Feel Good Alcohol-Free with Lindsay Hennekey

Lindsay Hennekey
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Health & Fitness

Hi, I'm Lindsay Hennekey, Sober Coach and Founder of Feel Good AF. This is a podcast for women who are sober or sober curious, looking for support in navigating a life without alcohol. I'm so glad you are here.  You may be thinking: What does an alcohol-free life look like for me? How do I live a life without drinking that doesn’t feel like I am missing something? How do I move beyond alcohol and into the elevated version of myself that I know is inside of me.  You are a hardworking, high-achieving, successful woman in so many areas of your life, who deserves to find a solution to the one big issue that has been holding you back. The solution exists and that's what this podcast is all about.  Each episode we'll cover one area of the Feel Good AF methodology - why moderation doesn't work, what to do when you have a slip, how to celebrate milestones, where you will find your alcohol-free community - and everything in between.  You'll be hearing a lot from me, but I'll also be bringing in a wide range of incredible women to share their stories, expertise, tips & advice, and so much more. Follow Feel Good Alcohol-Free wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to my YouTube channel for video episodes. Thanks for listening! Lindsay is your sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol, consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox. 

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 80: Why Your Husband Keeps Offering You Wine When You’re Trying to Quit Drinking

    🎁 Get Lindsay's Free Three Wins in 48 Hours Resource Download “Three Wins in 48 Hours” You’ve told your husband you’re trying to quit drinking. So why does he still offer you wine on Friday night? He may genuinely think he’s helping. The problem is that he may not understand what you’re actually trying to change. There’s a big difference between saying, “I’m not drinking this week,” and explaining, “I’m spending way more time thinking about alcohol than you realize, and I’m trying to change my relationship with it.” In this episode, Lindsay talks about what happens when your partner sees the drinking but doesn’t see the mental negotiation happening behind it. In This Episode, Lindsay Covers: Why your husband may think offering you “just one” is supportiveThe beliefs about alcohol that can unintentionally reinforce drinkingWhat your partner may not see about your daily mental battle with alcoholHow Lindsay's own marriage changed when she became more vulnerableHow to communicate what support actually looks likeWhy your partner isn't responsible for whether you drinkHow practicing new behaviors builds self-trustWhy you don't need a rock bottom to decide you want something differentThe Conversation to Have Instead of simply saying, “I'm not drinking,” try explaining what’s actually happening: “I need you to understand why this is important to me. I keep deciding I don't want to drink, and then I change my mind later. I'm spending much more time thinking about alcohol than you probably realize.” Then tell your partner what would actually help. Maybe that means not offering you wine, not telling you that you've earned a drink, or simply asking what you need when you're struggling. Your partner can't support what they don't understand. Building Self-Trust Changing your relationship with alcohol isn't just about removing wine from your evening. It's about practicing new ways to cope, relax, celebrate, socialize, and respond to stress. Every time you make a decision you actually want to make and follow through, you create evidence that you can trust yourself. You don't have to solve everything today. Start with one decision. I said I was going to do this — and I did it. 💬 Ready for More Support? Learn more about working with Lindsay through coaching If this episode made you think, “Oh my God, my husband does this,” send it to a woman who needs to hear it. You have better things to think about than drinking, my friend. Support the show Here's how you can stay connected:  🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching📱Follow along on Instagram📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletterAnd remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

    Episode 80: Why Your Husband Keeps Offering You Wine When You’re Trying to Quit Drinking

  2. Sep 23

    Episode 79: Why You Want a Drink at 5 PM Even When You Promised Yourself You Wouldn’t

