Embracing Your Sober Identity After Quitting Alcohol with Sarah Treacy

Episode 248: Embracing Your Sober Identity After Quitting Alcohol with Sarah Treacy

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“My problem with drinking was that I didn’t have an off switch.
Once I started, I couldn’t shut it down."
-- Sarah Treacy

What really happens after you quit drinking, and how do you rebuild your identity once alcohol is out of the picture?

In episode 248 of the Sober Vibes Podcast, I sit down with Sarah Treacy, founder of The Sober Adventure Collective and creator of Sobriety Is the New Epic, a virtual speaker series redefining what recovery can look like. After quitting alcohol in 2020 and leaving her 20-year corporate marketing career in 2024, Sarah’s mission is clear: sobriety isn’t boring or restrictive, it’s your next great adventure.

Together, we talk about getting sober during COVID, moving from secrecy to confidence, and building a community that makes alcohol-free living feel expansive, not small. Sarah shares tangible tools for identity shifts, emotional regulation, and creating a life that feels aligned, purpose-driven, and fun.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

•  Quitting alcohol to protect your career and health and what truly happens after you quit drinking
•  The connection between alcohol and anxiety, and alcohol and depression
•  Working through shame, identity, and fear of judgment as a sober curious woman
• Building sober community through retreats and adventure-based connection
• Practical quitting alcohol tips for cravings, emotions, and confidence
• If you’ve been wondering how to step into your new identity after quitting alcohol or you’re craving proof that sobriety can be joyful, connected, and creative this conversation will inspire you to see recovery as the adventure of a lifetime.

Skip the reading & watch the YouTube video instead: 

The Real Face of Sobriety for High Achievers

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “But I have a good job… I can’t have a problem,” buckle up, friend this one’s for you.

In this episode of Sober Vibes, I sat down with Sarah Tracey, the powerhouse behind Sobriety Is the New Epic, to talk about what happens after you stop drinking, when the hangovers are gone, but the identity crisis moves in with a suitcase.

Sarah got sober during COVID (and honestly, same, that era was a test for all of us). She had the dream career, the confidence, the hustle… and the secret that her camera-off Zoom days were becoming blurry for more reasons than bad Wi-Fi.

When work-from-home turned into “wine-from-home,” she realized: protecting her career couldn’t come at the cost of protecting herself.

And that moment? That’s when she finally said, “Enough.”

When “High Functioning” is Just “High Hiding”

Sarah called herself a “social drinker with no off switch.” (Relatable? Yeah, me too.)

“I protected my career at all costs. When I saw those two worlds might collide, that fear finally made me quit.” — Sarah Tracey

Her wake-up call wasn’t hitting rock bottom, it was realizing she might lose the one thing she used to justify everything else: her success.

So she quit. Quietly. Privately. And like so many of us, she thought that was the finish line. Spoiler alert: it was the starting line.

The Awkward Phase of Finding Yourself Again

You know that weird stage when you’re sober but still pretending to drink kombucha out of a wine glass so nobody asks questions? Yeah, Sarah lived there for a while.

“I wasn’t embarrassed personally, I just wasn’t sure the world would see it as strength.” — Sarah Tracey

She said she “got healthy during COVID” when people asked what changed. Smooth. But here’s the thing, sobriety is a defining moment. Not in a scarlet-letter way, but in a “this is a boundary I will never break with myself again” kind of way.

“Sobriety isn’t about letting it define you. It’s a precious boundary you’ll never cross with yourself.” — Courtney Andersen

At first, Sarah tried to blend in with her old life. Same friends, same routines, just minus the hangovers. But when the glow-up hits, you can’t unknow it. Suddenly the job that once felt important? Doesn’t. The Friday nights that once felt fun? Don’t. The “who even am I now?” identity crisis hits hard — and that’s where the real work begins.

The Utah Trip That Changed Everything

Sarah admitted she had every stereotype in the book about sober communities.
You know...sad circles, awkward silences, people saying “it’s fine” while clearly missing tequila.

