly (14:40):
dedicated his life to being of service.
And you guys, dude spent 17 anda half years in federal state
prison.
They don't give it all away.
They got to go listen to seasontwo, episode six.
You have to listen.
It's insane.
Yeah.
I just remember sitting therelistening to the story being
like, this can't be real.
Even there's no way that like, Ican't believe we're talking to
(15:03):
somebody that this has happenedto because it's so insane.
And he's so open and so honestand so humble.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
He's a beautiful human.
I'm really, I feel honored thathe came and did our.
Lindsey (15:18):
It was an awesome episode.
It was one that I will neverforget
Tracey (15:21):
and very controversial at the same time.
Yeah.
But yeah, just really incredibleas far as stories go.
That is 1 to go down in thebooks.
Kelly (15:32):
And like, Lindsay said important for people to listen
to because it could havehappened to any of us.
Oh, man.
Yeah.
Okay, girls.
That can be our number 10.
I know.
Kells got extra anyways, becausethat's the 1 we all had the
consensus on.
So I have my extra now too.
Okay, go.
Okay, let me backtrack becausemy extra is going to be.
(15:57):
Season 2 episode 24 highfunctioning alcoholism.
Oh, yeah, that's a good 1.
And I think if we looked at Kel,did you ever get the data on
what are most listened to 1 wasof topics.
Let me look.
Okay, keep talking because Iwant to say that 1 was a pretty
(16:18):
popular 1.
I know there was 1.
we had.
Almost 200 downloads of in aweek, and I think that might
have been the 1.
Okay, let's see what 1 is thatepisode.
Tracey (16:32):
It's episode 24 and season 2.
196.
I think the messaging on thatone was just so strong about the
fact that it's such a facade tosay that you're a high
functioning alcoholic or a highfunctioning drinker
Kelly (16:48):
or bragging or saying it as a positive, like I was a high
functioning, but there's a lotof shame in that.
Like I wasn't proud of beinghigh functioning.
Lindsey (16:56):
You're not really living like that's
Kelly (16:58):
no, you're functioning.
That's it.
Lindsey (17:00):
You're like, you're not living like you're prisoning and
killing yourself and sayingyou're doing it.
That's not something to be proudof.
No,
Tracey (17:09):
I was thinking Linz could go.
Lindsey (17:11):
I was already looking at season three.
Tracey (17:13):
Go ahead Linz, I have one for season three too.
Lindsey (17:17):
Okay, so the one that I feel like I would, I mean there
was a few, I'm gonna go with aguest one, the Ava, season
three, episode two, is it?
That's mine too.
Honestly, that woman.
The moment she opened her mouthon the podcast, I was like, oh
my god I couldn't stop listeningto her, but just the way she
(17:38):
spoke about trauma withaddiction and how, we all have
stuff that we've got to workthrough made me do a lot of
reflecting.
Tracey you had a session withher, didn't you?
Tracey (17:50):
I did.
And just how she approached alittle mini session with Kelly
on the.
Yes, that was really cool too.
I highly recommend.
Anybody check out her episodeand then contact her if they
think it's something they'd beinterested in.
I got so much out of one sessionwith her, which she was so
(18:12):
generous to offer all of us.
She's kept in touch with mesince she checks in on us.
There is something just abouther energy that's so calming and
makes you feel so safe in yourvulnerability.
As you're speaking with her.
Lindsey (18:28):
I feel like I would ball the whole time.
Tracey (18:30):
I was pretty emotional, but I was shocked what came out
of it because she brought outthings that I hadn't even
thought about, which for me, Iknow Kelly's been in her journey
for a lot longer than us Linds.
So she's done a lot of self workand I know me and you are on
that path and do as well, butwe're not to where Kelly is.
(18:54):
So for me, that was like, Reallypulling stuff out of me that I
hadn't thought about.
Kelly (19:01):
I'm still I'm going to have to cut that out.
But my gosh, there's still Ididn't show him a manic.
Lindsey (19:20):
Yes, she's, what does she call herself?
An emotional resolutionpractitioner.
I was like,
Kelly (19:26):
I've used what I learned from her.
I like every single time thatsomething has come up for me,
I've used what I learned fromher that day or that evening
that we were recording, becauseit was so eyeopening to me when
she said, okay, think of thisevent and, walked me a little
bit into the event.
(19:46):
And how did you feel?
And so then I got into it, likeI felt it in my body again.
All it was can you sit withthat?
And then I was waiting for herto tell me something else.
What to do next?
Nope.
Can you sit with it?
I don't want to.
Because it passes.
And that was just like, thatchanged my life.
(20:07):
That's just what a gift she is.
Yeah.
Ava.
Yeah.
Lindsey (20:10):
She's a beautiful person.
Tracey (20:12):
I highly recommend you still take her up on because
yeah, she same here, Kel.
I've utilized what I learnedthrough that session myself in
certain situations as well.
So definitely worth For me, myseason three was Our very last
episode we had before theholidays, how to tackle 30 days
(20:36):
af that to me, that episode.
What I loved about it most wasthat I think all of us just
beamed how beautiful our alcoholfree lives are
Kelly (20:50):
we're glamorizing living alcohol free.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I felt like we just exerted.
Beaming energy about it and thatreally came through in that
episode, how enriched our liveshave been since we gave up
alcohol.
So I was super proud of us justbecause I think we were an
(21:11):
exemplary example of what it'slike to live alcohol free.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I think we just made somereally great points for people
that are trying to start out andtrying to reassess their
relationship with alcohol.
What about you Kel?
Oh, I was just gonna say itreminded me of this is off
(21:32):
topic.
But what you just said thereabout us sharing about our
lives, like making that post theother day, but my six years, I
do it every year, but my God,the vulnerability piece is still
really hard for me.
And, I feel it all day.
It feels very anxious, puttingmyself out there like that.
And I think some people aresurprised Somebody in my life
was like, wow, you really putyourself out there.
(21:55):
But I do it because I want to beof service.
I want people to feel like it'sokay.
It's okay to say, Hey, I can'thave this thing in my life
anymore.
So just reminding me of that.
You know what, Kel?
I was looking at it, your postand then my sister in law is
this is something to becelebrated and so proud of you
(22:17):
guys sharing that because it is,it's something that you should
celebrate and be proud of, andthere shouldn't be any shame
around it.