    🎟️ Reserve your free seat for Lindsay's How to Become the Woman Who Doesn't Want Alcohol Save your seat for “How to Become the Woman Who Doesn't Want Alcohol” Why You Want a Drink at 5 PM—Even When You Promised Yourself You Wouldn’t You wake up at 8 AM completely certain: “I’m not drinking tonight.” You mean it. And then somehow, by 5 PM, one glass of wine sounds like the perfect idea. If you’ve ever wondered why your morning decision seems to disappear by the end of the workday, this episode is for you. In the Season 4 finale of Feel Good Alcohol Free, Lindsay Hennekey explores why knowing what you want to do about drinking isn't always the same as trusting yourself to follow through—and why the solution isn't simply trying harder. In This Episode Your 8 AM brain and your 5 PM brain are asking different questions. In the morning: “What do I want to do about my relationship with alcohol?” At 5 PM: “What would make me feel better right now?” If alcohol has been your go-to answer for years, your brain has learned that pattern. Instead of only asking “Why do I want a drink?”, Lindsay encourages you to ask: “What do I want the drink to do for me?” Maybe you're looking for: Relief after a stressful day A rewardA transition out of workA way to stop thinkingA mood changeSomething to look forward toTime when nobody needs anything from youOnce you understand the job alcohol has been doing, you can begin practicing another response. What You'll Learn Why your morning decision may not carry you through the eveningWhy 3–5 PM can be the most important part of your day to studyHow alcohol becomes connected to stress, relaxation, celebration, and routinesHow to interrupt your usual drinking pattern before the urge gets loudWhy self-trust comes from practiceHow repeated experiences can change your relationship with alcoholHow identity, practice, and trust work together A Client Story Lindsay shares the story of a coaching client whose drinking thoughts appeared almost every day around 3 PM and 5 PM. For her, wine represented more than a drink. It meant: “I’m done. I’m home. I get to go offline.” Together, they worked on creating a new transition into the evening—changing her environment, getting outside, taking breaks, and creating new alcohol-free rituals with her family. Over time, she began collecting evidence that she could: Come home without drinkingCook and relax without wineHandle stressful days without drinkingNavigate social situations without automatically reaching for alcoholShe didn't find one magical trick. She practiced.And that practice became self-trust. Your 5 PM Practice If this sounds familiar, don't just focus on your morning decision. Study your afternoon. Ask yourself: When does the negotiation actually begin?What happens right before it? Are you hungry, tired, overstimulated, bored, lonely, or irritated? Then ask: What is alcohol promising me right now? And finally: What could I practice instead—just tonight? Maybe it's eating something, going outside, changing your clothes, taking a shower, calling someone, making an alcohol-free drink, or simply taking 20 minutes for yourself. The specific strategy matters less than the practice. Every time you follow through, you're collecting evidence that you can trust yourself. The Takeaway You don't have to wait until you magically stop wanting relief. You're going to have stressful days. You're going to get tired. You're going to want to check out. The work is learning to respond differently when those moments arrive. Self-trust isn't something you need before you begin. It's something you build—one practice, one decision, and one piece of evidence at a time. You have better things to think about than drinking. Support the show Here's how you can stay connected:  🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching📱Follow along on Instagram📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletterAnd remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

    Episode 79: Why You Want a Drink at 5 PM Even When You Promised Yourself You Wouldn’t

  3. Sep 16

    Episode 78: Using Breathwork to Regulate Stress & Break the Cycle of Coping with Megan Ashton

