Maureen (00:01.944)
Joining me today is someone who is redefining alcohol-free living and travel, Susie Strielman. Susie is the founder of Zero Proof Experiences, where she curates unforgettable sober in the city weekends that prove you don't need alcohol to have an incredible time. Once she was someone who relied on wine for socializing, vacations, and special events, Susie has transformed her life, trading reliance on alcohol for empowerment.
Now she helps others break free from that alcohol script and embrace a vibrant fulfilling lifestyle. Suzy's based in Long Beach with her husband of over 30 years. She spends her time golfing, practicing yoga and planning her next adventure. Through zero proof experiences, she's redefining connection, joy and personal growth without the need for alcohol. So welcome Suzy.
Susie (00:53.404)
Hey, thanks, Maureen. It's nice to see you. Hello from the West Coast.
Maureen (00:56.514)
Yeah. Yeah. Hi from the East coast. But it is so nice to have you on here. I follow, you know, what you do and these experiences that you curate called Sober in the City. And I'm going to get myself to one of these eventually. But I'd love for you to share, you know, go back up a little bit, your personal journey, when you started to rethink your relationship with alcohol and how you made those changes, and then take it a step further and create experiences for others.
Susie (01:25.864)
Awesome. Thanks for having me, Maureen. Yes, I think, you know, I was just talking about this at a family party. People were asking me, so was sort of remembering again, right? How did this happen? And I said, actually, you know, like you, I think I've always been sort of interested in health and fitness. And so over the years, over many years, I took a lot of breaks from alcohol and it was partly...
Maureen (01:38.232)
Yeah.
Maureen (01:52.589)
Mm-hmm.
Susie (01:54.076)
you know, maybe because I was training for a race or a marathon or something. And, you know, I'm not sure if I planned the marathon because I wanted to take a break from alcohol. If I took a break from alcohol because I was doing the marathon, if you get my drift, you probably do. So was sort of an expert breaker. took, you know, a dry January. I actually did two whole entire Lent seasons, you know, I don't know, maybe eight years ago or something like that.
Maureen (02:06.668)
Yes, I get that. Yes.
Susie (02:23.824)
And at the end of those Lent seasons, I celebrated with a glass of champagne or two or whatever on Easter. And so it was when I was taking those breaks, it was okay because I did kind of step back socially, right? Because I was like, I'm not drinking. So I would kind of sometimes avoid going out to dinner and so on. So fast forward.
Maureen (02:43.63)
Mm-hmm.
Susie (02:53.448)
we'll talk the brief version around 2020, we actually had extras in our household. Some people had less, we had extras. So everything was extra, Maureen. There was more cookies, more food, more wine for, yeah, yeah, yeah, in 2020. And so later in that year, I just kind of got to the point that I'm like, is this just enough?
Maureen (02:55.608)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (03:11.886)
during COVID, yeah.
Susie (03:22.256)
like I'm taking a break, I signed up with the fantastic Sober Cis Clan and I immediately I said, you know what, I'm going to take a four month break here and you know, we're going to kind of dial things back and see how it goes. So I signed up and like, I'm all in, I'm going to do four months. I'm already pretty good at breaks. I can do, you know, maybe a month once in a while. And so I'm just going to do this four months and see what happens. And so it was really interesting.
Maureen (03:27.714)
Mm-hmm, yep.
Susie (03:52.284)
I never had this experience before because dry January is great, right? We just finished that. But I don't really think that gives you the full experience. I kind of know, yeah, right?
Maureen (04:04.29)
No. It's just a drop in the bucket really, you know, it's usually for you, like it was for you and for me, it's the beginning, planting the seeds of this journey that you're explaining that you're going on.
Susie (04:17.656)
Exactly. And so if four months, I'm like, okay, I did this, you know, I think I'm just going to keep going. Like I've already been going this far. Right. So I think I'm going keep going a little, a little further. There are some things that I'm kind of liking. I don't have to stress about, okay, I'm going to be ready for a morning workout on Tuesday or, you know, not Tuesday, but Friday, whatever.
Maureen (04:35.47)
Mm-hmm.
Susie (04:44.776)
So I kept going and it was somewhere really around the six month mark for me that I kind of started to say, hey, you know what? really kind of like this.
Maureen (04:57.196)
What did you like? Can I ask you specifically what was standing out for you?
