20 - Cha Cha Real Smooth

Friend of the pod Abbie Jean Esbjerg joins Molly and Amanda for a second episode to chat about how life has changed (for the better) since she got sober in 2018 and how she is caring for her own mental health this year. You may know Abbie Jean from TikTok, where she shares hilarious glimpses into her sobriety journey, her new life as a chicken mama, and her fresh manicures. And although her TikTok game is strong, her wifi signal out in the country is weak - so please excuse a few audio glitches in this episode. Progress, not perfection, ammirite?

Molly and Amanda discuss replacing wine nights with other activities, deep dive into the all-too-relatable TV show Single Drunk Female, and share how having sober friends has made all the difference in their sobriety. Enjoy!

Molly and Amanda talk about evolving friendships, non-alcoholic bevies, and their two very different trips to California. Enjoy, sober friends!

Just like Ross and Rachel, Molly and Amanda took a little break. Now the girls are back in the podcast bungalow to break down what happened, how we worked through it, and where we are now. Enjoy, sober friends!

Amanda and Molly are back together, and this time they’re chatting about their experiences in therapy. The women dive into their personal counseling work and answer some listener-submitted questions. If you’ve ever been in therapy, or have been curious about where to start, this is a great episode for you. As mental health advocates, Amanda and Molly’s conversation helps end the stigma around mental health and seeking counseling. So lay back on the couch, light a candle, and kick back for a quick therapy sesh. Don’t worry — we won’t send you a bill for this one. Want to connect with Molly and Amanda? Email [email protected] or find us on Instagram at @lifenotwastedpodcast! Credits: Edited by Adam Rostan Photo by Alyssa Cates Studio Cover Art by Patrick Nicely Music by Superstate Music

Throwback Thursday! This was the conversation that started it all. In December 2020, Amanda asked Molly to join her for a recorded Zoom chat about how to handle the holiday season while staying sober. From this, Life Not Wasted was born. So much about Amanda & Molly’s lives have changed since then, but one thing is still true — the holidays are challenging! Listen in to this conversation about tough experiences, holiday expectations, and how to stay sober and relatively sane through it all. Spoiler alert: it won’t all be perfect and you probably won’t get the pony you’ve always dreamed about. Want to connect with Molly and Amanda? Email [email protected] or find us on Instagram at @lifenotwastedpodcast! Credits: Edited by Adam Rostan Photo by Alyssa Cates Studio Cover Art by Patrick Nicely Music by Superstate Music

Amanda surprised Molly with the topic for this episode: faith and what to do when you struggle to maintain a spiritual connection to a higher power. Molly and Amanda both weighed in on their respective faith journeys, recapping times when it’s gone well and times when it’s been on the back burner. The women share openly about how their faith affects their sobriety and their ability to connect to those around them. Whether you have a relationship with a higher power or not, you'll find insight and vulnerability in this episode. And a word of warning: we had to get the bleep machine out for this one. Apologies in advance to our moms, grandmothers, and pastors for the use of several 4-letter words. Want to connect with Molly and Amanda? Email [email protected] or find us on Instagram at @lifenotwastedpodcast! Credits: Edited by Adam Rostan Photo by Alyssa Cates Studio Cover Art by Patrick Nicely Music by Superstate Music

In this episode, Amanda and Molly reflect on the challenges of past few months and how they’re moving through them with their sobriety intact. Have you ever felt like life just keeps knocking you down? Like no matter what you do, the hits just keep coming? Molly and Amanda certainly do. From weddings upended by the pandemic (again), to the challenges of navigating new careers, hit-and-runs, and persistent depression - it’s been an overwhelming season for these sober friends. Hear Molly and Amanda shed some light on what happened, when and how they turned a corner, and look forward with continued sobriety. Plus, they share ways they can commit to taking care of themselves in the future. Feel free to hold them accountable. Want to connect with Molly and Amanda? Email [email protected] or find us on Instagram at @lifenotwastedpodcast!

In this episode, Amanda and Molly talk all things resentment. This topic may or may not have been influenced by recent events in their lives, proving the point that resentments can crop up even in long-term sobriety. The women discuss the initial inventory process (step 4), how they spot resentments today, and strategies that work for relief. Ironically enough, Amanda and Molly developed a pretty large resentment against the recording process during the creation of this episode. They’ll call their sponsors about it.

Abbie Jean Esbjerg joins us this week to share her sobriety experience, and how going viral for a TikTok video about curing her hemorrhoids helped her find a sober community on social media. In this episode, Abbie Jean shares with us how she finally got sober for herself (and not those around her), her experience going to a detox facility after becoming physically addicted to alcohol, and how laughing at ourselves with people who care and are going through similar challenges can be an antidote to self-hatred. Want to connect with Molly and Amanda? Email [email protected] or find us on Instagram at @lifenotwastedpodcast!