Rewired Sober

Kate Vitela
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
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Rewired Sober is a feminist sobriety podcast for women in midlife and early recovery who are done being talked down to. If you’ve quit drinking — or are thinking about it — and traditional recovery models left you feeling small, ashamed, or powerless, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken. This podcast explores sobriety through neuroscience, nervous system regulation, and feminist self-trust, not moral failure or lifelong labels. Hosted by Kate, a board-certified addiction and mental health registered nurse with over two decades of experience, a nurse coach, and a SHE RECOVERS® coach, Rewired Sober bridges clinical science with lived experience. Kate brings a trauma-aware, no-shame lens to recovery — combining brain science, nervous system education, and soul-level inquiry to help women rebuild trust in themselves after alcohol. This podcast is for women asking: – Why does early sobriety feel so intense in my body and brain? – What’s actually happening neurologically when I stop drinking? – How do I rebuild self-trust after years of coping with alcohol? – Is there a way to recover without shame, obedience, or surrendering my intuition? Episodes blend science and soul — from how alcohol affects the female brain, to midlife nervous system shifts, to unlearning the cultural and patriarchal conditioning that taught women to numb, cope, and self-abandon. This is not a 12-step podcast. This is not a powerlessness model. And it’s not about fixing what was never broken. Rewired Sober is for women who want sobriety that makes them stronger, clearer, and more themselves — not smaller. If you’re sober and wondering now what? You’re in the right place.

  1. 6D AGO

    EP 72: Its Giving Recovery On The Runway: Sobriety, Fashion, and a Bolder Life (Hint: Announcement Incoming)

    Every year, the first Monday in May, the world watches the Met Gala—a spectacle of fashion, identity, and storytelling through art. And this year? I’m not on that carpet. But I am building something that matters a hell of a lot more. Because the version of me who used to drink herself into invisibility… is now creating a life out loud. In this episode, I’m taking you inside the real plot twist of sobriety—what happens when you don’t just quit drinking… you actually start living. We’re talking about: Why sobriety is not small, safe, or boring (it’s actually disruptive in the best way)How rock bottom can strip you down and make you unexpectedly fearlessThe identity shift that happens when you stop numbing and start noticing everythingMidlife power, body neutrality, and the freedom of no longer performing for approvalThe psychology of fashion, creativity, and self-expression in recoveryWhy “escaping” doesn’t go away—you just start escaping into things that expand youThe stigma around addiction and what happens when you tell the truth out loudWhat it’s like to exist in spaces (like fashion) where sobriety “doesn’t belong”… until it doesHow following small “breadcrumbs” led to building something bigger than I ever plannedThe vision behind the Vitela Runway Project—fashion, recovery, creativity, and community Because here’s the truth no one tells you: Sobriety doesn’t shrink your life. It expands it. And yeah—it’s inconvenient. Because now you actually have to show up for it. This episode is for the woman who: Quit drinking and is now thinking… “okay, but now what?”Feels more alive, more curious, and slightly overwhelmed by itIs ready to stop playing small and start experimenting with who she actually isWants more than just “not drinking”—she wants a life You don’t need a perfect plan. You need a breadcrumb. KEY TAKEAWAYSSobriety doesn’t remove desire—it brings it back onlineRock bottom can create grounded fearlessnessMidlife can be your most powerful era—not your declineCreativity is a powerful replacement for numbing and suppressionInternal validation > external approvalYou don’t need clarity—you need curiosity and action If you’re in that space— you’ve quit drinking, but you’re not interested in a small, controlled life— Come sit with us. Inside Rewired Sober, we don’t just talk about not drinking. We talk about building something with your life. Rewired Sober 1:1 Coaching Spots Are Open (But Fill Up Fast) Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance from Kate designed for women in sobriety. Book a discovery call to inquire: https://calendly.com/katevitelacoaching/deep-dive-1-1-w-kate Connect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/ Email: katevitelacoaching@gmail.com