Susie (05:01.858)
Yeah, the biggest thing for me was the freedom in my head, right? Yeah. Right. The freedom and wondering like, okay, how many drinks am I going to have this weekend? Because, know, frankly, I did cut back a lot, but I didn't realize how much thought I was putting into it. Yeah. Yeah.
Maureen (05:08.78)
The mental freedom, yes. All that chatter around alcohol.
Maureen (05:26.38)
Isn't that amazing? Yes.
Susie (05:29.744)
It is. So not only, you know, feeling better physically and just able to do, I still have days where I don't feel good, but feeling better physically and, but that was really the big takeaway for me because I wasn't worried about, okay, am I going go here and have half a glass of wine? Because half a glass doesn't really count to, you know, I can kind of let that go by to the daily total or the weekend total.
Maureen (05:37.614)
Sure.
Maureen (05:58.083)
Yeah, yeah, one of the things you said I thought was so interesting, you're like, you realized how much planning around outings, vacations, alcohol was always taken into consideration, where you would go, where would be the best place to have a drink to watch the sunset, travel, know, wine packages on cruises, all that. I thought that was such a good point. You realize how much is scheduled around alcohol.
Susie (05:58.088)
or whatever it was.
Susie (06:22.402)
never saw that before, never noticed that. And you really do have to take, I think, that extended time away to really see it. I never saw how much in your face alcohol was before too. And so that kind of comes to the turning point, which I think is maybe your bigger part of the question is because, Maureen, one thing, like I didn't expect to become so trendy, right?
Maureen (06:34.958)
Yeah, it is.
Maureen (06:43.331)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (06:48.982)
Right. Right.
Susie (06:50.312)
So it's seeming more and more normal to at least take breaks from alcohol if not, you know, kind of give it up all together. But...
Maureen (07:02.381)
Yes.
Susie (07:09.64)
Okay, I don't know what happened. Oh, sorry.
Maureen (07:10.862)
I can hear you, can edit that part out.
Maureen (07:18.572)
So you were saying it became trendy, you were surprised by that. The whole sober curious movement really has, you know, taken hold and getting bigger and bigger, which makes it a little bit better for us what we do.
Susie (07:30.92)
I think it's amazing to go out and see more choices now. yeah, back at that time it was just a few years ago. So here I was, I was taking a break from alcohol and I wanted to start to get out and do things, right?
Maureen (07:33.047)
Yeah.
Maureen (07:36.931)
Yes.
Maureen (07:52.995)
Right, because at first you had pulled back from socializing and now you're like, wait, I want to get back out there, but I want to do it in this new way. Yeah.
Susie (08:00.634)
Yes. So for a break, you can certainly do that, right? But for a long term, like a lifestyle, I am not staying home. I'm not giving up. So I don't know. In some ways, did I want to prove to myself that this was like a really a level up, not a level down, or that this was a valid choice, Maureen?
Maureen (08:05.346)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (08:11.724)
Right, right.
Maureen (08:28.502)
Right. And it has to be real world. You can't withdraw from socializing. And so you had to test the waters and see if you could do this right.
Susie (08:39.408)
Yeah, for sure. So I started to kind of talk about it on Instagram. You know, like many people, I started an Instagram under, you know, not my name, not my photo. It took me like well over a year to post my face on an Instagram story. And I'm like, OK, I'm just going to do it. It'll be gone in 24 hours. And, you know, I did it. Nobody died. So.
Maureen (08:59.0)
Your personal information. Yeah.
Maureen (09:07.339)
Ha
Susie (09:07.452)
you know, decided just to keep going. But yeah, for me, it is, it is, you know, sometimes challenging, right, to navigate this world socially, alcohol free.
Maureen (09:18.669)
Right.
Maureen (09:23.736)
Yeah, definitely. Like in my coaching, that's got to be one of the biggest mental blocks that comes up. But wait, how will I travel? How will I go away? How will I be fun? Can I enjoy myself? That is a big roadblock. And I know that that held me back for years. So you definitely found the gap and addressed this need in this new alcohol-free lifestyle.
Susie (09:49.276)
Well, it's been a lot of fun and certainly the silver lining for many of us have been meeting people in this beautiful alcohol-free space. So that is another thing that I absolutely did not expect to connect with you, Maureen. We had you as our guest before in our Zero Proof community. But yeah, so.
Maureen (10:05.944)
Right.
Yeah.
Maureen (10:13.377)
Right?
Susie (10:18.47)
You know, I was around six months. I think I took my first trip. It was a girl's trip. I almost canceled, right? Because I was nervous, but I went. They were lovely. We had a great time. I came home and I said, this, you know, they were lovely, but this experience, it needs to be better. The restaurants need more education. there was.
