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Health & Fitness

It’s Not About the Alcohol

Would you like to reduce your alcohol consumption by about 80 percent? Become the version of you who can just “take it or leave it” so that you can enjoy drinking socially without relying on alcohol to manage your stress, anxiety, loneliness and boredom when you’re by yourself?

Most high achieving women assume over-drinking is caused by a lack of willpower–or worse, the incurable disease of “alcoholism.” So they beat themselves up and avoid asking for help because they feel ashamed and out of control.

Whether you’re a daily drinker who can’t break the habit, or you’re still going to sobriety meetings even though you don’t drink anymore, the real problem is that you don’t trust yourself.

Which means it’s not about the alcohol. It’s about your relationship with yourself.

Colleen Freeland is a a mindful drinking coach helping professional women learn how drinking less (or not at all) is actually a superpower, even when the idea of giving up the only thing that helps them quiet their mind feels impossible.

The solution to alcohol use disorder is a FEELING. If you felt comfortable in your own skin and at ease in your life, you would drink like someone who is comfortable and at ease!

Join me each week for holistic, evidence-based strategies to fix your dopamine deficit, regulate your nervous system, cure imposter syndrome, manage sugar cravings, improve your sleep and reclaim your mental health so you no longer have the urge to escape your own body.

Get happy, not sober. Because happy people don’t drink themselves into a stupor.

Latest Episodes:

EP207 Minisode: Accept the invitation to be okay no matter what May 03, 2025

Show notes

Today's episode is all about the practice of being okay no matter what. Colleen shares the mindset shift that changed everything for her—especially while growing her business on TikTok—and how you can apply the same concept to anything in your life.

Whether it's tech glitches, traffic, or your partner's tone of voice, there's always an invitation to be bothered—or an opportunity to practice emotional sobriety instead. This episode will show you why true freedom isn't about changing your circumstances; it's about expanding your capacity to stay unbothered in the middle of them.

💡 Key Takeaways: • Your happiness depends on managing your internal world, not controlling the external world. • Resistance creates emotional "weight" that slows you down and steals your energy. • Growth comes from solving higher-level problems—not avoiding discomfort. • You can skip the part where you get upset and go straight to being okay. • Emotional sobriety isn't perfection—it's the choice to exist without adding extra suffering.

✨ Action Step: Pick one small irritation today—something low-stakes—and practice letting it go without needing it to change. Notice how much lighter you feel when you simply allow things to be as they are.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

—Click here to TAKE THE QUIZ: Do you have a drinking problem or a thinking problem?

EP206 Minisode: Don't try to do it "right," just do better May 01, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode, Colleen shares a powerful mindset shift that can make changing any habit feel easier, faster, and more sustainable: stop trying to "get it right" — just focus on getting it better.

Inspired by the concept of the iterative mindset from Dr. Kira Bobinet's research, Colleen explains why the old black-and-white idea of relapse and failure doesn't belong in habit change—and how a simple shift in thinking can remove the shame, accelerate your progress, and help you design a lifestyle that actually fits the life you want to live.

Whether you're working on your drinking habits, food habits, or just trying to be more intentional about your day-to-day choices, this episode gives you a fresh, more forgiving way to stay motivated without burning out.

💡 Key Takeaways: • Every experience is an experiment. There's no "there" to get to—only the next iteration. • Progress isn't about eliminating setbacks; it's about shortening their intensity, duration, and frequency over time. • You don't have a problem—you have a process that you're always refining. • Motivation is fueled by seeing evidence of your own progress, not by achieving perfection. • True personal power comes from staying curious and self-correcting—not judging yourself for the data points along the way.

✨ Action Step: Instead of asking, "How do I get this right?" ask yourself: → "How can I get it a little better today?" Focus on small improvements instead of chasing a final destination—and you'll build a future you're proud to live into.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

—Click here to TAKE THE QUIZ: Do you have a drinking problem or a thinking problem?

EP205 Q&A: When you're trying to change but your partner still drinks too much Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

On today's episode, Colleen answers a question from a listener who's successfully changed her own drinking habits—but finds herself frustrated by her husband's drinking. If you've ever felt like someone else's behavior is sabotaging your progress, this episode will help you take back your emotional power.

Colleen walks through her framework for emotional ownership and teaches how to release the belief that someone else's choices have to hold you back. You'll learn how to shift the story you're telling yourself, meet your own needs, and define success on your terms.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Why emotional sobriety starts with the belief: "My thoughts are the problem, not their behavior."
The "Weed, Seed, and Feed" tool to replace unhelpful thoughts with empowering ones
How unmet needs and codependent thinking quietly sabotage your growth
Why shame thrives in secrecy—and what to do about it
What it really means to "let them drink" while you stay grounded in your own goals

✅ Action Steps:

Use the Emotional Ownership Statement: "My partner's drinking is not the problem. My thoughts about their drinking are the problem."
Ask: What need do I think they're supposed to meet for me? How can I meet it myself?
Weed out the belief: "I need them to change."
Seed a new one: "I don't need them to change to succeed."
Feed it by journaling the evidence you already have.
Take one small action today that supports your emotional autonomy—without waiting for anyone else to get on board.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to stay emotionally sober, even if the people around you aren't changing.

