The Planted Seed - Becoming Part of a Story I Didn't Live Through

Some stories don't begin with us but they still shape who we become. In this first episode of The Functional Cantina, Kandice shares the moment that quietly changed the way she views alcohol forever. A story rooted in trauma, survival, and the long-lasting ripple effects of one night that occurred long before she ever entered her husband's life. This isn't a story about addiction or recovery it's about what happens after. About the injuries that follow someone for decades. The emotional weight families carry. And how alcohol's impact doesn't always show up in obvious ways. In this episode, Kandice opens up about: • Becoming part of a story she didn't live through • How trauma can echo through a family for generations • Why alcohol conversations often stop too soon • The difference between judgment and compassion • And the questions that eventually led her toward a booze-free life This episode sets the foundation for everything to come  the personal journey, the shift toward harm reduction, and the creation of Kava Cantina. If you've ever questioned alcohol, felt its presence in your life in subtle ways, or sensed there might be another path forward  this conversation is for you. This is only the beginning.