October 8, 2025 • 13 mins
Even after ten years without alcohol, the temptation can still whisper. In this raw and honest solo episode, Cameo Elyse Braun shares what it’s really like to stay alcohol-free long-term — the quiet challenges that never fully disappear, and the powerful mindset shifts that keep her grounded.
Whether you’re newly sober, sober curious, rethinking your relationship with alcohol, or supporting someone who is… this episode offers real talk, encouragement, and a little insight for staying strong. One day, one decision, and one “no thank you” at a time.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:29):
Hello and welcome to the Cameo Show.
I'm your host, Cameo, andtoday's episode is a solo
episode.
It's just me here with you.
And it's actually off theregularly scheduled programming
because I have a personal storyfrom over this past weekend that
I want to share with you.
For those of you who are newhere, normally my husband Greg,
(00:52):
who's my co-host, joins us, orwe have a guest who's sharing
their experience or expertise.
But today, this podcast is allabout just being real and
saying, hey, here I am, here'sme, here's the experience I just
had.
And you might find yourself inthe same position at some point.
(01:14):
So with that being said, I knowI don't need to preface it with
this, but I'm going to anyway.
This is definitely not meant tobe a preachy episode.
I never want it to be aboutthat.
It is always about sharing ourexperiences so that we can learn
from each other and feel lessalone.
And it's also timely becauseit's October.
(01:36):
And so this theme of soberOctober is prevalent.
And so I want to take a minuteand the opportunity to talk to
anyone directly who might beparticipating in Sober October,
or maybe you're already on youralcohol-free journey, or maybe
it's not you and it's someoneyou love.
This episode's for you.
(01:57):
For those of you who don't know,I have been alcohol-free.
I've been sober for over 10years, and my husband has been
over 11 years sober.
So we're no stranger to livingan alcohol-free lifestyle and
the challenges that sometimespresent themselves.
And that's uh exactly what thisis about.
So this past weekend, wecelebrated our 18th wedding
(02:21):
anniversary.
Actually, it's not here yet, butwe celebrated it over the
weekend because, you know, lifescheduling.
And we decided to just take ashort little trip up to Tampa to
see our favorite band and stayin a hotel and just have a
little cameo and Greg nightaway.
(02:43):
We had some tacos, and before wewent out to see the band, we
stopped into Publix to get acake for later and a bottle of
alcohol-free champagne.
Because in true cameo fashion, Iwas running out the door when we
left because I'm always runningbehind somehow.
I don't know how.
And I forgot to grab my favoritealcohol.
(03:05):
Not my alcohol, my favoritenon-alcoholic mocktails.
Uh, there's a brand calledToast.
It's like non-alcoholicchampagne that I can usually get
at Publix.
Or I also really enjoy CuriousElixirs, which I order uh and
have shipped.
Either way, I didn't bring anyof them.
So I thought, well, that's fine.
We'll get the cake and we'll getsome non-alcoholic champagne or
(03:29):
hell, even just some sparklinggrape juice.
And we'll have a little toastwhen we get back to our room
after seeing our band and, youknow, watch UFC and celebrate.
So there I am standing in thealcohol section of Publix
because they put thenon-alcoholic stuff with the
alcoholic stuff, which makes nosense, but I don't make the
(03:50):
rules.
And they didn't have any.
So I'm standing there lookingaround, and these little voices
start creeping in.
Now, again, again, I've beenalcohol free for 10 years.
I haven't had a drink of alcoholfor 10 years.
Let me say it one more time.
10 years, a whole freakingdecade.
And these voices startwhispering in my head, hey, it's
(04:13):
just one glass.
No one will know.
You're in a hotel, just pour theglass and set the bottle outside
of the room.
Uh, you can handle it.
It's been 10 years.
It's a special occasion.
You're celebrating with yourhusband.
It'll be fun.
You'll get giggly.
All of them, right?
All these little sneaky assvoices coming in, negotiating
(04:35):
with me.
And I'm like, what the hell?
I've been here before.
But it was really strong thistime for some reason.
And it's not just like theaddict in me feels that bubbling
up.
But you know, I didn't have aproblem and I didn't go to AA,
and I was, I was just normaldrinking, social drinking,
(04:56):
partying.