    What if the tool you need to manage stress, uncomfortable emotions, and the urge to reach for a drink has been with you all along? In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Megan Ashton, founder of Unity Breathwork, to explore the power of breathwork as a tool for nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and healthier coping. Megan shares her own powerful healing journey through bulimia, alcohol dependence, and years of using travel and other distractions to avoid uncomfortable emotions. After discovering conscious connected breathwork, she experienced a profound emotional release and eventually found that her reliance on binge drinking and binge eating began to fall away. Together, Lindsay and Megan talk about why we often turn to alcohol, food, shopping, scrolling, or other quick dopamine hits when we're overwhelmed, and how building a stronger relationship with our nervous system can create more space between a difficult emotion and an automatic reaction. In this episode, you'll learn: Why stress and unprocessed emotions can make us more likely to reach for alcohol or other coping mechanisms.The difference between everyday regulating breathwork and conscious connected breathwork.How breath awareness throughout the day can help interrupt the cycle of overwhelm.Why practicing breathwork regularly may make it easier to use when you're actually stressed.A simple five-count coherence breathing exercise you can try in just a few minutes.How conscious connected breathwork is used to explore deeper emotional experiences.Why Megan believes we don't need to keep looking outside ourselves for every answer—we already have access to our breath.How creating space to feel emotions can change the way we respond to life's inevitable curveballs.Why developing healthy coping tools is a practice rather than a one-time fix. Try a Free Conscious Connected Breathwork Journey Want to experience breathwork for yourself? Megan offers a Free Conscious Connected Breathwork Journey online. This is a great opportunity to experience the practice and explore what breathwork may offer you. → Free Conscious Connected Breathwork Journey A simple breathing practice from this episode Megan guides Lindsay and listeners through coherence breathing: Inhale through your nose for 5 counts. Exhale through your nose for 5 counts. Repeat for several minutes. The goal is to slow the breath, eliminate the pause between the inhale and exhale, and create a calming rhythm. Start gently and stop if you feel uncomfortable, dizzy, or unwell. For deeper or activating breathwork practices, Megan emphasizes the importance of working with an appropriately trained facilitator and considering individual safety and contraindications. About Megan Ashton Megan Ashton is the founder of Unity Breathwork and a breathwork educator and trainer. Her personal healing journey led her to conscious connected breathwork, and she now focuses on trauma-informed practice, facilitator competency, and education around breathwork and altered states of consciousness. She leads breathwork retreats in Mexico and directs Unity Breathwork's professional training program. Connect with Megan Learn more about Megan’s work, upcoming breathwork sessions, retreats, training, and resources at unitybreathwork.com. You can also follow Megan and Unity Breathwork on Instagram at @unitybreathwork. A note for listeners Breathwork can affect people differently, and some forms of breathwork can be physically and emotionally intense. The breathing exercise discussed in this episode is presented as a simple relaxation practice, not as a substitute for medical or mental-health care. If you have a medical or mental-health condition, are pregnant, or have concerns about whether breathwork is appropriate for you, consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before participating in intensive breathwork. If you're working on changing your relationship with alcohol, remember that you don't have to rely on willpower alone. Building a toolkit of healthy ways to respond to stress, emotions, and cravings can be an important part of the process. Support the show Here's how you can stay connected:  🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching📱Follow along on Instagram📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletterAnd remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

    Episode 78: Using Breathwork to Regulate Stress & Break the Cycle of Coping with Megan Ashton

  4. Sep 9

    Episode 77: Alcohol + Perimenopause: Is wine making your symptoms worse?

    Have you ever wondered whether alcohol is making your perimenopause symptoms worse—or if what you're experiencing is simply part of getting older? In this episode, Lindsay Hennekey gets honest about the confusing overlap between alcohol and perimenopause, from 3 a.m. wakeups and night sweats to anxiety, irritability, low energy, brain fog, and the feeling that wine just doesn't affect you the way it used to. Lindsay explores why alcohol deserves to be part of the conversation when you're trying to understand what's happening in your body. She also talks about the temptation to change everything—your workouts, supplements, diet, sleep routine, skincare, and hormone strategy—while giving alcohol a free pass. But what if removing alcohol could give you some of the information you've been looking for? In this episode: Why alcohol deserves a place in the perimenopause conversationHow alcohol can affect your sleep and contribute to those 3 a.m. wakeupsWhy wine may suddenly affect you differently than it did in your 20s and 30sThe difference between getting temporary relief from alcohol and getting the results you actually wantHow alcohol can contribute to the cycle of exhaustion, anxiety, and reaching for another drinkWhy high-achieving women are often willing to change everything except their drinkingThe connection between alcohol, calories, and weight management during perimenopauseWhy taking a meaningful break from alcohol can be a powerful experimentWhat you can learn by paying attention to your sleep, energy, anxiety, mood, and other symptoms without alcoholWhy stopping drinking doesn't magically cure perimenopause—and why that's not the pointWhat to do when you already know you'd feel better without alcohol but still want the drink at 5:30 p.m.Why knowing alcohol isn't helping isn't always enough to change your behaviorThe importance of having new ways to cope with stress, discomfort, boredom, celebration, and connectionHow identity, practice, and self-trust help you build an alcohol-free lifeWhy every alcohol-free decision creates evidence that you can trust yourselfIf you're in perimenopause and feel like your body suddenly changed all the rules, this conversation is for you. You don't have to blame alcohol for every symptom. And you don't have to assume every symptom is caused by perimenopause, either. Instead, get curious. Remove one variable. Pay attention to what changes—and just as importantly, what doesn't. And if you already know alcohol isn't helping but you're still struggling to stop going back to it, the work may not be about learning more about alcohol. It may be about learning what to do at 5:30 p.m., on the stressful Wednesday, after a terrible night's sleep, at dinner with friends, or when you simply want to escape how you're feeling. You don't have to decide today that you'll never drink again. You can start by practicing becoming the woman you want to be—and building the evidence that you can trust yourself. If you found this episode was helpful, here is another you might enjoy: Episode 64: Alcohol, Perimenopause, and Feeling Good Again Join Lindsay for Feel Good AF Friday: Lindsay is hosting a free live workshop on September 25 at 12 p.m. Eastern focused on why you can know exactly what you want to do about your drinking and still struggle to trust yourself to follow through. Register using the link in the show notes. And remember: You have better things to think about than drinking. Support the show Here's how you can stay connected:  🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching📱Follow along on Instagram📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletterAnd remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