Then she found sober retreats online. And somehow, this quiet Canadian packed a bag, flew across the continent, and ended up hiking in Utah with a group of sober women she’d never met.

“I belly-laughed sober for the first time on that retreat. I never thought that was possible.” — Sarah Tracey

That weekend cracked something open. It was connection, not chaos. Joy, not judgment. Real conversations, no hangovers.

She came home knowing two things:
1️⃣ She wasn’t broken.
2️⃣ Canada needed more of this.

So, she decided to bring it home.

From Secret Sobriety to Public Purpose

Enter coach Heather Lowe, one of my favorite people and another Sober Vibes guest.

Heather helped Sarah see that even though she was thriving, she was still hiding. There was leftover shame and fear around being “the person who had to quit.”

“How can you help others if you still can’t tell your own story?” — Heather Lowe

Oof. That’ll humble you.

So Sarah started her Instagram, @TheSoberSherpa, and committed to telling her story every single day. Not perfection, just honesty.

And to celebrate five years sober? She launched her summit: Sobriety Is the New Epic.
A speaker series that flips the script on recovery,  less “why I had to quit,” more “look what I’ve built since I did.”

Sobriety Is the New Epic: The Series

Sarah’s speaker series is the breath of fresh air this space needed. Instead of focusing on rock bottoms, it’s all about the rise.

This upcoming round goes even deeper with:
✨ Real talk on emotional sobriety and managing cravings
✨ Tips for nutrition, mindset, and nervous system regulation
✨ Stories from sober trailblazers and thriving entrepreneurs
✨ Inspiration for turning your recovery into purpose-driven work

Basically, it’s part TED Talk, part group hug, and 100% “you’re not alone in this.”

3 Ways to Embrace Your Sober Identity (Without Losing Your Cool)

1. Journal like it’s therapy you don’t have to schedule.

Get it all out - the fears, the gratitude, the weird dreams, the realizations. You’ll be shocked how much clarity shows up when you let your thoughts breathe.

2. Soak up sober inspo.

Read the books, binge the podcasts, and stalk sober creators on Instagram. Normalizing your new normal is part of the process.

3. Do one thing that terrifies you (and excites you).

Book the retreat. Go to the meetup. Start the sober account. Growth lives on the other side of “ugh, do I have to?”

“Anything that gives you those nerves? I chase it now. It usually means I really want it.” — Sarah Tracey

Redefining Success — Sober Edition

Sobriety rewires your definition of success. Suddenly, peace hits harder than a paycheck.

“My happiness isn’t a Gucci bag. It’s being able to close my laptop at 2:45 and pick up my kid from school.” — Courtney Andersen

It’s about time freedom. It’s about emotional stability. It’s about not needing to recover from your own choices.

And honestly? That’s wealth.

The Future Is Epic (and Sober AF)

Sarah’s now building a retreat property in Ontario where she’ll host future sober getaways, the kind of community she once had to fly to Utah to find.

She’s proof that you can go from quietly quitting drinking to loudly creating something life-changing.

If you’ve been wondering what your next chapter looks like, or if you just want to meet women who get it, go sign up for Sobriety Is the New Epic.

You might just belly-laugh your way into a brand new version of you.

Thank you for listening!

If this episode has helped you, please consider rating and reviewing the podcast. (Five Stars is awesome!)

This helps me continue to make episodes for you. 

★★★★★

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Resources Mentioned:

Join HERE for The Speaker Series

To Connect with Sarah-

Website 

Instagram

PODCAST SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Soberlink, a trusted accountability tool for anyone navigating early recovery. Whether you're rebuilding trust with loved ones or want more structure in your sobriety, Soberlink offers a discreet and empowering way to stay on track.

Sober Vibes listeners, sign up HERE and claim our $100 Enrollment Bonus.

This episode is sponsored by ExactNature, a trusted holistic tool for anyone navigating recovery and sobriety. Use code SV25 at checkout to save on your order. Click here to shop and save.