Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober — Health & Fitness
Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober

Why do some people stay sober and others relapse back and forth? Getting sober isn’t about restriction, it’s about rewiring your brain to function without intensity, chaos, dopamine spikes, and avoidance.

Hosted by Gill Tietz, a former biochemist turned sober coach, this show dives into the neuroscience of long-term sobriety — why some people relapse, why others stay free, and how to build the kind of brain that can handle life without alcohol.

Each episode blends science, psychology, and real experience to help you strengthen the four pillars of neuro-resilience:

1. Neural Recovery – healing your brain’s reward and stress systems after alcohol.

2. Emotional Regulation – calming reactivity and learning to feel without escaping.

3. Cognitive Rewiring – changing the thought patterns that pull you backward.

4. Behavioral Integration – designing routines and habits that make being sober your default.

Whether you’re newly sober or years in, you’ll learn research-backed tools and mindset shifts so sobriety stops feeling like something you’re trying to want and starts feeling like who you are.

This is hard work. If you want my support, then check out my online sober community or my 1:1 work.

Website: www.soberpowered.com

Copyright: © 2025 Sober Powered by Gillian Tietz

Latest Episodes:

E158: Dry July: 7 Things You Need to Know to Get Started Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

Dry July is here and if you’re working on quitting drinking, then this episode is all about how to get started. You’ll learn what to expect in the beginning like sugar cravings and urges to drink. You’ll learn about things you can do to set yourself up for success this month and what to do if you don’t like sobriety or are feeling hopeless about the thought of never drinking again.

What to listen to next:

E41: why sober people want so much sugar

E143: how to stay accountable

E156: 55 tips to quit drinking

E91: do you want to be sober or do you want to drink without the consequences

E99: why we can never drink again

Resources I offer:

Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course
(Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking
https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks
Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5
Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Q2: How to Answer “Why Aren’t You Drinking?” Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

When I first quit drinking I was very nervous about how people would respond to me. I worried about what to say to them. In this episode I will give you my advice for answering this question, both what I recommend doing and what I recommend not doing. I will also share 5 examples of when people gave me a hard time about not drinking and how I navigated it.

Thank you Jamie for submitting this question. If you have a question that you'd like to be answered on the show please use this form: https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA

YouTube video about drinking again after 90 days https://youtu.be/iJW9lb-E9fc

Resources I offer:

Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course
(Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking
https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks
Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E157: Fatigue and Brain Fog in Early Sobriety Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

Fatigue and brain fog are two of the more unexpected symptoms you may experience in early sobriety and they can drag on for a bit. In this episode you’ll learn why you may be exhausted when you quit drinking and why you have trouble focusing. Just like with extra anxiety in early sobriety, fatigue and brain fog can increase the risk of relapse too, so understanding why this is going on is the first step to fighting it and sticking with your commitment to quit drinking. I’ll also cover 3 strategies for coping with brain fog and exhaustion.

What to listen to next:

E122: how exercise can help your recovery

E58: how alcohol causes cancer

E75: sleep recovery in sobriety

E128: why cravings are so powerful

Resources I offer:

Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course
(Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking
https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks
Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5
Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E156: 55 Tips to Quit Drinking Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

I’ve realized over time we forget parts of the struggle. In interacting with my community I get reminded of the things I went through in my first few weeks and months. I know a lot of people look for sober tips, so I asked the members of my Living a Sober Powered Life community to share their favorite tips with you. I’ve collected 55 tips all from regular people just like you in various stages of sobriety.

Get connected with the community here https://www.soberpowered.com/membership

What to listen to next:

E143: felt accountability

E18: how I handle my husband's drinking

E77: are NA drinks ok to drink?