Yeah, no shame.
No, just anxiety andvulnerability.
That's all.
Yeah.
No, I'm super proud.
I wouldn't change a singlething.
It's just.
It's still, I'm not a hugesocial media person.
(22:38):
Like I don't put a lot of mylife on social media.
So just doing something likethat and that big once a year,
it's okay, there's that.
Just hit post and here it is.
Yeah.
No going back now.
Lindsey (22:52):
I always.
Used to look at your like, causeyou post the side by side
pictures or a picture of youbefore and after.
And I'm just like, God, you'retotally different person.
I am.
Yeah, but you are too Linds.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You are.
That's shocking.
(23:13):
I don't know.
I still see like the eyes.
It's always in the eyes for me.
Of course my face was way moreround, but the eyes, the dead
eyes.
I think though, you've been suchan inspiration, Kel, so thank
God that you do that becausethat is why, right?
That's why people have found youso inspiring.
(23:34):
Your episode is the mostlistened to on the podcast as
has been your story.
So that's because you've beenvulnerable and putting yourself
out there and inspiring otherpeople since before starting
this podcast.
Thanks.
But yeah, Lynn's yourtransformation is unbelievable
(23:55):
too.
I was showing the girls at thegym.
Because I was yeah, because Iwas talking to them about the
program you do the girl thatruns the gym here that I'm going
to.
It's very open, right?
And it's a new business.
So she's always open to ideasand stuff like that.
So I was telling her about theprogram that your gym runs
(24:16):
because there is not thatprogram anywhere here.
No, I think that program isunique to your gym.
It's a unique program, but Ithink it's unique to your gym
because it's not anywhere aroundhere.
So I don't know where theyestablished that program or got
it from, but.
I think he created it.
(24:37):
The owner did.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it's not a big chain gymeither.
It's, he has, I think it's justthe one location right in our
city here I think that's what Iliked about it.
And there are other people atthat gym that are sober and who
(24:57):
don't drink any alcohol.
And it's funny, you find thosepeople when you're out and you
don't, you're not even lookingfor them but yeah we're all
over.
When you come across somebody,you're like, Oh, my God, you
don't drink alcohol either.
And it's amazing.
It's becoming more popular.
But you don't really notice thephysical transformations because
you see yourself every day.
But then.
(25:17):
When I notice it is when thosefrickin Facebook memories pop up
and I'm like, holy shit, who isthat?
It's mortifying sometimes.
Oh, but yeah, it's just crazy tosee it because I was like what's
the one thing that's differentnow compared to before it's The
(25:41):
substance, the absence of it.
So
Kelly (25:44):
yeah.
And everything catapults fromthere, we had our own little
recap when we got on before westarted recording, but look at
us, you guys, like none of thisstuff in our lives, like Tracey
got like a massive award atwork.
Do you think that would havehappened?
Trace, if you were still gettingyour bottle of wine every night
(26:04):
after work, no, like all thesebeautiful changes we're going
through and, sometimes difficultchanges, but none of them would,
I know for a fact, for me, noneof it would be happening if I
didn't decide to stop.
Tracey (26:20):
Yeah, no, it's that.
And speaking of another greatepisode, living at a higher
vibration.
That's what I feel my life hasbeen and that I was talking
about that when I was having thetalk at the gym as well.
That it's just like everythingfalls into place and starts
(26:41):
happening in a way that you arealigning with all the things you
want to be doing.
And, but you just, for me, Ihave so much more motivation.
That is really what has drivenme to get to where I am and be
successful in the things I'mdoing because I'm way more
motivated because I'm notnumbing myself with a substance,
(27:03):
right?
Killing my motivation or wakingup feeling half assed every day
at 30%.
Instead, I'm waking up at 80 andby the time I have my coffee and
get out the door, I'm ready togo at a hundred and then I'm
straight on till bed prettymuch, right?
Yeah, so that is the bigdifference.
(27:25):
Yeah, it's incredible.
Kelly (27:26):
Yeah.
Yeah.
The level of energy isincredible.
And that's what I wish, I couldhelp people see is oh my God
yeah, the amount of energy Ihave in the day and I'm turning
50 this year.
That's great.
Feel.
Yeah, this is the year I feelbetter than I felt when I was,
mid twenties and drinking,
Lindsey (27:46):
that's exactly how I feel.
I feel better than when I was inmy twenties.
Kelly (27:51):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's pretty sweet.
Pretty sweet.
So I had two more episodes thatI wrote down that I loved.
Yes.
I really loved at the end of theyear when we did season three,
episode two.
Is that right?
What was that one?
Jesse from the Sober Market.
Oh,
Tracey (28:11):
okay.
That would have been episodenine, I think.
Okay.
Kelly (28:15):
I'll look it up and get the right one, just so I'm not
saying the wrong thing here.
Holiday.
Yeah, season three, episodenine.
That's right.
Oh, I love Jesse.
I love their business.
But what I really loved hearingwas, and she's.
I'm guessing she's in her 30s,which is, I feel like a
generation younger than me andjust the attitude towards
(28:37):
drinking and they've got thislittle store, but it's like a
community and people are comingin and telling their stories and
talking about why they're givingup alcohol and all the different
reasons.
And there's.
No judgment in there.
And it's just, yeah, I loveseeing that type of change with
a cool and she's cool.
And she's, she's glamorizingwhat it's like to be alcohol
(28:57):
free.
Yeah.
And I love it.
Yeah.
Lindsey (29:00):
I love her twist on the bar thing too, when you invite
people over for the holidays.
Her attitude about don't askpeople what they want when you
get them to drink when they walkin the door, be like the drinks
are over there and then havesomething set up where it's.
Alcohol free stuff available,alcohol stuff.
Kelly (29:20):
I think that's really important.
It was an important episode.
Brilliant.
Yeah I had that conversationwith a couple of people over the
holidays too.
And people were like, oh, yeah,you're right.
To have that.
Where you're giving people theoption and not making it their
choice and not forcing it uponthem by asking the question,
(29:40):
what do you want to drink?
Yes.
The other amazing thing that Igot out of that episode and I
had a light bulb moment when Iwas having that beautiful
conversation with my sister inlaw is when she said her advice
to other people was someonealways has to go first.
Yes.
And not answer.
(30:02):
So resonated with me because oneof the things that my sister in
law said to me in our beautifulconversation was she remembers
me having a phone conversationwith her and my brother when my
brother had his moment and Isaid to her, you have to stop
drinking too.
And she's like that.
(30:23):
I think about that moment andthose words coming out of her
mouth all the time.
So that statement ended upreally resonating with me and I
think about it all the timebecause it's true and I think
about the fact that after I gaveup drinking and I look at my
whole family and I'm just sograteful and it is true.
(30:47):
If I even look at, what we'redoing, sharing our stories here
and how many people have reachedout to us, right?
Say that they are looking tostop or, considering their
relationship with alcohol.
Yeah it's so true.
Yeah, so true.
And if I think about theinspiration you've been, even
(31:08):
for us, cause you went first,you guys, I know, but you guys
inspire me too.
This is so important to me, likethis friendship and what we're
doing and being of service andhaving our conversations
recorded like this.
It's really.
It helps me a lot.
Yeah.
Stay on the path.
Yeah.
So the other one I wrote down, Ihad to season two, episode 15,
(31:30):
my sweet Carter.
Lindsey (31:31):
I wasn't here for that one guys.
I think traveling for work and Icouldn't be on the call.
Kelly (31:39):
So proud of him and he's still living alcohol free.
He hasn't tried.
He doesn't want to.
He has no desire to have alcoholin his and I was just proud of
him for coming on and.
Talking about it.
And he's always so supportive ofeverything his mama does.
Like he's just,
Tracey (31:55):
yeah.
And it was a great example of ayounger generation and the
approach that they're taking.
Yeah.
But.
Yeah, in saying that, it's sohard to pick favorites because
you're just making me think likethe episode with Dan White, too.
Oh, yes.
Yeah.
Yeah, there's just been so manygreat ones we've had.
Lindsey (32:20):
God, or even one thing that I'll never, it's silly, but
one thing I will never forget iswhen Eleanor was on and talked
about The barf in her hair?
The barf in her hair?
Yes! And I was like, you'retalking about me, like it's just
wow, I look so good.
And she's puking her hair.
I'm like, Oh God,
Kelly (32:40):
like people just come on and they're so honest.
And they tell I feel honoredthat they pick us to come and
tell their stories and I've beendefinitely inspired or learned
something or, yeah.
With every single episode thatwe've done, I feel so lucky.
And Steve McDonald with hispoem.
(33:01):
Yeah.
And I remember having so muchfun with you girls when we did
the summer special episode andit was just the three of us,
were we talking to girls?
Girl talk one.
Yeah,
Tracey (33:17):
we had a girl talk one.
That one was fun because, it wasour first episode without Mike.
And yeah, it was, during thetime he was still hosting with
us.
So
Lindsey (33:29):
Yeah.
And our dating.
Yeah.
Kelly (33:31):
So many dating stories.
A lot of our dating storiesdidn't get recorded.
That was pretty fun.
Yeah.
Talk about all that.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's awesome, guys.
I think that was a great list.
Lindsey (33:47):
Good reminder.
Yeah, do this and why we show upand record and I just feel
really excited for some of thepeople that I know that are
going to be coming on the show.
So yeah, guys, don't forget newepisodes every Tuesday.
Tracey (34:03):
Yeah.
Kelly (34:03):
Our most listened to topic episode is season.
Our season 2 finale was thelaugh 12 and that was a really
good discussion too.
I really liked that episode too.
Yeah,
Tracey (34:16):
that was a good conversation.
You're right.
That makes sense.
Lindsey (34:22):
I remember.
Yeah, that's right.
I remember that one.
I think we were also feelingreally good about that episode,
too, after
Tracey (34:29):
We should repost that.
Lindsey (34:31):
Yeah, or like clips of it.
We could do clips of our pastepisodes.
In our stories or something.
Tracey (34:37):
Yeah, I think it's good sometimes to repost some of
those things because they havespecific points on them, right?
That are relevant and can speakto people.
Same with we had, we have onethat was 17 signs that you might
have.
I'm just looking at that rightnow.
Kelly (34:56):
Yeah, Season 2, Episode 13.
Was it 17?
Season 2, Episode 13.
There ended up being 17 things.
Yeah, 17
Tracey (35:03):
things.
Holy
Kelly (35:04):
smokes! We put on there.
Yeah.
Hair of the dog, number 8.
Having to have a drink to makeyour hangover feel better.
Been there.
Physical changes.
Weight gain, puffiness, glossy,MTS.
Tracey (35:16):
Yeah, you guys touched on that tonight.
Yeah.
Unexplained injuries or bruises.
Yep.
Every scar I have on my body isa result of alcohol.
Wow.
I know, and Lindsay's got a bigone.
Lindsey (35:30):
collarbone scar because I had to have surgery to fix my
collarbone.
Tracey (35:37):
I got a good doozy one on my knee myself.
Yeah, that's a good one.
Kelly (35:43):
Yeah.
That was a good episode too.
That was.
Fights and waking up with shame,not remembering what you did and
then feeling shame and anxietyand instant sweating and a red
face when someone tells you whatyou said.
Lindsey (35:56):
Don't miss that.
Oops.
Sorry.
Yeah.
As we've said many a times, younever miss the hangovers.
You're never going to say that Iregret not having a hangover
today.
Kelly (36:07):
And I just got back from a trip and that's one place I,
feel so grateful.
I get it's almost like I getflooded with gratitude when I'm
on a trip because there's noobsession over where and when
happy hour is.
And there's so much time and somuch energy to see things and do
things and wake up early.
Yes.
It's so it's.
(36:28):
Oh, I love.
Traveling alcohol free.
Love it.
Yeah.
So much more present reallyexperiencing.
The experience, all of it,
Lindsey (36:38):
the place you're at and the people you're with.
Tracey (36:41):
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Lindsey (36:43):
All right, everybody.
Thank you so much for tuning in,listening to our episode today.
And we will see you back here onTuesday with a brand new
episode.
So until then, you guys knowwhat to do.
Keep laughing.
Kelly (37:03):
Thank you for listening.
Please give us a five starrating like and subscribe, share
on social media and tell yourfriends.
We love getting your feedbackand ideas of what you'd like to
hear on upcoming episodes of theLAF life podcast.
If you yourself are livingalcohol free and want to share
your story here, please reachout.
