Creative Sobriety

Hey, y'all! I'm so excited to bring you this conversation today with Amy Darling. Amy is 37 and lives in Nashville, TN. Her sober date is 9/15/20 but she has maintained her sobriety from hard drugs since 2018.Amy is a rockstar through and through. She is a frontwoman of a rock band, a DJ, and has style and charisma for days. I think her story is a beautiful example of the non-linear path of healing and self-discovery. Amy shares experiences from LA to London to Nashville with biting honesty and beautiful self-awareness. She's such a testament to retaining that wild, artistic spirit in sobriety, and proof that you can be sober and still ROCK N' ROLL. Follow her on social @amyxdarlingx to peep her killer vintage finds and stay up to date on her upcoming shows and DJ sets. Enjoy!!Love, K

Hey y'all! Welcome back, so happy to bring you an all new episode today with the lovely Andrea Howard.  Andrea's sober date is 1/1/23. She is 31 years young and a former NFL cheerleader who currently works as a model and actress based in Nashville, TN. Andrea and I actually have the same talent agent so we talk a lot about the industry and how sobriety is necessary to keep your competitive edge. She shares her journey to sobriety with us, acknowledging the role childhood trauma plays in our choices to numb and escape vulnerable emotions. Andrea's story is unique in the sense that she knew she wanted to quit drinking for a long time, but kept partaking in social scenarios despite no real desire to drink. This one may be for you if you're not necessarily a problem drinker but have a gut feeling that it may be time to eliminate substances completely to reach a higher level in life. This conversation is so fun! We discuss everything from acting class to dating and I hope you find some inspiration from Andrea's story. I know I did! ALSO!!! Spots are filling up for the Costa Rica trip in October, so please reach out if you're interested in booking or have any questions. As always, follow me on Instagram for more details and to stay connected to all things @CREATIVESOBRIETY Love y'all! -K

Hey, y'all! I'm so excited to introduce you to Jeremy Lister on episode 20 of the podcast! Jeremy is an incredibly talented artist and even better human being. Jeremy's sober date is 4/26/15. Jeremy shares his journey to sobriety with us and it's a beautiful reminder that no matter how dark things get, we are capable of changing our lives and accomplishing more than we ever dreamed of. Jeremy walks us through finding success in the music industry, landing a spot on a popular reality tv singing competition, record deals and headlining tours-all while battling substance abuse that eventually snowballed into a life threatening situation. Faced with the grim reality of where his drinking was leading, Jeremy made a choice to give sobriety everything he could. Fast forward to today. Jeremy is running ultra marathons, owns a hot sauce company with his brothers, landed a songwriting deal with a top Nashville publishing house, and June 23rd you can catch him live at East Side Bowl in Nashville for a 10 year anniversary and vinyl release show for his album "The Bed You Made." I hope his story inspires you the way it has me and so many others!Follow Jeremy on socials @jeremyblister and check out his DELICIOUS hot sauce @blisterhotsauceOnward we go.Love,K

Hey, ya'll! Excited to bring you a new episode this week with the lovely Olivia Burd. Olivia shares her journey to becoming alcohol-free with us and how her experiences with chronic pain and illness played a huge role in her decision. This conversation was so fascinating to me, we talk about everything from her family history of alcoholism and depression to epigenetics and the way collective trauma can be passed down from generation to generation.  *(Trigger warning-THC/cannabis)I hope you enjoy this conversation! Olivia is one of the beautiful souls who will be joining me for the retreat in Costa Rica this fall, so if you come you'll get to connect with her there too! We still have spots available and 6 spots left for the early bird discount! If you want to book your spot or find more information head to my Instagram page @creativesobrietyLove ya'll!Onward we go.

