Sunsets Are The New Happy Hour
Kristin Horstman
5.0from 7 ratings
- 25
- Episodes
- 7
- Ratings
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2026
- First episode
About Sunsets Are The New Happy Hour
What if you could elevate your life instead of escaping it? Sunsets Are the New Happy Hour is hosted by Kristin Horstman, a Gray Area Drinking and Health Coach who uses neuroscience to help men and women understand what alcohol is really doing to their health, their mood, and their light. Judgment-free tools, real answers, and a whole lot of hope. Your brightest life is waiting.
- Publisher
- Kristin Horstman
- Category
- health & fitness
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 19 May 2026
- Latest episode
- 6 Nov 2026
Latest episodes
25 episodes in the feed.
6 Nov 2026
#24: Why So Many Musicians Struggle With Self-Destruction (And What It Reveals About All of Us)
Why do so many musicians struggle with addiction and self-destruction? Jack Mangan, founder of Support Life And Music (S.L.A.M.), explains how an industry that romanticizes suffering and assumes everyone drinks leaves people without help, and why the same pressures show up in every life. Kristin sits down with Jack Mangan, founder of Support Life And Music (S.L.A.M.), a nonprofit dedicated to musician mental health, substance misuse awareness, and suicide prevention. They discuss why the music industry normalizes self-destruction, how co-regulation and the Invitation to Change framework create safer conditions for real change. Kristin shares her own raw story of gray area drinking escalating to a medical crisis and the almost three years it took after that to find freedom. For anyone rethinking their relationship with alcohol or loving someone who is. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:34) Why musicians struggle to survive (07:42) How SLAM helps musicians (19:06) What musicians face when they stop drinking (31:23) Shame as a barrier to getting help (42:37) Why rock bottom rarely works (55:01) Resources on the SLAM website (01:02:00) The future vision for SLAM (01:16:37) What fans can do for musicians Jack says fans are actually stakeholders in a musician's life. Has music ever helped you through a dark moment? Drop a comment below. If you're ready to feel better, think clearer, and brighten your life, you're in the right place. SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every week. As always, I'm rooting for you. 🌅 WORK WITH KRISTIN HORSTMAN 1:1 Gray Area Drinking Coaching: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/gray-area-drinking-coaching (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/gray-area-drinking-coaching) Private Health Coaching: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/health-coaching (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/health-coaching) FREE RESOURCES Substack: https://substack.com/@kristinhorstman (https://substack.com/@kristinhorstman) Brighten Your Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/865785648653696 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/865785648653696) 6 Tips To Brighten Your Life: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/6-tips-to-brighten-your-life (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/6-tips-to-brighten-your-life) Resources for Loved Ones of Those Struggling with Substance Use Disorder: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/resources (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/resources) CONNECT WITH KRISTIN HORSTMAN Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsetsarethenewhappyhour (https://www.instagram.com/sunsetsarethenewhappyhour ) Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachkristinhorstman (https://www.instagram.com/coachkristinhorstman ) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachKristinHorstman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-horstman-43001280 Website: https://www.kristinhorstman.com Connect with Jack and (SLAM): Website: https://www.supportlifeandmusic.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manganjack/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supportlifeandmusic/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SupportLifeAndMusic LISTEN TO SUNSETS ARE THE NEW HAPPY HOUR Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7HL6A1o2USWQuJ2lRPoplk Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sunsets-are-the-new-happy-hour/id1896762635 AFFILIATES & DISCOUNT CODES Zero Proof Experiences: https://zeroproofexperiences.com/?aff=4 Bookshop.org storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/kristinhorstman ARMRA: https://tryarmra.novel.com/login?referralCode=de9ddb1e-9f9d-4c8a-ba43-21a30abb552e Jolene Park NOURISH Coaching Program: https://healthydiscoveries.mykajabi.com/a/35865/ihLPoJPC Jolene Park Ultimate Sober Bundle: https://checkout.grayareadrinkers.com/ultimate-sober-af-bundle/?affiliate=kristinhorstman Cured Nutrition: https://curednutrition.com/collections/all?referral_code=KRI2L0STF Loose Leaf Tea Market: https://looseleafteamarket.com?bg_ref=nwruvHn7oD Use code TEAKRISTIN10 for 10% off (no minimum, enter at checkout) (https://looseleafteamarket.com?bg_ref=nwruvHn7oD Use code TEAKRISTIN10 for 10% off (no minimum, enter at checkout)) Some links above are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I genuinely love.