Maureen (10:25.442)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yep.
Maureen (10:40.75)
Could be, yes.
Susie (10:44.488)
You know, the advent of the alcohol-free beverage industry really at that time around 2021, 22, it is still growing so vastly. And for me, that was a big game changer. So, you know, I'm just going to kind of throw that out there if you're listening and maybe you've tried a break before. I know that alcohol-free beverages are not 100 % for everybody. For me, it's 100 % a game changer.
Maureen (10:52.408)
Right.
Maureen (10:59.598)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (11:14.742)
I think so too, especially in the beginning when you need to have something in your hand and something in a nice glass. And it certainly helps that they're getting better and better. A lot of them have neurotropics or adaptogens and are healthier, but it definitely helps in the beginning. And it helps you feel, you know, part of the experience because a lot of people feel like they're missing out if they don't have something pretty in a glass to drink. And I get that a hundred percent.
Susie (11:41.416)
Yeah, you should, I mean, you should have something to with your hands, right? I mean, if you don't want to take your knitting to the restaurant, you should probably be able to order a zero-proof cocktail. And, you know, so fantastic that that's available. I think.
Maureen (11:42.914)
Yeah. Why not? Yes. Yes.
Right?
Maureen (11:57.325)
So how did you go from like, okay, this has to be better to I'm going to create these sober in the city weekends. I mean, that's a big project and a big leap.
Susie (12:07.94)
Yeah, yeah, it was. It was kind of scary, if I'm honest, right? I think I started asking the question on Instagram like, OK, is anybody interested? I was thinking maybe somebody would co-host it with me. And I asked it enough times where there was actually a gal on there that said, why don't you just do this already? And so I actually went to one of our favorite restaurants here in downtown Long Beach.
Maureen (12:12.291)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (12:28.654)
Just do it.
Susie (12:37.704)
And I booked a date and I put a deposit down and they said, you know what, if it doesn't work out, you can spend the deposit dining out in our restaurant. And I'm like, well, you know, if this doesn't work, we're just going to have some really good meals out. But yeah, in fact, it did work. So it really kind of started out with a grassroots dinner on Saturday night. Yeah.
Maureen (12:54.165)
Right.
Maureen (13:02.702)
So your first one was in your hometown and how many people came to that first one?
Susie (13:07.246)
And we had 45 people come for dinner. We didn't realize that people might want to fly in because especially then there wasn't much. It's great to see more events, more travel opportunities coming up. And we're just a part of that big wellness, alcohol-free tourism picture. But...
Maureen (13:09.293)
Whoa.
Maureen (13:16.063)
Right.
Maureen (13:24.364)
Yes.
Maureen (13:30.53)
Yeah, yeah.
Susie (13:32.168)
Yeah, in that time, like lot of people actually flew in to Long Beach and so we got a little hotel block and then we met Peggy Cooney, author of The Sight of Alcohol and such a fun person that some of the people there said, hey, we should do one with Peggy and she could be the speaker. so we...
Maureen (13:42.412)
Yes, love Peggy. This side of alcohol. Very good book. Yes.
Maureen (13:50.574)
she is.
Maureen (13:56.907)
Susie (13:57.222)
We did that in Sacramento and that's when it kind of started to grow a little bit because again, people flow in. So we got a hotel block and we had just a little gathering. They gave us one suite, you know, for Peggy and we had a little gathering in there Friday night. And then we went to Austin and that's really when it did grow into a whole weekend experience. So I asked Peggy.
Maureen (14:21.186)
Yeah, so let's talk about like how it exploded really from there because you what is the size of your next upcoming one in Arizona and how many people are flying in and you have now multiple speakers. This is really taking steam and building.
Susie (14:37.48)
Well, thank you. is, it's exciting, right? And it's really a place to connect with people that are alcohol-free. Most people are pretty dedicated or strongly interested. Not everybody is 100 % alcohol-free, but they want to see a different choice and experiencing a trip. Like I think most of us could remember a few times
Maureen (14:40.642)
Yeah.
Maureen (14:59.896)
They're curious.
Susie (15:07.368)
when you got home from a vacation and you're like, I need another kind of shift here. I need a detox, I need to kind of regroup and...
Maureen (15:10.057)
We
I'm exhausted. Yes.
Yes.