    Episode 77: Alcohol + Perimenopause: Is wine making your symptoms worse?

  5. Sep 2

    Episode 76: Make Sober September Help You Quit Drinking

    Have you ever completed 30 days without alcohol, felt amazing, and then found yourself right back in the same drinking pattern a few weeks later? In this episode, Lindsay breaks down why taking a 30-day break from alcohol can be incredibly valuable but why completing Sober September, Dry January, or another alcohol-free challenge doesn't necessarily mean you've changed your relationship with alcohol. After years of using 30-day breaks as proof that she could control her drinking, Lindsay knows firsthand what it feels like to make it through the month only to return to the same daily negotiation: Am I drinking tonight? How much? When can I start? Maybe I'll just wait until Monday. In this episode, she explores what happens when you stop focusing only on the number of alcohol-free days and start looking at the patterns, situations, relationships, and emotions that make drinking feel like the answer. In this episode: Why 30 alcohol-free days and lasting change aren't necessarily the same thingHow alcohol can become part of your workday transitions, celebrations, relationships, and coping strategiesWhy generic advice like "practice self-care" isn't always enoughHow to identify what happens right before the thought of drinking beginsWhy your hardest drinking moments can reveal exactly where your plan needs workHow to prepare for the end of the workday, Friday nights, social events, and other high-risk situationsWhat to say when friends, coworkers, or your partner ask about your decision not to drinkHow to ask your partner for the kind of support you actually needWhy drinking during an alcohol-free challenge doesn't mean you've failedHow to use difficult moments as information instead of turning them into shameThe difference between enduring the absence of alcohol and learning how to live without making alcohol the answerWhy self-trust comes from collecting evidence that you can rely on yourselfLindsay's Identity, Practice, and Trust approach to lasting changeWhen another 30-day challenge may not be what you actually needIf you've done Sober September, Dry January, or multiple alcohol-free challenges and keep finding yourself back in the same drinking loop, this episode is for you. You don't need another perfect streak. You may need to understand what happens in the moments when your old plan falls apart—and build a new plan around your actual life. And if this is your first alcohol-free break, let September give you information. Pay attention to when you want to drink, what happens beforehand, what you're expecting alcohol to do for you, and what becomes easier or harder without it. You don't need to wait for a new month, a Monday, or perfect conditions to make a change. The goal isn't simply to prove that you can go 30 days without drinking. It's to start building a life where you can trust yourself around alcohol. Support the show Here's how you can stay connected:  🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching📱Follow along on Instagram📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletterAnd remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