29 Oct 2026
#23: When Was the Last Time You Said Something Kind to Yourself? (Try This)
Your vagus nerve is the longest nerve in your body, and it responds to how you talk to yourself. If your inner voice is harsh, critical, and relentless, your nervous system registers that as a threat. Loving kindness meditation is a practice that trains your vagus nerve to extend warmth, starting with yourself, and research shows it measurably improves vagal tone, positive emotion, and social connection. Kristin Horstman, certified Gray Area Drinking Coach and host of Sunsets Are the New Happy Hour, walks through the neuroscience behind this 2000 year old practice, citing a landmark 2013 UNC study and a 2015 meta-analysis. She explains why the sequence matters, why the self-compassion round is the hardest, and then leads a full guided loving kindness meditation you can feel in real time. This episode is for anyone navigating gray area drinking, anxiety, burnout, or any habit quietly dimming their light, and who is ready to stop relying on willpower and start healing through nervous system regulation. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:14) The Four Phrases and Why Order Matters (02:36) Your Vagus Nerve and Vagal Tone (05:06) Why This Practice Matters for Anyone Who Drinks (06:50) Guided Loving Kindness Meditation (08:47) Three Ways to Take This With You Kristin says the hardest round is often offering kindness to yourself. Was that true for you? Comment below. If you're ready to feel better, think clearer, and brighten your life, you're in the right place. SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every week. As always, I'm rooting for you. 🌅 WORK WITH KRISTIN HORSTMAN 1:1 Gray Area Drinking Coaching: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/gray-area-drinking-coaching (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/gray-area-drinking-coaching ) Private Health Coaching: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/health-coaching (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/health-coaching) FREE RESOURCES Substack: https://substack.com/@kristinhorstman Brighten Your Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/865785648653696 6 Tips To Brighten Your Life: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/6-tips-to-brighten-your-life Resources for Loved Ones of Those Struggling with Substance Use Disorder: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/resources CONNECT WITH KRISTIN: Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsetsarethenewhappyhour Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachkristinhorstman (https://www.instagram.com/coachkristinhorstman ) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachKristinHorstman (https://www.facebook.com/CoachKristinHorstman) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-horstman-43001280 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-horstman-43001280) Website: https://www.kristinhorstman.com (https://www.kristinhorstman.com ) AFFILIATES & DISCOUNT CODES Zero Proof Experiences: https://zeroproofexperiences.com/?aff=4 Bookshop.org storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/kristinhorstman ARMRA: https://tryarmra.novel.com/login?referralCode=de9ddb1e-9f9d-4c8a-ba43-21a30abb552e Jolene Park NOURISH Coaching Program: https://healthydiscoveries.mykajabi.com/a/35865/ihLPoJPC https://checkout.grayareadrinkers.com/ultimate-sober-af-bundle/?affiliate=kristinhorstman (https://checkout.grayareadrinkers.com/ultimate-sober-af-bundle/?affiliate=kristinhorstman ) Cured Nutrition: https://curednutrition.com/collections/all?referral_code=KRI2L0STF (https://curednutrition.com/collections/all?referral_code=KRI2L0STF) Loose Leaf Tea Market: https://looseleafteamarket.com?bg_ref=nwruvHn7oD (https://looseleafteamarket.com?bg_ref=nwruvHn7oD) Use code TEAKRISTIN10 for 10% off (no minimum, enter at checkout) Some links above are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I genuinely love.
15 Oct 2026
#22: Could Non-Alcoholic Beverages Ruin Your Sober October?
