no proof joshua gandee

Andrew is local to Columbus, Oh the city I call home. I met him via Instagram after he took home one of the meditation cards I created for a Dry January event earlier this year. He asked himself the questions, and answered them through a social media post revealing some things to himself out loud. It was great to hear Andrew's story, and to hear the ways he checks in with himself to keep feeling his best.

Andrew Hash was a daily drinker whose whiskey "hobby" became an unhealthy coping mechanism for any inconvenience life presented.  Andrew has been a pharmacy purchaser for 10 years and an avid sports fan.  Sobriety has brought him back to his passions and allowed him to stop sleepwalking through life.

Founded in 2016, the mission of Ben's Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

To order my n/a enamel pin from Mover & Shaker, head to tinyurl.com/4fm6r9v6

Elizabeth is everything exciting with the n/a movement. She read a room, left it, and created a better one. In these rooms, you find excitement, noise, conversation, people enjoying themselves, and great non-alcoholic cocktails. I was thrilled to chat with Elizabeth, who recently took Absence of Proof full-time, and contributes more than just events to the community.



Elizabeth Gascoigne is found and CEO of Absence of Proof- a non-acloholic event curation company and online bottle boutique.

Elizabeth is passionate about creating social experiences for those taking a night, week, or lifetime off of drinking. Absence of Proof is rooted in wellness and community and focused on elevating an n/a nightlife for everyone.

Founded in 2016, the mission of Ben's Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

To order my n/a enamel pin from Mover & Shaker, head to tinyurl.com/4fm6r9v6

A chat with someone like Ian will always be refreshing. I was cooled by the way he spoke about his journey through sobriety, and held in a suspension in how exciting life can be when we reward ourselves with more time.

Founded by two former French Laundry sommeliers—who quit drinking after they had kids—All The Bitter is a lineup of non-alcoholic cocktail bitters that lift the spirit. Made by hand from organic, wild-foraged, and functional botanicals in a process that takes nearly two months, our bitters elevate cocktails with and without alcohol, mixers like tonic and ginger beer, and are especially refreshing in sparkling water with a squeeze of citrus. Find us on social media @allthebitter and at allthebitter.com.



Founded in 2016, the mission of Ben's Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

To order my n/a enamel pin from Mover & Shaker, head to tinyurl.com/4fm6r9v6

I was looking forward to my conversation with Whitney not just because they were sent my way via our pal Laura Sanders, but because of what they contribute to the world. I'm fascinated by the humor and honesty that lies within their comics, and the way they play with the weight of the subject of sobriety. Please enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Whitney Wasson (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist and performer, originally from Fort Smith, Arkansas who lives in Chicago.



A standup comedian who produced a slew of shows, performed at dozens of comedy festivals across the country, and made thirties of dollars, Whitney got hit at a crosswalk by a distracted driver at the end of 2019. They then became a sitdown comedian and then a stay-at-home comedian during 2020. They're now mostly a cartoonist.

They write and draw Sober Rabbit. Their art and comics have been featured in Chicago Reader, Weekly Humorist and various blogs and websites. They've created art for festivals, live events, feature films, comedy albums and even a few tattoos.



FB: @soberrabbitcomic

Twitter: @soberrabbit

Instagram: @soberrabbit

Founded in 2016, the mission of Ben's Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

To order my n/a enamel pin from Mover & Shaker, head to tinyurl.com/4fm6r9v6

Chad and I share a few things: sobriety, running, a love for Jason Isbell, and our time at Eat Clean Run Dirty Magazine. I was excited to continue a conversation with Chad that we started during an editorial meeting recently. It was incredible to hear what it took to become honest, and begin a sober journey. We chat about the immense and supportive community that comes with ultra running, and how those in sobriety find their way to it.

Chad Sullivan is a father, husband, writer, and ultra-runner living in suburban Chicago. He serves as the Executive Editor of Eat Clean, Run Dirty Magazine and is the creator of Hard Prairie, a website dedicated to the trail and ultra-running scene in Illinois. Having struggled with substance abuse for many years, Chad entered treatment in June 2020 and has remained sober since.



Founded in 2016, the mission of Ben's Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

To order my n/a enamel pin from Mover & Shaker, head to tinyurl.com/4fm6r9v6

A special thanks to Greg for being the final episode of no proof of 2022! 

Such a great way to close out the year with a conversation about being hopeful, becoming your best self, and looking forward to bigger mountains and challenges.

Greg is a Virginia resident who worked in the restaurant industry during college. After graduating from Boston University in 2019, he transitioned into working in the legal world as a paralegal/legal assistant. He is slated to attend law school in the near future.



Founded in 2016, the mission of Ben's Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

To order my n/a enamel pin from Mover & Shaker, head to tinyurl.com/4fm6r9v6