Life's most significant transitions deserve our full attention and presence. After faithfully recording 114 episodes over two years, I'm pressing pause on weekly podcast releases to embrace a precious season fully – my youngest daughter's final months before high school graduation.

Recording from an Airbnb in Branson, MO with my phone hotspot, I wanted to personally share that Thriving Alcohol-Free will be taking a brief intermission. Rather than missing these fleeting moments with my daughter before she leaves for college, I'm calling everything thus far "Season One". I will return with "Season Two" when I officially become an empty nester in August. The podcast has connected me with incredible sober coaches, mixologists, alcohol-free brand founders, and most importantly, YOU – faithful listeners navigating your alcohol-free journeys.

Don't worry – I'll still drop occasional episodes over the coming months (be sure you're subscribed for notifications), and my weekly Happy Half Hours through the Mocktail Social Club membership will continue without interruption. Even here in Branson (which is decidedly NOT the mocktail capital of the world), I'm savoring every sober moment with my girls. There's profound joy in being fully present, making memories, and connecting authentically with loved ones.

Whether you've listened to every episode or just discovered the podcast, I'm deeply grateful for your support. You can still find me on Instagram @mocktailmom, my website mocktailmom.com, or deb@mocktailmom.com.

Send me a message about the show!

To connect, join me for mocktails inside The Mocktail Social Club for Happy Half-Hours over Zoom.

• Instagram: @Mocktail.Mom
• Mocktail Book: The Happiest Hour
• Website: MocktailMom.com

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!

Vanessa Royle never planned to launch a non-alcoholic beverage company. But when she quit drinking during the pandemic lockdown of 2020, something unexpected happened – she felt dramatically better. As she prepared to start her MBA at Harvard Business School, she made a pivotal decision to stay sober, creating an opportunity to reintroduce herself without the drinking habits of her past.

What followed was a rude awakening. At prestigious networking events, Royal found herself clutching Diet Coke while fielding uncomfortable questions about her sobriety. The sophisticated social drinking world offered nothing comparable for non-drinkers. This frustration sparked a mission to create something better, leading her to connect with Mariah, a lifelong non-drinker with hospitality expertise who became her co-founder in launching Tilden.

Their approach was meticulous and thoughtful. Rather than mimicking existing cocktails, they developed bespoke non-alcoholic creations through hundreds of iterations, using dinner parties with scorecards to perfect their recipes. The result? Tandem and Lacewing – complex, sophisticated beverages explicitly designed for the non-drinker's palate.

What makes Tilden truly revolutionary is their consideration of why people don't drink. They deliberately avoid mind-altering ingredients and potentially problematic compounds like grapefruit (which interacts with medications). This inclusivity extends to pregnant women, those on SSRIs, and anyone seeking a sophisticated drinking experience without alcohol's effects.

The timing couldn't be better. Non-alcoholic beverage sales are soaring (up 30% year-over-year), while traditional alcohol sales are declining. More importantly, attitudes are shifting dramatically. Where once 80% of people questioned non-alcoholic drinks, today that skepticism has shrunk to just 20%, with most consumers enthusiastically embracing these options.

Ready to experience sophisticated non-alcoholic cocktails that stand on their merit? Visit DrinkTilden.com code MOCKTAILMOM for 20% off, or find their products on Amazon to discover what thoughtful, alcohol-free indulgence truly means. Follow Tilden on Instagram @DrinkTilden

Send me a message about the show!

To connect, join me for mocktails inside The Mocktail Social Club for Happy Half-Hours over Zoom.

• Instagram: @Mocktail.Mom
• Mocktail Book: The Happiest Hour
• Website: MocktailMom.com

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!

Ruby Williams shares her transformative journey from working in the wine industry while drinking three bottles a day to becoming a sober coach helping others find freedom from alcohol dependence.

• Struggled with disordered eating from a young age as her first coping mechanism
• Underwent bariatric surgery, which unexpectedly transferred her addiction to alcohol
• Worked in the wine industry, where drinking was normalized and celebrated daily
• Found The Naked Mind book by Annie Grace, which provided the science and mindset shift needed
• Transitioned from wine industry to becoming a certified coach
• Uses monk fruit as a sugar substitute when making mocktails
• Recommends allowing sugar cravings during early sobriety before addressing them
• Found community and connection essential in breaking free from isolation
• Emphasizes the importance of self-compassion in recovery
• Now coaches others one-on-one and in groups to find freedom from alcohol

Connect with Ruby on Instagram @RubyWilliamsCoaching or her website, RubyWilliamsCoaching.com

If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating & review!

Send me a message about the show!

To connect, join me for mocktails inside The Mocktail Social Club for Happy Half-Hours over Zoom.

• Instagram: @Mocktail.Mom
• Mocktail Book: The Happiest Hour
• Website: MocktailMom.com

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!

Lindsay Hennekey shares her powerful journey from using alcohol to cope with life disappointments to creating a thriving alcohol-free life through her coaching program Feel Good AF.

• Lindsay's drinking escalated when facing fertility issues and divorce, leading to daily alcohol consumption
• We often drink to procrastinate and avoid dealing with difficult emotions
• When you hold space for emotions rather than numbing them, they naturally dissipate
• Lindsay's turning point came after reading quit literature and realizing she would never have children.
• Instead of numbing her grief with wine, she chose to discover "what happy people do who don't have kids."
• The pandemic provided a unique opportunity to focus on sobriety without social pressure.
• Communication with loved ones is crucial in early sobriety—tell them what you need.
• Having a drink isn't a failure, but rather, it is just returning to your comfort zone.
• Lindsay finds joy in helping women who don't believe they can quit drinking borrow her belief in them.
• Non-alcoholic alternatives like craft NA beers, wines, and mocktails help make sobriety enjoyable.
• The highest achievers aren't typically heavy drinkers—success and sobriety often go hand in hand.

