The Alcohol-Free Rebellion is a podcast for anyone rethinking their relationship with alcohol and craving something deeper. Host Abby Calabrese explores sobriety, mental health, identity, and purpose through real, unfiltered conversations. Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or just looking for more authenticity—this is your place to rebel against the norm and rediscover who you really are.
The Space Sobriety Creates (And Why It Feels So Weird At First) — with Mel Burbank
When you stop drinking, something unexpected happens.
Space.
Space in your calendar.
Space in your mornings.
Space in your brain.
Space in your relationships.
Space in your home.
And at first… it can feel really uncomfortable.
In this episode of The Alcohol-Free Rebellion, I sit down with alcohol-free mentor Mel Burbank of Alcohol Free Females to talk about the part of sobriety that almost no one prepares you for.
That quiet.
The slowing down.
The invitations that stop coming.
The grief for the life you used to live.
And the moment when you realize… that space is actually where your new life begins.
We also talk about:
• Why the early months of sobriety can feel lonely
• The “middle 50%” of drinkers who don’t fit the typical recovery narrative
• Why many women think they’re doing sobriety “wrong” at first
• How alcohol quietly takes up way more space in your life than you realize
If you’re newly alcohol-fre
12 Feb 2026
The Last Glass of Rosé: Mary Alice Stephens on Emotional Bottoms & 14 Years Sober
When Mary Alice Stephens took her last drink, it wasn’t in a jail cell or rehab. It was at a sunny pool party with a giant glass of rosé in hand.
In this episode, Mary, author of Uncorked—shares the story of the blackout that became her emotional bottom. No DUI. No dramatic intervention. Just a quiet, devastating realization: “I don’t want to parent like this.”
Abby and Mary dive into:
The “in-between” bottom so many high-functioning women experience
Wine culture, sophistication myths, and sober avoidance
The witching hour and why alcohol feels like emotional latex
People-pleasing, mom friendships, and navigating social life sober
Physical withdrawal, raw nerves, and early sobriety loneliness
What “emotional sobriety” actually means
Losing friends, evolving identity, and becoming safe & predictable
What changes after 1 year… 5 years… 14 years alcohol-free
This is an honest, nuanced conversation about motherhood, identity shifts, and the long game of personal growth without alcohol.
If you’ve ever thought, “Nothing tragic has happened… so am I really that bad?” — this episode is for you.
Grab your copy of Uncorked here (https://amzn.to/403H9IH)
Follow Mary on IG here (https://www.instagram.com/maryalicestephenswrites/)
Visit Mary's website here (https://www.maryalicestephens.com/)
15 Jan 2026
Alcohol Isn’t Just a Personal Choice, It’s a Public Health Issue
Alcohol is one of the only substances that we’re expected to consume and judged when we don’t. But why?
In this episode, Abby sits down with Mike Marshall, CEO of the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance and a longtime advocate in the public health and recovery space, to unpack how alcohol became so deeply embedded in our culture and who benefits from that.
Mike shares his personal sobriety journey, his background in politics and advocacy, and why alcohol should be treated as a public health issue not just a matter of “personal responsibility.” Together, they explore the links between alcohol and cancer, mental health, violence, and motherhood, as well as why most people don’t actually have access to this information.
This conversation is eye-opening, validating, and empowering, especially if you’ve ever felt like opting out of drinking made you the “weird one.”
In this episode, we cover:
Why alcohol is regulated differently than tobacco
The connection between alcohol and breast cancer
How the alcohol industry shapes social norms
Why sobriety and moderation aren’t just personal, they’re political
What real change could look like at a policy level
To learn more or get involved, visit alcoholpolicy.org (alcoholpolicy.org).
Who has been a guest on The Alcohol Free Coterie
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Kendall B
Robin
Todd Kinney
Hollie Nickolson
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 47 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
81
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact The Alcohol Free Coterie
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