Welcome to the LAF life podcast, a lifestyle podcast
based on living alcohol free anda booze soaked world.
My name is Kelly Evans andtogether with my friends, Tracey
Djordjevic, and Lindsay Harik.
We share uncensored.
Unscripted real conversationsabout what our lives have been
like since we ditched alcoholand how we got here by sharing
(00:24):
our individual stories.
We'll show you that there isn'tjust one way to do this, no
matter where you are on yourjourney from sober, curious to
years in recovery and everyonein between, you are welcome
here, no judgment and a ton ofsupport.
Tracey (00:41):
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the LAF Life
podcast.
Tonight, we are reconveningafter our long winter break.
Or so it seems.
It seems like I haven't seen yougirls forever.
Officially, tonight is episode11.
We're just gonna have a catch upand we thought it would be fun
to start off the new year.
With kind of a recap lookingback and reflecting on some of
(01:05):
our favorite episodes fromprevious seasons.
We're going to do a top 10 ofour favorite LAF Life episodes.
The ones that really stood outto us and some that we know have
been very popular with ourlisteners and maybe there'll be
some here that you guys canconsider listening to if you
haven't listened to already.
(01:26):
Hello, ladies.
How was your holidays?
Really good.
It's nice to see your beautifulfaces.
Kelly (01:34):
Good to be back on.
Yeah, it feels weird to be backon.
I miss it when we take thebreaks.
Tracey (01:39):
Yeah, me too.
It's just getting re energized,right?
Lindsey (01:44):
We've got some guests that are pretty interesting that
I'm super excited about comingup.
So
Tracey (01:50):
yeah, we have some guests too that I need to share
with you guys that I haven'ttold you about either that came
through randomly one that camethrough actually when I did the
post asking for guests and onethat came through our website.
So that's very exciting thatwe're getting some through our
website.
That's pretty awesome.
That is awesome.
I'm glad we have that option.
Kelly (02:11):
Do you guys have any alcohol related memorable things
happen during the holidays oranything?
One thing I wanted to mentionwas 1st, happy sober anniversary
to Kelly, which was just theother day,
Lindsey (02:26):
6 years, Kelly
Kelly (02:29):
years.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Tracey (02:32):
And on that note, I wanted to mention that my
brother and his fiance.
Actually, the day after Kellycelebrated their 2 year
anniversary as well, and I knowI'm super excited and proud of
them.
And I loved absolutely loved mysister in law's post.
Just to speak to that, I wantedto mention that I did have a
(02:56):
beautiful evening with my sisterin law for her birthday.
I took her on December 30th.
To you would have really enjoyedthis Kel yoga studio here.
They had a 2 hour session.
That was like a, reflect on theprevious year and make kind of
goals and aspirations for theyear to come.
(03:17):
They had a journaling exercisefor both as well as yoga.
And then they serve like a nicetea.
It was really nice.
Wine.
Now, no wine was great.
I love it.
And then we went out for anawesome dinner at a local
restaurant here that my sisterin law had never been to.
That's very good.
And we just had an amazingconversation.
(03:39):
About her and my brother'sjourney and how she had been
feeling and how grateful she isto be living.
alcohol free how much it'schanged her life It was just so
touching.
It was just a really amazingconversation.
That is definitely somethingthat stuck out to me.
That was a very feel goodmoment.
Kelly (04:00):
I love it.
Yeah, I love it.
So happy for them both.
Yeah, me too.
Yeah,
Lindsey (04:06):
I don't think I had anything that really stood out.
Just another.
Alcohol free Christmas and NewYear's and I just loved every
minute of it, not being hungover, not being under the
influence and just noticing thechange in people around me who
are also choosing not to drinkalcohol during these seasons.
So I don't know, I had a reallygood Christmas and a awesome New
(04:30):
Year's and yeah, I didn't needalcohol for any of it.
Kelly (04:33):
That's good.
Yeah.
I noticed, I think after thefact, I was just reflecting on
all the things that I did overthe holidays and I was at three
different events where themajority of the people were not
drinking.
Wow.
So I thought that was prettysignificant.
Like we talk about, we've talkedabout it on the podcast about
(04:53):
how, the people that you'remeant to be around, they start
to pop up and pop into yourlife.
And then also how things arechanging and people are more and
more people are quitting.
So I'm hoping it's like acombination of both of those
things that was part of myexperience, but I thought that
was really cool.
To be in those situations andnot be, surrounded by alcohol,
(05:15):
it's really nice.
This to you girls off camera, Ithink on our previous episode,
how I had connected with someonelocally here who opened up a
boutique gym and the gyms calledFree2B wellness.
in alignment with meeting peoplewhen you're on your journey.
(05:36):
That kind of align with whereyou're going.
I really connected with theowner of that establishment
right off the hop because weinstantly got into a
conversation about the fact thatI did a podcast and then she
asked me what it was about.
And I told her it was aboutliving.
alcohol free and then she sharedwith me that she had given up
alcohol during COVID as well.
(05:56):
And hadn't been drinking for thelast couple of years.
So that is another cool thing Idid just a couple of weeks ago.
Actually, I did a talk thereabout living alcohol free,
talking a bit about the podcastand how it came about, but also
giving people some tips on howto tackle a dry 30.
Oh, based on the episode that wehad before the winter break
(06:20):
there and the tips that we gaveout to our listeners on social
media.
So that was really good.
It was a really goodconversation and well received
and yeah, that was great.
That's so good.
I love it.
Yeah.
Do you guys want to dive intosome episodes?
Yeah.
(06:40):
Yeah.
Whoever wants to go first, goahead.
So one of my very favorite, so Ipicked kind of three, but then I
have two, so really five, butvery favorite topic episode that
we did.
It was in season one, episodefive, real self care.
Ooh.
Yes.
I loved the conversation that wehad about that.
(07:02):
I wanna go back and listen to itagain.
But I think that helped a lot ofpeople because self care, people
think, oh, you self care.
You take time at the end of theday after the kids go to bed and
have a glass of wine.
And we had a real conversationabout that and that's not what
it is.
Yeah, I loved that episode.
Tracey (07:19):
You know what?
That episode, and we did thatself care challenge, that has
inspired me in many other areasof my life.
And it's something actually thatI brought up in the talk with
the people at the gym, was thatthey could actually utilize
something like that for a dry30.
