Jolene and Aidan talk about how social media and Instagram initially brought them together to start this podcast. They discuss how online platforms have played a role in changing how we think about drinking. It has become easy to quickly form online alcohol-free communities and the alcohol conversation is shifting because of podcasts, blogs, Instagram, and…
What do others say when they are drinking or not drinking around us? How did Jolene and Aidan navigate other people’s opinions early on? People will certainly have conversations and opinions, but the fear of what others will think and say is often worse than what’s actually said. Some people can be threatened or feel strongly that…
Is it possible to moderate? What do Aidan and Jolene think about moderation? Aidan says she could moderate but felt miserable. It wasn’t pleasant to think about and plan for all the time. It takes the joy out of her day. However, moderation helped bring both Jolene and Aidan to their resolute decision to stop…
Jolene and Aidan discuss the troubling marketing of alcohol memes toward women and moms. The promotion of excess as a way to escape and cope is what’s being promoted. These memes send the message that drinking is the way to make life better. As many are quietly trying to feel okay and justify their own drinking…
Aidan and Jolene discuss how they found alcohol-free like-minded people through blogging, Instagram, FaceBook groups, and when social media connections can turn into friendships in real life. Jolene mentions how This Naked Mind and The HOME podcast weren’t available when she stopped drinking so the online world is quickly and rapidly changing. They mention in-person groups like AA, Refuge Recovery,…
Aidan was public with her decision to not drink in 2012 with her Year Without Wine blog posts, but Jolene stayed quieter and more private in the early months of quitting drinking for good. Jolene shares how she wrote a blog post when she was 60-days alcohol-free but she didn’t publish it. Through the evolution of…