    33 min

  2. APR 28

    EP 71: Sacred Rage: The Truth About Anger, Women & Sobriety

    Mama- You’re not too angry. You’re finally paying attention. In this episode, we’re talking about something that gets misunderstood, minimized, and straight-up pathologized—especially in women: Rage. Not surface-level irritation. Not “I need a bubble bath.” I’m talking about the kind of anger that makes you look at your life and go: “Are you kidding me?” This isn’t a “calm down and regulate” conversation. This is about sacred rage—what happens when you stop suppressing yourself, stop numbing out, and start seeing things clearly. We’re getting into: Why anger often explodes in early sobriety (and why that’s normal)The difference between anger and resentment (one moves, one traps you)How women are conditioned to suppress anger—and why that’s not accidentalWhy “look at your part” can actually backfire for womenWhat anger is really protecting (hint: it’s not just anger)How triggers aren’t problems—they’re informationThe connection between rage, grief, shame, and heartbreakWhy humor might be one of your most underrated tools in recoveryHow to actually work with your anger instead of bypassing it Because here’s the truth: Anger isn’t dysfunction. It’s data. And when you stop trying to eliminate it—and start understanding it—it becomes something else entirely: Clarity. Power. Direction. This episode is for the woman who: Feels more intense since getting soberIs tired of being told to “just let it go”Knows something isn’t right—but hasn’t fully trusted herself yetIs done being agreeable, quiet, and easy to manage You don’t need to become unbothered to heal. You need to become honest. KEY TAKEAWAYSAnger is activating and truth-telling; resentment is looping and drainingWomen’s anger has been historically minimized to maintain controlEarly sobriety removes the buffer—so emotions come back louderAnger is often a secondary emotion (underneath = grief, shame, hurt)Triggers reveal unmet needs, not personal flawsYou can feel rage and still be grounded, self-aware, and in control If this episode hit a nerve—good. That’s not a problem. That’s information. And if you’re ready to stop suppressing, bypassing, or second-guessing yourself… and actually learn how to work with your mind, your body, and your emotions in a way that builds self-trust— Come sit with me inside Rewired Sober. We're not numbing it out. We're not bypassing it. We ARE learning how to use it. Begin. Rewired Sober 1:1 Coaching Spots Are Open (But Fill Up Fast) Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance from Kate designed for women in sobriety. Book a discovery call to inquire: https://calendly.com/katevitelacoaching/deep-dive-1-1-w-kate Connect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/ Email: katevitelacoaching@gmail.com

    46 min

  3. APR 21

    EP: 70: Playing Follow The Leader: Red Flags of Cult Mentality in Sobriety, Friendships & Business

    What if the problem wasn’t just alcohol… but the way you were taught to stop thinking for yourself? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on something bigger than recovery culture. Deprogramming from AA dogma forced me to confront a deeper pattern—cult mentality—and how it shows up everywhere: sobriety spaces, religion, spiritual healing circles, coaching communities, friendships, and even romantic relationships. We’re not talking about extreme, fringe groups. We’re talking about everyday environments that: reward obediencepunish questioninguse fear, shame, or belonging to keep you in lineslowly disconnect you from your own voice I break down the actual psychological characteristics of cult-like systems, including: thought reform and control dynamicsloaded language and black-and-white thinkingwhy questioning gets labeled as “resistance” or “ego”how doctrine can override your lived experienceand how self-trust quietly erodes over time We also go deep into something that doesn’t get talked about enough: spiritualized gaslighting. You know the vibe: “you’re not manifesting hard enough”“your energy is off”“you’re low vibe”“you’re blocked” When everything becomes your fault, even your pain. I share honestly about why I was vulnerable to this—early sobriety, early business, high school (yikes), and relationships where I needed validation because underneath it all, I didn’t trust myself. This is not about blaming groups or shaming people. It’s about understanding how smart, capable women lose themselves in systems that promise healing, certainty, and belonging. And more importantly—how we get ourselves back. If you’ve ever: felt afraid to question something you were told was “the answer”noticed your mental health decline in a space that was supposed to help youfelt like you had to perform, comply, or stay quiet to belongor realized you were outsourcing your identity, intuition, or worth This episode is for you. Because recovery isn’t about following the leader. It’s about learning how to trust yourself again. ⬇️ READY TO GO DEEPER? Rewired Sober 1:1 Coaching Spots Are Open (But Fill Up Fast) Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance from Kate designed for women in sobriety. Book a discovery call to inquire: https://calendly.com/katevitelacoaching/deep-dive-1-1-w-kate Connect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/ Email: katevitelacoaching@gmail.com Deprogramming AA Tools w/ Kirsten: https://www.sobrietybestie.com/

    39 min
  4. EP 69: Diving In To The Black Hole Of Pain & Numbness: Nervous System Regulation With Amyee Oen

    APR 14

    EP 69: Diving In To The Black Hole Of Pain & Numbness: Nervous System Regulation With Amyee Oen