🎯 Ready to take the next step?

Click here to submit your question. Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Your name will not be mentioned on air!

If you're a high-achieving, coachable woman who's ready to reduce your alcohol consumption by 80% and so you can enjoy drinking socially without losing control—Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL

EP204 Minisode: How can I make this easy and fun? Apr 26, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Colleen invites you to take your emotional temperature and ask a powerful question that could change everything: How can I make this fun and easy?

Whether you're racing through your day with a nervous system stuck in overdrive or stuck in bed with your to-do list haunting you, the solution isn't more hustle—it's ease. But ease isn't a circumstance. It's an emotional state. And you can learn to choose it on purpose.

Key Takeaways: • You can't fix overwhelm with more action—emotional ease has to become the goal, not the reward. • Busyness, burnout, and rushing are often signs that your nervous system is dysregulated, not that you're falling behind. • The faster your brain is moving, the more likely you are to be living in your stress response instead of your power. • Your emotions are your early warning system—when you feel tight, rushed, or tense, that's your body telling you to reset. • Ease is an emotional state you can access by managing your thoughts, regulating your body, and doing one thing at a time. Action Steps: Notice when you're rushing, pushing, or spiraling. Instead of trying to do more or fix the problem faster- Pause and ask yourself: How can I make this moment feel fun and easy? Even just asking the question will start to slow the engine of your brain and bring your body back into the present moment.

Ease isn't just a luxury—it's your superpower. And the more you practice it, the more you reclaim your energy, your focus, and your joy.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

—Click here to TAKE THE QUIZ: Do you have a drinking problem or a thinking problem?

EP203 Minisode: Make friends with the feeling Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode, Colleen shares a raw and relatable story about frustration, tech fails, and the moment she remembered one of the most powerful tools she teaches: making friends with your feelings.

You'll hear how a seemingly small trigger (a broken download link before a long workday) became the perfect opportunity to practice emotional sobriety. She walks you through how to recognize emotional inflammation, catch unhelpful thoughts, and redirect your energy—before it hijacks your day.

Because the truth is, your emotions aren't the problem.... They're trying to help you.

If you listen, they'll show you exactly where you're giving away your power.

Key Takeaways: • What it really means to "make friends with a feeling" • How to recognize emotional inflammation in real time • Why your body is your most accurate bullshit detector • How to flip frustration, helplessness, or resistance into clarity and momentum • A hilariously honest story about tech struggles, pre-coffee rage, and how one shift changed everything

Action Steps: Bring awareness to ONE emotional reaction you struggle with—frustration, shame, resentment, overwhelm, etc.—and practice noticing it in the moment.

Instead of spiraling into your usual response-

Pause. Label the feeling. Then ask yourself "Out-Loud" what your body is trying to tell you. Use the energy of that emotion as fuel to take the smallest next right step.

Your feelings are not the enemy. They're the flashlight. Follow the beam and reclaim your power.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

—Click here to TAKE THE QUIZ: Do you have a drinking problem or a thinking problem?

EP202 Q&A: Tend to get over-served by your friends? Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Colleen answers a listener question from a woman who's done incredible work reducing her drinking—but still finds herself overdoing it when she's with her best friend. Sound familiar?

Whether it's wine with your ride-or-die or happy hour with the same old crew, this episode gives you the tools to enjoy yourself and feel good the next morning.

Colleen breaks down how to stop waiting for your friend to change, and start setting yourself up for success instead—without guilt, codependency, or willpower battles halfway through the second bottle.

This is a powerful behind-the-scenes coaching session on redesigning your habits, your environment, and your intentions, so you can stay connected, grounded, and in control (without being the boring one).

💡 Key Takeaways:

The real reason you keep overdrinking in social settings—and why it's not a willpower issue
How to define your own success before the first drink
Why the real goal isn't about how much you drink—it's about how you want to feel
Emotional vs. behavioral goals: which one actually helps?
How to reduce friction around making good choices in the moment
The importance of checking for unmet needs and being honest about the friendship dynamic

✅ Action Step: Before your next meetup, take 60 seconds to answer two questions:

How do I want to feel during and after this experience?
What can I do to make it easier to feel that way—before the first drink?

Design your environment, clarify your emotional goal, and give your brain a clear directive it can actually solve for.

🎯 Ready to take the next step?

Click here to submit your question. Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Your name will not be mentioned on air!

If you're a high-achieving, coachable woman who's ready to reduce your alcohol consumption by 80% and so you can enjoy drinking socially without losing control—Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL

EP201 Minisode: Negative thinking generates error codes in your brain Apr 19, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode, Colleen breaks down how the language you use—especially when it seems neutral or logical—can silently sabotage your ability to change.

You'll hear why "I just need to stop drinking" is actually a negative thought (and how it keeps your brain stuck in the problem instead of moving toward the solution). She explains how to recognize these mental error codes, shift into a more empowered mindset, and start generating real momentum—even with something as small as making it to a yoga class.