I was just partied a lot and bigtime.
If you're new here, there areother episodes where we share
our war stories, and I alsoshare a lot of that in my book,
The Reset Button, uh, that youcan also check out.
But that's neither here northere.
Um, the point is that it's notjust me, it's not, I'm not, it's
(05:18):
not just addiction.
It's also this conditioning,decades of conditioning that we
are exposed to that equals, youknow, celebration.
Grab some alcohol, have a toast.
Uh, it makes the moment special.
You deserve it.
And I I really was trying toconvince myself that it would be
(05:39):
fine.
Just one night, just one glass.
But here's what I've learned.
And like I said, I've been herebefore multiple times over 10
years in many differentsituations.
That voice never actually goesaway.
It's always there.
And the more you practice notlistening to it, the quieter it
gets.
Kind of like when your kids arescreaming and you're just like,
(06:02):
if I just act like they're nothere, I won't hear them.
Just kidding.
Don't do that.
But even after 10 years, itstill shows up.
And it's just that now I knowthe truth.
I know that that's just a sneakyass little voice trying to
negotiate with me and telling meall the lies I need to hear to
get me to give in.
(06:22):
I know the truth.
I know that one glass never endsat one.
I know that the feeling in thatmoment isn't worth the potential
spiral that follows.
I know that it feels really damngood to wake up clear-headed and
to know exactly what I did, howI felt, and that I don't have a
(06:44):
headache the next day from thenight before.
The challenges don't vanish.
They just kind of lose theirpower.
And it's not just in the bigmoments, the celebratory
moments, the anniversaries, theparties, the celebrations.
It's the small everyday momentsthat also sneak up on you.
And so I'm sharing this becauseif you are on an alcohol-free
(07:07):
journey, whether it's just abreak or it is a lifestyle
change for you, you're notalone.
It's those moments when you'relike, I've had a rough day and I
could really use something totake the edge off.
And you try to convince yourselfthat you deserve it, and it's
the only way you're going to getthrough that moment.
It's sitting at dinner when theserver says, Hey, do you want to
(07:29):
see the wine list?
Or would you like to make thatShirley Temple a naughty Shirley
Temple?
Someone asked me that.
I'm like, no.
That's weird anyway.
Sorry, no judgment.
Or when a friend or a coworkeror family member says, Oh,
you're still not drinking.
Can't you just have one?
It's the little moments.
And these moments are real andthey're the ones that really
(07:51):
shape you and shape yourjourney.
So it's not about perfection.
It's not about never havingthose voices again because 10
years later, I'll say it again,they're still there.
It's just that now I'm aware.
I notice those thoughts creepingin so that I can call them what
they are.
(08:12):
I can call it you sneaky asslittle voice trying to negotiate
with me.
And I can kind of push it away.
And there are moments over thelast 10 years, especially the
tough moments, where that's beendifficult and challenging.
They've just gotten quieter.
So whether you've stopped now,short term, long term, because
(08:33):
you have a problem, because youhave health concerns, because
you love someone else, becauseyou want to be an example for
your kids, mental clarity,whatever it is.
Maybe you just want to see whatit's like to not drink, to just
say no at happy hour and see howyou respond, how people around
you react, what your ownvisceral reaction is.
(08:56):
It might surprise you, but justknow that you're worth it and it
is worth it.
The decision, the break, theopportunity that you give
yourself.
And you're the one in control inthat moment and every moment
after that.
You'll still crave it.
It will feel awkward at firstand also not at first.
(09:20):
Later on down the road, anytimeyou feel like you need to say
no, or you meet someone new, oryou go to dinner with someone
you've never been around in abusiness setting or whatever the
case may be, it's awkward.
I'm not gonna lie.
You'll question yourself hereand there, you'll negotiate with
yourself here and there.
But every single time you choosenot to drink, you're
(09:41):
strengthening that muscle.
You're reminding yourself thatyou don't need to drink to
celebrate, you don't need todrink to relax, you don't need
to drink to belong, you don'tneed to drink to take the edge
off.
And you learn about yourself andyou learn other ways to do it.
It's not easy.
(10:01):
It's not easy.