Connect with Lindsay: Instagram or LindsayHennekey.com

Try GoBrewing Non-Alcoholic Beer. Use code MOCKTAILMOM for a discount!

Send me a message about the show!

To connect, join me for mocktails inside The Mocktail Social Club for Happy Half-Hours over Zoom.

• Instagram: @Mocktail.Mom
• Mocktail Book: The Happiest Hour
• Website: MocktailMom.com

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!

Discover the transformative power of choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle while traveling. This episode features a heartfelt conversation with Susan Larkin, a certified alcohol freedom coach, who shares her journey to breaking free from alcohol as a coping mechanism.

- Understanding the societal pressures surrounding alcohol and vacations
- Exploring the joys of sober travel and refreshing alternatives
- Introducing resources for preparing an alcohol-free vacation
- Navigating social settings and staying true to your choices
- Embracing a lifestyle of wellness over the stigma of sobriety

If you enjoyed today's discussion, share the episode with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word!

Connect with Susan on Instagram or her website.

Snag her free downloadable here.

Send me a message about the show!

To connect, join me for mocktails inside The Mocktail Social Club for Happy Half-Hours over Zoom.

• Instagram: @Mocktail.Mom
• Mocktail Book: The Happiest Hour
• Website: MocktailMom.com

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!

This week, I’m hanging out with Lief Frederick, a bartender of 15+ years, an expert at crafting next-level non-alcoholic drinks, and the creator of @thevariantco on Instagram. Lief shares how his bar experience is helping people make better alcohol-free drink choices and opens up about his own journey to ditching alcohol, including the powerful realization about his daughter that gave him the nudge he needed to make a change.

Together, we delve into the beautifully rewarding aspects of an alcohol-free lifestyle. It's about more than just drinks—it's about being present for your family, navigating social events with confidence, and the comfort of a supportive community.

So if you're looking for new alcohol-free drinks to try, insider tips from a pro, and an inspiring conversation, this episode is for you. Cheers to this empowering journey!

Get in touch with Lief!
Instagram | Facebook

Join the Big Time Cheers Facebook Group!

Send me a message about the show!

To connect, join me for mocktails inside The Mocktail Social Club for Happy Half-Hours over Zoom.

• Instagram: @Mocktail.Mom
• Mocktail Book: The Happiest Hour
• Website: MocktailMom.com

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!

Grab your favorite glass and prepare for a fun, flavor-packed chat with the brilliant Kendall Olsen, the mastermind behind @libations_library! Kendall is a pro at breaking down the art of mocktail-making into bite-sized, easy-to-digest goodness. In this episode, she lets us in on her go-to restaurant order, the local brands she loves, and why the mindful drinking movement is booming.

We talk about the magic of a non-alcoholic Salty Dog (recipe included!), how she’s supporting amazing alcohol-free brands—especially in her hometown of St. Louis—and the overwhelming but exciting explosion of NA options (and how to keep up). Kendall also shares the best resources for getting started with mocktails, even if you don’t know a jigger from a shaker.

Whether you’re mocktail-curious, fully alcohol-free, or love discovering new drinks, this episode is packed with goodness. So pour yourself something delicious, and let’s dive in!

Get in touch with Kendall! @libations_library

NA Salty Dog

3 oz grapefruit (unsweetened)

.5 oz lime juice(or sour mix)

2 oz lemon/lime soda

Salty rim

Send me a message about the show!

To connect, join me for mocktails inside The Mocktail Social Club for Happy Half-Hours over Zoom.

• Instagram: @Mocktail.Mom
• Mocktail Book: The Happiest Hour
• Website: MocktailMom.com

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!

What happens when you take alcohol out of the equation? According to this week’s guest, Abby Calabrese, you get deeper connections, a clearer mind, and a whole lot more fun! Abby is a mom of two, a passionate advocate and coach for alcohol-free living, and the host of The Alcohol-Free Coterie podcast. After years of navigating social drinking norms, Abby found freedom in sobriety and is now on a mission to help others do the same.

In this episode, we get into it all—how alcohol is pushed as a “normal” part of life, why the “drink responsibly” message falls flat, and how choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle opens the door to authentic friendships. Abby shares her journey to sobriety, the moment she knew she had to stop drinking, and how non-alcoholic beverages have made her transition easier (spoiler alert: she's a huge fan of NA wines and just won a case of her favorite!).

We also talk about the growing sober movement, the rise of alcohol-free bottle shops, and why mocktail culture is here to stay. If you’ve ever worried that quitting drinking means losing your social life—think again! Abby’s story is proof that the best connections happen when we show up as our true selves. So hit play and let’s raise a mocktail glass to making choices that truly serve us!

Get in touch with Abby!
Website | Instagram | Podcast

Send me a message about the show!

To connect, join me for mocktails inside The Mocktail Social Club for Happy Half-Hours over Zoom.

• Instagram: @Mocktail.Mom
• Mocktail Book: The Happiest Hour
• Website: MocktailMom.com

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!