Unbottled
After 38 years of sobriety and 5 years of podcasting, I finally had the good sense to put the two together. Unbottled is where we crack open all things sobriety—without the shame, the whispering, or the “I’m fine” face we all perfected in the 90s.
This is a space for honest conversations, practical tools, laugh-so-you-don’t-cry stories, and the kind of truth that only comes after decades of doing the work and living to tell about it. Whether you’re sober-curious, long-time sober, or somewhere in the messy middle, we’re going to talk about the habits, people, boundaries, victories, and ridiculous moments that shape a sober life.
Think of Unbolted as the place where we unhook the armor, loosen the bolts, and talk real sobriety—candid, witty, a little sassy, and full of hope because life gets a whole lot lighter when you stop tightening everything down and start opening up.
Episodes
23 episodes
How Relapse Really Starts Long Before The Drink
Relapse is the topic most people in recovery whisper about, even though it’s one of the most common turning points in sobriety. I’m Marcy, and I’m going to say the quiet part out loud: relapse is usually not a random moment of chaos. It often s...
The AA Big Book
We kick off our AA series by taking the fear out of the Big Book and talking about why it still helps people get sober and stay sober nearly 90 years after it was first published. We share how to approach the language, the stories, and the proc...
90 Meetings In 90 Days;
We start a new AA-focused chapter of Unbottled and get real about why “90 meetings in 90 days” keeps showing up in early sobriety. I share how daily meetings helped me survive the trigger-heavy first months, build a routine, and stay sober one ...
Not Everyone Will Cheer For Your Sobriety
Not everyone in our life will love the sober version of us, especially when our “no” forces other people to look at their own habits. We talk about why this pushback happens, how to set boundaries without a speech, and how to let go of relation...
How Friends And Family React When You Quit Drinking
Sobriety doesn’t just change what we drink, it changes how people treat us and how we move through rooms that used to feel normal. We name the confusing reactions from friends and family, then share ways to set boundaries and protect our recove...
Do You Really Need AA?
I get honest about the question “Do I really need AA?” and why the real issue is what keeps us sober when motivation drops. I share what worked for me in Alcoholics Anonymous, why going it alone can get risky fast, and how you can build support...
The Higher Power Problem
The fastest way to lose someone who needs sobriety support is to say one word: God. I get it. For a lot of us, that word comes with baggage, judgment, rules, or old wounds, and it can make Step Two and Step Three feel like a deal-breaker before...
Why Support Matters More Than Willpower In Sobriety
We move from the first days of quitting to the real work of staying sober, where willpower fades and support becomes the difference maker. I explain why doing recovery alone turns into isolation and how connection, meetings, and sponsorship kee...
What Happens After The First 30 Days Sober
Day 31 can feel calmer on the outside while your mind quietly starts negotiating in the background. I talk about why the space after the first 30 days can be uncomfortable, and how support and structure help you stop surviving and start buildin...
The First 30 Days Sober
We break down what the first 30 days without alcohol actually feel like, from your body recalibrating to your emotions coming back online. We share why the early month can feel like a roller coaster and how patience, support, and simple tools h...
You’re Not Broken—Your Brain Prefers Familiar Discomfort Over Unfamiliar Growth
Fear has a way of getting loud the moment change becomes real. We name that fear without flinching and walk through the questions that slam your mind when you picture life without alcohol: how will I relax, who will I be, will my friends still ...
You Don’t Need Rock Bottom To Change
We explore the quiet turning point when discomfort becomes enough to change, and how honesty can start sobriety long before catastrophe. Marcy shares her Monday-morning decision, the reality of mental gymnastics, the role of fear, and why one p...
So You Stopped Drinking; Now What, Bossy Pants?
We explore how sobriety grows beyond not drinking and into daily emotional work, honest self-reflection, and real freedom. Marcy shares tools for handling control, resentment, identity shifts, and non-linear growth, grounded in 38 years of expe...
Tools For Early Sobriety
We share practical tools for early sobriety that replace chaos with calm and make nights safer. Meetings, routine, connection, HALT, and a progress mindset turn empty space into steady ground.• meetings as rhythm, accountability, and so...
You Don’t Have To Do This Alone: How To Find The Right AA Sponsor
We break down the real purpose of AA sponsorship and why connection gives you a better chance at lasting sobriety. Practical tips, plain language, and zero pressure on how to choose, ask, and change sponsors if you need to.• why isolati...
You Don’t Need Forever To Stay Sober Today
We slow down the phrase “one day at a time” and turn it from a cliché into a practical tool for real-life sobriety. Fear of “forever” gives way to daily choices, flexible plans, and honest connection.• why forever thinking fuels anxiety...
First AA Meeting, Demystified
Fear loves the unknown, which is why a first AA meeting can feel like a leap into the dark. We open the door and let you look around before you walk in: the simple format, the rhythms of a typical room, and the many ways you can participate wit...
AA Without The Myths
We lay out what AA is, what it isn’t, and how to try it without pressure or labels. The goal is to trade fear for facts and open a path to support that actually fits your life.• why AA shows up early when you explore sobriety• how f...
You Don’t Need Forever To Start
The turning point isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s the quiet morning you wake up done with broken promises, tired of negotiating with yourself, and ready to see what life looks like without alcohol calling the shots. We open up about the subtl...
A Wider Tent For Every Kind Of Escape
What if sobriety isn’t about quitting a substance but about noticing the patterns that keep you numb, busy, or seeking approval? We open the door to a wider view of recovery that includes alcohol, yes, but also food, shopping, work, and the end...
What 38 Years Of Sobriety Really Looks Like
We reflect on what 38 years of sobriety actually looks like: not a perfect life, but a practiced one rooted in awareness, service, and community. We share how AA provided structure, why emotional sobriety matters most, and how these tools apply...
Sobriety Without Shame: Clarity, Choice, Space
The noise gets loud—on our phones, at the bar, in our heads. We kicked off Unbottled to cut through that noise and talk about sobriety the way it actually feels: messy, honest, and full of second chances. Marcy shares why she started this show,...