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. 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

  2. Aug 5

    Episode 72: Wine Is Not the Reward You Think It Is

    🎟️ Reserve your free seat for Lindsay's live summer workshop series: Free Feel Good AF Summer Workshops Have you ever found yourself saying, "I deserve this glass of wine" after a long day? If wine has become the highlight of your evening, not because you love the taste, but because it feels like the only way to finally switch off, you're not alone. In this episode, Lindsay explores why so many high-achieving women mistake alcohol for self-care when it's actually keeping them stuck in a cycle of exhaustion, poor sleep, and broken promises to themselves. Drawing from her own experience as a former high-functioning drinker, Lindsay explains why the nightly glass of wine can feel like a reward while quietly taking away your energy, clarity, confidence, and self-trust. She shares how to break free from the "I deserve it" mindset, rebuild healthier reward systems, and create evening routines that truly support the woman you want to become. You'll discover: Why wine feels rewarding even when it's making your life harderThe difference between relief and a true rewardHow alcohol trains your brain to associate drinking with relaxationWhy your evening routine shapes how you feel the next dayThe hidden cycle of drinking for relief, waking up depleted, and craving relief againHow alcohol affects your sleep, recovery, mood, and emotional resilienceWhy willpower isn't enough to change your drinking habitsHow to separate your real needs rest, comfort, connection, pleasure from the habit of drinkingWhy alcohol-free alternatives often feel "boring" at first and what that actually meansHow practicing new evening routines helps rebuild self-trust and lasting changeA simple "Reward Reality Check" with five questions to help you rethink your nightly drinkHow creating rewards that truly give back can help you feel more energized, present, and aligned with the life you wantIf you're tired of believing that wine is the only thing helping you unwind and you're ready to create evenings that leave you feeling genuinely restored, not just temporarily relieved. This episode will help you redefine what a real reward looks like and show you how to build a life you no longer need to escape from. 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 72: Wine Is Not the Reward You Think It Is

  3. Jul 29

    Episode 71: You Haven’t Lost Your Ambition. Alcohol Is Draining It.

    🎟️ Reserve your free seat for Lindsay's live summer workshop series: Free Feel Good AF Summer Workshops Have you ever wondered where your ambition went? If you used to love taking on new challenges but now even the thought of more responsibility feels exhausting, you're not alone. In this episode, Lindsay explores why so many high-achieving women mistake burnout or a lack of motivation for losing their ambition—when alcohol may actually be draining the energy, clarity, and self-trust they need to feel like themselves again. She shares her own experience of feeling successful on the outside while privately feeling flat, depleted, and disconnected from the driven woman she once was. You'll learn why simply "functioning" can keep you stuck, how your evening routine shapes your mornings, and why rebuilding your capacity, not forcing yourself to be more disciplined is the key to getting your spark back. You'll discover: Why functioning isn't the same as thrivingHow alcohol quietly drains your energy, motivation, and emotional capacityThe difference between being burned out and being under-recoveredWhy ambition requires physical, mental, and emotional capacityHow the nightly wine routine can keep you stuck in a cycle of exhaustionWhy your actions must align with how you want to feel and liveHow alcohol affects sleep, recovery, and your brain's reward systemWhy replacing alcohol with meaningful rewards is essential for lasting changeA simple three-day "Ambition Audit" to help you uncover what's really affecting your motivationHow rebuilding self-trust can reconnect you with the version of yourself who feels energized, capable, and excited about lifeIf you're tired of merely getting through your days and you're ready to feel clear, energized, and connected to yourself again, this episode will help you understand why your ambition isn't gone, it may simply be waiting for the space to come back. 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 71: You Haven’t Lost Your Ambition. Alcohol Is Draining It.

  4. Jul 22

    Episode 70: You Know How to Quit Drinking. So Why Haven’t You?

