Mindful Sobriety: Friendship, Playfulness & Trust with Renee Adams & Mara DeMauro

"It’s not about not caring what people think—it’s about not letting it control you."

Episode: Our first-ever returning-guest duo!

Guests: Renee Adams & Mara DeMauro

What You'll Hear: how a decade-long friendship evolved into sober curiosity, business partnership, and a playful approach to growth.

Episode summary

Renee and Mara return, this time together, to share the story of a friendship that began in grad school and bloomed into mutual mentorship, a joint podcast, and supportive sobriety paths. We talk about shifting from “am I drinking?” to “how do I want to live?”, navigating social events alcohol-free, what to do when moderation doesn’t stick, and why trust (not certainty) becomes the anchor. Expect honesty, laughter, and plenty of permission to be playful, weird, and fully yourself.

Highlights & takeaways

• Seeds take time. One sober wedding reel lit a spark that reshaped Renee’s choices months later. Plant seeds; they sprout when they’re ready.
• From sober to playful. Mara’s lens has moved from alcohol status to aliveness—silliness, creativity, surfing, and juice-making as present-moment rituals.
• Sober-ish is valid. Renee names “sober-ish/mindful” as her lane and explains why learning about alcohol’s effects made longer AF stretches feel natural.
• Community ≠ a crowd. Sometimes it’s just one person who “speaks your language.” Their multifaceted bond—friends, mentors, business partners—keeps each moving.
• If moderation keeps failing… Treat it as data, not defeat. Scale back triggers, build an “exposure ladder,” and practice discomfort tolerance.
• Clarity vs. certainty. Sobriety can bring clarity, but it’s trust—in yourself and your path—that carries you through uncertain moments.
• Rebuilding self-trust. Keep small promises (mocktail plan, leave-early option, walk at craving time). Each follow-through repairs confidence.

Practical tips mentioned

• Go in with a plan: check menus for mocktails, have a default order (sparkling water + lime, Coke Zero), and a ride-home/leave-early option.
• Rehearse out loud: practice how you’ll respond when asked “you’re not drinking?” so it feels authentic in the moment.
• Reduce load for a season: skip high-trigger settings while you build skills; loneliness/grief are normal—tend to them, don’t white-knuckle.
• Swap, don’t stop: movement, fresh air, fruit/juicing, creativity, and “four rooms” check-ins (spiritual, creative, physical, mental) as daily anchors.

Timestamps

• 00:02 Welcome & why this duo matters
• 01:47 Mara’s update: from AF focus to playfulness
• 03:43 Renee’s update: sober-ish, movement, purpose
• 07:05 Origin story: grad school to co-creators
• 08:57 The “sober wedding” seed & authenticity
• 14:25 Practice over perfection: caring without attachment
• 16:06 Why one true ally beats a big crowd
• 25:14 Tricky situations & conflict with compassion
• 27:18 Mocktail plans, rehearsing lines & “data points”
• 31:01 Exposure ladders, grief, and scaling triggers
• 36:32 Clarity vs. certainty; choosing trust
• 38:00 Rituals, the “four rooms,” and playful healing
• 44:01 Where to find Renee & Mara

Thank you for listening. We hope you enjoyed this episode!

Follow @janewballard and @dfwyogagirl on Instagram to stay in touch! And as always, be sure to rate, review and subscribe so we can continue to spread our message far and wide. We are so incredibly grateful for the support of our listeners!

Connect with our guests

• Renee Adams: Instagram @coach_radams (Coach_radams) • Website reneeadamscoaching.com
• Mara DeMauro: Instagram @maradimaro • Website maradimaro.com
• Their podcast: Nosedive — email topics to nosedivethepod@gmail.com

In this episode of Mindful Sobriety, Amanda discusses the critical role of self-trust in recovery and personal growth. She emphasizes the importance of rebuilding self-trust through practical steps and mindful practices, encouraging listeners to start small and be consistent. The conversation highlights the journey of self-trust as a process of remembering one's true self and cultivating inner peace.

Sound Bites

• "Self-trust allows us to stay grounded."
• "Start small, trust grows from consistency."
• "Lean into love instead of fear."

Takeaways

• Self-trust is essential for recovery and personal growth.
• Lack of self-trust can lead to inner chaos and shame.
• Rebuilding self-trust involves making and keeping small commitments.
• Mindful pauses can help in recognizing fear versus love in decision-making.
• Daily affirmations can reinforce self-trust and positive thinking.
• Consistency is key to rebuilding self-trust over time.
• Journaling can help identify areas of misalignment and promote self-awareness.
• Compassion is crucial in the journey of rebuilding self-trust.
• Self-trust is a journey, not a destination.
• It's important to show up for yourself in every moment.

Chapters

00:00
Rebuilding Self-Trust in Recovery

04:14
Practical Steps to Rebuild Self-Trust

10:30
The Journey of Self-Trust

11:51
Mindful Sobriety Pod Intro .mp4

11:52
outro_ready to publish_riverside.mp4

In this powerful episode of Mindful Sobriety, Jane sits down with author and advocate Chris Jansen to explore the deeply personal journey behind her book Grace Yourself. Chris shares her experience navigating addiction, the struggle with moderation, and how sobriety became a path back to joy, freedom, and authenticity.

Together, we unpack the transformative power of grace, self-compassion, and community, and why self-worth is the foundation for lasting recovery. Chris speaks candidly about the danger of limiting beliefs, the liberation in rewriting your story, and why addiction is not a moral failure.

Whether you're on your own path of recovery or supporting someone you love, this episode offers insight, encouragement, and empowerment. You are worthy. You are not alone. And healing is always possible.

✨ What You’ll Hear:

• Why grace is a radical act of self-love
• The harm of moderation for some and the freedom of abstinence
• How to reframe limiting beliefs and reclaim your narrative
• Why community is a cornerstone of sustainable sobriety
• The cultural shift happening around alcohol—and how we can lead it
• A reminder that you were born worthy

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Chris Jansen and Her Journey

01:49
The Inspiration Behind 'Grace Yourself'

06:08
Understanding Self-Worth and Addiction

10:22
The Concept of Grace and Self-Compassion

15:13
Chris's Relationship with Alcohol

20:49
Finding Freedom in Sobriety

23:04
Understanding Limiting Beliefs About Alcohol

25:46
Rewriting the Narrative: Changing Your Story

28:58
The Power of Community in Recovery

31:11
Navigating Different Recovery Paths

36:08
The Importance of Agency and Choice

39:48
Cultural Shifts Around Alcohol Consumption

41:39
Recognizing Inherent Worth Beyond Addiction

Thank you for listening. We hope you enjoyed this episode!

Follow @janewballard and @dfwyogagirl on Instagram to stay in touch! And as always, be sure to rate, review and subscribe so we can continue to spread our message far and wide. We are so incredibly grateful for the support of our listeners!

Meet Chris!

Chris Janssen, MA, BCC, is a USA Today bestselling author and board-certified performance and mindset coach. With a master’s in counseling psychology and experience on Tony Robbins’ elite coaching team, Chris helps high-achieving perfectionists overcome self-sabotage and thrive under pressure. Her work has been featured in USA Today, Newsweek, Thrive Global, and more. A California native, Chris lives with her husband Scott and enjoys skiing, golf, horses, and outdoor adventures.

Connect with Chris at chrisjanssencoaching.com or follow her for more inspiration on Instagram! Grab your copy of Grace Yourself today!