Hey y'all!! Welcome back to the podcast I am so excited to be bringing you new episodes! This is a special one, I have not one, but two sober guests doing great work in Nashville who happen to also be brother and sister. Today I'm speaking with Stephanie Styll who is the founder/owner of Killjoy, Nashville's first non-alcoholic bottle shop and all around badass sober woman. Her sobriety date is 10/3/20 and she talks about how her young son was one of the biggest catalysts for her choice to go alcohol free. She's passionate about bringing the NA beverage market to Nashville (something I'm personally SO grateful for!) and creating a community for those looking to reevaluate their relationship with booze. Brandon Styll is an executive in the Nashville hospitality industry as well as the host of the podcast "Nashville Restaurant Radio." His sober date is 10/28/19 and Brandon shares his story with us with so much honesty and vulnerability. His decision came after a rock bottom moment led him to an AA meeting. He credits the 12 steps and the support of his family and community for his success in sobriety. Brandon also mentions a wonderful resource for sober professionals in the food and beverage industry called "Ben's Friends" follow them and find meetings @bensfriendshopeTheir sober journeys are very different in so many ways, but the way these two support and encourage each other is so inspiring to me. I know you're going to love this conversation!Follow Stephanie and her shop @killjoy_nash Follow Brandon @brandon_nrr and his podcast @nashville_restaurant_radioThanks for listening and as always please follow and connect with me, Kristen! @creativesobriety Onward we go.

Hey, y'all!! I wanted to let the podcast fam know that I am hosting a retreat in Costa Rica this fall!OCT. 25-30th we will be visiting La Fortuna and Tamarindo! I've done the leg work to ensure we have a good mix of exploration and relaxation. Join me and other sober, curious, like-minded souls as we connect, support, and create memories!I'm offering the presale link here exclusively for friends of the podcast! It launches for the public sale tomorrow morning (4/19) and there are only 20 spots! Check my Instagram highlights for more info, feel free to drop a DM!Reach out with any questions, hope to see you there!xoKristenhttps://trovatrip.com/trip/central-america/costa-rica/costa-rica-with-kristen-bear-oct-2023?earlyBird=true

Hey, ya'll! I'm so glad to be back! I have been so excited about getting back on the microphone and chatting it up again about all things sobriety. As those who follow me on Instagram may know, I lost my mom late last year and took an extended break from the podcast. I appreciate all of your support and will be releasing an episode about my experiences with that at some point in the future. For today, I've brought back one of my original guests, Andi Marie, who's become one of my most trusted friends. I thought it would be a great way to get back in the swing of things to just hop on the mic with her and record what is pretty much just a normal conversation between us! No intro, no outro, just two sober buds shooting the stuff. (We do use quite a bit of adult language, fair warning.)We talk about everything from Joni Mitchell (our queen), to regrets we have about drinking days, to some of the addictive behaviors we worry we may still be carrying with us, to advice for anyone struggling to get sober or fighting a relapse. Come ponder, laugh, grieve, and cope with us!!I'm so glad you're here. Onward we go. Love, K@creativesobriety@kristencaroljeane

In this episode we hear from Gabby who is a dating coach living in Chicago, IL with a sober date of 7/12/19. Gabby talks about her journey with alcohol and why she decided to quit drinking. She describes alcohol as something she used as a crutch in social situations and romantic relationships and tells us about the differences she's seen now that she no longer drinks. Kristen and Gabby discuss dating sober and sober sex as well as learning to socialize without alcohol in the beginning of sobriety. Connect with Gabby on IG @gabriellevaldes and visit her website and blog www.gabriellevaldes.com Gabby mentions the following resources:Nomo (app)"This Naked Mind" (a book by Annie Grace)Joe Rogan Experience (Episode featuring Mathew Walker)Tempest (an online sobriety support group and information resource)

In the season 2 premiere we hear from the host of The Creative Sobriety Podcast, Kristen. Kristen is an actor and creative artist, living in Nashville, and her sober date is 2/26/20.  After struggling with her mental health, self-esteem, and personal life Kristen decided to quit drinking for good. She used podcasts, quit-lit, and the online sober community to stay connected and find inspiration. Kristen works in the fashion and entertainment industries and shares how "Creative Sobriety" became one of the biggest components of maintaining her own sobriety. Connect with Kristen online @creativesobriety and @kristencaroljeane