    ⬇️ READY TO GO DEEPER? Rewired Sober 1:1 Coaching Spots Are Open (But Fill Up Fast) Start anytime and get 3 months of guidance from Kate designed for women in sobriety. Book a discovery call to inquire: https://calendly.com/katevitelacoaching/deep-dive-1-1-w-kate Connect with Kate @rewiredsober on all social media platforms: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/ Email: katevitelacoaching@gmail.com Everyone is talking about nervous system regulation—but what does that actually look like in real life? In this episode, Kate sits down with nurse coach Amyee to talk about emotional numbness, why so many women feel disconnected from themselves, and what’s really happening in the body after years of stress, trauma, and dysregulation. They explore the idea of numbness as a “black hole”—something many women avoid through coping behaviors like drinking, scrolling, shopping, overeating, and overworking. But what if those behaviors aren’t failures… and are actually attempts to regulate an overwhelmed nervous system? This conversation breaks down: why numbness happenshow the nervous system drives coping behaviorsthe difference between mindset work and somatic workwhy proper training matters in somatic coachingand how to start reconnecting with your body in practical, real-life ways If you’ve ever felt checked out, flat, or like you’re just going through the motions—this episode will help you understand why… and what to do next. Key TopicsNervous system regulation in everyday lifeEmotional numbness and disconnectionTrauma, chronic stress, and dysregulationThe “black hole” of avoided emotionsWhy women numb out (alcohol, scrolling, food, shopping, overworking)Somatic work vs. mindset workThe importance of training and expertise in somatic coachingPractical tools for grounding and staying present What We Get IntoNumbness Isn’t Random Why feeling flat, disconnected, or “off” is often the result of a chronically overwhelmed nervous system—not a personal failure. The Black Hole The uncomfortable truth: many women avoid deeper pain, grief, or unresolved emotions by staying busy, distracted, or numbed out—and what it takes to actually face that space. Coping Isn’t the Problem Drinking, scrolling, eating, shopping, overworking—these aren’t just bad habits. They’re attempts to regulate stress when your system doesn’t feel safe. Why Mindset Isn’t Enough You can’t think your way into feeling safe. This episode explores why empowerment has to include the body—not just thoughts. Somatic Work That Actually Helps What real nervous system support looks like (and why training matters if someone is guiding others through this work). Practical Regulation (Without Escaping Your Life) Simple, realistic ways to stay grounded, aware, and connected to your body throughout the day. Connect with the guest Amyee Oen: www.amyeeoen.com IG/FB @amyeeoen @findyourtruenorthcoaching

    50 min

  5. APR 7

    EP: 68 Good Girl No More: What I’m Shedding and Why I’m Embracing My Angry Feminist Era

    Connect with Kate at Rewired Sober on All Social Media Platforms Book a Discovery Call with Kate: https://calendly.com/katevitelacoaching/deep-dive-1-1-w-kate Email the Podcast: katevitelacoaching@gmail.com In this solo episode, Kate shares what she can feel falling away in her life—and what she’s consciously choosing to embrace instead. Inspired by a meditation on the goddess Kali from the work of Meggan Watterson and the spiritual teaching of choosing love over fear from A Course in Miracles, Kate reflects on the identities, beliefs, and systems she’s outgrowing. From recovery dogma and online hustle culture to “good girl” conditioning, this episode explores what it looks like to stop shrinking—and start living with honesty, courage, creativity, and unapologetic feminist energy. Kate reflects on a powerful question that emerged during a meditation inspired by the work of Meggan Watterson and her Divine Feminine oracle deck. The card of the goddess Kali invites a confronting but liberating intention: release all that doesn’t serve you and become the truth of who you are. This episode explores what it means to consciously choose love over fear, a concept also central to the teachings of A Course in Miracles. Kate shares several areas of life where she can feel old identities, beliefs, and structures naturally falling away—and what she is embracing instead. This conversation is about honesty, growth, and the courage to outgrow what once felt necessary. In this episode, Kate talks about:• Shedding the pressure of the online business “hustle culture” model and embracing authentic connection with real communities of women in recovery • Letting go of recovery dogma, fear-based thinking, and outdated rhetoric while embracing neuroscience, feminism, soul work, and self-trust • Releasing the “good girl” conditioning that keeps women quiet about politics, injustice, and women’s rights—and finding the courage to speak honestly • Redefining fashion and creativity as personal expression rather than trend-chasing or external validation • The spiritual practice of allowing old identities to fall away so a more authentic life can emerge This episode is an invitation to ask yourself: What in my life is an old skin? What am I holding onto out of fear? And what might happen if I chose love instead?