    🎟️ Reserve your free seat for Lindsay's live summer workshop series: Free Feel Good AF Summer Workshops You know alcohol isn't helping anymore. You've read the books, listened to the podcasts, and promised yourself you'll stop... but somehow you keep ending up in the same cycle. In this episode, Lindsay explains why information alone isn't enough to create lasting change and why knowing what to do is completely different from being able to follow through when the moment arrives. She shares her own story of early failed attempts to quit drinking, the lessons she learned from her first alcohol-free experiences, and why practicing new responses—not collecting more knowledge—is what finally changed everything. If you're tired of making promises to yourself in the morning only to negotiate them away by the afternoon, this conversation will help you understand what's really keeping you stuck and how to start building lasting self-trust. You'll discover:  Why knowing alcohol is harming you doesn't automatically change your behavior  The difference between information, motivation, and true transformation  Lindsay's story of her first 30-day alcohol break—and why "failing" became part of her success  Why the morning promise turns into the afternoon negotiation  How repeated practice—not willpower—creates lasting change  The hidden reason high-achieving women often struggle to quit on their own  Why self-trust is built through small, repeatable decisions—not bigger promises  How coaching and support interrupt the stop-start drinking cycle  Why one difficult night doesn't have to turn into another six months of starting over If you're ready to stop negotiating with yourself and finally build a calm, confident, alcohol-free life, this episode will show you where lasting change really begins. 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 70: You Know How to Quit Drinking. So Why Haven’t You?

  5. Jul 15

    Episode 69: Why Waiting Until After Summer to Quit Drinking Keeps You Stuck

    🎟️ Reserve your free seat for Lindsay's live summer workshop series: Free Feel Good AF Summer Workshops If you've ever found yourself waiting for "the perfect time" to quit drinking after summer, after the holidays, after the next vacation—this episode is for you. Lindsay gets personal in this solo episode, sharing why she spent years telling herself she'd deal with her drinking "later" and why that later never seemed to arrive. She unpacks the hidden relief that comes from postponing change, why life never actually settles down, and how confidence isn't something you have before you stop drinking, it's something you build by practicing in your real life. Through stories from her own journey, including her first alcohol-free vacation, Lindsay explains why waiting for the right moment only keeps you stuck and how small, intentional decisions become the foundation for lasting self-trust. You'll discover:  Why "I'll start after summer" feels so convincing and why it keeps you stuck  The difference between temporary relief and genuine alignment with the life you want  Why life will never hand you a perfect, stress-free time to change your relationship with alcohol  How Lindsay's first alcohol-free vacation completely changed her perspective on sobriety  The hidden mental load of drinking, from constant negotiating to recovering and starting over  Lindsay's three-step framework for lasting change: Identity, Practice, and Self-Trust  Why practicing through real-life events, not avoiding them—is what builds lasting confidence  How support can help you navigate weddings, vacations, stressful workdays, and social pressure without relying on alcohol If you've been waiting for the "right time" to stop drinking, this episode is a reminder that the life you want isn't waiting on a clear calendar, it's built one decision at a time, right in the middle of your real life. 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 69: Why Waiting Until After Summer to Quit Drinking Keeps You Stuck

  6. Jul 8

    Episode 68: What Happens When Women Tell the Truth About Drinking with Kerri Maher, Author of Summer of Love

    If you've ever devoured a book because the main character's struggle with alcohol felt a little too familiar, this episode is for you. Lindsay sits down with USA Today bestselling author Kerri Maher, the writer behind The Paris Bookseller, The Girl in White Gloves, and The Kennedy Debutante to talk about her brand-new novel, Summer of Love. The book weaves together two timelines: an older sister running the family vineyard in 1967 California, and her daughter quietly struggling with her drinking decades later, all while chasing the identity of an anonymous author whose books seem to know her family's secrets a little too well. Kerri is also four and a half years alcohol-free, and in this conversation she opens up about why she finally went public with her own sobriety, why fiction about drinking matters just as much as memoir, and how storytelling — hers and other women's becomes a quiet act of service for anyone still stuck in silence. You'll discover: Why Kerri built a novel around alcohol without writing a memoir and why fiction can reach people memoir can'tHow her own sobriety journey shaped Winnie, Miranda, and Dawn without any one of them being "her"Why moderation was harder for Kerri to sustain than quitting altogetherHow alcohol marketing quietly wrote itself into our idea of "the good life," and why that's so hard to unwindWhat it's actually like to talk to your kids about being a sober parent and why Kerri sees it as the safest thing she can be for themWhy "no word is wasted," even the five unpublished novels sitting in her atticSimple, low-pressure ways to normalize an alcohol-free life, even when your identity or your family's business is tied to alcoholIf you've ever wished more of the books and shows you loved actually got drinking right, this conversation is a reminder of how powerful it is when they finally do. About Kerri Maher Kerri Maher is the USA Today bestselling author of The Paris Bookseller, The Girl in White Gloves, and The Kennedy Debutante. Writing as Kerri Majors, she is also the author of This Is Not a Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and lives with her daughter and dog in a leafy suburb west of Boston, Massachusetts. Her new novel, Summer of Love, releases July 7. Find Kerri Instagram: @kerrimaherwriter Substack: Sandcastles with Kerri Maher and The Well-Resourced Parent (search "Kerri Maher" on Substack) Get the Book 📖 Summer of Love by Kerri Maher — Order here 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 68: What Happens When Women Tell the Truth About Drinking with Kerri Maher, Author of Summer of Love