(07:39):
Instead of having your wineevery day, do One of those self
care items on that challenge andreplace that with your wine and
make it really about self carefor the 30 days.
And it's actually also somethingthat I implemented with my team
for the month of December,because it's our busiest month
(07:59):
of the year and with Christmasand everything else going on it
also is a very stressful timefor people personally.
And it's a time where peopledon't take the time to take care
of themselves.
So I actually did a 30 day selfcare challenge for my team with
an advent calendar.
Oh, that's so cute.
It was really cool online.
(08:20):
So every day they had a calendarthing to open.
And then every day there was arecommended thing to do for
themselves.
Yeah, There was a self careprize at the end of it for
everybody who participated inand did the most days.
So they absolutely loved it andit was really well received.
I love it.
(08:40):
Yeah.
So I think it's interesting thatyou picked that up.
So it was a great one.
Kelly (08:45):
I think, the self care thing in the beginning, you
definitely, like you said,trace, have replacements for
those things over time.
And being six years in now, Isee that I've created a life
where.
There isn't a lot of things Ineed to wind down from like I
had to before and stuff likethat, but that's a long process
and it's like recreating yourlife.
(09:05):
But yeah, to have those, you'renot going to eliminate all the
stress from your life ever.
I don't think anybody can but tohave those replacements of
healthy ways to.
Wind down or reward yourselfyeah, to start, I think, yeah,
it's very important.
And you're right Kel over timeyou're just in a different place
emotionally to manage stressanyways.
(09:25):
Even when the stress comes,you're just in a better place of
managing it.
And you're not using alcohol toignore it.
I think in general, you just.
Can balance things out a lotquicker and bounce back from
those stressful times andnavigate them better.
Yeah, it's not like the stressgoes away, right?
(09:47):
We all have stress in our lives,right?
Okay, Linds, do you want tothrow one of yours?
Lindsey (09:52):
Okay, so Mommy Wine Culture episode 9, yeah, that
was a really good one because Iremember chatting about how
women have this pressure to beit all and do it all and then,
unwind at the end of every oneof those very stressful days
where you We're super hard onyourself because you didn't meet
all these unrealisticexpectations on how you're
(10:14):
supposed to mother and look andwork and take care of the house
and then you drown it all andnumb out with wine.
We had a really good chat.
I think that was just an episodewith just us.
If I recall, I don't think wehad a guest on that one, but
yeah, we had some really goodconversations about that.
And I got some good feedbackfrom listeners friends who
(10:35):
listened to the episode thatwere like, Oh my God, this is so
relatable because yeah, I thinkit's one of those things that
affects, every aspect of yourlife.
You wake up the next day andyou're exhausted.
Why?
Cause you're hung over.
You didn't sleep well.
And then it just compounds.
Tracey (10:53):
That episode, I think personally really spoke to Kelly
and I, because we felt we weredefinitely caught up in that.
Kelly (11:01):
It was like ingrained in me.
This is just how we do it.
Like
Tracey (11:04):
the traveler going to do whatever with our kids, trick or
treating, walking aroundDisneyland, fireworks at the
park.
Kelly (11:16):
Yeah, it's normalized.
We laugh about it now, butreally, that makes me so sad
that, I wasn't present.
And that was my, it was such anobsession for me that I wouldn't
do anything unless I could havemy little Traveler
Lindsey (11:31):
and all the memes and stuff about wine and the throw
pillows with the sayings on themand the socks.
If you can read this, bring memore wine.
Yes.
Yes.
You know what I mean?
Like it's everywhere,
Kelly (11:42):
but they don't do it.
Those cigarettes.
They don't.
Oh,
Tracey (11:45):
I had those.
Socks
Kelly (11:45):
But they don't do that with cigarettes.
How come?
I hate to admit that, but I did.
How come cigarettes aren'tglamorized like that?
Lindsey (11:53):
You can read this.
Give me a cigarette.
Give me, bring me my smokes.
Yes.
Yeah, no kidding.
It should be the same.
That's my opinion.
But it's changing.
Tracey (12:04):
I had that conversation with someone over the holidays
too.
It's the only drug that'spromoted, right?
Or you're shamed for not doingnobody would do that with a line
of Coke.
I've had that conversation onhere too.
Yeah.
Lindsey (12:17):
Somebody was saying like, stop showcasing your
drinks on social media.
Stop posing with them.
Yeah, I was like, oh, thatreally made me go.
Oh, my God, because I totallyused to do that.
So did I literally take apicture of my champagne and be
like, yeah, I'm on vacation orwhatever.
Tracey (12:36):
Still makes me sad because I still see a lot of
people and know people that are.
Doing still there.
Yeah, enjoying that.
Yeah.
Okay.
I have season one, episodeseven, the socials.
Oh, yeah.
And I remember being so proud ofus at the end of that episode,
(12:57):
just because remind us about thesocial stigmas.
We really dove into the stigmasthat are around, not drinking
and drinking, like all thelabels and stuff like that, that
came out of that episode.
Speaking of how, we really needto stop labeling things and
Lindsey (13:20):
yeah, that was a good one.
That was
Kelly (13:22):
social.
Yeah, I remember having, one ofthose just wow moments
afterwards, right?
Lindsey (13:28):
If you guys haven't listened to it, you know what
you need to do after this.
Season one, episode seven.
Seven.
Yes.
Kelly (13:34):
And Real Self Care is season one, episode five.
And do you know which 1 years isLinds?
Did you say,
Lindsey (13:42):
let me see here.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
It's episode 9.
Okay.
Season 1.
Yeah.
Tracey (13:49):
Okay.
That was a good 1.
Okay.
Kel
Kelly (13:52):
season 2.
You want me to season 2 next.
Tracey (13:56):
I feel like this one is gonna be the same for all of us.
Kelly (13:59):
I know.
Martin.
What a beautiful human story ofjust an overcomer.
Humble.
And, yeah.
Yeah, I still get goosebumpswhen I think about him.
Tracey (14:13):
Shockingly realistic.
Lindsey (14:16):
Yeah, that's what I was gonna say.
It could happen.
It could have happened.
To
Tracey (14:20):
anyone.
Yes.
That's the part that got me.
Same here.
And then just like theperseverance and resilience he's
had.
For anybody out there, go lookat his social media and all the
things that he's doing becausehe's doing some amazing things
and
Kelly (14:40):
dedicated his life to being of service.