Maureen (15:22.158)
Yeah, I always said I needed a vacation from my vacation because there was so much drinking. Like from the time I got to the airport, on the plane, at the hotel arrival, and it's like you said, it's so in your face. So you are kind of addressing all those issues and showing people it could be done a different way.
Susie (15:25.372)
Right, right.
Susie (15:41.904)
I do want to show, you know, I think like my family too, that you can absolutely live 100 % full life, I think fuller, Maureen, without alcohol, even though, like many of your clients, sounds like that probably was my biggest fear. Like, what would we do on vacation?
Maureen (16:02.062)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (16:06.892)
Yeah, I get it. 100%.
Susie (16:09.466)
And probably we've all traveled with people, which we still do travel with people that drink alcohol. Many of my friends that I love very much drink alcohol. And, you know, that's great and we do enjoy it. But you do see that there is a different focus, right? That I didn't know, you know, if I'm honest, I was right there with them.
Maureen (16:19.48)
Okay.
Maureen (16:32.824)
Yeah. Sure. Me too. It was all about the alcohol. Yeah. And we're on vacation, so why not have mimosas with breakfast? You know, mean, that's, would start, if I'm being honest, you know, somewhere tropical. Sure. And then we just keep going for lunch, pre-dinner. Yep.
Susie (16:37.038)
Okay, well, it's noon, so let's see.
Susie (16:50.852)
Right. Or you're at the airport. So it's certainly okay in that regard. Yeah, so...
Maureen (16:58.7)
Yeah. So how do you find like the connection is different at these events? Like what are you seeing and noticing and hearing from all your participants?
Susie (17:09.798)
Yeah. Hey, there we go. keep finding, you keep asking me these questions and I'm like, these are things that surprised me in the alcohol-free experience. Like how is it possible, Maureen, that we're able to connect easier, I think, and deeper in an alcohol-free space? That.
Maureen (17:15.214)
you
Susie (17:35.13)
Is it because like my friend Heather Lowe ditched the drink? She says, you know, you kind of walk in and you're on a level playing field, right? So you don't have somebody that's three drinks ahead of you and you're trying to catch up, you know.
Maureen (17:44.269)
Yes.
Maureen (17:48.824)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I mean, and the science of it is once you start drinking, you are not connecting. Your prefrontal cortex goes offline. You your decision maker, your adult part of your brain. And so you're not really connecting with that person in front of you. And you're both focused on the next drink instead of like, what is she really saying? And you know, that's so interesting. And I mean, that's what I find anyway, back to the mental real estate. And also the times I've been on alcohol-free trips with other women, especially.
Susie (18:14.13)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (18:21.314)
who aren't drinking, like you're already, you already go five levels deep because you both understand each other and sort of the journey you've been through. And so it's just so great to just not have to explain that you don't drink anymore. just, there's a bonding. There's a bonding that happens.
Susie (18:37.48)
Yeah, there is a piece of that too, being with a like-minded group. you know, one of the things that used to, not so much anymore, I'm pretty used to it, and my friends are pretty used to me. They often spot the mocktail list before I do now. But, you know, it used to be like walking into a dinner and kind of really the stress of like, okay, when it comes to my turn to order a drink, what am I gonna do? What am I gonna say? I pre-looked at the menu, but I'm telling you, I had some...
Maureen (18:58.125)
Yes.
Susie (19:05.896)
really rough times with the servers before and you know I got all kinds of answers like I'm sorry that's pre-mixed well that won't really taste like anything are you sure you'd really like that and that is terrible so you know you're walking into an event where it's already curated for you you don't have to worry about that and that yeah that stress is gone
Maureen (19:08.942)
course. Yeah.
Maureen (19:17.176)
Right.
Maureen (19:28.771)
Yes.
That stress is gone.
Maureen (19:37.036)
Yeah, and then you can become really curious about who you are without alcohol. You can be your authentic self in a room full of other people trying to do the same thing. Yeah.
Susie (19:47.112)
For sure, and we do understand that that's pretty scary sometimes, right? I mean, like especially at the beginning. there's over, it's well over 50 % typically come for the weekend knowing no one. They might have connected online a little bit, but they've never met anybody in person. I think that is so brave. Yeah.
Maureen (20:12.024)
That says a lot. That says a lot right there that people are really wanting to find other people to connect with like-minded. And what do you provide now? I know in the beginning you had a speaker here and there, but now it seems like you're having all kinds of events.
Susie (20:25.358)
Yeah, we really do.
Maureen (20:27.246)
Could you go through your itinerary of this one coming up in Arizona? What's happening there?