If you are participating in Sober October, you might be wondering if non-alcoholic drinks labeled 0.5% alcohol will derail your month or trigger cravings for the real thing. It is a common question, and I am here to help you navigate it using a simple test to see how these options fit into your journey. As a gray area drinking coach with nearly six years of experience, I know how important it is to find what works best for your unique nervous system. I will walk you through a practical experiment to determine if these options support your goals or if they are better left off your list. I will also share some of my personal favorite alcohol free beverage choices that I rely on. Whether you are fully sober or just experimenting with a different lifestyle, this guidance helps you stay clear on your intentions and feel confident in your choices. Chapters (00:00) The Truth About NA Labels (01:23) The Ritual Trap: When Taste Triggers Cravings (03:14) My Top Picks: Athletic Brewing and Beyond (04:49) Sophisticated Sips: Discovering NA Wine (06:54) When You Need Something Completely Different Let me know in the comments if you have a favorite non-alcoholic drink that helps you stay on track. As always, I'm rooting for you. 🌅 WORK WITH KRISTIN HORSTMAN 1:1 Gray Area Drinking Coaching: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/gray-area-drinking-coaching (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/gray-area-drinking-coaching ) Private Health Coaching: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/health-coaching (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/health-coaching) FREE RESOURCES Substack: https://substack.com/@kristinhorstman (https://substack.com/@kristinhorstman) Brighten Your Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/865785648653696 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/865785648653696) 6 Tips To Brighten Your Life: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/6-tips-to-brighten-your-life (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/6-tips-to-brighten-your-life ) Resources for Loved Ones of Those Struggling with Substance Use Disorder: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/resources (https://www.kristinhorstman.com/resources) CONNECT WITH KRISTIN HORSTMAN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kristinhorstman (https://www.youtube.com/@kristinhorstman) Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsetsarethenewhappyhour (https://www.instagram.com/sunsetsarethenewhappyhour ) Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachkristinhorstman (https://www.instagram.com/coachkristinhorstman ) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachKristinHorstman (https://www.facebook.com/CoachKristinHorstman ) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-horstman-43001280 ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-horstman-43001280) Website: https://www.kristinhorstman.com (https://www.kristinhorstman.com ) AFFILIATES & DISCOUNT CODES Zero Proof Experiences: https://zeroproofexperiences.com/?aff=4 (https://zeroproofexperiences.com/?aff=4 ) Bookshop.org storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/kristinhorstman (https://bookshop.org/shop/kristinhorstman ) ARMRA: https://tryarmra.novel.com/login?referralCode=de9ddb1e-9f9d-4c8a-ba43-21a30abb552e (https://tryarmra.novel.com/login?referralCode=de9ddb1e-9f9d-4c8a-ba43-21a30abb552e ) Jolene Park NOURISH Coaching Program: https://healthydiscoveries.mykajabi.com/a/35865/ihLPoJPC (https://healthydiscoveries.mykajabi.com/a/35865/ihLPoJPC) Jolene Park Ultimate Sober Bundle: https://checkout.grayareadrinkers.com/ultimate-sober-af-bundle/?affiliate=kristinhorstman (https://checkout.grayareadrinkers.com/ultimate-sober-af-bundle/?affiliate=kristinhorstman ) Cured Nutrition: https://curednutrition.com/collections/all?referral_code=KRI2L0STF (https://curednutrition.com/collections/all?referral_code=KRI2L0STF) Loose Leaf Tea Market: https://looseleafteamarket.com?bg_ref=nwruvHn7oD (https://looseleafteamarket.com?bg_ref=nwruvHn7oD) Use code TEAKRISTIN10 for 10% off (no minimum, enter at checkout) Some links above are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I genuinely love. REFERENCES NielsenIQ, "From Value to Vibe" (Jan 2026): https://nielseniq.com/global/en/insights/analysis/2026/from-value-to-vibe-how-moderation-preference-and-new-drinkers-are-reshaping-us-beverage-alcohol (https://nielseniq.com/global/en/insights/analysis/2026/from-value-to-vibe-how-moderation-preference-and-new-drinkers-are-reshaping-us-beverage-alcohol) Thierauf et al., Rechtsmedizin, 2012: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-012-0835-8 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-012-0835-8) Yoshimoto et al., BMC Medicine, 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37784187 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37784187) Dobashi et al., BMC Medicine, 2024: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39343906 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39343906) NHS, "Calories in alcohol": https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/calories-in-alcohol (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/calories-in-alcohol)
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- 5.0 / 5
- 2 ratings
- Spotify
- 5.0 / 5
- 5 ratings
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