Prayer: “God take my ___ and turn my attention to where you would have it be.”

The holidays have a way of bringing back memories of the good, the bad, and the ones that feel extra shiny in hindsight. If you’ve caught yourself romanticizing “drinking traditions” or feeling nostalgic about past holidays with alcohol, this episode is here to support you through it.

In today’s conversation, I’m talking honestly about what it feels like to experience the holiday season sober, the unexpected triggers, the emotional dips, the moments where nostalgia hits hard, and the incredible rewards waiting on the other side.

Inside this episode, I cover: ✨ The truth about romanticizing past drinking memories ✨ Why the brain tends to “polish the past” when you stop drinking ✨ How to create new moments that feel meaningful (not deprived) ✨ Practical tools to stay grounded and confident during parties, dinners & gatherings ✨ Why community and support make ALL the difference this time of year

The holidays can feel emotional. They can feel heavy. But they can also feel peaceful, grounding, joyful, and deeply connected — especially when you walk into them with intention and support.

Join Us at my first Sober Retreat in Sedona — April 2026

ELEVATE — support community for women who want deeper connection, structure, and sobriety support

Follow Me on Instagram

Learn More About My Programs & Coaching Opportunities

The Sober Holiday Collection

Watch on YouTube

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you’re enjoying The Shannon McCabe Show, it would mean the world if you could take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps more people find these conversations and start their own journey to living alcohol-free.

If you’ve ever told yourself that a glass of wine helps you relax or sleep better… this one’s for you. In this episode of The Shannon McCabe Show, I’m diving deep into what alcohol actually does to your sleep and why it’s one of the biggest lies we’ve been told about “winding down.”

I’ll walk you through what’s really happening inside your body and brain when you drink before bed, and how alcohol sedates you instead of helping you get restorative sleep. From disrupted REM cycles and 3 AM wake-ups to mood swings, brain fog, and hormone chaos—it’s all connected.

Here’s what I share inside this episode: 💤 The science behind why alcohol wrecks your sleep 🌙 How poor sleep impacts your mood, hormones, and health ✨ What happens when your body finally gets real rest in sobriety 💛 My personal tips for healing your sleep naturally after quitting 🌱 How better sleep becomes one of the biggest rewards of an alcohol-free life

Because the truth is, when you remove alcohol, your body doesn’t just rest better—it heals.

Follow Me on Instagram

Learn More About My Programs & Coaching Opportunities

The Sober Holiday Collection

Watch on YouTube

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you’re enjoying The Shannon McCabe Show, it would mean the world if you could take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps more people find these conversations and start their own journey to living alcohol-free.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you share on social media, tag me—I’d love to hear your thoughts and connect with you. 💛

In this episode of The Shannon McCabe Show, I’m sharing everything I learned from my first sober Thanksgiving (spoiler: it wasn’t easy!) to how I now approach the holidays with peace, joy, and confidence completely alcohol-free. We’ll talk through what it really takes to stay grounded, protect your energy, and fully experience the holidays without the hangover, regret, or anxiety that used to come with it.

Inside this episode, I’m walking you through: 🎄 How to plan and prepare for your first sober holiday season ☀️ The routines and habits that keep me anchored 😌 How to handle stress, overwhelm, and family dynamics 💤 Why sleep, rest, and nourishment matter more than ever 🌱 How to create a structure that supports peace instead of pressure

I’ve bundled together some of the exact resources I’ve created to help you stay strong, intentional, and connected as you head into this busy season.

The Sober Holiday Collection

www.shannonleighmccabe.com

Follow Me on Instagram

Watch on YouTube

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you’re enjoying The Shannon McCabe Show, it would mean the world if you could take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps more people find these conversations and start their own journey to living alcohol-free.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you share on social media, tag me—I’d love to hear your thoughts and connect with you. 💛

Let’s talk about something that comes up a lot once you’ve taken a break from drinking—this idea of “maybe I can just have one now and then.”

In this episode of The Shannon McCabe Show, I’m diving into the slippery truth about moderation—what it really means, why it’s so hard to maintain, and how the brain and body respond once alcohol re-enters the picture. I’ll share my personal reflections and the science behind why moderation can feel like such a mental tug-of-war. From decision fatigue to chemical cravings to the way alcohol hijacks your brain’s reward system, we’ll unpack why “just one” rarely stays “just one” for long.

Here’s what we cover: 💭 The emotional and mental drain of trying to moderate 🧠 What’s actually happening in your brain when you drink again after a break 💔 Why moderation can reignite cravings and old patterns 🌱 The peace that comes from full abstinence—and letting go of the exhausting mental math 💛 How to accept the truth about your relationship with alcohol without shame

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering if moderation could work “this time,” this episode is for you. I’m sharing both the science and the soul behind what makes moderation such a slippery slope and why full freedom often comes from choosing peace over control.

www.shannonleighmccabe.com

Follow Me on Instagram

Watch on YouTube

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you’re enjoying The Shannon McCabe Show, it would mean the world if you could take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps more people find these conversations and start their own journey to living alcohol-free.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you share on social media, tag me—I’d love to hear your thoughts and connect with you. 💛

In this episode of The Shannon McCabe Show, I’m sharing a precious insight from my morning devotional that deeply connects to the journey of quitting drinking and honestly, to any season of growth that feels hard.