So yeah, even after a decade, Istill get those moments.
And I know that if this is yourchoice, you're having those
moments too.
In the weak moments, don't givein.
Keep going.
Keep taking it one day at atime, keep taking it one
decision at a time, keep takingit one no thank you awkward
(10:23):
moment at a time.
Just remember you're not missingout.
You're kind of waking up.
And if you love someone who's onthis journey, the best thing you
can do to support them is to notquestion them, to not uh
pressure them, to maybe youknow, just take a break when
(10:43):
you're with them yourself.
I think everyone can do that fora few hours here and there.
Encourage them, congratulatethem, support them.
Don't give them a hard time.
Why don't you drink it?
And you can't good for you, man.
That's awesome.
I'm really proud of you.
That goes a long way.
And just remember that you'rebuilding something inside of you
that alcohol will never do foryou and cannot replace for you.
(11:10):
And that, in and of itself,right there, is a reason to
celebrate.
So cheers.
I don't have a drink in my hand,but clink.
And know that there was noalcohol in my imaginary clinking
glass.
And know that there's a lot ofsupport out there if you need
it.
Lean on people, tell people whatyou need.
(11:32):
Don't be shy, don't beembarrassed, don't feel like you
shouldn't tell people or thatyou can't, or that you're going
to be judged.
Honestly, you are.
But you get stronger and you getmore comfortable, and honestly,
you get more confident each timeyou show up for yourself and
stay true to what it is thatyou've decided for yourself.
(11:55):
I won't even get started onhealth benefits, consequences,
all the things.
That's not what this is about.
This is about saying I'm stillright there with you if you're
new to this journey a decadelater, and I would venture to
guess that people who are twodecades into their sobriety
still have these moments and onand on and on, and you can do
it.
If I can, if Greg can, and manyother people that I know
(12:20):
personally have decided to, youcan too.
We have new episodes of theCameo Show every Wednesday.
Some of them it's just me, someof them it's Greg and I, some of
them we have great guests whoshare their experiences or their
expertise so that we can allfigure this thing called life
out together.
(12:40):
And I hope you'll join us again.
And if this resonated with youor you think it might resonate
with someone you know and love,uh share this with them.
It goes a long way.
It really does.
It shows support and helpspeople feel less alone and know
that there are options andpeople out there that that care.
(13:04):
Until next time.
Hello and welcome to the Cameo Show.
I'm your host, Cameo, andtoday's episode is a solo
episode.
It's just me here with you.
And it's actually off theregularly scheduled programming
because I have a personal storyfrom over this past weekend that
I want to share with you.
For those of you who are newhere, normally my husband Greg,
(00:52):
who's my co-host, joins us, orwe have a guest who's sharing
their experience or expertise.
But today, this podcast is allabout just being real and
saying, hey, here I am, here'sme, here's the experience I just
had.
And you might find yourself inthe same position at some point.
(01:14):
So with that being said, I knowI don't need to preface it with
this, but I'm going to anyway.
This is definitely not meant tobe a preachy episode.
I never want it to be aboutthat.
It is always about sharing ourexperiences so that we can learn
from each other and feel lessalone.
And it's also timely becauseit's October.
(01:36):
And so this theme of soberOctober is prevalent.
And so I want to take a minuteand the opportunity to talk to
anyone directly who might beparticipating in Sober October,
or maybe you're already on youralcohol-free journey, or maybe
it's not you and it's someoneyou love.
This episode's for you.
(01:57):
For those of you who don't know,I have been alcohol-free.
I've been sober for over 10years, and my husband has been
over 11 years sober.
So we're no stranger to livingan alcohol-free lifestyle and
the challenges that sometimespresent themselves.
And that's uh exactly what thisis about.
So this past weekend, wecelebrated our 18th wedding
(02:21):
anniversary.
Actually, it's not here yet, butwe celebrated it over the
weekend because, you know, lifescheduling.
And we decided to just take ashort little trip up to Tampa to
see our favorite band and stayin a hotel and just have a
little cameo and Greg nightaway.
(02:43):
We had some tacos, and before wewent out to see the band, we
stopped into Publix to get acake for later and a bottle of
alcohol-free champagne.
