PODCAST · education
Bottomless to Sober
by Jessica Dueñas
Bottomless to Sober is an 85-episode podcast archive for anyone navigating sobriety, recovery, or life after alcohol. Host Jessica Dueñas, mom, writer, life coach, and former Kentucky State Teacher of the Year, shares raw and honest stories about addiction, healing, relapse, grief, motherhood, and rebuilding your life with compassion and clarity.What began as a way to tell the truth about getting sober has become a living record of transformation. If you’re sober-curious, newly sober, or seeking real conversations about recovery, you’ll find support, tools, and hope inside this archive.
Episodes
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86. Closing This Chapter, but the Work Continues
Thank you for trusting me with your time and your attention. That has never been something I take lightly. This chapter of the podcast is closing, but the work and the conversation continues in other ways. You can find me sharing more day-to-day over on Instagram:...
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85. Signs I Ignored About My Alcoholic Liver Disease
In this episode: I talk about the physical warning signs I ignored while drinking, including my experience with alcoholic liver disease, and the stories I told myself to keep drinking. I share how sobriety forced me to actually listen to my body instead of overriding it with fear, minimization…
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84. Break the Cycle Before It Breaks You: Healing Trauma and Recovery with Author Priscilla María Gutiérrez
In this episode: In this episode of Bottomless to Sober, I talk with trauma-informed life coach and author Priscilla María Gutiérrez about breaking generational cycles and healing from trauma in sobriety. We dive into what recovery looks like beyond putting down the bottle—unpacking childhood...
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83. How I Stay Sober While Grieving: Tools for Holiday Healing
In this episode: In this episode of Bottomless to Sober, I open up about navigating grief during the holidays while staying committed to my sobriety. After losing my mother earlier this year and experiencing past losses connected to pregnancy, partnership, and family—I share the tools that have...
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82. How to Say No to Alcohol During the Holidays (Without Explaining Yourself)
In this episode: In this episode of Bottomless to Sober, I’m talking about how to say no to alcohol during the holidays and protect your boundaries when others don’t respect them. In my near five years sober, I’ve been to countless parties, family gatherings, and work events where alcohol was…
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81. “You Can’t Be a B**ch to Yourself If You Have Daughters” — Healing Body Image in Sobriety and Motherhood
In this episode: I share a deeply personal reflection inspired by a quote I saw online: “If you have daughters, you can’t be a bitch to yourself about your looks anymore.” As a sober mom raising my daughter, Amara, I talk about what it means to model peace instead of self-criticism and how…
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80. You Don’t Have to Hit Rock Bottom to Change
In this episode: In this episode of Bottomless to Sober, I talk about why “rock bottom” is a myth and how recovery doesn’t have to wait for a crisis. I share how I kept finding new lows in my own journey and what it really means to stop digging and start healing. I also offer guidance for those...
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79. Turning Pain Into Purpose: Alex Lange on Grief, Healing, and Living With Intention
In This Episode: In this deeply moving episode of Bottomless to Sober, I sit down with Navy veteran, men’s coach, and fellow TEDx speaker Alex Lange, a man in recovery who opens up about losing his 18-month-old son, Liam, and how grief reshaped his life. Alex shares his process for healing and…
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78. Living Unmasked: A Conversation with Abigail Teixeira on Sobriety, Generational Healing, and Decolonizing Parenthood
In this episode: In this episode, I sit down with Abigail Teixeira for a powerful conversation on sobriety, generational healing, and parenting with intention. Abigail opens up about the courage it took to share the parts of her story that had been “silenced for too long” and what reclamation and...
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77. An Interview with Investigative Journalist Shoshana Walter, Author of Rehab: An American Scandal
In this episode: I sit down with award-winning investigative journalist Shoshana Walter, author of Rehab: An American Scandal, to discuss the hidden truths of America’s rehab industry and what her reporting reveals about treatment, recovery, and justice. Resources: Purchase Rehab: An American...
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76. Why Your Boring Life Might Be the Best One Yet
In this episode: I reflect on a passage from The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest and what it means to truly be where your feet are. I share how recovery has taught me to embrace stillness, simplicity, and the quiet moments that used to feel empty. Life doesn’t have to be loud or flashy to be full…
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75. Am I Prioritizing Connection or Control?
