Why Women Quit Drinking with Deborah C. Smith / EP 125

alcohol and stress alcohol freedom coach alcohol moderation vs sobriety health coaching longevity sober & lit podcast sober coach sober stories sobriety Jun 02, 2026

Coach Ruby Williams with Coach Susan Larkin interview Deborah C. Smith and why she quit drinking

Listen to the PODCAST Here
Watch the Podcast on YouTube Here

Why more high-achieving women are questioning alcohol

For years, Deborah C. Smith looked successful from the outside.

She built a thriving wellness business in New York City, worked with major brands like Google and LinkedIn, and managed a fast-paced entrepreneurial life that many women dream about.

But behind the scenes?

She was exhausted.

Like many high-achieving women, alcohol became part of the reward system. At the end of long stressful days, wine felt like relief. A way to unwind. A way to cope.

But over time, Deborah started realizing something important:

Alcohol wasn’t helping her feel better... it was keeping her disconnected from herself.

The Hidden Burnout Behind Success

One of the most powerful moments in the episode is when Deborah describes sitting alone in her apartment counting cash from her successful juice company while drinking wine at night.

Outwardly successful. Inwardly depleted.

This is something so many women relate to.

We normalize stress. We normalize exhaustion. We normalize “wine o’clock culture.”

Especially for ambitious women.

But eventually the body starts speaking louder.

Deborah began noticing anxiety, burnout, brain fog, and emotional exhaustion. And after years of people pleasing and high-functioning coping mechanisms, she realized she needed something different.

Sobriety as a Superpower

What makes Deborah’s story so inspiring is that sobriety didn’t shrink her life.

It expanded it.

She describes feeling more authentic, more grounded, more creative, and more confident than ever before.

Instead of numbing stress with alcohol, she discovered healthier ways to regulate her nervous system and reconnect with joy.

Dancing became medicine.

Music became healing.

Creativity returned.

And perhaps most importantly... she no longer felt like she was hiding.

You Don’t Have to Become “Boring”

One of the biggest myths around sobriety is that life becomes dull or restrictive.

Deborah completely challenges that narrative.

She still goes to parties. She still hosts dinner gatherings. She still loves beautiful beverages, rituals, and connection.

The difference?

She no longer needs alcohol to experience joy.

She shares exciting alternatives including adaptogenic beverages, alcohol-free wines, mocktails, and functional drinks that help her feel energized and present instead of depleted.

The Bigger Shift Happening