Susie (20:32.508)
There's, yeah, there's so many things I'm gonna leave some people out, but we actually do a solo social first thing Friday afternoon. And that's just a way for people that come alone to kind of ease into the weekend, casual way to meet people. And then we always host a meet and greet Friday afternoon, evening, really. And in Scottsdale, it's gonna be.
Maureen (20:49.719)
Nice.
Susie (20:59.29)
outside under the stars and like, you know, your typical kind of Scottsdale dreamy situation. So that'll actually be hosted by Peggy and myself this time. We're still working on what kind of interactive activity we're going to do, but we know it's going to be a lot of fun. have Paulina leading a sound bath for us after that. So in the end, when, you know, it's a big travel day and you're a little exhausted, you know, picture.
Maureen (21:05.24)
Yeah.
Maureen (21:21.39)
Ooooo
Maureen (21:26.904)
Mm-hmm.
Susie (21:28.698)
laying on a beach towel outdoors in the Scotsdale sky and just kind of chill out with a sound bath. then Saturday, we really have all day breakout sessions. There's usually two things going on at a time. I think we have five different sessions. So a beautiful continental breakfast, again, will be outdoors. We're really excited about outdoor venues there.
Maureen (21:33.379)
Nice.
Maureen (21:55.33)
Nice, yeah.
Susie (21:57.904)
We have a couple of different people presenting on the nervous system, which I think is so big in any person's life, honestly.
Maureen (22:02.062)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (22:08.61)
Well, that is like the key to understanding how alcohol negatively impacts your central nervous system. And then everything you're providing here from the sound baths to getting outside to early morning to community, all of that regulates your central nervous system without alcohol. That's beautiful. Yeah.
Susie (22:27.272)
Right, right kind of get some dopamine dopamine building up there too, right?
Maureen (22:31.96)
dopamine and it's showing people like, I can feel good, much better for longer lasting doing these very things. This is what I coach people on, trying to find other activities to down-regulate their central nervous system instead of using alcohol, which really has a negative impact as we know. all these things are, what else do you have planned? I think I saw yoga.
Susie (22:51.772)
Awesome. Yeah, Sober Yoga Girl is coming all the way from Bali. And so she's going to be kind of infused throughout the weekend, plus an optional little workshop on Sunday morning. So we have that. We have some Reiki. We have Mahjong. So what I think is really kind of a fun mix of things that are just playing fun. And Mahjong is one of those like a great
Maureen (22:55.948)
Is sober yoga girl? Wow.
Maureen (23:16.248)
Mm-hmm.
Susie (23:19.24)
possible new hobby that you might want to take up and, you know, great socially and so on. yeah, so we're actually meeting with Pammy to get more details about that tomorrow. But she is a former teacher and a Mahjong expert. I'm probably pronouncing that wrong, she says, but yeah, yeah.
Maureen (23:21.261)
Yeah.
Maureen (23:25.728)
uses your brain. Yeah.
Maureen (23:37.098)
Mm-hmm. wow. I think Mahjong, Mahjong, yeah.
Yeah.
Susie (23:46.12)
Something like that. So most of our format is actually already slated. We're going to be throwing out more details and promoting the people that are coming to present, which we're very excited about. And I'm just going to say for me, my very favorite thing every time is the Saturday night dinner party. You know, that's really my heart. yeah.
Maureen (23:52.856)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (24:00.504)
Yeah.
Maureen (24:13.164)
And why is that your favorite?
Susie (24:15.654)
because it's like this beautiful elevated dinner party. We do zero proof cocktail attire. So, you know, it's a fun time to really dress up if you want to. And there's gonna be luxury zero proof cocktails and beverages. have Groovy sponsoring those beverages Saturday night. Annika actually will be, she's the founder of Groovy if you don't know.
Maureen (24:24.298)
Mm-hmm. Nice.
Maureen (24:37.848)
Yes, love groovy.
Maureen (24:43.692)
Right?
Susie (24:44.102)
So she's gonna be our keynote speaker there. And so you just have this, you know, I can picture just walking into this beautiful lawn space with the Scottsdale Mountains in the background. And, you know, then we always just have some dancing for those that wanna just kind of let go, or if you wanna just relax and enjoy your coffee and keep connecting and building those connections that you've made throughout the weekend.