Key Takeaways:

Your brain can't solve for what you don't want—it needs clear, positive direction.
"Stopping drinking" isn't a goal; it's the absence of a goal.
- It keeps your nervous system in a stress response.
Negative thinking often shows up in normal, subtle ways:
- "I don't know"
- "I can't"
- "What if I don't…"
Every time you focus on the negative outcome, You Reinforce It.
- Instead, swap in positive, do-focused thoughts like:
  - "What I do know is..."
  - "What I can do right now is..."
  - "When I do ____, I'll feel ____."

Action Steps:

Notice the hidden "negatives" in your self-talk—especially around alcohol, habits, and percieved identity.
- When you catch one, pause and ask: "What do I want instead? What's the positive version of this thought?"
  - Practice shifting your language in small, daily moments—like going to yoga, packing lunch, or regulating your nervous system.
    - Remind yourself: Your brain is a powerful problem-solver—but only when you feed it the right kind of input.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

—Click here to TAKE THE QUIZ: Do you have a drinking problem or a thinking problem?

EP200 Minisode: How to soothe your "HOT MESS" Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode, Colleen shares a personal reflection she recorded nearly a year ago—but it's just as relevant now, especially if you're feeling stuck, off-balance, or like a hot mess who should be further along by now. This episode isn't about getting it all together—it's about what to do when you don't. You'll hear how she used the exact tools from the program to navigate the emotional chaos of working too much, losing old routines post-divorce, and telling herself the story that she wasn't making any progress.

You'll learn how to decode those familiar thoughts, and shift out of judgment into grounded, aligned action.

Because stuck is a story.

Balance is a feeling.

And sometimes the most powerful way to move forward…

IS TO STOP TRYING SO HARD!

Key Takeaways:

These are just thoughts—not facts. They're how we explain our emotional state, not what's actually happening.

"I'm stuck,"
"I'm out of balance"
"I'm not making progress"

The real issue isn't imbalance. It's overwhelm.

When your output is high but your results are low, you're probably ignoring your body's signals. Emotional sobriety means listening to those signals instead of overriding them.

Remember this: Your brain will find evidence for whatever you believe.

So if you keep saying "I'm not making progress," you'll feel more discouraged and stuck. Flip the script by doing one small thing—and call it progress.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

—Click here to TAKE THE QUIZ: Do you have a drinking problem or a thinking problem?

EP199 The 3 invisible gaps that sabotage your ability to change your drinking habits Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

"Stop saying that you want to stay sober or drink in moderation. Because what you really want is to feel calm, capable, and in control." Colleen Freeland Kachmann

There are 3 invisible, unmet needs that keep high-achieving women from easily changing their drinking habits: a lack of connection, direction and feedback.

If you've ever wondered "Why am I doing this to myself?"—this episode will change the way you think about drinking, self-trust, and your ability to change.

I'll explain how alcohol has become both a problem and a solution, and why your brilliant, overthinking brain continues to argue in favor of your bad habits.

You'll learn how shame, inconsistency, and an over-emphasis on alcohol undermine your ability to change. And why focusing on how you want to FEEL instead of how much you should or should not drink will set you free.

Key Takeaways:

Your emotional state drives your behavior. The way you drink is a reflection of how you feel.
The first step to feeling better is feeling safe so that you can speak your truth.
Which means you need support from a community of people who share your values and vision for the future.

—Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL if you're ready to fully commit to your personal growth and do the work to get emotionally sober. Side effects include an 80 percent reduction in drinking. You'll walk away from our call with a clear understanding of how to get the skills you need to transform your life.

—NEW! Colleen's doing Q&A episodes! Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

—Want daily updates from me? Find me on TikTok @hangoverwhisperer and IG @thehangoverwhisperer and YouTube @hangoverwhisperer

–Click here to take the QUIZ: Do you have a drinking problem or a thinking problem?

EP 198 Minisode: How to manifest a healthy relationship with alcohol Apr 12, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode, we're flipping the script on what it means to "manifest change" when it comes to your relationship with alcohol. Every habit you have was built through attention, repetition, and belief. You already know how to manifest. You've done it before. The question is: can you do it on purpose?

If you've ever told yourself "I know better and won't do that again", but you keep doing it anyway, this episode is a must-listen. You'll learn how shame hijacks your perception, why logic won't get you out of a drinking spiral, and the exact method Colleen uses (and teaches) to help high-achieving women build trust with themselves again—starting with the smallest, most overlooked wins.

Key Takeaways

Your Brain is Always Manifesting The more you believe it, the more your brain proves it—even if it's outdated.

Whispers Matter Thoughts like "I've had enough" or "I could skip it" are seeds of change. You don't need perfection—just awareness.

Focus Fuels Change What you pay attention to grows. Focus on control, not brokenness, and your brain will follow.

Behavior Builds Belief You don't have to believe in change yet—just act. Repeated small shifts create confidence over time.

Use Your Memory Replay your wins and near-wins. Remembering them helps your brain repeat them.

Let's STOP trying to figure it out and START feeling our way through.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on:

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

—Click here to TAKE THE QUIZ: Do you have a drinking problem or a thinking problem?

Transcript:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12lE8GIoZE3tDkUIOR-v85MpHSAOQAP7j?usp=sharing

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