And you guys, dude spent 17 anda half years in federal state
prison.
They don't give it all away.
They got to go listen to seasontwo, episode six.
You have to listen.
It's insane.
Yeah.
I just remember sitting therelistening to the story being
like, this can't be real.
Even there's no way that like, Ican't believe we're talking to
(15:03):
somebody that this has happenedto because it's so insane.
And he's so open and so honestand so humble.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
He's a beautiful human.
I'm really, I feel honored thathe came and did our.
Lindsey (15:18):
It was an awesome episode.
It was one that I will neverforget
Tracey (15:21):
and very controversial at the same time.
Yeah.
But yeah, just really incredibleas far as stories go.
That is 1 to go down in thebooks.
Kelly (15:32):
And like, Lindsay said important for people to listen
to because it could havehappened to any of us.
Oh, man.
Yeah.
Okay, girls.
That can be our number 10.
I know.
Kells got extra anyways, becausethat's the 1 we all had the
consensus on.
So I have my extra now too.
Okay, go.
Okay, let me backtrack becausemy extra is going to be.
(15:57):
Season 2 episode 24 highfunctioning alcoholism.
Oh, yeah, that's a good 1.
And I think if we looked at Kel,did you ever get the data on
what are most listened to 1 wasof topics.
Let me look.
Okay, keep talking because Iwant to say that 1 was a pretty
(16:18):
popular 1.
I know there was 1.
we had.
Almost 200 downloads of in aweek, and I think that might
have been the 1.
Okay, let's see what 1 is thatepisode.
Tracey (16:32):
It's episode 24 and season 2.
196.
I think the messaging on thatone was just so strong about the
fact that it's such a facade tosay that you're a high
functioning alcoholic or a highfunctioning drinker
Kelly (16:48):
or bragging or saying it as a positive, like I was a high
functioning, but there's a lotof shame in that.
Like I wasn't proud of beinghigh functioning.
Lindsey (16:56):
You're not really living like that's
Kelly (16:58):
no, you're functioning.
That's it.
Lindsey (17:00):
You're like, you're not living like you're prisoning and
killing yourself and sayingyou're doing it.
That's not something to be proudof.
No,
Tracey (17:09):
I was thinking Linz could go.
Lindsey (17:11):
I was already looking at season three.
Tracey (17:13):
Go ahead Linz, I have one for season three too.
Lindsey (17:17):
Okay, so the one that I feel like I would, I mean there
was a few, I'm gonna go with aguest one, the Ava, season
three, episode two, is it?
That's mine too.
Honestly, that woman.
The moment she opened her mouthon the podcast, I was like, oh
my god I couldn't stop listeningto her, but just the way she
(17:38):
spoke about trauma withaddiction and how, we all have
stuff that we've got to workthrough made me do a lot of
reflecting.
Tracey you had a session withher, didn't you?
Tracey (17:50):
I did.
And just how she approached alittle mini session with Kelly
on the.
Yes, that was really cool too.
I highly recommend.
Anybody check out her episodeand then contact her if they
think it's something they'd beinterested in.
I got so much out of one sessionwith her, which she was so
(18:12):
generous to offer all of us.
She's kept in touch with mesince she checks in on us.
There is something just abouther energy that's so calming and
makes you feel so safe in yourvulnerability.
As you're speaking with her.
Lindsey (18:28):
I feel like I would ball the whole time.
Tracey (18:30):
I was pretty emotional, but I was shocked what came out
of it because she brought outthings that I hadn't even
thought about, which for me, Iknow Kelly's been in her journey
for a lot longer than us Linds.
So she's done a lot of self workand I know me and you are on
that path and do as well, butwe're not to where Kelly is.
(18:54):
So for me, that was like, Reallypulling stuff out of me that I
hadn't thought about.
Kelly (19:01):
I'm still I'm going to have to cut that out.
But my gosh, there's still Ididn't show him a manic.
Lindsey (19:20):
Yes, she's, what does she call herself?
An emotional resolutionpractitioner.
I was like,
Kelly (19:26):
I've used what I learned from her.
I like every single time thatsomething has come up for me,
I've used what I learned fromher that day or that evening
that we were recording, becauseit was so eyeopening to me when
she said, okay, think of thisevent and, walked me a little
bit into the event.
(19:46):
And how did you feel?
And so then I got into it, likeI felt it in my body again.
All it was can you sit withthat?
And then I was waiting for herto tell me something else.
What to do next?
Nope.
Can you sit with it?
I don't want to.
Because it passes.
And that was just like, thatchanged my life.
(20:07):
That's just what a gift she is.
Yeah.
Ava.
Yeah.
Lindsey (20:10):
She's a beautiful person.
Tracey (20:12):
I highly recommend you still take her up on because
yeah, she same here, Kel.
I've utilized what I learnedthrough that session myself in
certain situations as well.
So definitely worth For me, myseason three was Our very last
episode we had before theholidays, how to tackle 30 days
(20:36):
af that to me, that episode.
What I loved about it most wasthat I think all of us just
beamed how beautiful our alcoholfree lives are
Kelly (20:50):
we're glamorizing living alcohol free.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I felt like we just exerted.
Beaming energy about it and thatreally came through in that
episode, how enriched our liveshave been since we gave up
alcohol.
So I was super proud of us justbecause I think we were an
(21:11):
exemplary example of what it'slike to live alcohol free.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I think we just made somereally great points for people
that are trying to start out andtrying to reassess their
relationship with alcohol.
What about you Kel?
Oh, I was just gonna say itreminded me of this is off
(21:32):
topic.
But what you just said thereabout us sharing about our
lives, like making that post theother day, but my six years, I
do it every year, but my God,the vulnerability piece is still
really hard for me.
And, I feel it all day.
It feels very anxious, puttingmyself out there like that.
And I think some people aresurprised Somebody in my life
was like, wow, you really putyourself out there.
(21:55):
But I do it because I want to beof service.
I want people to feel like it'sokay.
It's okay to say, Hey, I can'thave this thing in my life
anymore.
So just reminding me of that.
You know what, Kel?
I was looking at it, your postand then my sister in law is
this is something to becelebrated and so proud of you
(22:17):
guys sharing that because it is,it's something that you should
celebrate and be proud of, andthere shouldn't be any shame
around it.