Maureen (25:06.68)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (25:12.556)
Yeah, I want to stop you there because you're hitting on so many potential triggers or roadblocks that people have and you're showing them it can be done a different way. You know, a luxurious dinner, sophisticated, an evening out, a beautiful hotel. These are all things that people think, how could I do that without alcohol? And so you're giving them the experience because until somebody experiences it, you know, and has it register in their brain and go, wow, okay, I can do this. Yeah, so you're...
Susie (25:41.062)
Right.
Maureen (25:41.666)
you're really providing this lovely experience.
Susie (25:45.256)
It's not about tiptoeing in the door and thinking, okay, I'm sitting at a back table. Maybe I can do this. This is about, hey, you know, we're taking this over and kind of really a celebration of the alcohol-free lifestyle. That's, the way I see it.
Maureen (25:51.809)
Yeah.
Maureen (25:58.563)
Yeah, yeah.
Maureen (26:04.012)
Yeah, that's key. And do you have repeat now customers? Maybe I can imagine the person who came solo the first time and maybe hung back a little bit and now they're coming the next time maybe they bring a friend. Is that what you're seeing happening? Yeah.
Susie (26:14.92)
We are, we are, yeah. So it's at least 30%, I think. And that number I think is going up because we've had quite a few now. In fact, Peggy just told me that this one will be number nine, actually, which is frankly kind of hard to believe. Yeah.
Maureen (26:31.861)
Wow, number nine.
Yeah. Yeah. So let's give everybody the details. Is there still room in this one, in the Scottsdale, Arizona one?
Susie (26:44.07)
There is room. We're expecting around 100 people and we have a really good start turnout. think we have around 80 people now signed up, so maybe a few more. So we're getting there. The hotel block is, you know, it's getting close to full. So we have been able to ask them for a few additional rooms based on our sign up so far.
Maureen (26:45.624)
Okay.
100.
Maureen (26:56.664)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (27:04.193)
Mm-hmm.
Susie (27:12.11)
So yeah, we would love to meet you. And that is May 16 through 18. You can find us on zeroproofexperiences.com backslash Scottsdale.
Maureen (27:16.012)
And what are the dates?
Maureen (27:27.596)
Yeah. So if anybody's hearing this and they're interested or they're just curious, check out zero-proof-experiences.com and you said backslash, was it something? Scottsdale. So you can check out the hotel and the itinerary. But yeah, I think this is just incredible. So you went from a one night dinner in your hometown and now to having experiences all around the country, right? Because where else have you had these?
Susie (27:37.51)
Scottsdale. Yes.
Susie (27:54.692)
Yeah, all around the country and we did actually go with more of a smaller group experience to Bali last year. We went to Bali, yeah, which was super special. mean, yeah, that's amazing.
Maureen (28:02.882)
You went to Bali, that's right.
Maureen (28:08.462)
I bet. So how do, where do see this going in the future? You know, how many a year?
Susie (28:16.168)
Yeah, so this year we're actually going to do probably one larger Sober in the City event each year. So actually just researching locations for 2026 already and we have some ideas. If you have good ideas, we love to hear from you too. Where do you think we should go? So we're going to be doing one of those each year.
Maureen (28:25.07)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (28:37.646)
Okay.
Susie (28:43.84)
And we do have a membership that's really more of a connection and social membership. So it's kind of a topical membership, a variety of topics like goal setting, even different emotions and anger. But really for those that have been alcohol-free probably for a while and want to connect a little bit more. So it's more casual.
Maureen (28:51.181)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (29:06.358)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, after alcohol lifestyle. And do you still have the book club? I know you did that occasionally.
Susie (29:14.658)
yeah, we know we are not, we're not doing the book club. And then here's what we would probably do some more small group trips in collaboration with other people, which is nice that there's a few more people planning those, those trips. So here's one thing I know that you get this question, Maureen. What about wine tasting? What about wine tasting?
Maureen (29:18.508)
Okay.
Maureen (29:28.823)
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Maureen (29:43.246)
So the de-alkalized wine tasting. Yeah.
Susie (29:45.368)
Yeah. So, I mean, that's like a big roadblock. And I have honestly been on a group trip, which included wine tasting in Italy a couple of years ago. And, I mean, I don't really recommend that, if I'm honest, right? That I feel like that is one thing that is kind of a challenge being alcohol-free. You can absolutely do it.
Maureen (29:57.09)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (30:11.362)
Yeah, so as a coach, like what I rec, yeah, as a coach, what I recommend to people, if red wine was your thing and say you're inside of a year of being alcohol-free, you may not want to drink red wine alternatives. You might want to drink alcohol-free beer, something that wasn't your thing, less trigger-y. And the truth is, de-alcoholized, that's a hard word to say, wine is not going to taste like wine because it doesn't have the alcohol.