In this episode: So, what is ego, anyway? In this episode, I talk about how ego shows up in everyday life, especially in recovery, and how choosing presence over control can bring more peace and connection. I share personal insights, a favorite quote, and a few reflection questions to help you...
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74. ‘Bad Enough’ for Rehab? And Other Questions Answered with Robert Marino
In this eposode: I sit down with Robert Marino, founder of Rolling Hills Recovery Center and Novara Recovery Center, to talk about what really happens inside a treatment facility. We explore how to know when it’s time to seek help, what to expect from a 30-day program, and why not all treatment...
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73. Your Discomfort Is a Signal
In this episode: In this episode, I open up about breaking the cycle of people-pleasing, learning to trust discomfort as a boundary, and why I’ll never force my daughter to smile, hug, or perform for anyone. If you’ve ever silenced your inner “no” to keep the peace, this one’s for you. Resources:...
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72. You Can Have It All and Still Be Struggling: How Fiction Helped Jessica Guerrieri Tell the Truth About Motherhood, Alcohol, and Recovery
In this episode: In this episode, I talk with debut author Jessica Guerrieri about her novel Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, a raw, honest story about addiction, motherhood, and recovery. We dive into why she chose fiction over memoir, how mommy wine culture harms more than it helps, and...
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71. I Got the Thing… So Why Do I Still Feel Empty?
In this episode: In this episode, I unpack the sneaky ways dopamine keeps us chasing more, whether it’s achievements, shopping, or relationships, and why it never actually brings peace. I share personal stories from my own recovery and offer reflection questions to help you step off the treadmill...
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70. What If Recovery Isn’t a Straight Line? Life in the Middle Place with Author Mallary Tenore Tarpley
In this episode: What if recovery isn’t a finish line, but a place we learn to live in? In this deeply personal episode, I sit down with journalist, professor, and author Mallary Tenore Tarpley to talk abouther upcoming book, SLIP: Life in the Middle ofEating Disorder Recovery. Mallary shares how...
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69. Flipping the Script on Asking for Help
In this episode: I’m exploring how true strength comes from letting others in. I’m sharing powerful stories about motherhood, recovery, and the beauty of asking for help. I hope you walk away feeling inspired to lean into connection and let love flow both ways. Resources: Coaching Information...
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68. I Didn’t Get an Apology—But I Got Something Better
In this episode: Sobriety helped me stop blaming my mom and start healing. This episode is about grief, generational pain, and the peace I found—without ever getting an apology. Resources: The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel Coaching Information Bottomless to...
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67. You Might Be the 1 in 10—and You’re Not Alone
In this episode: Whether you’re raising kids, teaching, or questioning your own drinking—this one’s for you. Addiction isn’t about being bad. It’s about being human—and healing is possible. I share some powerful stats from author Jessica Lahey, and reframe the shame with truth and compassion....
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66. "You are not a before and after photo."
In this episode: In this episode, I reflect on how sobriety reshaped my relationship with my body, and why I now lean on neutral affirmations to speak to myself with honesty and care. Resources: Just Eat It by Laura Thomas - The book I got the quote from in the episode Coaching Information...
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65. Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight
In this episode: Imagine being at the pinnacle of your career, celebrated as Kentucky State Teacher of the Year, while secretly battling severe addiction. That's the reality I faced, living a double life until a car accident shattered my illusions and forced me to confront my need for recovery....
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64. Breaking Free From The 'Good Girl' Mask
In this episode: Jessica explores the emotional cost of people-pleasing and the liberation found in breaking the “good girl” script. Reflecting on her own experiences before and after sobriety, she shares how unlearning the need to be liked led to deeper self-worth and authentic healing. This...
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63. Shame Is a Liar: Reclaiming Your Worth and Breaking Free
In this episode: Shame is sneaky—it twists our thoughts and keeps us stuck. In this episode, Jessica gets real about how shame shaped her struggles with addiction, relapse, and self-worth. She shares personal stories, unpacks common shame traps, and offers powerful questions to help you shift…
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62.The Hidden Reason Tough Conversations Set You Off – And How to Fix It
In this episode: You ever have a conversation that immediately sets you off? Like, your whole body tenses up, your heart starts racing, and suddenly, you’re 10 years old again? Yeah, same. In this episode, I’m sharing a personal story about my late mother, a comment about my body that sent me…
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61. Teaching People How to Treat Us
In this episode: I dive into the powerful quote by Nedra Glover Tawwab: "We teach people how to treat us by how we treat ourselves," reflecting on a moment at work when I had to assert my boundaries with a student and contrasting it with my past struggles as a teacher battling alcohol addiction…
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60. You Can't Save Them
In this episode: In this episode, I shares my personal journey with addiction and the painful realization that no amount of love or intervention can save someone struggling with addiction—only the individual can choose to change. Drawing on my own experiences and a listener’s inquiry, I explain...
