"You can’t hate yourself healthy."

That’s the kind of line that sticks with you—not just because it’s catchy, but because it’s true. And for Erin Jean Warde, it was the truth that changed everything.

In this episode, I sit down with Erin—an ordained Episcopal priest, recovery coach, and author of Sober Spirituality—to talk about what it looks like to build a mindful relationship with alcohol. Erin didn’t crash her car. She didn’t destroy her life. But she knew something wasn’t right. So she listened to the nudge of the Holy Spirit and started to explore what life could look like without drinking—and what she found was joy, creativity, clarity, and deep healing.

This is a conversation about identity, escapism, and the quiet conviction that comes before the crisis. And how a misordered relationship with alcohol isn't a conservative Christian problem or a progressive Christian problem—it's a universal problem.

We explore:

—Why mindfulness matters more than rigid categories
—The danger of finding your identity in alcohol
—Why progressive and conservative Christians both normalize drinking
—How escapism fuels addiction (even when you’re physically present)
—What neuroscience taught Erin about anxiety, depression, and alcohol
—How marketing targets moms and women with deceptive alcohol messaging
—The difference between “treating yourself” and truly resting
—Why you don’t have to wait for a wake-up call to get curious
—How sobriety opened up creativity, healing, and deep spiritual intimacy
—What it means to respond to the Holy Spirit in love—not shame

Website: erinjeanwarde.com

Book: Sober Spirituality: The Joy of a Mindful Relationship with Alcohol

Substack: Erin Jean Warde on Substack

Instagram: @erinjeanwarde

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