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What happens when “just one glass” turns into a deadly diagnosis?

In this raw and riveting episode of Feel Lit Alcohol Free, Ruby Williams and Susan Larkin sit down with Karla Adkins, co-founder of Zero Proof Life and author of She Came Tumbling Down. Karla was a young professional when she was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver at just 36—a wake-up call that nearly came too late!

Why Karla wrote her riveting book: "I can't be silent anymore. I have to share my story. I want people to know what can happen, the truth of this dangerous game that a lot of people are playing."

We dive deep into:
✅ The toxic culture of pandemic drinking and “mommy wine” humor
✅ Why liver disease is rising rapidly in women ages 25–34
✅ What it really takes to heal—physically, emotionally, and spiritually
✅ How Karla went from silent shame to powerful sobriety advocate

This conversation is urgent, inspiring, and unforgettable. Let’s get into it.

Read Karla's compelling story And She Came Tumbling Down : Breaking the Bonds of Alcohol and Creating a Life of Freedom
Connect with Karla: Karlaadkins.com @thezeroprooflife @karlakadkins

Listeners have said that our podcast has helped them get alcohol free! So we created Feel Lit 21, a way for you to press your reset button and take a 21 day break from alcohol. Every day you will receive emails with videos, journal prompts, and the inspiration you need to embrace 21 days without alcohol that feels lit!

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and ask us any questions you have about breaking free from wine or living an alcohol-free lifestyle.

Websites:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.

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Welcome back to the Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast! In this episode, we're diving deep into one of the most common beliefs we hear from clients: “I deserve a drink.” Sound familiar?

Join your hosts and alcohol freedom coaches, Ruby and Susan, as we unpack the cultural conditioning behind using alcohol as a reward—and why it's time to rethink that narrative. Why have we been taught that wine is the prize for surviving the day? And what if the real reward isn’t in a glass, but in the way we feel?

We're challenging the "work hard, wine hard" mindset and offering fresh, joyful alternatives to truly nourish yourself. From micro-moments of pleasure to playful rituals that light you up (without the hangover), you’ll walk away with tools, perspective shifts, and a whole lot of inspiration.

Ready to redefine what reward actually feels like? Let’s get lit—alcohol free.

Want to Feel Lit? Grab our FREE, fun Bingo Card with 21 Feel Lit activities shared on the podcast. Feeling Lit is about about self-care, and daily practices that support our alcohol-free lifestyle.

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and ask us any questions you have about breaking free from wine or living an alcohol-free lifestyle.

Join our Feel Lit AF Facebook Community for amazing support and connection!

Websites:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.

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What if the best thing you ever drank didn’t have alcohol in it?

In this episode, Susan and Ruby sit down with the amazing Deb Podlager—aka Mocktail Mom—who went from drinking Chardonnay every weekend, to sipping spicy, spirit-free margaritas and leading a whole new movement.

Deb shares how divorce, breast cancer, parenting through trauma, and pandemic burnout pushed her closer to the bottle... until she hit a moment of truth before turning 50.
But instead of spiraling, she said “What if I just… stopped?”
And what happened next? It sparkled.
We’ll dive into:
💥 Why alcohol slowly creeps in without us noticing
💥 How to rewire your rituals with mocktails that actually taste good
💥 Why sobriety isn’t boring—it’s liberating

What does it take to break up with booze... and fall in love with your life again?
Let’s find out!

00:00 Mocktail Mom's Alcohol-Free Journey
05:15 Life Changes and Emotional Impact
06:49 Coping with Divorce and Illness
11:52 Rediscovering Fun Without Alcohol
15:44 First Nonalcoholic Wine Experience
16:06 Discovering Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Options
20:40 Mocktail Trials and Tribulations
23:37 Low-Sugar Nautical Mocktail Recipe
25:53 Nonalcoholic Mint Julep Recipe
29:33 Beginner Bar Essentials
34:54 Global Mocktail Summit Highlights
38:07 How Deb Feels “Lit” Alcohol-Free

Where to find out more about Mocktail Mom:
MocktailMom.com @mocktail.mom https://www.facebook.com/MocktailMom
Buy the book: The Happiest Hour

Want to Feel Lit? Grab our FREE, fun Bingo Card with 21 Feel Lit activities shared on the podcast. Feeling Lit is about about self-care, and daily practices that support our alcohol-free lifestyle.

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and ask us any questions you have about breaking free from wine or living an alcohol-free lifestyle.

Join our Feel Lit AF Facebook Community for amazing support and connection!

Websites:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.