Because in true cameo fashion, Iwas running out the door when we
left because I'm always runningbehind somehow.
I don't know how.
And I forgot to grab my favoritealcohol.
(03:05):
Not my alcohol, my favoritenon-alcoholic mocktails.
Uh, there's a brand calledToast.
It's like non-alcoholicchampagne that I can usually get
at Publix.
Or I also really enjoy CuriousElixirs, which I order uh and
have shipped.
Either way, I didn't bring anyof them.
So I thought, well, that's fine.
We'll get the cake and we'll getsome non-alcoholic champagne or
(03:29):
hell, even just some sparklinggrape juice.
And we'll have a little toastwhen we get back to our room
after seeing our band and, youknow, watch UFC and celebrate.
So there I am standing in thealcohol section of Publix
because they put thenon-alcoholic stuff with the
alcoholic stuff, which makes nosense, but I don't make the
(03:50):
rules.
And they didn't have any.
So I'm standing there lookingaround, and these little voices
start creeping in.
Now, again, again, I've beenalcohol free for 10 years.
I haven't had a drink of alcoholfor 10 years.
Let me say it one more time.
10 years, a whole freakingdecade.
And these voices startwhispering in my head, hey, it's
(04:13):
just one glass.
No one will know.
You're in a hotel, just pour theglass and set the bottle outside
of the room.
Uh, you can handle it.
It's been 10 years.
It's a special occasion.
You're celebrating with yourhusband.
It'll be fun.
You'll get giggly.
All of them, right?
All these little sneaky assvoices coming in, negotiating
(04:35):
with me.
And I'm like, what the hell?
I've been here before.
But it was really strong thistime for some reason.
And it's not just like theaddict in me feels that bubbling
up.
But you know, I didn't have aproblem and I didn't go to AA,
and I was, I was just normaldrinking, social drinking,
(04:56):
partying.
I was just partied a lot and bigtime.
If you're new here, there areother episodes where we share
our war stories, and I alsoshare a lot of that in my book,
The Reset Button, uh, that youcan also check out.
But that's neither here northere.
Um, the point is that it's notjust me, it's not, I'm not, it's
(05:18):
not just addiction.
It's also this conditioning,decades of conditioning that we
are exposed to that equals, youknow, celebration.
Grab some alcohol, have a toast.
Uh, it makes the moment special.
You deserve it.
And I I really was trying toconvince myself that it would be
(05:39):
fine.
Just one night, just one glass.
But here's what I've learned.
And like I said, I've been herebefore multiple times over 10
years in many differentsituations.
That voice never actually goesaway.
It's always there.
And the more you practice notlistening to it, the quieter it
gets.
Kind of like when your kids arescreaming and you're just like,
(06:02):
if I just act like they're nothere, I won't hear them.
Just kidding.
Don't do that.
But even after 10 years, itstill shows up.
And it's just that now I knowthe truth.
I know that that's just a sneakyass little voice trying to
negotiate with me and telling meall the lies I need to hear to
get me to give in.
(06:22):
I know the truth.
I know that one glass never endsat one.
I know that the feeling in thatmoment isn't worth the potential
spiral that follows.
I know that it feels really damngood to wake up clear-headed and
to know exactly what I did, howI felt, and that I don't have a
(06:44):
headache the next day from thenight before.
The challenges don't vanish.
They just kind of lose theirpower.
And it's not just in the bigmoments, the celebratory
moments, the anniversaries, theparties, the celebrations.
It's the small everyday momentsthat also sneak up on you.
And so I'm sharing this becauseif you are on an alcohol-free
(07:07):
journey, whether it's just abreak or it is a lifestyle
change for you, you're notalone.
It's those moments when you'relike, I've had a rough day and I
could really use something totake the edge off.
And you try to convince yourselfthat you deserve it, and it's
the only way you're going to getthrough that moment.
It's sitting at dinner when theserver says, Hey, do you want to
(07:29):
see the wine list?
Or would you like to make thatShirley Temple a naughty Shirley
Temple?
Someone asked me that.
I'm like, no.
That's weird anyway.
Sorry, no judgment.
Or when a friend or a coworkeror family member says, Oh,
you're still not drinking.