Yeah, no shame.
No, just anxiety andvulnerability.
That's all.
Yeah.
No, I'm super proud.
I wouldn't change a singlething.
It's just.
It's still, I'm not a hugesocial media person.
(22:38):
Like I don't put a lot of mylife on social media.
So just doing something likethat and that big once a year,
it's okay, there's that.
Just hit post and here it is.
Yeah.
No going back now.
Lindsey (22:52):
I always.
Used to look at your like, causeyou post the side by side
pictures or a picture of youbefore and after.
And I'm just like, God, you'retotally different person.
I am.
Yeah, but you are too Linds.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You are.
That's shocking.
(23:13):
I don't know.
I still see like the eyes.
It's always in the eyes for me.
Of course my face was way moreround, but the eyes, the dead
eyes.
I think though, you've been suchan inspiration, Kel, so thank
God that you do that becausethat is why, right?
That's why people have found youso inspiring.
(23:34):
Your episode is the mostlistened to on the podcast as
has been your story.
So that's because you've beenvulnerable and putting yourself
out there and inspiring otherpeople since before starting
this podcast.
Thanks.
But yeah, Lynn's yourtransformation is unbelievable
(23:55):
too.
I was showing the girls at thegym.
Because I was yeah, because Iwas talking to them about the
program you do the girl thatruns the gym here that I'm going
to.
It's very open, right?
And it's a new business.
So she's always open to ideasand stuff like that.
So I was telling her about theprogram that your gym runs
(24:16):
because there is not thatprogram anywhere here.
No, I think that program isunique to your gym.
It's a unique program, but Ithink it's unique to your gym
because it's not anywhere aroundhere.
So I don't know where theyestablished that program or got
it from, but.
I think he created it.
(24:37):
The owner did.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it's not a big chain gymeither.
It's, he has, I think it's justthe one location right in our
city here I think that's what Iliked about it.
And there are other people atthat gym that are sober and who
(24:57):
don't drink any alcohol.
And it's funny, you find thosepeople when you're out and you
don't, you're not even lookingfor them but yeah we're all
over.
When you come across somebody,you're like, Oh, my God, you
don't drink alcohol either.
And it's amazing.
It's becoming more popular.
But you don't really notice thephysical transformations because
you see yourself every day.
But then.
(25:17):
When I notice it is when thosefrickin Facebook memories pop up
and I'm like, holy shit, who isthat?
It's mortifying sometimes.
Oh, but yeah, it's just crazy tosee it because I was like what's
the one thing that's differentnow compared to before it's The
(25:41):
substance, the absence of it.
So
Kelly (25:44):
yeah.
And everything catapults fromthere, we had our own little
recap when we got on before westarted recording, but look at
us, you guys, like none of thisstuff in our lives, like Tracey
got like a massive award atwork.
Do you think that would havehappened?
Trace, if you were still gettingyour bottle of wine every night
(26:04):
after work, no, like all thesebeautiful changes we're going
through and, sometimes difficultchanges, but none of them would,
I know for a fact, for me, noneof it would be happening if I
didn't decide to stop.
Tracey (26:20):
Yeah, no, it's that.
And speaking of another greatepisode, living at a higher
vibration.
That's what I feel my life hasbeen and that I was talking
about that when I was having thetalk at the gym as well.
That it's just like everythingfalls into place and starts
(26:41):
happening in a way that you arealigning with all the things you
want to be doing.
And, but you just, for me, Ihave so much more motivation.
That is really what has drivenme to get to where I am and be
successful in the things I'mdoing because I'm way more
motivated because I'm notnumbing myself with a substance,
(27:03):
right?
Killing my motivation or wakingup feeling half assed every day
at 30%.
Instead, I'm waking up at 80 andby the time I have my coffee and
get out the door, I'm ready togo at a hundred and then I'm
straight on till bed prettymuch, right?
Yeah, so that is the bigdifference.
(27:25):
Yeah, it's incredible.
Kelly (27:26):
Yeah.
Yeah.
The level of energy isincredible.
And that's what I wish, I couldhelp people see is oh my God
yeah, the amount of energy Ihave in the day and I'm turning
50 this year.
That's great.
Feel.
Yeah, this is the year I feelbetter than I felt when I was,
mid twenties and drinking,
Lindsey (27:46):
that's exactly how I feel.
I feel better than when I was inmy twenties.
Kelly (27:51):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's pretty sweet.
Pretty sweet.
So I had two more episodes thatI wrote down that I loved.
Yes.
I really loved at the end of theyear when we did season three,
episode two.
Is that right?
What was that one?
Jesse from the Sober Market.
Oh,
Tracey (28:11):
okay.
That would have been episodenine, I think.
Okay.
Kelly (28:15):
I'll look it up and get the right one, just so I'm not
saying the wrong thing here.
Holiday.
Yeah, season three, episodenine.
That's right.
Oh, I love Jesse.
I love their business.
But what I really loved hearingwas, and she's.
I'm guessing she's in her 30s,which is, I feel like a
generation younger than me andjust the attitude towards
(28:37):
drinking and they've got thislittle store, but it's like a
community and people are comingin and telling their stories and
talking about why they're givingup alcohol and all the different
reasons.
And there's.
No judgment in there.
And it's just, yeah, I loveseeing that type of change with
a cool and she's cool.
And she's, she's glamorizingwhat it's like to be alcohol
(28:57):
free.
Yeah.
And I love it.
Yeah.
Lindsey (29:00):
I love her twist on the bar thing too, when you invite
people over for the holidays.
Her attitude about don't askpeople what they want when you
get them to drink when they walkin the door, be like the drinks
are over there and then havesomething set up where it's.
Alcohol free stuff available,alcohol stuff.
Kelly (29:20):
I think that's really important.
It was an important episode.
Brilliant.
Yeah I had that conversationwith a couple of people over the
holidays too.
And people were like, oh, yeah,you're right.
To have that.
Where you're giving people theoption and not making it their
choice and not forcing it uponthem by asking the question,
(29:40):
what do you want to drink?
Yes.
The other amazing thing that Igot out of that episode and I
had a light bulb moment when Iwas having that beautiful
conversation with my sister inlaw is when she said her advice
to other people was someonealways has to go first.
Yes.
And not answer.
