When Alcohol Stops Serving Your Life: With Abby Calabrese
Tue Feb 03 2026
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What if you didn’t have to “hit rock bottom” to decide alcohol isn’t serving you anymore?
In this episode of The Motion of Gratitude Podcast, Shannon sits down with Abby Calabrese (aka Alcohol Free Abby) for an honest, real-life conversation about what it actually looks like to shift out of drinking culture—without judgment, preaching, or perfection.
Abby shares her story of how alcohol was woven into everything: college, NYC work culture, marriage, motherhood, suburb life… until the anxiety, shame spirals, and “this isn’t who I want to be” moments became too loud to ignore. From blackouts that were normalized by culture to a defining Halloween night that planted a seed, Abby takes us behind the scenes of what led her to stop drinking on 11/11/23—and what happened next.
Together, Shannon and Abby talk about:
Why so many women feel stuck in the “wine = relief / wine = fun” loopThe surprising physical detox symptoms Abby experienced—even without “daily” drinkingThe social pressure and awkwardness of not drinking (and why it can make other people uncomfortable)How to navigate questions like “Are you pregnant?” and “Why aren’t you drinking?”Why “Dry January” doesn’t create true change if you isolate instead of integrateHow alcohol impacts your nervous system baseline—and why anxiety can feel like “just who you are”The biggest unexpected gift of not drinking: mornings, peace, presence, and real easeSimple tools that help when you’re in autopilot (including Abby’s morning pages + slowing down)This conversation is for you if you’ve been curious about exploring an alcohol-free season, feel like alcohol isn’t “a problem” but also isn’t helping, or you want to feel more present in your life without losing your sense of fun.
Connect with Abby
Instagram: @alcoholfreeabbyPodcast: Alcohol Free Rebellion (video available on Spotify)
What if you didn’t have to just survive the holidays this year?
Breathe Through the Holidays is a 7-week guided breathing space to help you slow down, feel calmer, and stay present through it all.
Each week brings a simple, science-backed breath practice and reflection to help you reconnect with yourself — even in the middle of the busy season.
Join now for $33 at TheMotionofGratitude.com/holiday and give yourself the gift of calm.
Stay Connected:
• Subscribe to our podcast to stay updated on future episodes.
• Follow us on social media @TheMotionofGratitude for more content related to holistic well-being.
More
Send us a text What if you didn’t have to “hit rock bottom” to decide alcohol isn’t serving you anymore? In this episode of The Motion of Gratitude Podcast, Shannon sits down with Abby Calabrese (aka Alcohol Free Abby) for an honest, real-life conversation about what it actually looks like to shift out of drinking culture—without judgment, preaching, or perfection. Abby shares her story of how alcohol was woven into everything: college, NYC work culture, marriage, motherhood, suburb life… until the anxiety, shame spirals, and “this isn’t who I want to be” moments became too loud to ignore. From blackouts that were normalized by culture to a defining Halloween night that planted a seed, Abby takes us behind the scenes of what led her to stop drinking on 11/11/23—and what happened next. Together, Shannon and Abby talk about: Why so many women feel stuck in the “wine = relief / wine = fun” loopThe surprising physical detox symptoms Abby experienced—even without “daily” drinkingThe social pressure and awkwardness of not drinking (and why it can make other people uncomfortable)How to navigate questions like “Are you pregnant?” and “Why aren’t you drinking?”Why “Dry January” doesn’t create true change if you isolate instead of integrateHow alcohol impacts your nervous system baseline—and why anxiety can feel like “just who you are”The biggest unexpected gift of not drinking: mornings, peace, presence, and real easeSimple tools that help when you’re in autopilot (including Abby’s morning pages + slowing down)This conversation is for you if you’ve been curious about exploring an alcohol-free season, feel like alcohol isn’t “a problem” but also isn’t helping, or you want to feel more present in your life without losing your sense of fun. Connect with Abby Instagram: @alcoholfreeabbyPodcast: Alcohol Free Rebellion (video available on Spotify) What if you didn’t have to just survive the holidays this year? Breathe Through the Holidays is a 7-week guided breathing space to help you slow down, feel calmer, and stay present through it all. Each week brings a simple, science-backed breath practice and reflection to help you reconnect with yourself — even in the middle of the busy season. Join now for $33 at TheMotionofGratitude.com/holiday and give yourself the gift of calm. Stay Connected: • Subscribe to our podcast to stay updated on future episodes. • Follow us on social media @TheMotionofGratitude for more content related to holistic well-being.