We're Sober, Now What?

Melissa Kelly, Ph.D. and Amanda Grace
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Quitting drinking is a monumental milestone—whether you’ve just had your last hangover or have been living alcohol-free for years. But what comes next? That’s exactly what we’re here to talk about. We’re Amanda Grace and Melissa Kelly, Ph.D.—two women who’ve traded happy hours for genuine happiness and are here to help you navigate the ups, downs, and downright hilarious moments of sober life. Whether you’re looking for real talk, relatable stories, or actionable advice, this podcast is for you. weresobernowwhat.substack.com

  1. 13. Spring Into Self-Care: Embracing New Routines and Letting Go of Old Habits

    03/27/2025

    13. Spring Into Self-Care: Embracing New Routines and Letting Go of Old Habits

    Amanda and Melissa share updates from their lives, including exciting personal milestones and the challenges of maintaining sobriety amidst significant life events. Hear about Melissa's spring self-care challenge, designed to refresh and reinforce positive habits as the season changes. They discuss the importance of adapting self-care practices to fit personal needs and the benefits of moving away from rigid habit tracking to a more forgiving and flexible approach. This episode will inspire you to : Reflect on your own daily habits.Embrace a flexible mindset towards tracking & setbacks Explore what you genuinely enjoy.Recognise discomfort & be mindful of self-sabotage.Identify and challenge negative self-talk . Trust in the process of personal growth. Love this episode? Subscribe to receive episodes direct to your inbox and join the conversation! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, we'd appreciate it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit weresobernowwhat.substack.com

    1h 6m
  2. 12. What to do when you just start feeling 'Meh' in Sobriety?

    03/21/2025

    12. What to do when you just start feeling 'Meh' in Sobriety?

    What to do when you just start feeling 'Meh' in Sobriety? What happens when the "pink cloud" parts? Amanda & Melissa explore the challenges when life's excitement diminishes and how to cope with the mundane aspects of sober living They offer practical advice from their own experience of keeping sobriety engaging and fulfilling over the long term. As well as the importance of emotional regulation and choosing healthier coping mechanisms over old destructive habits. We hope this episode will encourage you to reflect on your own sobriety journey and be inspired to keep it vibrant and fulfilling. Love this episode? Subscribe to receive episodes direct to your inbox and join the conversation! Leave a review and let us know: How do you keep your sobriety vibrant and fulfilling? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit weresobernowwhat.substack.com

    1h 7m
  3. 11. When ‘Better’ Is Never Enough

    03/14/2025

    11. When ‘Better’ Is Never Enough

    What happens when you replace drinking with a relentless pursuit of self-improvement? In this episode, Amanda and Melissa explore the never-ending cycle of striving to be “better” in sobriety—and why it can be just as exhausting as drinking itself. They unpack the pressure to constantly optimise, hustle, and perform, especially in a world saturated with self-help and personal growth culture. Amanda reflects on her own perfectionism, the “arrival fallacy” that kept her chasing external goals, and the realisation that self-worth isn’t something to earn—it’s something to recognise. From online validation traps to "digital & geographic cures", this episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt like they need to do more, be more, or achieve more just to feel okay. Tune in for real talk on learning to be enough—without the endless chase. Love this episode? Hit like & follow, subscribe to our SUBSTACK and join the conversation! Leave a review and let us know in the comments: Have you ever fallen into the self-improvement trap? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit weresobernowwhat.substack.com

    1h 3m
  4. 10. What We Wish People Understood About Our Sobriety

    03/07/2025

    10. What We Wish People Understood About Our Sobriety

    Amanda and Melissa respond to a listener request to talk about the misconceptions, challenges & sometimes the plain awkwardness of choosing a sober life. From navigating social situations to explaining their choice to others, they break down why sobriety is so much more than willpower or hitting “rock bottom.”  If you've ever felt misunderstood in sobriety—or struggled with how to explain it—this episode will help you own your journey with confidence. Tune in for: The biggest misconceptions about sobriety Why willpower isn’t the solution—and what actually works. How media normalises drinking and why that matters. The emotional side of sobriety—self-discovery, shifting friendships, and setting boundaries. How to navigate social situations without feeling awkward. The best (and worst) ways to respond when someone shares they’re sober. Love this episode? Subscribe to our ⁠SUBSTACK⁠ and join the conversation! Leave a review and share your thoughts on this episode. Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit weresobernowwhat.substack.com