Susie (30:29.328)
Yeah. Yeah.
Maureen (30:41.086)
And so I think until you're really solid, that could be trigger-y. I've had some clients be like, you know, actually that really helps me. But I've had some go, I didn't like that at all. It made me want wine. So you have to know yourself, your triggers. So I would imagine with a group that could be tricky. Yeah.
Susie (30:56.104)
to work.
Yeah. And, you know, I've been talking to a few people before and saying just like one day, one day in the future, Lorraine, like, you know, we're going to kind of take that back. We're going to take that trip back and we're going to go up there to the Napa Valley or I don't know, wherever it is. And we're going to, you know, kind of make it our trip. And actually you may know that some of the best
de-alcoholized wine. There's many that I like here in the United States too, but I understand that the really great equipment is in Germany to de-alcoholize wine. And so I'm actually meeting with Darcy from Hooked Alcohol-Free Travel who, you know, we're just going to see if we might put together the first non-alcoholic
Maureen (31:28.418)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Maureen (31:36.619)
Interesting.
Well,
Maureen (31:43.821)
Hmm.
Susie (31:54.856)
wine tasting trip to Europe. You know, we'll see what works out, but I'm dangling that, you know, as a possibility.
Maureen (31:55.042)
wine tasting.
Maureen (32:04.034)
I like that. I mean, I think the alcohol industry is really working on it. The wineries, they're seeing this growth and this increase in people wanting alcohol-free wine. And, you know, let's face it, the bottom line is making money for them. And so they're seeing this need in the market and they are working on it. I think they're doing better right now with the sparkling wines, would you agree? Like the sparkling ones are better? yeah.
Susie (32:27.536)
It's easier for them to make it good or nice, there is the Zeronimo wine is out of Germany and Ocean Beach Cafe is kind of representing it here in the United States. It's pricey, I will say, but I have tried it and it's very good. It's very good. you know, I think that sounds...
Maureen (32:51.683)
Good.
Susie (32:57.362)
pretty cool to kind of connect with where they're way ahead of us in Europe, honestly, in the alcohol-free choices anyhow. yeah.
Maureen (33:03.97)
Yeah, interesting.
Maureen (33:09.742)
think it would be great to reclaim that space. And plus there's so much, there are so many great activities around the wineries in California, for example, but once you start going on a wine tour, you don't look into those things, right? So, drinking de-alkalized wine, you have energy and time to do other things, maybe like a hike or, whatever else you might be looking into. So I love this future thinking for your zero proof experiences.
Susie (33:29.842)
Right?
Susie (33:35.302)
Yeah, and thanks for asking. The climate has changed so much, hasn't it? mean, sure, you've seen that in the last three years. It's hard to say. I certainly didn't expect this is where we would be three years ago, right? I didn't know what would be happening. So it is hard to say. We try to listen to our audience and what they want, but it's really fun to connect with.
Maureen (33:41.187)
Yes.
Susie (34:04.264)
with people that are so active in the space and see like, you know, where should we go too, right?
Maureen (34:10.37)
Right, right. And it's all because you listened to your instincts a long time ago and changed your relationship with alcohol. And then you thought, well, wait, it's got to be better. And you kept following that. And it's all because you let go of alcohol that you can do all this. I see this over and over again. And I'm sure you do too, Susie, in the alcohol-free space where people are following their dreams, starting businesses and creating opportunities like you are.
for other people like-minded people who want to change and not revolve around drinking.
Susie (34:42.664)
It has opened some doors, yes, that I, you know, that you never thought I would walk through. just, yeah. So it's a great opportunity like to be on this podcast. certainly, that's one door I never would have walked through had I not given up alcohol. So.
Maureen (34:53.154)
Good for you.
Maureen (35:03.148)
Right? Me too, as far as having a podcast. I never thought I'd be doing that. My friends are like, really Maureen, you stopped drinking and now you're a coach and have a podcast. I'm like, yeah, I can't stop. I don't know, I'm being pulled forward. I feel like my faith in God has kind of led me down this path to help others.
Susie (35:16.742)
Yeah.
Susie (35:22.429)
Yeah.
Susie (35:27.94)
amazing, amazing. And thank you for that and what you do. I'm just gonna throw out one more thing that did surprise me a little bit with Sober in the City. I thought at first it was just gonna be like Sober Curious Sally who saw me on Instagram or something. We do get some Sober Curious people, but there's a lot of leaders in the alcohol-free space that like to come and kind of be fed themselves.
