38. From Secret Shame to Amplifying Sober Voices: Breaking 20 Years of Hiding with Margy Schaller

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful conversation, Jenn sits down with Margy Schaller, co-founder of Sober Life Rocks, who shares her remarkable 20-year journey from secret drinking to secret sobriety - and finally to authentic living. Starting with her first drink at age 8 from her mother's endless scotch and water, Margy takes us through decades of functional alcoholism, a life-changing intervention, and the unexpected challenge of hiding her sobriety for nearly two decades.Margy reveals the pivotal moment at a women's conference when she discovered 15% of the room didn't drink - people she knew well but had never shared this truth with. This realization sparked her mission to normalize sobriety and led to the creation of Amplify Sober Voices, a groundbreaking conference designed to help others find their voice in the alcohol-free space.Whether you're questioning your relationship with alcohol, living authentically, or simply curious about breaking free from societal expectations, Margy's story offers profound insights into the power of showing up as your whole self.Key Topics Discussed:First drink at age 8 and progression through college "chug champ" daysLearning wine "etiquette" and the rule about finishing bottles being "respectful"Single motherhood and using alcohol to cope with divorce stressThe wake-up call: crashing parents' car into telephone poleFamily intervention disguised as "alcohol education weekend"60 days at Betty Ford and the revelation: "What I lost was me"18+ years of hiding sobriety in professional and social settingsThe corporate wine dinner dilemma and social anxiety without alcoholConference revelation: 15% of women didn't drink but kept it secretFormation of Sober Life Rocks and mission to normalize sobrietyAmplify Sober Voices conference (January 15, 2026, Orlando)From "high functioning" to realizing she was "barely hanging on"Resources Mentioned:Sober Life Rocks: SoberLifeRocks.comAmplify Sober Voices Conference: AmplifySoberVoices.comLocation: Orlando, FL - January 15, 2026 (includes full PodFest access)Find Margy Schaller Here:Instagram @margyschallerConnect with AF Superpowers: Website  Instagram