(30:02):
So resonated with me because oneof the things that my sister in
law said to me in our beautifulconversation was she remembers
me having a phone conversationwith her and my brother when my
brother had his moment and Isaid to her, you have to stop
drinking too.
And she's like that.
(30:23):
I think about that moment andthose words coming out of her
mouth all the time.
So that statement ended upreally resonating with me and I
think about it all the timebecause it's true and I think
about the fact that after I gaveup drinking and I look at my
whole family and I'm just sograteful and it is true.
(30:47):
If I even look at, what we'redoing, sharing our stories here
and how many people have reachedout to us, right?
Say that they are looking tostop or, considering their
relationship with alcohol.
Yeah it's so true.
Yeah, so true.
And if I think about theinspiration you've been, even
(31:08):
for us, cause you went first,you guys, I know, but you guys
inspire me too.
This is so important to me, likethis friendship and what we're
doing and being of service andhaving our conversations
recorded like this.
It's really.
It helps me a lot.
Yeah.
Stay on the path.
Yeah.
So the other one I wrote down, Ihad to season two, episode 15,
(31:30):
my sweet Carter.
Lindsey (31:31):
I wasn't here for that one guys.
I think traveling for work and Icouldn't be on the call.
Kelly (31:39):
So proud of him and he's still living alcohol free.
He hasn't tried.
He doesn't want to.
He has no desire to have alcoholin his and I was just proud of
him for coming on and.
Talking about it.
And he's always so supportive ofeverything his mama does.
Like he's just,
Tracey (31:55):
yeah.
And it was a great example of ayounger generation and the
approach that they're taking.
Yeah.
But.
Yeah, in saying that, it's sohard to pick favorites because
you're just making me think likethe episode with Dan White, too.
Oh, yes.
Yeah.
Yeah, there's just been so manygreat ones we've had.
Lindsey (32:20):
God, or even one thing that I'll never, it's silly, but
one thing I will never forget iswhen Eleanor was on and talked
about The barf in her hair?
The barf in her hair?
Yes! And I was like, you'retalking about me, like it's just
wow, I look so good.
And she's puking her hair.
I'm like, Oh God,
Kelly (32:40):
like people just come on and they're so honest.
And they tell I feel honoredthat they pick us to come and
tell their stories and I've beendefinitely inspired or learned
something or, yeah.
With every single episode thatwe've done, I feel so lucky.
And Steve McDonald with hispoem.
(33:01):
Yeah.
And I remember having so muchfun with you girls when we did
the summer special episode andit was just the three of us,
were we talking to girls?
Girl talk one.
Yeah,
Tracey (33:17):
we had a girl talk one.
That one was fun because, it wasour first episode without Mike.
And yeah, it was, during thetime he was still hosting with
us.
So
Lindsey (33:29):
Yeah.
And our dating.
Yeah.
Kelly (33:31):
So many dating stories.
A lot of our dating storiesdidn't get recorded.
That was pretty fun.
Yeah.
Talk about all that.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's awesome, guys.
I think that was a great list.
Lindsey (33:47):
Good reminder.
Yeah, do this and why we show upand record and I just feel
really excited for some of thepeople that I know that are
going to be coming on the show.
So yeah, guys, don't forget newepisodes every Tuesday.
Tracey (34:03):
Yeah.
Kelly (34:03):
Our most listened to topic episode is season.
Our season 2 finale was thelaugh 12 and that was a really
good discussion too.
I really liked that episode too.
Yeah,
Tracey (34:16):
that was a good conversation.
You're right.
That makes sense.
Lindsey (34:22):
I remember.
Yeah, that's right.
I remember that one.
I think we were also feelingreally good about that episode,
too, after
Tracey (34:29):
We should repost that.
Lindsey (34:31):
Yeah, or like clips of it.
We could do clips of our pastepisodes.
In our stories or something.
Tracey (34:37):
Yeah, I think it's good sometimes to repost some of
those things because they havespecific points on them, right?
That are relevant and can speakto people.
Same with we had, we have onethat was 17 signs that you might
have.
I'm just looking at that rightnow.
Kelly (34:56):
Yeah, Season 2, Episode 13.
Was it 17?
Season 2, Episode 13.
There ended up being 17 things.
Yeah, 17
Tracey (35:03):
things.
Holy
Kelly (35:04):
smokes! We put on there.
Yeah.
Hair of the dog, number 8.
Having to have a drink to makeyour hangover feel better.
Been there.
Physical changes.
Weight gain, puffiness, glossy,MTS.
Tracey (35:16):
Yeah, you guys touched on that tonight.
Yeah.
Unexplained injuries or bruises.
Yep.
Every scar I have on my body isa result of alcohol.
Wow.
I know, and Lindsay's got a bigone.
Lindsey (35:30):
collarbone scar because I had to have surgery to fix my
collarbone.
Tracey (35:37):
I got a good doozy one on my knee myself.
Yeah, that's a good one.
Kelly (35:43):
Yeah.
That was a good episode too.
That was.
Fights and waking up with shame,not remembering what you did and
then feeling shame and anxietyand instant sweating and a red
face when someone tells you whatyou said.
Lindsey (35:56):
Don't miss that.
Oops.
Sorry.
Yeah.
As we've said many a times, younever miss the hangovers.
You're never going to say that Iregret not having a hangover
today.
Kelly (36:07):
And I just got back from a trip and that's one place I,
feel so grateful.
I get it's almost like I getflooded with gratitude when I'm
on a trip because there's noobsession over where and when
happy hour is.
And there's so much time and somuch energy to see things and do
things and wake up early.
Yes.
It's so it's.
(36:28):
Oh, I love.
Traveling alcohol free.
Love it.
Yeah.
So much more present reallyexperiencing.
The experience, all of it,
Lindsey (36:38):
the place you're at and the people you're with.
Tracey (36:41):
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Lindsey (36:43):
All right, everybody.
Thank you so much for tuning in,listening to our episode today.
And we will see you back here onTuesday with a brand new
episode.
So until then, you guys knowwhat to do.
Keep laughing.
Kelly (37:03):
Thank you for listening.
Please give us a five starrating like and subscribe, share
on social media and tell yourfriends.
We love getting your feedbackand ideas of what you'd like to
hear on upcoming episodes of theLAF life podcast.
If you yourself are livingalcohol free and want to share
your story here, please reachout.
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