    39 min

  6. MAR 31

    EP 67: Navigating Early Sobriety: The Brutally Honest Truth (With Alot of F Bombs)

    Early sobriety can feel confusing, emotional, and honestly… pretty weird. You quit drinking and everyone expects life to magically improve overnight. But the truth is, the early stages of sobriety often come with exhaustion, emotional whiplash, boredom, and a lot of questions about who you are without alcohol. In this solo episode, Kate Vitela, RN, takes a no-nonsense, honest look at early sobriety—what’s actually happening in your brain, why emotions feel so intense, and why this phase can feel both awkward and transformative at the same time. Kate breaks down the real challenges people face after quitting alcohol, from the neurological recalibration happening in your brain to the emotional and identity shifts that often follow. She also shares practical ways to stabilize your nervous system, rebuild routines, and navigate the messy middle of sobriety without shame. This conversation is especially relevant for midlife women who have spent years carrying responsibilities, performing strength, and using alcohol as a socially acceptable coping tool. When alcohol leaves the picture, many women begin reclaiming clarity, boundaries, creativity, and self-trust. Early sobriety may feel uncomfortable at times—but it’s also where something powerful begins. It’s where you start rebuilding a life that no longer revolves around coping. If you’re newly sober or questioning your relationship with alcohol, this episode offers a grounded reminder: nothing is wrong with you. Your brain and nervous system are recalibrating, and with time, support, and honesty, a new kind of confidence and clarity can emerge. In This EpisodeWhy early sobriety can feel emotionally intense and disorientingWhat’s actually happening in your brain after you stop drinkingThe emotional whiplash many people experience in the early stages of sobrietyWhy boredom is one of the most common and surprising challengesHow sobriety can shift relationships and social dynamicsThe identity questions that often arise after alcohol is removedPractical strategies that help stabilize the nervous system during early recoveryWhy midlife sobriety can become a powerful turning point for womenHow rebuilding self-trust becomes one of the biggest rewards of sobriety Things That Actually Help in Early SobrietyCreating structure through sleep, meals, and daily routinesMoving your body to regulate stress and restore dopamine balanceStabilizing blood sugar with consistent nutritionBuilding new rituals to replace drinking habitsLearning emotional literacy and how to name what you’re feelingReducing unnecessary chaos and protecting your energyStaying curious about your experience instead of judging itFinding honest conversations and supportive connection Key TakeawayEarly sobriety isn’t just about removing alcohol. It’s about rebuilding your nervous system, your identity, and your life. The process can feel awkward and uncomfortable at times—but on the other side of that rebuild is something many people never experienced while drinking: real clarity, self-trust, and freedom. Work With Kate: https://calendly.com/katevitelacoaching/deep-dive-1-1-w-kate Email The Podcast: katevitelacoaching@gmail.com

    49 min
  7. EP 66: When the Caregiver Breaks: Nurses, Addiction, and the System Meant to Help- With Stephanie Kelley on Nursing, Motherhood, and Resilience.

    MAR 24

    EP 66: When the Caregiver Breaks: Nurses, Addiction, and the System Meant to Help- With Stephanie Kelley on Nursing, Motherhood, and Resilience.

    ⬇️ READY TO GO DEEPER? https://linktr.ee/KateVitela If you’re a midlife woman questioning your relationship with alcohol or figuring out what comes next in sobriety, I’ve created resources to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. Nurses spend their careers taking care of everyone else. But what happens when the caregiver is the one who needs help? In this episode, Kate sits down with Stephanie, an ICU nurse with 26 years of experience, a mother of three, and a powerful advocate for honesty and compassion in the conversation around addiction and recovery in healthcare. Stephanie brings both clinical insight and lived experience to a topic that many nurses know exists—but rarely talk about openly: monitoring programs for healthcare professionals struggling with substance use. After Kate came across one of Stephanie’s social media posts about receiving a random UA, it sparked a deeper conversation about the realities many nurses face behind the scenes. It also brought Kate back to the origin of her own podcast journey—when the show was first called “You’ve Been Selected,” a phrase that captures what it can feel like to suddenly find yourself navigating recovery systems you never expected to enter. Together they explore the complex intersection of burnout, stigma, accountability, recovery, and motherhood, and ask a bigger question about healthcare culture: Are the systems designed to help struggling professionals actually supporting healing—or simply monitoring behavior? This conversation is not about avoiding responsibility. Patient safety and accountability matter. But so does compassion for the caregivers working in one of the most demanding professions on the planet. This episode opens an honest discussion about what it looks like to fall, take responsibility, rebuild trust, and find your way forward as both a nurse and a human being. In this episode we discuss: • The intense pressures nurses face in high-acuity environments like the ICU • The connection between burnout, substance use, and mental health in healthcare • What it’s really like to enter a professional monitoring program • The fear and stigma many nurses face when asking for help • Accountability, recovery, and rebuilding a career after crisis • Navigating motherhood and professional identity during recovery • How healthcare systems can better support nurses before things reach a breaking point If you’re a nurse—or anyone working in a high-pressure helping profession—this conversation offers an honest look at the human side of healthcare. You are not the only one who has struggled, and there is a path forward. Listen, reflect, and share this episode with a nurse who might need to hear it. Connect With Kate: https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/ Guest Info: Stephanie Kelley https://www.instagram.com/sober_steph_mom_nurse/

