From Bartender to Entrepreneur: Amanda's Sobriety Journey

What happens when the life you’re living doesn’t feel good anymore… even if it looks normal from the outside?In this episode, I sat down with Amanda and honestly, this conversation goes deeper than just “quitting drinking.” She shares what it was like working as a bartender, being constantly around alcohol, and how the pandemic really shifted things for her.We talk about that in-between phase too, where you’re not really drinking the same way anymore, but you’re also not fully living sober yet. That part? I think a lot of people don’t talk about enough.Amanda opens up about going on a silent meditation retreat (which is wild in the best way), how that helped her reconnect with herself, and what led her to create her non-alcoholic spirit brand, Tomo no Tomo.We also get into what it actually looks like to build a life that feels aligned, why community matters so much in this journey, and how sobriety can be more than just “not drinking”… it can actually feel freeing.If you’ve been questioning your relationship with alcohol, or just feel like something’s off, I think you’ll really connect with this one.In this episode, we talk about:• Being surrounded by drinking culture and how normal it all feels• How the pandemic changed Amanda’s habits• The silent meditation retreat that shifted everything• Starting a non-alcoholic brand from scratch• The difference between not drinking and actually living sober• Why having the right people around you makes all the differenceConnect with Out & About AF:Follow along for real conversations, alcohol-free tips, and communityInstagram: @outandaboutafJoin the community: (add your link)Website: (add your link)About Tomonotomo:Tomo no Tomo is a non-alcoholic spirit focused on connection and being present. It’s for people who still want the experience and ritual of a drink, just without the alcohol.Learn more: (add link)If this episode resonated with you:Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with someone who might need to hear this. It really does help more than you think.