What if your relationship with alcohol isn’t the real question?
What if it’s pointing to something deeper?

In this episode, I’m joined by Anna Donaghey, known as The Beliefs Coach, host of The Big Drink Rethink podcast and author of What Are You Thirsty For?.

Together, we explore how our beliefs — shaped by culture, habit, and expectation — quietly drive our choices around drinking, identity, and fulfillment.

This conversation is for any woman standing at a crossroads — whether you’re questioning alcohol, navigating a different kind of life transition, or simply sensing that something wants to shift.

No labels. No pressure. Just space to listen inward and choose with clarity.

f this conversation stirred something in you, consider it an invitation — to pause, get curious, and listen more closely to what your life is asking of you now.

Because here at Curious on Life, we believe clarity doesn’t come from fixing yourself — it comes from remembering what you already know.

Curious On Life, the podcast

connect :

https://www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com/

connect with Ana Donaghey - https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/

https://www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com

Barry Shimelfarb is the founder of Carmel Retreats and the devoted steward of Cuddle Doon, a storied cottage tucked along the Carmel coastline.

In 2019, Barry’s life was upended. As a single father raising twin boys, he was diagnosed with advanced cancer. Multiple surgeries and radiation left him weakened, unable to swallow, and facing a grim prognosis. During his long recovery, the family’s historic Carmel cottage became more than a home—it became a sanctuary. Planting lavender, walking the shoreline, and resting beneath ancient oak trees turned into daily rituals of hope and healing.

Surrounded by the love of his community and grounded by the quiet wisdom of the land, Barry not only endured—he healed. Two years later, his doctors declared him cancer-free.

Moved by gratitude, Barry chose to open the doors of Cuddle Doon to others. Today, the cottage welcomes guests navigating illness, grief, burnout, or major life transitions, as well as those simply longing for rest and renewal. Known as the “Lost Cottage of Carmel,” Cuddle Doon carries a rich legacy. Built in the early 1900s by Eliza Yocum—a pioneering educator and spiritual thinker—it was once a gathering place for artists, thinkers, and seekers.

Barry considers himself not the owner, but the steward of this sacred space, honoring its history while carrying its spirit forward. Through Carmel Retreats, he curates deeply personal, boutique experiences and leads initiatives like Postcards of Healing, offering gifted retreats during open calendar windows to those in need.

As Barry beautifully puts it:
“My purpose is simple—to help others thrive. Healing isn’t just about medicine. It’s about place, community, and feeling truly cared for.”

connect with Barry:

Website
https://www.carmelretreats.com/

Postcards for Healing
https://www.carmelretreats.com/postcards
Instagram
@Carmel.Retreats
https://www.instagram.com/carmel.retreats/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/carmelretreats

https://www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com

🌿 New Year Threshold

“This isn’t about resolutions.
It’s about remembering who you are.
A New Year episode from Curious on Life is live. ✨”

This episode is a reflection on how one small choice changed everything—and how art, presence, and love continue to guide the way.

2025 was a year of transformation, curiosity, and expansion.
For me, it was travel, sacred gatherings, and watching women rediscover their power through art, reflection, and presence.

Now, I’m stepping into 2026 with an open heart—and I’m inviting you to do the same.
Whether through my 8-session Unfold experience in May, or gathering in Cozumel later this year, there’s space for your next chapter to unfold.

“Crossing into the New Year with gratitude, curiosity, and a deep trust in what’s still to come.

🎧 Link in bio.”

www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com/podcast

https://www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com

In this powerful episode, Rebecca sits down with Allison, who opens up about her own life-changing transformation during a Bali retreat for sober-curious women. Together, they explore what it truly means to reclaim your voice, your power, and your truth—without apology.

At the heart of this conversation is the “Yes, I Am Too Much” revolution, where Allison boldly reminds us:
“This is your sacred space to stop asking for permission and start owning your power.”

Written and lived by a therapist and global thought leader who has spent her career helping women reclaim their fire, this episode is not fluff—it’s deep, raw, truth-soaked liberation.