    55 min
  8. EP 65: Women’s Recovery & Workaholism: Healing the Whole Woman with Dawn Nickel from SHE RECOVERS

    MAR 17

    EP 65: Women’s Recovery & Workaholism: Healing the Whole Woman with Dawn Nickel from SHE RECOVERS

    In this episode of Rewired Sober, host Kate Vitela, RN sits down with Dawn Nickel, founder of SHE RECOVERS, to explore what women’s recovery looks like when we stop forcing it into one narrow definition. SHE RECOVERS is a global nonprofit dedicated to making recovery accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all women—not just those recovering from substance use, but women healing from mental health challenges, trauma, eating disorders, burnout, and the many ways life impacts the nervous system. In this powerful conversation, Dawn shares: Why SHE RECOVERS was created as a nonprofit focused on accessible recovery for womenHow an intersectional approach honors race, LGBTQ+ identities, lived experience, and cultural contextWhy “we are all recovering from something” is more than a slogan—it’s a truth rooted in women’s biology and social conditioningThe importance of allowing the whole woman into recovery spaces, without fragmenting her experiencesDawn’s personal journey with workaholism and how socially acceptable addictions often go unnamedWhy traditional recovery models that insist on “no outside issues” often fail women This episode challenges the idea that women must separate their struggles into neat categories to deserve support. Instead, it offers a model of recovery that understands trauma, mental health, substance use, overwork, and identity as interconnected—not competing narratives. If you’ve ever felt like traditional recovery spaces didn’t fully see you, this conversation will resonate deeply. Because healing doesn’t happen in pieces. And women don’t recover in isolation Connect with Kate at Rewired Sober on All Social Media Platforms Book a Discovery Call with Kate: https://calendly.com/katevitelacoaching/deep-dive-1-1-w-kate Email the Podcast: katevitelacoaching@gmail.com Connect With Guest Dawn Nickel: Websites: https://dawnnickel.com/ and https://sherecovers.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawnnickelphd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recoveringdawn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-nickel-phd-576ab021/

    48 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Rewired Sober is a feminist sobriety podcast for women in midlife and early recovery who are done being talked down to. If you’ve quit drinking — or are thinking about it — and traditional recovery models left you feeling small, ashamed, or powerless, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken. This podcast explores sobriety through neuroscience, nervous system regulation, and feminist self-trust, not moral failure or lifelong labels. Hosted by Kate, a board-certified addiction and mental health registered nurse with over two decades of experience, a nurse coach, and a SHE RECOVERS® coach, Rewired Sober bridges clinical science with lived experience. Kate brings a trauma-aware, no-shame lens to recovery — combining brain science, nervous system education, and soul-level inquiry to help women rebuild trust in themselves after alcohol. This podcast is for women asking: – Why does early sobriety feel so intense in my body and brain? – What’s actually happening neurologically when I stop drinking? – How do I rebuild self-trust after years of coping with alcohol? – Is there a way to recover without shame, obedience, or surrendering my intuition? Episodes blend science and soul — from how alcohol affects the female brain, to midlife nervous system shifts, to unlearning the cultural and patriarchal conditioning that taught women to numb, cope, and self-abandon. This is not a 12-step podcast. This is not a powerlessness model. And it’s not about fixing what was never broken. Rewired Sober is for women who want sobriety that makes them stronger, clearer, and more themselves — not smaller. If you’re sober and wondering now what? You’re in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Kate Vitela
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Kate Vitela
  • Show Website
    Rewired Sober

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