Thriving Alcohol-Free with Mocktail Mom
Are you afraid the fun will end when you quit drinking? Are you nervous about what you will drink instead of your favorite alcoholic beverage? Welcome to the Thriving Alcohol-Free podcast with Deb, the Mocktail Mom. This is the place for delightful conversations about non-alcoholic cocktails and the joy of sober living. We celebrate authentic freedom of life without alcohol. There are many great podcasts about getting sober, but in this podcast, we will focus on the delicious world of non-alcoholic options and the fun of living each day without a “mommy wine headache.” After almost nine years of trying to moderate and promising "I will just have one," Deb broke up with Chardonnay and loves to share the freedom & fun of an alcohol-free lifestyle. You, too, can thrive and be free from alcohol. Join Deb’s membership & make mocktails together during her weekly virtual Happy Hours, plus gain access to her beginner mocktail course. The direct link to join is ThrivingAlcoholFree.com Follow on Instagram or TikTok @Mocktail.Mom Website: MocktailMom.com
Episodes
130 episodes
EP 129 | From Sober Curious To Confidently Dry With Brooklyn Of Dry Social
In this episode, Deb Podlogar chats with Brooklyn Fahey of Dry Social about the journey to living alcohol-free. They discuss the importance of mocktails, Brooklyn's personal experiences with alcohol, and the pressures of drinking cu...
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Season 2
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Episode 129
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31:55
EP 128 | How A Pandemic Pivot Became A Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Powerhouse
A coupe glass, a good shake, and a bold idea: we sit down with Rebecca Styn, founder and CEO of Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails, to trace how a small speakeasy in Erie, Pennsylvania, turned a lockdown challenge into a nationwide zero-proof fa...
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Season 2
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Episode 128
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29:05
EP 127 | Cheers To Choices: Robin Cummiskey of Wallace Dry Goods
Deb Podlogar welcomes Robin Cummiskey, the founder of Wallace Dry Goods, a non-alcoholic bottle shop on the Philadelphia Main Line in Ardmore, PA. They discuss the journey of starting the shop, the challenges of running a business f...
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38:14
EP 126 | Mom, Rediscovered: Midlife Breakup with Drinking & Diet Culture
Deb Podlogar welcomes back Jen Butler, an author and alcohol-free life coach, to discuss her debut memoir, Mom, Rediscovered.They make a margarita mocktail together and explore Jen's journey through motherhood, sobriety, and the...
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33:16
EP 125 | Total Wine Purchase That Sparked My Sobriety + The Mocktail Challenge
In this episode of Thriving Alcohol-Free with Mocktail Mom, Deb Podlogar shares her personal journey to sobriety, and she brings the receipt for how it all started. She discusses the importance of having non-alcoholic alternatives ...
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Season 2
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Episode 125
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17:24
EP 124 | What I Wish I'd Known Before Quitting Alcohol, Deb Podlogar
In this solo episode of Thriving Alcohol-Free with Mocktail Mom®, Deb Podlogar shares her personal journey to sobriety, reflecting on the lessons learned and the support she received along the way. She emphasizes the importance of community, th...
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16:32
EP 123 | From Alcohol to Entrepreneurship: Zane's Journey to Monday Morning
In this episode, Deb Podlogar speaks with Zane Curtis, the founder of Monday Morning Bottle Shop in San Diego. Zane shares his journey to sobriety, which began two years ago after a series of personal revelations and challenges. He ...
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Season 2
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Episode 123
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29:19
EP 122 | Embracing Sobriety: A Journey with Jen Hirst
Deb Podlogar and Jen Hirst explore the journey of sobriety, the importance of community, and the transformative power of mindset. They make Jen's easy mocktail recipe, Momma Doesn't Have Time, using one of their favorite water enhan...
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Season 2
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Episode 122
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34:20
Embracing the Empty Nest: A Journey of Change
In this episode, Deb Podlogar shares her personal journey of transitioning into an empty nester, reflecting on the emotional challenges and adjustments that come with this new phase of life. She discusses the importance of reframing grief and e...
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Season 2
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Episode 121
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15:40
EP 120 | No Girl Left Behind: Marissa Cherepanov's Path to Leadership and Sobriety
Join Deb as she welcomes Marissa Cherepanov, a leader in female empowerment and a dedicated advocate for women in leadership. Marissa shares her inspiring journey to sobriety, the challenges she faced during COVID, and how a pivotal...
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Season 1
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Episode 120
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35:54
Ep 119 | Breaking Up with Alcohol: Kate Denaj Shares Her Inspiring Journey to Sobriety
Join Deb from "Thriving Alcohol Free with Mocktail Mom" as she welcomes Kate Denaj, the inspiring force behind Clarity Zero Proof. In this engaging episode, Kate shares her transformative journey to sobriety, highlighting the challenges...