Can't you just have one?
It's the little moments.
And these moments are real andthey're the ones that really
(07:51):
shape you and shape yourjourney.
So it's not about perfection.
It's not about never havingthose voices again because 10
years later, I'll say it again,they're still there.
It's just that now I'm aware.
I notice those thoughts creepingin so that I can call them what
they are.
(08:12):
I can call it you sneaky asslittle voice trying to negotiate
with me.
And I can kind of push it away.
And there are moments over thelast 10 years, especially the
tough moments, where that's beendifficult and challenging.
They've just gotten quieter.
So whether you've stopped now,short term, long term, because
(08:33):
you have a problem, because youhave health concerns, because
you love someone else, becauseyou want to be an example for
your kids, mental clarity,whatever it is.
Maybe you just want to see whatit's like to not drink, to just
say no at happy hour and see howyou respond, how people around
you react, what your ownvisceral reaction is.
(08:56):
It might surprise you, but justknow that you're worth it and it
is worth it.
The decision, the break, theopportunity that you give
yourself.
And you're the one in control inthat moment and every moment
after that.
You'll still crave it.
It will feel awkward at firstand also not at first.
(09:20):
Later on down the road, anytimeyou feel like you need to say
no, or you meet someone new, oryou go to dinner with someone
you've never been around in abusiness setting or whatever the
case may be, it's awkward.
I'm not gonna lie.
You'll question yourself hereand there, you'll negotiate with
yourself here and there.
But every single time you choosenot to drink, you're
(09:41):
strengthening that muscle.
You're reminding yourself thatyou don't need to drink to
celebrate, you don't need todrink to relax, you don't need
to drink to belong, you don'tneed to drink to take the edge
off.
And you learn about yourself andyou learn other ways to do it.
It's not easy.
(10:01):
It's not easy.
So yeah, even after a decade, Istill get those moments.
And I know that if this is yourchoice, you're having those
moments too.
In the weak moments, don't givein.
Keep going.
Keep taking it one day at atime, keep taking it one
decision at a time, keep takingit one no thank you awkward
(10:23):
moment at a time.
Just remember you're not missingout.
You're kind of waking up.
And if you love someone who's onthis journey, the best thing you
can do to support them is to notquestion them, to not uh
pressure them, to maybe youknow, just take a break when
(10:43):
you're with them yourself.
I think everyone can do that fora few hours here and there.
Encourage them, congratulatethem, support them.
Don't give them a hard time.
Why don't you drink it?
And you can't good for you, man.
That's awesome.
I'm really proud of you.
That goes a long way.
And just remember that you'rebuilding something inside of you
that alcohol will never do foryou and cannot replace for you.
(11:10):
And that, in and of itself,right there, is a reason to
celebrate.
So cheers.
I don't have a drink in my hand,but clink.
And know that there was noalcohol in my imaginary clinking
glass.
And know that there's a lot ofsupport out there if you need
it.
Lean on people, tell people whatyou need.
(11:32):
Don't be shy, don't beembarrassed, don't feel like you
shouldn't tell people or thatyou can't, or that you're going
to be judged.
Honestly, you are.
But you get stronger and you getmore comfortable, and honestly,
you get more confident each timeyou show up for yourself and
stay true to what it is thatyou've decided for yourself.
(11:55):
I won't even get started onhealth benefits, consequences,
all the things.
That's not what this is about.
This is about saying I'm stillright there with you if you're
new to this journey a decadelater, and I would venture to
guess that people who are twodecades into their sobriety
still have these moments and onand on and on, and you can do
it.
If I can, if Greg can, and manyother people that I know
(12:20):
personally have decided to, youcan too.
We have new episodes of theCameo Show every Wednesday.
Some of them it's just me, someof them it's Greg and I, some of
them we have great guests whoshare their experiences or their
expertise so that we can allfigure this thing called life
out together.
(12:40):
And I hope you'll join us again.
And if this resonated with youor you think it might resonate
with someone you know and love,uh share this with them.
It goes a long way.
It really does.
It shows support and helpspeople feel less alone and know
that there are options andpeople out there that that care.
(13:04):
Until next time.
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