    Episode 76: Make Sober September Help You Quit Drinking

  6. Aug 26

    Episode 75: The Truth About Rock Bottom, Relapse & Recovery with Ryan Kennedy

    Have you ever wondered if you can change your relationship with alcohol without having to identify as an “alcoholic,” follow a specific recovery program, or hit rock bottom first? In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Ryan Kennedy, host of Rock Bottom With Ryan, to talk honestly about addiction, recovery, vulnerability, AA, and finding your own path to sobriety. After years of heavy drinking, repeated attempts to control his alcohol use, hospitalizations, injuries, seizures, and relapse, Ryan finally reached a point where he knew he needed help. Now, nearly two years sober, he’s using his experience to help others through honest conversations about recovery, mental health, trauma, and second chances. Ryan and Lindsay also discuss his unique approach to AA — embracing the community and connection while taking what resonates and leaving what doesn’t. In this episode:  Ryan’s journey through addiction, relapse, and recovery  Why you don’t have to hit rock bottom to change your drinking  How comparing your drinking to others can keep you stuck  Finding your own approach to AA and recovery  The power of community, friendship, and connection  Why vulnerability can be a turning point in recovery  How shame and emotional avoidance can fuel drinking  Why you don’t need a label to change your relationship with alcohol  The “normal drinker” mindset and why it can keep you stuck  How sobriety can unlock your potential  Ryan’s plans to become a sober coach If you've been questioning your drinking but don't relate to traditional recovery language, this conversation is for you. You don't have to call yourself an alcoholic, hit rock bottom, or follow someone else's path. Sometimes the first step is simply being honest about what alcohol is actually adding to or taking away from your life. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and remember that you get to build a path that works for you. About Ryan Kennedy Ryan Kennedy is the creator and host of the Rock Bottom with Ryan podcast. After overcoming years of addiction, Ryan now shares honest conversations about recovery, mental health, and second chances. As he prepares to become a sober coach, he’s also building a business dedicated to promoting individuals, organizations, and businesses making a positive impact in the recovery and mental health community. Ryan is a passionate advocate for people recovering from alcohol and drug addiction, while also raising awareness about trauma, abuse, grief, and the challenges that can contribute to addiction and mental health struggles. Through his work, he’s helping break the stigma and show that healing, hope, and long-term recovery are possible. Connect with Ryan Instagram: @rockbottomwithryan Podcast: Rock Bottom with Ryan on Spotify YouTube: Rock Bottom With Ryan  TikTok: Rock Bottom With Ryan  Email: rockbottomwithryan@gmail.com Support the show Here's how you can stay connected:  🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching📱Follow along on Instagram📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletterAnd remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

    Episode 75: The Truth About Rock Bottom, Relapse & Recovery with Ryan Kennedy

  7. Aug 19

    Episode 74: Things I tried before admitting Moderation wasn't working

    🎟️ Reserve your free seat for Lindsay's live summer workshop series: Free Feel Good AF Summer Workshops Are you tired of making rules around drinking, taking breaks, starting over on Mondays, and still finding yourself back in the same cycle? In this episode of the Feel Good Alcohol-Free Podcast, Lindsay reflects on the many strategies she used to try to control her drinking before realizing that moderation was actually keeping her stuck. From endless drinking rules and fresh starts to quit-lit books, sober retreats, and 30-day breaks, she shares what she learned from each attempt and why information alone wasn't enough to create lasting change. Lindsay explains why moderation can keep alcohol at the center of your life, how the constant mental negotiation becomes exhausting, and why you don't have to wait until your drinking is "bad enough" to decide that it's no longer working for you. You'll discover: Why constantly creating new drinking rules can keep you trapped in the moderation cycleHow "I'll start again Monday" can turn one drinking decision into days of abandoning your goalsWhy consuming more information about alcohol isn't always the same as taking actionThe difference between knowing what to do and actually practicing new behaviors in real lifeHow 30-day breaks like Sober September or Dry January can provide valuable information without becoming another way to earn permission to drinkWhy your intention for an alcohol-free break matters more than simply making it through the monthHow to communicate your decision not to drink without overexplaining or making excusesWhy you don't need to prove that your drinking is "bad enough" to make a changeThe question Lindsay believes is more useful than comparing your drinking to someone else'sHow alcohol can become the automatic answer to stress, boredom, celebration, connection, and the end of a difficult workdayWhy treating a slip as information rather than failure can help you keep moving forwardHow identity, practice, and self-trust work together to create lasting changeWhy self-trust is built through the evidence you collect every time you follow through on a decisionPractical ways to create three alcohol-free wins in the next 48 hoursWhy eating before your usual drinking window can make a bigger difference than you might expectHow to identify the situations where you're most likely to negotiate with yourself about drinkingWhy you are allowed to change your relationship with alcohol simply because your current experience is no longer acceptable to youIf you've spent years trying to moderate, making promises to yourself, taking breaks, reading the books, or waiting for the perfect Monday to begin again, this episode is a reminder that none of those attempts were wasted. They gave you information. The goal isn't to find a better rule that allows you to keep drinking without the consequences. It's to discover what your life can look and feel like when alcohol no longer needs to be the answer and to build the skills and self-trust that make that life possible. LISTEN NEXT: If this episode resonated, listen to: Episode 6: Why Drinking in Moderation Doesn't Work: The Science of "Just One Glass" Episode 29: The Moderation Myth: "Just One Glass" Episode 56: What Your "Just One Glass" Mindset Actually Leads To Support the show Here's how you can stay connected:  🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching📱Follow along on Instagram📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletterAnd remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