They discuss expansion over shrinking, choosing clarity over numbing, and building a life that feels aligned, embodied, and alive.

Here, we don’t shrink—we expand.
We speak the truth.
We take up space.
We claim what we crave and build lives that make our bones buzz.

connect with Allison here:

https://www.yesiamtoomuch.com/vip

https://www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com

In this episode of Curious on Life, Rebecca sits down with Paulette to explore her courageous journey into alcohol-free living and the powerful story behind her book Spirit-Led Sobriety.

Paulette, a woman in her mid-60s—self describes herself as a Christian wife, mom, and grandmother. She opens up about the moment that shook her: realizing she could no longer easily cut back or quit drinking after years of seeing herself as a “normal, take-it-or-leave-it” drinker.

What began as fear became an awakening, and she now shares the spiritual, emotional, and deeply personal path that led her toward freedom, clarity, and a life guided by faith rather than the familiar pull of alcohol.

connect with Paulette here:https://www.spiritledsobriety.com/

https://www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com

What if the part of you you've been hiding… is actually the part trying to save you?

In this episode, Rebecca invites you into a tender moment of awakening—where art becomes medicine and creativity becomes a pathway back home to yourself.

She explores the quiet rebellions that spark healing: shifting your relationship with alcohol, choosing clarity over old patterns, listening to the whispers of your intuition, and honoring the version of you who’s been waiting to rise.

This conversation is soft, deep, and spacious—an invitation to remember your truth.

And as a sacred offering, Rebecca also introduces her 2-for-1 Watercolor Bundle—a gentle, transformative gift for yourself or someone you love who’s ready to reconnect with their creative spirit and step into a more luminous chapter.

To learn more or join the offering, reach out to Rebecca.

https://www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com

On this episode of Curious on Life, I sit down with three amazing bilingual sober coaches — Sarah Callejo, Karina Koplock, and Raquel Ricca.

Together we open up about our own alcohol curiosity — how questioning our relationship with drinking led each of us to happily embrace an alcohol-free lifestyle after decades of drinking. Our mission is to create space for the bilingual and Spanish-speaking community everywhere.

Through social media, we’re building a compassionate, judgment-free space for growth, connection, and acceptance. You can find each of us individually — or together at Sin Resaca, Hangover Free.

******En este episodio de Curious on Life, me siento a conversar con tres maravillosas coaches bilingües y sobrias: Sara, Karina y Raquel.

Juntas compartimos cómo comenzó nuestra curiosidad por el alcohol, y cómo al cuestionar nuestra relación con la bebida, encontramos una vida más plena y feliz sin alcohol después de muchos años bebiendo.

Nuestra misión es abrir espacio para la comunidad bilingüe y de habla hispana en todas partes.
A través de las redes sociales, creamos un espacio compasivo, sin juicios, para el crecimiento, la conexión y la aceptación.
Pueden encontrarnos individualmente o juntas en Sin Resaca — Hangover Free.3

https://www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com

"Empowering Women Empowers Everyone." Toni Will

On today’s Curious on Life episode, I sit down with Toni Will— a powerhouse who broke barriers as the first female general manager, in professional sports, for the Kalamazoo Wings Hockey Team.

On this episode, we touch on women empowerment and a bit of her alcohol journey.

Toni shares so vulnerably about hitting rock bottom, and how that experience led to her greatest transformation.

Alcohol once played a role in her story, until she realized it no longer served her — and that realization changed everything.

Today, Toni is thriving as a published author, TEDx speaker, and lifestyle coach, guiding others to rise from their hardest moments into lives filled with clarity and purpose.

Connect with Toni here:

https://www.toniwill.com/

https://www.instagram.com/imtoniwill/

🎧 Listen now on Curious on Life — #CuriousOnLife #WomenWhoRise #Reinvention #AlcoholFreeLife #TransformationJourney #SoberCurious #FemaleLeaders #HealingJourney #LifeAfterRockBottom

https://www.rebeccaguevarawingler.com