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Season 1
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Episode 119
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33:00
Ep 118 | Sobriety Journey of Chasing Sunsets Instead of Cocktails
Kristin Horstman shares her journey from gray area drinking to becoming a certified coach who helps others find freedom from alcohol while developing powerful nervous system regulation techniques.• Drinking exists on a spectrum with mil...
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Season 2
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Episode 117
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44:15
EP 117 | The Joy of Sobriety with Mocktail Mom & Podcast Update
Deb, the Mocktail Mom, returns from a brief hiatus to share updates on her alcohol-free journey and exciting changes coming to the podcast. After 4.5 years without alcohol, she continues to find joy and gratitude in sobriety while focusing on s...
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Season 1
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Episode 117
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18:15
EP 116 | Redefining Happy Hour: Mocktails, Rituals, and Second Chances
In this special episode, I am joined by Abbie Romanul from Raising the Bar to discuss our special collaboration for May's "Yo Mama" box, featuring exclusive mocktails honoring motherhood in all its forms.• The Yo Mama box features signa...
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Season 1
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Episode 116
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20:57
Ep 115 | Thriving Alcohol-Free: Taking a Break Before Season Two Begins
Life's most significant transitions deserve our full attention and presence. After faithfully recording 114 episodes over two years, I'm pressing pause on weekly podcast releases to embrace a precious season fully – my youngest daughter's final...
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Season 1
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Episode 115
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5:05
Crafting Success without Alcohol: From Harvard MBA to Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, Meet Vanessa Royle
Vanessa Royle never planned to launch a non-alcoholic beverage company. But when she quit drinking during the pandemic lockdown of 2020, something unexpected happened – she felt dramatically better. As she prepared to start her MBA at Harvard B...
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Season 1
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Episode 114
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27:21
Ep. 113 From Wine Industry to Sobriety Coach, Meet Ruby Williams
Ruby Williams shares her transformative journey from working in the wine industry while drinking three bottles a day to becoming a sober coach helping others find freedom from alcohol dependence.• Struggled with disordered eating from a...
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Season 1
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Episode 113
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27:21
Ep 112 Borrowing Belief: Lindsay Hennekey Helps Women Make Alcohol No Longer an Issue
Lindsay Hennekey shares her powerful journey from using alcohol to cope with life disappointments to creating a thriving alcohol-free life through her coaching program Feel Good AF.• Lindsay's drinking escalated when facing fertility is...
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Season 1
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Episode 112
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26:19
Ep 111 Freedom from Alcohol: Meet Susan Larkin
Discover the transformative power of choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle while traveling. This episode features a heartfelt conversation with Susan Larkin, a certified alcohol freedom coach, who shares her journey to breaking free from alcohol a...
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Season 1
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Episode 111
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32:46
EP 110 A Bartender’s Perspective on Living Alcohol-Free with Lief Frederick
This week, I’m hanging out with Lief Frederick, a bartender of 15+ years, an expert at crafting next-level non-alcoholic drinks, and the creator of @thevariantco on Instagram. Lief shares how his bar experience is helping people make better alc...
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Season 1
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Episode 110
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28:50
EP 109 The Non-Alcoholic Movement: Meet Kendall Olsen of Libations Library
Grab your favorite glass and prepare for a fun, flavor-packed chat with the brilliant Kendall Olsen, the mastermind behind @libations_library! Kendall is a pro at breaking down the art ...
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Season 1
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Episode 109
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28:20
EP 108 The Problem of Normalized Drinking With Abby Calabrese
What happens when you take alcohol out of the equation? According to this week’s guest, Abby Calabrese, you get deeper connections, a clearer mind, and a whole lot more fun! Abby is a mom of two, a passionate advocate and coach for alcohol-free...
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Season 1
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Episode 108
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33:20
EP 107 Mix Up The Perfect Batanga With Mocktail Mo
Hey friends! Did Dry January just fly by, or are you still cruising on that alcohol-free vibe? Either way, buckle up for a super fun episode featuring Mocktail Mo! If you missed the Mocktail Summit in January, don’t worry—today you’re ...
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Season 1
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Episode 107
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20:52
EP 106 Live Q&A with Duncan Shouler, Senior Winemaker at Giesen
Ever wondered how a premium non-alcoholic wine is crafted? This week’s episode is a snippet from the recent Mocktail Summit 2025, where I had the pleasure of hosting a Happy Hour with Duncan Shouler, Chief Winemaker at Giesen and a trailblazer ...
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Season 1
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Episode 106
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26:31
EP 105 Unlocking the Flavor Power of Bitters with Ian from All The Bitter
Ever wondered what bitters are or how to use them? This episode is here to demystify the magic of these tiny-but-mighty drink enhancers! Recorded as part of the recent Mocktail Summit 2025, I’m chatting with Ian Blessing, co-foun...
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Season 1
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Episode 105
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39:08