    1h 1m
  5. 9. Criticism & Praise

    02/28/2025

    9. Criticism & Praise

    What happens when your self-worth is tied to what other people think? In this episode, Amanda and Melissa unpack the downsides of criticism AND praise and the trap of thinking our work - whether it be personal or professional - only has value if it gets attention. It’s not uncommon that patterns of approval seeking still linger post-sobriety. The hosts share the ways the need for external validation shows up in their lives still today & distracts from real growth. Together, they break down these different manifestations of craving and how to own these important needs & the meeting of them as an inside job. If you’ve ever felt like your value depends on how others see you & are ready to shift from needing validation to trusting your own voice—this episode is for you.  Love this episode? Subscribe to our ⁠SUBSTACK⁠ and join the conversation! Leave a review and share your thoughts on this episode. Thanks for listening!  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit weresobernowwhat.substack.com

    57 min
  6. 8. Getting Clear: How to Identify What You Truly Need in Sobriety

    02/21/2025

    8. Getting Clear: How to Identify What You Truly Need in Sobriety

    What if the clarity you’re searching for isn’t something to find—but something to create? In this episode of We’re Sober, Now What?, Amanda and Melissa explore the power of clarifying needs and expectations in sobriety and beyond. Amanda introduces a powerful journaling exercise designed to help listeners pinpoint what they truly need—not just in sobriety, but in life. This process helps break down broad desires into tangible actions, qualities, and guiding principles that actually work. They also tackle the balance between trust and control, showing how shifting focus from seeking answers to recognizing them can transform the way we experience recovery. If you’ve ever felt like you’re waiting for external clarity, this episode will help you turn inward and take ownership of what you need. Tune in for insights, self-reflection tools, and a new way to align expectations with reality. . Love this episode? Subscribe to our SUBSTACK and join the conversation! Leave a review and share how you’re creating clarity in your own journey. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit weresobernowwhat.substack.com

    1h 12m
  7. 7. From Alcohol Recovery to Burnout Recovery: Our stories

    02/14/2025

    7. From Alcohol Recovery to Burnout Recovery: Our stories

    Sobriety stopped complicating life, but what happens when burnout takes over? In this episode , Amanda and Melissa highlight the unexpected parallels between alcohol recovery and burnout recovery—and why so many sober people find themselves chasing the next high through work, achievement, or external validation. They get real about: The misconceptions about burnout The addictive nature of workaholism &why slowing down feels like a threat. How the coaching industry fuels burnout with toxic productivity culture. The hidden costs of perfectionism, people-pleasing & chasing the algorithm. Practical tools to break free from burnout without falling into self-sabotage. If you’ve ever felt like you replaced drinking with overworking & over-achieving — this conversation is for you. . If this episode resonates, we would be grateful if you could like, follow & rate the podcast & share with a friend. . Subscribe to We’re Sober, Now What? onSUBSTACK & join the conversation! Leave a comment and share your burnout experiences—we’d love to hear how you’re navigating recovery beyond alcohol! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit weresobernowwhat.substack.com

    1h 2m
  8. 6. Beyond Abstinence: Daily Practices That Build True Recovery

    02/07/2025

    6. Beyond Abstinence: Daily Practices That Build True Recovery

    Sobriety isn’t just about quitting—it’s about what comes next. In this episode, Amanda and Melissa, dive into the difference between stark, raving abstinence (just quitting the substance) and actually doing the deeper work of recovery. Amanda shares a five-question daily journaling practice that’s helping her build self-respect, break free from external validation-seeking, and recover from burnout. Melissa opens up about her own struggles with self-doubt and the ongoing nature of inner work, even after years of sobriety. If you’ve ever felt like sobriety should feel better or wondered why old patterns keep showing up, this conversation will help you shift your focus from just abstinence to true healing. Tune in for honest insights, real talk about self-worth, and practical tools to support your sober journey. . Connect With Us: Love this episode? Subscribe to our SUBSTACK and join the conversation! Share your thoughts by leaving a review or connecting with Amanda and Melissa on their journey to sobriety and self-discovery. Listen on SPOTIFY & APPLE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit weresobernowwhat.substack.com

    55 min
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About

Quitting drinking is a monumental milestone—whether you’ve just had your last hangover or have been living alcohol-free for years. But what comes next? That’s exactly what we’re here to talk about. We’re Amanda Grace and Melissa Kelly, Ph.D.—two women who’ve traded happy hours for genuine happiness and are here to help you navigate the ups, downs, and downright hilarious moments of sober life. Whether you’re looking for real talk, relatable stories, or actionable advice, this podcast is for you. weresobernowwhat.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Kelly, Ph.D. and Amanda Grace
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Melissa Kelly, Ph.D.
  • Show Website
    We're Sober, Now What?