  7. Jul 1

    Episode 67: How Self Trust Gets You To Sobriety

    If you've ever promised yourself, "Today's the day I stop drinking," only to find yourself pouring another glass that evening, this episode is for you. Lindsay breaks down why so many high-achieving women stay stuck in the stop-start cycle with alcohol and why the problem isn't a lack of discipline or willpower. The real issue? Self-trust. In this episode, you'll learn why lasting sobriety isn't built by trying harder, but by becoming someone you can consistently count on. Lindsay shares her Identity → Practice → Trust framework, explains why slips are valuable feedback (not failure), and offers practical ways to build confidence one decision at a time. You'll discover: Why willpower isn't enough to change your relationship with alcoholThe hidden role self-trust plays in lasting sobrietyHow to stop viewing slips as failure and start using them as informationWhy practicing alcohol-free living matters more than consuming more informationHow identity shifts make staying alcohol-free feel natural—not forcedSimple questions to help you identify whether you're struggling with identity, practice, or trustIf you're tired of negotiating with yourself, breaking promises, and wondering why moderation never seems to stick, this conversation will help you approach sobriety in a completely different way. Remember: Information doesn't create transformation. Action does. 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 67: How Self Trust Gets You To Sobriety

  8. Jun 24

    Episode 66: Why Are We Afraid to Quit Drinking?

    Why Perfectionism Keeps You Stuck in the Drinking Cycle In this episode, Lindsay Hennekey explores one of the biggest reasons high-achieving women stay trapped in the stop-start drinking cycle: the fear of failure. If you've ever told yourself you'll quit drinking after the next vacation, after the busy season at work, or once life calms down, this conversation will help you understand what's really keeping you stuck. Lindsay breaks down how perfectionism, fear of the unknown, and the pressure to "get it right" make alcohol feel safer than change—even when you know drinking is no longer serving you. You'll also learn why self-trust erodes with every broken promise, how alcohol becomes a default coping strategy, and what it takes to start building a life that feels good without relying on a drink at the end of the day. In this episode, you'll learn: Why perfectionism and sobriety often collideHow fear of failure keeps you from fully committing to changeThe connection between broken promises and lost self-trustWhy alcohol feels like relief—but actually prevents growthHow high-achieving women get stuck in the daily pressure-and-reward drinking loopThe science of loss aversion and why your brain resists giving up alcoholWhy quitting drinking is really an identity shift, not a willpower challengeA simple strategy to interrupt cravings and create space for a different decisionHow to start practicing life alcohol-free without focusing on perfectionKey Takeaways Most women who struggle with drinking don't need more information. They already know the health risks, the benefits of sobriety, and the rules they've tried to follow countless times before. The real challenge isn't learning more—it's integrating what they already know and taking action despite the discomfort. Perfectionism creates an impossible standard where any slip feels like failure. When that happens, staying in the drinking cycle can feel safer than risking the uncertainty of change. But lasting freedom comes from approaching sobriety as a practice, not a performance. This episode is a reminder that you don't need to quit drinking perfectly. You simply need to start creating evidence that you can trust yourself again—one decision, one evening, and one experience at a time. If you're tired of negotiating with yourself every afternoon and wondering why moderation never seems to stick, this episode will help you understand what's happening beneath the surface and show you a different path forward. 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 66: Why Are We Afraid to Quit Drinking?
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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. 

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