Happiest Hour with Paula Devine

For almost ten years, Ashley Kelsch owned Teddies for Bettys, a lingerie and sexual wellness boutique in Austin, where she spent countless hours with women in dressing rooms talking about bodies, relationships, and the quiet disconnection so many of them carried. That experience, combined with her own history of using relationships, work, and wine to escape herself, became the foundation for her current work. Today Ashley helps women find their way back to themselves through a practice centered on desire, the body, and their relationship with alcohol. She's certified through The Life Coach School, completing her VITA training in erotic embodiment, and has written for Tribeza Magazine and other publications. She believes pleasure is a birthright, not a luxury, and that most women haven't lost their desire so much as lost access to it.Thank you for listening, please follow for weekly episodes!This Podcast is hosted by Paula Devine Happiest HourFor more information about Happiest Hour head to www.happiesthouraf.comFor more information about Ashley Kelsch she can be found on Substack, instagram@theashleykelsch and www.ashleykelsch.com

In this episode of The Happiest Hour, I sit down with Amber Carter—fitness and yoga instructor, retreat host, author, and fellow sober woman—for an honest conversation about what happens when life begins to unravel… and why that isn’t always a bad thing.We explore what empty nesting can teach us about identity, purpose, and the opportunity to become curious instead of fearful. If you’ve ever wondered, Who am I now? Where do I belong? this conversation is for you.Together we talk about:Why empty nesting can become a powerful season of self-discovery.The connection between women’s health, wellness, movement, and emotional healing.Sobriety as a doorway to greater clarity and self-trust.The stories we tell ourselves—and how our inner dialogue shapes our lives.Letting go of “I should,” “I have to,” and “I could have.”Why your life isn’t finished—you’re simply editing the next chapter.One of my favorite reminders from this conversation:You have the power to change your narrative. This is your book, and you get to edit it.Whether you’re navigating an empty nest, rethinking your relationship with alcohol, or simply feeling called into a new season of life, I hope this episode leaves you feeling hopeful, empowered, and excited about what’s still to come.If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman who might need this reminder today.

Artist Mel Cherigate shares how a life that looked functional slowly unraveled after grief and alcohol took hold. A mom, wife and after two trips to rehab, she found lasting recovery—and rediscovered her creativity, purpose, and herself. We talk about healing through art, rebuilding a life from the inside out, and why it's never too late to start over. Her honesty and openness is a true testament of her courage to share her story and help others. You can find her on instagram @mel_cheriegate_Follow this podcast for weekly episodes.

In this episode of The Happiest Hour, I sit down with Laura Silverman, founder of Zero Proof Nation and Booze Free in DC, to talk about what it was like choosing an alcohol-free life long before the sober curious movement existed.After two hospitalizations by the age of 24, Laura knew something had to change. But in a world with virtually no non-alcoholic options and very little community, staying alcohol-free meant learning how to navigate a culture built around drinking while constantly asking herself if moderation was possible.We talk about growing up feeling different, bullying, self-medicating, the ADHD and neurodivergent brain, and why alcohol can become such an appealing coping tool.We also dive into today’s rapidly growing alcohol-free landscape, including THC drinks, the explosion of non-alcoholic options, and Laura’s guide to exploring Washington DC without alcohol.Most importantly, we talk about community — how local alcohol-free brands, events, and connection help people feel less alone, and how far we’ve come while recognizing there’s still so much more to build.This conversation is honest, hopeful, and a reminder that the future of socializing doesn’t have to revolve around alcohol.

This week on The Happiest Hour, I sit down with Jes Landau for an honest conversation about motherhood, stress, and the quiet ways alcohol can slowly become woven into everyday life.For Jes, instagram @jeslandau, what started as sharing a nightly bottle of wine with her husband became a ritual, a reward, and eventually a crutch. Following her divorce, she found herself working in wine sales while navigating single motherhood and rebuilding her life.Everything changed after seeing a photograph of herself with glazed-over eyes staring back at her. In that moment, she knew she couldn’t keep going the way she had been.Jes shares how early sobriety wasn’t about deprivation—it was about choosing herself, her healing, and her family over and over again. In those first months, she focused on giving herself ten times more care, attention, and compassion than she ever had before.We also talk about her love of reading, creating new rituals through mocktails, and discovering that alcohol wasn’t what made life’s moments special after all.If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for the nightly glass of wine simply because it’s what you’ve always done, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone and that another way is possible.If you are looking for guided support head to www. happiesthouraf.com to book a call.