Pete is 33 years young and lives in Minneapolis, MN. His sober date is 4/8/20.Pete shares his sobriety journey with us as well as his creative passions and goals for the future. Pete is a single dad who is proud to be writing the story his son will tell about him one day, a story of a man who picked himself up when things got hard and wasn't angry or bitter about it, but motivated to be better. Pete's energy is contagious and he has a wonderful ability to articulate himself in a way that is relatable and inspiring to others. Connect with Pete on instagram @pete_heibrid and visit his website www.peteheidorn.comPete's favorite Audiobooks"The Obstacle Is The Way" Ryan Holiday"Can't Hurt Me" David Goggins"The Four Agreements" Don Miguel Ruiz"Atomic Habits" James Clear"Anything" Malcolm Gladwell

TW: sober-curiousAbigail is 30 years old and lives in Nashville, TN. She talks about her journey with alcohol and how she's slowly coming to the realization that alcohol doesn't have a place in her life. After a terrible hangover around the end of 2020 and recognizing that alcohol was holding her back from fully pursuing her dreams as a songwriter and model, Abigail decided to cut alcohol out of her life while still leaving room for the option in the future. She experimented with having a few sips of wine on occasion and didn't see the need or like the way it made her feel. Kristen and Abi discuss the need for conversations surrounding a sober-curious lifestyle and how for some people the term "sober" isn't helpful when removing a substance from your life. Abigail shares with us the huge difference cutting out booze has had on her creativity and overall happiness in life. She encourages others to examine why they are drinking and to question if you're drinking for the wrong reasons. There is room in the recovery community for shades of gray and no one size fits all when it comes to getting sober. Connect with Abi and check out her work as a singer/songwriter and model on Instagram @abigailolin

Jess is 31 years old and lives in Austin, TX. Her sober date is 7/2/18. Jessica shares with us how the overwhelming grief she felt after losing her mother fueled her over-drinking. As a super sensitive person, Jess says the weight of it all was too much and she didn't want to deal with the emotions so drinking was a coping mechanism. After two DWI'S her sister stepped in and made Jess promise to turn her life around and quit drinking so her mom could rest in peace, knowing she was safe. Jess never looked back. Not only is she thriving in a new city working as a successful hair stylist, she also hosts sober socials in Austin. She is such a bright and positive woman and now uses what she's learned to support others both online and in her community. Connect with Jess on Instagram @sobergirlatx for sobriety support and @rosestudiosalon for hair services in ATX.

TW: marijuana use/harm reductionTiana is 31 years old and lives in Los Angeles, CA. Their sober date is 12/13/20. Tiana is open about their decision to keep weed in their life as an effective form of harm reduction from alcohol and cocaine. Kristen and Tiana discuss harm reduction and how remaining nonjudgmental of others' recovery journey helps save lives. Tiana was born with Tuberous Sclerosis and describes how they struggled with insecurity and self-esteem as a teenager, wishing they could change how they looked, and turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism. After a few attempts, Tiana quit drinking for good and now hopes to inspire others to find their own unique path to health and confidence.  Tiana is an all-around creative, using their platform to push for representation for all in the modeling and fashion world. They describe the difference going alcohol free has made in their life and give advice to others wishing to ditch the booze. Connect with Tiana on IG @_themmefatale and on TikTok @_themme.fatale

Missing Mei is a DJ, writer, podcaster, and sober creative originally from Hawaii and now based near Seattle, WA. Mei's sober date is July 1, 2019. Mei talks to us about two stints in sobriety, the first being 5 years long and how this time is different because now they trust the universe and listen to their intuition. Mei is an overall creative person with interests across the board in writing, music, podcasting and more. They are open and candid about the ups and downs of their drinking and sobriety stories and hope to inspire others to reach out for support and learn to trust their own inner guides as to what path is right for them. Connect with Mei on Instagram @thecreativesober and find The Creative Sober Podcast on all major platforms.

