Happiest Hour with Paula Devine

Paula Devine
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Mental Health

What if the best part of your day… wasn’t a drink? Welcome to The Happiest Hour Podcast—where happy hour isn’t about what’s in your glass, but how you actually feel in your life. I’m Paula, sobriety coach and founder of Happiest Hour, and this space was created for women who are ready for something more. Not because everything fell apart… but because something inside them started asking deeper questions. I speak to sober women, moms, who quit alcohol and are living their best lives.

  1. 1d ago

    Catching up with Ashley and big announcements!

    Catching up with Ashley Runyan on life with teenagers, our big plans at the Happiest Hour and what's next for women in midlife and how we move through all of it with a clear lens thanks to sobriety and ditching alcohol. If you're tired of the vicious cycle and want to take a peek of what living alcohol-free could look like for you, join the 6 week Group Coaching Experience. No pressure, not another reset, just valuable information and connections with other women on this same path. We start September 17, all the details are on the website and to stay up to date on all the latest events. www.happiesthouraf.com

  2. Aug 12

    The front we put on: What do we really want?

    For almost ten years, Ashley Kelsch owned Teddies for Bettys, a lingerie and sexual wellness boutique in Austin, where she spent countless hours with women in dressing rooms talking about bodies, relationships, and the quiet disconnection so many of them carried. That experience, combined with her own history of using relationships, work, and wine to escape herself, became the foundation for her current work. Today Ashley helps women find their way back to themselves through a practice centered on desire, the body, and their relationship with alcohol. She's certified through The Life Coach School, completing her VITA training in erotic embodiment, and has written for Tribeza Magazine and other publications. She believes pleasure is a birthright, not a luxury, and that most women haven't lost their desire so much as lost access to it. Thank you for listening, please follow for weekly episodes! This Podcast is hosted by Paula Devine Happiest Hour For more information about Happiest Hour head to www.happiesthouraf.com For more information about Ashley Kelsch she can be found on Substack, instagram@theashleykelsch and www.ashleykelsch.com

  3. Aug 5

    The beauty of unraveling: rewriting our next chapter with Amber Carter

    In this episode of The Happiest Hour, I sit down with Amber Carter—fitness and yoga instructor, retreat host, author, and fellow sober woman—for an honest conversation about what happens when life begins to unravel… and why that isn’t always a bad thing. We explore what empty nesting can teach us about identity, purpose, and the opportunity to become curious instead of fearful. If you’ve ever wondered, Who am I now? Where do I belong? this conversation is for you. Together we talk about: Why empty nesting can become a powerful season of self-discovery.The connection between women’s health, wellness, movement, and emotional healing.Sobriety as a doorway to greater clarity and self-trust.The stories we tell ourselves—and how our inner dialogue shapes our lives.Letting go of “I should,” “I have to,” and “I could have.”Why your life isn’t finished—you’re simply editing the next chapter. One of my favorite reminders from this conversation: You have the power to change your narrative. This is your book, and you get to edit it. Whether you’re navigating an empty nest, rethinking your relationship with alcohol, or simply feeling called into a new season of life, I hope this episode leaves you feeling hopeful, empowered, and excited about what’s still to come. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman who might need this reminder today.

  4. Jul 28

    From Addiction to Art: How Recovery Helped Her Find Herself Again

    Artist Mel Cherigate shares how a life that looked functional slowly unraveled after grief and alcohol took hold. A mom, wife and after two trips to rehab, she found lasting recovery—and rediscovered her creativity, purpose, and herself. We talk about healing through art, rebuilding a life from the inside out, and why it's never too late to start over. Her honesty and openness is a true testament of her courage to share her story and help others. You can find her on instagram @mel_cheriegate_ Follow this podcast for weekly episodes.

