What if the key to resilience isn’t eliminating stress—but embracing the right kind of it? This week on Sisters in Sobriety, we take on the fascinating world of cellular health, good stress, and regenerative wellness with Dr. Sharon Bergquist—a Harvard-trained physician, Yale biophysics grad, and pioneering force behind Emory’s Lifestyle Medicine and Wellness program. Dr. Bergquist is the author of the upcoming book The Stress Paradox, which challenges everything you thought you knew about aging, health, and how to build a body that thrives.

In this conversation, we'll explore essential questions: What makes some stress beneficial—and how can we harness it without burning out? Why does modern comfort leave us more fragile, and how does plant-powered eating reshape the trajectory of chronic disease? They also explore what lifestyle medicine actually is, and how behavior change works from the inside out—at the cellular level.

You'll come away with actionable insight into how to reframe stress, build long-term resilience, and slow aging with everyday tools like circadian fasting, thermal therapy, interval training, and plant-based nutrition. Dr. Bergquist explains the science behind dopamine recovery in sobriety, the myth of needing to do it all at once, and why stacking "good stress" needs to be a gentle.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks and resources.

Episode Highlights

00:01 – Why Dr. Bergquist fell in love with the human body

03:20 – How seeing long-term patient outcomes changed her approach

05:15 – Why standard medical care misses the root cause of disease

07:10 – The five “good stressors” that help your cells regenerate

09:50 – The difference between toxic stress and beneficial stress

12:30 – Why numbing stress with alcohol creates a dopamine deficit

14:40 – How good stress like cold exposure gives you dopamine without burnout

17:20 – Over-optimizing for comfort—and how that backfires

19:00 – Pick your discomfort: cold, heat, exercise, or emotional growth

21:15 – What stress actually does to your brain and cells

24:45 – What we’ve lost in the modern world (hint: it’s not just screen time)

26:30 – Why we must reintroduce discomfort strategically

28:00 – The link between resilience and meaning

30:30 – Can you stack stress? Not in early sobriety

33:20 – Why sobriety itself is already a stressor—and that’s OK

35:10 – When and how to add other good habits without overwhelming yourself

37:50 – The science behind a plant-powered diet

40:15 – Why it's not “plants vs meat”—and the real stats on fiber and phytochemicals

43:00 – How to start eating plant-forward without going broke or gourmet

45:10 – The secret sauce (literally) that makes veggies taste good

48:05 – Debunking the protein panic: what research really says

52:00 – Why labels like “vegan” or “carnivore” miss the point

54:30 – The real takeaway: 1 in 10 Americans get enough fruits and veggies

56:00 – What Dr. Bergquist is building at Emory—and her vision for health systems

59:00 – Making lifestyle medicine mainstream and accessible

Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

We're diving into part two of my sober dating diary—a real-life story that involves a cute date, an unexpected trip to a cannabis shop, and a bath bomb that turned into a major wake-up call.

Dating after divorce is awkward enough. But when you're sober—and your date casually suggests a relaxing soak in a "CBD" bath—you learn pretty quickly who respects your boundaries and who treats your sobriety like a buzzkill.

I also share:

• The truth about "California sober" and why it doesn't work for me
• How people-pleasing and old patterns can sneak back in, even after years of sobriety
• Why I walked away and what it taught me about owning my sobriety, unapologetically

This story is for anyone who's ever compromised a little too much to seem “chill,” or needed a reminder that you're allowed to have boundaries—and you're allowed to walk away when someone crosses them.

✨ Your sobriety isn’t just “okay”—it’s powerful, it’s valid, and it deserves to be honored.

🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more stories from the sober dating trenches, plus tips, real talk, and radical honesty every week.

📬 Want more? Head to sistersinsobriety.substack.com for behind-the-scenes content, journal prompts, and community support.

Highlights

[00:00] First dates after divorce—applying mascara for the first time in years and meeting someone who doesn’t drink

[01:10] When a park stroll turns into a casual detour to a cannabis shop (um, red flag?)

[01:55] What “California sober” really means—and why it’s not part of my recovery

[02:50] The power of “playing the tape forward” and how it helps me avoid old traps

[04:00] He says it’s just a CBD bath bomb. I ask (repeatedly) if it has THC. He says no.

[05:10] Ten minutes into the tub and I’m feeling like a human gummy bear

[06:00] The bold print truth: Delta-8 THC. And a sinking feeling—literally.

[06:45] Why I ignored my instincts to be the “cool girl”—and what it cost me

[07:45] The moment I knew I’d never see him again (and why that mattered)

[08:20] Sober dating isn’t just about tolerance—it’s about respect, celebration, and self-trust

Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

This week on Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen turn the tables on their popular mini-series about sober dating, sex, and relationships. After hearing from past guests on what dating without alcohol looks like, the sisters are sitting down to answer the same ten questions themselves. From green flags and red flags to playlist picks and sober date ideas, they’re bringing personal reflections, and honest takes.

How do you navigate dating someone who drinks when you don’t? What’s the go-to answer when someone asks why you’re not drinking? And how do you build connection without the lubrication of alcohol? Sonia and Kathleen unpack the real-life challenges and unexpected joys of dating while sober.

Find out why communication and emotional regulation are the new sexy, how to set boundaries around alcohol in relationships, and how to create connection without compromising sobriety. The episode also explores cultural norms around drinking, coping strategies for first sober dates, and what "choosing each other" really means in long-term partnerships.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks and resources.

Episode Highlights

[00:01:10] Sonia’s power washer as a symbol of freedom post-divorce

[00:02:30] Setting the scene for the mini-series wrap-up: 10 questions revisited

[00:04:00] Kathleen's first sober date: a nuanced look at alcohol vs. drug sobriety

[00:05:45] Dating someone who drinks—how Kathleen navigated early discomfort

[00:07:15] Caitlin’s story: being 90 days sober and her date ordering her favorite drink

[00:08:45] NA beer and whether it fits into Sonia’s sober lifestyle

[00:09:30] Food and body issues on early dates—what Ally Shapiro shared

[00:10:25] What do you say when someone asks why you don’t drink?

[00:11:15] The challenge of drinking cultures within a partner’s family

[00:12:45] Green flags: emotional regulation, curiosity, and thoughtful check-ins

[00:15:00] Red flags: love addiction, criticism, and white lies

[00:17:50] Favorite sober date ideas: hiking, kayaking, concerts, and coffee

[00:19:30] Advice for your first sober date: have a plan, tell someone, and stay present

[00:21:00] How much drinking is too much in a partner? Setting comfort levels

[00:22:15] Alcohol in the house—yes, no, or it depends?

[00:23:15] Who do you call after a fight or a great first date? (Hint: it’s not always your sister)

[00:24:30] The breakup playlist that kept them going—hello, Florence + the Machine

[00:26:15] From "dicked down in Dallas" to Taylor Swift: the love life soundtrack

[00:28:00] “I used to think love was a fairytale, now I know it’s a choice.”

[00:30:15] Romantic love is conditional—and why that’s actually a good thing

Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram