In this episode of Confident Sober Women, Shelby sits down with entrepreneur, podcast host, and author Sarah Barnes Humphrey for a conversation about identity, resilience, and rebuilding life after everything falls apart.

Sarah shares the story of what she calls the worst day of her life. Just days before her 37th birthday, her family’s logistics company suddenly closed, leaving her without the career path she had spent nearly two decades building. What followed was a period of grief, uncertainty, and deep reflection about self-worth, purpose, and what comes next.

Sarah talks about the emotional reality of starting over and the messy middle that many women experience when life does not go according to plan. Through that process, she began to redefine success, rebuild her confidence, and eventually grow the podcast and platform that she leads today.

Shelby and Sarah explore how experiences like loss, career shifts, and personal setbacks can challenge our sense of identity but also create space for growth and emotional healing.

If you are navigating change, rebuilding confidence, or exploring life after alcohol, this conversation offers a grounded look at resilience and the power of finding your voice.

In this episode you will hear:

• How losing her family business forced Sarah to rebuild her identity
• The emotional impact of sudden career and life changes
• How self-worth can shift during difficult life transitions
• The reality of entrepreneurship and the “messy middle” of growth
• Why healing work and self-reflection matter for women in recovery

This episode speaks to many women on a sobriety journey or navigating life after alcohol, where personal growth often requires rebuilding confidence, addressing mental health and sobriety, and learning how to move forward after difficult experiences.

About the Host

Shelby John is a licensed therapist and founder of Wholistic Living. Through the Confident Sober Women podcast, she explores sobriety, emotional healing, nervous system health, and personal growth for women who are building lives rooted in clarity, confidence, and true freedom.

Connect with Shelby

Website
https://shelbyjohn.com

Podcast
Confident Sober Women

Support the show

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & share this episode with a sober woman or someone suffering from anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep problems and negative thought patterns who needs to hear she is not alone.

Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here! Learn more about EMDR therapy, EMDR Intensives and Remote Neurofeedback.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

In this episode of Confident Sober Women, Shelby sits down with recovery advocate and mindfulness teacher Lane Kennedy for an honest conversation about long-term sobriety, nervous system regulation, and what it really takes to build a stable life after alcohol.

Lane shares her journey of 29 years in recovery and reflects on the unexpected lessons that come with staying sober across decades. From early recovery to parenting, global travel, career shifts, and the challenges of navigating stress in modern life, this conversation explores how recovery continues to evolve over time.

Shelby and Lane talk openly about the role of spirituality in long-term sobriety, the reality of nervous system dysregulation, and how stress can quietly shape our habits, relationships, and health. They also explore the subtle ways addiction patterns can resurface even years into recovery and why awareness, humility, and daily practices remain essential.

Together they discuss how sobriety is not just about removing alcohol, but about building a life that feels grounded, connected, and sustainable.

If you are navigating your own sobriety journey or working on emotional healing and nervous system regulation, this episode offers both perspective and encouragement from two women who have lived the process.

In this episode you will hear:

• What long-term sobriety actually looks like after decades
• How nervous system regulation supports emotional healing
• Why spirituality often becomes a foundation in recovery
• The impact of stress, parenting, and life transitions on sobriety
• How community and connection support women in recovery

This conversation is a reminder that recovery is not a one-time event. It is a lifelong process of growth, awareness, and learning how to live with clarity and confidence.

About the Host

Shelby John is a licensed therapist and founder of Wholistic Living. Through the Confident Sober Women podcast, she explores sobriety, emotional healing, nervous system health, and personal growth for women who are building lives rooted in clarity, confidence, and true freedom.

Connect with Shelby

Website
https://shelbyjohn.com

Podcast
Confident Sober Women

Support the show

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & share this episode with a sober woman or someone suffering from anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep problems and negative thought patterns who needs to hear she is not alone.

Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here! Learn more about EMDR therapy, EMDR Intensives and Remote Neurofeedback.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.

In this episode of Confident Sober Women, Shelby sits down with writer and journalist Carly Schwartz to talk about addiction, emotional sobriety, and the complicated path to recovery.

Carly is a former editor in chief of the San Francisco Examiner and a founding editor of HuffPost San Francisco. Her upcoming memoir, I’ll Try Anything Twice: Misadventures of a Self-Medicated Life, shares the honest and often surprising story of her journey through depression, drug use, and eventually sobriety.

What makes Carly’s story powerful is her ability to talk about difficult experiences with honesty, humor, and perspective. In this conversation, Shelby and Carly explore the deeper emotional work of recovery and the role community plays in healing.

Together they discuss how many women in recovery struggle with belonging, self-criticism, and the belief that their pain is not “bad enough” to count. Carly shares how sobriety helped her move from self-medication and isolation toward connection, emotional healing, and a more grounded life.

In this episode you will hear about:

• Carly’s sobriety journey and the moment she realized her relationship with substances needed to change
• The connection between depression, addiction, and self-medication
• Why humor and storytelling can help reduce stigma around mental health and recovery
• The role of community and belonging in the recovery process
• Letting go of people pleasing and learning to live authentically

This conversation is a reminder that recovery is not just about stopping alcohol or drugs. It is about rebuilding a relationship with yourself and finding confidence in sobriety.

If you are a sober woman, sober curious, or navigating life after alcohol, this episode offers an honest look at the emotional layers of healing and growth.

About the Host

Shelby John is a licensed therapist and founder of Wholistic Living. Through the Confident Sober Women podcast, she explores sobriety, emotional healing, nervous system health, and personal development for women building lives rooted in clarity, confidence, and true freedom.

Connect with Shelby

Website
https://shelbyjohn.com

Podcast
Confident Sober Women

Support the show

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & share this episode with a sober woman or someone suffering from anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep problems and negative thought patterns who needs to hear she is not alone.

Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t know, my remote Neurofeedback Therapy program is up and running. Learn more here! Learn more about EMDR therapy, EMDR Intensives and Remote Neurofeedback.

And if you haven't read my memoir, grab a copy of Recovering in Recovery: The Life-Changing Joy of Sobriety wherever books are sold.