So often, we see our struggles as roadblocks. But what if they’re actually refining us? What if the discomfort, the cravings, the doubts, and the messy in-between moments are the very things shaping you into the peaceful, confident, free version of yourself that you’re becoming?

In this heartfelt conversation, I’ll walk you through: 💛 How to reframe challenges as the tools that build your strength and character 🌱 Why the “hard days” in sobriety are often the ones that grow you the most 🙏 What my morning devotional reminded me about perseverance and faith ✨ The importance of showing up for the work even when it’s uncomfortable ⚡ How to start embracing the process instead of resisting it

I also share how my Alcohol-Free Blueprint program helps women navigate this exact transformation. In this program I am teaching you how to shift your mindset, reclaim your energy, and build a sustainable, joy-filled alcohol-free life.

If you’ve been feeling like the work is too hard or wondering if it’s worth it - I hope this is the reminder your heart needs. The hard stuff isn’t punishment; it’s preparation for your next chapter.

www.shannonleighmccabe.com

Follow Me on Instagram

Watch on YouTube

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you’re enjoying The Shannon McCabe Show, it would mean the world if you could take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps more people find these conversations and start their own journey to living alcohol-free.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you share on social media, tag me—I’d love to hear your thoughts and connect with you. 💛

This week on The Shannon McCabe Show, I’m joined by Morgan Zanotti—mom of three, co-founder of Primal Kitchen Foods, and now founder of Drink Waay, a sparkling protein water that’s changing the way women think about wellness.

Morgan shares her journey from the fast-paced world of the food and beverage industry to creating a brand centered on health, happiness, and simplicity. We talk about her decision to give up alcohol, how that shift has impacted her energy, focus, and relationships, and the joy she’s found in building a business that aligns with her values.

In this conversation, we cover: 💛 How Morgan’s sobriety decision helped her show up stronger as a leader, mom, and entrepreneur 🌱 The inspiration behind Drink Waay and how it’s bringing fun back into functional wellness 💪 Why protein is essential for women’s health (and how to make it easy) ✨ The connection between daily discipline, clarity, and joy 👩‍👧‍👦 The real talk on balancing motherhood, health, and entrepreneurship

www.shannonleighmccabe.com

Follow Me on Instagram

Watch on YouTube

Follow Morgan on Instagram

Check out WAAY on Amazon or Whole Foods

Follow @drinkwaay on Instagram

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you’re enjoying The Shannon McCabe Show, it would mean the world if you could take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps more people find these conversations and start their own journey to living alcohol-free.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you share on social media, tag me—I’d love to hear your thoughts and connect with you. 💛

If you’ve quit drinking and suddenly find yourself craving sugar—or noticing a few extra pounds—you’re not alone. 🍫

In this episode of The Shannon McCabe Show, I’m breaking down why this happens and what’s actually going on inside your body as it begins to heal from alcohol. From blood sugar swings to dopamine changes, I’ll walk you through the science in simple, real-world terms—and remind you that this phase is temporary.

We’ll talk about: 💛 Why sugar cravings are so common in early sobriety (and what your body’s trying to tell you) 🌱 The truth about post-alcohol weight changes—and how to give your body grace as it rebalances 🥗 What to focus on instead of restriction or guilt 🧠 How to nourish yourself physically and emotionally through this transition ✨ The reminder that your body isn’t betraying you—it’s healing

If you’re in that season of white-knuckling through sugar cravings or feeling frustrated by your body, this episode will help you take a deep breath and remember: this is part of the process. Healing takes time, patience, and nourishment—not punishment.

www.shannonleighmccabe.com

Follow Me on Instagram

Watch on YouTube

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you’re enjoying The Shannon McCabe Show, it would mean the world if you could take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps more people find these conversations and start their own journey to living alcohol-free.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you share on social media, tag me—I’d love to hear your thoughts and connect with you. 💛

In this episode of The Shannon McCabe Show, I sat down with Kori Leigh, who opens up about her journey from the depths of alcoholism to more than eight years of sobriety. Her story is raw, honest, and full of faith. Kori shares what it was like to hit her rock bottom, how she fought her way back through grace and discipline, and the daily non-negotiables that now anchor her recovery.

Together, we talk about: 💭 The realities of addiction and what it takes to truly surrender 🙏 The role of faith and spiritual fitness in long-term sobriety 🌱 Building non-negotiable habits that protect your peace and your recovery 👩‍👧 How sobriety transformed her as a mother, daughter, and woman of faith ✨ The miracle moments that happen when you stay the course

This conversation is for anyone who’s walking through a heavy season and needs a reminder that redemption is real, and that faith, consistency, and honesty can rebuild even the most broken parts of life.

www.shannonleighmccabe.com

Follow Me on Instagram

Follow Kori Leigh on Instagram

Subscribe to The Kori Leigh Show Podcast

Watch on YouTube

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you’re enjoying The Shannon McCabe Show, it would mean the world if you could take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps more people find these conversations and start their own journey to living alcohol-free.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you share on social media, tag me—I’d love to hear your thoughts and connect with you. 💛