In this short solo episode, I talk about the mindset shift that changed everything for me. For years, it was easy to blame stress, overwhelm, difficult seasons, or other people for why I kept drinking. But staying on that merry-go-round only kept me stuck.The hardest truth to face was also the most freeing: alcohol wasn't helping me survive my life—it was making my life harder.When I stopped pointing the finger everywhere else and got honest with myself, everything began to change.If you've been wondering whether alcohol is really helping you cope, this episode is your invitation to ask a different question.Because you deserve so much more than just surviving—you deserve to truly live.

This week I'm joined by Kristen Beckett, the woman behind the viral Mocktailsandmarathons Instagram reels. We talk about the slippery slope of gray-area drinking in motherhood—how "normal" drinking slowly turned into blackouts, hiding alcohol, and constantly justifying it because nothing "bad" had happened... yet.Kristen shares her experience with postpartum depression, the shocking news that became a turning point in her life, and what it was like growing up in a family where alcohol was simply part of having fun. She also opens up about finding a sober community and how living alcohol-free has brought her more purpose, stronger relationships, and a level of joy she never expected.We also dive into something so many women struggle with: when—and whether—to tell other people you've stopped drinking. From quietly making the change to publicly sharing her sobriety online, Kristen offers an honest perspective on identity, vulnerability, and the freedom that comes from living in alignment with who you truly are.Whether you're sober-curious, taking a break, or years into your alcohol-free journey, I think you'll see a little of yourself in this conversation.Follow for weekly episodes!

This week on The Happiest Hour, I’m joined by author Mary Alice Stephens for a conversation that felt like sitting across from a friend who just gets it.We talk about her incredible book, the stories behind it, and the moments that made us both stop and question what had become so normal.We get into:• Mommy wine culture and the messages women absorb about alcohol• The “witching hour” and using wine as a reward or coping tool• Our experiences with AA and how it positively impacted both of us—even though neither of us are active today• The gray area between “I’m fine” and “this isn’t working anymore”• Humor, honesty, identity, and creating a life that feels good without alcoholMary brings so much warmth, self-awareness, and humor to this conversation, and I think so many women will see themselves in parts of her story.Grab your coffee, your walk, or your quiet moment—and join us.🎙️ The Happiest Hour with Paula Devine

Had a great conversation with Whitney Cowell from LifeWithWhit on TikTok. We discussed how two things cane be true at once. We can still hold on to old memories that were fun yet also recognize the bad moments. Yet, if we hold onto one, we must acknowledge the other. We talk about having a sober wedding, faith, and combining our life with friends inside and outside our world of recovery.What an amazing open & fun conversation about the realities of getting sober and staying sober.

My friend Shannon and I have been walking this journey together for years, and this conversation is one of the most honest we’ve had.We talk about motherhood, friendship, and the subtle ways alcohol had us performing instead of truly connecting—showing up physically while missing pieces of ourselves emotionally.This episode is about what changed, what surprised us, and how choosing differently gave us more presence, more honesty, and more of ourselves back.

This week I got to sit down with a very special soul and friend, Brenda. We met through Lighthouse Sobriety Academy. From the moment you meet her, you feel her energy, joy, and deep sense of peace—but her journey wasn’t always that way.We talk about her complicated relationship with alcohol, unhealthy relationships, and how drinking looked different during different seasons of her life. Because alcohol isn’t always linear. Sometimes life changes… and our drinking changes with it.Brenda shares how she found freedom through faith, self-discovery, and learning to trust herself again. This conversation is honest, insightful, and full of hope for anyone who’s quietly wondering if there’s another way to live.

This week on The Happiest Hour, I sat down with Ashley , mom of two, fitness coach, UGC creator, and someone whose story felt surprisingly familiar.We talked about what happens when alcohol doesn’t necessarily create a dramatic rock bottom… it just quietly stops working.The overthinking. The exhaustion. The feeling of doing all the things but not fully feeling like yourself.Ashley shares how she started questioning what had become normal, what changed when she took alcohol out of the equation, and how she’s rebuilding a life that feels more aligned, creative, and present.If you’ve ever thought, “Nothing is technically wrong… but this isn’t working anymore,” this conversation is for you.

We talk a lot about triggers like parties, stress, and celebrations—but what about the quiet moments?The nights home alone. The hotel room. The empty house. The moments when nobody’s watching and that little voice says… who’s gonna know?In this episode, we talk about one of the hardest and least discussed parts of changing your relationship with alcohol: drinking in private, negotiating with yourself, and learning to trust yourself again.Because freedom isn’t doing whatever you want when no one’s around.Freedom is feeling peaceful in your own mind when they’re not.If this is your trigger, this conversation is for you.