Maureen (35:30.434)
Yeah. Yeah.
Maureen (35:36.419)
Yes.
Maureen (35:57.817)
Mm-hmm.
Susie (35:57.848)
And so that's been really, really fun to connect with different leaders, but almost maybe more importantly is to see them connect and see what partnerships have come out of that. There has been some book clubs started and the sober hive. Yeah. So collaborations and you know, so I just feel really excited about that. Yeah.
Maureen (36:12.92)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (36:16.482)
Yeah, collaborations. Right.
Maureen (36:25.026)
Yeah, the sky is the limit for the potential that your space provides with these connections, what might come out of it.
Susie (36:33.8)
Well, it's a great big world out here in the alcohol-free space of 2025. I mean, you know, we're just coming off of dry January. and that honestly, every dry January, I get pretty excited. It's a little bit different this year. It's a little bit more normal. I mean,
Maureen (36:37.578)
Yeah. Yeah.
Maureen (36:46.104)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (36:58.54)
Yeah, I actually have a group still going right now in February. You know, we started actually at the end of January and so, you know, moving into February. So it's not just dry January anymore. Yeah.
Susie (37:05.881)
cool. Yeah. Right. I mean, even my bartender friends are talking about Dry January. I feel like you can't avoid it.
Maureen (37:16.854)
I have a bartender in my group, in my current group that's running. So yeah, it's amazing all the people that are, you know, curious about it and trying something new. Well, I want to ask you, Susie, so you're doing all this for everybody else, providing the space for people to meet. What are you doing for yourself? What do you do to stay sober fit?
Susie (37:21.339)
that's amazing.
Susie (37:38.344)
Well, I'm going to say this is one thing that gives me great satisfaction. Okay. And this could be when maybe I go out to a restaurant or let me just say like when I have something in my home, either for our family or group of people, it makes me feel really good and empowered to have a beautiful alcohol free offering.
Maureen (37:45.218)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (38:08.29)
Mm-hmm.
Susie (38:08.36)
and to make it festive and fun. And it doesn't even have to be like for me, I have sort of a whole beverage fridge going and we do have people that drink alcohol in our home that is what works for our household. But if you go to our beverage fridge, you'll probably find way more alcohol-free choices than there are alcohol.
Maureen (38:18.144)
Yeah, me too.
Maureen (38:25.698)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (38:31.63)
Yeah.
Susie (38:35.688)
I just get a really great empowered feeling when I'm enjoying something nice and I can share that and make that part of our family or friend culture.
Maureen (38:50.542)
So you really love the sharing and watching people have these aha moments and being interested in trying something different. You're providing that safe space to do that.
Susie (39:00.134)
Right, right, where they really might have not had an opportunity in a typical situation. But people are talking about it more. You may have seen it in the Super Bowl. This is coming up just a little bit after the Super Bowl. So, Mikolov Ultra just put out their zero. Mikolov Ultra zero. That was released just...
Maureen (39:01.123)
Yeah.
Maureen (39:04.75)
Mm-hmm.
Maureen (39:25.678)
Wow.
Susie (39:28.348)
just in time for the Super Bowl, which I think was pretty good marketing. And they didn't, while they didn't in their main commercial, they didn't focus on it so much, but they did have really a sponsor spotlight. And also Liquid Depth had a whole big Super Bowl commercial.
Maureen (39:31.896)
That's right.
Maureen (39:41.996)
I missed that, but that's so great to see it's hitting the big airwaves and people are taking notice. Yeah.
Susie (39:47.752)
Yeah, they, I mean, all my friends that do drink alcohol, they talk about it.
Maureen (39:56.6)
Good. Well, you're out in the front edge of this curve, what's happening. And I can only imagine that zero proof experiences and the vacations you provide are going to continue to grow. And I want to get on one of those, but I will send people to zero proof experiences to check it out. There's still room in the Arizona trip, which is again, when May?
Susie (40:17.922)
May 16th through 18th.
Maureen (40:20.066)
May 16th through 18th guys, so check it out. And thank you so much, Suzy, for coming on Sober Fit Life. I really enjoyed getting to talk with you.
Susie (40:22.589)
Yeah.
Susie (40:27.868)
Thanks for having me, Maureen. Cheers from Long Beach.
Maureen (40:32.025)
Cheers.