Hey y'all! I've taken some of the most useful, 1-3 minute clips from my guests over the past month and compiled the first of what I'm calling "Pep Talks." These are relatively short episodes that you can listen to on your way to the grocery store, to pick up your kids from school, or while you're making your coffee in the morning! Think of it as a quick pick me up!! I think there's a little something for everyone and you might just hear something that changes your whole perspective, or keeps you from picking up today. Enjoy! Please message me, Kristen, @creativesobriety on Instagram if you ever have a question!! Love you guys, Onward we go

Mike is 36 years old and lives in Ft Worth, TX. His sober date is 9/20/20. Mike shares that his personal struggle with alcohol almost cost him everything. His marriage was failing, his health was deteriorating, and he had almost given up on life altogether before he finally entered rehab for the second time. This time it stuck. Mike talks about getting sober and the root causes he believes were fueling his addiction. Childhood trauma, fear of vulnerability, and difficult family relationships were all part of Mike's journey. In recovery, Mike found God, opened his heart to healing, renewed his marriage and now pays it forward. Mike is proud to be vocal and honest in the sober community and now finds much of his motivation comes from helping others. Follow and connect with Mike M on Instagram @faithfullysober

Manny is an artist who lives in Temecula, CA and his sober date is 6/13/20. Manny shares his story of addiction and how it was impacted by body dysmorphia and low self-worth. After a difficult medical diagnosis and subsequent deteriorating health, Manny received an ultimatum from his family, "Get help or we're done, because we can't watch you kill yourself." This shook Manny and gave him the strength to face his demons and find help. Manny talks about how multiple AA meetings a day and painting saved his life. Manny shares his journey to spirituality and how he used to feel like he was living for darkness but now lives for God, and to serve others. His story is remarkable and inspiring. Please connect with Manny on Facebook (Manny Minnie) and Instagram @manny_minnie his DM's are always open to anyone who needs an ear. Check out his art as well!

Andi is 30 years old and lives in Nashville, TN. She is a singer/songwriter and commercial actor originally from the mountains of East Tennessee. Andi is just over a year sober and shares her story from some starts and stops in sobriety to finally making it stick. For Andi, pride was one of the obstacles she had to overcome in order to get sober. She recalls some events that should have been wake up calls (in her eyes) but actually sent her deeper into over drinking. After an intervention from her husband and family Andi went home to her parents house to detox. Six months into her first attempt at sobriety she had a relapse but acknowledges it was all part of the process for her. As an artist Andi has become much more productive and now loves writing early in the morning, creating visual art to accompany her music, and is releasing a full album in the fall of 2021. Andi highly recommends the book "Alcohol Explained" by William Porter for those trying to get sober or deepen their understanding of alcohol's affect on the brain. Connect with Andi online and check out her work! @andimariere on IG

Katie is a blogger, vlogger, teacher, and retired party girl from Manchester, UK. She is 26 years old and has a sober date of 11/13/19. Kristen and Katie discuss the correlation between alcohol and mental health and why Katie decided to get sober after living the ultimate party lifestyle at university in Newcastle. Katie says that sobriety has given her the opportunity to rediscover herself and feels like she is living an "HD" life now. She is committed to making herself feel good and sharing what works for her to inspire others. Connect with Katie McNicol on YouTube and on IG @thissobergirl ENJOY!

Kristen talks to Christine Wayne of @onthemocks. Christine has just over 2 years of sobriety with a sober date of May 6th, 2019. Christine shares her recovery story and journey to self-love after 40 years of trying desperately to "fit in." Kristen and Christine delve into the NA drink world and their mutual love of Heineken Zero. Christine has a passion for crafting mocktails, standing firm in her choice to remain fun in her alcohol-free life, and sharing proudly to inspire others on their own journeys. Connect with Christine on Facebook and Instagram @onthemocks and @misschristinewayne https://www.facebook.com/groups/onthemocks/