Resources I offer:

Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course
(Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking
https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks
Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5
Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Dopamine Impacts Your Level of Motivation Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

One of the most common issues I see with people is that they lose their motivation to stay sober and keep going back and forth getting a few days or a couple weeks in and then drinking again. We search for inspirational quotes on Instagram and wonder why everyone else can figure it out and not us. Your lack of motivation to stay sober is not because you’re a loser, like with everything I say it’s based on how alcohol changes the brain. This month’s workshop in my Living a Sober Powered Life community was all about motivation. I explained where motivation comes from, how drinking alcohol changes our brain to make us less motivated and effort-averse over time, how the brain determines if something is worth the effort, and I shared 3 in the moment strategies to stay on track when your motivation fades and 3 ways to prevent your motivation from fading. Please enjoy this short preview and if you’d like to join us for future workshops, then you can get more information here:

https://www.soberpowered.com/membership

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E155: My Career Journey (Teaching, Biotech and Working for Myself) Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

Work is a major trigger to drink and it has been one of my biggest struggles in my adult life (aka my stupid belief). In this episode I explain my career struggles from when I was a teacher to working in biotech, and why I decided to quit biotech. You'll learn where my stupid belief started, my journey with not getting a PhD, and how I achieved my biggest life time dream this year. I started working for myself to launch my podcast network, Sober Powered Media, on June 9, 2022 and I also cover how my mental health has improved in the past year and suggestions if work is a big trigger for you.

Work trigger episodes:

E55: how to power thru when you want to give up

E106: the amygdala hijack

E113: introducing Sober Powered Media

Resources I offer:

Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course
(Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking
https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks
Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5
Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E154: Keep Coming Back. Relapse is Not the End Jun 02, 2023

Show notes

The back and forth cycle is frustrating and depressing and it can feel like you’re never going to figure it out. It also really hurts our self-esteem, which makes it even harder to not drink. This topic came up in one of my meetings this week and I want to share why it’s important to keep trying. In this episode, I am covering 3 things that may be keeping you stuck in the back and forth struggle and 3 reasons why you can’t give up.

What to listen to next:

E144: self-sabotage and perfectionism

E149: alcohol and the nervous system

E42: is relapse a part of recovery

E91: do you want to be sober or do you want to drink without the consequences?

E66: what increases our risk of relapse

E86: why helping others helps you stay sober

E110: 5 Reasons People Relapse and What to do About it

E99: Why We Can Never Drink Again (Neuroplasticity and Permanent Changes)

E97: why we keep believing it’ll be different this time

Resources I offer:

Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course
(Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking
https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks
Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5
Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Q1: Do Drinking Dreams Ever Go Away? May 29, 2023

Show notes

If you’ve quit drinking for any amount of time then you may have experienced a drinking dream, which is a dream where you relapse and drink alcohol. They seem really real and can be upsetting. It’s normal to feel panicked when you wake up because it takes a moment to realize it was just a dream. I had a drinking dream recently, at 3 and a half years sober, so I thought this was a perfect time to do an episode on it. In this episode you’ll learn why drinking dreams happen and what it means if you've never had one.

This is a new series I'm starting where I answer listener's questions. If you have a question you'd like me to answer on the show please use this form: https://forms.gle/C46yXzTWvjwdkNEC8

What to listen to next:

E75: how sleep recovers from actively drinking to up to 2 years sober

E149: alcohol and the nervous system

E148: dealing with intense emotional pain

E12: why we black out from drinking alcohol

Resources I offer:

Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course
(Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking
https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks
Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5
Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E153: Surviving the Summer Sober: 5 Challenges You Might Face May 26, 2023

Show notes

If this is your first summer without alcohol, then you might be really nervous because warm weather makes you want to sit outside and drink, there are extra parties, and vacation time usually means drinking too. In this episode I’ll cover 5 different challenges that the summer brings to sobriety and how you can navigate them.

What to listen to next:

E143: how to stay accountable in your sobriety

E116: drinking envy and wishing you were "normal"

E134: coping with boredom in sobriety

Resources I offer:

Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course
(Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking
https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks
Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5
Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E152: Anxiety and Depression Increases Your Risk of Negative Consequences from Your Drinking May 19, 2023

Show notes

People with anxiety or depression are much more likely to experience negative consequences from their drinking, even when they drink exactly the same amount as people without anxiety or depression. It’s not the quantity or frequency, it’s brain differences and self-medication. In this episode I discuss a new study that came out a few weeks ago on this topic, the concept of telescoping and how mental health struggles accelerate the process of developing alcohol use disorder, and the harm paradox.

What to listen to next:

E22: why you think alcohol helps your anxiety

E64: alcohol and anxiety

E125: why you have no off-switch when drinking alcohol

E43: drinking to cope

Resources I offer:

Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course
(Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking
https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks
Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5
Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Related Podcasts