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59. Love, Lies, and Liquor: How Sobriety Helped Me See Red Flags Clearly
In this episode: Valentine’s Day once amplified my feelings of lack and low self-worth, fueling my drinking and poor relationship choices. In this episode, I share how alcohol blurred red flags in dating and the moment I first admitted, “I think I might be an alcoholic.” Sobriety gave me...
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58. Identity, Atomic Habits, and the Power of Self-Perception
In this episode: How we see ourselves shapes the choices we make every day. In this episode, I dive into the game-changing concept from James Clear’sAtomic Habits: the power of identity-based habits. I share how fully embracing the mindset of “I’m a non-drinker” can become a turning point in...
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57. The Most Complicated Person I Ever Loved
In this episode: Can joy and grief coexist? In this episode, I reflect on welcoming my daughter, Amara, while mourning my mother, Amable Rojas Vargas. From her journey from Costa Rica to Brooklyn to the complexities of our relationship, I explore the beauty in duality through the lens of sobriety...
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56. Living in a Dorm with My Baby: Breaking Norms and Battling Shame
In this episode: Motherhood, success, and relationships often come with rigid societal expectations, but I've chosen a different route—one that prioritizes authenticity and personal growth over conventional norms. Living with 650 college students while navigating parenthood and sobriety was never...
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55. From Happy Hours to Hard Truths: Teaching, Alcohol, and the Surgeon General’s Wake-Up Call
In this episode: I share how my once-social relationship with alcohol turned into a hidden struggle during my early years as a teacher. We’ll explore the intense pressures of the classroom, the risks of unhealthy coping mechanisms, and the urgent warning from the U.S. Surgeon General about…
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54. I'm not going to say Happy New Year.
In this episode: In this episode of Bottomless to Sober, I return after a long (super long) hiatus to share life updates, including the birth of my daughter, Amara, and my journey into motherhood. I reflect on how sobriety has equipped her to navigate the fear and uncertainty of major life…
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53. To Go or Not To Go: Assessing the Risks of Going Out When Alcohol is Involved
In this episode: Feeling like you might be the odd one out at social gatherings because you've chosen sobriety? You’re not alone. In this episode, I share tips to help you decide if navigating social events where alcohol is often front and center is something you are ready for. Resources:...
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52. Raising Healthy Kids: Insights from Jessica Lahey on Substance Use Prevention
In this episode: Preventing substance use in children starts earlier than you might think—right from kindergarten. In this eye-opening episode, I welcome Jessica Lahey, an educator, New York Times bestselling author, and speaker, who shares insights from her book The Addiction Inoculation…
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51. "It's not about feeling better. It's about getting better at feeling."
In this episode: Join me as I share a deeply personal journey through grief and family dynamics in this heartfelt episode. Through the lens of my own story, I explore the impact of my oldest sister Sandra's sudden passing and the intricate relationships among siblings with significant age and...
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50. Why force yourself to sit at a table that was never meant for you?
In this episode: When my patience was pushed to its limits by a friend who saw the glass perpetually half empty, I stumbled upon a profound truth about standing firm in who you are. That's what this episode is all about: peeling back the layers to be our authentic selves and find the places where...
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49. Breaking Trauma Cycles and Embracing Healing with Cycle Breaker Coach Priscilla Gutiérrez
In this episode: Join me on a journey of self-discovery and transformation with my dear friend and cycle breaker coach, Priscilla María. Priscilla María is a Keynote Speaker and Certified Trauma Recovery Coach who empowers others to become cycle breakers. Some cycles her clients are courageously...
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48. From Silence to Liberation: A Mother’s Day Reflection
CW: discussion of intimate partner violence In this episode: There's a profound mix of beauty and pain in the narrative of my family, from my grandmother's sacrifices of selling lottery tickets to avoid returning to an abuser's home to the cultural tradition of silence that influenced my own...