This week I sat down with Juliet Warner for an honest conversation about sobriety, relapse, faith, motherhood, and what recovery actually looks like behind the scenes.We talk about relapse and finding our way back. AA, God, and the magic of the 12 Steps Parenting teens and becoming a more present mom. What recovery gave us that alcohol never couldThis isn’t a conversation about perfection. It’s about honesty, second chances, showing up, and creating a life you don’t want to escape from.

In this episode of The Happiest Hour with Paula Devine, Paula sits down with Dana Bowman for an honest conversation about motherhood, nightly wine habits, menopause, sugar addiction, perfectionism, and the complicated relationship so many women have with alcohol.They also talk openly about relapse — not as failure, but as part of Dana’s story and a turning point that became intentional, honest, and deeply eye-opening. Together they explore what happens when alcohol stops feeling like relief and starts creating more exhaustion, anxiety, and disconnection instead.This conversation touches on:Normalizing the nightly glasses, drinking habits & cultureMidlife stress and sober menopauseSugar addiction and coping mechanismsPerfectionism and people-pleasingRelapse, self-awareness, and starting againWhat real freedom and recovery can look likeThis episode is for the woman quietly wondering if there’s more to life than constantly trying to “manage” alcohol while pretending everything is fine.

This week Ashley & I get honest about the thoughts, fears, and mental gymnastics that came with drinking. Waiting for a reason to stop, hoping something external would make the decision for us, the anxiety after the nights out, and the realization that so much of what we called fun was actually exhausting us. If you've ever wondered why you kept going back even when you knew something felt off, this conversation will probably hit home.

In this Friday series episode, Ashley and I are sharing 3 things that really stuck with us in early sobriety and beyond.The fears, the shifts, the small moments that actually matter and what it looks like when everything feels new and a little uncomfortable.Not the polished version...the real version.If you've ever wondered : "Could I actually do this?"or "What does it really look like in the beginning?"This one's for you!

Sobriety was just the beginning. In this episode with Ali Clark, founder of the Sober Dream Team, we talk about how alcohol, narcissistic relationship dynamics, and a dysregulated nervous system can all feed off each other—and what it actually takes to start feeling safe, clear, and grounded again.www.soberdreamteam.com

Wendi and I go there.From “How did I get here?” to actually doing something about it.If you’ve ever looked at your life and thought, “This isn’t how I thought it would be…” — this episode is for you.Wendi shares her journey through divorce, motherhood, and working as a first responder—all while navigating her relationship with alcohol. We talk about sober dating, identity shifts, and what it really takes to surrender and seek help.Because the truth is..nothing changes if nothing changes, and sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit something isn’t working anymore.Resources: hanleycenter.org phone: 855-751-4673verobeach recoverycenter.comphone: 772-584-3083

In this episode, I sit down with Jaime Andersen—founder of Amazingly Alcohol-Free, podcast host, retreat leader, and sober mom. We talk honestly about what our drinking days looked like behind the scenes while raising kids, and how much heavier life felt than we wanted to admit. Jaime shares her experience navigating motherhood, including raising a child on the autism spectrum, walking through miscarriage, and how alcohol quietly weaves itself into all of it. This is a real conversation about what it was like then… and what life feels like now. And on the other side? It’s not perfect—but it’s clear, present, and so much more beautiful than we imagined.

Paula sits down with Ashley to talk about the quiet moments that lead us to question our relationship with alcohol. Ashley shares a deeply emotional look at what it was like to be in the grips of her drinking while navigating motherhood. It's an honest conversation about the pain, the awareness, and courage it takes to begin choosing something different. It's a story of resilience, overcoming shame, and finding the courage to live in alignment with your truth.

Hi and I'm Paula, Founder of the Happiest Hour Concierge Sobriety. A this very short introduction to the new podcast and what I look forward to sharing. Thanks for listening!

This is one of the most honest conversations I've ever had.I sat down with my son Mikey, and asked him the questions most moms avoid...We'll talk about: How he really felt and what he sees now in me as an alcohol-free mom.It's about awareness, healing, and showing what's possible on the other side.Is you've ever wondered how your drinking might be impacting your kids...this conversation might change everything. If you need help changing your relationship with alcohol, Head to ww.happiesthouraf.com to book a discovery call and start living your best life .