    Episode 74: Things I tried before admitting Moderation wasn't working

  8. Aug 12

    Episode 73: Alcohol, Brain Health & Dementia: What Every Woman Needs to Know with Rachel Wiley

    🎟️ Reserve your free seat for Lindsay's live summer workshop series: Free Feel Good AF Summer Workshops Have you ever wondered whether your drinking today could affect your brain decades from now? Many women worry about memory changes as they get older but don't realize how closely brain health, alcohol, and everyday lifestyle habits are connected. In this episode, Lindsay sits down with occupational therapist and dementia care specialist Rachel Wiley to explore the relationship between alcohol, cognition, dementia, and healthy aging. Rachel shares her expertise on how the brain changes over time, the lifestyle factors that support long-term cognitive health, and why early awareness matters. Together, they also discuss the often-overlooked impact of caregiving, why caregivers are at higher risk for burnout, and how alcohol can become a coping mechanism during one of life's most stressful seasons. You'll discover: The difference between cognition, cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's diseaseThe six pillars of brain health and how they support healthy agingWhy social connection, sleep, movement, and meaningful activities are essential for cognitive functionHow alcohol affects sleep, nutrition, exercise, and overall brain healthThe connection between long-term alcohol use and alcohol-related brain damageWhat Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is and how it's linked to chronic alcohol useHow vascular health, alcohol, and dementia risk are connectedThe difference between normal age-related memory changes and signs that warrant medical attentionWhy early cognitive screening and self-advocacy with your healthcare provider are so importantHow dementia affects not only memory but also communication, balance, behavior, and daily functioningWhy caregiver stress is a major health concern and how alcohol can become an unhealthy coping strategyPractical ways caregivers can access support, respite, and resources before reaching burnoutWhy taking care of the caregiver is one of the most important parts of dementia careSimple lifestyle habits you can start today to support your brain health for years to comeIf you've ever wondered how alcohol impacts your brain, want to reduce your future dementia risk, or you're currently supporting an aging parent or loved one, this conversation offers practical guidance, hope, and evidence-based insights to help you care for both your brain and the people you love. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Dementia Collaborative – https://DementiaCollaborative.com Explore evidence-based resources, online courses, caregiver education, professional training, consultations, and a directory of occupational therapists specializing in dementia care. Rachel Wiley, OTR/L – https://RachelWileyOT.com Learn more about Rachel's work as an occupational therapist, dementia care educator, speaker, and consultant, and access additional educational resources and professional services. Support the show Here's how you can stay connected:  🗓️ Schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call👩‍💻 Sign-up for Feel Good AF Coaching📱Follow along on Instagram📰 Subscribe to the Feel Good AF newsletterAnd remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol (or think you might be), consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.  Intro/Outro Music Credit: Cozy Lofi Beat - Split memmories by Idoberg Sober curious women. Quit drinking without AA, How to quit drinking for High Achieving women.

    Episode 73: Alcohol, Brain Health & Dementia: What Every Woman Needs to Know with Rachel Wiley
See All (80)

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Hi, I'm Lindsay Hennekey, Sober Coach and Founder of Feel Good AF. This is a podcast for women who are sober or sober curious, looking for support in navigating a life without alcohol. I'm so glad you are here.  You may be thinking: What does an alcohol-free life look like for me? How do I live a life without drinking that doesn’t feel like I am missing something? How do I move beyond alcohol and into the elevated version of myself that I know is inside of me.  You are a hardworking, high-achieving, successful woman in so many areas of your life, who deserves to find a solution to the one big issue that has been holding you back. The solution exists and that's what this podcast is all about.  Each episode we'll cover one area of the Feel Good AF methodology - why moderation doesn't work, what to do when you have a slip, how to celebrate milestones, where you will find your alcohol-free community - and everything in between.  You'll be hearing a lot from me, but I'll also be bringing in a wide range of incredible women to share their stories, expertise, tips & advice, and so much more. Follow Feel Good Alcohol-Free wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to my YouTube channel for video episodes. Thanks for listening! Lindsay is your sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol, consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox. 

Information

You Might Also Like