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47. Eight Questions You Asked About Marijuana, Relationships, Moderation and More
In this episode: Join me as I candidly share personal experiences, answering powerful questions from a recent Q&A that touch on self-confidence, sobriety, moderation, and the complexities of dating without the influence of substances. It is a conversation that celebrates the small yet significant...
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46. Chris’s Journey Through Addiction and Adoption
In this episode: I share Chris's story, one of the first people I interviewed for Bottomless to Sober. Chris's early beginnings, marked by being born into addiction and later adopted, set the stage for a life of searching and self-discovery. His challenges with substance use, identity, and the...
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45. The Role of Storytelling in Recovery
In this episode: Listen in as I share a personal narrative, starting with my mom’s unwavering lunch routine that travels from Brooklyn to Costa Rica, and how it serves as a launchpad for a larger conversation on inherited beliefs. I tackle the importance of questioning the doctrines passed down…
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44. Breaking Down What Our Mothers Taught Us About Looks, Behavior, and Love
In this episode: Listen in as I share a personal narrative, starting with my mom's unwavering lunch routine that travels from Brooklyn to Costa Rica, and how it serves as a launchpad for a larger conversation on inherited beliefs. I tackle the importance of questioning the doctrines passed down…
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A mini episode in honor of Ian.
Happy Celestial Birthday, Ian. Storytelling saves lives. If you're interested in telling your story on this podcast or as a blog post, please email me: [email protected] or consider joining my upcoming Writing for Healing class.
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43. What else can be true? A deeper look at people-pleasing.
In this episode: In this introspective episode, I dive deep into the core of our desire to please others. Is this drive a subtle quest for control, or is it rooted in age-old survival tactics? I challenge you to consider the possibility of deeper truths lying beneath the surface of…
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42. The Lessons I Didn't Learn From Marriage
Please note there was a weird audio issue with this episode, so if you don't like it, please skip it because I was not going to re-record. In this episode: I'm minding my own business when suddenly, my sister sends a bombshell text reminder – apparently, I got married 11 years ago. I forget I…
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41. Beyond the First Sip: Healing Through Writing About My Childhood
In this episode: This episode isn't just about recounting childhood memories of me stealing money for food; it's an exploration of how writing can serve as a potent tool for healing. I discuss the cathartic experience of writing about one of my childhood stories and how it helps untangle the...
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40. From Liquid Courage to Authentic Connection: A Conversation with Relationship and Sex Therapist, Eliza Boquin
In this episode: Recognizing that engaging romantically can be a massive trigger for those on a healing journey, I sought the guidance of Eliza Boquin, a licensed psychotherapist, couples therapist, and certified sex therapist for this episode. With notable features on platforms like Bustle and...
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38. Navigating Recovery Using The Four Agreements
In this episode: Navigating the complex emotions of recovery is no small feat, yet understanding the principles of Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements gives us tools to foster peace, self-compassion and clarity. This episode is a testament to the healing potential of these agreements…
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37. Pregnancy Loss: What It Moved Me To Unlearn About Recovery
In this episode: CW: pregnancy loss and death by overdose This episode touches on the unlearning that happens when "doing the next right thing" is overshadowed by life's cruelest twists. I discuss how recovery has taught me to handle the hard things, including navigating a miscarriage—a topic…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Bottomless to Sober is an 85-episode podcast archive for anyone navigating sobriety, recovery, or life after alcohol. Host Jessica Dueñas, mom, writer, life coach, and former Kentucky State Teacher of the Year, shares raw and honest stories about addiction, healing, relapse, grief, motherhood, and rebuilding your life with compassion and clarity.What began as a way to tell the truth about getting sober has become a living record of transformation. If you’re sober-curious, newly sober, or seeking real conversations about recovery, you’ll find support, tools, and hope inside this archive.
HOSTED BY
Jessica Dueñas
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Bottomless to Sober have?
Bottomless to Sober currently has 86 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Bottomless to Sober about?
Bottomless to Sober is an 85-episode podcast archive for anyone navigating sobriety, recovery, or life after alcohol. Host Jessica Dueñas, mom, writer, life coach, and former Kentucky State Teacher of the Year, shares raw and honest stories about addiction, healing, relapse, grief, motherhood, and...
How often does Bottomless to Sober release new episodes?
Bottomless to Sober has 86 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Bottomless to Sober?
You can listen to Bottomless to Sober on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Bottomless to Sober?
Bottomless to Sober is created and hosted by Jessica Dueñas.
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