  5. Jul 22

    From hospitalizations to founder of Zero Proof Nation: Laura Silverman

    In this episode of The Happiest Hour, I sit down with Laura Silverman, founder of Zero Proof Nation and Booze Free in DC, to talk about what it was like choosing an alcohol-free life long before the sober curious movement existed. After two hospitalizations by the age of 24, Laura knew something had to change. But in a world with virtually no non-alcoholic options and very little community, staying alcohol-free meant learning how to navigate a culture built around drinking while constantly asking herself if moderation was possible. We talk about growing up feeling different, bullying, self-medicating, the ADHD and neurodivergent brain, and why alcohol can become such an appealing coping tool. We also dive into today’s rapidly growing alcohol-free landscape, including THC drinks, the explosion of non-alcoholic options, and Laura’s guide to exploring Washington DC without alcohol. Most importantly, we talk about community — how local alcohol-free brands, events, and connection help people feel less alone, and how far we’ve come while recognizing there’s still so much more to build. This conversation is honest, hopeful, and a reminder that the future of socializing doesn’t have to revolve around alcohol.

  6. Jul 16

    The picture that changed everything with Jes Landau

    This week on The Happiest Hour, I sit down with Jes Landau for an honest conversation about motherhood, stress, and the quiet ways alcohol can slowly become woven into everyday life. For Jes, instagram @jeslandau, what started as sharing a nightly bottle of wine with her husband became a ritual, a reward, and eventually a crutch. Following her divorce, she found herself working in wine sales while navigating single motherhood and rebuilding her life. Everything changed after seeing a photograph of herself with glazed-over eyes staring back at her. In that moment, she knew she couldn’t keep going the way she had been. Jes shares how early sobriety wasn’t about deprivation—it was about choosing herself, her healing, and her family over and over again. In those first months, she focused on giving herself ten times more care, attention, and compassion than she ever had before. We also talk about her love of reading, creating new rituals through mocktails, and discovering that alcohol wasn’t what made life’s moments special after all. If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for the nightly glass of wine simply because it’s what you’ve always done, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone and that another way is possible. If you are looking for guided support head to www. happiesthouraf.com to book a call.

  7. Jul 13

    A lie that kept me stuck.

    In this short solo episode, I talk about the mindset shift that changed everything for me. For years, it was easy to blame stress, overwhelm, difficult seasons, or other people for why I kept drinking. But staying on that merry-go-round only kept me stuck. The hardest truth to face was also the most freeing: alcohol wasn't helping me survive my life—it was making my life harder. When I stopped pointing the finger everywhere else and got honest with myself, everything began to change. If you've been wondering whether alcohol is really helping you cope, this episode is your invitation to ask a different question. Because you deserve so much more than just surviving—you deserve to truly live.

  8. Jul 8

    A Slippery Slope with Kristen Beckett

    This week I'm joined by Kristen Beckett, the woman behind the viral Mocktailsandmarathons Instagram reels. We talk about the slippery slope of gray-area drinking in motherhood—how "normal" drinking slowly turned into blackouts, hiding alcohol, and constantly justifying it because nothing "bad" had happened... yet. Kristen shares her experience with postpartum depression, the shocking news that became a turning point in her life, and what it was like growing up in a family where alcohol was simply part of having fun. She also opens up about finding a sober community and how living alcohol-free has brought her more purpose, stronger relationships, and a level of joy she never expected. We also dive into something so many women struggle with: when—and whether—to tell other people you've stopped drinking. From quietly making the change to publicly sharing her sobriety online, Kristen offers an honest perspective on identity, vulnerability, and the freedom that comes from living in alignment with who you truly are. Whether you're sober-curious, taking a break, or years into your alcohol-free journey, I think you'll see a little of yourself in this conversation. Follow for weekly episodes!

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

What if the best part of your day… wasn’t a drink? Welcome to The Happiest Hour Podcast—where happy hour isn’t about what’s in your glass, but how you actually feel in your life. I’m Paula, sobriety coach and founder of Happiest Hour, and this space was created for women who are ready for something more. Not because everything fell apart… but because something inside them started asking deeper questions. I speak to sober women, moms, who quit alcohol and are living their best lives.

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